My first days in Tanzania...

Hamjambo! I am here, safe and sound! It is amazing and fabulous. The flights here weren't bad as I expected but I did lose 2 days of my life. I left Friday at noon and arrived in Kili late night. But it was all worth it! The other volunteers and staff are so incredible. I have bonded so quickly with them. I will try to add pix at a later time. So let me update you to what I have been up to...

Sunday:
My first real day here and my free time. So a group of 14 of us went on a hot springs tour. We had to travel about an hour to get there. Let me point out now that the roads are dirt and very rocky, so travel is bouncing all around. The best part was that we went rural so I saw some very interesting things. I saw women in beautiful clothing, unusual trees and flowers, termite hills (they are soooo tall here!), homes made of anything and everything. The people are so resourceful and waste nothing! We arrived at the hot springs and it was this area that you would never know was there if you were walking by. It was so beautiful and so secluded. We all jumped in and enjoyed the warm water! After lunch, the tour guides asked us if we wanted to walk around. We all just kind of looked at each other like "where are we going to walk to?". There is nothing around!!! But we agreed and it was the best decision. We walked and walked and walked. You have to remember that it is very open and you can see for miles around. It was a very relaxing walk and occasionally saw a local ride by on his bike. We walked up to this area that a couple of women and children were at doing some work. The women were cutting down branches and the children were playing. It was a great scene! They were so nice, even though we can't communicate with each other. They smiled and we pointed to our cameras. You must get permission to take a picture of an adult here. They nodded. As I am getting the best picture ever, we all hear rustling in the trees. A few feet away are monkeys!!! Oh my goodness! It was amazing. They were jumping from tree to tree. Some of them were huge! I tried to get a picture and video but they were hard to get on camera.

We made it back to our home base later that evening and I hear that there is a bar. The beer gods have found me in Tanzania. No need to worry...Kelli will be having beer! I walked, literally across the dirt path in front of our house to this little shack. That is my "neighborhood" bar. Basically, it's us volunteers there! I have now tried Tanzanian Beer, Kilimanjaro and Tusker. I went to bed that night, with my mosquito net in place, and was woken up at 4:40 in the morning to roosters and dogs. Then at 5:00, the Muslim prayer. It is played over a loud speaker and lasts for approximately 7 minutes. It was amazing to hear. I don't have a clue what was being said but it sounded so beautiful. It was a man singing and chanting. Wow!

Monday:
I had orientation all day. Just learned about schedules, placements, etc. That night, made it back to the "bar" for a few more beers! I had to...we had birthdays to celebrate!

Tuesday:
My first day of placement! I met the women's group who meet on the front porch of Mama Bruno's house. The women were very nice to me and welcomed me into the group. The first hour, Dan, another volunteer, taught them reading in English. The second hour, the three of us volunteers, Dan, Sara, and myself, took a couple of women each and had group time. The women had to have conversation in English. They asked me questions and vice verse. They did so well! There were definitely times that we didn't understand what was being said of each other but they want to learn so badly. They would write new words down and try to learn what it meant. They were awesome. The final hour was business meeting. They are trying to become NGO. They have done all the paperwork but still need to get $300 to pay for the NGO. $300! I know, it is nothing to us but they make under a $1/day here, and $300 is incomprehensible to them. But they had a fundraiser with the last group of volunteers and made $276. We are going to have another fundraiser next week. All of the volunteers from CCS come to it and it is going to be a great time. This group is definitely going to something that I can continue to support for a long time and watch the growth and success of it and the women.

After lunch, we had Swahili lesson and a class on cultural differences. It was interesting to learn things from the locals. As for Swahili, I am getting there! It is a hard language but I've got some basics down! The rest of the afternoon was free time. A group of us walked to Moshi town. It is all dirt roads with a couple of roads that are paved. There is the market and then town. We went to the market first. It is an open area with people selling fruits and vegetables and shoes and tools. Basically, anything you can think of. We then found a part of the market that is indoors. It is the butcher. Yep, we walked in. I can't even tell you how awful it was! There was raw meet from every kind of animal they have here hanging or just sitting, cut up on wooden counters. The smell is nothing I have ever smelled before. It was enough to make us gag. We had a line of us walking through and we couldn't walk fast enough! I kept looking down to avoid seeing the meat but there was blood splattered all over. It was quite the experience and one that I will never forget! We then walked to the town and found a fabric store. I bought some fabric and will have some skirts made for here. They are so beautiful! We found a coffee shop and sat outside in the back garden area. We walked around a little while longer to see the other stores and restaurants. We aren't allowed to take pictures of the town or market. But I can tell you that it is very cramped and people are everywhere and they are so nice to us.

