Its Thursday evening and I cannot wait for this weekend, especially since we are climbing Killi on Sat. Or at least part of it. Starting Tuesday I have felt sick having just about every symptom imaginable which made it really hard for diagnosis and also deciding how to make myself feel better. This morning I still didnt feel great so made the decision to stay home from work and just rest which proved to be a great idea. However, the staff at my homebase came in my room at least 5 times asking if I needed to go to the hospital, which was the last thing I wanted to do, especially since our field trip there last week. I dont know if the one we got the tour of would be the one I would be taken to but if so i would definitely want to avoid that at all costs. However after resting and getting some food into my body I feel a lot better now which i am really happy about. Also made me less worried that i have malaria, which probably was never even close to being the case but guess i got myself nervous. I also heard from the other volunteers at my school that the teachers just didnt show up today so they were on their own with 90 children, which from what i heard was very hectic. Probably a good day for me not to go if i wasnt feeling great.
Anyway yesterday, although i was feeling terrible through the whole thing, we went on a great fieldtrip. We started our day visiting a batik artist in our town of Moshi. He showed us how he takes a piece of cloth and creates these fabulous colorful scenes on the fabric using paint and sponges. Afterwards, we went and visited a cave where people who belong to the chagga tribe hid in times of conflict. It was very tiny however and we all came out covered in mud from crawling on our hands and knees. After the cave we stopped quickly at a market and then drove up towards mt killimanjaro to have a picnic lunch.
Following lunch was definitely the best part of the day. We took a steep path down to this beautiful waterfall and were allowed to hang out down there and swim. Even though i didnt feel well enough to go in the water it was still so peaceful and nice to be down there. I also got to be the designated photography while people were in the water, so at least i was put to use. We then followed signs to a "natural swimming pool" which turned out to be more of a tidal wave pool with huge currents. It actually dragged one of our group members down the river a ways before we were able to grab her. All in all: definitely not a swimming area.
We all hiked up afterwards and went and saw a traditional Chagga tribe hut and then went to a small one-roomed museum to look at a few of the Chagga artifacts. We learned that the masai and the chagga tribes have always been enemies and so it was interesting to compare their lifestyles from what we saw the other day on our safaris. We also learned, and saw, that the chagga have to keep their animals and especially their cows in their huts with them so the masai wouldnt come and steal them. This was because, as i said the other day, the masai believe that all cows belong to them. The man who gave the explanation of everything told us that a lot of the tribes are losing their culture, but many people do still live in the traditional lifestyle and in the huts, like the ones we saw.
Our last stop of the day was to a place nearby where people in our group could try the local drink - banana beer. I personally did not try any because everyone was sharing out of a few jugs and i didnt want to get people sick but people said it was very interesting tasting. We saw many older women who were at least in there 70s chugging the stuff, so guess people like it. According to the people who tried it though it was very grainy.
On the way home, which was about an hour, everyone was exhausted so the van was fairly silent. We were, however, welcomed home to a barbeque in the front yard where we sat in a half circle of chairs because thats how the Chagga tribe eats when in a large group. It was just a chagga day overall. It was very cool to learn about another tribe and their way of life. We also learned that one of our homebase staff (Baba) is part of this tribe so that was intersting to learn.
Today overall has been pretty relaxing and we are going out to dinner in a little to get another break from the food at the house. We ended up loving the indi-italiano place the other night, which turned out to be exactly what it sounded like - 1/2 italian and 1/2 indian. I am pretty sure every other white person in moshi must have been there eating as well so I guess we werent too orignal but we definitely plan on going back when we are in need of pizza.
Cant wait to write again post experiencing climbing Killi!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday May 25th
So its Tuesday afternoon here in Tanzania and we are taking a short stop at the internet cafe before going out to Dinner. We have been craving pizza so we are going to the italian restaurant in town called indi-italiano. I guess its an indian and italian fusion so that should be interesting but we were told they had good pizza so thats all i need.
Today was an interesting day. I woke up a bunch last night because i was feelign really sick and still dont feel great. Then on our way to work our van got stuck in the mud because it had rained last night so we had to get out and push. Coincidently a group of prisoners were walking by at the time in orange jumpsuits so they teamed in and pushed as well. Not everyday you get to push a car with 15 criminals. Anyway we finally made it and school today was really good. We brought in a bag of lollipops for the younger class to teach them colors. So after going over colors, the kids were rewarded with a lollipop if they could say the right color of it. Half the kids got it right away but more struggled than i thought. They did seem to enjoy the exercise though.
