It's been such a joyful and sad week. If I had any say in it, I would stay here for the rest of summer without a doubt, but God has other plans for me back home this summer, which I'm trying to understand.
School has been so great every day this week. The kids are actually learning and remembering what I teach them, which is so gratifying as a teacher. They know all their road signs (who knew!) and have been doing a great job at spelling numbers in English. They also are able to do both addition and subtraction problems when I write them on the board side-by-side, something they could not do when I arrived. Although these are all things they would have learned eventually whether I was there or not, I like to think I had some hand in their education.
Today was my last day at Kaole and it was bittersweet. My teacher brought chapati for me that she'd made fresh that morning; it was the best chapati I'd ever had - flakey and doughy...mmm. Then, the principal asked me to come to the teacher's office. When I got there, all the teachers were sitting around the room and they went around and each person said something encouraging, expressed their thanks, or offered their blessings. My teacher went last and when she started to tear up, I lost it. I seriously could not have been blessed with a better placement or teacher. She has taught me so much and has truly shown me the hospitality and love of Tanzania. When I left at the end of the day, the students sang a goodbye song to me and then said, "kesho!," which means "tomorrow." I don't think they understand what goodbye actually means. They will probably forget me by the end of the year, but I hope they do not forget the lessons they've learned and the kindness they've felt...I know I will never forget them.
At risk of continuing to sound like a cheese-ball, I won't even begin to talk about how much I'll miss Bagamoyo and CCS yet. All I will say is that goodbyes tomorrow will be HARD. I do not want to leave. But I am trying to accept that my time here has ended, get excited for the little things back home, and remember that I'm not saying "goodbye" but "baadaye" - see you later, Bagamoyo.
Lions and Elephants and Giraffess...Oh My!
Our safari was AWESOME. It has really shown me how limited my vocabulary is, because everything I have to say about it is great, incredible, amazing, fantastic, wonderful (I'm starting to sound like Jodie...).
But it really was great. Our safari guide was named Ali Bilali (very akin to Amelia Bedelia) and he was great. His claim to fame is that he took former president George Bush on a safari when he visited Tanzania, so I told him I'd let Obama know that he should choose Bill (as we affectionately call him) when he comes to Tanzania. Everyone thinks I'm BFF's with Obama because I'm from Chicago.
I could tell you so many anecdotes about animals, but I'll try to keep this post shorter and will tell y'all stories when I'm back home. We saw a male lion, giraffes, elephants, wildebeasts, impalas, elands, crocodiles, hippos, cranes, zebras, buffalos, and so many beautiful and colorful birds. I have been impressed by God before, but I had no idea how incredibly awesome all of these new creations would be. The sunsets, sunrises, and stars were awe-inspiring...for real. I cannot even begin to describe it, so you'll just have to come to Africa and see for yourself.
I know you all are itching to see pictures of elephants next to our car, lions lazing in the grass, giraffes running, and zebra butts, but unfortunately the man who runs this internet cafe got very upset because when you upload pictures it uses a wider bandwidth. Jacky and the rest of us had no idea, but we're all trying to refrain from uploading so the internet cafe doesn't have to be shut down. For those of you making bets on how many pictures I've taken, I'll let you know that my memory card is almost entirely used up, so get excited to see all the photos on Facebook sometime next week.
In other news, school was much better today. The kids and the school really are great and I appreciate the challenges I faced last week because I feel like I have a much better perception of what goes into being a teacher in Tanzania. I'm already feeling really sad about having to leave these kids in a few days. Actually, let's not talk about that...if it weren't for graduations, Disney World, and camp, I wouldn't leave until the end of summer - without a doubt.
