Day 14

Productivity at its finest. 

I did laundry today and feel so accomplished! 

I'm not a huge fan of laundry, and if we're being really honest I may actually despise it at times. This summer all my laundry has to be washed by hand and then hung to dry. Talk about a process! I let it dry outside along the clothes line this afternoon, but had to great creative once the sun went down. 

This is my room, and my still wet (but now clean!) clothes. Gotta work with what ya got, right?

I also went to the orphanage today and spent time with the older kids. I brought my camera too, which they loved! The all took take turns using it, and I came home with around 100 new photos of entirely random things. 

Baracka is a trouble maker, but you wouldn't know it by this picture. He's a sweetheart when he wants to be!

Tomorrow is another pool day, woo hoo!

XOXO,

Amanda

Day 13

I am completely overflowing with gratitude and appreciation. 

I was finally able to join the doctors on an outing today! I went with the head doctor, Dr. Bakari, and two nurses to visit one new and one existing patient, as well a group of community health workers. The day was long , but looking back on it now, I wouldn't change a thing. We drove and drove, and drove some more, until finally reaching our destination in what felt like the middle of nowhere Tanzania. It was the most beautiful middle of nowhere I have ever seen! The drive, which was primary along a bumpy, dirt road, was lined on both sides with fields of corn stalks and sunflowers. I also caught my first glimpse of Mt. Kilimanjaro! (By the way, the hospital driver is by far the best driver in all of Africa. He followed the speed limit AND slowed down for speed bumps. I was never once afraid!)

I think it has finally set in that this is where I will be living for three months. It's felt a little like a vacation up until now, but today that changed. I didn't really realize just how amazing this opportunity is. I am living in Africa! That is so cool and today I couldn't be any happier!

XOXO,

Amanda

P.S. I found a way to get pictures from my camera onto my computer. There's been a place to insert my memory card all along. Technology is not my friend.

Day 12

Today was a little bit of everything.

Ali and I were hoping and praying we would finally go out with the hospital this morning. I even went extra early to confirm we were going. Apparently, even that didn't help. I went at 9 to ask and was told they were still unsure, so I should come back at 10. When we went back at 10, they had already left. Go figure! 

I decided to go up to the orphanage and hang out with the kiddos instead. This picture is of Neema and Glory. We called them both Mama Africa all morning, and they loved pretending to have babies tied to their backs. You see mamas everywhere carrying their babies exactly like this. 

We have also been invited to do more outreach with Rehema, so today we were able to do that! We went in search of chickens. 
20 living, breathing chickens. 
They are for a mama whose husband died in 1990 and since then has been trying to support herself and four children. The Small Things has agreed to buy her chickens, which she can then use to start a small business. She will be selling the chicken eggs and Ali and I have agreed to be her top customers! The market we went to first tried to charge her an outrageous amount for each chicken, but Rehema was able to buy them some place else! She said she will take us to see the chickens soon so we can take pictures and learn where to buy her eggs from.

This is the car owned by The Small Things that is used when our driver, Frank, takes us to town. It gets the job done. This should give you a better idea of what a typical dala dala looks like!

I am also enjoying all of my supermarket purchases from yesterday. Cereal AND yogurt. And also cheese, not pictured. I've learned for yogurt you have to go to Legenga Supermarket but for good cheese you go to Rotterdam. All definitely worth it!  

XOXO, 

Amanda

Day 11

Another rainy day.

Sunshine, please come back!

Ali and I were supposed to go with Dr. Bakari today on an outreach visit. We went to the hospital at 10, couldn't find Dr. Bakari, and were told by Nurse Sara to come back tomorrow. 

Instead I was able to go to the Tengeru Market, in Usa River, with the other volunteers and interns. It's an enormous market that's only open on Wednesday and Sunday. They had every single thing you could think of, from clothing and shoes to fresh fruits and vegetables. Everything except a can opener. Emma and I had a hilarious time trying to ask where to buy one. We didn't know how to say can opener in Swahili so we relied on charades and pictionary. Emma attempted to draw a can opener on cardboard but it wasn't pretty and more resembeled scissors. Have you ever tried to draw a can opener? It's not easy, and we never found one. I wanted to take pictures but in such a crowded market we already stuck out as it was, without the added attention of a camera. 

