with (excuse typos - bad keys) just over $2,500 raised (and more donations still coming in!) for educational resources and food - wanted to give everyone an update on where it's going.
i wasn't planning on deciding until the end of my trip to ensure i figure out wht's really needed and where the money will be able to grow further - i have some initial thoughts thus far.
we are starting (kristina and i and some other prior volunteers who had been at cheti for 6mos) a cheti sponsorship program. there are many reasons why - which will be discolsed at the launch :) - bt essentially this is to sponsor an individual child for 7years through prmary school so they will be prepared for secondary school. i would love to do this myself (sponsor) if i find the right child to sponsor.
also - cheti currently has 4 schools. C3 and C4 are further out in the mountains and primarily are masai chidren. these children look the most malnurished of all, not to mention their overall dirty appearance. these schools serve them porridge which is usually the only regular meal they recieve. id like some of the money to continue this food program for about 4 months.
there will be al large sum of money remaining (i know... this money goes far -it is actually saving lives!) this i think will be best spent on actual school supplies. currently there are about 4 reading (english) books. primary school needs more, thye can read well and need the chance to read further. their pencils are mostly donated. the children usually chew theseas well as the erasers ( i think its out of hunger and non-diagnosis of ADD) sot hey need a lot of these as well.
you get the point.
either way - really looking forward to help pushing this school forward. i already love these children and it's a great school and cause to support. :)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
3-day safari: serengeti and ngorongoro
beautiful adventure!
saw the big 5
2 landrovers, 1 driver and 1 cook in each car. there was a total of 9 of us girls that went in a group together.
windows down, top rolled back - the scenery was like nothing you've seen before.
the clouds were as big as mountains and the tips of the land at every valley and every mountain top.
the colors of green reminded me of ireland's vast countryside - but the trees, oh the trees. i love them! it was just like i envisioned africa to look like. breathtaking.
the animals run amongst you as if you were one of them.
we were literally feet from lions feasting on dead buffalo, zebras running across the road, wildebeast continuing along their migration. it was truly incredible.
sunsets and sunrises symbolized the continual circle of life that takes place between the valleys, the plains, the rivers and the mountains existing within the national park and the reserve. nothing we captured could encapsulate the beauty we saw.
on another note, i have some pretty funny stories to share regarding bats in bathrooms, and lions walking through campsites (i know... me, camping?!). nothing like really living in the wild :)
saw the big 5
2 landrovers, 1 driver and 1 cook in each car. there was a total of 9 of us girls that went in a group together.
windows down, top rolled back - the scenery was like nothing you've seen before.
the clouds were as big as mountains and the tips of the land at every valley and every mountain top.
the colors of green reminded me of ireland's vast countryside - but the trees, oh the trees. i love them! it was just like i envisioned africa to look like. breathtaking.
the animals run amongst you as if you were one of them.
we were literally feet from lions feasting on dead buffalo, zebras running across the road, wildebeast continuing along their migration. it was truly incredible.
sunsets and sunrises symbolized the continual circle of life that takes place between the valleys, the plains, the rivers and the mountains existing within the national park and the reserve. nothing we captured could encapsulate the beauty we saw.
on another note, i have some pretty funny stories to share regarding bats in bathrooms, and lions walking through campsites (i know... me, camping?!). nothing like really living in the wild :)
the food...
while the nation's poverty is obvious, malnutrition is not an obvious issue - at least in arusha.
their food is heavy, oily and at least 1 food item is fried per meal.
fruit is fresh - pineapple, mango, bananas and watermelon.
their vegetables are usually smothered. on the dalla dallas they smell of past due - but when mixed with the some sort of tomato based sauce their expiration date is hard to identify.
rice and ugali, (a corn starch based rice-like food) are their staples, served with most meals. that for french fries. although for the mnzugus (white people) are served pasta as well (thank goodness).
desert is not usually included in any meal. although the one time it was served, it was fried bananas.
there is barely any wheat bread - white everything. not finishing is not an option and not asking for seconds is rude.
everyone loves full whole cream (where you actually have to skim your own glass). they serve it with warm sugar and call it tea.... i finally started turning this down today as my stomach just can't handle any more.
there's a few popular beer options (it's "kili" time is a slogan plastered everywhere), but most tanzanians don't drink that much.
while we have been continually served seemingly delicious meals, the food just sits like a rock and immediately makes your stomach unhappy.
