Today was our first day going to the orphanage and taking the Dala Dala’s by ourselves!  I am surprised how well I know my way around the city after only a few days, as it is so huge! But I guess when you’re thrown into something you have no choice but to figure it out, and so far I’m learning a lot!

We even met this really nice local who pall paid for our ride!  When we arrived at the orphanage the children were all sitting in the classroom. The teacher or the director were not there. As soon as they saw me, they all ran up and hugged me! It was the sweetest thing ever. 

The teacher never did show up and I was on my own with the kids all day. (#youknowyourinafricawhen) I used the little Swahili  I did know to teach them English and we played some games and they taught me some songs. It's so crazy to think that I'm on my own with these kids.. I think it's great preparation for the future.. But oh my lord it can be exhausting! Today I brought some nail polish because the girls are always coloring their nails with markers. They  went absolutely crazy! They were so excited, so it was well worth the fighting and flooding of fingers and toes!   ( I start speaking I now because the other volunteer doing the program with me, Susan, usually reads and listens to her headphones while I take on all the kids.. It's quite odd actually, I'm not sure why she's here.)

Regardless, I'm enjoying my time here thoroughly and I love spending time with the kids, exhausting or not.

I'm super excited to start some new projects and do what I can to get this orphanage off the ground! Twende Twende! Let's go!

Today was our first full day at the orphanage. There are 40 kids who are part of the orphanage, but only 24 of them live there. The rest stay with uncles, aunts, grandparents etc. for the night and then return during the day for school and activities. There ages range from infants to early twenties. The majority of them are around ages 5-8 though. One of the oldest orphans is 21. She stays there and helps to cook and do laundry in turn for a place to sleep at night. She has a baby, Victor, who is 4 months old. The father abandoned her and she raises him by herself. He is adorable!!

Baby Victor with Diana

Bestina and Gibson- two of the sweetest kids you could ever meet!

Unlike the orphanage I worked at in Kenya, this one is much more unorganized, as it does not have as much support or resources. It is just me and one other volunteer who work with the children during the day so we stay very busy. We teach the children English and Health as well as help with the cleaning and washing. They cook beans and maize over the fire and that is what the kids (as well as us while were there) eat every day for lunch. We cook the food in a small little hut so it gets very smokey! The laundry is hand washed in buckets and then hung on the line. It is a much longer process than just throwing them in a machine, but that’s all they know so it’s nothing for them. I’m getting quite used to the routine, as well. Perhaps when I return home I will start hand-washing my clothing… yeah probably not!

Communication has not been as much as a struggle as I imagined. Even though many of the younger children don't know English, I have picked up enough Swahili (and sign language) to be able to communicate efficiently! The older school age kids return at around 2-oclock and we get a chance to play with them and talk to some of the older ones who do know English. It is really interesting to hear their perspectives and answer all their random questions.

We leave at around 4pm, and catch the Dala Dala back to Kilembero, where Mama stays. The Dala Dala (like the Matatu in Kenya) is basically a van with ten seats in the back that the locals drive around to pick up people and take them to where they need to go for about 300 shillings (20 cents). Although they have 10 seats they usually transport around 20 people, so it gets very crowded and at times uncomfortable. On top of that, as we are in Africa, the driving is absolutely crazy, so it can be quite a crazy experience. It always succeeds in waking me up! It is definitely an adventure!

The kids here have already won over my heart! I can’t wait to go back tomorrow and spend more time with them. It is definitely exhausting, but so rewarding! Nothing makes me happier than dancing and singing with them and seeing the smiles on their faces.

Kwaheri and usiku mwema!

Nakupenda Natalia<3

Today we went to the orphanage to meet the director and local teacher and learn the basics of what we will be doing and how are daily routine should be. We had the opportunity to meet some of the children and I’m really excited! We only stayed for about an hour and then we went for lunch with Dominic and Joleen. Joleen is a local Massai who is 26. She teaches us Swahili as well as shows us around Arusha so we know how to get around. 

We ate lunch at small bar by the orphanage. I had fries mayai which is basically an omelette style egg filled with French fries. It’s a local delicacy and it’s delicious! After we went to visit Dominic’s place and walked around Arusha a bit. I’ve already discovered my two favorite places, and they’re only about a block from my host home. The first is a diner called Wine & Cheese Heaven and the second is a delicious and homey coffee shop with free wifi! I have come to love Arusha and am very excited for the weeks to come!

Today is Sunday so our host mom went to church. She is Roman Catholic and they leave for church at around 6am and sometimes stay till almost 10am!

