Tuesday, 29 May 2012
I've seen the sun rise and the sun set
Heyo from Tanzania!
So this is my last week with CCS. It has really been amazing time with them and it's so incredible how welcoming they are. Last week was really intense but I feel like the group working at UKUN did a lot. Amina, our big success story, is starting to walk on her own now! It is so amazing how far she has come. She is so strong and never gives up on herself. Unfortunately her mother isn't doing so well. We've been trying to keep her as comfortable as possible by treating her bed sores. But she is just too far along to be treated. They don't have doctors who come to their house or ambulances to help her see a doctor. So the most medical attention she gets is from us. There is also an immense lack of material that makes it even harder to keep her comfortable. We still go see her every single day. Finally there's captin. He always has a big smile on his face and always tries hard during his physical training. He's a tropper that's for sure. Even if his family has given up on him due to the stigma on HIV and AIDS, that's not stopping him. We've gotten some new calls from new patients this week. So we will start visiting them this week and see what we can do with them while we're here :).
After our morning placement this week, we had some time to wander around the city and do some things. I visited an old art market in town (I so wish I could post pictures!). We've been spending some time on the Indian ocean too. The girls that are living in the main house with me are so great also. Meredith, Lauren, Rebecca, and I once woke up at 4:30 in the morning to catch the sunrise. Now we were a little too eager, since it didn't actually rise until 6. But it was definitely a perfect view. Also, one afternoon we helped one of the local schools build two extra classrooms! Now that was a job and a half. There are no trucks or long arms to dump the concrete where you want it. There's a pile of sand, a pile of rocks, massive bucket of water, a little concrete mixer and about 30 smaller buckets. Let's just say I better get some serious muscle action going on, because lugging those bucket of concrete around was an intense workout! Honestly these people work their butts off!
Over the weekend, the ROTC army group and Rebecca went on a safari. Meredith, Lauren and I decided to stay back and visit the capital of this beautiful country. We hit up the grocery store and got some things to make guacamole... And some sugary munchies for the week. We went to go see the avengers in 3D (who would of thought) and had a real cup of coffee. The instant coffee at the home-base isn't horrible, but a real cup of coffee really hits the spot. On Sunday we relaxed on the beach and just soaked up the sun. Not a bad life at all.
Saturday I will be heading up to Kilimanjaro for my next excursions. Stay tuned for more updates!! Love you and miss you all.
E.
Monday, 21 May 2012
Zanzibar!
Wow what a week! We all have just completed our first week of volunteering. With the organization I am working wit called UKUN, we do home visits to people affected by HIV/AIDS. This week we followed the home-visit coordinator who introduced us too all the clients and showed us what we do with each and everyone one. It was really great because we started building a relationship with these people, even with the little Swahili I know. This week, the coordinator was expecting us to split us up into little groups and work with the families directly. Now that I know the families and their personality, I really feel like I can do something with them and help them with any care. So today on our first day of the the second week, we were on a mission. I was given the responsibility of visiting the visited the first family who has 3 people in the family who are affected. The first is the mother, who was unable to walk due to the complications of AIDS. For the past week, the coordinator and us have been doing exercises with her to regain her strength. And today, she walked while only lightly holding on to one of us! Our goal for her is to be able to take a few steps on her own by the end of my time here, and she's coming along super well. The second member of that family is the grandmother, who unfortunately is suffering from Ovarian cancer on top of HIV and AIDS. She has been bedridden for some time now and had developed some bed sores. However we were able to find some material to patch her up so they hurt less. I also hope to do some exercises with her in bed, so we can get her outside in the sun. The last member who is affected is the brother, who is doing great. He is walking around and doing his thing. On to the next client, we visited a past Tanzanian Solder, Kaptin. Now this guy is amazing. Unfortunately with the stigma against HIV and AIDS in his family, he is no longer being supported by them. Therefore, we come everyday to give him some attention and get him outside in the sun. He also can't walk due to complications of HIV and AIDS, however we are working towards rebuilding the strength in his legs. All in all, it was a successful first day of the second day.
The whole group made our way to Zanzibar over the weekend! Zanzibar is an Island about 2 hours (on a ferry) away from the capital, Dar Es Salaam. It's surrounded by gorgeous white sandy beaches and some of the coolest fish. We went snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, and saw everything from Zebra fish, to Nemo and Dore! The next day we visited a Spice Farm, which is a popular product in Zanzibar. They showed where all the spices come from, such as cinnamon (comes from tree bark!), pepper corns, lemon grass and nutmeg. We also visited the narrow streets of Stone Town, which was very busy but very cool. With the beautiful and warm weather, it turned out to be one hell of a weekend.
I have so much more to say but I'm running out of time in the internet cafe! I will try and update you all soon. :)
Nakupenda,
E.
