Nicaragua, Morocco, & Tanzania

My first trip to Nicaragua in two words, eye opening.  When I was 14 years old I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua from the Vail Valley,  going from my small town with very little poverty to some of the most severe poverty I have ever imagined.  In staying a part of CGA I traveled on three more trips that have opened my eyes to a whole other side of life across the ocean. From the home visits to driving around every country and seeing little things, piles of trash on the roads, little girls walking with gallons of water on their head because there was no other way to get water. All of the countries that Children’s Global Alliance travels to are severely stricken by poverty. Every time I travel I try to think how can this just happen, how does the cycle of poverty begin in a family, and why is it so difficult to get out of that cycle.             In every place that I have traveled t...

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”- Tony Robbins         Reflecting on 2017 I have realized what a crazy year it was, full of visible things that happened right in front of our eyes. Whether it be all the hate that has seemed to overcome the world or all the love that was spread across the nations. Last year was also full of invisible things that occurred outside of our small little bubble. The invisible things are what inspire me daily to participate in CGA’s trips. Traveling to places that I could have never imagined and to places where people told me not to go, has given me a sense of global awareness. CGA has given me the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself, to push myself to make daily goals that benefit not only me but the other people in my life.         When I got the call that I was lucky enough to get to travel back to Tanzania, I was ov...

“There are different kinds and degrees of love, and they change over time, ripening and deepening and changing us in the process.”- Cassandra King. Over the past three years I have gotten the chance to experience this first hand. Since 2014, I have traveled to Nicaragua, Morocco, and Tanzania with Children’s Global Alliance. In the summer of 2018, I will get the opportunity to travel back to Tanzania.         When I got the call that I would be lucky enough to travel back to the place that has by far impacted me the most, I was speechless. All I could do was look at the note that one of my students, Esther wrote me that was hanging above my bed and smile. I was going to get the chance to see all of their beautiful faces again. As I am sitting here trying to write my blog, it is hard for me to put all the emotions together when Tanzania is on my mind. Like any other trip, you take away different lessons from each place.  Nicaragua taught me...

Arusha, Tanzania where happiness is the first choice. Where love is found around every corner. Arusha there will always be a place for you in my heart. This journey has taught me to never dwell on life, to love and accept everyone no matter what they have been through or where they have come from. I was constantly being reminded of this during our final moments with the kids.             Our last days at LOAMO were not easy. Saying goodbye to Prep Class was like saying goodbye to kids you have known your whole life, when really it was only two weeks. Prep Class was filled with love and laughter the moment you entered the room; whether, it was the teachers or the students, I knew that they took every moment we spent with them to heart. As the minutes dwindled down, I cherished every high-five, knuckles, smile, and talk with the kids. Even though the kids were only five or six years old and probably wouldn’t remember us for lon...

“Teacher Megan! Teacher Megan!” Every corner I turn I hear this. Whether it’s in the classroom, when we arrive, or when we are saying goodbye. The student’s enthusiasm to see us and to learn reminds me of Morocco everyday. This kind of excitement to come to school and learn from us or their teachers is what keeps me coming back for more year after year. Going into week two after a once in a lifetime experience this weekend, I am so eager to grow even closer with the students. Just like at home I am always looking forward to the weekend, but here in Tanzania I couldn’t wait to see what adventure was waiting behind the corner. Friday night we found out that we would have the chance to go to The Cradle of Love baby orphanage. I had always seen the heartwarming pictures of student volunteers holding and loving on these babies and I was ready to be the one holding and playing with them this time. Immediately, after we walked in it was just like the pictures and even more because it was...

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 u...

As of March 19 th , 2017, I have reached my fundraising goal of $3,300. I couldn’t be more thankful for all the generous people in my life that have donated to this amazing experience throughout the year. Through life we face achievements, fears, goals, and hopes. These trips have never failed to bring out all of these qualities in myself. I have seen myself go from the person that didn’t think could raise $1,500 in a couple months to the person that has stood up in front of a class that could barely speak any English and go for it. As the date is approaching quickly for my life time opportunity to travel to Tanzania and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to get back out into the world to do something that I LOVE more than anything.   This being the third time I have traveled to a third world country with Children’s Global Alliance I can never say my fears have surrounded “danger”. From the beginning, I have never feared for my safety in a country even with the ...