Sunday started out pretty slow but ended up quite unexpectedly!

So I woke up and started unpacking. I had to change my bed around (I cannot sleep with my feet facing away from the door. Blame it on my superstitious mother!). Then Sheena my roommate woke up. She made a pretty light breakfast. (Tea and bread).

But I learned a lot about her over breakfast. She is 29. She was raised Muslim, but converted to Christianity about two year ago. She likes to watch these televangelist shows where people come with diseases or demons and then the preacher touches them and they are cured. Seems a bit dramatic for my tastes, but who am I to judge? (I mean at the point at which I openly admit to believing that not only was a man born of a virgin but he also walked on water AND died and rose again in 3 days, I can't really go around saying what isn't fantastical, can I?). But I digress...

We bonded pretty quickly over breakfast. Mostly over how not matter if it is America or Tanzania, Black men are all the same! She had some pretty hilarious stories.

We were supposed to go to Church (which I was really excited about!) but the timing didn't work out. She said we would definitely go next week. She also said she would take me to a place where I could by a Kiswahili Bible (yay!). So I finished unpacking, took a shower, washed my hair and chilled. She was nice enough to let me us an extra phone she had (which was great because me and Saidi's efforts yesterday proved unsuccessful.).

Around 3pm we left for lunch. We went to this place called Sine Club. It was great because it was a restaurant on the beach, so it was right on the water and the floor was sand.

We met her "friend" Dr. Lover (obviously not his real name but he is actually an important figure in Tanzania so that is what we will call him for the sake of this blog). As his name suggests, he is a doctor. He was pretty nice but we only exchanged a few words. He was more into Sheena, so I just minded my own business and listened to the live music.

When I ordered water to drink, he and Sheena gave me a look like I had a third head. Then, he tactfully asked "You don't drink?". This kind of surprised me since (1) anyone who knows me knows the answer to that question and (2) it was sunday.

I saw he ordered a vodka and red bull and Sheena had a gin and tonic. When the waiter came around for the second round, he asked me what I would like. I hesitated for a moment, then ordered a Rum and Coke, (When in Rome, right? Plus, it's my 20's!)

We were actually there for quite a bit of time. Dr. Lover was pretty consistent with the drinks -which wasnt a problem because they weren't very strong. By 8pm or so, we decided to head out.

Sheena and I went with her cousin-in-law, John, who she calls her Kaka (brother) to this other place called George and the Dragon to meet some of John's friends. On the way, John, who is a Chemical Engineer, explained how he can never leave Tanzania because he has too many friends in importants places. One of his friends is the CEO of a bank here, the other one is a government Minister, etc. Meanwhile, I am thinking what in the world am I gonna have to speak to these men about?

Soon after we arrived, that question was quickly answered.

Given these people's position, I was expecting some elaborated establishment. But it was just a bar. All of John's friends were really nice. (Some might even say a bit too nice!)

I am sure I my wide-eyed expression and broken Kiswahili instantly marked me as fresh meat to this old men.

Luckily, Sheena's cousin, Jamal, was also there. He was really nice and very helpful. I somewhat stuck to him most of the night. He was pretty funny and had this great British accent! Apparently, he went to boarding school in the UK. He even lived in New York for a bit, so we talked about that. Now he works as a Civil Engineer. Did I mention he was also a Mac lover?! (When I heard that last part I was sold!)

Anyways, at some point, I made the mistake of admitting that I love Tequila (which I do). After Bariki (the bank CEO) heard this he kept trying to order me more tequila shots. Luckily, (1) the shots here are half the size of the ones in the States and (2) after the 3rd Jamal assisted me in saying No, Thank You.

After we all left there, we went to this placed called Anna's. They had great live music. I danced a bit with Jamal and then we all had to go. We did have work in the morning after all. So Jamal drove Sheena and I home, since he lives by us.

Summer Romance Alert

Ok. I will be real. I did like Jamal. He was nice and SO funny (which is really the key to my heart). But most importantly, he was such a gentleman. The British accent was just a cherry on top of it all. So I am not gonna lie to you, America. I did give him my number and there was a small peck goodnight. Very innocent. Very PG-13.

That is all. He is leaving for London in like 2-3 weeks, so we will see what happens...

In all, not a typical Sunday, but definitely full of surprises.

All in all, i would rate my first weekend in Tanzania 8.5 on a scale of 10.

