The End

Today is my last day in Tanzania. I can’t believe my time here is up already. I feel like the last 6 months went by so fast. My flight leaves at 11:30 tonight, and I get into Minnesota around 4:30pm on Monday.

Thanks for taking the time to ‘follow’ my blog everyone. I am looking forward to seeing all of you soon! I’ll leave you with the top 3 things I’m going to miss about living in Tanzania.

#3: The scenery: As much of a ‘hindrance’ as it is to live in a small, remote town, it is still absolutely amazing to be able to walk 5 minutes out of town and see nothing but beautiful landscape. I love being able to hike in the mountains around Sumbawanga. Within 2 hours you feel like you are on top of the world … and Sumbawanga is all you can see for miles and miles. The landscape and scenery is just breathtaking here in Sumbawanga – and everywhere in Tanzania.

#2: “Hanging-out:” I recently taught my friend from Iringia the American term “hanging out.” I described it as being able to just be with friends, sharing stories, eating and drinking …etc. During my time here I was able to spend a lot of time just hanging out (with students, other teachers, priests/monks, sisters, and friends). People here spend a lot for time just talking – no need to turn on the TV, no need to go out to dinner or go to a movie. They are perfectly content just sitting and talking. I love that. Why do we always feel like we have to be busy all the time? We’re either busy or we’re bored. Why is it so bad to just “be?” For example, the other day in Imiliwaha we started lunch at 1:00pm. We finished eating after 30 minutes, but ended up sitting at the table with a few sisters for over 2 hours just talking and drinking cup after cup of tea. We were in no rush – we just enjoyed each others company. It was wonderful. I am really going to miss just sitting and talking with all the people here.

#1: The people: This is such a broad topic, but it may be the most important. I could probably talk for hours about all the wonderful people I’ve met here. I could write pages and pages alone about the students. I am going to miss all the inside just I’ve made with the monks. I am going to miss being there for my students. I am going to miss the hospitality of the sisters of Imiliwaha. I am going to miss joking around with the teachers at my school. I am going to miss eating with 4-6 old priests at every meal. I get a horrible feeling when I think about how I don’t know when I’ll see these people next. But, as many Tanzanians say, I will be back someday “if God wishes.”