A New Adventure

Hey all, A quick update about where I am at with everything. I was accepted into Michigan State for the Fall to study Africa. I am trying to arrange to make a return visit to Tanzania, through CCS again in the Fall as an independent study abroad program. I am hoping to spend one month at the new CCS house in Bagamoyo, and then move for 2 more months in Moshi. There are a few kinks to work out, but so far it looks as if the plan is moving in the right direction. Bagamoyo is a town with a lot of history. It means "lay down my heart" in Arabic. It was recently recognized as a world heritage site. Many slaves from all over Central and Eastern Africa were brought to Bagamoyo, before being shipped to the island of Zanzibar to be sold. German missionaires came in the 1800s and helped to end the Zanzibar slave trade. It was also a town noted by explorers including Dr. David Livingstone. Moshi, of course is where I was last summer. It is at the foot of Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa. I am so excited to have a year of studying the grammatical aspect of Swahili under my belt. I know that I will be able to communicate so much more effectively with the children (and the adults), and that will be a wonderful asset to enhance the relationships I have built, and the ones I will build. Tanzania is a beautiful country, and I can't wait to be back, soaking up each moment. And I definitly can't wait to see the kids :D hakuna matata Maggie