I've posted Pictures of Gohechi Orphanage!!!! (along with some other pictures of my travels.) http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv179/aWolpe/Gohechi%20Orphanage/ Enjoy! Ariel [View Full Entry]

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hey everyone! im back at emory and too busy to write a real entry, btu im trying to put up some pictures. i have the first 200 up (none of gohechi yet tho) here is the link: http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv179/aWolpe/?newest=1 ill let you know when they are all up, yours ariel [View Full Entry]

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Kwa Heri! I am now sitting at the Dar Salaam airport waiting for my flight. The ferry ride this morning was even worse than the ride to zanzibar, despite the fact that i sneaked into an empty first class seat. I showered this morning but im already dirty from ocean water spraying into m face and hair as i leaned over the edge of the boat in quiet desperation. the rushing air and water did help, but all hope of walking off the plane like a beautiful white african to greet my family has been abandoned due to my knotty, salty [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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I've been living in Oozoongooni, Arusha long enough that people are starting to remember this particular mazoongoo. To some I'm known as the girl who walks to work alone every morning, like clockwork. To some i'm the girl who sings on her way into town. At uncle's shop I'm the girl who uses an insane amount of toilet paper. To mama I'm baby, and when i speak swahili or wear a kanga, african woman. To some I'm the mazoongoo who always has a lump under her shirt, attempting to camaflous my phone, money and camera. To some i'm the girl who [View Full Entry]

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Mambo! I just typed up a very long entry for over an hour and the unreliable internet deleted it. Tarter sauce! I'll just sum it up: This weekend I did some gardening at gohechi with two close friend from the maasai market, and we prepaired a lot of ground for planting. Today i brought the kids from uhurupeak to help me with the kids at the orphanage, and they were great. My article about gohechi was published in the arusha times, page 8, which is fabulous. I was going to buy school supplies for the kids today but all of the [View Full Entry]

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Jambo! I am so happy! I have finally found what I've been searching for - an orphanage in a remote area that direly needs my help. Though I wish i could have been there to help earlier, I think that my experiences living in Arusha and teaching at the primary school have better prepaired me for this placement. The orphanage is really struggling, with no constant donors or considerable donations. But I will give what help i can and hopefully enable them to function and survive. Kweka, who i met through TVE(tanzanian volunteer experience), found the placement for me. I've visited [View Full Entry]

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Jambo! This past weekend I climbed Mt Meru! It was by far, the hardest physical thing i have EVER done. the last day was the killer - we woke up at 12:30 at night to reach the summit by dawn, and then hiked down the rest of the day. My legs are still throbbing, and all feelings of invincibility shattered. I made it to the peak, but at a price, and it was a close call. Meru, standing at 14,980 feet, is the second highest mountain in Tanzania. Climbing Meru is extremely difficult, much moreso than Kilimanjaro, because of its sharp [View Full Entry]

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Jambo Rafiki! The last week has been a wonderful whirlwind. This past weekend i went on sarafi for three days, and it was absolutely magical. I saw the big fve, which consists of the cheetah, lion, buffalo, rhino and elephant. but they were not the most exciting. the first animal i saw when entering the park was a giraff, andsoon they were so numerous it was just part of hte scenery. i got some wonderful pictures of their sillouhettes agasint the enourmous sky, a vision i can never forget. my favorite experience was watching the herbs of zebras grazing and nuzzeling [View Full Entry]

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Jambo! I have now been in Arusha for one week. Things are going wonderfully, but I find myself looking for more things to do. Every morning i wake up to toast and a mile walk to the dala dala, where i squeeze in for a 10 minute drive down the street. Today, on the way home, there wasn't even enough room in the dala dala to close the door! It was very alarming at first...the dala dala started driving like they always do before the man jumps in and slides the door shut. But we were so packed in it wouldn't [View Full Entry]

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