Saturday I woke up and still felt sick. In fact, I felt worse. But I had resolved that I would not panic. So I ate some more oranges and had a hearty breakfast. I really should have just slept, but I had to move to my new house that day so I couldn’t.

Saidi (the CARE driver) came to pick me up to go to where I will be staying for the remainder of my time in Dar Es Salaam. Having seen the house and knowing I would have a roommate (which my mind translated to friend!), I was pretty excited. Plus, she spoke English! Yay!!!

But she called and said she had an emergency so we wouldn’t be able to move in until 7pm.

So Saidi suggested he show me around the city and I gladly accepted. We went to the Kariakoo (this huge Market). It was almost overwhelming! So many people, products, and smells (good and bad!).

After the Kariakoo, we went to Coco Beach –which is the beach where all the locals in Dar go. Saidi explained how the beach was segregated with one part used mostly by Black people and the other part used mostly by Indians.

Then we had lunch. Saidi tried to teach me the ins and out of eating with your hands (mainly your right). It is definitely a learned skill, but I am doing ok. The food was delicious. I had this great spicy chicken and rice with some fresh fruit for dessert. I felt so much better after lunch!

After Coco Beach we went to Slipway. That was nice because they had a lot of nice goods for a relatively cheap price. It was also right on the water and had a beautiful view! The only problem was I was losing the battle against the sickness and I felt it. My throat was getting worse and now I had a bit of a fever.

Before Saidi finally dropped me off at my house, I bought a lot of orange juice. (I am a firm believer in sleep and vitamin C!) When Saidi dropped me off, Sheena (my roommate) wasn’t there, so I just made myself at home. I drank two glasses of orange juice and took two more Ibuprofen and fell asleep watching the movie Not Easily Broken (which I bought for $3 and was pretty good, btw!).

So, as you can see, Saturday there was nothing too crazy. Saw some sights. Explored a bit. Nothing too elaborate. Besides the continuing battle against whatever sickness is inside of me.

This is the first time I ever wanted to have the flu!

Pictures!

In the downtown area, called City Center.

View of the dock at the Slipway

Saidi on the dock at the Slipway

View from the dock of the Slipway

This adorable little girl playing in the Sand at Slipway!

Day 4

Thursday was my favorite day in Dar Es Salaam thus far!

I rode Paul's bike to work in the morning, so I arrived at work in a good mood.

Then, we went into the field to get more goods from women in the program. We went to the house of one woman who is a leader in her local group. It was amazing! She had so many orange trees and other fruits and veggies growing on her property. We ate fresh oranges for at least an hour straight! I also had these fresh cucumbers with salt. Delicious!

It was nice to just sit in the sun and talk (more listening for me!). She had such a welcoming and open spirit! There was a point when I was eating when I was almost drawn to tears I was so happy. (But I had to pull it together quick!)

Day 5

Day 5 was relatively slow. Rode my bike again but I stayed in the office. Laid out a timeline for my work here. Nothing much really. The highlight was this handmade skirt and blouse I brought from one of the ladies in the WAGE program. It was only $13! The blouse doesn’t quite accommodate everything I am working with, but the skirt is beautiful!

It was not until I got home that I felt IT. The scratch in my throat. Immediately I knew what that was about. I was getting sick. At first, I panicked. Because the tricky thing about flu-like symptoms is they could be ANYTHING. It seemed like every single disease on Web MD had flu-like symptoms in the description. Malaria, Swine Flu, Deng Fever, and of course the regular flu!

Then, after I calmed myself down (and checked my insurance coverage), I loaded up on vitamin C (lots of oranges), made myself some tea, took two Ibuprofen (the only thing I had besides motion sickness pills and Malaria medication), and went to sleep.

So ladies and gents, there you have my first week of work in Tanzania! If all the weeks are this great this trip will officially be the best trip EVER!

Now for the weekend…

Stay tuned.

~tiffany

Postcards and Letters

I am pretty behind on my postcard and letter writing, so i will not give and update. But as soon as i get caught up I will be sure to post an update!

Also, if Natalie Renee Davis and Glenda Nicole Smiley could give me their addresses that would be great!

Shout Outs
Shout out to all my friends in their respective TFA summer institutes! Like the saying goes, "When you are going through HELL, Keep Going!" I am glad that you guys are Teaching for America. With you all in front of the classroom, America might finally learn something... =)

To Saffiyah M. I will be in New Orleans in February for Mardis Gras. You already know you are at the top of my list of people to see!