The whole group made our way to Zanzibar over the weekend! Zanzibar is an Island about 2 hours (on a ferry) away from the capital, Dar Es Salaam. It's surrounded by gorgeous white sandy beaches and some of the coolest fish. We went snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, and saw everything from Zebra fish, to Nemo and Dore! The next day we visited a Spice Farm, which is a popular product in Zanzibar. They showed where all the spices come from, such as cinnamon (comes from tree bark!), pepper corns, lemon grass and nutmeg. We also visited the narrow streets of Stone Town, which was very busy but very cool. With the beautiful and warm weather, it turned out to be one hell of a weekend.
I have so much more to say but I'm running out of time in the internet cafe! I will try and update you all soon. :)
Nakupenda,
E.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
A whole new world.
Mambo!
Oh my goodness what an amazing few first days here in Bagamoyo Tanzania. It all started with a 32 hour travel from door to door. When we finally got to Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, I was extremely excited to get to the Cross-Cultural Solution House to finally sleep. It's only about 80km away from the airport, and I was told that it would be about an hour drive. WRONG. We ended up in bumper to bumper traffic with no movement. And it's not like Canada where there are multiple lanes and nice roads. These are dirt roads with crazy drivers in one lane. So after the 4 hour ride. We finally arrived. The house is gorgeous and surrounded by palm trees. It's kind of an optical illusion because right outside the gate is more dirt road with clay made huts and palm tree roofs.
The next few days we were introduced to all the staff and the other people who are living in a different CCS house just five minutes away. They are in the US Army doing a cultural experience to improve their ranking and their knowledge for when they get deployed. They are all so nice and the entire group is really getting involved. We were sent on a few scavenger hunts, where I actually went to the local market and bought Coconuts! The staff is also teaching us how to bargain, since the people in this town like to charge us over price because they know we have money.
We also made out way to the Monday Market. Now this is one hell of an experience. It occurs every Monday, and people garther in a dirt area where they sell things like clothing, radios and Kenga's, which is the traditional African Clothing that Women wrap around their bodies and even use them to carry their babies. It's an experience all right.
Today we actually started our volunteer experience. My job here is to help an organization called UKUN, which provides support to those affected by HIV and AIDS by going to their houses and attending to their needs. Now today we visited 5 clients and introduced ourselves, since we will be working with them for the next 3 weeks. All I can say is, what an eye opener. These people have so little and are suffering from such a horrible disease, but still go about their day as best as they can. Some families support the friend or family member affected by it, or completely abandon them. Some of them get complications from the disease such as blindness and numbness, and some of them pass it on to their children. However, beside all these horrible events, they never loose hope. We would speak to one lady and she'd be giggling the entire time. We'd go see one lady and would participate to the fullest with the physical exercises. We would see one lady affected by AIDS, where she owns her own little hotel in the city. I see all this and think how uncomplicated our lives are, and how much we complain about certain things for nothing. I hope to experience this again and again over my next 3 weeks.
Other then all these amazing things I have experienced already, I've been learning Swahili, the language they speak here in Tanzania, and eating some of the food they serve here. I hope to learn how they make certain things so I can come home and make to. Honestly, they made stew out of banana's and make passion fruit and avocado juice. Who would of thought!
I hope you are all doing well at home! Sit tight for the next time I get get on these computers!
Asante Sana (thank you so much)!
Penda (love),
Erica
Oh my goodness what an amazing few first days here in Bagamoyo Tanzania. It all started with a 32 hour travel from door to door. When we finally got to Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, I was extremely excited to get to the Cross-Cultural Solution House to finally sleep. It's only about 80km away from the airport, and I was told that it would be about an hour drive. WRONG. We ended up in bumper to bumper traffic with no movement. And it's not like Canada where there are multiple lanes and nice roads. These are dirt roads with crazy drivers in one lane. So after the 4 hour ride. We finally arrived. The house is gorgeous and surrounded by palm trees. It's kind of an optical illusion because right outside the gate is more dirt road with clay made huts and palm tree roofs.
The next few days we were introduced to all the staff and the other people who are living in a different CCS house just five minutes away. They are in the US Army doing a cultural experience to improve their ranking and their knowledge for when they get deployed. They are all so nice and the entire group is really getting involved. We were sent on a few scavenger hunts, where I actually went to the local market and bought Coconuts! The staff is also teaching us how to bargain, since the people in this town like to charge us over price because they know we have money.
We also made out way to the Monday Market. Now this is one hell of an experience. It occurs every Monday, and people garther in a dirt area where they sell things like clothing, radios and Kenga's, which is the traditional African Clothing that Women wrap around their bodies and even use them to carry their babies. It's an experience all right.