We found out from Mama Thea today that Mama Christine, our Home-Base Manager, was in a terrible car accident on her way home to Dar over the weekend. She was riding in a bidagi (spelling? small three-wheeled cars that are rented like taxis) and a car hit them and sent her flying. She broke her femur in several places and was left lying on the side of the road for a half an hour before anyone helped her. The car that hit them drove off immediately and the driver of the bidagi ran from the scene. Unfortunately, most people do not stop on the side of the road at night to check out situations and 911 really does not respond to situations often. A man finally did pick her up and take her to the hospital, thanks be to God, because if he hadn't she almost certainly would have bled out on the side of the road. One of the bizarre things about accidents though is that you HAVE to have a PF3 (form from the police station) before the hospital will even see you - no matter how bad your injury. Not a good system in any of our opinions. She made it to the hospital in time, though, and despite the hospital environment being very noisy and crowded, she is in good hands. She had surgery on Saturday to put pins in her leg but is still in terrible pain and will have to stay in the hospital for no less than a month. There is so much to be grateful for in this situation - that her head was not injured, that that man stopped to help her, that she is even alive today - but this is incredibly hard news for CCS. Mama Christine takes care of so much here at CCS; plus, there are approximately 33 new volunteers arriving this Saturday for the summer program. It is a very busy time of year here and without Mama Christine, there are a lot of new responsibilities for others in the program to take on. Please pray most importantly that Mama Christine's pain lessens soon and that she recovers well and quickly, but also pray that CCS finds a way to adjust to these changes in the coming months. Please also pray for her family, friends, and all the volunteers here who are all very shaken by this news.
Hopefully I'll post once more before the end of the week. Love from Baga!
PS
Kiely - I cannot WAIT for chapati in the fall with you!!!!!! It is seriously my favorite food here. We've had it two nights in a row just because I love it so much. Can we please eat it all the time back at Vandy? We should have an African food night at least once a week. Can't wait to talk with you when I get back!
But it really was great. Our safari guide was named Ali Bilali (very akin to Amelia Bedelia) and he was great. His claim to fame is that he took former president George Bush on a safari when he visited Tanzania, so I told him I'd let Obama know that he should choose Bill (as we affectionately call him) when he comes to Tanzania. Everyone thinks I'm BFF's with Obama because I'm from Chicago.
I could tell you so many anecdotes about animals, but I'll try to keep this post shorter and will tell y'all stories when I'm back home. We saw a male lion, giraffes, elephants, wildebeasts, impalas, elands, crocodiles, hippos, cranes, zebras, buffalos, and so many beautiful and colorful birds. I have been impressed by God before, but I had no idea how incredibly awesome all of these new creations would be. The sunsets, sunrises, and stars were awe-inspiring...for real. I cannot even begin to describe it, so you'll just have to come to Africa and see for yourself.
I know you all are itching to see pictures of elephants next to our car, lions lazing in the grass, giraffes running, and zebra butts, but unfortunately the man who runs this internet cafe got very upset because when you upload pictures it uses a wider bandwidth. Jacky and the rest of us had no idea, but we're all trying to refrain from uploading so the internet cafe doesn't have to be shut down. For those of you making bets on how many pictures I've taken, I'll let you know that my memory card is almost entirely used up, so get excited to see all the photos on Facebook sometime next week.
In other news, school was much better today. The kids and the school really are great and I appreciate the challenges I faced last week because I feel like I have a much better perception of what goes into being a teacher in Tanzania. I'm already feeling really sad about having to leave these kids in a few days. Actually, let's not talk about that...if it weren't for graduations, Disney World, and camp, I wouldn't leave until the end of summer - without a doubt.
We found out from Mama Thea today that Mama Christine, our Home-Base Manager, was in a terrible car accident on her way home to Dar over the weekend. She was riding in a bidagi (spelling? small three-wheeled cars that are rented like taxis) and a car hit them and sent her flying. She broke her femur in several places and was left lying on the side of the road for a half an hour before anyone helped her. The car that hit them drove off immediately and the driver of the bidagi ran from the scene. Unfortunately, most people do not stop on the side of the road at night to check out situations and 911 really does not respond to situations often. A man finally did pick her up and take her to the hospital, thanks be to God, because if he hadn't she almost certainly would have bled out on the side of the road. One of the bizarre things about accidents though is that you HAVE to have a PF3 (form from the police station) before the hospital will even see you - no matter how bad your injury. Not a good system in any of our opinions. She made it to the hospital in time, though, and despite the hospital environment being very noisy and crowded, she is in good hands. She had surgery on Saturday to put pins in her leg but is still in terrible pain and will have to stay in the hospital for no less than a month. There is so much to be grateful for in this situation - that her head was not injured, that that man stopped to help her, that she is even alive today - but this is incredibly hard news for CCS. Mama Christine takes care of so much here at CCS; plus, there are approximately 33 new volunteers arriving this Saturday for the summer program. It is a very busy time of year here and without Mama Christine, there are a lot of new responsibilities for others in the program to take on. Please pray most importantly that Mama Christine's pain lessens soon and that she recovers well and quickly, but also pray that CCS finds a way to adjust to these changes in the coming months. Please also pray for her family, friends, and all the volunteers here who are all very shaken by this news.
