100,000 shilingi, a cell phone, and a tray of cashews

Ok its not my normal title so for the record this is the Nov 24 post. Some very exciting things happened this safari, and the title pertains to one of them.
First for the record, my new home of local will be in the Archipelego of Zanzibar...and thats as specific as I'm allowed to get on my blog..(peace corps rules). But we all know that it will be interesting cause after all, its got one heck of a name. Zanzibar. Therefore if you want more details you should email me. But in anycase, I'm psyched. And kind of complimented. It seems like it'll have lots of advantages but that also it'll be very culturally demanding. So I feel cool that they thought so well of me to put me there, or else I could feel cool that they thought I was cool enough to get such a rocking post, or just feel cool cause I somehow ended up in such a sweet place and many people are jealouse.
No but more seriously, there will only be one other guy from my training class there...which will be a challenge (cause most people will be able to see others more easily). I think we'll be good friends though, we've gotten along very well so far that I would call us good acquaintences. Also there is another married couple on the island and a health volunteer there as well. So I met the single health volunteer but haven't yet met the married couple. I'm sure they'll be great. The health volunteer was very cool.
Another sweet part about my site. All volunteers generally try to visit there, so I'll see people alot who are vacationing. In particular there is supposed to be a rocking New Years party there. Sweet huh? I'll be one of 3 trainees that can go for sure. (There are 2 volunteers on a different island who technically can go and I think will but plane tickets being somewhat expensive who knows?)
Went to the ambassadors for thanksgiving. He had all peace corps trainees and volunteers and marines and state dept personal there...basically if you are in Tanzania on official US business you were invited. ANd it was cool. He had a jazz band playing music, a dance floor, tents with tables for eating and just in general a nice outside set up , and he even let us walk around on the first floor of his house because it was so hot outside and he has sweet airconditioning. So I had pumpkin pie and apple (not nearly as good as yours mom!) and turkey. Yummy.
Oh and on the ride home, one of the sellers who runs up to the bus windows at pit stops to try to sell you water or biscuits, tried to buy my hand in marriage. The guy sitting next to me saw it and proceeded to negotiate (for me!) a better price...which before the bus got going it ended at 100,000 shilingi and his cell phone, and then he threw in his tray of cashews as we were leaving in a last ditch effort. I was tempted of course....yummy cashews...but alas! I'm still single. SO there you have it. My story.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving too!
Love and best wishes
Sarah