Back at it!

I am very happy to announce that in the summer of 2016 I will be embarking on yet another journey with Children’s Global Alliance. This time, the team will be volunteering at the Deeya Shree School in Bhaktapur, Nepal, where we will be working hands on and helping repair damage caused by the earthquakes in 2015. 

So far, I have traveled to Cambodia, Nicaragua and Tanzania. On the trips, I have learned more about myself than I have throughout my whole life. I’ve gained a lot of perspective and I’ve learned many different skills and lessons. CGA has become a very big part of my life, but aside from being committed to this organization; my hobbies include skiing, performing, stage managing school productions, cooking, baking, and spending time with my family. I feel very fortunate that they have been there and have supported me every step of the way.

Throughout the years I have come to realize that words don’t do these trips justice, but this is where I attempt to explain what goes through my head before, during, and after. The experiences are indescribable, and that’s one of the things I like about volunteering. The children I’ve had the pleasure to meet thus far have flipped my world upside down completely. Each and everyone one of them occupy a very special place in my heart. I am very excited to meet the people and get a taste of the culture in Nepal. I can’t wait to see what it has in store for us! 

As the trip has come to an end, I can’t help but to feel incredibly blessed to have been given this opportunity. Every day has been felt like a dream and every second has been worth its weight in gold. Getting to spend the last two weeks with the students of LOAMO has been surreal. There is so much joy and happiness radiating off of everyone we encountered; it’s contagious. Even if there was a day I was feeling a bit under the weather, their smiles alone could light up my whole day. Their drive and motivation to learn is inspiring, and although I was the one who was supposed to be teaching, learning from the students was practically inevitable. Words cannot describe how much I’m going to miss them.

Goodbyes are never easy. It absolutely kills me to think that I will most likely never see the kids again. I always try to put that thought aside and try to enjoy the last day with them as much as possible, but the feelings become real as soon as the first tear rolls down someone’s face. It’s a reminder that you’re leaving, but it’s also a confirmation of the impact you've made in their lives.

Friday was a roller coaster of emotions. Everything was fine until little Godwin walked into the classroom. He looked at me then immediately averted his gaze and I knew something was up. I got out of my seat, walked closer to him and noticed he was crying. I then proceeded to ask him what was wrong and he said he was sad because I was leaving. Godwin is the student I had the hardest time with. He is very hyperactive and would always be the one to disrupt the class whenever I was trying to teach. When I wasn't teaching, I would sit next to him trying to keep him on task and focused on his work. I didn't realize something as simple as that would make that kind of an impact on him, as he didn't show it until the last day. That’s when it really hit me how much of a difference the group had made, even if we didn't realize it to begin with.

Standing in front of a group of kids and attempting to teach has proven to be harder than I ever imagined. There are a lot of little things that go into it that I never even though of before the trip. Keeping the kids engaged and listening required more practice and preparation than I anticipated. It definitely pushed me. It pushed me in a way that has made me grow since the first day of teaching, but I know there is always room for improvement. Although it was difficult at times, I wouldn't change a thing about the experience.

Tanzania was full of surprises. I've been on two other trips with CGA in the past and they have both been absolutely incredible. Whatever expectations I had, this trip surpassed them by far. Although I’m going to miss the children more than anything, I’m leaving knowing that the team has made a mark here, and I couldn't be more thankful for that.  

I’m not someone who likes surprises very much, but last weekend was a time I’ll never forget. On Friday night we were told to pack our bags for the next day because we would be going on an overnight trip and wouldn't be back until Sunday afternoon. Everyone was itching with questions but we weren't told where we were going. To our surprise, we arrived at a Maasai camp, where real Maasai greeted us with a traditional welcome dance. They gave us a tour of what they call home while also giving us a taste of their culture and life style.

The stay was by far one of the most surreal things I've ever experienced. Being there was like a real life documentary; something you’d watch on T.V. back home and think “oh, that’s cool!”, and then forget about it the next day. They cooked for us, sang and danced for us, and took us on a tree search, where we learned about different trees and how they can be used for medicine and even as toothbrushes! A Maasai warrior even taught us how to throw spears. We also had the honor of meeting a 97 year old woman who we addressed as “Coco”, which means Grandmother in Maa, the language of the Maasai. She was very welcoming and open to everything we asked her. I was surprised by the way she took in complete strangers while being so unfamiliar with us and our way of life. She has never been in a car and has never used a phone. That alone to me is unbelievable. Everything about Coco made me feel an immense amount of respect for her. Meeting her and getting to speak with her was definitely a highlight of the trip.

