After spending a night in Stonetown, we traveled one hour north to Kendwa and Nungwi. Both villages are known for their beaches and touristy atmosphere. In Nungwi, I befriended the owner of a small hotel and later returned to his accommodation at the end of our trip. The Nungwi hotel was an ideal getaway in paradise--hammocks overlooking the Indian Ocean, stretches of endless beach, a fire pit, and freshly prepared meals of our choice. We called this hotel a hidden treasure due to its friendly staff (who treated us like family) and its tranquility, set a part from busy downtown Nungwi.
Every day in paradise, I walked into the villages to buy fruit, eat cheaper local meals, and talk to residents. Like other resort destinations, the contrast between the wealthy and poor was stunningly apparent and disturbing. Many locals are jobless and spend their days sitting at shaded shops. Job opportunities are limited in Zanzibar due to poor education and limited foresight of future. Many Zanzibarians solely rely on agriculture for survival. They farm every day in their villages and do not travel to other areas of the island. Lack of travel means lack of exposure and experience. Lack of travel is obvious due to the fact that there are no cars on the Zanzibarian roads with the exception of taxis. Ultimately, extreme poverty exists everywhere on this island. Locals are struggling to survive, while tourists are enjoying the comforts of their hotel and Zanzibar's immaculate beaches.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
electrical problems
The ferry arrived in Stonetown around 7PM. We decided to stay in a cheap guesthouse called the Haven. The owner of the house charged us $15 per night for 2 beds, mosquito nets, and bucket showers. He then informed us of the electrical situation on the island. Unfortunately, for the months of December and January, Zanzibar did not and still does not have electricity. The Zanzibarian government claims that there is only one electrician who is capable of fixing the country's power outage and that this electrician is on holiday in the Netherlands until the end of January. This means that posh hotels, restaurants, and businesses must operate using generators for water supply and other amenities. It did not take long to realize that the Zanzibarians were suffering due to this major problem. Without power, there is no running water. Locals must therefore rely on city wells and pay 500TSH per bucket of water. WATER=LIFE and many locals do not have enough money to constantly be paying for a daily supply.
During my time spent in Zanzibar, it amazed me that people somehow managed to survive given their severe circumstances. I just cannot believe that a government would allow its citizens to suffer for such a long time in the grueling heat. An electrical outage, like the current situation, occurred during the months of June and July 2009. It is obvious that Zanzibarians are becoming fed up with the government's laissez-faire approach.
During my time spent in Zanzibar, it amazed me that people somehow managed to survive given their severe circumstances. I just cannot believe that a government would allow its citizens to suffer for such a long time in the grueling heat. An electrical outage, like the current situation, occurred during the months of June and July 2009. It is obvious that Zanzibarians are becoming fed up with the government's laissez-faire approach.
Mtae-->Zanzibar
Wow, what a day for traveling! Mary Ellen and I started our day at 3:30AM on the Fasaha bus from Mtae to Lushoto. The ride was twisty and turning and bumpy. We then bought I.T. "luxury" bus tickets for 8AM to Dar es Saalam. We had one hour to pack our remaining clothes from the tourist office, eat breakfast, and board the bus. Unlike our voyage from Arusha to Lushoto, this bus line stopped several times throughout the 7-hour journey. Fortunately, before departing for Dar, Aggrey (our hiking guide from Lushoto) gave us the contact of his friend who sells ferry tickets to Zanzibar. We called the friend and used this contact to our advantage! We arrived in Dar around 3:30PM and the last ferry took off at 4PM!! We hopped in a taxi with Aggrey's friend and raced to the coastline. When we arrived at the ferry station, 6 Tanzanian men surrounded our taxi and told us to "HURRY UP" and purchase transport tickets. We frantically threw our money and passports at the workers and ran onto the boat. With the help from Aggrey and his friend and a bit of good fortune on our side, we made the afternoon ferry to Zanzibar.
