Hello my dears,
In my last blog post, I already mentioned that a detailed report about my January would be coming soon. And honestly, this year couldn’t have started any better. Wowww!!What an incredible month. This time, there will be lots of pictures so you can experience just how special this time was. 😍
The first few days were already perfect: I spent a lot of time at Angels Home, with my friends, and cooked traditional Tanzanian food together with Sister Macrina.
Then the preparations for my family’s visit began (Mom, Dad, my brother, and my brother’s girlfriend). The excitement stayed under control for a long time, until the last twenty minutes before the big reunion.😅 I still remember exactly how we called my parents’ driver because of all the traffic, and then suddenly, they were there, on the other side of the street, got out of the car, and were just there. It felt surreal and at the same time incredibly familiar.
After many hugs, we went together to the Immigration Office to pick up their visas and then on to Kasulo for lunch. There, we met Sister Dativa, the mother of general of the sisters in Rulenge, as well as Sister Thea.
I think, in that exact moment, my family understood what I mean by the great hospitality in Tanzania: an overwhelming warmth, plenty of food, deep gratitude that they are there, and beautiful conversations.
And then it was time to leave for Rulenge. Everyone was really excited and I even more because I finally got to show them where I live and the wonderful people I get to live with in the village. I think they immediately understood why I am so incredibly happy here.
And I can only say: Every day here in Rulenge was so full and intense, and each day just got even better.😍
On the first evening, we went to Barikiwa for dinner, I showed them some of the first places, and they met Father Denis, my mentor.
On Monday, we first went to Angels Home. I was so excited to show my family my work placement. The children were all really enthusiastic and excited too. What I found especially striking was how much respect the children showed toward my family. Two men among them, and all clearly older than me.
After that, we visited the Bernadette Sisters’ convent, walked through the market, and then went to Ngara to meet the bishop. He took a lot of time for us, we got delicious food, and we heard really fascinating stories. In the evening, we spent time together with my mentors at Barikiwa, a truly beautiful way to end the day.
On Tuesday morning, we went to the mass in Rulenge, led by Father Denis, which was something really special. At the end, I even got to introduce my family. After breakfast, we went to the other orphanage, “Goya-Goya.” For my family, it was a similar surprise to what I experienced back then, maybe even a small shock, to see how different two orphanages in the same village can be and what much better working conditions exist there. We also had a very nice conversation with the head of the orphanage there.
After that, we went to the hospital, and the doctor there took a lot of time for us. I was very happy to introduce him to my family as well, as he has also become an important person for me here.
At noon, I said goodbye to the children at Angels Home. It was incredibly hard for me, as some of them are now going to school, and I won’t see them for a while. At the same time, I’m sooo happy for them that they have this opportunity.
In the evening, the big highlight awaited us: a dinner at Mama Claudi and Baba Karisti’s, who are like my parents here. It was an incredibly fun, beautiful, and completely Tanzanian evening. The hospitality was simply amazing: invitations, food, gifts, just everything for their guests.
On Wednesday morning, we were already off to Mwanza. To make sure the journey wasn’t boring, I made sure we met a few people (in the end many many haha) along the way.
At lunch at Katoke Seminar (maybe you remember the school where I worked for a day after the pilgrimage), we were once again generously gifted with hand-sewn Kitenge clothing. They sang for us and were so happy about our visit. An unforgettable moment.🧡
In Mwanza, I showed my family around the city: Bismarck Rocks, a large market, the Bukoba Monument, a rooftop lunch, two temples, and another round of Boda-Boda rides, which they fell in love with all over again.😅 In the evening, we enjoyed a farewell dinner with our driver Lennard and Sister Dativa, a beautiful way to end the day before we continued on to a completely different part of Tanzania.
Tanzanian Safari
Our safari was an unforgettable adventure. We started in Arusha and visited Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, the southern Serengeti, and the Ndutu area. At first, it was a bit challenging for me. I had come straight from Rulenge, where my life is much simpler and calmer (and still compared to other I have a own house, so should not complain about anything!!), but suddenly we were staying in lodges with pools, air conditioning, and full-service amenities. It was really hard for me to accept, especially since I see every day how people in the village live and often have to struggle for food and water.
Through conversations with my parents, I came to understand that the people here make their living from tourism, safaris, lodges, and everything that brings visitors to this country. This is exactly their everyday life and their livelihood. That really helped me a lot.
Still, it was a completely different Tanzania than I had known before. Tourists were everywhere, many Germans and white people, most of whom spoke English. The landscape was more expansive and open, and everything was designed for visitors, from the lodges to the roads and the activities.
