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Thursday July 19, 2018
Since it’s mostly adults reading this, Shikamoo! Today we visited our service site for the first time and got to see the school in action. After introducing ourselves to our classes, we got to spend recess with them where we had a blast playing games. After a half an hour of fun it was time to start our first day of service. We split into two groups, half of us sanded a wall in preparation for new paint while the other half pick axed an old concrete floor to make way for new floors. Once we had gotten back to homebase, we had lunch with our new host families! We got to learn more about Tanzania, while sharing information about our own homes.
Afterwards, we got to visit their homes and got to see the river, which had a cool bridge. After saying our temporary goodbyes, we got to play some games which involved running and catching each other so you could say we’ve bonded pretty well. After the game we had a little bit of free time before dinner where people played cards and cracked riddles. Then we enjoyed an amazing dinner before learning more about teaching English and lesson planning. We’re all excited to experience our first day of teaching tomorrow and work hard in service!!!
– Max Preuninger, Lauren McDannold, and Skye Perry
Friday July 20, 2018
Mambo! Anna, Gabi, and Allie here! Day 4 started night and early with the sound of prayer from the most. Today was our first day teaching. Following breakfast we loaded the bus and were on our way. We were greeted by the smiling students of matoli primary and mnini primary. Last night we made elaborate lesson plans that were put into action today! Starting our service of the day we continued our project of refurbishing old classrooms.
Some of us were pick axing cement, while others including ourselves were sanding down the classrooms so they are ready for paint. After a hard day of work we came home to Mama D’s amazing cooking. After a short break we separated into halves, while one group was doing batik painting, the other half was doing a leadership activity and a cooking class taught by the amazing Mama D, preparing a lovely dinner we would soon all feast on.
Dinner was delicious and we followed it with a birthday cake for our very own Derek Ng turning 17!! They celebrated him with a cake and a traditional celebration of dumbing two buckets of water on his head. Mentor groups then followed then some free time! What a day. Can’t wait for what the rest of the trip has in stock.
-Anna Paskalides, Allie Rosen, Gabi Gyurkovics
Saturday July 21, 2018
Habari,
Hello anxious parents and guardians, it’s Luca, Ryan, and Linden here for the daily report!
Since today was Saturday, and there was no school, all of us had the luxury of sleeping an extra hour and waking up at 8:30 – though most of us were up bright and early, for different reasons such as the morning prayer at the neighboring mosque, or just to get that extra hour of flowering friendship. After breakfast, we sat attentively and learned about the education of Tanzania from the vibrant McJerry, he can be seen on his instagram: @McJerryKomu.
Following, we made a trip into town to get snacks for tomorrows hike on Kilimanjaro, as well as having the opportunity to connect to the internet. After, we made our way back to home base to have a delicious lunch.
Shikamoo, a Swahili greeting that we learned among others during our Swahili lesson; a greeting to those older than you. During the Swahili lesson we also got measured for our own traditional clothes made from fabric we bought from town earlier in the week. At the orphanage, there was nothing less than smiles and fun, photos will come attached, don’t worry. Leaving the children was agreeably one of the hardest things we have to do here in Tanzania thus far. After a hard goodbye, we once again returned to home base to have a tasty dinner.
After dinner, we had a leadership activity concerning stereotypes and assumptions. After that, it was time to airdrop all the photos taken throughout the day, to hang out, and to write this blog that all you lovely parents and guardians have just finished reading.
Asante and Kwaheri, check in tomorrow for more!
Sunday July 22, 2018
After another morning of being able to sleep in, we prepared for our trip to Kilimanjaro. The group split into two buses and drove an hour and a half while finding things in common with friends we haven’t gotten to know as well. Once at Kilimanjaro we met our guide, Davis, who kept everyone smiling as we hiked to the entrance of Mount Kilimanjaro. The hike was beautiful!
On the way we saw several waterfalls and some students even swam in one. We took many pictures at the start of the hiking point then gladly took our comfortable buses back to home base, where we were greeted by Mama Simba. She had a very inspirational talk with us regarding her journey and the role of education in empowering others. After dinner we had an impressive dance and limbo competition.
-by Bella Kemp, Caleb Alebachew, Desi Mortell
Monday July 23, 2018
We woke up to an incredible breakfast by Mama D. After, we briefly lesson planned and departed for the primary school. After an hour of teaching, the physically demanding service began. Some pickaxed classrooms while others sanded and painted walls. After another amazing lunch, we were moved by a powerful speech about genital mutilation occurring in Africa. After this, we were driven to a coffee plantation where we were greeted by tribal dancers with drums. Following the intense dancing, we were taught how to make coffee straight from beans. Once returned to home base, we were blessed with another spectacular meal including rice, beef, and watermelon. We wrapped up the day with our mentor groups where we reflected and discussed our day, while scorning the idea we are half way done with our adventure in Tanzania.
