Departure Day

I am Tanzania-bound today... The support from everyone has been overwhelming, from family to friends to colleagues to people I don't even know. Incredible. I thank all of you for fueling my enthusiasm. The only thing I'm nervous about is forgetting something, which is no stretch. I'm effortfully converting scatter-brained Amanda into organized and prepared Amanda, if only temporarily. Has to be done. It's for a good cause.

My volunteer placement is at Kitumusote Maasai NGO. Their mission is to ensure the sustainability of the Maasai people's way of life through facilitating women's empowerment and educational opportunities, conserving indigenous resources, and creating environmental awareness. I'm thrilled with this assignment. I re-read "The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior" by Tepilit Ole Saitoti to acquaint myself with the Maasai culture. In short, it's the autobiographical story of a Maasai boy who becomes educated at Harvard among other institutions, and returns to his family. I read it in college and find it just as fascinating now as I did then, only this time I get to make a personal connection with that culture.

Here's the hotel in Arusha where I'll stay tomorrow night before going to the volunteer home base Saturday. http://www.chez.com/jacaranda/ Something about it appealed to me. Not sure if I should be concerned about what is (or isn't) outside the frame of the bathroom photo, but I'm pleased to see toilet paper.

Thank you again, and off I go...