Sigh. Writing the title of this blog almost drained me of all my energy and dried up my mouth. I am officially lost for words! Right, first of all, I am a 20 year old girl who is currently on a gap year, awaiting the start of her first year at university in September. To not beat about the bush, I am what most people would call "young". As a young lady, I've been told many times that I'm "too young" to do this, "too young" to focus on this; basically, I'm constantly reminded that I am young. Unfortunately, most young people live up to the standards people set for them e.g. "You're too young to achieve such a huge task". Sound familiar? Well, fortunately for me, I choose to ignore such negativity in my life, well, 90% of the time it is plain negativity to be honest, and allow myself to let my being determine just how far I can go, how much I can do with the "little experience" that I have of life. When I decided to take a gap year, many voices told me it was the biggest mistake ever and that I should just go straight to university. The whole purpose of this gap year was to discover myself, discover my capabilities and discover what I really want to do with the rest of my life. Plunging straight into the university hype with little to no knowledge of the real world seemed (to me) a greater risk than taking things slow, one step at a time. So I went ahead with the gap year and I experienced so much in just 1 year. I moved out for a job for 3 months and lived on my own, a time during which I got an idea of what being independent is all about, I went on an adventure teaching in Tanzania, I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and went on safari: I can truthfully say it was the best decision of my life so far. I just wish more young people would feel the same way and not limit themselves by setting goals so low; afraid of failing because society says they're "too young" to achieve anything great.
The reason why I am writing this post right this moment is because I've been inspired. Yes, who hasn't, you may say, but I haven't been as inspired as I am today. On Saturday the 14th of June, I had the privilege of attending the first ever Zimbabwean International Women's Awards (ZIWA) ceremony at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham, courtesy of Simba, a man who believes that young people like me can achieve great things if they put their mind to it. I met many women who have achieved phenomenal things I couldn't keep my excitement in! At the ceremony, a young girl of 16 called Maud Chifamba received an award for her academic achievements and how inspirational she is to young generations; she started university in Zimbabwe at the fresh age of 14! I was mind-blown. I mean, at 14 I was more concerned about "Do I have enough food in my trunk? When is the next visiting day?" and all kinds of trivial issues most teenagers think about. But this girl, (You can read her story here or here), against all odds, worked so hard to achieve great academic achievements, such that they made her carry on to higher classes and eventually end up at university at just 14. Many people might have possibly told her something like, "You're too young to go to university, who do you think you are?", but she showed them and the rest of the world that age, poverty or lack of support is never a barrier between you and your dreams; it is your attitude towards life and your capabilities that stands between you and your goals. If you're passionate about, work hard for it. If you work hard for it, you will always find a way forward! So if you're a young person reading this, what excuse do you have for not being awesome? You are never too young to make a difference; the fact that you exist on this planet means that you are an integral part of a great network - without you, society is handicapped. Don't limit yourselves, guys; go on and be awesome!
Have a great week
xx
Tuesday 17 June 2014
Thursday 12 June 2014
Week 6 in Tanzania, days before the climb!
"There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
There's always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose"
The final week before the climb was hectic! I was busy trying to help the kids learn their lines and stop using the scripts altogether. It was a tough challenge for them and at some point I felt like giving up because we were running out of time. However, these kids never stopped to impress me!
We went on to prepare costumes and having fun all throughout the week. I had to pull them from lessons from time to time in order to rehearse, and then the day finally came! It was also my last day at the school with them, and I can't even begin to describe how emotional it all was. The performance was beautiful it brought me to tears, but unfortunately there is no recording of the actual play. Below are extracts from rehearsals taken by Amanda on her ipad, and some singing rehearsals from my camcorder. Sound on the videos here is sometimes off because Amanda had unknowingly been blocking the speakers. But the action will speak for itself, I hope :)
Friday night I went out for a meal at Mt Meru Hotel with Amanda and Theo. The live band was playing and it was busier than ever! The service was really slow but it was happy hour so we occupied ourselves with drinks. We made plans to go swimming the following day, before Amanda and Theo would go to pick up her other son, Ben. Saturday I went to the Maasai Market to buy more souvenirs, and then went back home to rest in preparation for the first day of the climb the following day!
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
There's always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose"
The final week before the climb was hectic! I was busy trying to help the kids learn their lines and stop using the scripts altogether. It was a tough challenge for them and at some point I felt like giving up because we were running out of time. However, these kids never stopped to impress me!
