Habari!

As you might be able to tell from that common Swahili greeting, today we started learning a bit of Kiswahili.  Mostly we learned greetings, which apparently are very very important and essential to know, and can get you a long way in Tanzania.  There are many greetings for different times of the day, general greetings, and greetings that are more age appropriate.  For example, a common greeting to say to a young person would be “Mambo!” to which the response would be “Poa” or “Safi” meaning “cool.”  A common respectful greeting for an elder would be “Shikamoo,” to which the response would be “Marahaba.”  Apparently, this will be a common greeting from my students.

Already I can tell how important the language training will be, because once you get out into the streets amongst the Tanzanian people, just even knowing the common greetings puts you more at ease and you start to feel less like an outsider.  I can certainly see how sinple greetings and respect will get you far here.

Besides beginning our formal teaching and language training, we’ve already spent a bit of time out and about in Dar es Salaam.  Yesterday we traveled into the city center, where we saw the main marketplace (Kariakoo) that housed many local merchants selling goods, the fish market by the shore, and many of the government and commercial buildings throughout the city.  It was a bit hot, but a gorgeous day to explore Dar.  Also, since it was a Sunday and most of the shops and businesses were closed, it was a nice, quiet day to see the city without being overwhelmed.

Our other experiences in Tanzania so far have been pretty low key, as we’re just slowly settling in.  Some nights we’ve been able to get out and check out a local restaurant or bar.  It’s been great to get to know my fellow volunteers and share many of the expectations we all have for the next year.  In a new culture it’s nice to have a good support system as you face many of the same challenges adjusting.

I know I’ve promised pictures, but since the internet connection is a bit slow where I am currently, it might take a while until I can get some good ones uploaded.  I promise they’ll be worth the wait.

For now, tutaonana!  Usiko mwema! (Goodbye!  Have a good night!)

Successful Arrival!

I finally arrived in Tanzania!  The trip started on Thursday morning, and after an early drive from CT with my family, I met up with my fellow volunteers (Abby, Alice, Becky, Duffie, Liz, Meghan and Tracy) at JFK airport and we headed for Tanzania via Dubai.  The flight was a bit long- 12 hours from NYC to Dubai, and another 5 hour flight from Dubai to Dar es Salaam (the city in Tanzania where we will be staying for the next couple of weeks for orientation).  At the airport we were greeted by Ashley, our field director, and headed to our hotel.  On the drive we got a first glance at the beautiful city of Dar.  The streets were filled with cars and people, the climate is quite comfortable (felt like a warm spring day in SoCal) and there are many beautiful lush green trees everywhere.  I am already starting to get a strong sense of excitement about my home for the next year.

Where we are staying is a relatively nice hotel, with electricity, running water, A/C and even some intermittent wi-fi internet!  As we checked in, we received our schedule for the next few weeks, and it certainly seems like it will be an intense orientation- filled with language training, teacher training and also just getting to know more about the way of life in Tanzania.  I’m really looking forward to getting started, even though I know it’ll be a bit overwhelming at times.  As for right now, I’m just looking forward to getting some solid rest to recover from the long trip.  I’ll try to get some pictures up in the next few days for everyone to see.

Departure nears...

Only a couple of more days left in the U.S. until I depart for Tanzania!  Right now I'm feeling a mix of many emotions including excitement, anxiety, trepidation and anticipation.  As I'm packing up for the year ahead and saying my goodbyes to friends and family, I can't help by think of the many things I will miss about life in the U.S. and yet eagerly imagine what my life in Africa will be like for the next year.

A few days ago I received an e-mail from Ashley, my field director, that described a little bit about what my placement will be like in Tanzania.  The school I will be teaching at will be the Mzumbe Secondary School, located 45 minutes outside of the nearest city of Morogoro.  As Ashley has described it to me, it is a beautiful, lush, and expansive location surrounded by the Uluguru Mountains.  The school itself ranks as one of the best secondary schools in Tanzania, with a student body of 689 male students and 38 teachers.  While it is a top school in the country with extremely motivated students, apparently the conditions are still poor.  There is no phone, fax, science lab or photocopy machine and only a few working computers- none of which have internet access (the nearest internet access is in downtown Morogoro).  From what she was told, there were Peace Corps volunteers at the school from 2003 to 2008 and the school is extremely excited to have a new volunteer there to teach English (especially one from California)!

As for my living conditions, I will be in a two bedroom house complete with a kitchen, living room and bathroom inside!  I was also told I would have running water and electricity (neither of which I was positive I would even have in my housing).  I will have to cook my own meals, but that's something that I'm actually looking forward to, and not anything unfamilar to my life in Los Angeles.

Overall, while I've had an open mind about what my placement and living conditions might be, I'm really quite excited about where I'm going to be teaching and living for the next year.  I know there will still be a number of challenges, but it does bring me a peace of mind to know a little bit about what I'll be facing once I arrive.  I truly can't wait to get there and get started, and also post some pictures and videos to share with everyone!