I spent the rest of the afternoon reading and working on my learning contract that's due on Friday. I figured out that I can charge my kindle by plugging it into computer. Duh, not sure why it took me so long to think of that! I'm back to reading Gone Girl. I made a list of all of the books I wanted to read this summer but I forgot it in Boston. Recommendations? I'd love any and all of them!

Tonight, we had another movie night. We all huddled around Emma's computer screen and watched P.S. I Love You. I feel more grateful for the girls here each new day! We may have already made plans for a reunion in 2015, in Ireland, on St. Patricks Day.

XOXO, 

Amanda

Day 10

Wait, what day of the week is it again?

It's really easy to lose track of time here. I went to the orphange this morning and then to the hospital to meet with Dr. Bakari. Ali and I are going with him and another nurse tomorrow for an outreach visit. I really have no idea what this will entail or where we are going. Your guess is as good as mine!

It was only the little ones at the orphange this morning but I did manage to take some really cute pictures. 
Here are just a few of my favorites:

Isaac

This picture does not do his cheeks justice.

Faraja

Diana

Irene

Baraka
Poor little guy fell asleep in his Bumbo seat.
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Tonight, we watched the second episode of The Bachelorette. If anyone else happens to be watching (or even cares for that matter), here's our pick of the final four: 

Nick V.

Marcus

Josh

Chris

You heard it here first! 

XOXO,

Amanda

Day 9

Another "power cut" and I'm in need of a shower. 

(It's kind of a funny story though, our "power cut" today was because we haven't purchased power units. Very similiar to cell phone minutes, the volunteer compound ran out and needed to buy more. It only took the entire day to realize that!)

This morning Ali and I gave a presentation to a group of community health workers regarding the project we are working on this summer, No More Orphans. We lucked out because their monthly meeting just happened to be scheduled for today. We had to use a translator but overall we felt they were really receptive to the project. I'm very hopeful this project will be a success! 

The meeting was in the hospital chapel. We had to ask the head doctor, Dr. Bakari, where the chapel was and his response was something like this: "You don't know where the chapel is? You have been here how many days? You are bad Christians!" 
He did laugh after saying this so maybe he was joking, or maybe I should consider attending church next Sunday. 

We also had Swahili lessons again today! Sometimes it's overwhelming, but it's also a lot like learning Spanish. I need to buy a notebook so I can start keeping all of my notes in one place. 

Despite all of the goodness this past week, I've either got a bad cold or a sinus infection so I've been trying to rest and get well! My kindle won't charge and has no battery left, so today I borrowed a book from Ali, and then proceeded to read the whole thing. It says on the cover that it's also a movie so maybe you've seen it? It's called The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. It was really good but had a horrible ending.

Also, a very happy Memorial Day to everyone back home and a special thank you to all of those who have served and are currently serving our country! 

XOXO,

Amanda

P.S. Sorry my pictures the past two days have been so lame. I'm trying to include at least one each day though. Tomorrow will be better!

Day 8

It was a very typical Sunday.

Bekka, the founder and director of The Small Things, is going on holiday (can you tell I've been spending time with people from the UK?) for two months so a few of us went for breakfast at Tanz Hands this morning. She won't be back until August, just before I leave. I've probably spent a little too much money this week eating out but it's just so much easier than attempting to cook in our kitchen.

I did, however, buy some fresh eggs and cook up an egg sandwich for dinner. You'll also be happy to know I have started making a list of different things I can make! The list currently includes fried rice, pancakes, french toast, and soup. (Okay clearly my list still needs work, but it's a start.)  

Tonight, Ali and I were really productive. We waited an hour for the first episode of The Bachelorette to load on the computer, and then we spent the next hour watching it. Success!

XOXO,

Amanda

Day 7

My first day off was magical. 

We got brunch at another great restaurant called AfriCafe. Emma refers to it as the "mzungu watering hole". Rightfully so, it's mostly all white tourists who dine there, but for good reason! I had mango juice with a cheese omelet, toast, and home fries. My intention was to take a picture, but by the time I remembered all that was left was a slice of toast. Maybe next time, because there will definitely be a next time!

We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging by the pool. We went to The Arusha Hotel, paid 8,000 shillings, and spent 3 hours laying in the sun. Emma said she thinks it costs around $150 USD to stay there per night and it is considered one of the more upscale hotels here. 

