While I am devising one of my final rounds of, “So You Think You Can Teach: Rwanda”, I thought I had better take the chance to add a bit more about Tanzania along with a few of the differences between Rwanda and Tanzania.
Bus stop in Tanzania |
First, I will say that I believe Tanzania is the African country of many people’s dreams. For whatever many reasons, I know that when I think about Africa my thoughts and images are of a place like Tanzania . The Serengeti being my primary iconic landscape and atmosphere I had believed “Africa ” to be…I know, right? Talk about a single story! Rest assured that I am fully aware that I am speaking of Africa as many people do, that is, as if it is one place instead of a continent full of many diverse peoples and landscapes, and I thought now was not the time to pretend I had ever spoken differently.
Perhaps my limited Africa lens was in part created while visiting my grandparents on Sunday evenings in BellePlaine, Minnesota and watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom with them, along with the movie Born Free, and PBS documentaries on Jane Goodall and the work of Mary and Louis Leakey. Unfortunately, as a student Africa was never mentioned beyond being a continent and a place with interesting animals along with a few of the great wonders of the world. Beyond that my knowledge and awareness seemed to extend little beyond the popular media’s descriptions of drought, famine, conflict, and war.
Open space on the coast of the Indian Ocean |
So while Tanzania fits into a lot of these long held beliefs about what Africa would look like, smell like, and feel like, it also does not, and Rwanda most certainly does not. Surprisingly, both are much more…how can I say this?...I am at a loss here…okay, I will say it…ordinary than that. Ouch! I said it. Now don’t get me wrong, both Tanzania and Rwanda are extraordinary places full of unexpected differences and beyond belief sights that you wish someone would invent an eye camera for as you could never describe them even on your best literary days, but they are also places with people just getting on in a very direct way with daily life.
Even as I look at that statement I realize again the deeply imprinted story I had about this place I call Africa . Did I expect a lion around every corner, along with people in the final stages of starvation? No, of course I didn’t, but then I think I was at a loss to hold many other narratives about Africa , let alone individual countries.
Therefore, how are Tanzania and Rwanda different? Can two countries separated by an individual line really be all that different? They can and I don’t mean different like the United States and Canada , but more like the United States and Mexico . How these differences come about is not the point of this entry, and something I am sure has been well researched and documented by many fine minds. Instead I will give you some throw away, first impression differences.
With that I will shamelessly post more safari pictures and get back to the task at hand…training teachers in Rwanda .
Hippos on the look out for crocodiles |
Beautiful Erin! Your essay is worthy of making me "tear up" at your humble reflection on being a "human" no matter what country are living. Bravo! (Maureen)
ReplyDeleteIndeed, what is an 'ordinary' day. I really like the honesty that you show by revealing your expectations of a place. I have been fortunate enough to have done a little traveling in the States and have experienced a sense of both relief and disappointment. A couple of places that come to mind are New Orleans, Washington D.C., and Alaska. Each of these places held great places in my imagination due to various media input and cultural references, but when I arrived it was both more and less than I had anticipated.
ReplyDeleteI think we would see this theme in much travel writing. I think this "what is it really like" revelation that one is afforded when visiting a new place is one of the reasons we travel.
To get to the next step in your observation, I think that it is important for people to rid themselves of the media driven cultural overviews (oversights?) and realize that we are really all the same - people looking for love, shelter, and a reason to hope (education).
It is through the work that you and others who venture into the world in peaceful, selfless ways, that make helpful connections, which we hope can save the human race from itself.
Too much? Perhaps, but we must know that if we don't all work together with compassion and understanding, with humility and empathy, with courage and insight - we ain't gonna do as well as we should. I know that these are words and not deeds, but if we keep spouting them, perhaps they will take hold in the next generation of leaders.
Beautiful picture of that Girraffe too. That thing is ta-aallll-all. Beautiful.
Well posted as usual. I really enjoy your comments, and I too am hopeful for the next generation of leaders and appreciate any person dedicated to supporting their best efforts. Having said that I also appreciate any young person wise enough to listen to what the old folks have to say. I know being in my middle years I try to do a little of both.
ReplyDelete