The End

As I sit down to write my final blog, I think back to what an amazing two weeks this has been – all the things I did and saw, all the things I learned, and friends I made that have touched my heart. I am so thankful I got this chance and opportunity to improve myself, others around me, and the education at LOAMO School.

Friday was our last day at the school, and all day I was constantly receiving notes from the kids, hugs, kisses, and powerfully kind words. Leaving the younger kids was really sad, but not as hard as I was expecting. There is hardly even a comparison to Cambodia and here. Honestly, I cannot remember the last time I cried as hard as I did when leaving Cambodia. However, on Friday we were so overwhelmed with the dance and goodbyes that there really was not time for tears or sadness. I made lots of cards and bracelets for the kids I connected with most. I put a lot of thought into the gifts and made each one very personal, to let them know that they really are in my heart forever.

We left the school at about 1:15 in the afternoon, and went back to the house getting right to work on preparation for the dance. Our group bought fruit, buttered bread, made popcorn, nuts, etc. The dance started at 4:30, so we had plenty of time to prepare the dance floor for an amazing night. I really don’t think that the sixth and seventh grade kids have ever been to a dance or anything close to what we had put on. When they showed up, I honestly didn’t recognize them out of school uniform. Most girls had taken their hair out of their braids and definitely had their best clothes on (I am talking fancy dresses and heels), while the boys wore casual shoes, shirts and flat-brimmed hats. It was an incredibly fun night, with Rasta Jon as the DJ. At about 6:15, the power went out, and the entire room went pitch-black and silent, so with fifteen minutes left we took everybody outside because it was still somewhat light out. Nicodemus the headmaster gave another one of his amazing, appreciative speeches, and put on a little ceremony, having ten kids walk out to each CGA student and give us a bracelet and two red and white roses. My tears were coming but not quite there. The ceremony ended just past 6:30, and it was extremely chaotic having everyone gather their things and leave. There were some teachers and students I did not get to give a proper goodbye to, one being Flora. She is so incredibly special to me and knowing that I possibly will never see her again leaves a whole somewhere in my heart.

Today was Saturday, and Lisa Marie had something planned, but we had no idea what – I love these surprises LMH puts on for us. We were told to dress nice, but not as nice as we would for the school. Hopping into the Dolla Dolla, we had no idea the ride was going to be about three hours long! We went to the Maasai camp and were introduced to a man named Freddy, and welcomed by all the people at the camp with a nice (though interesting) song. The tour started out with a brief explanation of a couple of huts and then a long overview of the Maasai background up to today’s culture. It was so crazy to hear how different they live their lives from the way we live ours. Relying only on cows’ meat, blood, and milk as food, to circumcising males at age eighteen and females even before then. These are two of the many things we learned that were so surprising to hear. They had prepared a great lunch consisting of rice, (cooked) meat, vegetables, and watermelon. Having made sure we were as full as possible, we set out on a “tree safari”: we learned about many different trees and their purposes, and we also learned how to throw the spears that are used to kill dangerous animals. Of course, Ms. G was the only one to get the spear to land straight up, with the tip sticking in the ground. She would make a “strong Maasai warrior.”  At the very end we were given the chance to look at or buy some beautiful jewelry. It was a long, but fantastic, day. We spotted wild monkeys, zebras, and giraffes on the way back. It was so exciting that we needed to pull over, get out and take pictures. I am so thankful to LMH for putting on such an unforgettable day. I am hoping we get the chance to go to a market quickly tomorrow, because I am still in need of a couple gifts.

I can’t believe this trip is just about over. I am so emotional about leaving, but at the same time I’m excited to be home and reunite with my family and friends. This trip has been life-changing, teaching me more about myself than I ever think I could learn with just everyday activities and challenges. Tomorrow is the day we let it all go, pack up, and fly away.

New and Improved

“When are you leaving?” “How many days left?” “When is your last day?” These are the questions I am constantly getting asked, and with each kid it is getting harder to answer. Our trip is winding down and it is so hard to wrap my mind around the idea.

On Tuesday, I went on another home visit to the home of Godfrey. Godfrey is the chef who has worked at LOAMO for ten years and he has one (out of five) child at LOAMO – his son, Brian, who is in Kindergarten. I was nervous and really didn’t know what to expect going into this visit. We went on a drive that was easily thirty minutes, only to find out that Godfrey rides his bike to school everyday to drop Brian off at the bus stop (he is not allowed on the bus). This is not just any bike ride; they live on top of a mountain! Dirt roads, narrow paths, lots of people, and potholes that are feet deep. Godfrey bikes to and from school everyday, so he is in some seriously good shape! They live in the most beautiful area I have ever seen, so many green plants and views you couldn’t even dream of. They own a pretty good amount of property, and the small community consists of five mud and stick shacks that are all very nice inside. The rest of his family welcomed us when we got out of the car. His two oldest daughters (nineteen & eighteen) do not work because they don’t have the money to educate themselves enough to be qualified for a job. His other son, who is fourteen, goes to a government school. They have another daughter, Veronica, who is three and a half and is old enough for baby class at LOAMO, but they don’t have the money for her to attend. They are a beautiful family that is full of love for each other and it was very heart warming to see.