 From front to back:

Ali - an intern and also one of my roommates in Boston

Chelsea - she is Ali's cousin and is here for 1 month

Myself :)

Emma - the volunteer coordinator who is from England

Victoria - a volunteer from Denmark

___________________________________________

I was sure I was going to end up having PB&J for dinner, when Ashley (the marketing and advertisement intern) surprised us by making dinner for everyone! She made a vegetable stir fry over rice. I also learned that I don't hate eggplant. Another positive!

I wasn't exaggerating when I said today was magical. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people here!

XOXO,

Amanda

Day 6

The sun finally came out today!

It's the end of the rainy season here but you wouldn't know it was the end. Since arriving last Sunday, it's rained almost every day. It was a little chilly this morning but by this afternoon we had beautiful weather, finally! Hopefully it decides to stick around. Tomorrow we have plans to go to Arusha to a resort pool. I think we can pay around 8,000 shillings (which is about $6.00) and can then lay by their pool all day long. Yes please!

The view from outside my room:

Banana trees are everywhere!

Tonight I worked the night shift at the orphanage. I'm pretty sure chaos is just a reoccurring theme and there's no avoiding it. Try putting to bed 26 children between the ages of 7 weeks and 5 years old. Not easy, really crazy, and I think I've run out of patience. When I left, you could still hear the older children talking and singing in their room. There's a reason bed time begins at 7pm!

XOXO,

Amanda

Day 5

Power cuts, yuck!

I went to sleep with no power and woke up to no power. It didn't turn back on until this evening! Power cuts are common and sometimes last days at a time (gasp!). What that really means is, if you're debating whether or not to shower but you currently have power, you better just shower. Because I woke up to no power and torrential downpour, I skipped the morning shift at the orphanage. That's terrible I know, but I couldn't see a thing when my alarm went off at 5:30am.

I did end up at the orphanage a little later though. Both twins happened at be awake at the same time, and that doesn't happen often! They are so tiny and completely adorable. Meet Johnny and Joaquim (I'm still working on being able to tell them apart):

(Don't mind the pink. Both Johnny and Joaquim are little boys. If it's clean and it fits, they wear it! It's pretty entertaining some of the outfits the children end up in, especially the older children who can dress themselves. They get to pick out their outfits everyday, and some are quite creative!)

I also got to Skype with my mom tonight! It was the highlight of my day and the first time I've gotten to talk to her. I love you mom and am so grateful for your support! I know you worry but try your best not to. I'll be home soon, only 83 more days!

XOXO,

Amanda

Day 4

It's already day 4??

For breakfast, we went to a cafe called Tanz-Hands. All of their profits go to support the Usa River Rehabilitation and Training Center for disabled individuals. In Tanzania, it's very difficult to live with a disability. There is no aid from the state and families with a disabled child may even keep them hidden away from fear of judgement or shaming. It was a good feeling knowing my money was going to support such a great organization, not to mention my breakfast this morning was delicious! They also sell milkshakes, baked goods, and have free wifi. I know where I will be spending my days off!

To get there, I experienced for the first time a dala dala (sounds exactly like dolla dolla). It's a huge part of their public transportation system and the equivalent of a city bus. They closely resemble a Volkswagen van, but somehow manage to fit around 25 people. It's not uncommon to have someone sitting on your lap! Today I managed to avoid that, for now. They also use piki pikis (peekey peekeys), which are motorbikes but I refuse to take them.

This afternoon at the orphanage was absolute chaos. I got there just as the children were waking up from their naps and all the little ones needed a diaper change and to be fed! I am (slowly) getting better at the cloth diaper thing, but it still takes me forever. They all have so much energy that I leave there completely exhausted. I'm working the early morning shift tomorrow from 6:00-9:00am. That means waking the children, bathing them, dressing them, and feeding them breakfast before getting them off to school! I am seriously questioning how that is even possible.   

We cooked our first dinner in the communal kitchen tonight and I'm already dreading another meal of pasta. It's time to get creative with my cooking. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome! 

Tomorrow I'm also meeting with the head doctor at the hospital and the palliative care team to find out more about the project I'll be working on while I'm here this summer. I can't wait to get started! 

XOXO,

Amanda 

Day 3

I'm exhausted and it's only 8:00pm. 

This morning began with a formal introduction to the orphanage. Because I was there from 9-12, the older children were at school so I spent time with the younger ones under the age of 2. I learned how to change a cloth diaper, which it turns out is much more difficult than changing a disposable diaper! And also way more disgusting. 