To Sarah B. Thanks for the encouraging email! Also, I definitely wanna see you in August when I am in NYC. Gotta maintain my position on your coattails.

And finally Shout Out to one of (S)heroes, my soror Pamela D. Jackson for winning Advisor of the Year. Pam is ending her tenure as our chapter advisor, but I hope she will stay on as a member of my Board of Directors (the groups of people who I run all major decisons in my life by). Pam definitely deserved the award. She is a great adviser and truly models what it means to be excellent.

ok. folks. more to come. bear with me. the internet here is not so great but I am trying to make it happen.

Today was a kind of difficult day in certain ways. As my friends can attest to, I am someone who likes loves to talk. So not being able to fully convey the range of my feelings, emotions, and desires is somewhat difficult for me.These simple phrases have got to go! ("I would like to eat" or "I do not want to go there" are not sexy)

In an effort to help me learn, the people around me have decided upon a no hands holding approach, i.e. All Kiswahili, All the Time. Of course, when they want me to do something or have a question for me they will slow down and tell me the English if I really do not know. But, in general, when we are on our way to a place, they are speaking in their normal Kiswahili ( which is very difficult for me to understand, but I do get snatches).

Truly the worst part is that I know they are having some good (read: Juicy) conversation! I just want so badly to understand all of it! These are some of the snatchs I have been able to pick up on.

"She [her aunt] needs to take care of her own kids and not just have my father do it!"

"She has gained some weight!"

"He wants to get married, but..."

The above is all paraphrased, but you get the idea. Today, there was so much laughter around me but I did not know the joke! For me this is absolute torture. It is like putting someone who loves food (but can only drink liquids at the time) at an all you can eat buffet. You know all I wanna do it stuff my face! But, alas, I cannot...

But I am being a good sport about all of it. My Kiswahili is getting better with the day, so I hope by the end I will be able to partake in some of the buffet. Even if only a taste. Maybe

But speaking of food. I love the food here! I should restate that.

THE FOOD HERE MAKES MY SOUL SMILE! Especially the fried chicken! (yep. I said it!)

OMG. There is also this banana dish (not sweet) that I like a lot. Oh and the salad. And the rice....and the fruit! As you can see, I was really talking about myself in the buffet example above! =)

We finished early today since there was not much to do. And to brighten my spirits I took one of Paul's extra bikes out for a ride around the city. (Apparently, Paul is really into cycling! Serendipity) Initially, I was nervous because the roads here are not in the best condition, but my as I took off from his house all my fears were put to rest.

I absolutely love cycling through Dar Es Salaam. The city is actually pretty bike friendly -especially for riders who are not afraid to be a little aggressive. I rode my bike to this place called Shopper's Plaza. It is pretty much a mini-mall with a lot of the same stores you would find in the states. I found this great book store called A Novel Idea (which was great because going there was on my list of things to do while here). I was also able to get some pictures printed and take some good shots of the city.

Being able to ride a bike really brightened my mood! I am gonna look into the price of a used one. I think it would be a great investment for me!

Today we really hit the ground running! I got into the office at 8:15am and we were in the field by 9:30am! We went to three districts in Dar Es Salaam. Makuburi, Kibutanesco, and Mburahati. Anna and Aneja went to collect the goods that the women in WAGE program had made, so that they could sell them at Saba Saba (International Trade Fair).

On the whole, it was a great experience! Anna had me introduce myself (in Kiswahili) to each group of women we met. They were all happy to hear that I had studied Kiswahili in school. A few of the older ladies even tried to help me improve my Kiswahili. I suppose after hearing me speak, they just took pity on me. Anna told me later that it really makes people happy that I am trying to learn their native tongue, instead of speaking English or relying on the same tired old Swahili phrases (i.e. "Jambo" ). That was good to hear. Now, if I can just get my language skills beyond that of a pre-schooler...

We were out all day and did not sit down to eat until 4:30pm. But honestly the time really flew by, so I thought it was only Noon. It was not until I got back to the house that I realized how exhausted I was! Still, it was a great day! I even got to conduct a small interview with a woman who learns an entreneurship workshop in her community! She started her own small business through CARE's Village Savings and Loan program.

Well, that is about it for today. But here are some Pictures!