After work and lunch we drove to WEEC (Womens Equality and Education Center) to gain some knowledge about the program. The founder spoke to us about the program and their goals. It was started in order to help women understand that they should not be oppressed as so often Tanzanian culture suggests and also provides them with lessons on money management, sewing, how to use a computer, and more. It was so great to know that there is a program like this but the director did tell us that women are still very often the victims of abuse and rape. They are also designated certian roles in the society, which have been hard to break. Learning about the program made me excited and definitely made me realize how much I want to work there.
After that, we were all exhausted and dying of overheating so we sat in a cafe and had milkshakes and then did a little shopping. I do love being in town and feel like I have really grasped the layout of the city but it is hard to walk around without a guide because we, as foreigners, are constantly stared at and also constantly harassed to buy things that street vendors are selling. Everyone seems to be really persistent.
Tomorrow we are taking a cultural fieldtrip to lake marangu i think its called. I am not really sure what it entails but it will be nice to get a break from work and also ive heard we get to swim in waterfalls which i cant wait for. I guess ill have to write afterwards to tell what its really about.
We also in the midst of planning a hike to Mt. Killimanjaro this weekend which I really hope works out. Its more expensive than i had thought and I guess you have to go with a guide which costs extra money but I dont think i could be in Tanzania without climbing at least part of it.
Ok off to dinner :) Hopefully I will start to feel normal again and can enjoy the rest of the week without having to stay in bed.
Today was an interesting day. I woke up a bunch last night because i was feelign really sick and still dont feel great. Then on our way to work our van got stuck in the mud because it had rained last night so we had to get out and push. Coincidently a group of prisoners were walking by at the time in orange jumpsuits so they teamed in and pushed as well. Not everyday you get to push a car with 15 criminals. Anyway we finally made it and school today was really good. We brought in a bag of lollipops for the younger class to teach them colors. So after going over colors, the kids were rewarded with a lollipop if they could say the right color of it. Half the kids got it right away but more struggled than i thought. They did seem to enjoy the exercise though.
After work and lunch we drove to WEEC (Womens Equality and Education Center) to gain some knowledge about the program. The founder spoke to us about the program and their goals. It was started in order to help women understand that they should not be oppressed as so often Tanzanian culture suggests and also provides them with lessons on money management, sewing, how to use a computer, and more. It was so great to know that there is a program like this but the director did tell us that women are still very often the victims of abuse and rape. They are also designated certian roles in the society, which have been hard to break. Learning about the program made me excited and definitely made me realize how much I want to work there.
After that, we were all exhausted and dying of overheating so we sat in a cafe and had milkshakes and then did a little shopping. I do love being in town and feel like I have really grasped the layout of the city but it is hard to walk around without a guide because we, as foreigners, are constantly stared at and also constantly harassed to buy things that street vendors are selling. Everyone seems to be really persistent.
Tomorrow we are taking a cultural fieldtrip to lake marangu i think its called. I am not really sure what it entails but it will be nice to get a break from work and also ive heard we get to swim in waterfalls which i cant wait for. I guess ill have to write afterwards to tell what its really about.
We also in the midst of planning a hike to Mt. Killimanjaro this weekend which I really hope works out. Its more expensive than i had thought and I guess you have to go with a guide which costs extra money but I dont think i could be in Tanzania without climbing at least part of it.
Ok off to dinner :) Hopefully I will start to feel normal again and can enjoy the rest of the week without having to stay in bed.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Post Safari Report
We got back from the safari yesterday and while i am exhausted it was an absolutely amazzinnngg time. We left on Friday after lunch and were driving in two different big jeep like cars. Our first stop was at a Masai village where we were able to watch a performance of this small tribe as well as see the homes in which they live. It was such a fascinating experience. They all wore very traditional African outfits with lots of beaded jewelery and neck pieces. We were also able to see inside their homes which consisted of a one room area made of wood and cow dung. In their tribe I learned, a man has many wives who each has their own house for herself and the kids, which she has built. Then the husband switches from hut to hut at his will. After the show and exploring the huts we were able to purchase some of the hand crafts which members of this tribe made and take pictures to capture the moment. We also learned that like most masai tribes in the area, these people are herders and believe that cows are sacred. If anything is to happen to one of their cows, such as being eaten by a lion, the lion must be hunted. thus we were also shown the spears which they use to kill the lions.
