Time for a little R & R

I have made two new friends within the nearby town of Njombe. These sisters are native Californians who moved to Tanzania 2 years ago and are currently working on establishing a rural training center for the locals. Charming and sweet, Chevy and Curry provide wonderful company and offered to myself and Hannah an opportunity to join them on a trip to visit friends in Zanzibar. As work at Sunrise Children’s Home has proven to be an all-consuming and arduous responsibility, we gratefully accepted the invitation for a few days of respite.

 I was so thrilled for my first opportunity to get out and explore what life is like in Tanzania outside of my small, isolated village. I desperately needed a break from the 24/7 work at the orphanage. I never realized how overwhelming it could be to have your home and your job to be in the same location and never have a day off when you can just relax with no responsibilities. My mind and body definitely required sometime away, to decompress and unwind.

 This little last-minute trip provided the perfect location for such a mini-vacation. Zanzibar is truly a taste of paradise. The ocean was a spectacular turquoise and a perfectly tepid temperature.

 The city of Stone Town was a beautiful composite of African, Arab, and Indian cultures mixed with Western influence.

Everything we saw, from the striking architecture to astounding nature all around, was absolutely incredible and I just wanted to soak up all of the colors and flavors.

We attended Sauti za Busara, an annual music festival that had all sorts of African music groups from traditional tribal dances, to Arab influences tarrab music, and of course Swahili contemporary bands as well.

We got a chance to visit the gorgeous Jozani National Forest and check out the Colobus Monkeys. 

And the food, oh the food was the best! I had long since wearied of the bland meals of ugali and potatoes, so I thoroughly enjoyed all of the savory and spicy meals that were readily available all over the island. 
Of course I loaded up on spices in the market, so that way I had plenty to take back with me to the orphanage.

While I definitely enjoyed seeing and tasting everything that Zanzibar had to offer, I had a very peculiar realization a few days into the trip; I was experiencing culture-shock. And not culture shock in regards to the comparison of the USA and Africa, but of village to city. Stone Town is not a large city by any means, but I had grown so accustomed to the quiet, simple life in Uhekule village that was overwhelmed by all of the people and colors and sounds of the city. It was like I was on sensory overload. It was such a completely bizarre feeling for me to experience, because I usually embrace the hustle and bustle of cities, especially one as unique and exciting as Stone Town. Even with all the beauty that surrounded me, after a few short days I was ready to go back to the peaceful, unobtrusive village life. I missed my home, and not my house in the states, but I missed the children and the routine at the orphanage. I realized that not only have I unpacked and settled in physically, but also mentally and emotionally.  Sunrise Children’s Home of Uhekule Village is my new home now, and I know and feel that this is exactly where I am supposed to be.