We live next door to a Muslim Mosque and every morning at 5am I wake up to their prayers and chants. It’s an alarm clock that never fails, although unfortunately that is not always my chosen wake up time.

This is our second night without power. It usually returns in the morning, but this morning we were without it, as well. Luckily it is back on now! We will see how long this lasts.

Exploring my new home..

   The other volunteer Susan came today from Beijing and she’s only 16! I find this so crazy, as I can’t  imagine making this trip at that age. She’s been away from home since she was 14, when she moved to the U.S. to attend private school and learn English. I am interested to get to know her, as she seems very unique and I’m not sure what to think.

    Today Chris and Dom took us around downtown Arusha and gave us the lowdown on where  everything is. We went to the internet café which is super close, and Susan found a Shanghai Chinese restaurant that she was super excited about.

     Later we went to the Meserani Snake Park. Like the one in Kenya, they let me hold snakes and even    alligators! It was a lot of fun. We also got to go on camel tour and visit the Massai museum which was super interesting.

Tomorrow is our first day at the orphanage yayyy!

Karibu Tanzania!

After one cancelled flight and a free night in a luxurious hotel followed by a dreadful 15 hour flight and two 3 hour ones, I'm officially in Tanzania! In perspective, the plane ride was not as awful as it seems. I had a window seat with a beautiful view, an array of good movies, my iPod, and two planemates who were super friendly and interesting. One was a grandfather from Zambia who had moved to Canada and has 4 daughters. He was so nice and wise and he talked a lot about the value of family and how to truly be happy in life. The other guy was from Ethiopia and had moved to New York for work but was returning to visit his family. I met a lot of super interesting people during my flight. I met this one Australian couple during my lay-over in Ethiopia and they were super cool. They were in their sixties and returning from 3 month holiday in Europe and were heading to Africa for a 4 week Safari! They told me that it's never too late to live life, and that they think it's really great that I'm taking all these opportunities while I'm young and truly enjoying life. I agree. They were so inspiring. I hope I'm that adventurous when I'm older!

                         
 I was picked up at the airport by Dominic and Chris. Dominic is in his twenties and is from England. He has lived here for three years and knows Arusha better than most of the locals. Chris is a local Massai who is the volunteer coordinator and helps to show us around and take us to places we need to be. There is also Doreen, another local Massai who also helps to show us around and teaches us Swahili.

This program so far is super different than ones I’ve done in the past. Of course no place or trip is ever comparable, however this program is just more underdeveloped than ones I’ve done in the past. I guess the weirdest thing for me is that I’m not surrounded by a bunch of different people, as I’m so used to traveling in a group with different people from all over. So far, it is just me and another volunteer should be coming in a few days. I kind of like it, though. It gets lonely, but it’s a good feeling. I just love the feeling of being in a completely different place that I’ve never been before, and the novelty and adventure all around me. I’m so excited to explore tomorrow. I feel so independent and at times it's scary and lonely, but I think it’s a good thing, as it will prepare me for Peace Corps which will be a similar situation!

They dropped me off at my host mama’s house who lives right in downtown Arusha. It’s a super great location, as it’s right by the Shopright (for those of you who have been to Africa, it’s like Nakumatt but smaller..and for those of you who haven’t, it’s a mini version of Walmart)

My mama is older, she introduced herself as Bibi or grandmother. She has seven kids but they are all grown and displaced all around Tanzania and Africa. She also has a housemaid named Jennifer who lives here. In Africa it is super normal to have this, especially if you are older and single. She is 25 and does not know any English, so it’s difficult for us to communicate. My mama knows great English though and she is such a character. Her favorite thing to watch on television is wrestling! She literally knows everything about it, which I find so funny. She also loves to watch MTV and Usher is her favorite. Whenever she hears a song she’s always like yeah this is old. She’s definitely up to date with the modern music!

Some of you may find it weird that I speak of televisions and cell phones. Arusha right now is in a transformation stage, where they are caught between their traditional lifestyles and the modern one of any city. Cellphone shops are literally every other store and everyone has one, just as they would in the U.S. In between these cell phone shops are locals sitting on the side of the street selling fruits and vegetables on blanket. It’s like the typical stereotypical African image you may think of, mixed in with cell phones shops and internet places. Technology is big here, just as it is everywhere else. It’s actually kind of funny, as they are so up to date on the modern technology, yet when it comes to bathrooms it’s usually just a whole in the ground or not even, and simple utilities that we wouldn’t think twice about they usually don’t have.

my bed :)

I was exhausted when I arrived, and went straight to sleep in my mosquito-netted haven. A bed feels so amazing after a million hours of flying. I have an open-mind and am so excited for tomorrow and the weeks to come. Karibu Arusha, I can’t wait to take you on!

