Kelsey | 20 | Salisbury U
My goal in life is to travel all 50 states and 7 continents, to make a difference and create something beautiful as I do so. Here are my thoughts.
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." - St Augustine
The Spiritan house became somewhat of a safe haven for us when we were in Tanzania. We spent our first two nights at the Spiritan house, as well as lunch for the first week. Lauren and I roomed together, the room was cozy - two beds, a table and a sink. We had real showers, but the water was cold unless you waited forever. The Spiritan house Mama was really nice, and we adored our chef. The Saturday before we left, we all decided to go to a muzungu restaurant and spend one last night together in the Spiritan house.
Before leaving for Tanzania, everything I read about volunteering claimed that the homestay family experience was the best. And I could not agree more. From the moment I met Mama Mary at the Spiritan house I knew that I was in good hands. <br>
Mama Mary has four children - Irene, Gamaliel, Rachel, and Dorcus. When my taxi arrived at their home, the girls met me at the gate and struggled to carry in my suitcase that more than likely weighed more than they did but they couldn’t have been happier to help. They showed me to my room and gave me a tour of the house. Dinner the first night was a bit awkward with the language barrier, although Irene and Rachel spoke pretty good English. <br>
When I woke up the next two mornings covered in hives from my bed, GSC was so apologetic and concerned and called my homestay family who changed my sheets as soon as I got home and could not stop apologizing. I guess we’ll never know if I was allergic or if I had bedbugs or if I was just awful at putting on bug spray and properly using my mosquito net. <br>
As much as I enjoyed being at my homestay, there was times it got very lonely which made us appreciate the nights we all stayed together as a group but looking back I wish I had gotten to spend more time with them. When we got home from the safari and the village, we would all sit in the living room and I would show them my pictures and tell them stories of what we did. I honestly don’t know who enjoyed it more. It was times like these that made me realize how fortunate I am to have been to all the amazing places, and met all the amazing people along the way. <br>
Meals in Tanzania always stressed me out, being the picky eater I am. But I must say, Mama Mary was a good cook! Each night at their home I was able to eat and feel satisfied. (Except for the night I accidently ate goat!) There was never a time I was at their home that they did not offer me copious amounts of food. While we were in the village, Mama Mary got a call from GSC explaining that I had been sick but I was okay. When I arrived back at my homestay, she brought me the most glorious plate of fresh pineapple I have ever had and asked how I was feeling. <br>
I truly loved spending time with my homestay family. My last night in Tanzania, Rachel and Dorcus gave me a tapestry and a bowl. They were both so beautiful, and it was such a wonderful surprise. I gave them their gifts, and we spent the rest of the evening writing in journals and coloring. Saying goodbye to the girls was hard, I didn’t think I would be as sad as I was. They kept saying “God bless you Kelsey. We will never forget you… Please remember to write to us.” It was so sweet. <br>
When I arrived in their home, I was shocked. I was expecting a mud hut, not anything like this. And I must say, I was one of the lucky ones - a great family and a nice home. A squatty toilet is a small price to pay for those two! <br>
As much as I enjoyed teaching in the village, I think that if I went back to Africa it would be because I had such an amazing time with the Ayubu family. I cannot put into words how grateful I am, and how much they have had an impact on my life. <br>
To my surprise, I got an email about a month after we got home that read: “Hi Kelsey,how are you.It is your mom from Tanzania(Mama Mary),miss you so much!your sisters Irene,Rachel and Dorcus and your brother Gamaliel miss you alot.This is our email,please don’t forget to email us.Say hi,to your family and your friends.Hope to hear from you soon.Love You!!!” I cannot even express how happy I was to get that email and be able to stay in touch with them. <br>
We are staying at the spiritan house again tonight so we have wifi and I have finally gotten a chance to look on Facebook and twitter and reading everyones complaints has annoyed the shit out of me. Not that I’m one to say anything considering how much I complain, but see the way the rest of the world lives and get real problems.
When I got back to my homestay last night mama Mary had a big plate of pineapple and a shower ready for me, and for dinner we had noodles. I was so happy to have good food and not rice! The girls were as excited to see my pictures from the village as I was to show them. My homestay family is so wonderful but I miss my real mom and dad!
But I miss toilets that flush and feeling clean even more. And not being stared at and spoken to all the time for being white. Go figure the only men I can get are super dark chocolate with summer teeth!
I am so stinky and tired. Womp!
HELLO SWEET CIVILIZED WORLD!!!!!
we just got back to the GSC office from being in the village all week.
I wish that I could post pictures of the bathroom we’ve been using, but don’t fret I shall when I get home and you all will be shocked and terrified.
I don’t really know what else to say other than I can’t wait to be fed and post pictures.
Oh my goodness. I have heard of afghan funk, but the real issue is Tanzanian funk. You would not believe the boogers coming out of my freaking nose! UGH
But anywho, we arrived at the hostel last night around 10 and our mamma made us dinner - rice and some weird meat sauce but it wasn’t bad. I am sharing a room with Lauren, she is nice but we are on the other side of the hostel than everyone else. It’s quite dark on our end. There was a dog fight outside our window all last night, and the cocks woke up early this morning. Breakfast was toast with this yummy pineapple jam and mango/banana/mystery fruit juice.
It was a short walk to GSC headquarters where I found a beautiful cat. Yes of course I found a cat but I’m scared it has rabies so I’m not loving it….yet. We met all the staff and had our firs swahili lesson and let me tell you, that is quite difficult. I can barely speak proper English. Our instructors name was Godson and him and his wife split us up and taught us. We took a tour of the town Arusha around lunch time. There were people EVERY where. They drive like mad people, even worse than dirty jers! I’m seriously shocked there aren’t more car-car and car-pedestrian accidents. The men and small children loved us and were always smiling and trying to make conversation. Very friendly, slightly creepy. We rode the dalla dalla back to town. Scariest ride of my life! It was kinda fun but too many smelly people (including myself) in one area. You basically cram as many people as possible on a pedo van, including people on laps and standing. I think I met a new boyfriend today. He was probably 4, but he was so cute and wouldn’t stop smiling at my white skin and all my teeth in my mouth.
After that we got a lesson on the history of Tanzania and talked about gender roles and the Maasai people.
Rice for lunch and dinner but at least it’s something I eat. There is some sort of ketchup but it scares me and could never be as good as the real thing.
More Swahili lessons and home based care lessons and then we go to our homestays which I’m quite excited to meet my big black mama since I can’t have mine real mommy.
Sounds like the dog fights are starting again and the old men above us are talking loud but time for sleep! A nice hot shower has made me quite sleepy.
Goodbye real world. I love you, and miss America.
Hello my lovelies,
We have landed in Amsterdam. It is 237 in America and its 9ish here so we shall board our last flight to kilamanjaro soon! Yeehaw
This airport is nucking futs but my favorite part was this litle tiny room for the smokers obvs it’s the bad girl room.
I am tired and sleeping on the plan makes my butt fall asleep and needless to say I don’t enjoy that.
I miss mine mommy already wah tittybaby4lyfe
TODAY is the day! I can hardly believe it’s finally here.
I feel like I need to take the time to document the last time I look clean and semi put together, as well as reppin my boys as I head to the airport.
I can’t put into words how thankful I am to have this amazing opportunity to travel to Africa and teach about HIV/AIDS and make a difference.
I love you all, and I’ll see you the 18th!
Today is New Years Eve, as well as my last night in America!
Tomorrow (aka next year) I’m flying to Tanzania. I’m attempting to finish packing, but I’m too nervous/excited to do so.
This would be a lot more neat if I could actually update my blog while in country, but oh well!
toodalooo!
