Tonight I was at a Carolina Hurricanes game and heard a young girl sing our national anthem. It hit me that I will be leaving this country in just 5 days and entering another country with an entirely different anthem.
On the way home I wondered what the national anthem of Tanzania sounds like and what the words are, so I decided to look it up on Google. The last line is "Bless the Children of Tanzania" - how appropriate!
I found a video on You Tube of school children singing it....it's beautiful.
KISWAHILI LYRICS
Mungu ibariki Africa
Wabariki Viongozi wake
Hekima Umoja na
Amani Hizi ni ngao zetu
Afrika na watu wake.
CHORUS:
Ibariki Afrika
Ibariki Afrika
Tubariki watoto wa Afrika.
Mungu ibariki Tanzania
Dumisha uhuru na Umoja
Wake kwa Waume na Watoto
Mungu Ibariki Tanzania na watu wake.
CHORUS:
Ibariki Tanzania
Ibariki Tanzania
Tubariki watoto wa Tanzania.
---
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
God Bless Africa.
Bless its leaders.
Let Wisdom Unity and
Peace be the shield of
Africa and its people.
CHORUS:
Bless Africa,
Bless Africa,
Bless the children of Africa.
God Bless Tanzania.
Grant eternal Freedom and Unity
To its sons and daughters.
God Bless Tanzania and its People.
CHORUS:
Bless Tanzania,
Bless Tanzania,
Bless the children of Tanzania.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
One Week to Go!
One of the great benefits of working for Allscripts is the people. I have received many emails from co-workers supporting this adventure. I've had lots of conversations about the trip in the halls and elevators with strangers and those I've known for years.
I want to thank everyone who has been so supportive of Travis and myself as we've prepared for this trip.
We both know being away from the office for this amount of time will take a toll on those who have to step in and help in our absence. So I want to thank all of you for your support as well. I know it will be a challenge, but your contribution is being paid forward in the time we spend in Tanzania helping the children.
I want to let everyone know that I genuinely appreciate your support, thoughts and prayers as I prepare and depart on this journey.
This time next week, I'll be on a plane!
I want to thank everyone who has been so supportive of Travis and myself as we've prepared for this trip.
We both know being away from the office for this amount of time will take a toll on those who have to step in and help in our absence. So I want to thank all of you for your support as well. I know it will be a challenge, but your contribution is being paid forward in the time we spend in Tanzania helping the children.
I want to let everyone know that I genuinely appreciate your support, thoughts and prayers as I prepare and depart on this journey.
This time next week, I'll be on a plane!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
We're Ready!
For the past couple weeks, most people have the same question for me, "Are you ready for your trip?"
While I think there's no way to ever be mentally prepared for an experience like this, I can say I have everything I could possibly need (and more!) to travel 7,768 miles across the world for 18 days.
I've made list after list and comparison shopped for the best prices all over town and on the internet. Bug spray, hand sanitizer, Pepto, tissues, sunscreen, the list goes on and on. My grandmother sent money so we put that toward vitamins for the children.
While I think there's no way to ever be mentally prepared for an experience like this, I can say I have everything I could possibly need (and more!) to travel 7,768 miles across the world for 18 days.
I've made list after list and comparison shopped for the best prices all over town and on the internet. Bug spray, hand sanitizer, Pepto, tissues, sunscreen, the list goes on and on. My grandmother sent money so we put that toward vitamins for the children.
I talked to Connie yesterday and the first thing she said when she answered was, "How many days till you leave?!?!" I didn't have to hesitate or even think - it's 10. Travis and I have had a countdown calendar going on our desks since day 29...
Because the airlines allow each of us to take two 50lb checked bags, we will be loading them up with supplies for the orphanage and volunteer rooms - Sheets, vitamins, maybe even shoes for the kids. If you're able to donate money toward these items, please consider doing so. There's a link on the right side of the blog, or you can contact me directly as I'll be doing some shopping in the next week.
Connie told me about a couple of the children who have special needs; as if being HIV isn't enough, there are other problems they contend with. One of them isn't talking at all right now. Another isn't walking. We'll be spending some extra time each day with them to see if any progress can be made.
We will have internet access in Tanzania, so I'll be blogging as much as possible. My goal is daily, as long as the electricity is working! Stay tuned!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Welcome Chris Nesheim!
Late last week, Glen selected Chris Nesheim to join us in Tanzania. Chris is an RN and works as the System Director of Care Management at Lee Memorial Health System in Ft. Myers, FL. She works with the Allscripts Care Management product.
Chris has volunteered in hurricane recovery efforts in her area, she is a board member with the Red Cross and an advisor to the Salvation Army and participates in the Homeless Coalition. In her "free time" she has traveled extensively, though not to Africa. This trip will fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the continent. Another of her accolades includes winning second place in the National Windsurfing Regatta.
We're very excited to share this adventure experience with Chris!
Chris has volunteered in hurricane recovery efforts in her area, she is a board member with the Red Cross and an advisor to the Salvation Army and participates in the Homeless Coalition. In her "free time" she has traveled extensively, though not to Africa. This trip will fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the continent. Another of her accolades includes winning second place in the National Windsurfing Regatta.
