Let the 10 Day Countdown Begin!

Holy Moly!

I cannot believe how quickly the last four and a half months have gone by.  It feels like it was yesterday that I got a phone call offering me a spot on the volunteer project with YCI heading to Tanzania!  In 10 days I'll be saying 'peace out Canada' and 'pleased to make your acquaintance Tanzania'.

That being said, I still have a tonne of running around and small things left to do before I can go!  I better head out and chip away at my to do list!

-Matt

My Packing List

So with only a few days left before my departure I have SERIOUSLY started packing and gathering the things I'm going to need.  I'm not entirely sure if I'll be able to fit it all in my bags!

The two backpacks I'm bringing.

Clothing:

• Two button down t-shirts
• Three long sleeve button down shirts
• Five extra t-shirts
• Three pairs of shorts
• One pair of soccer shorts
• Bathing suit
• Pajama pants
• Four pairs of socks
• Eight pairs of underwear
• Rain coat
• Hoodie
• Running shoes
• Sandals

Toiletries and Medicine:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Roll-on deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Electric Razor
• Thermometer
• Chap stick
• Anti-malarials
• Emergency anti-malarials
• Emergency broad spectrum antibiotics
• Tylenol
• Benadryl
• Anti-nauseants
• Imodium
• Laxative
• Pepto-bismol
• Hand sanitizer
• Bug spray (with deet)
• Sunscreen
• Polysporin
• Bactine
• Emergency electrolytes
• Iodine pills
• Multivitamins

Gear:

• Water bottle
• Mosquito net
• Buff
• Travel towel
• Travel sheet
• Travel pillow
• Multi-tool
• Headlamp
• Money belt
• Sunglasses

Important Forms:

• Photocopies of: passport, vaccination records, embassy information
• Kiswahili phrases
• Arusha Orientation Guide
• Medicine information

Extras:

• Novel (A Game of Thrones)
• Swahili phrase book
• Journal

The Excitement is Building

With less than three weeks left before Jessie and I will board a plane that will take us half way around the world, I'm starting to feel the pressure!  Its an interesting mix between feeling nervous and excited as well as stressed out.  The only major thing that I have left to do before leaving is to pack!  My good friend Craig lent me his camping knapsack.  The knapsack is huge and while I am still taking my own smaller knapsack, I'm not sure I'll be able to fit everything!  I'll have to do a few practice packs in the upcoming weeks to see what does and doesn't make the cut!
Yesterday I had a chance to chat with Jessie via skype, and I was really glad that we did!  It totally calmed me down and reminded me how excited I am to go.  I was beginning to feel nervous, worried I would just be home sick and not fit in or not enjoy myself for 6 weeks.  Jessie was having similar feelings, so its nice to know that I'm not alone in feeling like this and also nice to know that I'll have Jessie and two other volunteers to be friends with!Tomorrow we have a teleconference booked where I will officially 'meet' Sureet and Marilyn, and I'm pretty excited for that!

Well this is a terribly scattered  post, but I just thought I'd update anyone who is still reading this and to let everyone know that I'm still feeling really excited! 

-Matt

The Umoja Centre

Hey Friends!

So I had a little time this afternoon and thought I'd write up a quick blurb about where I will be volunteering this summer.  From what I understand, for the majority of the six week project, the four of us will be spending our time working at and with the Umoja Centre.  

The Umoja Centre was started in 2009 by Caroline Goody and Emma Wagner.  Together, they developed a centre which aims at filling a gap in the education system for young people, who have received only minimal educations and aspire to something more.

The Umoja Centre offers a year long course (to about 40 students a year) which enables these youth to learn vital skills as well as expand their knowledge on issues that affect them and issues that affect the world.  Some of the classes offered are in English, Computing and IT, Personal Development, Civics, Business Studies and Careers.

I'm not entirely sure where my skills will be most useful, but I'm hoping that I'll have some opportunity to use my science background and teach some science!

Below are some pictures which I have taken from various websites which describe the Umoja Centre, I've attached links to all of these websites at the bottom of this post.

The Computer Lab

Lots of Smiles

A Full Computer Lab

Lunch is Served

English Class

That's everything that I've learned about the Umoja Centre, and while it they accept all sorts of donations, it seems like there is no shortage of smiles.  I cannot wait for my visit and to meet the students and staff!

For more information visit the following links on The Umoja Centre:

The Official Umoja Centre Website: http://umoja.com.au/joomla

Their Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Umoja-Centre/197123910307909

Their Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=45406115448

Introducing the T11-6A Volunteers

Hello Everyone!

So with just barely a month left until departure I would just like to introduce the other members of my volunteer team.  The Youth Challenge International has put a team of four of us together to work for six weeks in Arusha.

So here they are:

Jessie

Jessie and I on Halloween. We went as Woody and Jessie from Toy Story.

Jessie is a good friend of mine, and a recent graduate of the University of Guelph.  Jessie is from Owen Sound, Ontario, has lived in Nunavut and a few years ago volunteered in Belize!  Jessie loves to cook and bake, play and watch baseball and gets INCREDIBLY competitive in Wii sports and Fruit Ninja.  It has been a dream of Jessie's to practice medicine in Africa and she has just recently been accepted to the University of Western Ontario's School of Medicine!  

Sureet

Sureet is from Vancouver, BC and is a student at Simon Fraser University, studying History and Gender Studies.  After her undergrad, Sureet would like to work towards a Bachelor of Education and work as an elementary school teacher, working in Canada's northern Aboriginal regions.  Sureet is an experienced traveller having visited India, Panama, Singapore and England.  This is her first trip to Africa!  Sureet likes watching TV and movies, playing video games and baking.

Marilyn

Marilyn is the youngest member of the volunteer team and is currently going to high school in Toronto.  Marilyn is a fan of movies from the 1950s-1990s, enjoys American football and LOVES Greek food.  Marilyn is quite excited about this trip to Tanzania, and might be brave and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro after the project and visit Rwanda!

So there you have it, the T11-6A team members!  I haven't met Sureet or Marilyn, but I'm quite excited to meet, travel and work with them!!

Tanzania on My Mind

Jambo!

It is one of the most beautiful afternoons that we have seen so far this year.  Its sunny and warm with a refreshing breeze blowing every now and then.  While I'm sipping on a deliciously cool beer in the campus pub 'working' on a manuscript, I cannot help but day dream about Tanzania.  

I've had a busy few weeks, and as things have really begun to slow down I find myself day dreaming about Tanzania more and more.  Even though most of my major preparations have been taken care of,   I still have about 1 million things left to do before going (last few vaccinations, packing, learn Swahili).

There are only 37 days left until departure, so I need to get my act together and start making better preparations!

I'm so so SO excited and I cannot believe how fast these last couple of months have flown by!  

Well I'm off to enjoy my beer and work on this manuscript I little bit more this afternoon!  

Until next time!

-Matt