-by Jacob Hamaker, Kris Li, Matt Michelini
Tuesday July 24, 2018
The morning started off with another yummy breakfast (our fav French Toast with some peanut butter). Next, we set off for school! The kids were great per usual, always a blast teaching and playing with them. Service was quite thrilling as one group pick axed, one sanded walls, and another filled holes in the wall. Our group successfully took the entire floor apart!! Next was a delicious lunch. After the fried rice, one group set off for Batik painting while the other stayed back to learn how to cook Tanzanian style! We learned how to paint, using wax as well, to produce a beautiful image of elephants and other Africa wildlife: While at the studio, the group was able to purchase other hand crafted arts and awesome elephant pants. All together, the experience pushed us to our artistic maximums! We then came back to our group favorite, Tanzanian tacos with guac. The night finished off with an empowering bonding session (sworn to secrecy). Last, we had the option of watching a touching documentary about young girls and their individual battles, while sharing blankets and mattresses sleepover style. Thanks for reading!
-Brielle Biggins, Morgan Hager, and Ella Law
Wednesday July 25, 2018
Shikamooni! Today was an amazing day. We started going to the school tolesson plan, teach, and do service. We had to make concrete manually which gave me a new respect for concrete trucks. After that we went into town to a market where we got to barter for our purchases, and then we watched a traditional dance group. They later taught us some of their dance. And then we spent the rest of the night playing this awesome game together. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it when I get home.
-by Maya Rychlik, Kristin Berry, and Abby Buzza
Thursday July 26, 2018
This morning we woke up energized and excited to teach some kids English! After a successful day of teaching we continued our service including making cement and painting windows of the classrooms we are rebuilding. We were exhausted but it was definitely worth it as we were literally painting a brighter path for the children we are teaching. Then we returned and had a delicious lunch cooked by our very own Mama D. After lunch we met with our host families one last time in order to say our goodbyes. When we returned from visiting with our host families we were fortunate enough to talk and listen to some locals living with HIV/AIDS. Then, after dinner, we enjoyed a night of free time. We played cards, had conversations, and of course jammed out to Katy Perry. She is a very good singer and her old songs are bops. All in all, a great day!
Kwaherini!
-Anita Moreno, Jason Montezuma, Derek Ng
Friday July 27, 2018
Hey! It’s Maya, Ashley, and Katie here!
Today was our last day of teaching and service. We finished off service with painting the walls and windows. We also cemented the floor! It was very hard and emotional to leave all the kids for the last time. We came back to home base and had a tasty lunch, which was followed by S.P.A.C.E. J.A.M. aka the olympics at home base. We did a ton of competitions like the human knot, a blind maze, riddles, and skits. Jiggly Pigs came in first, followed by Kicking Sticks, and Slippery Blanket came in third. After the competitions the hair braiders came and many of us got braids, even though it looked like it hurt, they are pretty amazing looking. We finished off the night with a delicious dinner, and ice cream as a reward for the competitions. Many of us have started packing as we have a very big safari day tomorrow! Welp, time to hit the hay!
Love Maya Matheny, Katie Shanahan, and Ashley Mack
We started our day with an amazing breakfast as always (shoutout to Mama D and James). After our early breakfast we got in our jeeps and headed towards Tarangire park for our safari. Once our 5 hour ride was done and we finally reached the park we ate a quick lunch before heading in. During the safari we saw elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, vultures, African eagles, monkeys, impala, ostriches, and even a lion. It was very exciting to see the animals up close and in their natural habitat. While it was amazing to experience by the end we were all exhausted and ready to head to our lodge. Right as we arrived we ate a great dinner which included pumpkin soup, veggies, and rice. Then we all got ready for bed too prepare for another early morning and day of adventure tomorrow!
Sunday July 29, 2018
Our morning started at 5 am with a quick breakfast at the lodge. Then we headed for the Ngorongoro caldera. It was freezing outside because of the elevation so we were all bundled up together. At the crater we saw water buffalo, zebras, flamingos, hyenas, ostriches, gazelle, wildebeests, monkeys, lions, and hippos! We even got to eat lunch right beside a hippo pond. Heading back to home base was a lot of fun! The long drive was filled with laughing and music. After reaching home base we got our clothes back from the tailor which are all beautiful, and began the play our final games. We did an appreciation circle which was heartwarming for all of us. We had a last dinner of kebabs and ended with a small bonfire.
Andrea Vejar, Ashley Mack, Sarah Gelleny