Lift up, Reach out, Hold hands with the world!

Video slide show of my brief time here in South Africa :)

Reflections from South Africa.

Sanibonani members of my life I love!

With limited internet access for the majority of the trip, my two weeks in Africa went rather undocumented. But I have to ask myself was this really a bad thing... as I find myself now having to think back and reflect on just where my mind was for the majority of the trip, and it makes me think...

My two weeks in South Africa, although rather short, were eye-opening, heart-lifting, and nothing short of amazing! After spending five weeks in Kenya, I wasn't sure how this trip would suffice, but it more than exceeded any expectations.

Two words: Beautiful People. It's crazy to think that you can go on a trip halfway across the world with 20 strangers, and in less than two weeks have such a bond that they feel like family. I learned so much about myself and the other members of my group through our own interactions and educational and at times embarrassing collisions with a culture much different than our own. Together we learned and grew, and experienced an opportunity that truly can be life changing. No matter how many volunteer trips I go on,  no matter the location or the culture, each one is different and opens my eyes and my heart in a whole new way. I can honestly say, a piece of my heart lives in South Africa, as well as Canada, Australia , and all across the U.S.A.

The first week of our trip was spent at the Creche in the Dhukudhuku forest near St. Lucia with some of the most amazing children in the world!  There were around 80 to 90 toddlers on most days, including 16 AIDS orphans, and they all stole my heart! Working with children is something that never gets old for me, as no two children are exactly the same. However they all share an enthusiastic curiosity, undying resilience, and a captivating smile and laughter, that when exposed to you can't help but want to give them the world. Just being around them I feel like I'm around the most intelligent group in the human race, they know it all and they don't even know it. And that's the way it should be.

Creche Updates.

The first week also consisted of many cultural emersion activities, such as Zulu language and dance lessons, trips to the beach, hikes on the game reserve, hippo and croc tours, night drives, bonfires, and nights out on the town! All of these activities were uniquely enlightening, and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing them with my wonderful group members!

Hippo/Croc Tour.

Bonfires!

PASSION FRUIT!!

For our final week, we found ourselves at Thanda and Bonamanzi game reserves, where we literally came face to face with wild life. Through both game drives and hikes through the forests and mountains, we tracked wild dogs and the endangered black rhino, removed poaching snares, and adrenaline kickingly came face to face with elephants, lions, and other deadly members of the big five.  As much as we seen Zebra and Giraffe, I can still say my heart jumps with each new one I see, as their exotic and graceful beauty is something that will never get old.

Cold Game Drives.

Looking for Lions!

Zebra (accurately pronounced "Zeh-bruh")

Giraffes by the sunset :)

Elephants (yes that's real!)

Spotting the Ellies!

Like out of a movie!

Camouflaging!

On the back of the game truck!

Tracking the Wild dogs!

Although many may think my purpose of this trip was to go here and change lives, whether it  be the children or members of the culture, in truth I must admit the life that was changed is mine...and it will continue to be that way. All of the beautiful people I met on this trip will stay with me forever, and I only hope to run into them further down the road as we continue our travels.

Me, Laura, and Scott sat at the watering whole all day! When finally along came this guy... he was really digging the music! :

With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept.

So I've been home for a good 36 hours now. The first 24 I spent sleeping in recovery mode, but I've still had quite a bit of time to reflect on the trip as a whole. The 16 hour plane ride alone gave a lot of time for this, although quite a bit of sleeping also took place... Overall, I just can't find words to suffice.. or an accurate measurement to somehow portray my love for Kenya, for Africa. The weeks I spent there were spent in awe at the beauty of the culture and the pride and joy the people carry themselves with. 

I guess what had the most effect on me, which I'm sure all of my previous blog posts has made obvious, is the children! I feel I made such a bond with all the children whether it was the secondary students at BLISS, the primary students at Kithoka, the kids at the multiple orphanages we visited, or the street children by our host home. Talking and playing with them and just seeing their smiling faces everyday did so much for me. I learned so much about them and their lifestyle and even myself, and I can honestly see me perfectly happy in my future, just interacting with them on a day to day basis. All of the work that Dr. K did in her orphanage was such an inspiration, and I only hope that I can be half as strong and successful as she was. Despite her many setbacks and financial conflicts that she still deals with, she still has such a positive outlook and always puts the children first. She is such a beautiful human being and I can't wait till she ventures to Michigan so we can all have dinner together! (Just pray that she is able to get her visa this time!) Again something I am so grateful for...

