Christmas in Tanzania

Well, I may not have gotten a white Christmas but it sure was still full of joy, love, and wonderful people! On the 23^rd, the Dar es Salaam and Dodoma JV communities traveled to Dodoma together from Morogoro, where we had retreat.  The next day, the girls from Dodoma showed us around the capital, which is much smaller and less crowded than good ol’ Dar.

While we were out, I bought a piece of fabric called a ‘khanga,’ which can be used in so many great ways…as a towel, a skirt, a cover-up at the beach or around the house…the list goes on I’m sure. The cool thing about the ‘khanga’ is its design and the message in Kiswahili around the bottom. The one I just purchased includes the phrase (loosely translated): “God gives us the love and peace.” Along with that, I also purchased some ‘kitenge.’ This fabric is different in that it is brought to a tailor for a custom-fit dress or skirt and blouse.

More importantly on Christmas Eve, we went to midnight mass and spent time with some of the Jesuits afterwards. Before mass, everyone chipped into make a special, incredibly delicious meal. We had beans, pasta with homemade tomato sauce, chapatti, guacamole, and mango salsa. Let’s just say it was one of the best meals ever! Midnight mass was such a beautiful experience and I left it feeling joyful…even though it was in Kiswahili and I didn’t understand a thing anyone said. There is a stark difference between mass here and back in the States; people here are not afraid to literally shout for joy or loudly sing and dance to show their love for God. It was so beautiful to witness and be a part of this kind of mass.

On Christmas Day, we visited the Village of Hope, which is home and school for many children infected or affected by HIV/AIDs. It is run by a priest and sister from Italy and is the worksite for one of the 2nd year JVs. We started the day with them with mass and then played with them until they went for lunch. We sang songs while Beth played the guitar, made music makers with toilet paper rolls and rice, and drew pictures of things related to Christmas. It was another joyful experience and a wonderful gift to spend time with them. Although I missed home and could have been sad about that, these kids brought only a smile to my face.

Another cool thing we did while in Dodoma was visit St. Peter Claver, a Jesuit boarding school for secondary students. This is the worksite for the rest of the Dodoma JVs and has only been open for a few years. It was great to finally see it in person after reading about it and seeing so many videos about it when I was still in the discernment process with JVC. Progress there is slow but certain. We had dinner that night with the Jesuits and sisters who live on the expansive school grounds. It was a night full of music, laughter, and great conversation. I was lucky enough to speak with one particular Jesuit from Uganda about LBGT and women’s rights in East Africa. Without going into what could be an incredibly long discussion/blog post, let’s just say I was very humbled by our conversation; I have in the past, more or less, assumed that I knew what was best for women, regardless of culture. Well, I was very wrong; it is so important to know the culture and context of various traditions. He was able to explain some reasons for things that I had never considered. It was a humbling learning experience that I am grateful for and hope to have many more of in the future.

Well, we are now home in Dar es Salaam and still have a lot of orienting to do. Over the next few days, we will visit more new places and learn more new things. I’m sure I will have a blog about it all after the New Year J

Feel at Home & a Day at the Beach

Feel at Home

As I spend more time in this country, I have begun to feel more and more at home. And what’s a better way to feel at home than to stay with a Tanzanian family? So, on Thursday afternoon my communitymate Cait dropped me off at my host family’s house. I instantly felt at home. I was told to call the parents Mama and Baba (mother and father in Swahili). At every single meal, Mama encouraged me to “eat more,” “feel at home,” and “feel free.” On Friday, I went with Mama and her niece to her store, and at one point she introduced me as her daughter. I have never been so quickly welcomed into a family or a different culture. It has put my mind and heart at ease about being and living in Tanzania. I will always be American and a foreigner, but the Tanzanians are so welcoming that I know I will be able to feel comfortable living here for the next two years.

On Saturday, my community mates picked me up from my host family and we spent the rest of the night at home, just hanging out and getting to know each other. Some of our friends from the neighborhood, who are close to us in age, also came over to hangout. They helped me with some Swahili homework I had to complete for my next lesson. My house here is beginning to feel like home too. I’ve been in this country just over a week and I already have two homes! It’s pretty great.

Beach Day!!

So yesterday, my community and I went to the beach and I touched the Indian Ocean for the first time! It was a long ride to get there; we took at least two different dala dalas (the public bus) and a ferry but it was totally worth it. It was one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited. Along with my community, Cat (the outgoing JV), brought her homeroom class from Gonzaga (they will be in Standard 7 starting in January) so we got to hang out with them and even teach a few of them how to float and swim. It was really wonderful to meet some of the students in my school (even though I am not teaching them) and start to build some relationships. The best part is that they, more or less, instantly like you. This makes relationships easy and instantaneous. One of the girls is super sassy and fun…she walked right up to me (keep in mind we never met before this moment), took my hand, and said very confidently, “Teacha Kathleen, teach me to float.” So, we went in the water and she was so determined to learn. She aced it pretty quickly. It was such a great moment and makes me feel good about starting to teach in January.

Christmas Time in Tanzania

On Thursday, I will go with my community to Morogogo, which is a few hours west of Dar es Salaam. We will meet up with the JVs from Dodoma and have retreat for a few days. Then we will go to Dodoma (another few hours west) for Christmas. So, I am sure I will have more updates and pictures after that. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years. Look for another update in 2013! J

An Introduction to Life in Tanzania

(written Dec 10)

Well, I arrived safely in Tanzania yesterday (Dec 9) around 7 am. The moment I stepped off the plane I knew I was no longer in the US…I left a cold, wintery country for a hot and humid one. Despite the heat, I was immediately enamored by the beauty of this country and its people. In fact, I even welcomed the warm air which quickly thawed me out from the short winter seaon I experienced. From the airport we went straight to our new home in the neighborhood of Mabibo. I was so lucky to be able to call home to let me parents know I arrived and even checked in with Jon to let him know I got here safely.

