“The eye that travels is the eye that sees”

It is Maasai tradition for the elder or leader of a tribe to leave his guests with a few wise words.  And this is just what Telipit Ole Saitoti – the author of The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior- did at the end of our visit to his village.  After reading his book, it was an incredible privilege to have the opportunity to meet this man.  In short- he grew up in a Maasai village near the Ngorogoro Crater and wrote of his youth in the village and the troubles he faced when going to school and in his decision to leave his home for Europe and then America.  He has since returned to his village where he has several wives and encourages all of children to go to school and travel.  His words are true- “The eye that travels is the eye that sees”.  We are blind if we only know of life on paper. 

After Visiting Saitoti’s village we went to the Ngorogoro Crater, which naturally consisted of breath-taking views, and of course ‘The Big Five’.

Driving through the crater at sunrise

Leaving the crater

It's a Big World After All

This incredible world we live in will never cease to amaze me. We are all so small yet each one of us can have as big of an impact on this world as we chose (for better or worse). 

Today I met a young girl named Hope.  She lives at The Cradle of Love – A baby orphanage that I will periodically volunteering at about 30 minutes outside of the city. When we walked in she came over and instantly put her arms out for me to hold her, she hugged me and talked to me as we walked around the building and proudly showed me a picture of herself on the wall.  I cannot wait to go back and see her as well as the 45 other children who, thanks to one inspiring woman named Devona, have a place to live.

Mzungu Wazimu (crazy white people)

A quick story:

I had a staring contest with a gecko/lizard (not completely sure which one, I was too busy to ask him) in the gazebo the other day.  I do not know who won - although I would argue it was me seeing as he was the first to scamper off.  Then I considered the possibility that the lizard/gecko was thinking what everyone else here laughs about-  ‘Mzungu Wazimu’.

We are crazy.  It seems our priorities got slightly distorted somehow and I cannot understand why.  Priorities are pretty clear here; in the midst of very little there can be happiness (one of the many reasons I love it here). I also love not know what time it is except for day or night, I love not knowing where I am going and when I will get there and I love not have a phone attached to my hand constantly fighting reality for my attention.  I think it is safe to say I have fully adjusted to ‘Africa Time’.

Thanks to this so-called ‘Africa Time’ on the way to our camel safari adventure our bus had to make a pit stop on the side of the road for a bit.  When we stopped a small boy came up to the bus and smiled, past him in an alley behind a few homes and some trees stood his older brothers.  We got out of the bus and hung out with these wonderful children for a while – this, along with riding a camel for the first time- made my day absolutely perfect. 

Little boy at our pit stop

The older brothers

Everyone, meet Herman

First week in Arusha

It has been about a week since I departed on a near 20 hour journey to Tanzania and it was well worth the travel time.  I love the city of Arusha, it is small but full of character.  The piki piki's (motorcycle cabs), however, might kill me...

Everything here is beautiful, particularly the rain.  After class today the sky opened and allowed everything to cool off.  My friend Innocent, who is from Arusha (and lives on a street that everyone around here calls the Bronx), told me that every time it rains and the sun is still shining, a baby lion is born. 

Out the window of the school house

My lovely friend Ida

The Rain