Then we went to our camp site for dinner and spent the rest of the night hanging out outside of our tents. The next morning we were up early and after a warm breakfast we made our way to Lake Manyara, which was about 20 minutes from our campsite. Once in the park we took the top off the jeep and were able to stand while we coasted through the park in search of animals. The first animal that crossed our path was a huge giraffe that stood directly in the middle of the road blocking our way. It was so exciting and from that moment on the excitement just escalated as we circled the park and lake area seeing every animal from zebras to elephants to hippos. It was great. Sadly it rained at times so we had to put the hood on but overall we were able to get amazing pics looking down from the top of the jeep. After a picnic lunch in the park, we drove around a little more before heading back to our campsite and packing up our stuff. The first part was great but no lions which i was kind of disappointed about. All i could do then was pray that the next day we would see some.
We loaded ourselves back into the car and drove two hours or so until we reached the Ngonororo Crater Campsite. However before entering the park our guides had to fill out some paper work so we waited in the car. Suddenly while waiting we looked over at the next car of people in our group after hearing shrieking and saw that a baboon had climbed into the front seat through teh window to steal cookies. Luckily, the screams scared it away but it was pretty crazy to watch other members of my group screaming and running out of the car. Pretty funny too. After the excitement we drove to our campsite at the edge of the crater and set up our tents. While doing so I was excited to see that an elephant was walking around less than 100 feet from our campsite. It was so cool to think that we would be sleeping tonight in the African wild. That night we met other travelers, hung around a camp fire, and went to bed fairly early because we knew we were going to have to wake up at 5 the next morning. It was freezing at the top of the crater so my three friends and i abandoned our one tent and all crammed into one that was meant for just two people. We were still cold.
The next morning we woke up to our guide making a rooster call next to our heads, which meant it was time to get moving. We jumped in the cars and began driving down to the crater. We were all pretty tired but were immediately woken up when we spotted two cheetahs at the side of the road. We were told that they were very rare to see so we were thrilled. Then driving further into the crater, as the scenery became more lion-king-esque we began to see rhinos, buffalo, gazels, zebras, hyenas, and other animals all living together in a wide open space. Even more than the day before, was this what i had imagined when i thought of a safari. However by the time we had breakfast still no lions were in site. Next to our breakfast site, we did however encounter a python briefly before it slithered into the water which i guess is also pretty rare so that was cool. After breakfast we were all on the look out for lions when our guide took out the binoculars and pointed to a group of animals on our left hand side. They were lions! Not only that but within minutes of stopping our car they one by one came over to us and actually walked right between our jeeps and lied down right in from of us! It was like they were posing and wanted us to take pictures. It was so cool how close we got. After that excitement, we drove around a while longer taking great pictures and enjoying the scenery. We also began to blast various lion king songs on the speaker to put us even more in the mood. It was a blast.
At lunch time we went back to the campsite, ate a quick lunch, and were on the road back home. It was a 4 hour drive back and we were all pretty beat but about half way through we stopped and went to a camel riding site. Kind of random but definitely still fun. I thought i was going to fall off when it stood up :) Afterward we drove another 2 hours home and got back in time for a shower before dinner. It was soooo much fun and I am so happy I got this opportunity. I will hopefully post pictures soon but for now hope the description helped!
Then we went to our camp site for dinner and spent the rest of the night hanging out outside of our tents. The next morning we were up early and after a warm breakfast we made our way to Lake Manyara, which was about 20 minutes from our campsite. Once in the park we took the top off the jeep and were able to stand while we coasted through the park in search of animals. The first animal that crossed our path was a huge giraffe that stood directly in the middle of the road blocking our way. It was so exciting and from that moment on the excitement just escalated as we circled the park and lake area seeing every animal from zebras to elephants to hippos. It was great. Sadly it rained at times so we had to put the hood on but overall we were able to get amazing pics looking down from the top of the jeep. After a picnic lunch in the park, we drove around a little more before heading back to our campsite and packing up our stuff. The first part was great but no lions which i was kind of disappointed about. All i could do then was pray that the next day we would see some.
