Life in Tanzania

Hello everyone. Sorry for the lack of updates on my blog. I have been busy making myself at home here in Korogwe, Tanzania. I am currently living outside of town in the little village of Kilole. I am already humbled by my experience here and my initial contact with this new culture. Tanzania is rich in beauty, in both its people and scenery.

My host family has been nothing but welcoming and accommodating as I learn the ins and outs of Tanzanian culture and language.  Everyday I get up around 5:15am. Depending on what day of the week it is, I either: wash some clothes, sweep and mop my room, or do some other chores around the house. Breakfast can be a little bit odd here. My Dada (sister) usually puts out a huge spread for me. She doesn’t want me to go hungry. Breakfast consists of 5 pieces of white bread, a mango, a bowl of spaghetti, a glass of chai, a hardboiled egg, and sometimes a couple chapatti. Nonetheless, I usually eat a little bit of the spaghetti, a piece of bread, the mango, and depending on how I am feeling, the egg as well. This is first breakfast, mind you. At around 10:00am, chai occurs at my school. I usually have another chapatti and some cassava root for this meal. I was able to skype my family and they somehow think I am losing weight. Maybe it is all the sweating I have been doing…

The wajiko (charcoal stoves)....Both of these are are used to
make every meal.I can whip up some mean ugali on these!  

My sisters cooking another delicious meal.

My Dada (sister) looking through the kitchen window inside the
house. There is a little mudroom that this connects to. Food is
cooked outside and brought in doors and put on serving plates
in the kitchen.

Anyway, after taking my bucket bath, I begin my five-minute walk to Kilole Secondary School. This is where I am doing my internship. Just so happens that I am the only chemistry teacher at my school. The running joke in our PC group is that I am the head of the Chemistry Department. This is true, but I won’t let it get to my head. Teaching has been an interesting experience so far. One of the hardest things I have had to face in Tanzania is the disciplinary action used on kids. Corporal punishment is legal and employed by teachers here. Everyday, there is an assembly in front of the school where uniform inspections and disciplinary action takes place. It is one thing to hear about this and another to experience it first hand. I have taken it upon myself to have conversations with the teachers at my school about this and its effectiveness. They have been receptive to my thoughts and offered some of their insight. Cultures differ in these regards. I cannot expect things to change overnight, but having these conversations is part of the process in changing the culture of discipline. Despite this hump, the teachers and students have been wonderful. Teaching is something that I thought I would never do. Now, as I embark on this new journey, I think back on all the amazing educators I have had in my life. I hope to use their tricks of the trade to help mold some minds on this side of the globe.

Everyday, I have 5-6 hours of Swahili class with my Community Based Training Group. There are eight other groups in this PC cohort. Each group lives within a different village and has their internships at that village’s school.  Each area is unique and all of us are having great experiences.

My living room. I sit on the right side of
the couch for dinner ever night.

The past two weekends we went on “field trips” to Tanga and Lushoto. Tanga is a coastal city with lots to do and see.  Not going to lie, I had to indulge in a burger and ice cream while there. I do sometimes miss my American eats after all the rice and ugali here.

The hallway where all the bedrooms are.
I will post a picture of my room later.

Speaking of ugali…this is one of the staple foods of Tanzania. I learned how to make the other week. It is as simple as corn flour and boiled water. My taste buds have not yet fully appreciated this dish, but I’m slowly coming around.

Back to Tanga…We split into a couple of groups in the city and my group walked along the coast. We arrived at a beach where there was a bunch of activity occurring. I was not sure what was going on, but it looked like a 13-year-old girl was getting married. I later showed the pictures to my Tanzanian Mama and she said that it looked like a confirmation ceremony. This was comforting to know. We were greeted by the family and asked to be in multiple photos. Everyone is part of the family here, even if you are American.

Family photo. Some of my fellow volunteers (from left to right):
Theo, Dirty-D, Julia, Bryn, and Haeli

 The next weekend, we headed up to the mountains of Lushoto. We arrived at the Irente Biodiversity Farm around lunchtime. Once there, we were welcomed with an abundance of foods that were all made on site. This included bread, three types of cheese, passion fruit juice, jams, and a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. Along with the delicious meal, we took a hike to view a beautiful overlook. The trip was a long journey on some bumpy and winding roads, but was well worth it!

