First Impressions

Eleven months of preparation and nerves, and we are finally here in Arusha, Tanzania, our home for the next two weeks. It felt like yesterday when I got the call saying I would be here. Now, arriving and seeing this amazing country, I couldn’t be happier and more excited for what is to come.

                The build up to this trip is never easy. It consists of lesson plan after lesson plan, and endless nerves about being able to give the kids what they deserve.  But as always, as soon as we were finally done with the three days of travel, the nervousness disappeared and excitement overcame me. Four days in and I am still jumping out of bed to see these beautiful kid’s faces. The first day we got here was like every CGA trip, there is no dilly dallying no matter how tired you are. An hour into being here and we were already experiencing eye opening things with our tour guide, Rasta John, who showed us around the town.  One thing that particularly took me back was the amount of love and kindness the people showed to us. There wasn’t a person who walked by that didn’t shoot us a smile or wave. This small act made me completely remember why I LOVE these trips because there is not a moment that you don’t feel loved; whether is by a student, teacher, or fellow teammate. As we walked around Arusha, I couldn’t stop smiling because I knew I was going to love this place and all it had to offer. 

                Jumping out of bed at 6:00am after a long 3 days of travel has never felt better than it did in July 12^th. As we drove to the school, I was taking everything in I possibly could, because to me the first impressions of a culture and town are the ones that stick with you the most. From the unreal cuteness of little kids in their uniforms walking to school, to the rundown houses on the side of the road, this town is like no other. Then we arrived, L.O.A.M.O, and as always the students are timid when a group of strangers show up at their school. This soon wore off at morning assembly, where the kids line up in their class rows and come together as a school to pray and do some morning routines. To me this tradition so amazing, because no matter what craziness is going on in the school, the students and teachers still make an effort to come together and cherish the day they have been given. Even though this has happened every day we have been here, it has never gotten old, and still makes me almost cry each time.  After assembly, the kids headed to class I couldn’t have been more excited that I was going to have the opportunity to teach and grow closer to these kids.

                One student especially sticks out to me, her name is Esther. The first day I walked into Class Six I could tell right away that she was the quiet one.  However, as the day went on I constantly caught her smiling and winking at me, and if you know me, you know winking is kind of my thing. I could tell this little girl and I were going to have a connection like no other. After the first day of teaching, I was hanging out with her and she told me she wanted me to come on her home visit. Luckily, I got the chance to experience a day in her shoes at her home the next day. As her mom, Mama Ellie, walked us to their house I would have never thought that Esther- the girl who is in the top of her class and takes great pride in keeping herself looking put together- lives in a small room with five other people. Every bit of space in their house was used to their benefit. Whether it was the shoes hung on the wall or the dishes shoved under coffee table, there was NO wasted space in there 12x10 “house”. Out of all the houses I have been to with CGA, Esther house was the most beautiful yet sad. The amount of love that spilled out of their house even with the circumstances they had to deal with was astounding. Once we started talking, I realized exactly where Esther got her sweetness from; her mom. Even though Mama Ellie was having to decide between rent or food, she chose to be happy and love when she had every right not to.  Mama Ellie and Esther opened my eyes to a whole new way of choosing to love and be happy about life despite your struggles.

Day four is coming to a close and I am sitting on our back porch writing my blog. Looking out over the beautiful views that Arusha has to offer, I couldn’t be happy and more excited to see what these next two weeks will show us.