We're very excited to share this adventure experience with Chris!
Friday, February 27, 2009
You Know You're Obsessed with Trip Planning When...
1 - You have dreams about electricity adapters
2 - You spend 5 hours online searching for the PERFECT passport/travel document wallet and then you poll your friends to pick the best color (I ended up with lime green. Thanks Shawn!)
3 - You are scheduling Outlook calendar meetings with your travel partner for 3 days before you depart and calling it a "Packing Party."
4 - You've made 3 (or was it 4?) trips to REI just to see what else they have on sale that you might need.
5 - You're already planning ways to take very fast showers since there's no hot water - Including trying to convince your hairstylist it's OK to use a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner combo for 2.5 weeks. She shot me down, but I'm still gonna do it. (sorry Rae!)
6 - You try to figure out how to subscribe to your OWN blog
7 - You've thought about starting to pack, but then realized that was just nuts: the plane doesn't leave for 4.5 weeks (see #3 as a way to cope with this one)
8 - You start referring to yourself as Muzungu - the Swahili word for 'white person'
9 - You confirm who is taking you to the airport 6 weeks before you depart. (Thanks Dad!)
10 - Your travel partner says, "Maybe we should just watch a movie to get your mind off this..." (Thanks Travis, it worked!)
I'm sure there are lots of other obsessions my family & friends will be happy to point out...
2 - You spend 5 hours online searching for the PERFECT passport/travel document wallet and then you poll your friends to pick the best color (I ended up with lime green. Thanks Shawn!)
3 - You are scheduling Outlook calendar meetings with your travel partner for 3 days before you depart and calling it a "Packing Party."
4 - You've made 3 (or was it 4?) trips to REI just to see what else they have on sale that you might need.
5 - You're already planning ways to take very fast showers since there's no hot water - Including trying to convince your hairstylist it's OK to use a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner combo for 2.5 weeks. She shot me down, but I'm still gonna do it. (sorry Rae!)
6 - You try to figure out how to subscribe to your OWN blog
7 - You've thought about starting to pack, but then realized that was just nuts: the plane doesn't leave for 4.5 weeks (see #3 as a way to cope with this one)
8 - You start referring to yourself as Muzungu - the Swahili word for 'white person'
9 - You confirm who is taking you to the airport 6 weeks before you depart. (Thanks Dad!)
10 - Your travel partner says, "Maybe we should just watch a movie to get your mind off this..." (Thanks Travis, it worked!)
I'm sure there are lots of other obsessions my family & friends will be happy to point out...
Monday, February 16, 2009
Learning and Teaching Goes Both Ways
Yesterday Travis and I had our first Skype call with Connie. It was great to be able to see her on the computer screen and interact with a real person, rather than just a voice on the other end of the phone.
We talked for an hour and a half about a variety of things. We learned that "Africa time" is much different than "America time". There people don't worry about being on time or getting things done in a timely manner. They live in the present. It's going to be a learning curve for both of us, because we are both 'planners' and are always thinking about what comes next. It doesn't work that way in Africa.
Connie also told us a little more about the options we have for working/volunteering when we're there. In addition to helping with breakfast and getting the kids at the orphanage off to school each day, we'll have a chance to work in their schools. We'll even help with English as second language for some of the orphanage staff. Basically, anything we can do to help them along each day.
Connie told us that some of the kids are being called 'demons' at school because of their positive HIV status. It's so sad to think of the discrimination that goes on there. It's because of the lack of education - and the witch doctors. So by us simply being there and interacting with the orphans at their schools, we'll be showing the teachers and other kids it's OK to be around people with HIV.
Even women are discriminated against to some extent. Connie told Travis that he'll be setting an example for the boys at the orphanage in the way that he treats me while we're there. Something simple (to us!) as treating me with respect, rather than being domineering will go a long way.
We're going to try our best to lead by example, teach where we can and hope that we're making an impact in some small way...but I have a feeling we're going to learn more from the kids than they will from us.
We talked for an hour and a half about a variety of things. We learned that "Africa time" is much different than "America time". There people don't worry about being on time or getting things done in a timely manner. They live in the present. It's going to be a learning curve for both of us, because we are both 'planners' and are always thinking about what comes next. It doesn't work that way in Africa.
Connie also told us a little more about the options we have for working/volunteering when we're there. In addition to helping with breakfast and getting the kids at the orphanage off to school each day, we'll have a chance to work in their schools. We'll even help with English as second language for some of the orphanage staff. Basically, anything we can do to help them along each day.
Connie told us that some of the kids are being called 'demons' at school because of their positive HIV status. It's so sad to think of the discrimination that goes on there. It's because of the lack of education - and the witch doctors. So by us simply being there and interacting with the orphans at their schools, we'll be showing the teachers and other kids it's OK to be around people with HIV.
Even women are discriminated against to some extent. Connie told Travis that he'll be setting an example for the boys at the orphanage in the way that he treats me while we're there. Something simple (to us!) as treating me with respect, rather than being domineering will go a long way.
We're going to try our best to lead by example, teach where we can and hope that we're making an impact in some small way...but I have a feeling we're going to learn more from the kids than they will from us.
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