Thank You!!

P.S. (Pre-Script, in my world) This is a long one. So you get the main ideas before I bore you to death, here's a summary:

• Still in America, but I've learned a lot already
  
• People = kind and generous
• Money = important
• Dreaming = good
• Realizing a Dream = Amazing
  
• Everyone needs hope
  
• HUGE thank you to everyone in my life - you all have been listeners, maybe unwilling, to my rambling, dreaming, ranting, and unending excitement
  

My journey to Tanzania is a long (and fortunately so) and exciting one. I have yet to leave California, but feel that I have learned so much from this experience already. From Day 1, I knew this would be a great challenge for myself, part because of the preparation and part because of the trip itself. And it is because of the challenge, that I strived to accomplish something new.

Days 1-5 upon acceptance were ones full of excitement, frustration, joy, and disappointment. Maybe I expected too much of my first-generation parents, but let me tell you, they were not happy. When I was home a few weeks prior, I told my dad of my application to One Heart Source and he was very supportive (maybe naively so). I thought my acceptance into the volunteer program would be similarly received. I was naive, too. My mom, who was not home during my visit, was shocked. Every phone call that week started calm and ended in tears. I thought, "This is it. Every kid has their pivotal argument with their parents and here is mine. Things will never be the same." It wasn't a fun week, but I was not about to give up this chance.

The people from OHS I had met at the introductory meeting weeks before blew my mind! They were truly inspirational. I loved their goals, their dreams, and saw myself working beside them. Almost two years into my college career, I was thrilled to meet a group of people I felt at home with. Don't get me wrong, I made good friends before this, but this felt too good to be true. I wasn't going to let it go.

Days 6-20 I rarely called home, in fear that a conversation about Africa would only yield to more argument and more dismay. The arguments had become repetitive, time consuming, and unproductive.

As the Calming Period came to an end, other goals surfaced. I had, for the time being, given up on convincing my parents that I was doing something good in this world, not ruining my life. Money was the next hurdle. Where was I, a full-time student and part-time tutor and shuttle driver, going to get $4500?

Then, there was the facebook event. And then countless messages, e-mails, and phone calls.

And somewhere out of this mess, you showed me great amounts of generosity. The monetary amount is not what surprised me. Almost FOURTY donors contributed to my Tanzania fund. Many more of you have helped in many other ways. Probing questions, insightful suggestions, worrisome cautions and lots and lots of encouragement and expressions of support have greatly helped me realize my dream. Thank you.

The journey from Point A (wanting to go to Africa) to Point B (going to TZ in just 24 days) has been a great one. Although there is a long and exciting journey ahead of me, the one so far has been amazing. I have surpassed my own expectations and am so excited to keep moving forward.

Planning for this trip has been my largest challenge yet. Playing tuba was tough, so was playing and then quitting rugby. This, tops it all. I wanted it more and it required more work than ever before. Hope, love, and lots of dedication has made this possible. Everyone needs hope. I believe we can bring hope to some of the orphaned children in Tanzania. I believe we will.



Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your help.

I can't wait to tell you more.

Hamjambo!

In other words, Hello!

Welcome to Greetings from Tanzania! Don't be confused, we have yet to leave the States, but I wanted to update the site. In the upcoming weeks, Michael and I will be preparing to embark on an experience of a lifetime. With One Heart Source, we will be traveling to the Arusha District in Tanzania and spending three months there starting an education-based orphanage center. As we speak, there are volunteers from UCLA, USC, and other universities working hard to build the center and volunteer quarters. The 10-acre land is in Phase I of development and hopefully by the time our Fall Group is done, 3-acres of it will be developed.

In merely 51 days, we will be leaving San Jose for a far away land. As dreamy as it sounds, I face this near-future with excitement and a great deal of anxiety. Throughout the past few weeks, my driving hours to and from work have been occupied with mental preparation for what's to come. I'm also almost done with Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea and the imagery of destitute living situations Mortenson and David Oliver Relin provides has been overwhelming. Although the climate and landscape of Tanzania is quite different from that of Pakistan, poverty knows no limits. The difficulties may vary, but the extent of what lacks is great in many places throughout the world. Much of my anxiety comes not from the drastic change in living standards I am about to face, but from a mixed-bag of excitement and uncertainty that comes with knowing very well my fate may turn out to be like Mortenson's. But like I am always told, take one step at a time.

My job at the Tech Museum's summer camp is wrapping up with only two more weeks in store. Once that takes place, it'll be time for serious planning. An actual packing list, a camping backpack to store all my things, a long shopping list, review of Swahili and OHS curriculum and lots and lots of thinking. Honestly, the excitement is hard to contain. I spend much of the day daydreaming, wondering, and waiting for September 19th to come my way. When co-workers ask about my upcoming trip, my mood shifts. I feel my spirits lifting and find myself much happier with everything that is going on. No words can express that feeling. Maybe, just maybe, I've found it. Maybe this is my calling. Maybe this is my greatest passion. Maybe this is what I'll do for the rest of my life.

But then again, I remind myself:
Take one step at a time.

Some ways you can help:

• Donate - money, soccer balls, anything else you think we may need
• Suggest - give tips on traveling, supplies, medical things
• Questions - get us thinking