We loaded ourselves back into the car and drove two hours or so until we reached the Ngonororo Crater Campsite. However before entering the park our guides had to fill out some paper work so we waited in the car. Suddenly while waiting we looked over at the next car of people in our group after hearing shrieking and saw that a baboon had climbed into the front seat through teh window to steal cookies. Luckily, the screams scared it away but it was pretty crazy to watch other members of my group screaming and running out of the car. Pretty funny too. After the excitement we drove to our campsite at the edge of the crater and set up our tents. While doing so I was excited to see that an elephant was walking around less than 100 feet from our campsite. It was so cool to think that we would be sleeping tonight in the African wild. That night we met other travelers, hung around a camp fire, and went to bed fairly early because we knew we were going to have to wake up at 5 the next morning. It was freezing at the top of the crater so my three friends and i abandoned our one tent and all crammed into one that was meant for just two people. We were still cold.
The next morning we woke up to our guide making a rooster call next to our heads, which meant it was time to get moving. We jumped in the cars and began driving down to the crater. We were all pretty tired but were immediately woken up when we spotted two cheetahs at the side of the road. We were told that they were very rare to see so we were thrilled. Then driving further into the crater, as the scenery became more lion-king-esque we began to see rhinos, buffalo, gazels, zebras, hyenas, and other animals all living together in a wide open space. Even more than the day before, was this what i had imagined when i thought of a safari. However by the time we had breakfast still no lions were in site. Next to our breakfast site, we did however encounter a python briefly before it slithered into the water which i guess is also pretty rare so that was cool. After breakfast we were all on the look out for lions when our guide took out the binoculars and pointed to a group of animals on our left hand side. They were lions! Not only that but within minutes of stopping our car they one by one came over to us and actually walked right between our jeeps and lied down right in from of us! It was like they were posing and wanted us to take pictures. It was so cool how close we got. After that excitement, we drove around a while longer taking great pictures and enjoying the scenery. We also began to blast various lion king songs on the speaker to put us even more in the mood. It was a blast.
At lunch time we went back to the campsite, ate a quick lunch, and were on the road back home. It was a 4 hour drive back and we were all pretty beat but about half way through we stopped and went to a camel riding site. Kind of random but definitely still fun. I thought i was going to fall off when it stood up :) Afterward we drove another 2 hours home and got back in time for a shower before dinner. It was soooo much fun and I am so happy I got this opportunity. I will hopefully post pictures soon but for now hope the description helped!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 6
Its day 6 and we have one more day of work before our Safari! I am so excited. We (a group of 9 of us) are being picked up after lunch tomorrow and seeing a mesiah village in the evening. Then we are camping in a national park overnight and waking up to drive to the Ngorongoro. Our guides told us we will definitely see hippos, zebras, rhinos, lions, bufallo, hyenas, and more which is amazing. The animals that are harder to find our ones such as leopards but we are likely to see those as well. Then on saturday night we will sleep on the rim of the crater and wake up and drive to another area with higher trees where we can giraffes and other animals. Then we also are doing camel rides Sunday afternoon before we return which is a little weird but Im very excited!
Other than that my week has gotten better each day and I am feeling really happy about my placement. My kids are all learning my name and I am beginning to see a lot of improvement. The whole process can be frustrating at times and it takes a lot of patience but Im really enjoying it regardless. For instance for some reason all of the children were taught to count 1-20, skipping over the number 16 and going straight from 15 to 17. So for 15 minutes straight today we went over the numbers 15 through 17 so they could remember the correct order. It worked for some but definitely has to be reviewed some more. Then we went to the older classroom of 5 and 6 year olds, which we hadnt spent much time in so that was a fun and new experience. It was also very satisfying and there were a few girls in the class who were so bright and eager to learn. They even asked me to stay with them during recess to work on addition. It was amazing. Ive also discovered a boy at my placement who looks identical to Kanye West but a 3 year old version so that keeps me amused. Working with kids and the three days i have been at the school has also improved my swahili tremendously and I think it will just keep getting better. Teaching seems to be a great way to learn a new language especially when it is a forced situation.