regardless of why this is (water, preparation, oil, etc) - after starting antibiotics, i'm pretty much sticking to just pb&j from now on. yikes... this is going to be a long 3 more weeks!
their food is heavy, oily and at least 1 food item is fried per meal.
fruit is fresh - pineapple, mango, bananas and watermelon.
their vegetables are usually smothered. on the dalla dallas they smell of past due - but when mixed with the some sort of tomato based sauce their expiration date is hard to identify.
rice and ugali, (a corn starch based rice-like food) are their staples, served with most meals. that for french fries. although for the mnzugus (white people) are served pasta as well (thank goodness).
desert is not usually included in any meal. although the one time it was served, it was fried bananas.
there is barely any wheat bread - white everything. not finishing is not an option and not asking for seconds is rude.
everyone loves full whole cream (where you actually have to skim your own glass). they serve it with warm sugar and call it tea.... i finally started turning this down today as my stomach just can't handle any more.
there's a few popular beer options (it's "kili" time is a slogan plastered everywhere), but most tanzanians don't drink that much.
while we have been continually served seemingly delicious meals, the food just sits like a rock and immediately makes your stomach unhappy.
regardless of why this is (water, preparation, oil, etc) - after starting antibiotics, i'm pretty much sticking to just pb&j from now on. yikes... this is going to be a long 3 more weeks!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
the poverty...
words cannot describe what i've seen.
when you are standing in the middle of a 1 room house with dirt floors and 1 bed starring outside at the chickens and the fire pit, you don't feel sad. your heart doesn't ache and you don't cry. The people who live here have a strength like nothing we know of. call it being naive, call it un-intelligence, call it what you want - but these people i have met have found something like happiness.
the dirt surrounding them and blowing consistently in their faces doesn't bother them. everyday, they walk straight through and play with the frequently placed, and public trash dumps. the smell of burning trash, grilled corn and non-hygienic neighbors doesn't make them blink. days pass and they eat porridge. living off of $50 a month doesn't kill them.
it is only when you listen to these tales of the strong... and only when the pride is set aside, that the anguish and pain is spoken- that is when you, yourself break.
you are left speechless...
you don't understand.
you can't apologize...
and you can't provide them anything to soften the pain and resolve their problems.
if you feed one, you realize - their abusive parent is HIV positive and they can no longer afford the schooling where they received the food.
if you paint the schools, you are reminded they still can't afford books or teachers to teach the students who fill the blue room.
if you buy pencils - you remember that even if they do finish primary school, pass the test into secondary school, are able to pay and complete "high school" - their options are still slim to none that they will conquer poverty.
these are some of the tales of strong.
if you don't cry after hearing these... you wait.
wait until you hear the primary class singing together about the bumble bees, the church choir praising the Lord for all their gifts of strength, for the pure excitement and honor the women show after telling them they and their children are beautiful.
this is when you cry.
there is so much to give.
so much to teach.
so much work to be done.
and yet... we too have so much to learn from these people who "have not".
when you are standing in the middle of a 1 room house with dirt floors and 1 bed starring outside at the chickens and the fire pit, you don't feel sad. your heart doesn't ache and you don't cry. The people who live here have a strength like nothing we know of. call it being naive, call it un-intelligence, call it what you want - but these people i have met have found something like happiness.
the dirt surrounding them and blowing consistently in their faces doesn't bother them. everyday, they walk straight through and play with the frequently placed, and public trash dumps. the smell of burning trash, grilled corn and non-hygienic neighbors doesn't make them blink. days pass and they eat porridge. living off of $50 a month doesn't kill them.
it is only when you listen to these tales of the strong... and only when the pride is set aside, that the anguish and pain is spoken- that is when you, yourself break.
you are left speechless...
you don't understand.
you can't apologize...
and you can't provide them anything to soften the pain and resolve their problems.
if you feed one, you realize - their abusive parent is HIV positive and they can no longer afford the schooling where they received the food.
if you paint the schools, you are reminded they still can't afford books or teachers to teach the students who fill the blue room.
if you buy pencils - you remember that even if they do finish primary school, pass the test into secondary school, are able to pay and complete "high school" - their options are still slim to none that they will conquer poverty.
these are some of the tales of strong.
if you don't cry after hearing these... you wait.
wait until you hear the primary class singing together about the bumble bees, the church choir praising the Lord for all their gifts of strength, for the pure excitement and honor the women show after telling them they and their children are beautiful.
this is when you cry.
there is so much to give.
so much to teach.
so much work to be done.
and yet... we too have so much to learn from these people who "have not".
