Thank you for all who have been following my Tanzania blog and I apologize for not blogging more but my internet access was limited! I'm back safely in the states and feel as if I could write a whole book about my experiences but I'll just simply update you on the past week or so!
So Samaritans Village Orphanage was on two Saturdays ago. It was quite different from Rehama's...actually quite depressing and hard to be there. 27 kids live at the orphanage and it was apparent they do not get the attention they need/deserve. They were fighting for time with each of us and acting out because of it. They were mean to one another, always making each other cry. We brought them huge bags of gifts which slowly seemed to disappear because kids were hiding them places in their rooms - survival mode for them. Some of the younger kids were even peeing themselves wherever and whenever and no one noticed...this was one of the most emotional days for me because it was so difficult to see the kids lacking they love and affection they need; and then seeing how their behavior has been affected. I fell in love with John, a boy who could not speak but could understand everything I said. I spent most of the day with him which was more of a blessing then I could ask for. We slept at the village in the visitors house and then attended a 3 hour church service the next morning that was all in Kiswahili...hard to understand!
I got a new roommate and new homestay. It was so hard to say goodbye to my first homestay but I knew I would see them again. My second homestay was very different from the first. I grew to liking them more as the week went on but never felt quite at home like I did with the first one. At one point I felt homesick from my homestay :) The second family was extremely patriarchal so it was interesting to observe this difference. I did get my bucket showers which was nice! I was able to go to my first families house after school one day and spend the afternoon/evening with them! They were so excited to have 4 daughters that night :)
The last week of school was so fun and much better than the first. We finally felt as if we understood our roles in the classroom and the teachers did not just leave whenever; instead they provided more direction as to what we were supposed to be teaching (instead of just saying, teacher whatever you want). All 75 students I had were in one classroom all week so it was pretty chaotic but I got many laughs out of it. The last day of school was Friday and different grades put on performances for us all. The show was like over an hour long and the dancing and singing was the most amazing and beautiful thing ever. All of us were in tears that whole day. We are the first group to EVER spend an extended amount of time at their school. I think it is safe to say that we made an impact at St. Margret's.
Friday night we became tourists which is always a weird transition but we were ready for a break from the craziness. Saturday we went on a walking safari in Arusha National Park which has the most beautiful scenery. We walked with warthogs, giraffes and cape buffalo (our guide had to load his gun because they were becoming angry!). We walked to a waterfall and all jumped in together too. Saturday we shopped at a market then went to Moses's house for a bbq which was so much fun!
Sunday we left for safari to the national park I had been to before! We stayed at the same tented camps so it was neat to be back there again. We safaried Sunday night, Monday morning/early afternoon and Monday evening. The group bonded even more, we saw all kinds of animals including lions and a cheetah kill! Our driver let us enjoy beer the last night on the safari so it got a little wild including getting out of the cruiser and being able to pick up a huge turtle :)
Our last day in Tanzania we got taken out to a rural Masai Village and welcomed by the elder. We sat in their traditional mud (cow dung) hut and introduced ourselves to about 15 Masai, and then they introduced themselves to us. They were dressed in their beautiful attire and had the most breathtaking faces. They prepared an activity for us which included milking goats! So we went outside with the Masai and they helped us milk goats...following, we got to drink the goat milk (please God I hope I don't get sick)! It was one of the most AMAZING experiences I have ever had and felt so welcomed by the people. Two of them spoke English and one of them even asked for my phone number...so funny! We said our goodbyes and went on our way!
Leaving Tanzania was very hard. Our group of 10 bonded so well and I am so grateful for all the new friendships that came out of this trip. Traveling and working beside 9 others who share my same passion for teaching was so special. The experiences I had were rich and moving and simply reinforced my love and desire to someday live or work in Tanzania. I'm overwhelmed by the joyfulness I had while I was there and will soon be planning my next visit there which will be more long term :) Thank you for supporting me in this journey and I look forward to sharing more with you all...
Love you,
Analisa
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
quick quick update!
