Tanzania - Week 5

I have been completely rubbish at updating this blog so far but hey this is Africa, nothing ever gets done on time!!


I am still enjoying working at the orphanage, not much has changed in the few weeks I have been there except we have had a new baby arrive and a baby has gone home to his family which is really great news. It looks like two of the children (brother and sister) are going to be adopted soon, the brother is my favourite so i will be sad to see him go but it is great news that he will soon have his very own forever family.

I have started another placement as well which I am doing a few days a week, it is working alongsde a social worker here in Arusha visiting families in the poorest villages whose children have been sponsored to go to school. It is really an eye opener to see how these children and their families live and how far they have to walk to get to school. It is such a huge opportunity to recieve a place at school that these children are wiolling to walk miles each day to get an education and improve their lives.

Mama Rose is still looking after me well, it feels like a real family home which I am part of, its great to be here. I'm even getting used to the lack of shower and having to pour a bucket of freezing cold water over me just to have a wash!! A couple of volunteers have left, and a few more have arrived so the house is always pretty busy and noisy!

I am now half way through my trip here in Africa and the time has gone so quickly, before I know it I will be on a flight heading back to the Uk. But I am making the most of my time while I am here, upcoming plans include safari, staying up in the mountains, a trip to Moshi (to see Kilimanjaro up close) and a few dinners out.

I am also going to attempt to put some photos up on here so watch this space......................................

Tanzania - end of week 2!

Hi everybody, finally got some time to get on the Internet and remembered my log in details too! Thanks Zoe for giving an update on my behalf.

So I am at the end of my second week here and am loving it, really having a good time. The orphanage is amazing and i am so in love with the children, I already have my favourites!

I have been quite busy in my spare time, last weekend I went to the local Masaii markets with Lee (another girl in my homestay) and got badgered by African's! But it was fun. On Sunday I went for a walk to a waterfall, however this turned into a seven hour hike scrambling up and down the side of a mountain, we were not warned about the kind of walk this was so was completely unprepared! However it was totally worth it as the waterfall was amazing. Was very tired when i got back though and had sore legs!

Everywhere we go we get called 'msungus' which literally means white person! All te kids shout it to us and run up to us to touch us and high five. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a celebrity! Everyone is very friendly though and am happy in my homestay.

Hope you are all well in England.

Oh did I mention that it is really really hot and the sun shines all the time?!!!

Will update with photos as soon as I can.

Love Laura xxxx

First Update

Hi all,
Its not Laura for a start it is her friend Zoe.
I have spoken to Laura on the phone today (strange in itself given there's a delay between the time spoken and time recieved in your ear!) and she informs me that internet access isn't so great so have said i will put something on here for her, for now, and she will add more to it when she can.

Well where to start? No running water and no flushable toilet facilities. Electric 'as and when' as far as i understand.

Her host family is really nice, there is the mum, two sons, two dogs, chickens and a cockeral....unsure of anybody else although i think there may be another volunteer staying there too.

She has been to the orphanage and is falling in love with the kids (uh oh!) and next week she'll be in the nursery where currently the youngest baby is only 10 days old.

Its taking two bus rides to get to the orphanage everyday and two buses back.

Laura is taking lots of pictures and again will try to upload them when she can.

Sorry for the vaguness of this first blog post, but she is well and really enjoying herself!
oh, and its really hot too......jealous much??

Zoe x