Jan. 5

Yesterday we spent the day orientating to our placements and then we were given a tour of a small town called Rau. Finding words to describe what we saw is almost impossible. Children flocked to us and just wanted their pictures taken so we coils show them on our cameras.The living conditions are beyond poverty; people living in paper houses, children playing with old shoes left on the streets, herds of cows walking the roads. And the most amazing thing about all of it was there was genuine happiness and joy with everyone we met! They are all so happy with their life in Tanzania!!!! We were welcomed in the home of the Cheif of Rau which is quite an honor and he showed us his goats and chickens he was raising. We were then welcomed into the homes of 2 different families to meet their children that had severe disabilities; such a sad sad thing to see but they too were unbelievably happy! As we walked through the town the local people greeted us, offered us their homemade beer( which I was too chicken to try) and the children kept coming out of no where just to be with us ( the muzunwa) Kassandra you may be right about me taking a couple of these kids home. I have never seen such smiles and faces that could mely your heart.
We've started some key Swahilis lessons; so much to know but I seem to be doing ok with it.
Today we started our placements which was for me making home visits to the sick who can not get to the clinics. We saw five patients today and each house was in such poor conditions I don't know how these people do it. 87% of the people in Tanzania are hiv positive; have such poor nutrition that I feel embarrassed to be staying at the headquarters where we are. Our house is like a castle to them; we are fed 3 wonderful meals a day; I think I will be coming home 10 pounds heavier which I found out today is a compliment in Tanzania! After visiting the patients my partner Sabrina and I walked along the streets to meet more kids. What is so amazing is they want to bring you into their home and welcome you. Everyone is friends. There are no strangers in Tanzania! Right now I am sitting at a computer at the home of Bushman's Safaris: he just told me to use his computer instead of walking into town to an internet cafe. We will be travelling this weekend to Safari and I just can't wait!! Hopefully by then I will be able to get some pictures onto my blog to share with all of you.