Iringa is a very busy place where everyone from small children to grandparents is trying to get around the city at all times. There is always a horn honking no matter where you go in the town because everyone is rushing to get to work or school in the morning and in the afternoon.
Most people here get around using a small bus called a dala dala. The dala dala is the size of a minivan and can fit up to 18 people or more! The saying in Tanzania is: "There is always room for one more in the dala dala." It is the most used form of transportation because it can get you all over the city within 50 miles of your location for only 400 Tanzanian shillings. How much is that in U.S. dollars? Remember, one U.S. dollar is equal to about 2,500 Tanzanian shillings.
When I first got onto the dala dala I felt overwhelmed because there were at least 15 people already onboard. I did not see a seat right away, and as I was looking, it suddenly moved forward and I almost fell on a group of ladies. Then one of the ladies smiled and said "Karibu kiti," which means "You are welcome to this seat" in Kiswahili. I then began to have a small conversation using the little bit of Kiswahili I knew.