Another big highlight was sleeping in tent huts, where you could hear elephants and lions right from your bed.
We also had a fantastic guide who really knew everything, spoke German, and was so incredibly funny. His first question in the morning: „Alles tip-top?”. German saying which basically means: „Everything tiptop/fresh?“
We saw the Big Five and countless other animals, discovering new wonders of nature every day. Luck was definitely on our side.
I really enjoyed the time with my family, and I am infinitely grateful that I got to experience this part of Tanzania and that my parents made it possible for me.❤️
Back in Arusha, on my dad’s birthday, we also visited a waterfall and a coffee farm.
Unfortunately, the safari didn’t end on such a high note, as I got sick. I still had to continue my journey to reach my midterm seminar near Dar es Salaam. The trip was exhausting, but in the end, I made it safely to the hotel.
Mid-term Seminar
From January 16 to 23, our midterm seminar took place in Bagamoyo. My condition had improved enough for me to participate on the second day. I got to know Fatuma together with Loana, another volunteer. The exchange about her life and work was both shocking and incredibly enriching. Later, we sat by an old church by the sea, talked for a long time, and shared experiences. I was very grateful for her perspectives, which showed many parallels to my own experiences.🫶
Overnight, my condition unfortunately worsened, so I had to go to the hospital and could no longer participate in the rest of the seminar.
The other volunteers took part in exciting sessions on topics such as gender roles, cultural exchange and the „me and us“ culture, and enjoyed evenings together in the pool or by the sea.
Despite my illness, I gained a lot from the experience. I reflected my last months in Tanzania, received valuable food for thought from the seminar leaders and was able to take away a lot, especially with regard to my fellow volunteer, with whom I am unfortunately facing some difficulties at the moment.
Nevertheless I was very happy I could meet wonderful new people, and saw the volunteers from Würzburg (german city but we had our preparation seminar together in Germany and did the language course in Dar es Salaam together).
After a day and a half of relaxation in Dar es Salaam, including a short walk on the beach and visiting some hospitals with a friend who’s working there. (just looking and exploring no treatment for me😅). This was very interesting, especially the national hospital of Tanzania. I think my plans for what I want to study later on are changing more and more.😅
I headed to the airport early on Sunday morning and flew on to Mwanza. Baba Karisti picked me up there. We ate a round of ugali with beans, and immediately that familiar feeling returned, of being back in the Tanzania that I know and fell in love with. And then we headed back to Rulenge together.🥰
Back in Rulenge
After a very exhausting journey, I was so happy to be back home. Everyone gave me such a warm welcome and I was able to enjoy some time on my own. I met up with all my friends, did lots of activities and just got on with my everyday life. It did me a world of good. I enjoyed like I always do😂
During this time, I also had the opportunity to get to know the NGO „Kivuko“, which is committed to improving medical care in Rulenge. I accompanied one of the founders, visited households and met children with disabilities, poor families and seriously ill elderly people. Despite the difficult living conditions, I was totally impressed by their warmth, strength and zest for life. I was particularly touched by the encounters and conversations, the openness of the people and their gratitude for the smallest things. Speaking Kiswahili once again opened all doors for me and enabled me to form genuine connections. I am very much looking forward to continuing to accompany Kivuko in the coming period, learning even more and gaining further experience. 🫶
Unfortunately, there was also a great tragedy: my friend’s little daughter, aged 1.5, died suddenly. I was with her in the hospital, and witnessing the grief was incredibly difficult for me, especially since I knew the child well and had played with her in the courtyard the day before. The next day, I helped with the preparations for the funeral service, which was very sad and moving at the same time. I was very grateful that I could be there and be with my friend.❤️🩹
Despite everything, I experienced so many wonderful moments here because I simply have the best environment: bringing donations to Angels Home, spending time with the children and sisters, visiting homes with „Kivuko“, cooking with my mentor, spending lots of time with my friends and, in particular, spending many hours with Mama Claudi and Baba Karisti. When the seminarians returned after four weeks, I was even happier.❤️
In the coming months, I will be getting to know different workplaces: two weeks working at Caritas, then from March onwards at the hospital, and in the summer I will be teaching at a school. I am incredibly grateful for all these experiences and the special people I am meeting here. I am still as happy as I was at the beginning, and in some ways even happier.🤭😉
So, I’ve told you a lot, and with all these wonderful prospects, I’ll say „see you soon“. Stay healthy and all the best!💛
Joana
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