Karsen's CGA Blog

Caribou, It is hard for me to wrap my head around the thought that my experience in Tanzania is coming to an end. My time in Arusha, at LOAMO School was short but still opened me up to the culture and lifestyle in Tanzania. Teaching is no easy task, and our team conquered this throughout the trip. Not only are the kids in Tanzania amazing but the kids I have been lucky to travel with and work with are too. Being surrounded by greatness and those who are better than you is the best way to learn and develop. I am truly grateful to have been able to bond and work with my new friends. Friday was my last day at school and with my class. The class I worked with was too young to partake in the departure party on Saturday. So I said my goodbyes with them on Friday. My students were in second grade and while they were young they were very intelligent and determined. It is inspiring how hard these kids work and the kids in higher grades work even harder. At home in Colorado and all of

I can’t say I haven’t thought about home but I definitely don’t miss it. I have been in Tanzania for one week now and sadly only have one week left. One can see unimaginable things in a week’s time. Sorrow, pain, hope, struggle, and happiness are many things I have seen and felt thus far. On my home visit to Sir David’s house, I saw a strong man who was hurting inside for his family. While he smiled bright, his eyes pleaded. The government changed protocol a few years ago ending computer classes in schools. David lost his job at L.O.A.M.O. school (where I have been teaching) and is yet to find a job two years and 200 applications later. He has not even received a single response to his applications. David and his wife Elisia rent a kilometer of land near their house for a garden which gives them enough income to survive. He told us a quote in which he believes… “Money is the answer to everything.” For us that might not be true, but for him it is. He gave us examples which he thought

The ability to see is powerful and should not be taken for granted. On my first home visit in Tanzania, I listened to the story of a struggling family and all the challenges they overcame to make it to this point. I was welcomed open heartedly to the home of Lillian and her two children, Ebenezer and Enoch. Lillian has lived in Arusha, Tanzania her whole life. At the age two, she became completely blind and has been blind for 37 years now. Her condition is really rare and it still causes pain in her eyes to this day. It is impossible for me to imagine what it would be like to be blind. The thought scares me, and makes me hope that I will never encounter that challenge. Not only is Lillian blind, but her husband left her when the kids where very young, which intensifies the situation even more. To support her family, she washes dishes and cleans clothes. She said it is very difficult because she cannot see and has to rely on touch. She tends to cut her hands badly on the knifes when