Hello there! Or Harabi (Hello in Swahili),
I
honestly never ever thought that I would be one to write a blog, but going to a
country where wifi is quite limited (unless you get one of those stick wifi’s
for your computer), I thought this would be the easiest way to keep everyone
updated on my volunteer experience in Tanzania. There are tons of Internet
café’s around Arusha but you do have to pay per hour and lets face it, I’m
going to be in a country that I've only dreamed of venturing to since I saw The Lion King when I was like 4, so I’m not
going to be spending my afternoons or weekends sitting on my computer and
paying for wifi. Before I made the decision to go aboard to volunteer in
Africa, I read many other volunteer blogs, which helped me in my decision, as
well as calmed my nerves. So I thought it would be nice to keep the good
gesture going and hope that my blog can help future volunteers with their
decision and/or nerves about volunteering abroad. So where do I begin…
A
lot of people have been asking me why Africa? And why volunteer versus study
abroad? Just like most college students, I’ve researched study abroad programs,
when I could go, where, etc. I had a tentative plan to travel to Italy for fall
semester 2011. As I was researching Italy and reading up on the programs, they
suggest volunteering in the community to really engage your self in the culture
and get to know the locals. The more I thought about it, I found myself thinking
more about volunteering. I’ve always had a desire to go abroad and volunteer in
a 3rd world country. Another reason for picking volunteering is
because what I want to do with my degree (when I get it) is to work with kids
and families that are dealing or have dealt with cancer. Volunteering abroad
will help me build more of a base and get a different perspective and also get
to be there for kids who don’t have a lot.
In
September 2011, I lost my dad to leukaemia. He suffered from cancer, diabetes
and manic depression for most of my life. My dad was first diagnosed with
leukaemia when I was 9, went through chemo when I was 12 and was declared in
remission 6 months after. I’ve been through a lot with my dad, more than anyone
knows. In 2011 my dad’s leukaemia came back in more of an aggressive form
called AML (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia). My dad made it through the year to see my brother Steve graduate from Ohio State with a degree in Welding Engineering, my 21st
birthday, and my brother Jay and his wife Shara’s wedding. He was put into the
hospital the day before my brother’s wedding and signed a DNR (do not resuscitate) order. Jay and Shara did a private ceremony in front of my dad and the
family at the hospital the next day. 3 days later, my dad lost his battle
to cancer.
My 21st Birthday
Jay and Shara's Wedding in front of my Dad
My dad and I
Watching
my dad go through such an intense condition as well as some other stuff and
losing my dad at such a young age has been very hard. Words can’t even fully
describe (this post would be over 10 pages if I were to write it all out).
Despite how hard it is, I have learned so much and have grown tremendously
emotionally and mentally and have a compassion that I would not trade for the
world. As the months started to go by, I started again to really think about
volunteering abroad, researched programs and picked where it was I wanted to
go. After going through the loss of my dad and recently heartbreak, I made the
final decision to go. I remember always telling Mike (ex BF, now friends) “Let’s go to Africa and volunteer!” (I don’t think he thought I
was serious). I am finally doing something that I’ve wanted to do for quite
some time. It’s scary but I am ready to apply want it is that I know and
learned from everything with my dad and apply it to this volunteering
experience and future endeavors.
So
I will be travelling to Tanzania, Africa and will be volunteering in an
orphanage for six weeks. I researched many organizations, read reviews and the
organization International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) really stood out to me the most.
The reviews are great and it’s pretty affordable versus the others. IVHQ has
affordable volunteer opportunities in 18 different countries all in Asia,
Africa, South America, Central America, and Mexico. It’s also a great way to
travel. You meet people from all different places, stay with a host family,
weekends to travel around and explore, and most of all helping out the community
and being apart of the culture. IVHQ also is on the ball by being there for
their volunteers and making the volunteer experience the best that it can be.
If you have a concern or question, they get back to you very shortly and after
you sign up send you a huge welcome packet that helps calm your nerves. My
welcome packet for Africa is 62 pages! Tons and Tons of information! They cover
the entire basis from travelling, shots to get, money concerns, what to bring,
what not to bring, fundraising and much much more. They also give websites,
books, and movies to do further research before you go. I have been doing
constant research and also have purchased my Swahili phrase book to start
practicing common phrases. You can get around with English but they suggest learning
Swahili since it is the national language.
As
nervous as I am because I am going completely alone, (well there will be other
volunteers but wont be meeting them till I get there) I am extremely excited to
have the opportunity to go on this trip! My departure date is approaching fast!
I leave the states on May 28th but don’t go to Africa till June 14th.
Before I head off to Africa I am travelling to Paris and London with my mom,
since I’ve never been to Europe. Then after London my mom is heading back to
the states and I am travelling to Germany to visit my friend Kaila from SLO. Then
head to Africa from there! This is the most travelling that I have ever done in
one trip so I am STOKEDDDD!!! I will try my best to keep this blog updated as
much as possible! Enjoy reading! Kwa heri!