Another activity weve done was go to an orphanage in the afternoon yesterday which i loved! Our van broke down on the way there and we had to push it for a little ha but once we got it started and made it there it was great. We got to sit around and play with adorable babies who were mostly around the age of 1. They were all so sweet and active. When we arrived we also all brought something with us to give them such as various toys, soap, rice, bread, and more in order to help out the oprhanage so im really glad we were able to do that. We spent about an hour and a half there but i could have honestly stayed forever. The babies and other kids were so cute and I feel like it was great that they were getting so much attention. We were told that we are allowed to go back whenever so I will definitely be spending some time there. And while it was really sad to see so many children without homes, each one had its own bed and the orphanage seemed clean so that was uplifting.
All in all things are going very smoothly. Tonight we are celebrating our friends birthday in town and going to see live music. I am interested to see what music is Tanzania is like. And we also decided that we are going to make the staff at the homebase a traditional American meal which will be fun. We are thinking of like macaroni or something. Basically anything with cheese because we are all craving that. Sadly, I already am craving foods and it is the first day. And my chocolate supply which i brought from home is already dwindling but ive seen some in the stores around town so I wont be deprived for too long when i run out ha.
Next time i write ill get to tell all about my safari! Cant Wait!
Other than that my week has gotten better each day and I am feeling really happy about my placement. My kids are all learning my name and I am beginning to see a lot of improvement. The whole process can be frustrating at times and it takes a lot of patience but Im really enjoying it regardless. For instance for some reason all of the children were taught to count 1-20, skipping over the number 16 and going straight from 15 to 17. So for 15 minutes straight today we went over the numbers 15 through 17 so they could remember the correct order. It worked for some but definitely has to be reviewed some more. Then we went to the older classroom of 5 and 6 year olds, which we hadnt spent much time in so that was a fun and new experience. It was also very satisfying and there were a few girls in the class who were so bright and eager to learn. They even asked me to stay with them during recess to work on addition. It was amazing. Ive also discovered a boy at my placement who looks identical to Kanye West but a 3 year old version so that keeps me amused. Working with kids and the three days i have been at the school has also improved my swahili tremendously and I think it will just keep getting better. Teaching seems to be a great way to learn a new language especially when it is a forced situation.
Another activity weve done was go to an orphanage in the afternoon yesterday which i loved! Our van broke down on the way there and we had to push it for a little ha but once we got it started and made it there it was great. We got to sit around and play with adorable babies who were mostly around the age of 1. They were all so sweet and active. When we arrived we also all brought something with us to give them such as various toys, soap, rice, bread, and more in order to help out the oprhanage so im really glad we were able to do that. We spent about an hour and a half there but i could have honestly stayed forever. The babies and other kids were so cute and I feel like it was great that they were getting so much attention. We were told that we are allowed to go back whenever so I will definitely be spending some time there. And while it was really sad to see so many children without homes, each one had its own bed and the orphanage seemed clean so that was uplifting.
All in all things are going very smoothly. Tonight we are celebrating our friends birthday in town and going to see live music. I am interested to see what music is Tanzania is like. And we also decided that we are going to make the staff at the homebase a traditional American meal which will be fun. We are thinking of like macaroni or something. Basically anything with cheese because we are all craving that. Sadly, I already am craving foods and it is the first day. And my chocolate supply which i brought from home is already dwindling but ive seen some in the stores around town so I wont be deprived for too long when i run out ha.
Next time i write ill get to tell all about my safari! Cant Wait!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
So Ive managed to make it to an internet cafe two days in a row! We began our placement today which was much different from expected. This morning at 7:30, after a freezing cold shower (i have yet to get hot water) and a breakfast of pourage, eggs, and mango, two other volunteers and I were driven to the prison compound where the school is located. I was really curious to see where the school was located and what inside of the gates would look like. When we got into the gates, it was almost as if it was a small village. Prisoners were along side the road on both sides in orange jumpsuits and were doing labor in the fields. However they were not locked up and only had one guard with a gun to watch them. Also while we were driving inside the gates children were walking along side us to school, which seems a little weird/ unsafe. Within the area we passed homes of the guards and then finally reached the school where 50 plus kids began running along side our van and screaming "teacher" teacher". They all seemed so excited. Once we got out we immediately were latched onto by a number of kids and dragged in various directions to play. We spent about 45 minutes on the playground with them and it was amazing. I do wish i could communicate with them more but they were happy just the same.