I'm at Moses's house for the evening just hanging out. Unfortunatley, today there were riots in town about political elections (there was one last week, 3 people got shot and today was the funeral so there were more riots). Don't worry thought! I am safe :)
The past few days:
Saturday: drove 3 works to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Rode in the back of a pick up for 20 minutues up windy roads to the base. Thought we were going on a 2-3 hike...turned out to be 7 hours! Made it 12,000 feet elevation and half of Mt. Kilimanjaro...
Sunday: Spent the WHOLE day @ Rehama's orphanage!a So great to see her new place. we cried when we saw each other...and the kids remembered me so they ran toward me :) It was a very special day! At night went back to my first homestay
Monday and Tuesday: First days at school...crazy, unorganized and hectic. I am in a grade 2 classroom which is like our 2nd grade. I had 45 kids the first day. The teachers leave the class when they feel so the kids sit and wait...they told me to teach whatever I wanted so I had to wing it for awhile...taught them lots and lots of songs, gave them materials and read them books aloud! Hopefully it will be more organized the rest of the week!
Wednesday: No SCHOOL! Went to the butcher with host family...went to a HUGE market and got fruits and veggies. Learned how to make chapate my favorite african food! Taught my host family how to make brownies :) Went to a Masai market and was with 3,000 or so Masai warriors...my host family bought me masai shoes that are made out of tires...they also took us to a bar where they bought us a whole bottle of Konyagi (african gin) and we drank it! Now I'm hanging at Moses's!
Tomorrow and Friday I have school then off to Samartian's Village Orphanage!
I can explain how happy i am here...i absolutely love it. All the time I find myself thinking...what am i doing sitting in the yard of a family who has never hosted an american girl...? But I love it and they have been such a blessing. When I have to leave them I just might cry :(
love you all!
The past few days:
Saturday: drove 3 works to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Rode in the back of a pick up for 20 minutues up windy roads to the base. Thought we were going on a 2-3 hike...turned out to be 7 hours! Made it 12,000 feet elevation and half of Mt. Kilimanjaro...
Sunday: Spent the WHOLE day @ Rehama's orphanage!a So great to see her new place. we cried when we saw each other...and the kids remembered me so they ran toward me :) It was a very special day! At night went back to my first homestay
Monday and Tuesday: First days at school...crazy, unorganized and hectic. I am in a grade 2 classroom which is like our 2nd grade. I had 45 kids the first day. The teachers leave the class when they feel so the kids sit and wait...they told me to teach whatever I wanted so I had to wing it for awhile...taught them lots and lots of songs, gave them materials and read them books aloud! Hopefully it will be more organized the rest of the week!
Wednesday: No SCHOOL! Went to the butcher with host family...went to a HUGE market and got fruits and veggies. Learned how to make chapate my favorite african food! Taught my host family how to make brownies :) Went to a Masai market and was with 3,000 or so Masai warriors...my host family bought me masai shoes that are made out of tires...they also took us to a bar where they bought us a whole bottle of Konyagi (african gin) and we drank it! Now I'm hanging at Moses's!
Tomorrow and Friday I have school then off to Samartian's Village Orphanage!
I can explain how happy i am here...i absolutely love it. All the time I find myself thinking...what am i doing sitting in the yard of a family who has never hosted an american girl...? But I love it and they have been such a blessing. When I have to leave them I just might cry :(
love you all!