I have been up writing since 4 am, couldn't sleep cuz I went to bed early. Hopefully this all makes sense and I have painted a good picture for you.
Well, I will keep you updated as often as I can. I hope you are all well!

My Placement!!!!!

My Volunteer Placement
Jipe Moyo Women’s Group
Organization for Women’s Empowerment

General Information
Mission and Needs of the Partner Program
Jipe Moyo is a group of women who are living with HIV/AIDS. They used to be part of a larger organization, WOFATA, but decided to focus on their own activities in the fall of 2007. Its aim is to help the women to fight against stigma, to support each other in managing many responsibilities of daily life, .
There are youth in the community who are not able to attend secondary school, and this group helps provide them with English instruction.

Volunteer Activities / Duties
Support women in their pursuit for healthy and sustainable livelihoods.
Engage in discussion and exchange ideas on issues such as family health, women’s rights, access to resources, income generation, etc.
Collaborate and support the women on ongoing projects.
Teach conversational English and pronounciation.
Be a positive role model.
Advertising their group making/designing brochures, website, business cards
Sharing fundraising skills and participating in fundraising
Teaching kids (nursery school and secondary school)
Participate in outreach activities (Home visits to the sick)
Participate in counseling

Goals for the Volunteer from the Partner Program
Long-Term
With the support of volunteers, Jipe Moyo hopes to continue engaging all members of the group through home visits and developing skills in time management. They also hope to explore opportunities with income-generating projects.
Short-Term Volunteers are expected to be flexible and help out with a variety of activities, often changing from day to day. Teaching English, accompanying the women on home-visits and exchanging ideas about fundraising and income-generating projects will be primary responsibilities of volunteers. Helping women with time-management skills to encourage them to attend regular meetings is also important.

One Month To Go!!!!

I can't believe I will be there in one month! The time has flown and I am sooo excited and a little nervous. I am trying to buy everything in sight to bring with me. I really don't know what to expect but here is a little video to prepare us all!!!! (Click on this title to see video)

WooHoo!!!!

I have some great news! Thanks to all of you....I have raised 100% of my goal! It couldn't have been done without you and I appreciate all of your support! I am so happy and now I can concentrate on any additional money that is raised will help support the other expenses incurred for my cause. I will be able to take supplies to Africa for my activities while there. Please know that your money contributed is going to a great cause and will forever change someone's life.

Also, I have completed getting my immunizations. It wasn't that bad at all except for the Yellow Fever. Oh my did that hurt! I still have a huge lump and mark on my arm. It looks awful and very sensitive.

Well, I am ready to go! I can't wait to jetset to Africa and keep you all updated on my journey!

Plane Ticket

Well, I have my ticket to Africa. After a very expensive expenditure, there is no turning back now! hahaha....

So, I will be traveling for a total of 25 hours each way! Crazy! I will leave Chicago to Boston. Then to Amsterdam, have a few hours to stretch and then off to Kilimanjaro. Same route on the way back. See you August 10th when I return!

Immunizations

Good morning! I am feeling just a little sore in my arms. I went to the doctor yesterday to get started on my shots. Oh the fun! I got my tetanus and Hep A shots yesterday. Not a huge deal but more are to come! ugh!! I also wanted everyone to know that I am now at 70% of my goal! How great is that? Thank you all for everything! Well, have a great day--have to start work now.....

I'm Half-Way There!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy New Year!!! I have raised 57% percent of my program fee. Thank you so much for all of your support, financially and emotionally.

I can't believe that you have contributed so much in such a short amount of time! So amazing! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

After the new year, I will be going to get my immunizations. Woohoo! Now the real fun begins! haha...it shouldn't be bad. I have researched and it seems like I will just be sore. Hopefully nothing more! I will keep you updated....