traveling with Mary Ellen (Lushoto, Rangwi, Mtae)
My traveling adventures commenced on December 19th and proceeded until January 5th. We started our journey in the Usambara Mountains in a village called Lushoto. After departing Arusha at 5AM, we crammed into a minibus and drove for 8 1/2 hours. We stopped one time for a bathroom break on the side of the road and many times to pick up passengers. Overall, the bus system in Tanzania is very unorganized and hectic--ticket prices fluctuate depending on the passenger, departures are never on time, vendors desperately try to sell biscuits, water, and random trinkets, and fruit at every stop, and many times there are 3 if not 4 people sharing seats designed for 2 people. As we approached Lushoto, the contrast of colors amazed me; mamas sold fresh plums and guava, palm trees were planted at the base of the rocky mountains while lush farmlands surrounded the bus route. The road leading up to Lushoto is crevessed in the mountains and is a steep uphill climb into town.
Upon arrival, we were instantly greeted by tourist workers and asked to visit the Cultural Tourism Center. Lushoto's tourism industry was developed in the 1990s and has been a blossoming industry ever since. There are many tourist options, including cycling, hiking, tasting cheese and rye bread from a farm, etc. Mary Ellen and I decided to arrange a 3-day hike to a small village called Mtae which is on the western side of the Usambara Mountains.
We began our hike from Lushoto to Rangwi. We hiked uphill and through a forest to a road. Due to the scorching heat, we waited for a bus to take us to the village. In Rangwi, we explored and spoke to villagers. The majority of people here are farmers and rely on harvesting cabbage, corn, and beans for income and survival. Along with Rangwi villagers, 60 percent of the Usambara region is Muslim while 40 percent are Catholic. On the first day of hiking, it was the Islamic New Year! Muslim men, women, and children happily danced and paraded and sang and celebrated their holiday in the streets of Rangwi. What a vibrant time!
The second day of hiking was spent in many different terrains but my favorite time was hiking through a pine tree forest. We spoke to lumberers and children who balanced and carried bundles of timber on their heads. Adults and children sell, transport, carry, and chop timber and export the wood to Dar, Mtae and other Usambara villages. As we left the forest, many children carrying timber on their heads approached me with curiosity. I taught them a song called "Boom chicka boom" and we chanted it together while trekking down the path. There are so many colors in Mtae between the landscape and bright kongas found on mamas and children.
On this day, we also visited a traditional healer. The healer deals with minor illnesses such as stomach pains and malaria. I asked him many questions about his abilities and his opinions about Western medicine (which he supports). He also informed us about witch doctors who are similar to healers but curse those they come in contact with. The healer performed a spiritual ritual for Mary Ellen. He smeared black coal on her body and repeated prayers and chants. He believed that these acts would protect her from bad spirits. It was a mystical experience and I would have loved to spend more time at his home to witness traditional healings.
Upon arrival, we were instantly greeted by tourist workers and asked to visit the Cultural Tourism Center. Lushoto's tourism industry was developed in the 1990s and has been a blossoming industry ever since. There are many tourist options, including cycling, hiking, tasting cheese and rye bread from a farm, etc. Mary Ellen and I decided to arrange a 3-day hike to a small village called Mtae which is on the western side of the Usambara Mountains.
We began our hike from Lushoto to Rangwi. We hiked uphill and through a forest to a road. Due to the scorching heat, we waited for a bus to take us to the village. In Rangwi, we explored and spoke to villagers. The majority of people here are farmers and rely on harvesting cabbage, corn, and beans for income and survival. Along with Rangwi villagers, 60 percent of the Usambara region is Muslim while 40 percent are Catholic. On the first day of hiking, it was the Islamic New Year! Muslim men, women, and children happily danced and paraded and sang and celebrated their holiday in the streets of Rangwi. What a vibrant time!
The second day of hiking was spent in many different terrains but my favorite time was hiking through a pine tree forest. We spoke to lumberers and children who balanced and carried bundles of timber on their heads. Adults and children sell, transport, carry, and chop timber and export the wood to Dar, Mtae and other Usambara villages. As we left the forest, many children carrying timber on their heads approached me with curiosity. I taught them a song called "Boom chicka boom" and we chanted it together while trekking down the path. There are so many colors in Mtae between the landscape and bright kongas found on mamas and children.
