In Zanzibar!

Hujambo!

It's been a crazy last few days, which all of my entries say, but it's often true! I had to pack up all my things in Arusha, say goodbye to friends and placements through tears, and take a 9 hours bus ride to dar salaam. this followed by a two hour sickening ferry ride ( i made the last one by 5 minutes thanks to my speedy taxi) where one of my bags got robbed...thankfully i had locked up the valuables in the main compartments. Thanks for those locks dad!

Leaving the orphanage was very difficult - there are still so many projects i want to be a part of, including starting up the chicken coup and working on the gardens. And I want to get to know the kids more, and get more chances teaching and playing with them, which i rarely did due to all the other responsibilities i had. But the accomplishments i made will last longer than the impact of a few lessons, so i feel i chose well. I have no doubt that my relationship with Gohechi will last into the future, and i will do what i can to help the orphanage abroad.

I have left them as an official volunteer destination for my organization and the nearby hotel, where they had no volunteer source before. i hope this helps more than anything by creating a steady flow of volunteers and support.

I had lunch with Peter, his wife, 4 years old daughter, and baby girl born the day before. Peter took me around to some homes of the children from the orphanage, and it was very upsetting. the first home had 6 children, the oldest one 21 years old. she took care of the rest of the children, 5 of which are under 11, since the parents died of AIDS. two of the children have HIV, and you can see the difference between a healthy child and one with the virus.

We soon went down the road to a mud home in which lived 4 generations of women. All the men had either died or disappeared, and their home consisted of one room which is rented. I didn't look inside, but i didn't have to, i already know what i will find a mattress or two for the women and children, piles of clothes due to lack of dressers, a corner with the cooking equipment and buckets. there isn't even a door, so there is no protection from rain or other elements, which are a problem in Arusha's winter.

Saying goodbye at the Maasai Market was like a dream, and by the time i left i couldn't believe I'd already bid goodbye to a family i may never see again. I wanted them all to come back and say goodbye again, so i could more fully process my departure. the night before i had gone out for drinks with some of the guys as a small goodbye party. it was, to put it mildly, an experience.

Now I'm in Stonetown in zanzibar city, and ive been here for2 days, the taxi driver took me to the opposite side of the island (near Paje) than i intended (which was Kendwa), and i was stranded there until today. tomorrow i head to Kendwa to meet up with a friend and enjoy pristine beaches and brilliant sunsets. I'll travel back on monday and catch an early ferry on tuesday to catch my flight back to Arusha, and then to home. Until then, you can find me reading and tanning on the beach, drinking juice out of freshly picked coconuts and getting local massages and henna tattoos. Who knows, maybe I'll even find someone who can make dreds...

Miss you all and can't wait to see you!

Much love,

Ariel

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