Hopefully I'll post once more before the end of the week. Love from Baga!
PS
Kiely - I cannot WAIT for chapati in the fall with you!!!!!! It is seriously my favorite food here. We've had it two nights in a row just because I love it so much. Can we please eat it all the time back at Vandy? We should have an African food night at least once a week. Can't wait to talk with you when I get back!
Watakula? Hawatakula? Napenda Africa!
Mambo!
Jacky is playing Celine Dion in the internet cafe right now, just in case you were wondering.
What a week it has been. Africa has been teaching me so much more than I could have anticipated. One of the hardest challenges this week was in the classroom. My teacher was not at school on Wednesday or Thursday because she was elected to proctor exams in the Standard 7 classes at Mbaruku, one of the primary schools in Bagamoyo. However, I didn't not find out about her absence until I arrived at school on Wednesday. I had lessons prepared for English and Math, but she had not left me with any plan for Swahili lessons or a schedule for the day. It was a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" type of day, for sure. Unfortunately, I was in a lose lose situation: I didn't have enough planned for the day and the kids did not want to listen to me. I left at the end of the day so disappointed in myself for not being able to effectively use my time or engage the kids. It was definitely a huge let-down and something I did not expect, since I thought I had been trained well to be able to lead a class.
My teacher wasn't there today, either, but thankfully I knew ahead of time and could prepare better. However, the kids behaved worse today and would not listen to me. The difficult part of the situation is that they really only respond to getting hit, whether by hand or by stick, which I will not do. One of the kids even came up to me and motioned for me to hit a kid who was not listening. It's such a hard situation because yelling (in Swahili or in English) does not work, giving time-outs do not work, telling them to be silent or else does not work, taking away fun things does not work. The only time they did listen and pay attention was when another teacher would stop in the room because they know the other teachers may hit them if they do not listen. The students in my class are smart and motivated, but they don't respond well to basic discipline. It was very difficult to be patient and not get frustrated with them. However, we ended on a good note and they seemed very attentive and excited to draw faces and people at the end of the day.
I thought it would be a lot easier to lead the class by myself this week because it had been going so well thusfar. However, the language barrier for kids at this age is so great that it makes it nearly impossible for me to effectively explain new concepts. Knowing only three or so key phrases for keeping the peace in the classroom is difficult, too, because they get tired of hearing "acha kelele" and "kaa chini" every two minutes. I am greatly looking forward to being back with my teacher on Monday!
Speaking of the end of the week, I'm very excited for this upcoming weekend because we're going on a safari! The six of us (Emily, Melica, Jiyoung, Jill, Kara, and me) are leaving at 8am tomorrow for Mikumi National Park. We've been told we'll see a lot of elephants, zebras, giraffes, impalas, baboons, warthogs, wildebeasts, and maybe even a lion. I am SO excited and can't wait to share pictures when I get back!
Africa truly still is great, despite the challenges it may present. Please do not be dismayed by this post!
PS -
Shoutout to all Chacos owners: I officially have my first Chacos tan. Could not love these sandals more.
Jenny: I hope Honors and Awards is fun tomorrow and I can't wait to see all your band awards - congrats!
Dad: will let you know how cool the stars are out in the bush this weekend. Orion is still tilted on his head. And I know I didn't bring back any monkeys from Jozani, but I might have to bring back an elephant from Mikumi...do you think that'd fit on the plane?