On this day, we also visited a traditional healer. The healer deals with minor illnesses such as stomach pains and malaria. I asked him many questions about his abilities and his opinions about Western medicine (which he supports). He also informed us about witch doctors who are similar to healers but curse those they come in contact with. The healer performed a spiritual ritual for Mary Ellen. He smeared black coal on her body and repeated prayers and chants. He believed that these acts would protect her from bad spirits. It was a mystical experience and I would have loved to spend more time at his home to witness traditional healings.
Serengeti National Park
After hiking Kilimanjaro, I was hesitant to go on a 4-day safari because the thought of sitting in a land cruiser seemed sedentary and indolent. Unexpectedly, I absolutely loved camping in the middle of the wilderness for 3 nights listening to the cries of the hyenas and mischievous bamboos. Philbert, my safari guide and friend, is the most enthusiastic and passionate person. He made each game drive exciting and educational. At the entrance of the Serengeti, we spotted an injured lion and a baby zebra following a safari land cruiser for protection! The following day, I witnessed the hunting of a zebra by a male lion who tracked his prey from a sausage tree. I saw an elephant stuck in a fresh water hippo pond, a cheetah resting under a kopjes (large rock), herds of elephants and buffalo, baboons, reed bucks and water bucks, hyenas, hyrax (cousin of elephant), zebras, leopards. . . so many animals! It is hard to believe that in only 4 days I was able to be among many species in their natural habitat.
The Serengeti is the first an largest national park. It was established in 1951 and is 14,763 sq kilometers (larger than Connecticut!). It protects the wild beast migration and is considered a World Heritage site. There are 28 hoofed animal species and 530 bird, plant, and insect species. In Tanzania, 25 percent of its land is considered protected area. There are 11 National Parks within the nation.
During our safari experience, we briefly visited the stunningly beautiful Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. The Crater is considered to be a conservation area in Tanzania. The Maasai have designated bomas to live in at Ngorongoro. The government is using a Community Based Conservation approach; they believe in the empowerment of rural Maasai communities to sustain, manage, and use natural resources. This approach seems to mirror the Western strategy of Indian reservations. Indigenous tribes are forced to live on a designated plot of land and are expected to succeed.
When we visited the shamba of a Maasai tribe, we entered a family's shamba (constructed out of cow dung), saw their primary school, and participated in a traditional Maasai dance. Although the experience was eye-opening, I could not help but question the effectiveness of the conservation approach. Maasai people 5 km outside of the boma, for example, were suffering from dehydration and malnutrition. The Maasai's herding lifestyle seems difficult to manage due to weather conditions like long droughts and globalization/the impact of tourists.
The Serengeti is the first an largest national park. It was established in 1951 and is 14,763 sq kilometers (larger than Connecticut!). It protects the wild beast migration and is considered a World Heritage site. There are 28 hoofed animal species and 530 bird, plant, and insect species. In Tanzania, 25 percent of its land is considered protected area. There are 11 National Parks within the nation.
During our safari experience, we briefly visited the stunningly beautiful Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. The Crater is considered to be a conservation area in Tanzania. The Maasai have designated bomas to live in at Ngorongoro. The government is using a Community Based Conservation approach; they believe in the empowerment of rural Maasai communities to sustain, manage, and use natural resources. This approach seems to mirror the Western strategy of Indian reservations. Indigenous tribes are forced to live on a designated plot of land and are expected to succeed.
When we visited the shamba of a Maasai tribe, we entered a family's shamba (constructed out of cow dung), saw their primary school, and participated in a traditional Maasai dance. Although the experience was eye-opening, I could not help but question the effectiveness of the conservation approach. Maasai people 5 km outside of the boma, for example, were suffering from dehydration and malnutrition. The Maasai's herding lifestyle seems difficult to manage due to weather conditions like long droughts and globalization/the impact of tourists.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
holiday season--Mt. Kilimanjaro
Due to the Christmas and New Years season, I will not be working until January 5th. I am taking this month-long holiday to my advantage to travel, hike, and explore new cities within Tanzania. From December 6th-12th, I hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro!! This experience was physically and mentally challenging. I have gained a new appreciation for mountain peaks, nature, prayer, family and friends, and myself. I can HONESTLY say that each and every one of you were in MY thoughts as I trekked up the Machame Route.
