Valley Falls article

The Simsbury area local paper, the Valley Press, published an article about our trip last month. 

I just got a PDF copy and figured I would share it. Only I can't for the life of me figure out how to embed it, so follow this link:

Valley Press newspaper article

The reporter, Maria O'Donnell,  did a good job getting a feel for the experience. She interviewed me via phone call outside of Joe's Barber Shop while Owen was getting his back to school haircut. She asked to speak to Owen as well, and I was impressed by how much she got him to open up and talk!

There are a few misinterpretations, but most would not be noticed by anyone that wasn't there. I would like to clarify that the $375 for supplies and $175 for textbooks raised was solely from the Squadron Line fundraisers. We raised additional money from friends and family (thank you!!) through our online fundraising.

In describing the hotels, I think Springlands got confused with the hotel out in the remote location of Same, where English was limited, power and internet were sporadic, and they weren't accustomed to Westerners.  While Springlands did lose power pretty much daily, it was never an inconvenience, and the staff there made us feel like family from day one! Well, you can get the idea how much we loved it there from reading that post :-)

I still miss it there every day.  I am thankful that I can still be in touch with the people and what is going on at TAFCOM, Kilimanjaro Orphanage, Gunge School and Springlands through facebook!

And finally, I have some touches from Tanzania in my room at school.  I am constantly telling my students, "Pole, Pole!" when they try to rush through their work.

Safari- Lake Maynara and Ngorongoro Crater

Ok, so I'm finally writing about the safari! I haven't been too motivated for a few reasons. This trip was about the volunteering and working with the kids and teachers, spending time with people in the community. That's where my passion lies. That's what I'm excited to talk about. As a matter of fact, I can't stop talking about it and am finding that I will go on and on to just about anyone that will listen! 

The other reason I probably put off this post is that my pictures stink. I take lousy pictures anyway (something Owen recently teased me about during the 5 hour drive back from the crater) and it was frustrating not being able to capture the wonder that I was seeing. AJ, on the other hand, had a camera worthy of a National Geographic photographer, so I'm looking forward to seeing her pictures. 

Here is the link to an IMovie compilation of my pictures. ihttp://youtu.be/0YR-t8L2HiY. I will include  a few below with my descriptions as well. 

That being said, the safari experience was COOL! Really it was just 2 days since we went to the Ngorongoro Maasai Pre-school in between. 

The first day we arrived at Lake Manyara National Park mid afternoon. The sign says "home of the tree climbing lion, but we didn't see any.  

Once we were in the park, Emanuel popped the roof of the Land Rover. Justin could fully stand inside, and if I stood on my seat I was at his height. Emanuel allowed this even though I'm pretty sure we weren't supposed to.  It was pretty cool seeing all the range rovers driving around with people's heads popping up like Prarie dogs!

Owen and I had been joking that we had been in Africa two full weeks and hadn't seen any monkeys. Well we certainly got our fair share, and it never got old! 

Next up were zebras. I was so excited. I wasn't the only one, as we passed the other vehicle Jessica was grinning ear to ear saying, "Look! Zebras" just in case we hadn't noticed. 

At the Hippo pond we took a great group selfie, but didn't see any hippos. Beyond the hippo pond was a stripe of pink -- made from thousands of flamingos. 

We also saw a few giraffes in the woods that had us all amazed. And then AJ yelled "Elephants!"! Right on our way out. There were 4 in the woods that we were straining to see. Then they started moving toward the road. We were all whispering when another vehicle pulled up behind us. They spoke loudly and we all shushed them! Then the elephants came out one by one. It was awesome! Justin took great video! (Click here on mobile).

We stayed at the Endoro Lodge that night. They greeted us with warm white cloths to wipe our faces etc. Needless to say after a day riding  on dirt roads peering out the top of a Land Rover we were pretty filthy! Haha

The accommodations were gorgeous! And modern! With toiletries in the bathroom! I think most of us showered at night and in the morning to take advantage!

Day 2 was spent at the Ngorongoro Pre-school. You can read about that wonderful day in a separate post.  

Our accommodations kept changing but we ended up getting to stay at the Ngorongoro Wildcamp, which we were all really excited about. On the drive we saw more monkeys then came to a halt to admire giraffes in the woods! 

See video (not included in the iMovie) here: http://youtu.be/IySmnKtd-a0. Don't mind the occasional fingers in the screen...

Then we drive, oh I don't know, another 200 feet and Emanuel said we were at the hotel! Wait, what? Down the road from the giraffes? WOW! 

This place was wild (pun intended). We were greeted by the staff. It was explained that after dark a Massai would escort us around camp as animals came in at night! Cabins slept 4 so Owen and I bunked with AJ and Kelly.  We stayed in "tents". Now this is glamping!!