To view all the pictures I took, you can go to my Picasa Album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tiffany.n.dockery/Tanzania062309#

Shout outs:

My mom got her very first email address so we can stay in contact! Big ups for that! Also, shout out to my neos, Akosua and Sarah for the emails! And my one and only little Spec, Erica Bianca Doe! Can't wait to see you guys in August! And a certain young woman sent me an email written partly in Kiswahili even though she does not speak the language. I really appreciated the kind gesture!

Letters and Postcards!

Putting in the Mail Today:

• Pam Jackson
• Amy Duffuor
• Akosua Amanfo Oforiwaa-Ayim
• Tiffany Stewart
• Juell Stewart
• Marcia Sells

Currently working on:

• Stephanie Loius-Charles
• Sara Vogel
• Erica Doe

You too can make the list if you send your mailing address to me! tiffany.n.dockery@gmail.com

Tutuonana!
~tiffany

So we landed in the Dar es Salaam airport at 10:00pm on Sunday night, spent about an hour in customs, and then met Saidi, the driver sent from CARE. He was very nice and helpful, despite th fact that he had been waiting for more than an hour outside. After attempting some basic conversation with him, it was clear to me then that my Swahili was far better than I had given myself credit for, but still MILES away from even THINKING about fluency. Still, the people here are just happy that you are trying to learn, since most of the foreigners do not even do that much.

Saidi drove Fatima and I to the country director, Paul Barker's house. We will be staying with him until they have our long term living arrangements set up. His house is very nice (which I expected since he is the top ranking executive in the CARE Tanzania office).The most exciting part about staying with Paul is that he HAS WIRELESS!! Those who know me, know this made me almost pee my pants! For me, the most terrifying part of coming here was not the threat of contracting something like malaria or yellow fever or being robbed. What REALLY sent shivers through me was the possibility that I might not have the internet! So with that fear put to rest, I knew this trip was going to be just fine!

And I was right!

The next day, they put us straight to work. We got in at 10:00pm (saa nne usiko in Kiswahili) and by 9:00am (saa tatu asubuhi in Kiswahili) the next morning we were at the CARE office.

Day 1

So apparently there are two CARE offices in Dar es Salaam. First, we went to the main office where Paul works, although I will be working in the other office. Paul's wife, Nora, dropped us off, before she went to a very important meeting. As she was leaving, Paul casually mentioned that I will be working with Joyce Kulwah and, in trying to remember if Joyce was who she thought she was, Nora made a gesture as if to say "Big Joyce?". To which Paul replied (trying to be as PC as he could be), "Yes, she is a larger woman..". And Nora goes "Ah! She is quite the personality.". It wasn't clear to me exactly how she meant this, but at this point, all I could do was say a small prayer. "Dear Heavenly Father, Please bless me by giving this woman as my Boss and please let her be as great as it sounds like she is from these roundabout comments. Amen." So Paul calls Joyce to come and meet me and she says she will be right over. While we wait for her, we meet at the people in the office.

The people were all incredibly nice. Very welcoming. They also make me feel good about my Kiswahili -as broken down as it is. Although I am sure the fact that Paul (the Country Director) introduced us definitely was in factor in our interactions. Whenever we entered a room, you could feel the dynamic shift. Usually people would be casually talking or going over something, then when Paul would walk in the air would get just a tad more serious and formal. It made me laugh on the inside just a bit. Usually the interaction would play out like this.

We walk in. People sit up a little straighter and become a little more serious. Paul introduces us. We say hello. I speak a bit of basic kiswahili and they seem genuinely impressed. (I have a very small moment of ego tripping until thay try to say something more complicated to me. At which point, I say either "sifahamu" or "sema tena tafadhali pole pole" which means "I do not understand" and " Could you please repeat that slowly"). Then Paul will make some type of joke and there will be that somewhat fake laugh people always do when their boss tells them a joke. And then we leave.

About 30-45 minutes later, Paul had introduced us to everyone but Joyce was still not there. Paul was a bit puzzle because the other office is 10 minutes away and Joyce said she would be right there. I, on the other hand, was thinking to myself "I think Joyce and I are gonna work really well together". Anyone who has ever tried to meet me at a certain time, knows exactly why! = )

So finally Joyce comes. We walk outside and when she sees me, she goes, "Tiffany?" and I reply "Ndiyo (yes)". Then, she RUNS TO ME AND GIVES ME ONE OF THE BEST HUGS I HAVE HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME! It was like a reunion! Even as i am typing it, I cannot help but to smile.