My journey began at Machame Gate on the southwest side of the mountain and ended at Mweka Gate on the southeast base. I hiked with 2 other guys named Brendan (who volunteers for GSC as well) and Mats (a Swedish NGO worker traveling from Kenya). Each hiker had 3 porters to carry our camping and mountain gear. Along with the porters, there were 2 chefs, 1 assistant guide, and 2 chief guides. I could not believe how many people were involved in assisting 1hiker up the mountain!
The Machame Route is also called the "Whisky Route" and is considered a difficult route. . "better suited for more adventurous folks." Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, on the Machame Route you sleep in tents. The camping experience definitely had its advantages--I felt more connected with the mountain and only shared a tent with one other hiker. Camping on Kili, however, was extremely different than other outdoor experiences. All of my equipment and supplies were carried by porters and a cook prepared all of my meals. I felt awkward and uncomfortable having people wait on my hand and foot and I made this feeling well-known to the chief guides. By the end of the trip, most of the porters and the 2 chefs were willing to open up and share their stories.
Each day of hiking had its challenges and highlights. On the first day, we experienced the rain forest immediately. We were welcomed to the mountain by a rain storm and surrounded by beautiful banana trees and Colobus monkeys. The hiking was fairly simple (flat and lower altitude level). On Day 2, we hiked to Shira Camp (2,900 meters). We were exposed to the Western Breach which had ice curtains melting on its walls. On this day, I felt minor symptoms from the change in altitude while hiking (i.e., shortness of breath while hiking steeper hills). At the campsite that night, all 3 hikers' spirits were high. We played cards in our dining tent (yes we had a DINING tent) while it rained throughout the night. On Day 3, and after several hours of hiking, we reached Barranco Camp (3,850m). We hiked to a prominent landmark called Lava Tower which is a remnant of Kili's earlier volcanic activity. We arrived at Barranco Camp just in time for sunset! This site is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls. Around 7:30am on Day 4, we rock climbed a side of the magnificent Wall (also called the "Breakfast Wall"). This climb was EXTREMELY challenging and was my first time truly experiencing the side effects of altitude sickness. Due to lack of oxygen, I was very dizzy, had shortness of breath, and a horrible stomach ache. The view from the top of this wall was worth all of the negative side effects--we caught the view while the sun was still shining. On this day, we reached Barafu Camp at 4,670 meters. The word Barafu in Swahili means "ice" yet ironically there is no water available at this campsite. Porters were forced to carry a heavy water supply from Karanga Valley to Barafu. This day was a true struggle for all hikers, porters, and guides due to the extreme height. Our campsite, however, had an incredible view of Mt. Mweka. Day 5=SUMMIT day (or night). We began our ascent to the summit at 11:30PM and hiked for 6 hours straight. Unfortunately, Brendan suffered too badly from altitude sickness to reach the summit while Mats fell behind with one of the chief guides.
My journey to the summit was one of the most awakening experiences. I gained a true insight into the physical and mental limits of my body. I hiked with one of the chief guides named Francis (nickname Cheka English translation "laugh"). Over the past 4 days, I had become close to Cheka and felt comfortable and confident having him lead me up the mountain. In the pitch darkness, Cheka and I slowly trekked up the steep and rocky and below freezing route. I followed his footsteps and refused to look up because every time I tried I felt faint. With each step, I felt my mind drift away to my home in America, to my family, to my friends, to my passions in life, to reggae music, to anything other than hiking. I poured water from my frozen camel back water into my Nalgene (which eventually froze as well) and only took small sips along the way. Of course, due to my small bladder, I peed on the trail and exposed myself to Cheka and other hikers (no shame by the end of this trip). I also had extremely painful stomach pains and continuously burped and passed gas during the majority of our trek.