We went on to prepare costumes and having fun all throughout the week. I had to pull them from lessons from time to time in order to rehearse, and then the day finally came! It was also my last day at the school with them, and I can't even begin to describe how emotional it all was. The performance was beautiful it brought me to tears, but unfortunately there is no recording of the actual play. Below are extracts from rehearsals taken by Amanda on her ipad, and some singing rehearsals from my camcorder. Sound on the videos here is sometimes off because Amanda had unknowingly been blocking the speakers. But the action will speak for itself, I hope :)
Before the performance, I took pictures of the characters in their "costumes", something that I will always cherish (the pictures) as I can look at them and relive the Tanzanian days! At the performance, Mama Anna, the founder of the school on whom the story is based, graced us with her presence. Daniphord also came and took loads of pictures. All the teachers were present and the rest of the school lined up to watch the performance which was in a promenade style. There were showers on the day, but that didn't stop the performance. Afterwards I was asked to give a speech but I hadn't prepared myself for this. However, the words that came from my mouth, came from the bottom of my heart. I reminded the kids about everything that I'd taught them, and I told them to remember that education is indeed a light that will shine their paths to greatness. I reminded them of how privileged they were to be in school when other children had to work, herd cattle or do chores for their large families. The whole experience opened my eyes as well, because here in England, education is free until university, and even then, you have a foundation for your life, you can make something for yourself; yet we take it for granted and choose a life of delinquency.
After my speech, Mama Anna gave a moving speech too! She is that kind of woman who is so humble it gives you chills. When she opens her mouth to speak, every single word is laced with compassion and love, and I couldn't help but shed a tear or two when she presented me with a kanga (a cloth) and said, "May it protect you from the rain, wind, sun and mud as you've endured all that throughout your time here!" The headteacher announced of my leaving, and the kids started to cry. I couldn't help but cry too. We had an awkward group hug full of tears - tears of joy and also sadness that I was leaving now. The rest of the afternoon was rather melancholic, even though I tried my best to cheer them up with candy! It was indeed an experience of a lifetime!
 |
| the kids were crying after the performance! aw |
xx
Tuesday 10 June 2014
Hakuna matata - week 5 in Tanzania, 1 week 'til the climb
"Hakuna Matata; what a wonderful phrase.
Hakuna Matata; It ain't no passing craze.
It means no worries, for the rest of your days.
Its our problem free, philosophy,
HAKUNA MATATA!"
This week has been awesome! School holidays are over so Monday morning I woke up bright and early and got ready for school. I was running late so instead of walking for twenty minutes to the school, I got onto a piki-piki (motorbike). I made it to school fifteen minutes early, which was a first! I was with the kindergarten class today, although we call it 'baby class. They're little boys and girls ranging from 2-5. Today they were in uniform and it was so cute seeing them with their miniature ties on, tiny school shoes and tiny jumpers. First, I observed as their teacher taught them, then I called them one by one to read the alphabet. Many of them could go up to f, then start to stutter, but a few couldn't make it past B, bless them. Afterwards, I tried to teach them a new rhyme, but they were all so excitable it was pretty much impossible! On Tuesday I spent the day with the nursery class (4-6 year olds) but they were more serious than the baby-class; too serious in fact. When I introduced fun activities they all responded so well and seemed to love spending time doing something stimulating to their fun side rather than sit in class all day reading and writing. On Wednesday, I informed the class 5 students that I have a short play for them to learn and perform. I did some colouring with class 3, wall painting with baby class and bubbles with class 5! They really had the time of their lives.
Thursday was May Day, so school was out. Amanda, Theo, Jordan and I went to Maji Moto (hot springs) in a place called Bomang'ombe, near Moshi. We were going to swim there for the day. Town was packed with people doing processions, celebrating May Day, so Jordan advised us to hold on to our belongings as it was too crowded. We took a bus going towards Moshi, with a few street vendors trying to sell us radios and other things we definitely did not need. When we got to Bomang'ombe, we took a bajaji (mini 3-wheeled vehicle) to Maji Moto. It was half an hour's drive away in a very remote area.
