Source : Www.theithacajournal.com
Posted by: Webmaster on 22-Jul-2010
It was, hands down, the most beautiful sight that had ever met my eyes. From high atop a rock at the Amani Development Center, I could see Makang'wa, the surrounding villages, and a thriving community development program (most specifically the prospering grape crop in the agricultural section). The mountains beyond framed it all in a hazy blue and the stark landscape was truly breathtaking ...Welcome to Tanzania!
At sunrise the day before, Craig (a friend of mine and current travel buddy) and I had arrived in Dar es Salaam, a coastal city of Tanzania. After a grueling day of travel on crowded, smelly buses, the village of Makang'wa finally came into sight. We had arrived safely and were almost there ... what a relief it was to see those kind faces and earthen homes! And what a welcome we received. A large group of children ran toward us, some giving hugs, and all satisfying us with wide grins. They warmly greeted us and insisted on carrying our bags. It was about a 45-minute walk up to the development center, but it passed quickly with the enthusiasm for being back in Africa giving bounce to each step. The sun had set and the sky was quickly growing dark, but the joy in our hearts lit the path ahead. Craig knew some of the children from previous visits to Makang'wa and through a sponsorship program, so they walked along happily, conversing in broken and not-so-broken Swahili. Although I didn't understand a single word being spoken, the universal language of laughter told me all I needed to know ... we were home!
The following week was full of adventure: new tastes, new people to meet and many new words. In just a few short days, I gained the ability to give basic greetings in both Swahili and Kigogo, the local tribal language. This was rewarding for me, who came with a very limited vocabulary, and also for the local people. It made my day to see the faces of the villagers light up when I called out "Mihanyenyi!" and they returned the greeting with "Misaa!" They know that their language is not widely spoken, so they were overjoyed to see that even the "mzungu" (white people) knew how to say hello. The week included setting up details of our volunteer teaching job at the village school, a visit to the Amani Development Center-sponsored preschool, and daily time with the youth choir, learning songs and dances. We are set to start out teaching this week, and will be instructing three different grade levels of English.
It is hard to believe that we have only been here for one week, as it already feels like home. I am currently perfecting my sunburn, and already feeling uncomfortable in anything but a long dress. I am quickly getting accustomed to the diet (mainly white starches and fruits) and my legs are no longer sore after walking back and forth to the village twice a day (at almost 5 miles each trip). The culture is welcoming and I have not yet met someone who isn't happy to have us here. Although it is difficult to see the need of so many, it is inspiring to know that the work we do as part of the ministry of the Amani Development Center is making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of people. What a year this will be!
More to come soon ...
Stephanie Lyon, Tanzania Traveler 2010
Stephanie Lyon, 17, is a recent Dryden High School graduate spending one year in Tanzania, working and living at the Amani Development Center in the village of Makang'wa, teaching primary school English and volunteering at the medical clinic (during school holidays). She is sending regular dispatches to the Journal. Personal essays for In My Words may be submitted to In My Words, c/o The Ithaca Journal, 123 W. State St., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850 or e-mailed to ith-news@gannett.com