Reaching Stella Point (5,685m) gave me an adrenaline rush and the confidence to reach the summit known as Uhuru peak (5,895m). For some unexplainable reason, my altitude sickness (stomach and head pains) disappeared. Cheka and I sang the Kilimanjaro song and Welcoming song for Tanzania (sung in Swahili) as we trekked from Stella to Uhuru. At 6AM, Cheka and I were the first hikers of the day to reach the top!!! I was surrounded by Godlike glaciers called Rebmann and Ratzel, Mweka Mountain, and was above the clouds. We remained on the summit until 6:30AM for the sunrise. As other hikers arrived, we took a few pictures together, congratulated the other hikers, and headed down. With so much adrenaline and joy running through us, we ran down the mountain and arrived at Barafu Camp in 2 and 1/2 hours. Cheka nicknamed me "Simba" or "lion" because I was the first of my group and the mountain to arrive at the peak. (I guess all of my intense cardio workouts paid off!). Ever since I reached the summit of Kili, I have been on a "natural mystic high" and I am so happy and proud and FORTUNATE. The hike on Day 5 continued after lunch to Mweka Camp (3,100m). Because I was filled with positive energy, I was able to hike down to this camp at a fast and energetic pace. On Day 6, we spent our final morning on Kili and departed for a 3-hour hike down to the base camp (1,800m).
My journey began at Machame Gate on the southwest side of the mountain and ended at Mweka Gate on the southeast base. I hiked with 2 other guys named Brendan (who volunteers for GSC as well) and Mats (a Swedish NGO worker traveling from Kenya). Each hiker had 3 porters to carry our camping and mountain gear. Along with the porters, there were 2 chefs, 1 assistant guide, and 2 chief guides. I could not believe how many people were involved in assisting 1hiker up the mountain!
The Machame Route is also called the "Whisky Route" and is considered a difficult route. . "better suited for more adventurous folks." Unlike the Marangu Route where you sleep in huts, on the Machame Route you sleep in tents. The camping experience definitely had its advantages--I felt more connected with the mountain and only shared a tent with one other hiker. Camping on Kili, however, was extremely different than other outdoor experiences. All of my equipment and supplies were carried by porters and a cook prepared all of my meals. I felt awkward and uncomfortable having people wait on my hand and foot and I made this feeling well-known to the chief guides. By the end of the trip, most of the porters and the 2 chefs were willing to open up and share their stories.
Each day of hiking had its challenges and highlights. On the first day, we experienced the rain forest immediately. We were welcomed to the mountain by a rain storm and surrounded by beautiful banana trees and Colobus monkeys. The hiking was fairly simple (flat and lower altitude level). On Day 2, we hiked to Shira Camp (2,900 meters). We were exposed to the Western Breach which had ice curtains melting on its walls. On this day, I felt minor symptoms from the change in altitude while hiking (i.e., shortness of breath while hiking steeper hills). At the campsite that night, all 3 hikers' spirits were high. We played cards in our dining tent (yes we had a DINING tent) while it rained throughout the night. On Day 3, and after several hours of hiking, we reached Barranco Camp (3,850m). We hiked to a prominent landmark called Lava Tower which is a remnant of Kili's earlier volcanic activity. We arrived at Barranco Camp just in time for sunset! This site is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls. Around 7:30am on Day 4, we rock climbed a side of the magnificent Wall (also called the "Breakfast Wall"). This climb was EXTREMELY challenging and was my first time truly experiencing the side effects of altitude sickness. Due to lack of oxygen, I was very dizzy, had shortness of breath, and a horrible stomach ache. The view from the top of this wall was worth all of the negative side effects--we caught the view while the sun was still shining. On this day, we reached Barafu Camp at 4,670 meters. The word Barafu in Swahili means "ice" yet ironically there is no water available at this campsite. Porters were forced to carry a heavy water supply from Karanga Valley to Barafu. This day was a true struggle for all hikers, porters, and guides due to the extreme height. Our campsite, however, had an incredible view of Mt. Mweka. Day 5=SUMMIT day (or night). We began our ascent to the summit at 11:30PM and hiked for 6 hours straight. Unfortunately, Brendan suffered too badly from altitude sickness to reach the summit while Mats fell behind with one of the chief guides.
