One year ago...

On May 18th, 2011, I boarded a flight to Tanzania. I had an amazing 2 months there, making new friends from around the States as well as friends from cities and villages of northern Tanzania. I can hardly believe it has been a year since I embarked on that journey. Reflecting on that experience, I still cannot express enough my appreciation and gratitude for everyone who supported me throughout my preparations for the trip. It's an integral part of who I am and I think about it everyday.

One year later, I'm wrapping up the end of my first year of medical school and will be heading to Vietnam for several weeks to travel and do medical work in rural villages with the NGO: Project Vietnam. It will be my first time to Asia! I hope to update you all with my activities there as well!



Next up: Vietnam!!

Wrapping up in the villages

My time in Tanzania has come to an end and I have returned to Seattle! What a wonderful experience it was learn how the people lived everyday life there. I was so blessed to have been a part of this program and met so many wonderful people: both Tanzanian villagers, Tanzania Teaching Partners and American volunteers from all around the U.S.

With Aponella, Rebecca and Dori, our wonderful next door neighbors

My paper plate award at closing dinner

Me with little Dori

My little dadas (sisters) Merisiana and Patronella

Waiting for a community teaching to start

With brother Kilian and Mama

Mamas at the beginning of the chicken race

There goes the chicken!

With Luke, the white Maasai!

My homestay family

With Teaching Partner Alex

A typical meal in the village: ugali, cabbage and fruit

The American volunteers in Sangaiwe village

Soccer game

With Datoga tribe brides

A community teaching

The Catholic church in the village

My shower

The choo (toilet)

Major baobab tree in Sangaiwe

At Ngorongoro Crater

Spice Tour in Zanzibar

Rafting on the Nile

Getting ready to bungee

JUMP!!!

For VP1 (Volunteer Program 1), we were able to test 800+ people for HIV. We visited more than 20 HIV+ households and taught 3000+ people in all of Mwada Ward. There was a definite sense of attachment as we left, both on our part and from the reactions of the villagers. I know we will see a gradual change regarding the stigma around testing and the disease itself. We've left our mark in Mwada...and the seeds of change in people's behaviors have been sown! :)

Back after a long deserved break!!!

Hi Everyone!

Wow, I feel like everything has been non-stop since my last post!!! We've done many more teachings in our village and we have our testing day set up. Then we embarked on a week-long break from the villages. I went on a safari to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, then bussed 24 hours through Kenya to Uganda to bungee jump and raft the Nile!!! AMAZING!!! Will update in 2 weeks with pics!!!


Much love,

Veronica

In Sangaiwe village

So I have been in Sangaiwe village for 10 days. And we packed it full of stuff to do!!! M-F we had a 2 hour block to teach at the primary school. We taught Standards 4/5 together then 6/7 together. For the most part, nearly everyone knew about HIV but transmission, progression and testing subjects needed to be taught. We also met with the village leaders, and everyday, after our break for lunch, we would have our third teaching to a type of community group. On Tuesday, there was a mother/child wellbeing checkup and I spoke about Mother-to-Child transmission to a group of about 60 mamas and their babies. Then on Thursday, we were invited to speak at a village meeting where there were 100 people present. We fielded some challenging questions about stigma and the reason why Americans are in Tanzania doing this work when HIV is also a problem in America. Luke, another group member answered really beautifully: "There are NGOs and other programs helping out in the U.S. We are here because we felt the call to serve our Tanzanian brothers and sisters." 

My homestay family is great. They are super Catholic!!! :D I went to Mass with them last Sunday and we were introduced to the congregation. I teared up during Mass a couple times. I was in awe of the atmosphere in the church. There is only one priest for the Mwada Ward so the priest only comes to Sangaiwe once every 5 weeks. And so the people only receive Communion once every 5 weeks. And yet they come week after week, full of song and praise. It really made me appreciate how I can go to Mass weekly at home and now I will definitely not take that fact lightly!!!

So I'm in Babati for just the weekend, then heading back to Sangaiwe in a few hours. I hope to update the blog in 10 days!!

Alex pumping up the class

Crazy giant beetle in my room

Beautiful dusk

Sunflower fields

Sangaiwe Mountais

Nikki, Glory and I walking to the lake after a busy week

The crown came in use!!! On Friday with the students at the primary school

Termites