The One With The Final Post! (9/4/2013)

First of all, I would like to start with an apology for those of you who thought I was still stuck somewhere in the Serengetti! I am not.  I have made it back to America in one piece! And ironically, in the midst of the fast pace and social media driven culture of America I have had a harder time writing this blog post than I did with any of the ones I wrote while in Africa, with no electricity and limited internet.  I guess I felt like as soon as I wrote it in my blog, out there for anyone to see, than I really am back in America and my life is not in Tanzania.  But I am back!

I spent most of the summer traveling, visiting friends and family and standing in the doorways of grocery stores psyching myself up to actually step through the doorway.   I miss walking to the market, or to the neighbor’s house to get my food for the day.  I miss the overwhelming generosity and hospitality of people in the village.  I miss the simplicity of life and the humility that it forced.   

I miss Tanzania for sure, but there is a lot about life here that I am excited about! I can pick up the phone and talk to people in America anytime I want.  I can turn the lights on when it gets dark.  I can turn a convenient little knob and instantly take a shower.   I have an apartment in Pittsburgh with a great friend and I am surrounded by so many other people that I love.  And I have just begun a job that I am super excited about! I am working with the CCO (coalition for Christian Outreach) as their Training and Events Coordinator.  As you all know students of all ages are close to my heart, and now I am getting to work for an organization devoted to transforming college students to transform the world.  I couldn’t be more excited! 

For those of you who have been asking me to continue with my blog I am sorry to say that I won’t be.  But I am going to be writing a newsletter detailing the work that I am doing here with the CCO.  If you are interested in getting on my mailing list for that and hearing more of my continued adventures in this new position email me your mailing address (carly.spoor@gmail.com) .  

The One With The National Geographic Safari (6/3/2013)

The safari has been incredible so far! Yesterday we saw crocodiles, giraffes, hippos, elephants, zebras and so so much more, all just in the morning.  After lunch we went back out for an afternoon game drive and saw 3 leopards!! A mother and her two cubs!  When we first saw them they were up in a tree resting but then they came down (a super rare site!) and literally crossed the road 10 feet in front of our car and then proceeded to wrestle with each other for the next half an hour! It was incredible! And then on the way back to camp we saw a lion stalking a few zebras that had been drinking at a stream.  So we camped out and got to watch the attack (although not the kill, the lion didn’t catch any of them and we weren’t really sure whether to be glad or sad about that). When we reached the camp we asked Madeal, our driver, if that was the best drive he has been on.  He said, “maybe not the best, but it was better than most of the drives I have been on with the National Geographic photographers”.  He really has been an incredible driver and guide and I am so excited to see what this last safari day brings!

PS Right now I am sitting in Duxbury MA posting this! I cant beleive I am home!!! ...more on that later.  But since I now have American internet here are a few pictures and I will try to post more from the rest of the adventures soon!

The One Where The Safari Began (6/1/2013)

Right now it is day 2 of the safari, we have already seen 4 out of the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo… just waiting on rhino), been in the midst of migrating zebras, watched elephants bathe from 10 feet away, seen about a million other animals and as I type this I am sitting in a giant tent (just to give you a sense of how big it is, only Hannah and I are staying in here but there are two full canopy beds, a toilet, and a shower) and it is in the middle of the Serengeti.  It has been an amazing two days so far and we still have three to go! I am going to try to post some pictures when we get out of the park so check back in soon!

The One With The Beach Resort and The Econo Lodge (6/1/2013)

Sunday was a long bus travel day to Dar where Mom, Bob, Dahlia and I spent the night.  And Monday morning we started off early again.  Dahlia and I took my Mom and Bob to the Lighthouse Inn located on the beautiful beaches on the outskirts of Dar.  Seriously, this place was a beach bungalow with fresh flowers on the beds and a woman with a tray of freshly squeezed passion juice as we stepped out of the taxi.  Unfortunately though, Dahlia and I could only stay for a few hours and one amazing meal because we had to head back into the city to the Econo Lodge (nothing against the place, it was actually pretty nice, but there certainly weren’t and flowers on the beds) because we had our End Of Service Conference with WorldTeach. 

The conference was really great though.  All Day Tuesday we were at the Ministry of Education talking about our experience, giving advice for preparing next year’s volunteers and laughing about the ridiculous concerns that we had at our first orientation meeting which occurred in that same room.   Two of the ministry officials who had come that first week to welcome us came back to hear our feedback and suggestions after spending a year teaching here.  There are a lot of things that I think they do really well in Tanzania but I have also had a lot of frustrations especially with the difficulty of the national syllabus.  I think everyone at the conference felt so much better about leaving knowing that they ministry cares so much about improving things and that they were willing to hear us out. 

Wednesday was back to the beach for Dahlia and I to pick up my Mom and Bob and then, once again, back into Dar where we picked up Hannah!!! (One of my best friends from college) That’s right, Hannah is here in Tanzania for the last two weeks of my adventure here.  I am SO grateful to have her with me! 

The One With The Big Goodbye (6/1/2013)

Saturday morning I left Kafule for the final time.  The district sent a car to pick us up and take us to Mbeya so Dahlia, Mom, Bob and I woke up just before dawn to finish packing and say our last goodbyes.  Unfortunately it was a really rainy morning so only a few people made it to our house to wave us off but with the whole village there I don’t know if I actually would have been able to get into that car and drive away… maybe the rain was a blessing.  About 10 people came through and stood there waving as we pulled away.  I don’t think it has really hit me yet that I have officially moved out of Kafule, who knows if it every really will.  But I am really thankful that I have friends and family here with me now and for the adventure that we are now on together. 

We made it to Mbeya midafternoon and were greeted by the district and regional education officers.  We sat with them for a while talking about Dahlia and my teaching experiences and some of the changes that have been going on in the education system here recently.  And then we were off again to Kita’s house for another goodbye dinner.  Kita has been such an amazing friend to both Dahlia and I during our time here.  He solved any problem that I even hinted at, was always willing to drop whatever he was doing to be there for me and was incredibly patent with me as he tried to explain his culture and learn about mine.  I hope and pray that his dreams of furthering his education in America come to fruition so that I can try to welcome him with even half the support that he has given to me.     

The One With The Goodbye Party (5/27/2013)

Friday we closed the school for winter break which meant that all day there were meetings to sit through and preparations to make.  After dismissing the students, the school threw a goodbye party for Dahlia and I.  Ward officials came, speeches were made, food was plentiful, and the goodbyes were near impossible.  This has easily been the most rewarding year of my life and sitting in the staff room for the last time and saying goodbye to each of the teachers there made me realize how much of an impact they have made on me.  They were going on and on about the impact that Dahlia and I have made on the school and community but I have never felt more like what I have done isn’t enough.  This community is so deserving, so welcoming, and so generous with everything that they have.  And as I said goodbye I was just wishing that there was more I could do and more that I could leave behind.

The One With The Final Dinner At Elizabeth’s House (5/27/2013)

Thursday Dahlia and I skipped out on pretty much the whole day at school (I know, I know, not the best role model for the students, but we had a lot of packing to do!)  But we did take some time off from packing for dinner at Elizabeth’s house.  She got all dressed up for the occasion, wearing her new shiny pink dress (a gift from her niece who lives in the city) and prepared yet another delicious meal.  Of course, in each of our bowls there was enough food for at least three people, but we did our best to eat it all.  And then we spent the rest of the night talking and laughing with her and her two daughters.  Elizabeth’s generosity with the little that she has, her willingness to drop anything and be there for a friend, and her deep desire to understand other cultures and to make me feel as at home as possible will always inspire me to live more like her.  I couldn’t be more grateful for her in my life.