Tomorrow I am departing for my three week independent study adventure! I will temporarily be residing in Tanzania-- outside of Arusha in a small village called Usa River. Another student Kate Higgins and I will be working at Seeway Trust which is an orphanage/ school where we plan on teaching and working closely with the kids from anywhere between 4-14 years old! In Tanzania they speak more Kiswahili than in Kenya so I look forward to practicing (maybe perfecting?) my Kiswahili?!! Wish me luck!
We have been in contact with the woman who runs Seeway and she seems very friendly and warm...this is all via email so I am thinking optimistically. I will be living in a "bed and breakfast" like situation in a friend of a friends home...only in Kenya. I am expecting only really positive things so I am going into this with not good, but GREAT vibes!
Ally, Chloe and I had a "packing party" tonight, which was accompanied by a great music playlist (Destiny's Child, Hilary Duff, Allison Krauss and yes, even Fabolous' "Just Throw it in the Bag"...get it). The room was filled with anxiety, nervousness but mostly so much excitement. As different as it is going to be not being constantly surrounded by 21 other St. Lawrence students it is going to be AWESOME! I love each and every one of them, but I am very ready to be on my own and independent. I suppose that is the main objective and goal of this component...but boy am I ready!
What am I going to do?
1,000 Ksh = $12 USD
1,000 Ksh= 19,409.70 Tzs
sooooo...
$1 USD= 1630 Tzs...
HOW AM I GOING TO REMEMBER THIS! I thought that Kenyan shillings were really complicated (similar to monopoly money)...but I am really in for a treat with these Tanzanian ones.
Other students are doing IDS in
Jinja, Uganda--Nile river rafting, community development and working with children
Kampala, Uganda--women's rights activists
Watamu, Kenya (the Coast)--beach clean up and sculpture making and turtle watch
Mombassa, Kenya (the Coast)--community development
Nanyuki, Kenya--BOMA fund, long horned bill research
Nairobi, Kenya--empowering youth
Eldoret, Kenya--pediatric health and running with Olympic hopefuls
Arusha, Tanzania--community development and working with children
Everyone seems to be very excited and ready to leave!
I'll have limited Internet access but will try to keep everyone as updated as possible! Enjoy your three weeks!
Kwaheri,
Megs
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