Kiely: thank you so much for all your encouraging comments! I can't wait to come back and share stories and pictures with you! Still waiting to see Tuma and give him your letter, but I'll make sure he gets it before I leave.
From Tanz to Zanz
Al-Johari Hotel - Emily, Tessa, and Melica in our room
ADPis in Zanz!
Colobus monkey just saying hi to my shoe
The Zanz group in our lounge overlooking the ocean
Neighborhood kids in Baga - they asked me to "piga picha" and then wanted to make funny faces. I couldn't resist :)
-----
Zanzibar was an adventure, to say the least. We stayed at the Al-Johari hotel in the middle of Stone Town and were actually the only people staying there, so the staff was very accomodating and catered to our needs. The hotel was very nice - it had an antique feeling to it, but is new within the last year or so. There was a restaurant/bar/lounge area on the top floor that looked out over a few buildings and ocean surrounding the whole area - it was a breathtaking view! The island itself was so neat and different from anywhere I've been before. It is 99% Muslim and the architecture was very Arabic - it was like being in a cross of Africa and the Middle East.
Stone Town itself was a bit overwhelming. Because it's a very touristy area, the locals are quite assertive, pushy, and not very polite. We became very good at saying "hapana" and "acha" while we were there! We met a few friends on the ferry ride from Dar to Stone Town, too, one of whom was a Maasai Warrior. He was very cool and fun to get to know (and who else can say they have a friend who has personally killed two lions with spears just to protect his cows?).
Unfortunately while we were there, Jill got pretty sick and spent a lot of time recovering from a stomach bug. But God is good (as Mama C said He would be) and she was feeling much better by Sunday, so we got to stay on the island (and avoid hospitals) and explore a bit. She found a great place about a 30 minute drive away from Stone Town called Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park in her guide book. For only 10,000 TSH, we got our own personal guide and were able to hike around the forest in the park. The highlight of our visit was being surrounded by young colobus monkeys playing in the trees. They literally were surrounding us and would even brush against our feet as they ran across the path - so cool! I have fulfilled my life dream to have a monkey now.
And just to prove what a small world it really is, our group was out at this wonderful Italian/African restaurant called La Fenice, which is right on the beach in Stone Town, on Saturday night when a girl came up to me and said, "Karen?" Guess who was there?? Rachel, Emily, and Leah - three of my ADPi sisters who are also volunteering in Zanzibar this month! Despite failed text messages and bad connections, we were still able to see each other which was so great! It was fun to see some friendly faces halfway around the world.
The best part of our Zanzibar trip was realizing how much we missed "home," as in Bagamoyo. All of us couldn't wait to get home Sunday night to peaceful, friendly Bagamoyo with the staff at the home base. We really did miss it (and we missed all the free water).
Not much has happened since our Zanzibar trip, except for catching up on sleep and preparing for a week of school. I had the best morning at school this morning, though. It was a pretty usual day, but I decided to walk home after school. My school is about 5km from Bagamoyo and I usually get picked up by the CCS van every day. However, I decided to walk home today because the road to the Kaole School is beautiful (high up overlooking the ocean) and I knew I would appreciate the exercise. Walking home also meant that I got to stay a half-hour longer at school, which meant finishing out the kids' school day and getting to call roll at the end of the day. I'm starting to remember several kids' names which is great! When I left school, one of the girls looked at me questioningly wondering where the van was, but once the kids realized I was walking home, a huge group came running up to me and grabbed my hands and arms to walk with me. I love the kids here - they all have such big hearts and just want to be loved. The walk home went well, was long (about an hour), and was super sweaty. This afternoon, we had "family swim day" at the Millenium Hotel, which is a resort here in Bagamoyo. It was fun to teach the staff how to swim, play games with them, and then see the beach - I have to say I think it was even more beautiful than the beaches we saw in Zanzibar!
Thank you for all your prayers and encouraging comments. It comforts me so much to know I have people thinking of me halfway around the world and taking part in my stories and adventures. Tutaonana!
Hakuna Matata! (which really does mean "no worries" in Swahili)
Hi friends!
Wow - every day is so packed full of greatness here. I feel like I'm living with 40 hours in a day. I seriously experience so many new things each day that I don't know where the time is coming from.
