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Jambo! Well I had my first negative experience here in Tanzania. I had planned to come to Zanzibar to voluteer at an organization called ZAPHA that handles issues regarding HIV/AIDS and helps those infected here on the island. I was suppose to start work yesterday with the organization but something happened that I really didnt expect. I'll start from the beginning. After I arrived at the house I was suppose to be staying at, Mr. Kitwana who was the father of my home stay family dropped me off at the front of his neighborhood and told to me to follow his children (who were 4 beautiful girls dressed like muslims) to his home and he would see me in the evening and we would discuss the plans for the program. I got settled in and Thani (who was a friend of Mr. Kitwana) showed me around town. We then went back and we had lunch which consisted of a big plate of rice, baked bananas, and a whole fish with the head and everything. After lunch we pretty much sat around the house. I was tried to play around with the kids but they looked at me like I was an alien and wanted nothing to so with me. No one in the house spoke any English so I pretty much sat watching TV of a spanish soap opera badly dubbed in English. The house was full of mosqitos and I got covered in bites. I went to bed and tried to sleep. In the morning a rooster woke me up around 4am crowing just feet from my window. Thani was suppose to meet me at the house at 8 but he was an hour late so again I sat watching TV while the children stared at me. I had my first experience in a dalla dalla which is a small mini bus that is packed with twice the many people it should hold. I had seen these buses around town and I was truly hoping that I never would have to ride in one but it actually wasnt that bad. We walked to the ZAPHA house. When we arrived a red flag went off because they were not expecting us at all. We sat down withone of the directors and we talked about an hour about the organization and what they do. I was really excited talking to him and was looking forward to working with him. After we talked I expected to talk about the coming days but he thanked us for coming and we abruptly left. I was really thrown off and a little frustrate at the situation because it dawned on me that Mr. Kitwana had not arranged my program. I felt really taken advantage of and really wanted to sort it through. I asked to talked to Mr. Kitwana (whom I still had not seen becasue he never came home the night before like he promised) so we walked to his office. When we got to his office I saw that he does alot more than just book voluteer programs and tours.He also sells DVDs and makes passport size photos for a living. RED FLAG. He wasnt there but Thani told me we could wait for 5 hours to see him. At this point I decided I needed to make some phone calls. I called the director of the company whom I booked through in the UK. After 5 hours of sitting in a little stuffy office, Mr. Kitwana showed up and I told him that I was ending the program. He tried to make some excuses but I was done. The company I had booked through were a solid company but the problem was that they picked this guy to handle the details. The director in the UK was very helpful and was appreciative that I told him about this guy so that they wont use him in the future. Im getting the majority of my money back. I am now in a great hotwl with an actual toliet and shower (not just a hole in the floor and a bucket of cold water) and I will staying here for the next week. I am planning on visiting the ZAPHA on my own and trying to organiza something directly. I really wanted to do something positive while I was here and its a shame that it didnt work out but I will make the best of it. I am content on where I am right now. Im looking forward to some time alone without rushing around or having someone telling me what I am doing next. This town is really great an dI have met a ton of people so Im sure that I will have a great time here. Everything happens for a reason!!!
- comments
Devan Wow, it sounds like you know what your doing. I would be sooo nervous being alone there but I am really proud of you for being so positive about it. How long are you staying in Zanzibar? Are any of the people from your school there or just you?
Tracy I am so glad you got out of there. God only knows what you could of caught staying in those conditions. I was worried that you might end up in a shack. Just be careful and watch your back since your all alone. Can't wait to see your pics. take care & Love you
MICHAEL WALKER damn tourist!!!!!!! love ya and miss ya, you can come home early and go to string summit with me!!!!!! yeeeehaw, doesn't hurt to ask, hehe!!!
Jared Hey baby, really sorry to hear about that experience. You're right though, as cheesy as it sounds, it all played out the way it was supposed to... now you get to enjoy some real personal time in a great city! I love you honey very much, and I am counting the days til you come home... well worth the wait.