More advice for new ICTR interns

July 15th, 2009 • ICTR Internship

So you’ve just been accepted into the ICTR internship? Congratulations, here’s some more advice that I recently emailed to someone who asked me some questions on the whole internship experience.

First, you are going to need to arrange your own accommodation. The ICTR will not provide you with anything, but may give you a list of suggestions. I stayed at BaseCamp Tanzania for my first week and then moved out into an apartment. Usually interns share a house or rent an apartment, my wife and I paid between US$450 and US$500 per month for decent, one bedroom, self-contained apartments. My favourite accommodation so far as definitely being at Kundayo Apartments.

Second, cost of living in Arusha can potentially be very cheap, depending on how self-sufficient you are. As a general guide, fresh fruit and veg is very cheap, see here for examples, processed food is more expensive (cereal and cheese prices are insane), and you can get a nice meal out for about TSH10,000. Of course you can also pay much more by going to mzungu places, and much less by going local. Most interns eat out for lunch, for between TSH2000 and TSH5000. Mobile phones are cheap. If you want to buy one here expect to pay around TSH30,000. A sim card shouldn’t cost more than TSH1,000. And Google Vodacom Tanzania, Tigo Tanzania and Zain to see the latest prices for talktime, I pay less than TSH5000 per week.

Third, entertainment-wise, there’s a cinema complex that costs about TSH6000, gyms starting at US$10 per month and there’s usually a group of interns going on safari or to Zanzibar each weekend. Expect to pay at least TSH100,000 for a Safari, TSH45,000 for a nice weekend hike, TSH7,000 for a local hike, and you can go for a swim for between TSH3000-5000.

Drinking also seems to be a popular form of entertainment among some interns. Alcohol is pretty cheap if you buy at the supermarkets, TSH1500 for a beer, US$10 for an alright bottle of wine, US$5 for a 500ml bottle of “Konyagi” (the local bastardised gin) and tax-free prices on other liquors. Avoid banana beer, no matter how cheap it is – the stuff tastes like cigarette butts, but some people have been known to have mixed with Konyagi – which is just asking for trouble.

There are a few clubs and bars around Arusha, Via Via is popular most Thursday nights, Masai Camp on the weekends, and Stiggy’s for an expensive drink throughout the week.

Fourth, transport to and from work is very easy as the UN provides a shuttle service right to your door. Many people also walk to work and there are also cheap taxis and local ‘dalla-dallas’ (minibuses). It would cost me about TSH3000 to take a taxi to work, TSH250 to take the dalla-dalla, or about 30 mins to walk. Dalla-dalla’s can be intense if you’re not used to being cramped into a mini-bus with a barely functioning dash and a crazy driver, but are fine once you get used to it.

Fifth, the work environment and load varies depending on when you get here, what section you’re in and who your supervisor is. At the moment I share an office with 9 other interns, so things are a bit crazy and you need an iPod or earplugs to get any work done. The work day varies depending on what stage your case is at, how busy your Chamber is, etc. The longer you are here for the more likely you are to get something meaty and good to work on. Jobs include: research, summarising motions, writing witness summaries, sitting in court, checking footnotes, and assisting in the drafting of decisions/judgements.

If anyone out there wants more information on any aspect of intern life in Arusha, just let me know via e-mail or in the comments.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Related posts:

1. Five Stereotypes of ICTR Interns
2. Advice on getting an internship at the ICTR (and elsewhere)
3. Arushan cuisine beats the Hague?!
4. Wait, so the taxi driver paid you?
5. How to get a job in Chambers at the ICTR

Tags: advice, ICTR, internship

Trackback URI.