Hodi! Tanzania

Journal Entry - Rob; UPDATE!

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April 13, 2007
I woke up today EXCITED that I am going to Tanzania. Something clicked that in less than two months I will be in Africa with an amazing team doing stuff that few people my age will ever get to do. How lucky am I that I will be going to another country a doing what I love doing the most, helping people. That’s awesome!

I am thrilled that I will be able to represent Norwich as an Alum half way across the world and extend a tradition of being a Citizen Soldier. It is cool stuff!

Our team has a short time until we go but a lot of hard work ahead of us. I’m glad I found some motivation. This trip should be an experience that will last a lifetime!

Lazima niende sasa,
Robert

Journal Entry - Rob

We began our group journal in February, 2007. One team member contributes an entry each week.

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April 3rd, 2007
I want to start out by saying how much I dislike public journals. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is simple. I am horrible with spelling and grammar and feel like everyone is judging my entry when I read it. The second reason being that I can never think of anything profound, so my entries always turn into pointless rants. I ‘m sorry but guess what. This is the first of my rants to come. I just looked at the date and can’t believe we have only two months before out trip. It seems like only yesterday I was in NOLA (2006) talking about how I wanted to go on this trip. Now I sit in a class with some of the faces from my first trip. I feel bad as we sit in the class together. My thoughts are currently so far from Tanzinia it’s crazy. I mean with graduation and commissioning, and my problem with my leg, of course it’s going to be the last thing on my mind. I must apologize. Its not that I don’t care, my head is just playing a different game right now. Time is short! I know once am thinking more about the trip I will be more excited. First I need to graduate and get my RN. This has been my five year project. The one I need to finish first.
Cheers-
Rob

Journal Entry - Chris

We began our group journal in February, 2007. One team member contributes an entry each week.

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March 20th, 2007
Well, I hate to be the “gloomy Gus” of the group, but it’s important to remember that there are multiple perspectives on any given venture. Unlike the two previous journalists, I’ve never been abroad and I really don’t know what to expect. Its tough for me to imagine what we’re getting ourselves into. Are we going to be able to actually follow through with helping Pommern as well as we plan to? I really hope so, but sometimes there lingers a shadow of doubt in the recess of my mind. Beyond my own personal doubts I do have great faith in the group. It’s realistic to be nervous and concerned that we may not be able to follow through with our goals, but when I think about my “teammates” I am eternally optimistic. The group that we have gathered together is very capable and experienced. I believe that most of us, if not all, have done many service projects before. These cumulative experiences are all combined to create a wide field of knowledge. I think that we’re prepared enough for the trip and that all we’re missing now is the actual execution of it. Time is quickly running out before our trip. It’s hard to imagine… but we are so close to going. Spring break is already over and before we know it, it will already be time to go. In any case, I don’t know what else there is to say without sounding like a broken record; so here is to our trip: may we all hold together to ensure success in our mutually mysterious future.
-Chris Pauze

Journal Entry - Moriah

We began our group journal in February, 2007. One team member contributes an entry each week.

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March 6th, 2007

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like this semester is just flying by. Before I know it, it’s Tuesday night again and time for our History of East Africa class. As someone who has been at Norwich for five years, it is amazing to see how the NU Visions Abroad program has grown. It is such an in-depth program with so many pieces to it. From the course and service-learning projects to fund raising and group-bonding activities. It’s such a great program and I hope it only continues momentum among the students and the university. I can't wait for the group to arrive in Pommern and experience what I got to experience with Nicole and Kate this December. We can talk about it and share picture/video, but nothing compares to being there. As the group videographer, I can’t wait to capture all of our experiences and special moments from the trip. We’ve all been doing a lot of work for this trip and we have more to do before we step off that plane into humid Dar Es Salaam, but it will all be worth it in the end. Yes, we are just a group of college students going on a global volunteers service trip, with a Didomenico twist to it, but once you see one of the kids in Pommern laugh and smile you understand the value and impact of our work. They wont forget us and we’ll never forget them.

-Moriah