School is GREAT. I am teaching at the Kaole Primary School, about 5km from our home base, in the preclass (5 and 6 year olds - my favorite age). The teacher I'm paired with is called Timothy after her first born son (pronounced "tee-moht"). She is wonderful and so organized, which is a rarity from what I've heard from other volunteers. Each day, I teach English (letters, ABCs, words that correspond with each letter, and a "letter-of-the-day"), Math (numbers kwa Kiswahili and kwa Kingereza - in Swahili and English, adding, and we're starting on subtraction next week), and Drawing/Sports/Music (we drew a flower and have been learning the "hokey pokey"). Timothy also teaches Kiswahili to the kids when I'm there while I observe. It is such a treat to be paired with such a great teacher and class. I have learned so much about the educational system here; it differs a lot from the educational system in the US. The kids are allowed so much more freedom but are expected to be responsible for themselves and others. They may talk, stand up, hit each other, or squirm during class, but they do not disrupt the rest of the class and genuinely love to learn. During break time, they are allowed to run around the grounds wherever they want and are not supervised by any adults. Sometimes they even run away from the school, maybe to visit home, but come back for the next lesson. The system they have at this school works well, which surprised me at first but I really like it now. One thing I do not agree with in the educational system in Tanzania in general is the use of corporal punishment, which while illegal, is still widely used throughout the country. Thankfully, I have not witnessed the use of it yet, but other volunteers have. It's an interesting topic to discuss with teachers here. One response I received about why they do it is "because it's just the easiest/quickest."
On an entirely different note, the ride to and from school each day is beyond beautiful. The road runs right along the ocean, but up several hundred feet. The waters here are so blue and the breeze this time of year is so comfortable. I'm hoping to begin walking home from school next week so I can enjoy it even more. I even saw a camel walking down the road yesterday - whoa!
Outside of school each morning, I have been having a great time at the home base with the other volunteers. We've had a lot of great cultural activities this week, from learning about family/culture in Bagamoyo on Tuesday, to visiting a secondary school and learning about the educational system in Tanzania on Wednesday, to drumming/carving/beading yesterday. The family we visited on Tuesday lived in a compound because the husband, a Muslim, had four wives, whose children all have children now. It was a gigantic family, but the reason they've all stayed together is because they all make music together. They even have a group that has travelled internationally - Chibite (I think...). After visiting with them for a while, they broke out into impromptu song and dance for us. It was SO cool! I have never seen anyone perform with more enthusiasm and pure joy. They were great. Some of us are going to go back next week to see them again and try some of the instruments. Seeing all this African music firsthand is so much cooler than learning about it in my World Music class. Yesterday, the men from the Arts Centre came to the home base to teach us drumming, carving, and beading. It was awesome to learn from them. And I have fallen even more in love with the djembe (a drum), and will probably buy one if I can figure out how to get it home.
This weekend, nine of us are travelling to Zanzibar. I'm really excited for a new cultural experience and to get some time to just relax! I've heard it's so beautiful there, so I can't wait to see it.
In other REALLY big news, I ate watermelon and pineapple for the first time ever this week. In fact, I have had watermelon multiple times since then. I also eat oatmeal every day. So no one can make fun of me for being picky now.
Also, I have learned that "duck, duck, goose" is just as traditional a kids game here as it is in America, but instead they call it "rafiki, rafiki, simba" - "friend, friend, lion"! Who knew it was such an international game?
I know I am forgetting to mention essential bits of news that I wanted to talk about in this, but I have to go get ready to leave for Zanzibar! Love you all!
PS - some shoutouts:
*J^2 - have fun at PROM this weekend!!!!! Be safe :)
*Kiely - sorry that I forgot where you volunteered! Kara is teaching at Mbaruku and loves it!
*Mandy - HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAYYYYYYY!!!!!! Sorry I won't be there, but we will celebrate for sure when I get back!
For now, that is all. Baadaye!
Wow - every day is so packed full of greatness here. I feel like I'm living with 40 hours in a day. I seriously experience so many new things each day that I don't know where the time is coming from.