My journey to the summit was one of the most awakening experiences. I gained a true insight into the physical and mental limits of my body. I hiked with one of the chief guides named Francis (nickname Cheka English translation "laugh"). Over the past 4 days, I had become close to Cheka and felt comfortable and confident having him lead me up the mountain. In the pitch darkness, Cheka and I slowly trekked up the steep and rocky and below freezing route. I followed his footsteps and refused to look up because every time I tried I felt faint. With each step, I felt my mind drift away to my home in America, to my family, to my friends, to my passions in life, to reggae music, to anything other than hiking. I poured water from my frozen camel back water into my Nalgene (which eventually froze as well) and only took small sips along the way. Of course, due to my small bladder, I peed on the trail and exposed myself to Cheka and other hikers (no shame by the end of this trip). I also had extremely painful stomach pains and continuously burped and passed gas during the majority of our trek.
Reaching Stella Point (5,685m) gave me an adrenaline rush and the confidence to reach the summit known as Uhuru peak (5,895m). For some unexplainable reason, my altitude sickness (stomach and head pains) disappeared. Cheka and I sang the Kilimanjaro song and Welcoming song for Tanzania (sung in Swahili) as we trekked from Stella to Uhuru. At 6AM, Cheka and I were the first hikers of the day to reach the top!!! I was surrounded by Godlike glaciers called Rebmann and Ratzel, Mweka Mountain, and was above the clouds. We remained on the summit until 6:30AM for the sunrise. As other hikers arrived, we took a few pictures together, congratulated the other hikers, and headed down. With so much adrenaline and joy running through us, we ran down the mountain and arrived at Barafu Camp in 2 and 1/2 hours. Cheka nicknamed me "Simba" or "lion" because I was the first of my group and the mountain to arrive at the peak. (I guess all of my intense cardio workouts paid off!). Ever since I reached the summit of Kili, I have been on a "natural mystic high" and I am so happy and proud and FORTUNATE. The hike on Day 5 continued after lunch to Mweka Camp (3,100m). Because I was filled with positive energy, I was able to hike down to this camp at a fast and energetic pace. On Day 6, we spent our final morning on Kili and departed for a 3-hour hike down to the base camp (1,800m).
Monday, November 30, 2009
a nurse, a wedding, and teaching
November and December are two of the busiest months for clinical officers at St. Elizabeths. Doctors begin their work day at 7AM with morning prayer and ward rounds and have full schedules of outpatient procedures and surgeries until late evening. Because most doctors are too busy to breath, I have focused my attention and trainings on the nurses and pharmacists. I have become dear friends with a woman named Alodia. Alodia is a RN who specializes in pregnancies. Like many nurses, Alodia left her home country (Rwanda) to find available work in TZ. Alodia has four children who live in Rwanda with her brother-in-law. After her husband died, Alodia was forced to marry his brother. From what I can gather, the brother is extremely cruel; he forced Alodia to leave her home and children and refuses to support the children's education fees. Due to her situation, Alodia wires all of her earnings (50, 000 TSH per month) to her children's schools and is living in poverty without daily meals or a suitable home. I pray for Alodia and her children every day--for Alodia's health, for her children's safety and education, and for their reunion. Alodia calls me her "first born daughter" and I have truly grown to love her as my surrogate mother. I spend a few hours in her office every day teaching her how to communicate via email with her children. She also is teaching me invaluable lessons about pregnancies, HIV positive mothers and babies, faith, and the strong bond that can never be broken between a parent and their child.