 Although my 4th of July was spent at the hotel in Nairobi saying our last goodbyes and then at the airport suffering through customs and eventually flying home... Mentally my mind was in a place of gratitude for all the rights I have as an American. I guess I've always been skeptical of the American government(like all governments), and I still believe that America has so much corruption and propaganda that it's difficult to have respect for the media and anyone involved with the corporate world. I can however, appreciate that I was born in a country where I have the freedom to obtain a visa and travel anywhere without any complications. I can be grateful that I was adopted into an American family in which I have a surplus of food, water, and shelter...not to mention the biggest one education, something that most children in Africa strive for and have to go without. I just feel so grateful for all that I am blessed with...

So even though leaving Africa was bittersweet, and in many ways I never wanted to leave, I was happy to come home to a country full of resources, an education that I know I take for granted, and family and friends of unconditional love. I am so grateful for my life the way that it is, and I know that because I was born in America and have the freedom that I do, that I will have the opportunity to go back to Africa (one more month!) and fall in love with the culture and the people over and over again!

 

 

Goodbyes are never easy...

Okay so it's been a good week since I've been able to update... since before safari! Man do I have so much to say. And sadly this is my last night in Kenya which makes this one of my last posts...

So safari was... AMAZING. Two words: punda. milia. (that's Swahili for zebra, of course!) Oh my gosh they were so beautiful! No words. We also seen a number of twiga (giraffe), tembo (elephant), and even some simba (you guys better know what that one means!) Along with a random assortment of wild animals that were equally exciting. However,  zebra and giraffe were definitely my two favorites. My favorite moment: driving upon a mother and baby giraffe. The baby was literally a few hours old still learning to walk..and it just sat there staring. I swear we had a moment. It was beautiful. It was such a cool experience! And the place we stayed at was so beautiful. We were in tent like cabins and we could literally see and HEAR baboons and bush babies in the trees around us! 

 

We've been in Nairobi for the last few days which have been jam packed! As Laura's an Orthodox Jew and can't drive anywhere on Saturday, we stayed behind with Kevin while our group went to the giraffe/elephant orphanage. Instead we went to the snake park and I got to hold a python! We walked around a lot and I got my hair braided, so it was a pretty exciting day.

This is a python! No worries they're not poisonous!

We also got to hold the tortoises!

Corn rolls!

Saturday night our group went to Carnivore, a popular restaurant/night club in Nairobi famous for their game meat. Recently it has become illegal for them to sell meats such as zebra and giraffe due to poaching... however there was still a variety of "different" meats available to try. The restaurant style is that of a buffet in which they keep bringing you more and more types of meat until you surrender and put the Carnivore flag down. As many of you know I've been vegetarian for a few years now, so fortunately they had a vegetarian option! Nevertheless I was in Africa and when was I going to have the opportunity to eat meats like this again? So hey why not try it...? I ended up trying Alligator,  Ostrich meat balls, and Ox balls! Can't say I'd try them again but hey NO REGRETS. All in all it was a lot of fun!

Trying Alligator with Catherine...

How they served the different types of meat...YUM!

The following day when our group went to The Great Rift Vally (a 2 hour drive!)..we stayed behind and went to the giraffe/elephant orphanage, as well as the walk-in Safari and the Massai Market! I got to kiss a giraffe which I must say was a pretty great kiss..in the words of Ixchel, "I kissed a gir-affe and I liked it!" It was really exciting! We also got to pet the baby elephants and watch them play football. The most exciting part was that Jacob, our driver, brought his three year old son and he hung out with us the whole day. He definitely made the day that much better! I couldn't think of a better way to spend our last two days than touring Nairobi with our own local brother! We had a blast, and now we get to spend our last day together as a group... can't believe our plane leaves in less than 12 hours. SURR. REAL.

Giraffe Kisses!

Baby Elephant at the orphanage playing soccer!

Matching face paint and Balloon hats!

Dancing with the Massai

Kenya has been like home to me! For as long as I've dreamed to go to Africa I have to say this trip has more than surpassed any expectations! I had the time of my life and fell in love with the culture, lifestyle, and especially the children of Kenya. Leaving wasn't easy but I look forward to the opportunity to come back and see the positive changes taking place in both Meru and Nairobi. I've learned so much  and I've fell in love with Kenya, so there is not a chance that I wont do whatever it takes to come back one day soon. So this isn't goodbye.. it's see you later Africa... It's been real.

Much love, Natalie...or should I say Kwagiria (My Kimeru name meaning: one who makes others happy)