Four Weeks to Go!

Hello it's Chloe and Angie here, this is our first post as you will all see but there will be many to follow on from our summer adventure to Tanzania.

Where we are going!

Not long to go now eh! We're too excited for words and NEED to vent and share some of this excitement with you all. We fly out on Sunday the 7th of July for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG haul flight. We'll pretty much be travelling for 17 hours straight which is probably the least exciting part but who cares because we have 7 weeks to enjoy ourselves... and work a little (just kidding Andy). 

We've been given Work the World t-shirts to wear when we arrive so we're not abandoned at the airport when our guide picks us up. Hopefully he'll find us haha. Who are we kidding... with Angie's blonde hair, GOD HELP US. We hope our beds will be comfy after all that travelling, but not that we'll be in them for long as we have an orientation day the following morning.

We'll be orientated around our digs, the Arusha Nijiro House. It looks pretty cool from the pictures we've already seen and we'll upload some below. There seems to be lots going on in the house to accommodate all residents who will be students like ourselves, volunteers and backpackers. The house holds 32 people so hopefully we'll meet a good bunch of folk who we can spend time with when we're sick of pulling each others hair out haha. We're quite excited about meeting everyone who works in the house and getting to know our bearings and things but we're a tad apprehensive about trying the local cuisine... we'll possibly come back as two lollipops. Oh yes, on another note, praise your washing machines when we're away because we have to hand wash EVERYTHING. Funtimes. 

Garden

Front of the House

Housekeeper and Chef - Brian and Witness :) 

Inside the House

We'll also be orientated to our placement which is the only Psychiatric ward within Tanzania located in Mount Meru Regional Hospital. It definitely looks different from anything we've ever seen and we'll post some pictures that we've been given just below. We will meet our mentors on the first day and we're quite glad that we have the same placement for the duration. We are currently in the last trimester of our second year as mental health nursing students and are looking forward to gaining this experience.

Ward

Outpatients Waiting Area 

Mount Meru Hospital

Department Display Board

We've both kitted ourselves out with a Swahili phrase book and Tanzania guide... this should be a laugh. The language just makes me want to watch The Lion King. Do you know Rafiki actually means friend? How amazing. We'll just be singing AHHH WUMBAAAA WAY AHHHH WUMMBAAAA WAYY constantly. Not all hope is lost for us though. A Swahili lecturer comes into the house twice a week, so we'll be sure to make use of that. Also... did you know that in Tanzania, their morning actually begins at 6am which then causes slight confusion with trying to understand time differences. WHAT ELSE? So if we're lacking in contact from our blog then we're probably befriending a baboon somewhere in the wilderness. 

Follow RAFIKI, he know de way!

When we aren't slaving away in 30 degree heat, we'll be working weekly in the local Paradiso Orphanage.This orphanage homes 13 children, we aren't sure what the age range is but we're looking forward to making a difference to their lives. As you all already know, we're are both having fundraising nights on the 21st and 22nd of this month to raise some cash which will be put to good use. It'll be for the kids and only the kids which we will make sure of! We'll update the blog about the funds we raise but for now we're in the process of organisation... well sort of, we need to get moving!

Kids of the Paradiso Orphanage and a Volunteer

If you've taken the time to read our first post, then thanks from Angie and myself!

We'll no doubt post as the weeks progress!

Kwaheri!