When we finally release from our hug, she remarks "Nilifikiri ulikuwa mzungu" which means "I thought you were a white person". I could not help but to burst out laughing at this! I told her "Hapana", which means "No". She said it was because of my name and gives me another hug. At this point, in my mind, I cannot help but say "Thank You, God!". She was also excited that I had a basic understanding of Kiswahili.

She asks Paul if she can take me to the Kinondoni office, but he says I have to go look at a house with Saidi now, but he will have Saidi drop me off afterwards.

The house we saw was GREAT! It was very big and clean. It had a HUGE TV in the living room and my room was pretty sizable. The woman I would be living with was fairly young and said she would she me what there is to do around there. It was also right by the beach! Although I told Saidi I would like to see another option (just so I would have something to compare it to), I was pretty much sold.

When we finally reached the Kinondoni office, where I will be working, I met some of the women in the WAGE program. They had made different crafts that they would be selling at Saba Saba (Intenational Trade Fair). WAGE assists then women in selling their goods and also trains women in the community to teacher other women about entreprenuership. I brought this great necklace made out of watermelon seeds.

Later, I met with Joyce about what I will be doing. I have basically three seperate projects and will be spread across three different offices throughout Tanzania.

• Create 10 human interest stories and 5 write-ups about the IGAs (Income Generating Activities) of women in the WAGE Kinondoni program.
• Create a newletter with the staff in the Kahama office and then train 2-3 people there about how they can do the same thing
• Create a brochure for the WAGE Kinondoni program

I am also supposed to be doing some work for the office in Mwanza but it is not clear to me what exactly I will be doing...

This seems like a lot for only 8 weeks, but I am confident I can get it all done. Also, Joyce told me I would be going into the field tomorrow with Anna to talk to some women in the WAGE Program. Not a minute wasted.

By that time is was 5:00pm, so a driver came and picked me up and took me back to Paul's house. At which point, I promptly passed out for 6 hours!

Also, shout out to my Sorors Princess and Donna for their encouraging words about the blog.

Letters and postcards in the mail as of today

• Evelyn Addo-Wallace
• Daphne Larose
• Bettina Lee

Letters and postcards I am currently working on

• Pam Jackson
• Stephanie Louis-Charles
• Amy Duffuor
• Marcia Sells
• Sara Vogel

You too can make the list if you send your mailing address to me! tiffany.n.dockery@gmail.com

I usually like to include pictures but have none really to include as of yet. More to come.

Now for 20 hours of Travel to Tanzania.

Today was a fairly light day. We watched A Powerful Noise. A movie about three women across the world and how they have become agents of change in their respective communities.

First, there was a Serbian woman, named Nada Markovic, who is organizing women in her community by establishing a co-op.

Then, there was a Vietnamese woman named Bui My Hanh. She is an HIV positive woman whose husband and child died of AIDS. To help other women protect themselves against HIV, she started the group, Hoa Bat Tu (Immortal Flower).

Finally, there was Jacqueline Dembele from Mali. She is called Madame Urbain by people in her local community. She started an organization called APAF which works to prevent the exploitation of young women who must travel to the city of Bamako to work. It also provides girls a basic education, teaches them vocational skills, and places them in good jobs to earn money.

The film was very touching. The word inspiring does not even do it justice. It reminds me of this great quote by Helen Keller.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

Good Morning Lord By Ernest Varner

Day 2 was great because it had a lot of practical information. We spoke to former interns and they provided a LOT of useful information. Like everything from remembering to pack tissue just in case to remembering to register with the US embassy before leaving. The more I hear about it, the more excited I become for this trip!

It reminds me of the days leading up to leaving for college. Part of me is very anxious and within that there is a very tiny part that is fearful. (But it is only a very tiny part that cannot help but fear the unknown). Still, there is an even stronger part of me that is absolutely electrified by what is ahead.

It feels like I am teetering on the edge of some great precipice and I have two fundamental options. FLY or FALL. In my heart I feel as if I will fly but the possibility (tiny as it may be) that I may fall is always in the back of my mind. Yet, since turning back is not an option, flight becomes all but imminent. All I can really do is ensure that my wings are strong enough and that I do not run the risk of being like Icarus and fly too closely to the sun!

