"On the other side of Equator the water in the sink flows to same direction as in Finland….. and that is pretty much the only similarity between these two cultures which both I still feel homelike. Almost half a year is a long time, enough. It is enough time to understand the meaning of home and leaving from home. It is enough time to get used to a strange, totally different culture. In my case it was positive to notice how quickly I got used to big amounts of people both in the house and in town. In the house all the “dadas” and “kakas” from different countries keep up the life there. The streets of Moshi are only quiet when it’s dark and the life returns to the streets every morning together with the sun. There are many differences in our cultures but still in so convenient proportions that getting used even to different work culture was quite simple. From the very first day I immediately felt welcomed to my “Tanzanian family” and I felt like at home during my whole trip."
-Mervi Sihvonen, Finland