The "pool" itself was breath-taking! The water was so clean and clear that it looked blue! Tiny fishes swam away in there too, tickling us along the way. The water was too deep for me so I stayed near the roots of a massive tree ont he edge to hold on to them. There was a swing and I attempted it, swung into the water and fell before I was ready. I started to panic and so I was drowning! I tried to scream for help but the moment I opened my mouth, water rushed in! Suddenly I felt hands on me, these three Dutch girls came to my rescue. IT was an embarrassing ordeal! After that, I stayed away from the water, for obvious reasons! I met a lady and she had this accent that seemed all too familiar, so I asked her where she's from and she's Zimbabwean! The first Zimbabwean I've met on my trip so far!
Friday at school, I introduced the play and we started rehearsals. The kids were so excited about it and so was I. I was worried though about whether we can pull it off in a week or not, since next week would be my last week at the school. But after that one session, I was quite impressed with how quick they learn things.
Friday night we went out for meal at this Indian restaurant with Samina, Dani, Amanda and Theo. The place was quite nice and we were the only people there at first, then a large group of tourists came later to join us. Theo was entertaining us with his multi-accent talents, which included doing the Smeagol voice. It was rather stupendous! Saturday I started making props for the play with Theo, and we were very excited and pleased with our progress. We were both hoping the play would go well! It was a great week!
xx
Hakuna Matata; It ain't no passing craze.
It means no worries, for the rest of your days.
Its our problem free, philosophy,
HAKUNA MATATA!"
This week has been awesome! School holidays are over so Monday morning I woke up bright and early and got ready for school. I was running late so instead of walking for twenty minutes to the school, I got onto a piki-piki (motorbike). I made it to school fifteen minutes early, which was a first! I was with the kindergarten class today, although we call it 'baby class. They're little boys and girls ranging from 2-5. Today they were in uniform and it was so cute seeing them with their miniature ties on, tiny school shoes and tiny jumpers. First, I observed as their teacher taught them, then I called them one by one to read the alphabet. Many of them could go up to f, then start to stutter, but a few couldn't make it past B, bless them. Afterwards, I tried to teach them a new rhyme, but they were all so excitable it was pretty much impossible! On Tuesday I spent the day with the nursery class (4-6 year olds) but they were more serious than the baby-class; too serious in fact. When I introduced fun activities they all responded so well and seemed to love spending time doing something stimulating to their fun side rather than sit in class all day reading and writing. On Wednesday, I informed the class 5 students that I have a short play for them to learn and perform. I did some colouring with class 3, wall painting with baby class and bubbles with class 5! They really had the time of their lives.
Thursday was May Day, so school was out. Amanda, Theo, Jordan and I went to Maji Moto (hot springs) in a place called Bomang'ombe, near Moshi. We were going to swim there for the day. Town was packed with people doing processions, celebrating May Day, so Jordan advised us to hold on to our belongings as it was too crowded. We took a bus going towards Moshi, with a few street vendors trying to sell us radios and other things we definitely did not need. When we got to Bomang'ombe, we took a bajaji (mini 3-wheeled vehicle) to Maji Moto. It was half an hour's drive away in a very remote area.
The "pool" itself was breath-taking! The water was so clean and clear that it looked blue! Tiny fishes swam away in there too, tickling us along the way. The water was too deep for me so I stayed near the roots of a massive tree ont he edge to hold on to them. There was a swing and I attempted it, swung into the water and fell before I was ready. I started to panic and so I was drowning! I tried to scream for help but the moment I opened my mouth, water rushed in! Suddenly I felt hands on me, these three Dutch girls came to my rescue. IT was an embarrassing ordeal! After that, I stayed away from the water, for obvious reasons! I met a lady and she had this accent that seemed all too familiar, so I asked her where she's from and she's Zimbabwean! The first Zimbabwean I've met on my trip so far!
Friday at school, I introduced the play and we started rehearsals. The kids were so excited about it and so was I. I was worried though about whether we can pull it off in a week or not, since next week would be my last week at the school. But after that one session, I was quite impressed with how quick they learn things.
Friday night we went out for meal at this Indian restaurant with Samina, Dani, Amanda and Theo. The place was quite nice and we were the only people there at first, then a large group of tourists came later to join us. Theo was entertaining us with his multi-accent talents, which included doing the Smeagol voice. It was rather stupendous! Saturday I started making props for the play with Theo, and we were very excited and pleased with our progress. We were both hoping the play would go well! It was a great week!
xx
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