That is what, in essence, Day 2 was all about. From the intern roundtable to the in-depth security briefing, it was all about making sure that if we would FLY, instead of FALL in Tanzania.

Also, special Shout Out to Ted Neill! He is a former intern who is now a Peter Bell Fellow at CARE! He was really helpful in giving Fatima and I a lot of useful information about East Africa. Also, he gave use some really helpful Swahili language books and dictionaries. He also gave me this book about Dr. Paul Farmer titled Mountains Beyond Mountains that I am really excited to read! Thanks, Ted!

So I arrived in Atlanta last night and checked into my hotel. I went for a quick run in the fitness center and then went to this 24hr spot called Landmark Diner with KeLea. She is a JRF Scholar in her 4th year at Spelman College. Met her friends (all of whom were cool), had some delicious strawberries, and came back and went to bed.

Day 1

Most of today was an overview of CARE to give us a more in-depth understanding of the organization's history, structure, and mission. It was really thorough -to say the least. There were definitely points where I was having some trouble keeping my eyes open (i.e. in the beginning directly after breakfast and (shockingly!) after lunch). Still, it was very inspiring to hear about CARE's history and how it has evolved throughout the years.

One theme I noticed (and something I really like about CARE's philosophy as an organization) is their emphasis on empowerment, agency, and self-help.

The more I learn the more excited I am about this entire experience and the more I cannot believe it is actually real (ahh!!!).

I found out today that Fatima will not be placed in Dar-Es-Salaam with me. That was somewhat disheartening. I really wanted a partner in crime/ someone with whom I could explore Dar with. But perhaps this is for the best. Means I will have even LESS of an opportunity to speak English --> better Swahili! Also, Esker (the intern coordinator), told me there are 3-4 other interns in Tanzania now.

We still do not have our living arrangements but Fatima and I are being good sports and rolling with the punches. Hopefully, we will know before we leave. I promise to keep everyone updated on that!

We did get our flight info (finally!)
We leave Atlanta at 4:40PM on 06/20/2009

atlanta -(15hrs)-> amsterdam (yay!)
<3hr>
amsterdam -(9hrs)->dar-es-salaam

We arrive in Dar-Es-Salaam at 9:45pm on 06/21/2009

I know! It exhausted me to even read that! lol Still, Amsterdam is exciting even if for only 3 hours!

In other news, here are some pictures!

David (sophomore @ UPENN who will be going to Quito, Equado) + Fatima (Junior at Harvard who will be going to Tanzania)

Kelea and Me

All Four Rachel Robinson International Fellows + Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE (also a Strong Beautiful Barnard Woman!)

I am so proud to be working for an organization that understands that the face of poverty is becoming increasing feminine. This video does a great job of explaining why women are so important in the fight against global poverty.

Who Am I?

My name is Tiffany Nyela Dockery. This past May, I graduated from the greatest university in the world, Columbia University, with a degree in English and African-American Studies. In September, I will be moving to California to start at Google, Inc. doing ad sales in their START program. In December, I will move back home to work in their Chicago office full time.

Sounds cool. So, why are you going to Tanzania?

I was awarded the Rachel Robinson International Fellowship, which is a partnership between the Jackie Robinson Foundation and CARE that affords a select group of JRF Scholars an 8 week paid internship at a CARE country office. So I will be working as a Program Communications and Public Relations intern in Dar es Salaam from June to August.

What exactly does a Program Communications and Public Relations intern do?
I will be responsible for developing human interest stories based upon successes I visit in the field, then I must document them into readable formats and train staff as to how they too can produce such stories. I will be working with the Learning and Advocacy for Education Rights (LEADER) Initiative in Kahama district and Women and Girls Empowerment (WAGE) Program in Kahama, Mwanza and Kinondoni districts (Dar es Salaam). I will be living in Dar es Salaam, but will going into the field to visit these projects in Kahama, Mwanza and Kinondoni.

Anything Else?

Yes! I feel incredibly blessed to be able to have this opportunity. This will be my first time out of the country (with the exception of the Dominican Republic) and my first time setting foot on the African continent. I took two years of Swahili in college, so I am looking forward to improving my spoken Swahili.

Drop Me A Line
If your reading this, please share any thoughts or comments you may have by shooting me an email: tiffany.n.dockery@gmail.com! Also, (friends, family, sorors) send me your mailing address! I am looking forward to sending many postcards and letters (even if they do not get to you until I return to the States!)