The Zanzibar Zoo

Apart of my teaching internship at the International Muslim English Speaking School is getting to go on field trips. I love the field trips because I not only get to see more of Zanzibar, but I also get to spend more quality time outside the classroom with the students. This week, we took a day trip to the zoo. Now, I've been to the zoo before, but this was definitely a different experience. I got to see animals that I have only seen in movies! I saw hyenas and vultures. 

The kids really enjoyed the field trip because they got to take a day off from learning in the classroom. Even though they had to take notes and write a report in English, they were still really excited about the opportunity to go to the zoo. Most of these kids, although they live near fun attractions, never get a chance to actually go. Even the teacher who accompanied me told me that she lived 5 minutes away from the zoo but has never been to a zoo before. I'm glad I get to share this experience with the kids and the teachers. I'm showing them that learning English can be fun, inside and outside the classroom!

Take a picture it will last longer

I might be on a mission but it's okay to step back sometimes and just enjoy this beautiful country. 

The little things

Before I got here, I said that I hope to have a different understanding of the world. I knew it would happen, I just didn't expect it to happen so soon. Ever since being here, I realize how truly privilege I am. I am so thankful for everything I have, especially my family. I truly relize how lucky I am for the life I live in the United States. I can say that this sometimes makes me nostaligic for Washington D.C. 

Just being here for two weeks has made me thankful for little things we in developed countries take for granted. I feel like it's thanksgiving everyday because I find myself giving thanks for everything I have in Zanzibar and back home.

When you go to the bathroom in the United States, you just expect to have a western style toilet and you don't think twice about having toilet paper. The first time I went to the bathroom at my school, I found a hole in the ground and no toilet paper. I was very shocked, it hit me that not everybody has a flushing toilet or even running water for that matter. I can truly say, I am very thankful for the life I live. I will never take the little things for granted again. 

But you know, not everything that is different here is bad. Being without wifi, my laptop, and Iphone has also slowed down my pace of life. I truly am able to enjoy the company of my roommates and also truly take in everything around me. I didn't realize how plugged in I was. Looking back, I was truly addicted to technology, I don't know how I enjoyed the little things in life. For example, since none of us have our iPhones or constant connection to the internet, we sit around and actually talk and get to know each other. I think my generation has lost the ability to carry on conversations face-to-face. This trip is helping me apreciate the little things. 

Fitting In.

I've been in Zanzibar for about two weeks now, and I have to say, I think I am really starting to fit in. I have been transformed into a true Zanzibarian women. It's interesting for me to get both perspectives of being a local and a tourist. I not only have been given a headscarf to wear to school, but I also had the chance to get henna on my hands. 

I am treated completely different when I wear my headscarf to school, than when I am out with my friends. No one usually talks to me when I am walking to school with the exception of the friendly people who say hello, here and there. When I am out with my friends and I don't have a headscarf on, I can barely walk out of my front door without someone trying to sell me something. It is completely different, like living in two differnt worlds. 

It's very interesting seeing people's reaction when they find out I am not in fact from Zanzibar, instead I am a "Mzungu" or an American. My Swahili really helps, so I get better deals when I am out the market. I also am able to tell the locals that my friends and I live here, so they shouldn't haggle us all the time; they react better when I speak Swahili. I think this also helps America's Unofficial Ambassador's mission with dispelling steorotypes. When people find out I am American, they are surprised, but yet pleased. They seemed pleased enough that an American is really trying to learn the culture and the language,  It opens up discussions with locals and even my co-workers about America and the outside world. I'm glad I can start to change people's perspective on Americans here. They are starting to see that being an American doesn't mean being White. Americans are people from differnt races, religions, and cultures!

Here is my transformation! 

I went from being an American tourist to a true Zanzibarian! 









   

~*~ DREAMING- the before post ~*~

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."

In the beginning of the school year, I just knew I was going to get a political internship this summer- there was no question about it. In November, I applied for an internship in DC and after a couple of month, I got it. I knew that's what I would be doing this summer, it was final. But then, one day I was at school and saw a poster for internships abroad, I didn't think anything of it after that. Then my friend asked me to come with her to the meeting, so I did. Everything fell into place and Lets just say, the rest is history. 

Governor O'Malley and I

Sometimes we think we know what to expect, and what will happen, but in reality we don't. Life is full of surprises and adventures, and it's up to us to explore them. That's the mindset and belief I am taking with me to Zanzibar. 

I am counting down the days 
until I leave for Zanzibar (5 days to be exact) and I have never been so excited and nervous at the same time. I'm excited to finally make my dream of traveling abroad come true. I have traveled out of the country before, but never alone. This makes me excited and nervous at the same time. I think it will be hard at first to adjust to the Zanzibraian life style, but I know that it will happen. I want to absorb everything about the culture and people. My goal for myself is to come back a different person. I know everyone says after your travel you come back a different person, but I am determined to have a life changing experience that I will value for the rest of my life.

In Zanzibar, I will be interning at the International English School, teaching kids 12-16 years old. I am really excited to not only teach but learn from the students. I can't wait to open a new page in my book, to explore, learn, and make a difference. 

                       Stay tuned to see what I Explore!