After playtime we went into the classroom and were immediately given control of the classroom, which was filled with 3 and 4 year olds. We attempted to go through numbers, colors, and body parts with them but it was definitely a challenge. There were at least 40 of them in one classroom so to keep their attention was not easy. However some were really bright and could count to 40 in both swahili and english which really impressed me. I think tomorrow we are going to bring some sort of candy like m&ms so they can count them and use them for colors. I think it will be a lot easier when we have a lesson plan. After classtime the children were served porridge in a small cup. It was hard to grasp that these were the lucky children but the children were all of good spirits and seemed healthy so that was good. It was however interesting to see every one of these kids gulp down their food without complaining when I am used to being a camp counselor for children who throw a fit when they get graham crackers instead of goldfish . Very different worlds. After snack we went to the older kids classroom for a little and helped them with math but pretty much i was limited to "nzuri" which means good evrytime they did something right. Im sure the kids got tired of hearing that :)
Around lunch time we were picked back up and the kids once again ran along side the van screaming "bye teacher." It was a really great day and I am looking forward to tomorrow now that I know what to expect and can prepare.
After lunch we spoke with a woman about HIV and AIDS and then visited the hospital in which she works. We were given a tour of the hospital which was nothing like I had ever seen before. We were able to go into almost all of the rooms where patients were staying which i felt bad about because I know I would not want people walking through my room if i was sick. We would definitely not be able to do that in America due to confedentiality. Walking through we saw people about to go into labor, people seekign HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria treatment, and also people were injured. By the end of our tour, I was definitely ready to leave because i did not think we should have been able to invade peoples privacy like that. The trip however did make me want to maybe volunteer with HIV/AIDS awareness.
Ok thats all for now but ill write again soon!
After playtime we went into the classroom and were immediately given control of the classroom, which was filled with 3 and 4 year olds. We attempted to go through numbers, colors, and body parts with them but it was definitely a challenge. There were at least 40 of them in one classroom so to keep their attention was not easy. However some were really bright and could count to 40 in both swahili and english which really impressed me. I think tomorrow we are going to bring some sort of candy like m&ms so they can count them and use them for colors. I think it will be a lot easier when we have a lesson plan. After classtime the children were served porridge in a small cup. It was hard to grasp that these were the lucky children but the children were all of good spirits and seemed healthy so that was good. It was however interesting to see every one of these kids gulp down their food without complaining when I am used to being a camp counselor for children who throw a fit when they get graham crackers instead of goldfish . Very different worlds. After snack we went to the older kids classroom for a little and helped them with math but pretty much i was limited to "nzuri" which means good evrytime they did something right. Im sure the kids got tired of hearing that :)
Around lunch time we were picked back up and the kids once again ran along side the van screaming "bye teacher." It was a really great day and I am looking forward to tomorrow now that I know what to expect and can prepare.
After lunch we spoke with a woman about HIV and AIDS and then visited the hospital in which she works. We were given a tour of the hospital which was nothing like I had ever seen before. We were able to go into almost all of the rooms where patients were staying which i felt bad about because I know I would not want people walking through my room if i was sick. We would definitely not be able to do that in America due to confedentiality. Walking through we saw people about to go into labor, people seekign HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria treatment, and also people were injured. By the end of our tour, I was definitely ready to leave because i did not think we should have been able to invade peoples privacy like that. The trip however did make me want to maybe volunteer with HIV/AIDS awareness.
Ok thats all for now but ill write again soon!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Siku Tatu (Day Three)
Its Monday afternoon here in Moshi, Tanzania and we just finished our second day of orientation. This is also the first time I am making it to a internet cafe, which has proven to be harder than I thought. While we have a computer in the home base, I have yet to see or hear of anyone succesfully connecting to the internet.
So far the trip is going great. Very different from what I expected, but still amazing. In the past two days of orientation, we have mostly been going over guidelines, receiving cultural lessons, getting to know the town, and learning Swahili. Id say by now my vocabulary is up to 30 words, which I hope will expand on a lot. It seems when im studying the words by myself I understand everything, but as soon as im put on the spot its a different story. Hopefully, that will improve with time. The people working at our home base are so nice and are making the transition really easy. We have a program director who we call Mama Lillian as well as a Program Officer who we call Baba, which is father in Swahili. Our house is really nice and is about 7 km outside of town. In order to get to our home-base we have to drive down a tiny dirt road with lots of bumps which is always an adventure. At the house we have three cooks who have made us great meals so far. Its great because we are getting to try real authentic food. Everywhere on our property there are banana and avocado trees, which are two of my favorite foods and have also been served at every meal so far. I learned today that there are over 120 different kinds of bananas in Tanzania.
