"I seek the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom, always, to know the difference"

Jambo! (Hello)

Day One: I'm racked with mixed-up emotions and can't quite get my head straight. It has been a wild couple days but I love this place. At the same time I don't understand this world, question why I'm here, and am sad all at the same time. Sad in the sense that I miss everyone back home, I have yet to meet anyone, and feel lost in this huge work of the unknown. Dont get me wrong I think that it is wonderful just taking it all in 1 day at a time and balancing all the emotions. I know that I am here for a purpose and will gain ten folds more then I can give.

Let's talk about St Jude. To give you an idea of the daily life here…..Buses leave every morning at 6:30am to go into town and around the local villages to pick up about 500 children. They return about 8am. With wild, excited and energetic little people. Who in turn jump off the bus and run to the play ground to start the day off correctly, playing. Wouldn't that be nice, starting your day off with swings on the play ground? These kids are so full of life, interesting and, so curious. They're great! Each and everyone stops and stares at me. Wondering who is this new white person, if they get the courage they will wave at me.So of course I wave back and say hello, which in turn receives a huge smile from them. Each of there faces light up in way that is hard to explain. The innocence and wonder one sees in each of them brings a huge smile to me.

The staff seems really dedicated and committed to helping all of these children. Each different in there own ways. And the mission and vision behind the organization are exactly in-line with my values and purpose for being in Tanzania. I'm sure I'll find faults with the implementation of the projects as I get more in-depth with the way things run here… but that's inevitable, anyway. It's just nice to know from the beginning that they have high expectations of staff, the community, and the kids they serve. Each person has a specific job but then does 10 thousand other things all at the same time. Yesterday, I walked around the school and got a first hand impression of what was really happening here. Then I did a couple of odd end jobs here and there. But my favorite thing was giving out the gifts to the children after lunch; these were the gifts that had come in the mail from the sponsor's.We had about 6 gifts to give which ranged from school supplies, a light up football, to numerous other things. To watch the excitement and happiness they felt as they opened each one was tremendous. We read the letters with the younger ones and took pictures of them. I think this would be the best job here at the school! It's like being Santa Claus everyday of the year.

At the end of the day, I walked with Tara, another volunteer down the street to buy a few vegetables. Also to get an idea of how things work around here and the cost of a few carrots. For 6 potatoes and 3 carrots my total expense was a monstrous 26 cents. Or 300 shillings. Wow big spender, huh. Our diet here consists of rice, beans, fresh veggies, and meat once in a while. Eggs, cheese, milk are extremely expensive so dairy is really a no go. Daily lunch is provided to everybody here at the school, yesterday consisted of white rice and beans, which come to find out is the same every Tuesday and Thursday. Simple yet when you are hungry it's fantastic. Last night I helped Tasha, another volunteer make dinner. A group of 7 of us make and eat dinner each night together. Each taking turns coming up with something exciting to make with the most basic ingredients. Last night was a vegetable curry with white rice. The veggies are great, fresh, and after boiling them down to mush- safe to eat!All in all the food here is very eatable and can easily be enjoyed if you are not too picky, and understand that at least you have food on your table.We can afford to choose what we would like to make, most Tanzanian's do not get a choice, may only eat 1 meal a day if they are lucky! Puts life and food into another perspective………

So if you're wondering- I have already started to put together a wish list for my first care-package. I will post it in a few days………just thought you might be all thinking about that! Also any easy, basic recipes would be much appreciated and enjoyed by all of us here.

Things I have learned in the last 48 hours:

1. Need to learn Swahili, can't really get buy with out speaking it.

2. Life starts when the sun rises and ends each day around 8pm.

3. Heresy kisses were the biggest hit with all the volunteers. Chocolate is a luxury that does not exist here.

4. Tea not coffee is the start, end, and middle of each day. You would love it Dad.

5. No luggage= Hakuna Matata (no worries)

6. Water…..if you want to get a small idea of my life here, we collect the rain and runoff water then reuse it. Water is a consistent problem here- THERES NEVER ENOUGH. Every time you brush your teeth- just think I have to boil the water I brush my teeth with everyday.

7. Lastly, Dad Hatari! means danger in Swahili, just thought you might want to know that.

Love you all!!!