Pure Happiness
After two days of non-stop travel, 5 hour layovers, and
airplane food you have never seen in your life, it sure was an amazing feeling
when our plane flew directly next to Mt. Kilimanjaro. The snow capped, unreal,
majestic-looking mountain was breath taking. These past five days have been filled
with endless amounts of joy and laughter. It’s refreshing to be around people
that don’t have many materialistic items, but they sure do have an abundant
amount of joy.
From touring the town of Arusha with the infamous Rasta
John, walking though the very busy and crowded food market, touring a museum
with the most beautiful art I have ever seen, and experiencing my first Dala
Dala (which is a 10 person van that crams 20 people in it with full bodies hanging
out the window), it is safe to say it was a day filled with memories that will
last a lifetime.
Our first volunteer opportunity was at Cradle of Love… which
is now hands down my favorite place on earth. Cradle of Love is an orphanage
for infants and toddlers that have been neglected, abandoned in corn fields, or
are unable to be taken care of by their parents. My heart instantly melted when
I first saw the babies. We arrived when they were waking up from their
naps; they filed out of their rooms holding their arms up being attracted to us
like magnets. All they wanted was some love and attention, and believe me… that
is just what they got. The smiles and giggles at every silly face you make and
tickle you gave filled my whole body with warmth and joy.
Monday was our first day we worked at LOAMO: the school we
will be at for the remainder of our trip. Immediately walking into the school,
smiles, giggles and whispers were peeking out of doorways. Finally all at once
everyone came running to us and clung onto us like their life depended on it.
They were in awe about my hair. The whole day the girls and boys would play
with it and touch it. If a piece of hair would fall out they would all fight
over who got to keep it. This continues to show me that one doesn’t need to have
a new car, or a shopping spree to make them happy.
The youngest class at LOAMO is baby class with kids ranging
from 3-5, next in Kindergarten, then Pre Prep, and then classes 1-6. I have
been working with class six for the past two days and will continue to for the
next week. It is very easy to communicate with the children there because they
have all of their classes in English so they can understand you perfectly. I
have been able to grow so close to these kids and I know they will always have
a special place in my heart. Each day I find a new note written in my notebook
from the 6th graders telling me how much they love me.
Getting up in front of the classroom and teaching about past
participle verbs, malnutrition, and geography about Africa can be very
intimidating at times, however, there is no judgment with these kids. This experience has already started to shape me to be a
better person and change my outlook on life. One doesn’t need to have
materialistic items to be happy. A simple piece of hair can make their world.
Asante
-Sophia
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