Tomorrow we begin our placement. I am working with two other volunteers at the local school which is located in the prison to help with the children. I am so excited because today I got to read over reviews of past volunteers who worked there and they made it sound like a blast. The children are ages 2 to 6 and are supposedly really eager to learn, which sounds promising. We met the teachers today who seem really nice but speak no English so that should be quite the experience. Hopefully, we can both teach each other. While I did not get my womens placement as I had originally planned I actually think this will be a lot better and I will get to work with womens groups in the afternoon so thats really nice. I think working with the kids will be even more fun and I can probably have more of an impact.
Additionaly so far my absolute favorite thing about Tanzania has been the children. It will be a struggle to not bring a little baby home with me at the end of the trip. Right outside of our homebase there are lots of families with little kids who love to play. I went out there today and brought my bubbles and they were in heaven. Theres this one girl who is probably 2 years old named Brenda who is the cutest child I have ever seen. She always has a smile on her face and will just follow you anywhere. I am so happy I will get to play with her the rest of the trip.
The people of the town are so nice as well. We were sent on a scavenger hunt today in groups and had to knock on families doors and introduce ourselves. Then we each had to bring either information or an object home, depending on our assignment. This was a great exercise, because it taught us 1) more swahili but also 2) how friendly people are here and how willing they are to invite us into our home. I am a little bit neervous when I meet people because there are so many rules as to how you are supposed to properly greet people of different ages but so far no one seems to mind if we mess up.
Ok I have to go my taxi is leaving. Hopefully I will make it to an internet cafe again soon. Kwaheri!
So far the trip is going great. Very different from what I expected, but still amazing. In the past two days of orientation, we have mostly been going over guidelines, receiving cultural lessons, getting to know the town, and learning Swahili. Id say by now my vocabulary is up to 30 words, which I hope will expand on a lot. It seems when im studying the words by myself I understand everything, but as soon as im put on the spot its a different story. Hopefully, that will improve with time. The people working at our home base are so nice and are making the transition really easy. We have a program director who we call Mama Lillian as well as a Program Officer who we call Baba, which is father in Swahili. Our house is really nice and is about 7 km outside of town. In order to get to our home-base we have to drive down a tiny dirt road with lots of bumps which is always an adventure. At the house we have three cooks who have made us great meals so far. Its great because we are getting to try real authentic food. Everywhere on our property there are banana and avocado trees, which are two of my favorite foods and have also been served at every meal so far. I learned today that there are over 120 different kinds of bananas in Tanzania.
Tomorrow we begin our placement. I am working with two other volunteers at the local school which is located in the prison to help with the children. I am so excited because today I got to read over reviews of past volunteers who worked there and they made it sound like a blast. The children are ages 2 to 6 and are supposedly really eager to learn, which sounds promising. We met the teachers today who seem really nice but speak no English so that should be quite the experience. Hopefully, we can both teach each other. While I did not get my womens placement as I had originally planned I actually think this will be a lot better and I will get to work with womens groups in the afternoon so thats really nice. I think working with the kids will be even more fun and I can probably have more of an impact.
Additionaly so far my absolute favorite thing about Tanzania has been the children. It will be a struggle to not bring a little baby home with me at the end of the trip. Right outside of our homebase there are lots of families with little kids who love to play. I went out there today and brought my bubbles and they were in heaven. Theres this one girl who is probably 2 years old named Brenda who is the cutest child I have ever seen. She always has a smile on her face and will just follow you anywhere. I am so happy I will get to play with her the rest of the trip.
The people of the town are so nice as well. We were sent on a scavenger hunt today in groups and had to knock on families doors and introduce ourselves. Then we each had to bring either information or an object home, depending on our assignment. This was a great exercise, because it taught us 1) more swahili but also 2) how friendly people are here and how willing they are to invite us into our home. I am a little bit neervous when I meet people because there are so many rules as to how you are supposed to properly greet people of different ages but so far no one seems to mind if we mess up.
Ok I have to go my taxi is leaving. Hopefully I will make it to an internet cafe again soon. Kwaheri!
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