The way the Maasai have preserved their culture and simplistic lifestyle came as a shock to me. They live off the land; no cars, no electricity, no running water. Everything we take for granted, they can live without. Witnessing and learning how they go about their everyday lives was unlike anything I've ever done and I’m very thankful for that opportunity. It opened my eyes and made me reflect upon the things that are truly essential in life. 

Going on home visits has always been a challenge for me. This is becuase I always let myself become consumed by my feelings towards the circumstances I'm whitnessing. It's really hard not to. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but I definitely wasn't expecting to enjoy myself so much on the visits we've been on so far. Thinking back to my trip to Nicaragua last year, not once did I leave someone's home with a smile on my face. Quite the opposite actually; I was always enraged and would have to fight back tears threatening to fall down my face. Things are different here in Tanzania. Never in my life have I felt more comfortable in a stranger's home. I'm absolutely in awe with how much people are willing to give when they don't have much to offer in the first place. They have the world to offer when it comes to sharing their thoughts, experiences and feelings, but it's incredible to me that people who struggle daily to provide for their families and put food on the table are so willing to go out of their way to make sure complete strangers are comfortable in their homes. On every occasion we've been given a place to sit, food and something to drink. You can't help but to feel an immense amount of respect. They make the best of what they have and seem genuinely happy regardless of their living conditions. Although to me it may seem like it's "not much" becuase it's not what I'm used to, in reality they have everything they need. Comparing my needs and theirs has made me realize how ridiculous most of my "needs" are, and has made me appreciate everything I have that much more.

There is really no way to describe the feeling that is taking off for the first time or finally arriving at your destination and knowing that you’re that much closer to the start of an incredible journey. Sitting in an airplane for so long gives you a lot of time to think. I was specifically thinking about and reflecting upon my previous trips with CGA and how amazing and different they were from one another. I can honestly say that I have absolutely no idea what is in store for us the next couple of weeks, but I do know that I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

On our first full day we walked around town with one of our drivers, Tom. To put it shortly, it was nothing like I expected it to be. Everyone smiled and waved at us and we would hear an occasional “wazungu” which means white person. I didn’t expect for there to be as many tall buildings as there are, or for there to be so much greenery surrounding it. Looking at the people I felt a bit underdressed as I was wearing a hoodie. Meanwhile everyone else looked as if they were wearing their best outfits. None of less everyone we encountered was surprisingly kind and made us feel welcome. Falling in love with the culture is practically inevitable.

The time spent here so far has been incredibly insightful. From touring the town, to cleaning the school, to sitting in during a lesson, to actually getting to teach the students; I have loved every second of it. At first, I was really nervous and scared when the teacher asked me to teach. It took but a simple look at the kids in front of me for that fear to go away. All I could see was bright eyes eager to learn and ready to soak up everything I had to say. It was then when I realized how truly valuable our time here is and how lucky I am to have this opportunity. No amount of time at the school will be enough, which is why I’m going to do my best to make every second count.

                                                                                                                            

Fears and Goals

They say that everything you want is on the other side of fear. Going into my third trip with Children's Global Alliance, I can't say that I don't have any fears, and I don't think I'll ever be able to. Life is a constant trial and error and you can never be too prepared for everything these trips hold. My biggest fear is probably not being able to capture the kids' attention while teaching at the school and not being able to connect with them. I'm not the most creative person so I fear not being able to keep them engaged. I plan to overcome these fears by being as comfortable with my lesson plans as possible and trying my hardest at all times.

My goal for this trip directly ties into my fear. I want to make connections and make the most out of my time there. I'm the biggest procrastinator. I'm really good at wasting time, but it's not every day that you get to go on a trip where falling in love is inevitable. I know in my heart that I can make a difference in those kids' lives and I'm going to do absolutely everything in my power to do so. 

We're all going to die eventually. The goal isn't to live forever the goal is to create something that will.