School is GREAT. I am teaching at the Kaole Primary School, about 5km from our home base, in the preclass (5 and 6 year olds - my favorite age). The teacher I'm paired with is called Timothy after her first born son (pronounced "tee-moht"). She is wonderful and so organized, which is a rarity from what I've heard from other volunteers. Each day, I teach English (letters, ABCs, words that correspond with each letter, and a "letter-of-the-day"), Math (numbers kwa Kiswahili and kwa Kingereza - in Swahili and English, adding, and we're starting on subtraction next week), and Drawing/Sports/Music (we drew a flower and have been learning the "hokey pokey"). Timothy also teaches Kiswahili to the kids when I'm there while I observe. It is such a treat to be paired with such a great teacher and class. I have learned so much about the educational system here; it differs a lot from the educational system in the US. The kids are allowed so much more freedom but are expected to be responsible for themselves and others. They may talk, stand up, hit each other, or squirm during class, but they do not disrupt the rest of the class and genuinely love to learn. During break time, they are allowed to run around the grounds wherever they want and are not supervised by any adults. Sometimes they even run away from the school, maybe to visit home, but come back for the next lesson. The system they have at this school works well, which surprised me at first but I really like it now. One thing I do not agree with in the educational system in Tanzania in general is the use of corporal punishment, which while illegal, is still widely used throughout the country. Thankfully, I have not witnessed the use of it yet, but other volunteers have. It's an interesting topic to discuss with teachers here. One response I received about why they do it is "because it's just the easiest/quickest."
On an entirely different note, the ride to and from school each day is beyond beautiful. The road runs right along the ocean, but up several hundred feet. The waters here are so blue and the breeze this time of year is so comfortable. I'm hoping to begin walking home from school next week so I can enjoy it even more. I even saw a camel walking down the road yesterday - whoa!
Outside of school each morning, I have been having a great time at the home base with the other volunteers. We've had a lot of great cultural activities this week, from learning about family/culture in Bagamoyo on Tuesday, to visiting a secondary school and learning about the educational system in Tanzania on Wednesday, to drumming/carving/beading yesterday. The family we visited on Tuesday lived in a compound because the husband, a Muslim, had four wives, whose children all have children now. It was a gigantic family, but the reason they've all stayed together is because they all make music together. They even have a group that has travelled internationally - Chibite (I think...). After visiting with them for a while, they broke out into impromptu song and dance for us. It was SO cool! I have never seen anyone perform with more enthusiasm and pure joy. They were great. Some of us are going to go back next week to see them again and try some of the instruments. Seeing all this African music firsthand is so much cooler than learning about it in my World Music class. Yesterday, the men from the Arts Centre came to the home base to teach us drumming, carving, and beading. It was awesome to learn from them. And I have fallen even more in love with the djembe (a drum), and will probably buy one if I can figure out how to get it home.
This weekend, nine of us are travelling to Zanzibar. I'm really excited for a new cultural experience and to get some time to just relax! I've heard it's so beautiful there, so I can't wait to see it.
In other REALLY big news, I ate watermelon and pineapple for the first time ever this week. In fact, I have had watermelon multiple times since then. I also eat oatmeal every day. So no one can make fun of me for being picky now.
Also, I have learned that "duck, duck, goose" is just as traditional a kids game here as it is in America, but instead they call it "rafiki, rafiki, simba" - "friend, friend, lion"! Who knew it was such an international game?
I know I am forgetting to mention essential bits of news that I wanted to talk about in this, but I have to go get ready to leave for Zanzibar! Love you all!
PS - some shoutouts:
*J^2 - have fun at PROM this weekend!!!!! Be safe :)
*Kiely - sorry that I forgot where you volunteered! Kara is teaching at Mbaruku and loves it!
*Mandy - HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAYYYYYYY!!!!!! Sorry I won't be there, but we will celebrate for sure when I get back!
For now, that is all. Baadaye!
Naweza Piga Picha?
Drumming and singing at the Arts Centre
Baobob tree at Kaole Ruins
Our neighbors :)
It is super helpful that "can I take your picture" sounds very similar in Kingeleza and Kiswahili.
