Earlier in the semester, I reading a book by Nicholas Sparkes called The Choice. One of the parts that really struck me was when Travis, the male protagonist, tells Gabby, the female protagonist, that no matter where you go in the world, the degree of your trip's success (aka to what extent you enjoy where you go or what you see) is totally dependent on the people you meet. For example, you could go to the middle of the polar ice caps or the most “boring” city in the world and still come away feeling like the trip was spectacular simply because of what different chance meetings and occurrences enriched your experience. Thus Travis, in response to Gabby's inquiry of to where he would suggest she take a trip, concludes that it is impossible for him to suggest a place she would enjoy visiting because no two people can ever have the same experience, even if they were to visit the exact same places. Instead, it's better to just pick somewhere and go with enthusiasm to see what there is to see.
Thinking about this in relation to me and study abroad (as always), it really lays out the essence of a trip like this – you really cannot predict how interesting or fun your trip will be based on what anyone who has been there before says or predicts it will be. It should be and is impossible that your experience will, in reality, be anything even remotely close to their experience, again affirming my belief that it is simply not possible nor should it be encouraged to come into a study abroad experience with expectations, save for maybe the expectation to grow, to learn, to really live. Beyond that, it is totally up to chance – who happens to be on the bus with you, who happens to have relatives near your hometown, who happens to have a similar interest in arts or music or fashion, who you happen to cross paths with and, consequently, what you choose to do in response to those encounters.
One example of this is with Peter, one of last year's LCCT Tanzanian scholars who studied at Concordia College. Stacey, Wendy, Chris and I were invited to Peter's home for supper after coincidentally bumping into him on the daladala. On the day we were planning to go, I - for some reason - strongly considered backing out because not only am I not a student at Concordia but I also just did not feel up to entertaining Tanzanian professors with my Luther stories (as selfish as that sounds). But I went anyways, and we ended up having the most wonderful time, talking and laughing and sharing stories that brought us to the floor laughing again! Then just as we were sitting down to eat supper, he surprised us with news that his wife had given birth to their first son the night before! Talk about shocked! And yet there he was, welcoming us into his house and feeding us a delicious meal and entertaining our questions and stories. Boy, did I ever feel sheepish. Even before we had finished eating, he apologized for the umpteenth time but said he really must be on his way back to the hospital (and we were like, “Ummm, yes you should be”), but he insisted that we were more than welcome to stay as long as we wanted, to enjoy and relax as if it were our own home, to please take food with us when we go, to stop by anytime even if they were not home, to come again please for lunch, hang out through the afternoon and watch TV or movies, then stay for supper. He was so hospitable and selfless!
Coming from the Chagga tribe, Peter explained that amongst the Chagga people, the best you can give your guest is your time and the worst is to take away time from being with them. It was so humbling to think of my petty hesitations from less than two hours before because here was Peter, a new father not even a day later, welcoming nearly complete strangers into his home with the same enthusiasm and hospitality as if we had been his nearest and dearest friends or even family! Moments like that never fail to give me a cast iron skillet blow to my pride and selfishness, as people like Peter are living examples of the embodiment of Christ's love, graciousness and hospitality, exactly what we as members of the body of Christ are called to be. What a much-needed reminder of the true goodness of the Tanzanian people. Even with whatever negative experiences threaten to cloud our perceptions of the trip, nothing will stifle the encouraging flame of hope I feel when I meet and spend time with people like Peter and other such good, wonderful people. All of them are the parts that will shape the experience, my life-changing unbelievable study abroad experience. Not the safaris, the elephants, the jewelry, the food, the beach, the fabrics, not even the fruit and traditional dancing and drumming will be what I take away.
No, it will be Mama Macha, the PHS student body and staff, Martha, Steven, Mary, Pendo, Hilda, Sue, Pastor Travis, Stacey, Wendy, Chris, Professor Kamera, the tailor, Isaac, Kaz, Doroster, Moses, the fruit stand guy, the Simonson's, Nkinde, Laurencia, Dr. Lisa, kind strangers on the daladala, Riziki, Edgar, Monica, Dr. Lillian, Julianna - they are the source of my love for Africa, more specifically Tanzania, because without them, Tanzania is just another spot on the globe, a destination to be visited, not a culture and an experience to be lived. My dad was right all along; it is the people and relationships in your life that matter the most because when everything else is stripped away, they are what will remain. The memories you take away of them are truly the best and essentially the only souvenirs one can really keep forever, the best souvenirs of all.
*Picture is from my third trip to Arusha when Stacey, Wendy and I visited Reverend David and Eunice Simonson, missionaries in Tanzania (originally from Fergus Falls, MN) who have done a lot of work with the Maasai community and building schools. They were such gracious and inspiring hosts - two ordinary people with extraordinary spirits and capacities to love. Very much enjoyed spending the afternoon with them!
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