Owen hadn't been feeling well the past few days. He had a sore throat and coughing probably from breaking in so much dirt over the past few weeks. A few of us were popping Mucinex regularly!

We took it easy until dinner. Walked around and played cards on the deck. 

When it was dinner time it was dark. The 4 of us peered out the tent. No Maasai. Owen even called out "Massai!?" Which had us all giggling. We took my camping lantern and made a run for the dining tent! 

After dinner a Maasai was waiting to escort us back. We stopped to watch a small kitten play with a scorpion. Really, the same way our cats might bat at a beetle on the ground. Finally the Maasai stomped on the scorpion and the kitten proceeded to pull it onto the grass an eat it!

When we got back to our tent AJ asked the Maasai if he could take us for a walk around to see if any animals we in the camp. We walked down the path, led by his flashlight, and paused at another tent nearby.  There in the darkness stood a giraffe illuminated by the flashlight beam (I didn't have my camera with me, otherwise I would show you a picture that would in no way compare to the image in my head right now).  The Maasai informed us he was sleeping. We went to take a step closer, but then the giraffe took a step (sleepwalking?) so we stayed put. We stayed several minutes in the darkness gazing at the sleeping giraffe. He was standing up, by the way, as he would be in too vulnerable position if he tried to sit or lie down to sleep. 

The next day we got up super early, ate breakfast at 6 and left at 6:30 for the crater.  The Ngorongoro Crater is a large volcanic caldera recognized as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa (Mt Kilimanjaro is on that list too). It was formed when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself 2-3 million years ago and is home to the black rhino, Cape buffalo, hippos, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, hyenas, elephants and lions, and various birds including flamingos, ostridge and crested cranes. 

The view going down into the crater was breathtaking.  Take my word for it.  Oh wait- here is Cathy's picture!

Inside the crater was breathtaking as well.

We came to expansive plains with dirt roads winding throughout. Right away we saw tons of wildebeest. Then Emanuel yelled, "running rhino!" We were all standing on our seats as he took off among dozens of safari vehicles in what felt like a safari edition of the Indy 500! It was so much fun! 

            

There are only 13 rhinos in the entire crater so we were psyched! We drive down the road watching the rhino run then cross the road running until it couldn't be seen anymore. Here's my best pic. 

I know, it's lame. Hopefully AJ got some great shots! 

Plenty of hippos in this pool. Owen thought they were rocks until one moved! 

We saw everything but the lions. Emanuel said it was because of the wind. We certainly saw plenty of everything else! I loved the baboons, elephants and zebras. And wildebeest because they hang out with the zebras.  

On our way out we stopped at a lookout point. Beautiful!

Then we began the 5 hour rideback to  springlands   and our last day in Tanzania. But first Kelly noticed this rediculouusly colorful bug on the way to the car.

                                 

Wild. 

Last day in Tanzania

We woke up to rain Wednesday morning. I love it when it rains when I'm leaving somewhere I love because the sky matches my feelings inside.  

We said goodbye to Justin the night before since he was leaving at 6am. 

Owen refused to come to breakfast saying he wasn't hungry. I was starving since I didn't really go for the ox bone liver at the dinner buffet! 

I joined Tashoy at breakfast. Juma came over and said he had to say good bye and go because he was too sad we were leaving. He pulled out bracelets he made for each of us with the Tanzania flag and our names (and said he forgot the e in Owen). I told him to go to our room to say good bye to Owen and tell him to come to breakfast. I went with him and saw Owen's eyes tear up as Juma spoke to him. Juma's too. That got me started. It was going to be a rough day saying good bye to everyone! 

Owen has 4 of these bracelets now - the one from Juma, Uganda from Bernard, Pole Pole (means slowly, slowly - a common phrase in these parts!) that he bought at the Blue Zebra shops, and the Tanzanian flag that he bought at the Endoro Lodge. 

After we finished breakfast (Owen did finally come and Elia brought him a grilled cheese and a coke, because why not!) and packing we headed to TAFCOM. The organization was doing a presentation for us in the afternoon but we wanted to go early to see the kids one last time.

                         

                            Preschool teacher Liliany, me, and the kindergarten teacher

Liliany greeted me with a big hug. I'm going to miss spending time in this classroom. I was thrilled to see she was using the ledge I made and the various color and number cards! We did a lesson on colors together, then gave the kids their porridge. 

After most students were dismissed, The teachers asked me to show them how to play the Chutes and Ladders game we brought. We gathered around the game board and I played with 3 kids. Board games are so commonplace in the US, but they had never seen one before. Cathy asked me to take a few pictures with sings for Friends-together donors.