Much love and will post again another day!
Four Continents, Two Days
Habari za mchana! (Good afternoon!),
I love Africa. That is an understatement. I love love love it here!
I left Glenview for Africa on Thursday night. Three flights, two long layovers, and four continents later, I was in Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. My travels went flawlessly, none of my flights were late, and all of my baggage arrived with me in Dar...PTL (a Fuchsism.."praise the Lord," which I sure am doing a lot of lately). I spent 9 hours in Heathrow Airport in London and 5 hours in the Dubai International Airport in the UAE. Dubai was such an intriguing place - so much different than I expected but definitely some place I would be interested in returning to. Also, if you ever have the chance to fly on Emirates Airlines, do it! I have never been on a more luxurious economy class flight. We had 190+ movies and TV station, five course meals, and lot of leg room. Five of us from my program met up in Dubai for our last flight and met the other seven volunteers when we arrived at Dar.
Saturday evening was laid back. We arrived in Bagamoyo by van right before dinner time, ate dinner, and got to know each other the rest of the night. The food here is amazing! This may surprise you, as many of you think I'm a picky eater. But here I have tried practically everything and enjoyed all of it. African food is unique and incredibly delicious. The CCS property is so home-y and wonderful. I am staying in the Main House in a single room with half of the volunteers, and the other half are across the street in the Annex House, but we all share meals and free time together.
Sunday was an adventurous day. Unfortunately, I threw up my entire breakfast that morning because I took my anti-malaria pills before eating (but at least I don't have malaria!). After orientation all morning, the whole group went on a tour of Bagamoyo by van. We visited the fish market and beach, a couple of art markets, the Caravan Serai, and the Kaole Ruins. My school is right down the street from the school I am working at, so we saw that on the way.
This morning, we were sent on a mission to meet the neighbors. Tessa and I were told to go to the Arts Centre down the street. Kids can take art classes there, stay there, or just hang out. Melica and Emily, two of the other volunteers, were also brought there by the neighbors they were visiting. The best part of the whole experience? When impromptu drumming, dancing, and singing started. Not only that, but we knew the first song they sang - in Swahili! We got to play the drums with them and learn some dance moves and new songs. It was poa sana (very cool!).
We got to eat lunch and meet with our Partner Programs today. All of the Partners came to CCS for lunch and then we split off and got to talk with the people we'll be working with. I met with Timoth and Msomba from the Kaole School and they told me that I will likely be teaching in their preschool or Standard 1 (grade 1), which means 5-7 year olds. I am elated about that and can't wait to go tomorrow for my first day! We also had our first formal Swahili lesson today, though we've already begun to pick up on Swahili from our staff and meeting others around town. I can have a basic conversation with someone now (or at least ask them how their day is going and introduce myself). Swahili is such a beautiful language and I can't wait to learn more and use it more.
For now, that is all. I forgot my camera cord when I came to the internet cafe, so unfortunately I cannot post any pictures, but I will try to get back soon. Love you all!
PS - Africa is WAY cooler than Africa in the Animal Kingdom at Disney World. And real Baobob trees are WAY cooler than the Tree of Life in Disney World.
PPS - just a few shout-outs to everyone at home:
- Jenny - good luck on AP's tomorrow!!!
- Scharmy - hope you got back from France okay and are adjusting back to the US - I was sad I couldn't be there at the airport when you arrived!
- Erica Nimri - girl, I thought of you ALL the time when I was in Dubai! Everything is in Arabic there and I couldn't understand any of it, but I knew you would.
- Joe - news on Nine?? You have to let me know!
- Kiely - Tuma is on leave until the 30th, which is when I leave! I will try to leave your letter here for him, though. Also, we have two volunteers at the Imuma Orphanage (that's where you were, right?), so I will get news on how things are going there!
I love Africa. That is an understatement. I love love love it here!
