First Post: I'm in Tanzania!
`
Hello everyone!
First off, I'd like to clear the air on this blog about the "thank you to the following donors" entries. In the months leading up to this trip I have greatly neglected this blog, and thus have not kept an updated list of donors and sponsors let alone other things like tell you all my placement, random factoids, any of that. And for that, I apologize. When I get home I will formally recognize all of you.
Well, here I am! The 30-or-so-hour journey was suprisingly pleasent. Here is an edited version of my journal entries regarding it:
"I'm excited and nervous and anxious and tired all at once. I definately do not feel prepared...everything's happened so fast. My Swahili is nowhere near where it should be (I barely studied at all prior to my departure), and I didn't bring any teaching materials (I found out upon my arrival at Home Base that there are stacks and stacks of materials from past volunteers, and I'm more than set).
Many of us met up in Amsterdam, and I got to know several of my fellow volunteers even before that 8-hour flight to Kilimanjaro.
Being in the international terminal of an airport, on an international flight, is pretty awesome. Everywhere there are different accents, different languages, different dress. In the terminal I sat next to two men from Kenya, on their way home. I was too shy to strike up a conversation, unfortunately, so I just listened to them talk. The airline instructions were done first in Dutch, and then English. With my limited background in German, I understood a bit (the languages are very similar)."
I've had a full day here now. The accomidations are remarkable...far superior to what you'd expect. I'm pretty sure 90% of American college dorm rooms are nowhere near as nice as our rooms. There are four volunteers to each room, and each room has a shower, sink, and toilet (all in their own little rooms!). We have our own cubbies to lock our valuables, and limited space to hang things. Each bed, top and bottom bunks, has a mosquito net, though the mosquitos have been extremely light...I have one or two bites, and I was outside all evening today. The home is beautiful, as are the grounds.
Today, we had a full day of just orientation. We took the van into the town Moshi, looking at the various crafts and finding out where key places are such as the ATM, exchange, post office, etc. are. We had various meetings about policies, free time, getting to know each other, etc.
The people here are so warm and friendly! Every child we pass on the road waves at us and shouts "Hujambo!" They are all so beautiful and happy. I cannot wait to start my placement (I will elaborate on that later, but I have been placed in Hope Nursery teaching English to 4-6 year olds), which will happen Tuesday. Tomorrow we have another day of orientation.
I am surrounded by a fantastic group of people from all over...England, Canada, and states spanning clear across the US. They all have such interesting lives and stories to tell.
I am using the computer in the Home Base, which is only supposed to be used for quick emails, so I will end this here. When I get a chance I will use an Internet Cafe and tell you of my next experiences. Thanks again, everyone! Asante Sana!
Hello everyone!
First off, I'd like to clear the air on this blog about the "thank you to the following donors" entries. In the months leading up to this trip I have greatly neglected this blog, and thus have not kept an updated list of donors and sponsors let alone other things like tell you all my placement, random factoids, any of that. And for that, I apologize. When I get home I will formally recognize all of you.
Well, here I am! The 30-or-so-hour journey was suprisingly pleasent. Here is an edited version of my journal entries regarding it:
"I'm excited and nervous and anxious and tired all at once. I definately do not feel prepared...everything's happened so fast. My Swahili is nowhere near where it should be (I barely studied at all prior to my departure), and I didn't bring any teaching materials (I found out upon my arrival at Home Base that there are stacks and stacks of materials from past volunteers, and I'm more than set).
Many of us met up in Amsterdam, and I got to know several of my fellow volunteers even before that 8-hour flight to Kilimanjaro.
Being in the international terminal of an airport, on an international flight, is pretty awesome. Everywhere there are different accents, different languages, different dress. In the terminal I sat next to two men from Kenya, on their way home. I was too shy to strike up a conversation, unfortunately, so I just listened to them talk. The airline instructions were done first in Dutch, and then English. With my limited background in German, I understood a bit (the languages are very similar)."
I've had a full day here now. The accomidations are remarkable...far superior to what you'd expect. I'm pretty sure 90% of American college dorm rooms are nowhere near as nice as our rooms. There are four volunteers to each room, and each room has a shower, sink, and toilet (all in their own little rooms!). We have our own cubbies to lock our valuables, and limited space to hang things. Each bed, top and bottom bunks, has a mosquito net, though the mosquitos have been extremely light...I have one or two bites, and I was outside all evening today. The home is beautiful, as are the grounds.
Today, we had a full day of just orientation. We took the van into the town Moshi, looking at the various crafts and finding out where key places are such as the ATM, exchange, post office, etc. are. We had various meetings about policies, free time, getting to know each other, etc.
The people here are so warm and friendly! Every child we pass on the road waves at us and shouts "Hujambo!" They are all so beautiful and happy. I cannot wait to start my placement (I will elaborate on that later, but I have been placed in Hope Nursery teaching English to 4-6 year olds), which will happen Tuesday. Tomorrow we have another day of orientation.
I am surrounded by a fantastic group of people from all over...England, Canada, and states spanning clear across the US. They all have such interesting lives and stories to tell.
I am using the computer in the Home Base, which is only supposed to be used for quick emails, so I will end this here. When I get a chance I will use an Internet Cafe and tell you of my next experiences. Thanks again, everyone! Asante Sana!