Sakina Maziwa

I have now been in Arusha for 6 full days and home feels like forever ago. Adjusting back to life here has taken no time at all. Its so funny how in a place that is so different and I stand out like a sore thumb I feel so comfortable. I am so happy I made the decision to come back, I couldn’t imagine not being here and not being able to see my kids. They truly are the little loves of my life. I don’t think I will ever be able to explain to them how much they have affected me and how much they have changed my life. These little 3-11 year olds have dealt with more pain and suffering than most of us will ever have to deal with in our lives but despite that suffering they are happiest kids on the planet. It still amazes me how kids back home who have everything can find so many things to complain about. I even have to reflect back on myself growing up and everything I had and was given and how little I appreciated it all. I think the western world could learn a lot from Africa, not even just learning to appreciate everything but learning how truly unimportant material items are for ones happiness.
People often ask me why I go to Africa and why I love it here so much, questions I find impossible to answer when talking to someone who has never traveled to Africa. People go through life searching for their niche and I found mine in Africa. Before Africa I jumped all over the map for “what I wanted to do with my life.” I have done essentially every 100 level course offered at the U of A but I “found” myself here. Nothing in this world makes me happier than helping those kids. I wish I could say it was an entirely altruistic act but its not. I believe there is an actual psychological name for the feeling experienced while helping someone maybe “helpers high” or something of the sort. Despite the fact that I am constantly dirty, and living in a house infested with cockroaches and rats I am the happiest person in the world here. I definitely know I want to do something in international development I just don’t know where exactly that will take me. As much as I love the hands on work I know that there is more I can do back home. Right now my thought process involves going into corporate law and ensuring that corporations follow ethical guidelines. Obviously the most famous industry for the exploitation of foreign workers is the coffee industry, if you are at all interested I would definitely recommend watching “Black Gold.” It’s a really good documentary about how coffee farmers aren’t paid a living wage.
Enough of that though let’s move onto what I am doing here in Arusha. This week will be devoted to figuring out what the needs of the school are and where I should spend the fundraising money. By the end of the week I should have a much better idea of what I am going to do with Tuamkeni right now I am just trying to absorb everything.
The volunteer house is amazing I love it here so much. It’s crazy how close you get to people in such a short period of time. There are currently 10 of us living in the house so it’s a nice close knit group. Whats crazy is that out of 10 of those people 6 are from Alberta! Two girls are from Calgary, 1 guy is from Leftbridge, and then Laura Cayley and I from Edmonton. On top of that we have 1 other Canadian, an American, Australian, and a Brit. We all get along phenomenally and although I have only known them for a week it feels like I have known them for months. There is also another volunteer house that has around 20 people but 18 of them are girls so they are having a lot of problems with clicks and catty groups. So happy I don’t live there! I think a lot of them are younger too because last year there was a group of about 25 of us in this house and I mean there obviously were groups of people who got along better but no one was catty. Thursday night a group of 8 of us went out to Via Via which is a club here in Arusha. It was the best time I have ever had at a bar in my life! 4 days prior we were all a group of strangers and there we were a group of close friends in Africa attempting to better the world dancing up a storm in the pouring rain. It was definitely an “I love my life” kind of moment. Unfortunately that rain dancing made me sick but it was totally worth it. Well friends and family that is my update for today, I am happy I am actually updating on a more frequent basis and I promise to keep it up!

Love you all!
Catherine