I left Glenview for Africa on Thursday night. Three flights, two long layovers, and four continents later, I was in Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. My travels went flawlessly, none of my flights were late, and all of my baggage arrived with me in Dar...PTL (a Fuchsism.."praise the Lord," which I sure am doing a lot of lately). I spent 9 hours in Heathrow Airport in London and 5 hours in the Dubai International Airport in the UAE. Dubai was such an intriguing place - so much different than I expected but definitely some place I would be interested in returning to. Also, if you ever have the chance to fly on Emirates Airlines, do it! I have never been on a more luxurious economy class flight. We had 190+ movies and TV station, five course meals, and lot of leg room. Five of us from my program met up in Dubai for our last flight and met the other seven volunteers when we arrived at Dar.
Saturday evening was laid back. We arrived in Bagamoyo by van right before dinner time, ate dinner, and got to know each other the rest of the night. The food here is amazing! This may surprise you, as many of you think I'm a picky eater. But here I have tried practically everything and enjoyed all of it. African food is unique and incredibly delicious. The CCS property is so home-y and wonderful. I am staying in the Main House in a single room with half of the volunteers, and the other half are across the street in the Annex House, but we all share meals and free time together.
Sunday was an adventurous day. Unfortunately, I threw up my entire breakfast that morning because I took my anti-malaria pills before eating (but at least I don't have malaria!). After orientation all morning, the whole group went on a tour of Bagamoyo by van. We visited the fish market and beach, a couple of art markets, the Caravan Serai, and the Kaole Ruins. My school is right down the street from the school I am working at, so we saw that on the way.
This morning, we were sent on a mission to meet the neighbors. Tessa and I were told to go to the Arts Centre down the street. Kids can take art classes there, stay there, or just hang out. Melica and Emily, two of the other volunteers, were also brought there by the neighbors they were visiting. The best part of the whole experience? When impromptu drumming, dancing, and singing started. Not only that, but we knew the first song they sang - in Swahili! We got to play the drums with them and learn some dance moves and new songs. It was poa sana (very cool!).
We got to eat lunch and meet with our Partner Programs today. All of the Partners came to CCS for lunch and then we split off and got to talk with the people we'll be working with. I met with Timoth and Msomba from the Kaole School and they told me that I will likely be teaching in their preschool or Standard 1 (grade 1), which means 5-7 year olds. I am elated about that and can't wait to go tomorrow for my first day! We also had our first formal Swahili lesson today, though we've already begun to pick up on Swahili from our staff and meeting others around town. I can have a basic conversation with someone now (or at least ask them how their day is going and introduce myself). Swahili is such a beautiful language and I can't wait to learn more and use it more.
For now, that is all. I forgot my camera cord when I came to the internet cafe, so unfortunately I cannot post any pictures, but I will try to get back soon. Love you all!
PS - Africa is WAY cooler than Africa in the Animal Kingdom at Disney World. And real Baobob trees are WAY cooler than the Tree of Life in Disney World.
PPS - just a few shout-outs to everyone at home:
- Jenny - good luck on AP's tomorrow!!!
- Scharmy - hope you got back from France okay and are adjusting back to the US - I was sad I couldn't be there at the airport when you arrived!
- Erica Nimri - girl, I thought of you ALL the time when I was in Dubai! Everything is in Arabic there and I couldn't understand any of it, but I knew you would.
- Joe - news on Nine?? You have to let me know!
- Kiely - Tuma is on leave until the 30th, which is when I leave! I will try to leave your letter here for him, though. Also, we have two volunteers at the Imuma Orphanage (that's where you were, right?), so I will get news on how things are going there!
Three More Days...
Jambo rafiki!
Hello friends! Welcome to my blog. As many of you already know, I am leaving for Bagamoyo, Tanzania on Thursday and will be there through the end of May. I will be volunteering with an organization called Cross Cultural Solutions. Although the program has many different placements, I will be working at the Kaole School, a secondary ed school in rural Tanzania. I'm really excited about this trip and know that God will use it to show me great things! Please pray that all my travels would go safely and that I have the opportunity to build new relationships with the other volunteers and with the locals I meet in Bagamoyo.
I will (hopefully) update this blog frequently while I'm in Tanzania. I've been told that there's an internet cafe right in town, so I hope I will have the opportunity to post stories and pictures often.
Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement, and support! See y'all in June! :)
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