Today we actually started our volunteer experience. My job here is to help an organization called UKUN, which provides support to those affected by HIV and AIDS by going to their houses and attending to their needs. Now today we visited 5 clients and introduced ourselves, since we will be working with them for the next 3 weeks. All I can say is, what an eye opener. These people have so little and are suffering from such a horrible disease, but still go about their day as best as they can. Some families support the friend or family member affected by it, or completely abandon them. Some of them get complications from the disease such as blindness and numbness, and some of them pass it on to their children. However, beside all these horrible events, they never loose hope. We would speak to one lady and she'd be giggling the entire time. We'd go see one lady and would participate to the fullest with the physical exercises. We would see one lady affected by AIDS, where she owns her own little hotel in the city. I see all this and think how uncomplicated our lives are, and how much we complain about certain things for nothing. I hope to experience this again and again over my next 3 weeks.
Other then all these amazing things I have experienced already, I've been learning Swahili, the language they speak here in Tanzania, and eating some of the food they serve here. I hope to learn how they make certain things so I can come home and make to. Honestly, they made stew out of banana's and make passion fruit and avocado juice. Who would of thought!
I hope you are all doing well at home! Sit tight for the next time I get get on these computers!
Asante Sana (thank you so much)!
Penda (love),
Erica
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
The countdown to an adventure
The time has finally come! After a long year at school, fun times with friends in Ottawa, some very successful fundraisers and moving into a new apartment, I am back in Guelph with my passport in hand. I leave for Tanzania in 3 days! My room is covered with things that need to be packed, and my desk has been bombarded with books on Tanzania, Swahili and the list of medications I'll have to take. So exciting! I have met everyone I will be living with in the home and they all seem so great. The majority (about 95%) of them are in the US Army, and then there is one girl from Australia and me, the lone Canadian. Maybe they'll be able to get me out of bed in the morning and workout. Now that would be a new experience!
Now many of my preparation hours have been at my computer learning Swahili on Rosetta Stone. Now THAT is a complicated language. And I thought french was bad enough. To make objects plural, they add a "w" at the beginning of the word! It's a tongue twister and a half. However I've managed to remember a few words that should get me through my day.
Back to packing for me.
Hakuna matata (that's Swahili!)
Erica
Tanzania 2012
Hey Everyone!
This is my official blog for my trip to Tanzania. I should be posting little updates about what I'm doing and I hope to share some pictures with you on the way. I'm not sure how much access I will have to a computer but I will definitely try my best.
Firstly I would like to thank everyone who supported me for this trip and who donated during my multiple fundraisers. It means so much to me and I really hope to make a difference in Africa.
Now for what I'm doing, I just received my volunteer assignment about a week ago. I will be working with a Non-Governmental Organisation called UKUN, that supports people with HIV and AIDS. My job will be to help the organization with home visits to people affected by HIV and AIDS and assist with testing. I will also help with education and awareness around the community. They've even told me that I could build them a facebook page! This is a job I never thought I would encounter but I am so excited for the opportunity.
The home base where I will be living is a small rural city on the Coast of Tanzania called Bagamoyo. It is about a 6 hour drive south of Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the tallest mountain in Africa. It used to be the capital of Tanzania until it got moved to Dar Es Salaam. The population is around 30 000, which is much smaller then what I'm used. The main language is Swahili, however the children learn English starting in Middle School.
I've got my ticket booked, my VISA in my passport, my big backpack ready to be filled (or my sister Alex's backpack) and I leave on May 11th!
Till next time, Erica
This is my official blog for my trip to Tanzania. I should be posting little updates about what I'm doing and I hope to share some pictures with you on the way. I'm not sure how much access I will have to a computer but I will definitely try my best.
Firstly I would like to thank everyone who supported me for this trip and who donated during my multiple fundraisers. It means so much to me and I really hope to make a difference in Africa.
Now for what I'm doing, I just received my volunteer assignment about a week ago. I will be working with a Non-Governmental Organisation called UKUN, that supports people with HIV and AIDS. My job will be to help the organization with home visits to people affected by HIV and AIDS and assist with testing. I will also help with education and awareness around the community. They've even told me that I could build them a facebook page! This is a job I never thought I would encounter but I am so excited for the opportunity.
The home base where I will be living is a small rural city on the Coast of Tanzania called Bagamoyo. It is about a 6 hour drive south of Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the tallest mountain in Africa. It used to be the capital of Tanzania until it got moved to Dar Es Salaam. The population is around 30 000, which is much smaller then what I'm used. The main language is Swahili, however the children learn English starting in Middle School.
I've got my ticket booked, my VISA in my passport, my big backpack ready to be filled (or my sister Alex's backpack) and I leave on May 11th!
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