To Help, To Learn, To Thrive…and To Be Alone

I believe the best way to approach a period of volunteering is through the concept of to help and to learn. Whether you are volunteering at the house next door or half way around the world, to help and to learn allows you to thrive. 

Many people come into a volunteer experience with the thought of how they will change the lives of the people they will be serving. This is okay, but does not include a vital piece of the experience which is you, the volunteer. Will you help the people around you? Of course and that is the main goal (or at least should be). Whether it’s treating a case of malaria or just making a kids day by throwing the Frisbee around you are enriching their lives. 

However, we must not forget how they, the one’s we are serving, are enriching ours. We come to help and while helping we learn. We learn a lot. I have a number of life lessons from the people I have been serving so, in a way, they are serving me as well. It’s a two-way street; a continuous cycle of an exchange of smiles, laughs, lessons, language, ideas, thoughts, culture or just anything. We are changing each other’s lives for the better. I cannot think of anything cooler than that.

The experiences of teaching, visiting villager’s homes, working in the clinic, speaking Swahili on long walks or spending a day in Songea all teach you something and it would be a shame not to take these lessons and use them to make ourselves and the world around us better. This is why it is so important to pay close attention. Being allowed a glimpse into another’s life is a very interesting and neat experience, but, if you aren’t fully present, the experience may just slip by.

So, with the right mindset and by paying close attention you not only get to help, but you get to learn. As a result, we are allowed to thrive in a volunteer experience (and any other experience as well). 

I am now the king of the castle. Well, if you call being a volunteer a king and a small guesthouse in southern Tanzania a castle. I believe I am the only one that is occupying the little guesthouse right now.

Last year one of my psychology professors split our class into five groups of five students. Each group was assigned a book to read. One of the books was about love, another about mindset and mentality and the rest on research done in the field of psychology. A great assignment, I think. My group’s book was titled Loneliness. “Dude, what a depressing book,” “I wonder if you will become lonely just by reading that book” and “I’m glad I didn’t get assigned that book,” were many of the comments that followed from people outside my group. Though, the funny thing was, I wanted this book and was excited to be assigned it.

I wonder why ‘loneliness’ and ‘being alone’ always cause so much worry. Well, probably because of the whole ‘human beings are social animals’ thing and this idea that loneliness leads to depression and worse. Okay, so I understood the comments, but I laughed too. This is because here I was reading about research on loneliness while others who had never studied it commented on the topic as if they knew so much. They do say ignorance is bliss. 

Anyways, I am rambling. So, one, I found it funny to be reading a book titled Loneliness (especially in public) and, two, it was a topic I wanted to learn more about. I won’t bore you with everything I learned, but just mention one thing. Not everyone is the same! Ka-Boom! 

Wait, what? Yeah, everyone is different and one of these differences is the amount of social interaction one needs. I can’t think of the exact term used right now (the book is sitting on a shelf at my parent’s house in Lakeville, MN), but the book told stories of people who lived in rural Wyoming and urban New York. Some loved it and some needed change. Some people living in the city that never sleeps thought they wanted to be in the big city, but found that they enjoyed a more remote life.

The point I am trying to get at is that this idea that we need constant social interaction is a bit ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, some people do need and enjoy a lot of social interaction, but just because someone does not doesn’t make them strange. 

I heard someone once say “So you’re alone now so you must be lonely.” Being alone and the feeling of loneliness are two different things. Just because someone is alone doesn’t mean they suffer from what-can-be this painful feeling of loneliness. 

So, in the end, I probably have bored you. Sorry. I just find this topic fascinating in that it makes you think so much more about people and their differences, the feelings we all have and how we discuss them. A more in-depth look is always nice. 

I would say I am an extrovert, but alone time does not bother me. Being alone for several months can get a bit tiring, but that is where a strong mentality and mindset come in. I know, I know, you’re thinking “Oh Lord, please don’t get him started on another one of those psychology books.” Haha no worries, I will move on now.

For many of the people, though it’s mainly kids, the color of my skin is a fascination. A lack of exposure and education make it this way. I can’t blame them, though. I am sure I would be fascinated by a strange white guy walking through town if I were them. 

The reason I mention skin color again is because the experience of meeting and greeting these kids is a beautiful one. Some are intrigued, others captivated, more confused and some scared. I have experienced kids who laugh, cry, run away, or approach eagerly when I come close. I never know what is going to happen.

I do not know exactly what each is thinking, but I feel as if they must think my skin is different because it is white. I suppose for a four year old this is somewhat logical. So, when I extend my hand in greeting and they touch my white skin it is, for a lack of a better word,
beautiful. Their reaction is delight and amazement that our skin is no different after all. I feel the picture to the right highlights their reaction well.

Being the mzungu (white man) brings about a lot of attention and comments, both good and bad. This experience must be the best, though. 

The monastery uses a hydro pump in order to generate electricity. With so much rainfall the electricity has been fairly constant. However, the pump uses water from a nearby pond which tends to gather litter and mud quite easily. Therefore, they need to clean and remove that gunk from the pump and they have decided to do so this weekend. I am hoping I can complete this blog post before the electricity is cut. I think I will, though. The electricity should be back on by Monday or Tuesday I think.

Lots of work to clean the dam

As I was walking out of my class the other day one of my students yelled “Say hi to Obama for me!” I laughed. This comment is a common one. They think that because I live in America I know the president. If only. So, shout out to you, Mr. President. 

The situation in Burundi has escalated. The country that borders Tanzania is currently facing its worst turmoil since the 12-year civil war ended in 2005. The cause of unrest has come from Burundi’s current president wanting to run for a third-term. I suppose this is the problem a country faces when it elects a person who didn’t have much concern for human life when obtaining power. The same goes for when they want to cling to that power. 

Surrounding countries such as Uganda and Rwanda have presidents who have stayed in power for many years. I believe Uganda’s president has been in office for 35 years and Rwanda’s will be in office until 2035 (or sometime around then). Burundi president, President Nkurunziza, wants the same for himself and because of this the country is on the verge of another civil war. 

Now, I am happy with the American electoral system and the amount of time a president can remain in office. It seems to be good and that is obvious from looking at these other countries. However, from what I hear of the current candidates for president in 2016 we may need to reconsider some things. Of course, I am kidding, but our candidates have much to prove still.

At the hydro pump while rocking my Tanzanian pants

President Magufuli of Tanzania has proven to be a good leader thus far and may have a chance to prove his international presence with this new crisis in Burundi. Thousands of refugees have poured into Tanzania from Burundi and Tanzanian soldiers have been sent to Burundi (or at least the border) to try and help with the crisis. 

Other countries like Somalia have faced famine because of droughts. The lack of rainfall in many areas has caused millions to go without food or water. Even in places like Kenya and Tanzania there have been reports of food scarcity. This is because some parts of the country get lots of rainfall while others do not. From the looks of it, Songea is a part that receives lots. So, maize and other food has been brought by truck to parts like Arusha that have not received sufficient amounts to grow enough food.

To conclude, the Super Bowl is tomorrow! Man, I cannot believe I made it an entire year without the glorious National Football League. It will be hard to miss the big game, but knowing the season and agony of not being able to watch any football is over puts me at ease. I want Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos to end his career with a Super Bowl win. A great quarterback like him deserves that. However, if I am putting money on the game I would have to go with Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. We will see (or at least you will haha)! Enjoy the game, commercials and far-too-much queso dip, friends. 

I’ll see you next season, (American) football.

Thanks for reading!