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
first day of school
there are 280 students at cheti private school in the slums.
it was indescribable.
there are 2 schools that our director, zuma, owns as well that are off further in the mountains. the students there are mostly Masai and are the poorest of poor living in the mud huts with no beds and barely a roof.
school is 8-1130 with a break for children to walk home - app 30-40min to "eat lunch" and be back at the school by 2pm. although, school does serve porridge to the primary school students (1/2 cup of disgusting porridge).
the children's hygine - doesn't exist. the nursrery students only speak swahili- which makes helping them through their worksheets incredibly difficult. some classrooms have the kids teaching the classes as the rest chime along.
the kids are (of course) adorable. i've already fallen in love with countless number of them. when you walk in the classroom they say in unison, "goood morning teach-a" "how are you?" you say "good morning students, i'm fine - how are you?" adorable.
there are a few students with disabilities... one boy was left behind as his parents thought he had "nothing in his brain" and made his syblings attend school. it wasn't until zuma (school director) visited the house that he realized he was there. he covers his education ($100/year). the boy - baraka now speaks and is one of the fastest in the classroom.
it continues to amaze me how people who have nothing give everything.
it was indescribable.
there are 2 schools that our director, zuma, owns as well that are off further in the mountains. the students there are mostly Masai and are the poorest of poor living in the mud huts with no beds and barely a roof.
school is 8-1130 with a break for children to walk home - app 30-40min to "eat lunch" and be back at the school by 2pm. although, school does serve porridge to the primary school students (1/2 cup of disgusting porridge).
the children's hygine - doesn't exist. the nursrery students only speak swahili- which makes helping them through their worksheets incredibly difficult. some classrooms have the kids teaching the classes as the rest chime along.
the kids are (of course) adorable. i've already fallen in love with countless number of them. when you walk in the classroom they say in unison, "goood morning teach-a" "how are you?" you say "good morning students, i'm fine - how are you?" adorable.
there are a few students with disabilities... one boy was left behind as his parents thought he had "nothing in his brain" and made his syblings attend school. it wasn't until zuma (school director) visited the house that he realized he was there. he covers his education ($100/year). the boy - baraka now speaks and is one of the fastest in the classroom.
it continues to amaze me how people who have nothing give everything.
at church...
the sun beats down on our backs and burns as we walk about 3 miles in the rocky cobble.
we walked with kaka (which means brother, but is actually one of our security guards), to his local church and the walk itself was unbelievable. At one point, kristina and i looked at each other and said - what we just saw is indescribable.
we were really in the slums. babies carrying mini-jerry cans filled with water, clothes hanging on clothes lines and ripping off the children who wore them. no shoes, or barely shoes. children playing in the mud as goats and dogs walk by. children picking up the trash off the grass and 1 room mud huts for 6 people.
and yet, despite the overwhelming poverty, some of the most beautiful people i have ever met.
the pride and happiness after all 15 of us (other volunteers) sat down on the bed where his 4 children (pray god, goodluck, joylove, and ester) sleep and the 1 couch. his wife was excited to share her family and home with us and walked alongside as we continued our journey through the slums to church.
along the way, like always, we collected the village children who latches on to your hand as if you were their saviour.
church was another amazing experience. we were welcomed with warmth into this christian church into a room full of men, women and tons of children wearing their sunday best. kaka's wife was in the dance group that congo-ed around the room embracing god and the community with love and hope. kaka ended up introducing us in front of the church... it was really amazing watching the congregation embrace all of our group.
for the first time on this trip - i felt god's presence. i met a little girl who barely smiled, the only one child that wasn't excited to meet a "white girl" - she quickly became my biggest fan. we kept playing with a flower that had appeared from somewhere, she would put it in my hair, i would put it in the rip of her shirt. she would hold my hand and i would put my arm around her. she finally smiled and hugged me goodbye.
as the songs played on - they ended towards sadness as the choir and members of the congregation began to cry. we left early as these services usually last for 4 hours.
we walked with kaka (which means brother, but is actually one of our security guards), to his local church and the walk itself was unbelievable. At one point, kristina and i looked at each other and said - what we just saw is indescribable.
