Being at Rift Valley was comparable to being a camp counselor. It gives you an amazing feeling. The fact that I want to come back really says something about it. Simply put, brightening the lives of these children by working with them rewards you with every smile.

There are quite a few Rastafarians in East Africa. Of course, it could just be a fashion thing. It's nice to be out of the country. Instead of such a hurried pace, the focus is on the children. Instead of Taco Bell, you have homemade cooking. Tanzanian food is seriously so good.

My brain is faster than my pen.

This is an amazing experience. These children so clearly appreciate your efforts that never does a day go by where you feel unwanted. I would love to return at some point, probably after college.

I have mixed feelings about leaving. I am excited to get back to my life, but for sure sad to leave these children.

I have been away from an academic environment for several months.

This experience, among other things, is very cathartic.

Days Off:

One of the more interesting things of the Ngorongoro Crater was hyenas dragging a wildebeest corpse into a swamp in order to use it as a natural refrigerator.

One of the more interesting things of Tarangire was lions stalking zebra and wildebeest and failing.

The kids are awesome. I have been assigned to Power Hour with Micha (pronounced like Mee-kuh / short for Michael). He's great and has me read him The Lion King every day, including saying the lines how they do in the movie. At this point, I've memorized most of it and I have no problem with that. Power Hour is exactly what it sounds like - you spend an hour of focused time with a child every day for whatever reason. Sometimes it's because they're a troublemaker or sometimes it's because how best the child focuses - with one on one. Micha can be a little mischievous at times , but for the most part, he's a good kid. He also loves stomping around pretending to scare me.

I am living in the Tarangire house. All of the houses are named after national parks. The kids go to school, play, watch a movie and then go to bed. At first I was with 3 and 4 year olds. Then I was with preschool. Then, I was with 2nd and 3rd graders. Finally, I went back to 3 and 4 year olds. There are more volunteers.

Right on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Didn't see a leopard. Four volunteers, total, I suppose. All very friendly. Mostly Tusker, red wine, white wine, pineapple fanta, safari, Serengeti, uhuru, dawa. Thought in Swahili.

A semester in Tanzania. Stream of consciousness. Rift Valley Children's Village. Tanzanian Children's Fund. Mama India Howell. 69 children. Permanent residents. Not including KLR, kids living with relatives, or other sponsored children. Oldeani, Tanzania.

Karatu: About 30 minutes

Arusha: About 4 hours

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