Jess Madson:
No matter how many times or ways that we try to tell our experiences in Tanzania, words will never do it justice. Whether the day consisted of enjoying the beautiful scenery on hikes through the Udzungwa Rainforest, taking safari's through the stunning landscape and unreal wildlife of Serengeti or Ruaha National Park, dancing with a tribe in a remote village hours away from any civilization, or enjoying stories told by some of the most genuine people we have ever encountered in our lives, Tanzania gave us all a completely new perspective on life in general and a small glimpse of the vastness of the world. The Tanzanian people truly live "in harmony with their reality," a motto coined as one of the central lessons of our time abroad. Although many of the Tanzanian people have personally been affected by malaria, the AIDS/HIV epidemic, poverty, lack of clean water, and far too much death for one lifetime, they have a better understanding of real happiness and life than most, and they unconsciously spread that happiness on to everyone that may cross their path.
One of the simplest, but biggest lessons I learned was from a few children playing on the street. On a free day in Iringa, a friend and I were wandering back to our hotel from the market and decided to take a shortcut through a gravel alleyway (looking back at it, we probably shouldn't have been wandering in alleyways in Africa, but it was the best mistake we could have made). We saw a group of children playing a pick up game of soccer. When we approached, they smiled, giggled, and kicked the completely flat, tattered up ball in our direction as an invite for us to join. Their enthusiasm for our company and light in their smiles melted my heart. They didn't care that the ball was flat, or that we couldn't communicate in their language --our presence was simply enough. At that moment, nothing else mattered to them except to make us feel completely welcome and happy. Again, even as children, they demonstrated the culture of living in harmony with their everyday challenges. I can almost guarantee that these children have probably suffered more heartache than I can even imagine in their beautiful, yet struggling country, but their happiness and appreciation radiated out of them as to show us that life isn't about dwelling in the hardships. As the game came to a close and dinnertime approached, we said our goodbyes and walked away in silence because of the feeling both my friend and I had just experienced. These children taught me a lesson in not only soccer, but also the importance of appreciating people, stepping back, and living innocent of the world's noise every once in awhile to and truly grasp the little moments.
Ally Brown:
In Tanzania, people with disabilities are treated extremely poor and are social outcasts. In earlier times, people with disabilities were often killed because, while their families traveled across country, they often slowed down the journey. In present days, people with disabilities are often pushed aside to the corner because most families do not take the time to teach them the skills that are needed to survive on their own or to contribute work to their families.
We visited a cafe/shop called Neema Crafts. Neema Crafts is set up as a cafe upstairs with a store and workshop downstairs. Everything in the store, notebooks to clothes, blankets, pillow cases, bags, etc., is created in the workshop by the employees. All 100-plus employees at Neema have a disability, whether it is mental or physical. In the cafe, all employees are deaf. There is also a physical therapy clinic located in the back of the store, which provides free physical and occupational therapy for anyone in need.
Why do they do what they do at Neema? In their mission statement, Neema Crafts states that they "want to show how God views disability." Furthermore, the beliefs of Neema are that "whatever their situation, everybody has God-given gifts and the potential to inspire others, but what is often lacking is the opportunity to find those gifts and fulfill that potential." That is where Neema Crafts has created opportunities for people suffering from disabilities to earn money for themselves while learning skills.
With hopes of going to physical therapy school, I now have aspirations to live in Tanzania for one year and volunteer my time to work with the physical therapy portion of Neema which is a truly unique place in all of Tanzania, but the directors are hoping to establish more stores beyond the first one located in Iringa. My experience with this amazing company was definitely the most memorable part of my trip.
Payton Pry:
Although there were many unbelievable moments during my time in Tanzania, there is one that I will always hold dear to my heart. During our first week in Tanzania, we had the privilege of visiting the Kilimanjaro Orphanage Centre. Spending time with the children in this orphanage left me speechless. I was able to meet the most remarkable twelve year-old girl while visiting. This particular girl was the most beautiful and fun-spirited girl that I have ever met although she has faced many challenges already in her young life. She shares a bed with three other girls at the orphanage, and both her parents have passed away. She does not let any of these struggles mask her glowing personality. We spent the afternoon teaching each other games like soccer, different hand games, and dances. Playing with her reminded me of what it was like to be a kid again and to be at peace with my reality. The thing that struck me most was when it came time to say goodbye. As I was walking out of the orphanage, she came running up to me and grabbed my arm. She asked me how she was supposed to remember my name. At that moment, I did not know what to tell her; fortunately, I was able to find a napkin and a pen. I wrote down my name, the date, and a little note to give to her. She then proceeded to give me a hug and told me that she would keep it forever. My heart melted because this one afternoon that I spent with her is one that not only she will remember forever, but one that I will as well. In the short time that I spent with her, I was able to see how amazing she is. Her spirit and hope is one that I can only admire for the rest of my life.
It is hard to believe that three weeks came and passed in the blink of an eye. Our journey throughout Tanzania is one that we will remember forever. Not only were we able to see the beautiful scenery of Africa, and be immersed in an entirely new culture, we were able to make some great friends along the way. We all were able to learn about another culture that is undoubtedly different than ours; but more importantly, we all learned something new about ourselves and how privileged we are to live in the United States.
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