First Week at Site

September 19, 2013

I’m wrapping up my first week at site. It’s been a week of ups and downs. But mostly ups. I didn’t know exactly what to expect upon arrival since when I was here on site visit, another volunteer was still living here, and I didn’t know what all she would take/give away and what she would leave for me. She ended up leaving a fair amount of stuff: most is going to be very useful, some not so much. I have appreciated the instant coffee, the spices, and all of the furniture she left. I don’t’ know if I would have been able to make it through the week without some of it.

Besides all the stuff, I actually DID some things this week too (they tell me it’s important to celebrate the small victories)! I went to school, met some teachers, got set up in my office (whoa…office), almost finished my schemes of work for the rest of the school year (about 2 months), had a Swahili lesson from some of the teachers as they took me to see the school well, met some villagers, and I cleaned (most of) my house!

It is hard to motivate to get out of the house sometimes, especially knowing that the world outside doesn’t speak my language and, for now, is still very unfamiliar. But I have also found that some of the most rewarding and memorable parts of this week have come about when I have mustered up the courage (or have been forced by school) to leave home. I’m sure there are plenty of  people (probably some who are reading this) who have told me to get out of my comfort zone and I probably didn’t. Now is your “I told you so” moment.

But when I think about it, it’s been like that since I started packing. Two years and only a guitar a suitcase and a backpack. That’s not comfortable. Then leaving for staging; saying goodbye, for over two years, to everyone I know. Meeting a whole new group of people in an unknown town. Then we got to Tanzania! Meeting the group of training staff who we blindly trusted with our Passports and luggage the moment we stepped through customs. Moving in with a Tanzanian family, about which, I know nothing. Teaching a class of 80 students who barely spoke my language… I could go on, but I think the moment is up. A lot is new here. A lot is out of my “comfort zone” and I’m going to have to get used to that. I think that is sufficiently clear.

But while we’re on the topic of comfort (yeah, I’m going to pretend this is a conversation), I have done some things to make my environment a bit more comfortable. I’ve put up some pictures of friends and family. I’ve been playing a little guitar. And I’ve made some familiar food. They might not have electricity, running water, refrigerators, toilets, or chocolate in my village, but one thing there is no shortage of here is GINGER! Since I’ve been at site I haven’t cooked anything without it. It’s the little things…

That’s the first real meal I cooked here! Carrots, onions, ginger, beans and rice. Raw beans take FOREVER (Andy, I admire your patience). It was delicious. But I currently only have one “jiko” (basically a one-burner camping stove) so cooking is a bit of a pain. Once I get another one things should get much more efficient in the kitchen.

Tomorrow I head in to Mafinga town where I will have a chance to meet some of the district level education folks with a couple fellow volunteers. Hopefully I will be able to pick up another jiko in town.

More soon.