As the last couple of days before departure wind down, I can't help but feel a great deal of enthusiasm about the next year.  Right now I'm looking forward to meeting my fellow volunteers and starting my life as a teacher in Tanzania, even as I'm saying goodbye (temporarily) to my life in the U.S.

F.A.Qs

One of the fun and exciting parts of my preparation is getting to tell people about what I'm going to be doing in the coming year.  I love to share my knowledge and enthusiasm about the WorldTeach program, as well as information about Tanzania itself.  Since I get a lot of common questions asked, I thought it might be appropriate to compile a few of the frequently asked questions.  I should clarify, that these answers are based on the knowledge I have currently, and of course they'll most likely change as my trip commences.  I also urge you to take a look at the links on this page for more information on WorldTeach and on Tanzania.

Where is Tanzania located in Africa?
Tanzania is a country located on the mid-eastern coast of the African continent.  A basic map gives you a good idea of where on the continent the country is located.

What's the country like?
From my initial research, Tanzania has been known to be one of the more stable and peaceful countries on the continent.  It is known to be a major tourist destination, with many sites including the Serengeti National Park, various game reserves and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

What language is spoken in Tanzania?
The two official languages in Tanzania are Kiswahili (Swahili), and English.  Swahili is the more commonly used language, but English is language of business and education.

Are you going with a program?
I will be traveling to Tanzania through WorldTeach, and organization that sends volunteers of all backgrounds to various developing countries throughout the world to serve as teachers.  I'll be traveling with a group of about 6-7 other volunteers from other parts of the US.  For more information, please check out the excellent WorldTeach website, which can answer many more FAQs about the program.

What is your housing situation?
Largely TBD, along with my specific placement in Tanzania.  Once I get my specific placement information (where I'll be in the country, etc), I'll be sure to share it with everyone.  For housing, since I'll be working for the Ministry of Education, my accomodations will be provided by the Ministry and I'll most likely be in teacher housing, along with other teachers and volunteers.

What/who will you be teaching?
I will be teaching secondary level students (high school level) in Tanzania.  Since most primary education in Tanzania is free, and secondary education costs more money and is more of a financial hardship for most families, there is a need for more teachers at the secondary level.  As for the subject, I will be primarily teaching English, and possibly math and/or science as needed.

Will you be traveling/coming back to the US at all during the year?
I will have a couple of shorter breaks throughout the year (in Sept, and in March), as well as about a month off in Dec/Jan.  I do plan to travel while I'm there.  I hope to see Kilimanjaro, and see other parts of Tanzania and East Africa.  I don't plan on coming back to the US during my year there, since it's time consuming and expensive.  Plus, I really want to use my time off to travel as much as I can.

Are you going to the World Cup?
I've gotten asked this question quite a bit.  It's sad for me to admit that honestly I'm not that big of a soccer fan, but I'm hoping that will change since I'll be in a place where Soccer is so revered.  Also, since South Africa is very far away from Tanzania, and by the time I get there the World Cup will be half over, I won't be making it to any of the games.

If there are any other questions you'd like to have answered, please feel free to e-mail me or leave any in the comments.  I'd be thrilled to answer any and all questions and may have another similar post coming up in the weeks leading up to my departure.

See ya LAter!

I'm a couple of days late with this post, but of course I wanted to acknowledge a big step along the way of this journey.

On Tuesday morning, I departed LA to come back East until I leave for Tanzania in a few weeks.  While at this point I'm really only looking to the year ahead, and don't know where I'll be after the program finishes, I will truly miss Los Angeles and am so grateful for the 5 wonderful years I spent in the city.  As some have a more disparaging view of life in Los Angeles, I will always have a romantic view of the city and life in Southern California.  From the diverse arts and culture unmatched anywhere else in the country, the quirky craziness of working in and being surrounded by the entertainment industry, the weather that can't help but put you in a good mood on the worst of days, and the vast abundance of truly great areas all over the city from Downtown and Silver Lake to Santa Monica and Venice.  There really is so much to love about LA, and a lot I will miss.

Of course, what I will miss the most will be all of the incredible friends I have made over the past few years.  It was all of you who inspired and encouraged me to embark on this journey, and I truly share it with all of you.  But, as I've been saying (and I mean it), it's not goodbye, just "I'll see you later!"  SoCal and especially Los Angeles has captured too much of my heart for me to ever truly say goodbye.

Until later, LA.....

An Inspiration for Us All

Today I was fortunate enough to attend the Commencement services for the Harvard University graduating class of 2010, to support my brother-in-law, Bady Balde.  Please take a moment to read a great article about Bady's story, and how he went from a humble upbringing in Guinea in Africa to a graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University!  Check it out!


Congratulations to Bady!  You are truly an inspiration for me and for everyone!

It's Official!

Just got word of my official departure date- June 24th!


The countdown begins!

Not Too Late to Donate!

It's not too late to make a donation!  Donations will be accepted until May 15th.

If you are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution, it is very simple. To pay by major credit card or PayPal, please visit WORLDTEACH DONATIONS . Simply click Donate, and under the field labeled "Purpose" please enter "Matt Mills" to ensure that your donation is allocated to the appropriate program. Make sure to print your receipt for your personal records.