we will all leave this World changed

This morning came quickly as I was woken up at 6am-which felt more like 4am, it was still dark out and it felt as if I had only slept for a few hours. But once I got outside and started the usual (my first) morning walk/jog I was happy I rolled out of bed to join C, K and J.

The beach was full of garbage, like anywhere in Tanzania. It is a surprise if a garbage can is spotted as this is so uncommon, and even if they are used, there is not a well enough system to keep the streets even somewhat clean. It is disgusting to walk along the streets and see dead birds, rotting food, old wrappers, mangled shoes that are poking out through the mounds of dirt along the beach, ally ways, and more common the streets.

And yet amongst all the garbage and everything else that goes on in the world it was so peaceful to have the sand beneath my feet, and hear the waves crashing on the shore.

I know a lot of the time we get so caught up in the garbage of life, and we can find ourselves just laying there, not doing anything, not getting picked up. But sometimes we need to remember the sound of the waves, the sand between our toes, the little things in life that make every day a new day, a reason so smile and get the best of each new day. Life is too short to worry about the little things that won’t matter next month, or even tomorrow.

My first week here has gone by quite fast and I feel like I have been here for so much longer. I am trying to learn Kiswahili –the locals find it rude if you do not know the language, or don’t try to learn it, which makes total sense. Before K, K, J and I went to Boona Baana we were able to go to Slipway –where there are restaurants, small shops with bracelets, woodcarvings, purses, paintings and other neat hand crafted items. Since the money is so much different then Canada (e.g. $7.00CDN is equal to $10,000shillings) everything seems so expensive, when in reality it really isn’t. And since I am new to this whole money system, I just think everything is so much money! But I am learning! But, I find it more expensive then Mexico.

We got henna done today by a local lady for 5,000shillings. It only took her 5-7 minutes to do my hand, and it looks so good! The kids told me later that it is a sunflower! Also, while we were at Boona Baana we did artwork with the kids today! They painted simba(lion), trees, Mount Kilimanjaro (which is the largest mountain in Africa), the sun, birds and other things that make them happy!

E, one of the girls (who speaks four languages) knows Spanish, so here and I have been talking in Spanish, which has been a lot of fun, and really nice since she has been somewhat moody lately, so it is good to connect with her!

I came into this trip thinking that I was going to be “starving” myself, and yet I find myself eating more food then I would possibly even eat at home. Part of me feels guilty for being here in Tanzania and seeing all of these people who are hungry that have nothing, or very little of it, and then there I am, eating until I am full. It just doesn’t seem right to me in a way.

Yet, at the same time I think that we are all placed somewhere in the world for a specific reason. Coming from Canada and living the way I was so blessed to live, I can’t beat myself up for the life I have had. I, along with anyone else can either feel sorry for them, or use the famous “eat your food, there are starving kids in Africa” and never really do anything about it. Or we can use what we know to better someone’s life that does not have it as easy as we do, and take advantage of what we have been given.