As I wind down my service, and time in Tanzania, I'm taking a moment to reflect on these last 2 years. I've already been asked if I would do it all over again, and the answer is "YES!" These 2 years weren't easy, but it was truly an experience that changed my life. I learned so much about myself, life lessons, and work I DON'T want to pursue post service. (I still have no idea what I actually want to do when I finish.)
When I first arrived in country I thought, "what have I signed up for?" My homestay family cooked with corn husks, dirty dishes, never washed hands with soap, my bathroom was a hole in the ground, and our water source was FAR (but clean!) Little did I know this situation/lifestyle would be lavish in comparison to my next 2 years in Singida.
I moved to Singida, saw my house the very first day, and immediately thought, "no way, Jose!" No light entered my house without both the front and back doors being open, and it looked like with one huff and puff, the wolf would be able to blow all the clay and rotten wood down. I gave myself one week. And during that week, I had no time to think about my living situation because I was among the most welcoming and friendly people I had ever met. They didn't know me from Sam, but welcomed me with open arms, gifts, cooked me meals, and gave me a new name! (If you come to my village now, no one knows me by Tanique, only Mwambura.)
For the next year and ten months, though I struggled with having the dirtiest water I could NEVER drink, to rain water that I praised (fill in the blank) for, to no water at all, I was thankful for the opportunity to see and experience just how Tanzanians are living. It made me question so many things-especially favor/grace/afforded opportunity, but also helped me learn the importance of simplicity, and appreciating the things in life that really do matter.
I fought through the bats that terrified me(I thought I was coming home during this period), the rats that ate my food, not having charcoal to cook food, having no food to cook, finding my purpose here, washing 3 weeks of laundry by hand, waiting days to shower because I had no water, or being frustrated by not being able to charge my phone because it was cloudy (and in those moments I became grateful for the rain we needed over a silly charge), and learned to appreciate the struggles. They taught me something.
Being here makes you cherish water, and you will never be so wasteful again. Not eating everyday makes you thankful hunger is not a reoccurring feeling, and helps you understand why students don't do well in school, or attend only when it is available. All of my struggles and challenges have made me appreciate what I did have, instead of thinking about what I didn't. Though I may not have the most motivated/eager village, I lived among people who were willing to give me their last, always welcoming me to their meals of not much substance, and into their lives. They accepted me as part of their community for two years, became my family, and looked out for me in every way possible.
While we come here to help, and to address some of the challenges they face, I realized it was important to just experience them, because half of them we couldn't change. I experienced them, and tried to appreciate the good that surrounded them. I was never one to desire materialistic things, but from living here, I desire a simple life, for the rest of my life.
As long as basic needs are met, what else do you really need? Love. Family. Friendship. Balance. You have to find the small things that make you happy, and be able to see/appreciate those through the challenges and struggles. What I take away from my entire service, and what will stick with me for life is the swahili phrase "hamna shida" (most everyone hears me say it ALL the time); meaning "no worries." I believe things are the way they are supposed to be, and we have to learn from, and appreciate them in that way. So thank you Tanzania, and thank you Peace Corps for heightening my outlook on life, helping me to become so positive, and increasing my patience level to one I never thought possible.
When I first arrived in country I thought, "what have I signed up for?" My homestay family cooked with corn husks, dirty dishes, never washed hands with soap, my bathroom was a hole in the ground, and our water source was FAR (but clean!) Little did I know this situation/lifestyle would be lavish in comparison to my next 2 years in Singida.
I moved to Singida, saw my house the very first day, and immediately thought, "no way, Jose!" No light entered my house without both the front and back doors being open, and it looked like with one huff and puff, the wolf would be able to blow all the clay and rotten wood down. I gave myself one week. And during that week, I had no time to think about my living situation because I was among the most welcoming and friendly people I had ever met. They didn't know me from Sam, but welcomed me with open arms, gifts, cooked me meals, and gave me a new name! (If you come to my village now, no one knows me by Tanique, only Mwambura.)
For the next year and ten months, though I struggled with having the dirtiest water I could NEVER drink, to rain water that I praised (fill in the blank) for, to no water at all, I was thankful for the opportunity to see and experience just how Tanzanians are living. It made me question so many things-especially favor/grace/afforded opportunity, but also helped me learn the importance of simplicity, and appreciating the things in life that really do matter.
I fought through the bats that terrified me(I thought I was coming home during this period), the rats that ate my food, not having charcoal to cook food, having no food to cook, finding my purpose here, washing 3 weeks of laundry by hand, waiting days to shower because I had no water, or being frustrated by not being able to charge my phone because it was cloudy (and in those moments I became grateful for the rain we needed over a silly charge), and learned to appreciate the struggles. They taught me something.
Being here makes you cherish water, and you will never be so wasteful again. Not eating everyday makes you thankful hunger is not a reoccurring feeling, and helps you understand why students don't do well in school, or attend only when it is available. All of my struggles and challenges have made me appreciate what I did have, instead of thinking about what I didn't. Though I may not have the most motivated/eager village, I lived among people who were willing to give me their last, always welcoming me to their meals of not much substance, and into their lives. They accepted me as part of their community for two years, became my family, and looked out for me in every way possible.
While we come here to help, and to address some of the challenges they face, I realized it was important to just experience them, because half of them we couldn't change. I experienced them, and tried to appreciate the good that surrounded them. I was never one to desire materialistic things, but from living here, I desire a simple life, for the rest of my life.
As long as basic needs are met, what else do you really need? Love. Family. Friendship. Balance. You have to find the small things that make you happy, and be able to see/appreciate those through the challenges and struggles. What I take away from my entire service, and what will stick with me for life is the swahili phrase "hamna shida" (most everyone hears me say it ALL the time); meaning "no worries." I believe things are the way they are supposed to be, and we have to learn from, and appreciate them in that way. So thank you Tanzania, and thank you Peace Corps for heightening my outlook on life, helping me to become so positive, and increasing my patience level to one I never thought possible.