The view from Irente. Sorry about the lighting, but you get the point...Pretty awesome view.

More updates to come later. I have to study for my midterm Swahili test! Karibu Tena!

Blowin' in the Wind

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?


How many seas must a white dove sail


Before she sleeps in the sand?


Yes, 'n how many times must the cannon balls fly


Before they're forever banned?


The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,


The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Every time I hear Bob Dylan's, "Blowing in the Wind", I confront a subtle uneasiness.  I may feel this way, because over 50 years after Dylan wrote this song, our society as still not yet confronted the realities that the song describes. The song makes things sound so easy. All the answers are here, we just have to look a little harder. In truth, the answers are around us--within the poor and rich, white and black, and leaders and followers. We all have something to offer and something at stake. 

After going to college and working as a lab tech, I saw how easy it is to become apathetic to the problems around us all.  It is easier to not worry about these things and just go along with the daily grind. We get up in the morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner, hang out for a bit, and then go to bed. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. The wheel keeps on turning--day after day. Even with all the complaining that comes with many jobs, this is our comfort zone. Routine is comfortable. At the end of each two weeks, a newfound motivation is born. This motivation, however, slowly decays until that next deposit is made.

Something has been on my mind for a while. I hope I’m not disillusioned, but is it possible to live life every day with that motivation that seems to arise at the end of each two weeks? Money is such a barometer of success in our society today. Are we necessarily wealthier if we have more money? Sure, money makes things easier, but I see so many people who have all the money in the world and they still are not happy. When I think of wealth, my family, friends, and community come to mind. The love and support that I get from these people every day is worth more to me than anything. “The Soul of the World is nourished by people’s happiness... And also unhappiness, envy, and jealousy.” Lets do our best to keep the latter from being the present force around us.

Over the past three months that I have been off work, I have been able to take all this in as I awaited my departure with the Peace Corps. I started this process in October of 2011, had my interview in June 2012, and did not receive my placement (Tanzania; Chemistry Teacher) until March 2013. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride for both my family and I. 

Twenty-five years ago, my Uncle, Dr. Scott Glotfelty, served in the Peace Corps in Togo, Africa, as an animal husbandry volunteer. 

My Uncle Scott just before his service. FPCV 1988

About a year into his service, he tragically passed away after being attacked by a swarm of bees. Although I never met my uncle, the embers of his life still burn hot in my family and community. Uncle Scott knew how hard it would be to “change the world.” He always thought though, if everyone pitched in, "we could make this world a little less imperfect." I am not going into this experience expecting to “change the world”. My contribution might be quite minimal in the grand scheme of things. I know, however, that the small impact I will be making will be quite large to the community that I am working in.

 I recently read The Alchemist and thoroughly enjoyed the message that the book reveals. This fable follows a shepherd boy named Santiago on his journey to find himself and happiness, all with the hopes of learning the art of alchemy. Along the way, Santiago works odd jobs, meets many people, has many successes and misfortunes, but is able to discover the importance that each step of the journey holds. The world we live in is just one big classroom. There is always a new experience to be had and something new to learn. We can only fully experience the world if we get out there and see it. Like Santiago, I am kind of on my own little quest. Joining the Peace Corps is a little off the beaten path of “normal,” but I think that this part of my journey in life is going to open up many new doors for me. I look forward to my pit stops on the way. This experience will bridge the gap to next leg of the trip in my life. 

So, my bags are packed, I just left the farm and went to Baltimore for my last full night in the states. Im currently in Philly for the Staging Event and fly out on the 4^th of July. I think a Cheese Steak is the last item on my bucket list for the states.

One last thing…Is there something you always wanted to do or something you have put on the backburner for some time? I challenge and encourage you to try and make it happen. We only live one life—might as well live it to fullest. Grab hold of that something that has been blowin’ in the wind your whole life. If we each do our part and care just a little, together we can make real change.

I will update this as much as possible, but no promises on my access to the Internet. Stay in touch and thanks for stopping by.

“Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us.” Sgt. Shriver