                           

                              Teachers and students after playing Chutes and Ladders

                               

Owen left the classroom before the students were dismissed and hung out outside. Liliany tried to get him to come back but he couldn't. He was really sad to be leaving! I can't blame him - just look at these faces! 

Once the rest of the friends together crew arrived, TAFCOM began their presentation.  The presentation was developed to show the components of their program to westerners that are visiting to raise money and offer a cultural experience making batik. We also had a chance to pick up items we had ordered the prior week. They made my skirt and Kelly's shirt using the same fabric! 

I have purchased some items that were made by the girls in the sewing program. Several of them are batik, but I just thought it was a purchased material, I didn't realized it was dyed fabric created using various techniques and patterns. 

One method involves carefully scrunching wet fabric then applying colored dye. 

They demonstrated this on yellow and blue fabric. 

Another method involves folding dry fabric in a specific pattern, such as triangles or squares, and securing with string, then dipping parts into colored dye. The results were beautiful! 

            

            This red fabric was folded into a triangle pattern and dipped in green and yellow dyes.

               

                This purple fabric was folded into a triangle pattern and dipped in green dye.

We all had a chance to make our own on a small square of yellow fabric! I chose the scrunched style method. 

We each got one of the large pieces to take home. I'm going to hang mine in my classroom!

I love TAFCOM and all they are doing for the community. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to be part of it for this short period of time. 

After our final good byes we headed back to Springlands. We all gathered in the garden for a final round of Simosas, grilled cheese, Coke Lights, and Serengeti. Then at 5:30 it was time for Owen and I to leave. But not forever!!

                            

                                Owen with Kibelo, one of the best guides at Springlands. 

Final so longs with Kelly, Cathy, Garrett and Jessica. AJ and Kelly were taking the pictures. 

An hour drive, a flight with a stop in Dar Es Salam (and several hours of sleep), layover in Amsterdam, and final flight (and several hours of movie watching - including The Good Lie for me which I had an increased understanding for after this trip) and we were back in the USA. 

We will never forget the people we met in Tanzania- the other volunteers, the people that worked at TAFCOM, Kilimanjaro Orphanage, Springlands, Tanzacare, Gunge School and the children and locals that always welcomed us with open arms. This video is a tribute to them. Until we meet again! 

Marafiki Pamoja ~ Friends Together : Video celebrating the people we met and loved! 

Maasai village and school

On Monday we left the Endoro Lodge after a great breakfast (they had cereal and waffles!!) and headed out to the Maasai pre-school. 

Again there was beautiful scenery throughout the drive. I was so happy just to sit and look out the window at the fields, Maasai villages, waving children and animals along the way!

We pulled up to the Ngorongoro Pre-School in the Enduleni Village.  The school, opened by Zara Tours and Zara Charity,  has only been open since May 20th, and we were among the first western visitors!

                     

As a developing country, Tanzania struggles to provide a high quality of infrastructure and education, and the Maasai community has one of the highest illiteracy and lowest school enforcement in East Africa. This is primarily due to a lack of schools and their pastoral way of life. Maasai children have been known to walk barefoot for up to 20km to a primary school within parks where there is a danger of an animal attack.
The cost of education remains a large obstacle. Most families live on less than US$0.80 per day and it’s not rare for a family to have around eight children, while some Maasai warriors have up to 60 wives. Research shows that nearly 60% of Maasai children under five years old are physically stunted, which is an indicator of chronic malnutrition. Studies also show that only 5% of elementary school students continue to high school, and that girls are the most disadvantaged as they are expected to stay at home to help their mother take care of the house and family.(zaratours.worldpress.com). 

The students and teacher greeted us outside. I know it may seem odd that they are wearing sweaters, but it is winter there, so the temps feel cold to them!  There are 40 students enrolled but many live too far away to attend on a daily basis. Dormitories are being built to rectify this. 

We went inside and listened to the children recite the ABCs in English and Swahili. Part of the challenge with this group is that the Maasai speak their own language so the children need to learn both Swahili and English. 

After introductions, we split the children into groups with each volunteer. I had an opportunity to work with the teacher and show them the materials that we brought and ways they can be used for instruction. 

We taught them some basic English phrases and did activities with colors and numbers.  Then it was outside to play some soccer! 

                                          

The teacher showed us some of their games including Simba, Simba, Tembo, which means Lion, Lion, Elephant and is played like Duck, Duck , Goose!

We also played a game where some children were lions and others were running across the field to their father. 

Justin taught the kids, and the Maasi, how to play frisbee. 

            

We went back inside for more singing and dancing - both American style and Maasai. 

                

Then it was back outside for more running around and some group photos. We had an opportunity for a photo with some young Maasai warriors taking part in the Enkipaata rite of passage.