Friday, January 7, 2011
ALIVE
Hi friends and family,
I am in Tanzania...it is Friday night at 11:40 and we are just relaxing in our hotel! This was my second full day in the beautiful country of Tanzania and it feels like I have been here 1 week! After 19 hours on the plane I was finally able to get some sleep. Upon arrival in our hotel at 11:30 pm, the kind workers had a dinner prepared for us which came to no surprise! Our first morning the group ventured into downtown Arusha and made lots of friends with the locals! We met our host families for the first night and shared tea with them which is a common thing to do! My host mama and baba took my roommate and I to their beautiful home. We spent the evening there helping prepare traditional African food and sharing stories about our countires. I was automaticlaly reminded of the genorisity of the Tanzanain peope and how hospitile they are. After waking up at 4 am to an animal in my suitcase, my roomate and I bathed in a bucket and ate breakfast. Our host mom and all the other host families said they had a surprise for us. Little did we know that the surprise would result in a 3 hour drive to Kilimanjaro National Park for a picnic...yes, a picnic. About 3o family members jammed in the bus with us for 3 hours and we ate a wonderful meal at the base of Kili. We bonded quickly when thunder showers forced us to huddle together under a small shelter! It was quite the surprise. I enjoyed the drive because we passed through a town called Himo which I visited in my previous trip to Tanzania. I felt right at home! Once getting back to our hotel, we ventured back into the town into a local market which was quite the experience to say the least...
Everything is going extremely well...tomorrow we head to Kilimanjaro to hike the base of the mountain and then Sunday we are going to spend the day at Rehamas orphanage. I miss you all so much! I am doing very well and feel as if this is a second home!
I am in Tanzania...it is Friday night at 11:40 and we are just relaxing in our hotel! This was my second full day in the beautiful country of Tanzania and it feels like I have been here 1 week! After 19 hours on the plane I was finally able to get some sleep. Upon arrival in our hotel at 11:30 pm, the kind workers had a dinner prepared for us which came to no surprise! Our first morning the group ventured into downtown Arusha and made lots of friends with the locals! We met our host families for the first night and shared tea with them which is a common thing to do! My host mama and baba took my roommate and I to their beautiful home. We spent the evening there helping prepare traditional African food and sharing stories about our countires. I was automaticlaly reminded of the genorisity of the Tanzanain peope and how hospitile they are. After waking up at 4 am to an animal in my suitcase, my roomate and I bathed in a bucket and ate breakfast. Our host mom and all the other host families said they had a surprise for us. Little did we know that the surprise would result in a 3 hour drive to Kilimanjaro National Park for a picnic...yes, a picnic. About 3o family members jammed in the bus with us for 3 hours and we ate a wonderful meal at the base of Kili. We bonded quickly when thunder showers forced us to huddle together under a small shelter! It was quite the surprise. I enjoyed the drive because we passed through a town called Himo which I visited in my previous trip to Tanzania. I felt right at home! Once getting back to our hotel, we ventured back into the town into a local market which was quite the experience to say the least...
Everything is going extremely well...tomorrow we head to Kilimanjaro to hike the base of the mountain and then Sunday we are going to spend the day at Rehamas orphanage. I miss you all so much! I am doing very well and feel as if this is a second home!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Off to Africa...
Two years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania in Eastern Africa for Jan Term with Whitworth. Tomorrow, I am flying out of SeaTac and heading back to the beautiful land of Africa! I have been blessed with the opportunity to go as a TA on a multicultural education trip. The main focus on the trip will be placed on teaching in a private school. I will act as a 4th, 5th or 6th grade teacher and learn the education system of Tanzania. I'm unsure of what my role will be through out the month but ready for anything! When I'm not teaching in the school I will be staying in home stays with families of the kids who attend St. Margaret's Academy. Home stays are always the most intriguing part as they provide a great chance to learn and understand the way of life of the Tanzanian culture. Last time I was in Tanzania, I enjoyed learning how to milk a cow...a wonder what this trip will present itself with!
Besides teaching, we will be helping out at two orphanages, both of which I have been to before. I am really looking forward to seeing the children again and reconnecting with them. I hope they remember me! I will also be climbing the first part of Mt. Kilimanjaro, going to the Serengeti Plains for a safari and traveling out to a remote Masai village. This month will be an adventure to say the least. I'm very excited to continue to learn more about the Tanzanian culture and be immersed once again in the country. I know this will be a life changing experience and I'm anxious to see what God has to reveal to me on this journey. I will miss all of you so much and because my Internet access will be limited, I will probably only update this a couple times to let you know I am alive :) Thank you for all your support and prayers and I look forward to sharing my stories with you when I am back!
Asante Sana,
Analisa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)