Step Up

My placement here is very similar to the others in India and Costa Rica. Becky and I work in an educational center called Step-Up, teaching mostly English and Math. There are about 90 kids total at the center, and we work with the sixty 5-8 year olds. My attitude toward the work I'm doing at Step-Up is definitely different from the other two places. From the start I was much more confident, skilled (especially in dealings such as language barriers and effective classroom activities), and able to quickly establish goals both for myself and the kids. The biggest challenge at this particular placement has been trying to teach large groups of children at various skill levels, while keeping them each challenged and stimulated. Becky and I try our best by making lesson plans that each kid can benefit from, and by giving extra attention where needed. Although I have no teaching certifications or other qualifications of the sort, the most important thing I feel I can contribute are alternative teaching methods and forms of encouragement that build good morale and work ethic. The time I've spent in educational centers has been a series of positive experiences, which further support my desire to pursue a career in education.

As usual, the kids are adorable and you can roll your eyes all you want, but their smiles, hugs, and well earned achievements (no matter how small), make me just as happy as any of the other things I've seen and done in my travels.

Yes, I got Malaria...No, I didn't die

Considering all the traveling and contact with germs the three of us have been through, we've been really lucky that nothing terrible has happened, including contracting various diseases...until now. Becky and I just got back from the doctor and it seems as though we've come down with mild cases of Malaria (don't be to worried Grandma). Thanks to the Malarone my symptoms aren't that and it should be gone within the next couple days. Here, Malaria is like the common cold, many other volunteers have gotten it, and treatment is readily available. I know you're going to hate me for saying this mom and dad, but I actually think it's a cool story, went to Africa...got Malaria.

100% Deet

Safari

Of course, when in Africa, go on safari. Ours was a three day trip through the Ngoro-goro crater and around Lake Manyara. If you've never been on Safari, it's time to start making plans.

Animals I saw: Lion, Lioness, Hippo, Elephants, Flamingos, Wildebeasts, Rhino, Cheetah, Giraffe, Monkeys, Gazelles, Buffalo, Zebras, crazy birds, a giant lizard, and more (unfortunately it's the low season so we didn't spot the dinosaurs or unicorns). My favorite part were the elephants that crossed the roads right next to the cars.

I really love the elephants...

Petra

I was really lucky to be able to spend time with my dad while I was in Israel. I was also lucky to get to go to Petra for a couple days with him and my cousins Arielle and Karen. We had a great time hiking, seeing the ruins, and of course the Turkish bath. It was a bit uncomfortable at times being in an Arab country; but all's well that end's well!

Next year in Dar Es Salaam??

Our first weekend in Tanzania was Passover. Some of the fellow volunteers went to Zanzibar for a special moon-party, but the three of us opted for a Passover Seder in Dar Es Salaam. It was once again affirmed that the true beauty of Jews, aside from the strong emphasis put on food, is that there is in fact a community of them everywhere. I had heard about the Seder from a friend Eli (look you made my blog) and I contacted the Chabad for information. It was held at a restaurant called Nargila that is owned by Israelis. The seder was mostly attended by other Israeli families (plus a few kibbutzniks, one of which used to work at Revivim) and various Embassy employees from the U.S. and the UK. There was nothing so different in the Seder other then the repsectable fight the Chabad guys put up to hold the attention of the for more then two minutes. Regardless, it really was a once in a lifetime thing that I'm more then glad I traveled 16 hours on a bumpy to do.

They only look into it because this is the English speaking side of the table

Mambo Rafiki

After a couple plane rides through Adis Ababa and Nairobi, the three of us finally made it to Moshi, Tanzania. Moshi is a cute small town located at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. At this point we're seasoned CCS volunteers and came to Tanzania with a different, more confident attitude about living and working here. The staff is friendly and professional as always, and I'm having a lot of fun getting to know the other volunteers. One of my absolute favorite parts of all the traveling I've done (and I may have written this before) is getting to meet so many different kinds of people; people of all ages who are from anywhere and everywhere, all of which are complete "characters". Branching out and diversifying my social circles has taught me many valuable lessons on all aspects of life's . It's also pretty cool to be able to say I have friends in Ecuador, Canada, France, etc. Now me and Becky have somewhere to stay when we're in London overnight on our way home. Anyway, back to Africa. T.I.A. I haven't experienced very much culture shock but I attribute that to my personal travel-mindset of "expect the unexpected and if you have to expect something, expect nothing." I think the most shocking thing so far has been the impossibly large amount of weight the women here are able to balance on their heads throughout the day. As with the other programs, I'm taking language lessons (Swahili for those who don't know), and we've had some interesting lectures on AIDS/HIV, Education, and medicinal witchcraft. Leaving kibbutz and Israel was pretty upsetting to me but I'm really happy to be here and I think it'll be a great ending to my trip this year.

Just another morning

Israel

Illegal photograph taken at the Kotel on shabbat

The two months I spent in Israel were really some of the best times I've had in my life. First of all, after being in a place as stimulating and challenging as India, and being away from home for so long, it was nice to be somewhere that felt comfortable with familiar places and faces. I've been many times before, but always with my family and always with at least a bit of the typical tourist activity. With so much of my experience there in my control, I now feel as though I was able to form more mature and personal connections with the country and have my own feelings of sentiment. I had more fun then I think I deserve meeting up with my workshop friends on the weekend in Akko, Carmiel, and Tel Aviv (despite the frustrations of commuting in a country that is observant of shabbat). But the absolute best part of my experience was the time I spent on Kibbutz Revivim. I realize now how my parents feel about Kibbutz Grofit (where they lives for a few months at my age), in that it really feels like a second home. I know every time I go back to Israel I'll go back and visit there. We had a pretty consistent schedule of working and "shooting the shit" (for those who don't know this phrase refers to hours spent talking about nothing and everything at the same time, which is what most of kibbutz life consists of). Aside from the zoo, tree garden, junkyard, mitzpeh, and the other great things that make up the Kibbutz, the cast of characters that live there made almost everyday a good day (I know how cheesy I sound). Crazy stories and hilarious habits. Becky and I worked in the Machsan (laundry room) everyday, doing a coveted job that only the most skilled workers can have, ironing sheets. We were told that only Eastern Europeans and members of kibbutz Revivim partake in this part of the cleaning process. The Kibbutz also has an Ulpan and people from Maccabi (Mexican Habonim) so there were lots of people around are age to hang out with after work. I took beautiful bike rides to see the sunset almost everyday. I cannot wait to go back.

Derman and Fischel doing business at the Arab shook

Sushi with dad for my birthday!

Purim with friends on kibbutz

Our immaculate room

Crazy monkeys from the Kibbutz zoo

Tree Garden of "tortured trees"

Goldie...The greatest man alive

Becky and I: Kibbutzniks hard at work.

Again, hard at work; yes, we're ironing sheets

Leo and Alonzo, some of our favorite Ecuadorians.


Some pictures from my daily desert bike rides:


For those who don't know what a Kibbutz is, I suggest the ever reliable source of Wikipedia.