Tuesday was also a great day in the classroom. I had put together some math worksheets for my students, which they enjoyed very much. I had so much fun teaching science with Ms. G, especially when we taught the six steps to a scientific investigation. We investigated our heart rates and the kids had a great time. It is an amazing feeling to have known you brought so much love and joy into these people’s lives. Standing up in front of the classroom is no longer scary or nerve racking. I learned it is ok to mess up or fail a couple times and being here with CGA has taught me how to get back up and do it right the next time. Having these experiences and struggles is what makes me a stronger person inside and out, and everyday I feel myself improving and growing.

This trip has taught me something that some people will never learn in a lifetime: how to self-reflect and make personal changes in order to be better than I was the day before. Each day, I had a different struggle, but on Wednesday I finally understood and figured out who I want to be and how I am going to get there. I started two of the best conversations I have ever had with two people who gave me a slap in the face of reality, which I desperately needed. These conversations helped me to realize why the chaperones are so hard on me: they only want the best for me and to see me succeed, and it took me this long to see it. I am so thankful for LMH, Ms. G, Krissy and Keelin, because they taught me selflessness.

Today was Thursday: exam day. It gave me time to make pictures, write notes for the people and kids that helped me through this incredible journey, the people that are going to be the hardest ones to which I say goodbye. During lunch time the staff prepared the most amazing lunch. Honestly, I cannot even call it a lunch; it was a feast! Everything was so delicious, and I am so thankful that the LOAMO staff has so much love for us. They made some speeches that made me tear up, talking about how the things that we have done and the lessons that we have taught have made an impact that is too strong to explain. I have never seen anybody so thankful for anything until today. I am sitting in the classroom watching them test and I miss them already. Their dark eyes, curious minds, and crazy hair will always be a part of me. Those feelings and emotions that I had leaving Cambodia are starting to come back, so I talked to God. I asked him for some strength, and asked him to protect these beautiful people when my eyes finally leave them for good.

We went to the market today, as one big group of Mzungus (white people in Swahili), we bought an enormous amount of fruit and other foods for tomorrow’s dance. I am so excited! Of course the one day I decide to wear flip-flops, the strap breaks, and I am walking around the market with no right shoe for a little while. Thank God for Loth, as he took my shoe and returned it five minutes later, sewed and looking good as new!

For the people who are reading my blog, I thank you for your help, support, love, and generosity that helped me get here so I could learn these lessons and make these connections, because returning home I will be a new and improved person.

Sunday& Monday

The days are flying by here in Tanzania. Sunday was a great day; at about 11:30 am, I was called to the tree house, and LMH was sitting by her computer waiting to ask me the question I was waiting for, “Do you want to try and call your parents?” They didn’t answer the first two times I called, but the third time’s a charm, and they finally answered. Hearing my mother’s voice was music to my ears and brought tears to my eyes. I got to tell her the two most important things: that I miss her and I love her. She told me how proud she is of me and it just gave me so much motivation to continue to be strong here and soak up every moment.

We went to an amazing orphanage called Save Africa, and I really connected with two little kids named Rose and Dene. They had smiles that made this world go round. We played games in the field, sang songs on the patio, talked to each other, loved each other, and, most importantly, laughed with each other. The kids didn’t know much English, but they still loved reading stories and getting into some little conversations. It was an afternoon to remember.

Yesterday was Monday, my first day in Class 6, and I was so incredibly nervous. Coming from a younger class, I just didn’t know what to expect from a class filled with older students who learned much harder content. Class 6 really felt like school – I learned a lot, took notes on natural gas, and was reminded about singular and plural words. I taught “Madlibs” using nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and it was pretty funny to read them out loud to the class. After, when I played a game using singular and plural words, my nerves got the best of me and I made two back-to-back mistakes in front of the headmaster – not at all my proudest moment. The rest of the day was great: laughing, teaching, playing games and taking a few pictures here and there. I learned how thankful I am for a copy machine, because writing out nineteen copies of the exact same thing gets so painful, but it is all part of this amazing experience. I am really looking forward to the 6^th and 7^th grade dance party on Friday. Although dancing really isn’t my thing, I will learn to enjoy it for these kids.

I have really enjoyed teaching Class 6 – much more than I thought I would. They are so calm, quiet, and helpful; they absolutely love to learn, and I am so happy to be a part of it. There is a girl in my class named Sarah, and I could say she is my best friend. She was the first person that I met and someone who I just connect really well with. I love her smile, dedication towards schoolwork, and the way she plays with my hair.

