Asante Sana

This week I have said my goodbyes in Mtwara and have been wrapping up everything in Dar Es Salaam at the Country office for the last few days, exit interview and such and I will board a plane this evening back to the US.  Time has sped up and I can't believe I'm already headed home.

The question regarding my work here will remain ‘where does VETA go from here?’  The VSO advisors have made leaps here, but there is still much work to be done.  The piece I have been working on, mainly strengthening industry links and providing my input on the Life Skills course with resume and interview preparation documents will surely help, but it will take some time.  Again, I remind myself that I came here and VSO is here because there were already issues that needed resolving.

The strategy and activities budget are in stages of getting approvals.  The Industry Link Manager will now be working alone to get it all implemented.  She and I met with the both the Principal and Registrar in Mtwara as well as the Vocational Training Center Coordinator at the Regional VETA office this week and discussed the strategy as well as both issues and successes while stressing the importance that communication lines remain open in order for things to move forward.   From what I have seen there is plenty of opportunity for work locally for these trainees, provided they receive the right type of training and the teachers have the proper support.  Unfortunately I have observed some practices which are a step in the wrong direction but I am confident that if everyone could be given a slight push and shown that we are all on the same team, VETA/VSO/Teachers/Trainees alike, that this centre and Lindi could be quite successful in securing livelihoods and employing local people which will all move towards the overall goal of fighting poverty in this region.  In my opinion there are just some dots to be connected, and while these are at this time pretty spread out and there are large hurdles culturally that need to be leapt over, I think there are positive things in the future.

Working in a developing country has certainly been an eye opener for me and while I’ve enjoyed myself and the beauty of it all, I mustn’t overlook the fact that there is poverty all around me, people struggling to feed themselves and their families, and living on very little day to day.  Gender inequality is a major issue, along with teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.  Every day something new reminds me how lucky I am and how much I take for granted and not to keep repeating but we all truly need these reminders at times. 

The very first Swahili phrase I learned before coming out to Tanzania was Asante Sana- Thank you very much- in an email from the project manager who interviewed me.  Since then I’ve learned a little more Swahili and a lot more about myself. There has been a huge change in me since my arrival filled with fear and anxiety and almost wanting to give up to now where I am saying goodbye to new lifelong friends (truly love and will miss you all, you know who you are) and colleagues with a heavy heart.   I hope you’ve all enjoyed my posts and I want to say once more I am so grateful to Randstad and VSO that I had this opportunity, and strongly encourage anyone who is considering it to go for it, apply, the worst that could happen is you decide it’s not for you but if you don’t try, how will you ever know?

“Forget the things that you own, travel almost anywhere you can go.

Dance across the tree tips, set them ablaze
Soaking in their pleasant warm summer haze"

Asante Sana Tanzania, goodbye to the beautiful sea, country, and people that surround me.  I have a feeling I may be back, but for now- I’m comin’ home.