Blogs from Arusha, North, Tanzania, Africa - page 53

I have just finished my first week at Meru Peak Day Care center and I am thoroughly exhausted! There are roughly 60 students total ranging from 3-7 years old. I teach in the middle classroom with 30 students ages 4, 5, and 6. Thus far I have been in the classroom by myself as there is only one teacher for all three classes. Even though both of the other classes are much smaller they think that since I work in a school in the US that I can teach on my own. They do not understand that what I do at my school in the US is very different. There seems to be a common belief in Tnazania that all Americans must be better at teaching English than any teachers here. The teachers here are ... read more

Hi all Well, not going to lie, I am having a pretty bad week here in Africa! I still have no bags and it is an absolute nightmare trying to solve problems here. My friend Helen went to the airport to pick up boxes for things that her friends had sent over, for our projects, and was asked for a million shillings from the customs officers for example! Anyway, today I was told that my bag should arrive at the airport tomorrow. Wish me luck with that one! I am starting to blend in with the orphans. I just got done buying a couple of kangas (sarong type things that everyone wears here). All I need now is a major tan and to be fluent in swahili and I may look African. I am very ... read more

Humjambo- I have found myself in a new world. Since arriving on Friday I have slept little and made many new friends. The people of Tanzania are incredible. Even though they have so little, I have never experienced so much joy and genuine friendlieness. Homebase is a wonderful place and the mix of people and backgrounds makes for an interesting experience. We have spent the last several days adjusting to our new environment and meeting people in the local community. Truthfully to say it is another an understatement. I am not sure I ever really understood what living on less that $1 a day would look like until two days ago. At this point it is not something I can even put into words. The people in this community value education above all else, and many ... read more

A great deal has happened since I last updated my blog 4 weeks ago. I did plan on updating the blog once every week, but I am either busy with work for my placement or out gallivanting! Things at my placement have moved on from my last entry in the sense that the leaders of TUPO, together with the volunteers came up with an idea of a small farming business to generate regular income for the organisation, as well as providing the members with much needed food. (You may remember that a brick project was mentioned in my last blog entry. This idea was ruled out as it was decided that the members are too weak physically to operate the labour intensive business of brick building). The main problem for those living with HIV/AIDS here ... read more

Route Map to TanzaniaGuichitoTrip # 2..... A few days after I get back from Egypt, I head out to Tanzania. Here are the flight routes...... read more