After Swahili lessons, Ali and I accompanied Rehema, our Swahili teacher, to an outreach visit at Mama Rosa's home. Mama Rosa works at the Pilot House (also a part of The Small Things), which is where the older children ages 5-8 live. Mama Rosa has asked The Small Things for a loan and it was  part of Rehema's job to visit, take pictures, and find out if this request is actually needed.

Mama Rosa lives with her husband and three children in a two bedroom "house". I use the word house lightly because really it's just a roof over their head. They want a loan so they can start saving and build a real house! Their house was about the size of my bedroom back home. They all sleep in the same room; Mama Rosa, her husband, and their three children ages 8, 5, and 9 months. We walked from the volunteer compound to their house and it took about 30 minutes to get there. The walk there was almost entirely uphill on an unpaved, gravelly road. It was an extremely eye opening experience, which I am sure will not be the last.

The view on the walk there was absolutely gorgeous though, so I didn't really mind it!

For dinner, I tried kiti moto and can very condifently say I will never try it again. We picked out our pork ribs and about thirty minutes later they brought it to us cooked. I ate a few pieces and sincerely gave it a chance, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. 

XOXO,

Amanda

P.S. I'm sorry if the picture quality is horrible. I forgot the cord for my camera and can't upload any of those pictures to my computer. I'm now relying on my iPhone for any pictures I want to include in my blog!

Day 2

My first full day here absolutely flew by! 

Here are a few pictures of where I am living this summer. I haven’t taken any pictures of the rest of the compound yet but it’s all very nice. I have my own room and bathroom, with a shower that even has hot water! All I  have to do is flip a switch right before turning it on. However, I had two uninvited guests while showering this morning. Two spiders decided to join me! Thank goodness they were on the floor and I was able to easily step on them before washing them down the drain.

We also have a kitten who the current volunteer coordinator, Emma, has decided to adopt and feed. 

Meet Thomas:

Today our driver Frank, who is employed by The Small Things, drove us to downtown Arusha so we could exchange our US dollars for Tanzanian currency and stop at a market for groceries. They drive on the opposite side on the street here and speed bumps mean absolutely nothing. My mom and sister spent the week before I left with me in Boston and weren't a fan of my driving. Well mom, I have news. If you didn't like my driving, I'm not sure you'd even get into a car here! The current exchange rate for 1 US dollar is about 1,600 shillings, which meant my liter of water cost about .75 cents. The market was small and about the size of a gas station convenience store. I bought some pasta, bread, jam, rice crackers, and tea. Good thing I love carbs! We have a refrigerator but with frequent power cuts, it's hard to rely on proper refrigeration. 

Jill, I bought these cookies thinking of you!

This afternoon we also had a chance to stop by the orphanage and meet the children. I won't be working there full time, but I know all of my free time will be spent there. The children are adorable and are all so happy! I was greeted with hugs and kisses and many refused to let go of my hand. There are also three very small babies (under two months) who have just come to the orphanage, two of which happen to be twins. I was in heaven holding and feeding these little ones! 

We went to dinner at a nice restaurant that served delicious, inexpensive American food. I ordered more carbs, margherita pizza. 

XOXO,

Amanda

Day 1

After 19 hours of travel, I made it safely to Tanzania!

I left Boston around 7:30pm on Saturday and arrived in Amsterdam at 8:15am. My first international flight, check! My choices for dinner were beef stroganoff or vegetarian pasta. Easy choice, pasta please. 

I loved that each seat had its own small TV monitor. The movies and TV shows were all free and there were so many choices. Since reading Lone Survivor earlier this year, I had been wanting to watch the movie but just hadn't made the time. How perfect Lone Survivor was of the choices! I also didn't know Taylor Kitsch (the actor who plays Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights, aka the man of my dreams) was in it. Easily made the movie infinity times better. 

My flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro left at 10:15am. The two hour layover was the perfect amount of time to brush my teeth, met up with Ali (my roommate from Boston who is also here with me this summer), and go back through security before boarding. I only slept a few hours on the first flight and ended up sleeping the majority of the way to Kilimanjaro. I don't even know what they served for meals because I slept right through them!

We finally landed in Kilimanjaro around 7:45pm and made it to Usa River around 9:00. It was dark when we landed so I'm anxious to see what everything looks like tomorrow morning! I'll post more pictures of my room and where I am staying then. 

XOXO,

Amanda