we were really in the slums. babies carrying mini-jerry cans filled with water, clothes hanging on clothes lines and ripping off the children who wore them. no shoes, or barely shoes. children playing in the mud as goats and dogs walk by. children picking up the trash off the grass and 1 room mud huts for 6 people.
and yet, despite the overwhelming poverty, some of the most beautiful people i have ever met.
the pride and happiness after all 15 of us (other volunteers) sat down on the bed where his 4 children (pray god, goodluck, joylove, and ester) sleep and the 1 couch. his wife was excited to share her family and home with us and walked alongside as we continued our journey through the slums to church.
along the way, like always, we collected the village children who latches on to your hand as if you were their saviour.
church was another amazing experience. we were welcomed with warmth into this christian church into a room full of men, women and tons of children wearing their sunday best. kaka's wife was in the dance group that congo-ed around the room embracing god and the community with love and hope. kaka ended up introducing us in front of the church... it was really amazing watching the congregation embrace all of our group.
for the first time on this trip - i felt god's presence. i met a little girl who barely smiled, the only one child that wasn't excited to meet a "white girl" - she quickly became my biggest fan. we kept playing with a flower that had appeared from somewhere, she would put it in my hair, i would put it in the rip of her shirt. she would hold my hand and i would put my arm around her. she finally smiled and hugged me goodbye.
as the songs played on - they ended towards sadness as the choir and members of the congregation began to cry. we left early as these services usually last for 4 hours.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Rock quarries and colored skirts
After the second day, going into town I have decided - arusha is an insane city. i have come to the conclusion that it is a china-towne on drugs and will be avoiding it like a plague. the outskirts are amazing and the people are something inspiring. from here -out we will be taking dalla dallas or cabs directly to where we need it... the city is just a lot :)
Last night - we were picked up by a dalla-dalla (all 15 of us in 1 van) and asked them to take is down the winy, rocky road back to our volunteer house. they then picked up two more and we were all squished on laps, barely breathing as we scraped the bottom of the van towards safety.
today, we stopped by our drivers house. slowly watched woman and children cleaning there clothes in the river and met family after family living in 1 room houses and carrying their Jerry cans back from the river. the children look at you with wonder and aspiration. just saying hello and waving puts a smile on their face. he was so honored we came to see his family, meet his son brooklyn and his wife.
the hardest thing to continually watch so - far is the rock quarries. during the week, hundreds of women (massai, etc) and children sit on large rocks with machete-style hammers and chop the rocks into smaller bits to sell. there is a huge rock quarry right by our volunteer house. it's heartbreaking to know, this is all they know...
the food which is prepared for us, is delish although veggies and rice with tomato sauce (i know, this is extremely similar to what i eat pretty much everyday) might get a bit old. breakfast consists of the specialty, fried dough, bananas, fresh pineapple and white toast.
i am amazed by the beauty of these people. the colors of their skirts match the colors of the wild life. the woman carry everything on their heads, from bananas, laundry, shopping bags, etc. i wish i could share these pictures with everyone, but have not had a chance, or really know how to upload them - but have already gone through an entire SIM card. Onto the next!
so far - my favorite culturally learning is swahili time. they start their days at 6 am (when the sun comes up) and that is essentially 12am, as it sets and rises at the same time everyday. so our 1pm is their 6 am. Therefore - if you ask someone to meet you at a certain time, you'll need to clarify american time or swahili time - otherwise you will be waiting for a WHILE. and you do, all the time... time is definitely not of the essence.
until next time...
Last night - we were picked up by a dalla-dalla (all 15 of us in 1 van) and asked them to take is down the winy, rocky road back to our volunteer house. they then picked up two more and we were all squished on laps, barely breathing as we scraped the bottom of the van towards safety.
today, we stopped by our drivers house. slowly watched woman and children cleaning there clothes in the river and met family after family living in 1 room houses and carrying their Jerry cans back from the river. the children look at you with wonder and aspiration. just saying hello and waving puts a smile on their face. he was so honored we came to see his family, meet his son brooklyn and his wife.
the hardest thing to continually watch so - far is the rock quarries. during the week, hundreds of women (massai, etc) and children sit on large rocks with machete-style hammers and chop the rocks into smaller bits to sell. there is a huge rock quarry right by our volunteer house. it's heartbreaking to know, this is all they know...
the food which is prepared for us, is delish although veggies and rice with tomato sauce (i know, this is extremely similar to what i eat pretty much everyday) might get a bit old. breakfast consists of the specialty, fried dough, bananas, fresh pineapple and white toast.
