Building International Friendships while Traveling in Tanzania
Traveling to Tanzania will open your eyes and encourage you to remember others in need.
Standing outside the homes of students, I found myself contemplating simple questions yet struggling to find answers.I wondered:
- “Where do they find water to survive each day?”
- “Where do their livestock graze?”
- “Where do the children wash up at the end of the day?”
- “Where do they go to the restroom?”
Gradually, I noticed a few shrubs and scattered trees. Our journey took us through several deep ravines by car. I watched as these ravines filled with water by day’s end, and we began to question whether we would make it to the main road safely that night. The extremes of life in the village keep one humble. I observed that women brought out their cups and pots as soon as the rain began. One must cherish every moment, for the rain duration is uncertain, and it’s unclear if they will return tomorrow.
One thing became clear by the end of my week traveling with Resiato, Melissa, and Xiaomin: international friendships are invaluable. The memories and experiences we shared bind our hearts and our lives in extraordinary ways. I am grateful that Blessing Hands provides educational opportunities for students around the globe. Without schools and education, many students may never discover that another village lies beyond the mountain, let alone learn about the diverse cultures, languages, foods, and clothing around the world.
A Story of Cultural Differences in Food
One memorable food experience involved a family that offered us bananas, oranges, and chicken. They raise livestock but seldom consume them, as they represent their hope for income to purchase flour, rice, and cornmeal. Our group was thrilled to see the oranges, but the family expressed their dislike for them, describing them as bitter and irritating to their eyes. I was perplexed, having experienced both sour and sweet oranges but never bitter ones. It wasn’t until I witnessed a woman bite directly into an orange peel, causing the juice to squirt into her eye, that it all made sense. Bitter and painful to the eyes—now I understood. Xiaomin quickly demonstrated how to eat an orange, and the family hesitantly tried them, with a few even taking a second wedge. This small moment highlighted our basic human need to understand differences—whether in food, resources, or culture.As we made our way back to the small town, we began to reflect on the children we saw along the long road to the villages. We handed many of them oranges, which they quickly tucked into their clothing pockets. Those familiar with the Maasai know of the magical pocket created by their tunics at the belt. This design allows them to store personal items and snacks during long days of work and travel on foot. Did these children know how to eat oranges? Had they ever received one before? We were left wondering what they thought of the little round orange balls we gave them—were they toys or food? How would they make sense of it all? These questions lingered in our minds.
Blessing Hands originated in China in 2005 when Betty Cutts recognized the need for a few children during her travels teaching English as part of a Sister City program. Today, we foster relationships with volunteer administrators in China, Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Liberia, and now Tanzania. These partnerships will positively impact students, families, communities, nations, and our fascinating global community.