I am always looking forward to another joyful day in the classroom.

July 18th & 19th

Nothing brightens your day more than showing up to school seeing all your students in sweat suits and stretching, it was too cute. Friday was game day; in the morning my class has a test or weekly review in almost every subject. It was surprisingly pretty entertaining to give a test because tests are usually known as boring but I found it exciting; their excitement, dedication, and happiness proved it to be easy for them.  In the afternoon the games begin. To sum up game day, it was about three hours of recess. Kevin and Tate got into a good game of soccer with some older boys and male teachers. I took the time to get to know some older students and got into another really good conversation with Ms. Flora. We talked about America and their school system, college (university), my braces and plenty more. I feel so real with her, comfortable, and open. I am nervous to switch classrooms but I think it will be good for all of us to branch out and get out of our comfort zones.

Yesterday I went on a home visit with Krissy, Gitte, Sawyer, and Sofia. The student we were visiting was Noella she is in class three with Sawyer. When we arrived her grandmother was outside waiting to greet us. She was so small, so sweet, and so welcoming. Noella lives with her father, grandma, and cousin who works at LOAMO in the kitchen. Her house was small but very nice with two bedrooms and a decent size living room. Noella’s mother died when she was three months old, she died from HIV AIDs, because the doctors did not catch it fast enough. It was hard to hear her father was also infected but it broke my heart when they told us Noella is HIV positive as well. The hardest part was that Noella didn’t even know, and she is eleven. Her father doesn’t want her to know because she is “too young.” She is on medication that they get for free but she also has a skin condition that is very noticeable and it upsets her. There is medication for it, but they cannot afford it. It really touched me and I am thankful for how open her father was for telling us their story and sharing personal details about his life, as well as Noellas. Noella is a strong girl and I admire all her beautiful characteristics.

Today was Saturday, we left the house at 8am and headed for the school. Today was cleaning day, our goal was ‘spotless.’ We cleaned windows, washed the chalkboards, wiped down the desks, scrubbed the walls, and got down on our hands and knees using a sweater to mop the concrete floor. Moping a floor with a sweater was probably one of the weirdest things I have ever done. But after thinking it through I realized how resourceful the entire process is. Hours and hours definitely paid off, the classrooms looked one hundred times better. The kitchen ladies were so sweet always wanting us to take a rest or eat. It was a productive, yet exhausting day. The staff at LOAMO were so grateful they could hardly find words to say.

I feel awesome, what we accomplished as a team and individually made an impact on our entire experience. I am already looking forward to Monday, but even more at this point, so we can all see the student’s faces when they enter their new clean rooms. 

With a new face, comes a new name

As the days pass by, I am constantly seeing new faces and learning a new name. The school’s energy always brightens my day. I am growing closer and closer to the kids in Class 2. There are 13 boys and 5 girls, and all these little monkeys make me think of my little brother, full of energy, always talking and asking questions and occasionally getting out of control. Early mornings and long nights are our way of living here. The teachers give us so much freedom; in some forty minute classes I get to teach a lesson that I created. It’s tiring and I am struggling to keep it to myself. Staying active and being energetic every minute of the day is a challenge. However, I absolutely love my teacher Flora; she is so welcoming and gives me the freedom to teach as I want to. Having been a teacher the past 4 days, I am really seeing the classroom (and just the school in general) a different way. It is so nerve-wracking to stand up there for a couple of seconds without knowing what to say or do, which is why I spend long nights preparing for class. Lesson planning is so much fun but a big challenge, and it is the most important thing that we do here. Today I taught math and spelling and it was super fun. In the afternoon, Ms. G and I played some really fun math games, as well as review games for their test tomorrow. When introducing games and activities the excitement flows through everyone, and it is a constant struggle to keep kids in their seats. It’s hard to feel tired and warm down when surrounded with these perfectly happy students who are eager to soak up energy. 

Yesterday Kevin, Tate, Nicole and, Ms. G went on a home visit. They went to Mr. Kimaro’s house. He has a son, Declan, who is in my class. I have a mental image of what his house looks like, and it’s not pretty. To start, it’s not even a house; it’s hardly even a shack. Mr. Kimaro is one of the most amazing men I know. He works in LOAMO as a teacher. When school is over, he goes to the University of Dar Es Salaam, Arusha Campus, to study Computer Technology. He works long, busy days just to give his family dinner. His family is lucky if they eat 2 meals a day. I got to talk to him about it today, and he told me about the home visit. He said, “I let them come inside to see what I lack.” After hearing some of the things he said I was one hundred percent speechless. Most of the money he makes goes towards paying off his debts, and he has 3 kids in total. The 2 youngest are girls. One is old enough to be in baby class, but they don’t have the money. As sick as I already feel, this just makes it worse.

