IAB! (Its Africa Baby!)

Its Africa Baby... a local man taught that saying to me and it pretty well sums up my last couple of days . So many crazy amazing things have happened already. I feel like Ive been here for a month because so much happens in a day!

Yesterday was absolutely crazy, we went to a blacksmith and they taught us how they made things and then we went to these caves that a tribe made to protect themselves from war a long time ago...the tribal people dressed up in their traditional clothing and started dancing for us but of course i just had to join in. It was such a cool unique culture. After that we went to the bottom of Mount Kilimanjaro and swam in the glacier waters of the mountain. I went through rapids and went to a waterfall. It was so ridiculously beautiful. First near death experience of the trip...we were driving back in a bus...and lets just say the way they drive in Tanzania is a tad more scary than in Canada...and i was sitting in a spot where i was at the back of the bus but there were no seats in front of me except the drivers seat. you probably know where this is going but i fell asleep..mouth open..drooling..it had been a long day...and suddenly the bus halted to a stop on the highway because an accident happened in front of our van and i literally flew from the back of the bus to the front. Everyone thought i was really hurt...but i just walked away with a headache and a sore back. oh well...hakuna Matata!


Today was amazing. we went to an orphanage and brought food, soap and games to the children. they were absolutely incredible. I wanted to adopt them all. When i was leaving they kept asking if i was coming back tomorrow and kept giving me hugs and i think my heart broke a bit...Im definitly going back there on my free time. There was a little girl who broke her flip flop on the side of the road so i stopped at a corner store and bought her a new pair..As soon as i handed them to her she had the biggest smile on her face...and it didnt go away for about ten minutes...she just held the new flip flops as tight as possible and kept smiling. Its moments like that that make me appreciate everything i have. If This little girl was so thankful and happy by a 1 dollar pair of flip flops then i should be more than thankful for everything i have been so blessed with too.

I can already feel this trip changing me...in the last 4 days I have seen things and met people that will stay with me for a long time. Its Africa Baby.

Lost luggage and new experiences.

Ok, I don't have much time but ill just recap my last couple days!

Travelling was an experience and  a half. I almost missed my flight from detroit to Amsterdam due to last minute gate changes and then I almost missed my flight to Amsterdam to Tanzania..and of course with my luck all my luggage didn't make it. But i was strangely ok with everything because its a new experience...and new experiences bad or good teach you lessons on life.

First day in Tanzania has been amazing. Ive already met new friends and experienced so much.

hakuna matata..it means no worries in swahili...they use it all the time because everyone here is so layed back and relaxed.

I don't know when ill be able to blog again..but i have to go eat...fingers crossed there is no seafood!

LOVE,

Monica!

Leaving in 5 hours and 28 minutes!

Hello everyone bored enough to read this blog!

First I would like to address how weird the word blog is! Blog..what is that?

But seriously. I am over tired and unable to sleep due to a fun mixture of excitement and nervousness! It hasn't really hit me that in 6 short hours I will be taking an over 24 hour flight to Tanzania all by myself.

Doing mission work in a third world country has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid and thanks to all my incredible friends, family and supporters my dream is finally coming true! It is mind blowing the amount of support, kindness and love I have gotten from everyone I have told about my mission! Yay for beautiful people!

For those of you who don't know much about my trip, I will fill you in! I will be in Tanzania for a little more than 3 months working with children and infants! I will be teaching them English, sports and different skills and activities. Fun stuff right?

I will hopefully have internet up there once in awhile so i can continue to update my blog..hopefully at least a couple people are reading this..if not that would just be sad!

Ok I should probably go to bed...I have a fun day filled with airplane transfers and sad goodbyes ahead of me! But really, I am excited for all that stuff! Its all part of the experience.

Sometimes people need to get thrown out of their comfort zones. That's when you truly grow.

Love you all! Next time I post I will be in Tanzania...woah. craazzyyy. Here I come giraffes and lovely people who don't speak English!