Our wonderful and awesome community mates already cleared out two bedrooms for Katie and me to move into. So, of course, I do what I always do the moment I have a new room…I put up pictures of all of my friends and family. The room instantly felt like mine and I knew I would soon find it easy to call this place home.

We rested for a while…the 8 hour time difference between the east coast and here has been one of the greatest adjustments. But I am feeling great! After my nice long nap, we walked over to the church for the children’s mass. One of the Jesuit priests presided over mass and at the end, called up all of the JVs. We introduced ourselves to the children and others at mass. Afterwards, we went to the Jesuit residence, which is on the Loyola High School campus, to visit with the priest who had just said mass. He offered a lot of great advice regarding Tanzania and had many stories to tell of his own adventures. We took a short tour of Loyola and then made the short walk back to our house. We ate our first dinner together as a community…beans, cabbage and veggies, and chapatti (flat fried bread that is super delicious). We spent some time talking but called it an early night.

This morning Katie and I were able to sleep in a little bit and the extra rest was much welcomed. I took my first bucket shower which was incredibly refreshing. Then Beth, who just started her second year and also teaches at the school where I will be, picked us up to take us to Gonzaga Primary. We met many of the administrators and teachers. Then we visited each of the classrooms and the children were very happy to greet us. Beth informed me that starting in January I will be teaching English to Standard 3, computer class to Standard 4 (I think?), and a values/wellness class (I can’t remember the official name) to Standard 6. School goes from 7:30 am to 4 pm and has ten 40 minute periods with time for tea in the morning and lunch. I will only be teaching 5 periods out of the whole day. Needless to say I am so excited to get back in a classroom and could not be more excited to be at Gonzaga. I have already fallen in love with the school, my fellow teachers, and my future students.

After lunch of rice, beans, and cabbage, which was soooo good, Beth brought Katie and I home so we could rest some more. Walking home at 12:30 in the afternoon was enough to make one tired…the sun is scorching! So after a longer nap than I had anticipated on taking, I woke up to find Beth doing laundry and visiting with a Standard 7 student, Joha. With the help of Joha and Beth, I learned how to do laundry using what I can only describe as a “multi-bucket system.” There is one bucket to soak the clothes, another to scrub them with soap, and two more for rinsing. Then we hung them on a line inside out to avoid fading in the sun. It was a great experience and although I’m no expert, I am excited to try it again soon.

Although there is still a lot to adjust to, I am beginning to feel like I could easily make this place my home. I am a little homesick but I guess that’s pretty normal. I will have more updates soon!

Also!! If you do plan on sending packages of any kind, please be sure that they are under 4 pounds. This way they are delivered directly to the Jesuit Residence and I don’t have to go into town to pick them up or pay to receive them. Thank you! J

Today's the Day!!

Well, today's the day! In less than 12 hours I will be on a plane heading for my future home in Tanzania. I can't believe this day is finally here....I've been dreaming about this for so many years now and I just feel so blessed that it has become a reality.

I don't really have any last thought-provoking, especially interesting or deep things to say. I could list all of the wonderful and generous words of love and encouragement that I have received over the last few days from friends and family but that would be a very long list of things. If I got a dollar for every time someone told me to "be safe," I'd be a millionaire.

...but what I do have to say is that this crazy dream would not have become a reality if it weren't for all of the people in my life. The last few days, as I become anxious to leave, all I could think to comfort myself is that there is no time during this whole journey that I will ever be alone. I've been blessed with friends and mentors in Scranton who cheered me on from the beginning, a family, that though they think I'm crazy, knows that this is what I'm meant to do, and a boyfriend who has selflessly and patiently listened and comforted me through all the ups and down.

I guess now that I think about it, maybe I do have just two pearls of wisdom that I can't stop thinking about (are you really surprised? haha). Both of these things I learned in Scranton. The first is something a friend used to say, "God is love. And love is real. Therefore, God is real." (..or something like that, I always mess it up a little haha) And I have to say that since graduation, my relationship with God was put on the back burners...or so I thought. I wasn't incredibly active in my relationship with Him/Her and didn't think about it too much. But through that phrase, God is love, I've realized that even though I didn't see it, I have been strengthening my relationship with God this whole time. Let me explain: I have been nothing but showered in love from the important people in my life, especially as I get ready to do this. And their love is God for me. So, thank you to everyone for being God for me when I was too stubborn to see Him/Her directly. I know for sure I'm not alone in this...because even when I don't see God specifically, He/She is there through all of the other people in my life.

The other piece of wisdom is something one of my mentors shared on Senior Retreat with me and my classmates last February. It was 5 simple words..."Show up for each other." And I can tell you that for the last 6 months people have absolutely shown up for me. I am SO blessed. And even though I'm going all the way to Africa, I promise all of the people in my life that I will find ways to show up. I will still be there for my loved ones... maybe not in person, but that's just geography. I will be available for my loved ones just the way they have been there for me since the beginning of my journey.

Basically, all I can say is THANK YOU! I would absolutely not be getting on that plane today if it wasn't for all of you that love and support me unconditionally.

Next time you hear from me, I'll be in Tanzania! :) So until then....know that God is love and don't forget to show up for the people you care about most.

Amani na upendo (Peace and love),
Kathleen