Mr. Kimaro showed me that life is not handed to you. If you want something bad enough, make it happen. His strength and selflessness opened my eyes, and inspired me to look at the world and the life I have differently. 

The Beginning

Tan sand, hot sun, trashed filled ground, and lions are what come to my mind when I thought of Africa. But the moment my eyes opened, looking down on beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro and a land of jungle green really surprised me and gave me an entire new mindset. I didn’t know there could be that much excitement built up in 10 kids. Customs was busy and bags felt heavier by the second, but the excitement and motivation stayed the same. All bags made it just fine and our execution was as smooth as it could have been. When packed into a crowded car you don’t realize how tired you really are until you are asleep on your neighbor’s shoulder. To this minute I am absolutely amazed on how beautiful it is here and how they drive on the other side of the road, I don’t think I am going to get used to that! Our first night was pretty calm, meeting the house staff Jodi, Dada Datto (our kitchen lady), and Loy who is our night guard. I didn’t know what a cold shower was until I was standing there with a goal to just finish washing my hair and not let the water touch my body. The first full day was awesome, Rosta Jon was our tour guide. He was so cool, funny, down to earth, and full of energy. He gave us a tour of most of Arusha and a couple of museums that contained artwork and pictures that will forever remain in my memory. Sunday was a great day, sleeping in and really sinking in here. We had a great yoga session, which I lasted about 45 minutes, we went through and organized all our donations bags.

Cradle of Love is a place for true love. It is a real orphanage for babies here in Tanzania. We got to love, snuggle, and smother them with kisses, but there is always that moment you have to set the one who has been on your hip for the past 2 hours down and walk away. The worst part was… I didn’t even know his name.

Monday was our first day at the school. Short lil blue pants, long lil blue skirts, and a million dark lil eyes glued on you every second. In the mornings the school lines up singing and dancing to the beat of the drums during assembly and finishes with a touching prayer. Working in Class 2 (second grade) jogged my memory and taught me how to carry and borrow numbers again. My fingers are soar from sharpening so many pencils with a knife. Grading books and paper work had never been so fun, teacher mal is definitely a new name for me. The days here at the school are long with hours that pass by very quickly, especially when getting into deep conversation with my Class 2 teacher Ms. Flora. For Tuesday I was assigned to teach a math lesson, if you know me well you can imagine my facial expression, thank God it was only to teach them about the fraction ¼. Monday night I brainstormed what to say, ideas and most importantly, fun games and activities to help them learn. So when math time came around LMH and I taught a mean ¼ lesson with play dough and colored chalk. The kids went nuts! Playing teacher especially with LMH, wasn’t just a blast but it taught me a lot about myself and what I am capable of doing in the class room when I am not focused on my own work.

I get to sit in Ms. Flora’s desk, answer questions, and just learn the way the school works. During tea break and lunch break time really flies because you just don’t get the chance to look at your watch, you constantly have kids holding your hand and climbing you like you are a tree. Each moment I am in the classroom a feel more comfortable with the kids, interacting with adults and other staff, and most importantly myself. I have fallen into their daily routine and eager to learn new names everyday and become closer with my teacher.  

African Slave Trade & the Holocaust

Recently we have been assigned to research the African Slave Trade and the Holocaust;

African Slave Trade
"Most of the Negroes shipped off the coast of Africa are kidnapped."
          To me this line says a lot. In 1788 the world as we see it today is nothing like it was back then. People were treated unbelievable unfair, forced to be somewhere they didn't want to be or forced to go somewhere where they didn't want to go.
"The slave trade between Western Africa and the America's reached its peak in the mid-18th century when it is estimated that over 80,000 Africans annually crossed the Atlantic to spend the rest of their lives in chains." 
Traditionally African slaves were brought to preform menial or domestic labor, to serve as wives or concubines, or to enhance the status of the slave owner. 
The Atlantic Slave Trade developed after Europeans began exploring and establishing trading posts on the Atlantic (west) coast of Africa in the mid-15th century. Portuguese followed by the British and French were the first major group of European traders in the West. 

The Holocaust

Of the nine million Jews who had lived in Europe before the Holocaust, approximately two-thirds were killed. The term "Holocaust," originally from the Greek word "holokauston" which means "sacrifice by fire," refers to the Nazi's persecution and planned slaughter of the Jewish people.

These two situation can relate to each other with a very strong connection because of the lack of control either the Africans or the Jews had. Both were forced to to participate in something they didn't want to. Two extremely unfortunate situations that happened in our history. 

After researching both these situations I do not just have one single emotion, I have many coming and leaving my head. I feel sad and confused, my only question is why. Why did this happen to such innocent people for no good reason. Back then people were so sick and had problems that people didn't know about or could not be treated, and because of that sad and unfortunate situations were made.