This weekend I attended a wedding for one of the doctors at my hospital. The celebration was held at a night club in Arusha. Like the first wedding, all of the party members were incredibly welcoming and appreciative for my attendance; I congratulated the bride and groom by dancing in a line formation to the podium; I witnessed the serving of the "cake" or goat between the bride and groom. Every wedding, however, is unique. Many doctors and nurses from St. Elizabeths contributed to the cost of the celebration. There were tables and chairs for over 200 guests, an endless supply of food and drinks, a photographer who sold guests' portraits at the end of the wedding, and even a handicap professional dancer (which I found particularly disturbing).
Along with the wedding, I went hiking in a Massai village called Mulala. I hiked with 2 volunteers and 2 guides named Elli and Godfrey. We hiked to Elli's home and ate lunch with his family. I have ventured on excursions with Elli on previous occasions and love his company. He teaches us about various plants and animals and more importantly Massai culture. Elli directly supports his village and other Massai families by taking hikers to Massai homes for lunch. Also, many of the proceeds that Elli earns are donated to Massai cultural heritage.
On Sunday, I learned how to cook chapati! I am so blessed to be working with a man named Tom. He has welcomed me and 1 other volunteer to his home every Sunday to cook an African FEAST and to dance and sing and play the bongo drums. Two of Tom's roommates work for a well-known orphanage in town called St. Jude's. This orphanage was started by an Australian woman and has developed into one of the most unique primary and secondary schools in Arusha. Unlike most TZ schools, St. Jude's offers elective classes like art and music (both of which are taught by Tom's roommates). It also uses SCHOOL buses to transport children to classes every morning.
Speaking of school, I am teaching at a day camp or health club this week. Due to Christmas holiday, many of the students are available during the day time. GSC is taking this free time to their advantage and having me teach a class of 35 students at a secondary school called Lemara. Today was my first day ever teaching alone! Although more energy and effort are exerted, it is rewarding to be the solo provider of information. Tomorrow is World's AIDS Day so day camp will continue on Wednesday. I am excited to work at the stadium tomorrow for the holiday. Hundreds of people (mostly students) will participate in a variety of performances to spread awareness of AIDS.
This weekend I attended a wedding for one of the doctors at my hospital. The celebration was held at a night club in Arusha. Like the first wedding, all of the party members were incredibly welcoming and appreciative for my attendance; I congratulated the bride and groom by dancing in a line formation to the podium; I witnessed the serving of the "cake" or goat between the bride and groom. Every wedding, however, is unique. Many doctors and nurses from St. Elizabeths contributed to the cost of the celebration. There were tables and chairs for over 200 guests, an endless supply of food and drinks, a photographer who sold guests' portraits at the end of the wedding, and even a handicap professional dancer (which I found particularly disturbing).
Along with the wedding, I went hiking in a Massai village called Mulala. I hiked with 2 volunteers and 2 guides named Elli and Godfrey. We hiked to Elli's home and ate lunch with his family. I have ventured on excursions with Elli on previous occasions and love his company. He teaches us about various plants and animals and more importantly Massai culture. Elli directly supports his village and other Massai families by taking hikers to Massai homes for lunch. Also, many of the proceeds that Elli earns are donated to Massai cultural heritage.
On Sunday, I learned how to cook chapati! I am so blessed to be working with a man named Tom. He has welcomed me and 1 other volunteer to his home every Sunday to cook an African FEAST and to dance and sing and play the bongo drums. Two of Tom's roommates work for a well-known orphanage in town called St. Jude's. This orphanage was started by an Australian woman and has developed into one of the most unique primary and secondary schools in Arusha. Unlike most TZ schools, St. Jude's offers elective classes like art and music (both of which are taught by Tom's roommates). It also uses SCHOOL buses to transport children to classes every morning.
Speaking of school, I am teaching at a day camp or health club this week. Due to Christmas holiday, many of the students are available during the day time. GSC is taking this free time to their advantage and having me teach a class of 35 students at a secondary school called Lemara. Today was my first day ever teaching alone! Although more energy and effort are exerted, it is rewarding to be the solo provider of information. Tomorrow is World's AIDS Day so day camp will continue on Wednesday. I am excited to work at the stadium tomorrow for the holiday. Hundreds of people (mostly students) will participate in a variety of performances to spread awareness of AIDS.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
