Peace and Love

There is no way to explain all of the feelings and emotions that go through my mind in the matter of one day. 

                Although the plane rides and layovers were not very fun, arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport was unbelievable.  Right before we landed, we could see the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.  Seeing people from all around the world with different accents and speaking different languages crowd onto one side of the plane just to stand and admire just to see the tip of this mountain was incredible.  When we touched ground in Tanzania you understand, it is not just what I expected to see in Africa.  It is lush and full of trees and life.  The people and culture you admire just from inside of the car are overwhelming.  The colors in their clothes and how their houses are built are one hundred times better than what you could see in any movie. 

                On Saturday and Sunday we did amazing things.  On Saturday we met Rasta John.  He is so happy and funny and just an exceptional person.  He took us to two museums, a market and to exchange our money.  Every time he saw someone on the street he knew, he would smile and say “Peace and Love.”  On Sunday we got the pleasure of going to Cradle of Love.  Cradle of Love is an orphanage for children under the age of three.  They ran to us as soon as they woke up from their naps.  I had one kid who clung to me the entire time.  He loved to be held, as did all of the children because they were scared they wouldn’t be held again.  The best part of Cradle of Love was when I swung with him on my lap and he would hum a tune.

                Nobody is ever excited to wake up at six in the morning, though last night I couldn’t wait to get up.  We got to the school and as the kids trickled in they all had smiles on their faces.  In the assembly before school starts, you hear the national anthem of Tanzania, and hear all of the children pray.  Then they rhythmically march to their classrooms.

                In Kinder, there are two teachers, Susie and Mariam.  Both are slightly intimidating and very loud, but they are both so kind.  Both are very tough on the kids but it is to help them learn.  All of the kids in Kinder were quiet at first but gradually grew more comfortable as I got to know them better.  Glory Joan and Rehema were two girls who sat in the seat in front of me.  Each chance they got, they would turn around and play with my notebook on my desk. 

 Throughout each break in the day, they played with me.  One of their favorite games was “Chase you.”  They would ask one of the volunteers of CGA to run and they would all try to catch you.  When I got caught the younger kids who were straggling behind would grab on as well and walk behind me.  At times ten kids would be either holding my hands or grabbing my jacket.  The smiles spread to everyone’s faces.  It filled me with joy to see the smiles on every one’s faces as we all came closer.

 At lunch, I got the privilege of tasting their phenomenal food.  During the lunch break I met two wonderful girls.  I did not catch their names but they were each 10.  They reminded me of my sister in a way of loving to talk.  They seemed very interested to know about me and where our group came from. 

Everywhere we went we were completely welcomed.  The place I felt most welcomed was when Miss Susie asked me to take the kids and play during the break before school ended.  With Ms. Gutmann’s help we taught them leapfrog.  They continued to play the way they did at lunch after leapfrog and at one point many kids were pulling on my hair and playing with it.  Gitte, Tate and I were out with the kids and they took turns swarming each of us.  “Go get teacher Gitte,” I would say and they would run to Gitte.

At the end of the day, coming home really made me think.  The people going on trips with CGA are incredibly lucky and will remember them for the rest of our lives.  I can’t wait to share more stories with people at home.