i am amazed by the beauty of these people. the colors of their skirts match the colors of the wild life. the woman carry everything on their heads, from bananas, laundry, shopping bags, etc. i wish i could share these pictures with everyone, but have not had a chance, or really know how to upload them - but have already gone through an entire SIM card. Onto the next!
so far - my favorite culturally learning is swahili time. they start their days at 6 am (when the sun comes up) and that is essentially 12am, as it sets and rises at the same time everyday. so our 1pm is their 6 am. Therefore - if you ask someone to meet you at a certain time, you'll need to clarify american time or swahili time - otherwise you will be waiting for a WHILE. and you do, all the time... time is definitely not of the essence.
until next time...
Jambo Tanzania!
Safe in Arusha!
With only a slight delay in Nairobi, we landed a few hours late, but all in 1 piece to Mt Kilimanjaro Intl Airport and were quickly picked up by our organization.
After day 1, I've already met, (and fallen in love with) several children (orphans) who latch on to you as if they have not a care in the world. They love taking pictures and then seeing what they look like on the digital cameras. They apparently never got the message to not talk to strangers...
After taking a quick, freezing bucket shower, we rode a dalla dalla, (a little van you hail like a cab) into the city of Arusha - which is quite the culture shock. It felt like a walk through union square on a Saturday afternoon trying to not fall over the rocks while still taking a second to look at the people, the trades and the kids. But if you don't see them - they will come chasing after you -"hey white person, where's my money, where's my money?" A bit crazy... but we managed to find a quiet little area and had lunch with a few other volunteers and one of the organization leaders (from TN).
The organization is great as are the ~10 other girls we're staying with in the house... there's a driver, a cook and several cleaning ladies. The house we ended up staying in last night is new - and might i say, far better than any NYC apt. They are all extremely sweet and are patient with our lax attempts at Swahili.
So far - Tanzanians are beautiful people who are curious and excited to practice their english, meet foreigners and potentially get paid. :)
The country - from what we've seen, is just like you'd imagine. Chickens and goats roaming around, children and their mothers on the street... the landscape vibrant and breathtaking.
With only a slight delay in Nairobi, we landed a few hours late, but all in 1 piece to Mt Kilimanjaro Intl Airport and were quickly picked up by our organization.
After day 1, I've already met, (and fallen in love with) several children (orphans) who latch on to you as if they have not a care in the world. They love taking pictures and then seeing what they look like on the digital cameras. They apparently never got the message to not talk to strangers...
After taking a quick, freezing bucket shower, we rode a dalla dalla, (a little van you hail like a cab) into the city of Arusha - which is quite the culture shock. It felt like a walk through union square on a Saturday afternoon trying to not fall over the rocks while still taking a second to look at the people, the trades and the kids. But if you don't see them - they will come chasing after you -"hey white person, where's my money, where's my money?" A bit crazy... but we managed to find a quiet little area and had lunch with a few other volunteers and one of the organization leaders (from TN).
The organization is great as are the ~10 other girls we're staying with in the house... there's a driver, a cook and several cleaning ladies. The house we ended up staying in last night is new - and might i say, far better than any NYC apt. They are all extremely sweet and are patient with our lax attempts at Swahili.
So far - Tanzanians are beautiful people who are curious and excited to practice their english, meet foreigners and potentially get paid. :)
The country - from what we've seen, is just like you'd imagine. Chickens and goats roaming around, children and their mothers on the street... the landscape vibrant and breathtaking.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
kwa herini
With the new year on my side, I'm excited to finally begin this adventure.
After raising *almost* 5 thousand dollars and recieving bags of school supplies - I feel well prepared for take off.
While I had hoped to learn a bit more swahili and somehow prepare lesson plans... I guess I'll have to rely on my b-sing ability a bit more than planned, (thanks to my day job, it should come relatively easily ;) ).
We arrive in Mt Kilimonjaro January 13th and will be taken straight to Mama Mary's house - our new abode for the month! We were just placed at Cheti - a school comprised 400 students and 4 separate schools. Ages 7-11.
Hopefully I will have access to the internet frequently and can continue to share stories and pictures. In the mean time, wish Kristina and I luck for the 24 hour flight.
Thanks again to all my friends and family for their support, as usual - wouldn't be here without you all!
tuaonan baagaye
-see you later
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