GIVE: “Words are Wind”
Written by: Austin Bergana
7/11/2014
“Words are Wind”
These three words said by one of the guides on my excursion have been running through my head ever since I left Tanzania. So many times in life people say that they want to do something, but for some reason do not act upon it. You can say so much but those words mean nothing until action is taken. I realized this a few months before I decided to go on this trip and I am so glad that I did.
For a long time, I was trying to find a volunteer trip to go on and when one of the representatives from GIVE came to my school, I instantly knew that it was the right program for me. At first, I actually didn’t even know if this trip was real because of how amazing it sounded, but after going I realized it was all of that and so much more. From the second that I arrived at the Kilimanjaro airport until the time that I boarded the plane to go back home to the United States I was in pure amazement.
“GROWTH means change, and change involves risks, stepping from the known to the unknown…”
The first morning on Zanzibar Island I woke up at around six o’clock, and was one of the few volunteers up around this time. As I walked out of my room, I ran into a little boy named John who was swatting at bugs with his bare hands. I began to play with him for a little while and a few volunteers and I walked down to the beach with him. To get from Zanview (our hostel) down to the beach, we had to walk through the village of Cairo that we were helping out. I had never been in an area of such poverty as I experienced right there with my own two eyes. At first I felt a little nervous but I soon began to hear many “Jambo’s” and little kids running up to us and giving off so much love. The smiles that the people on that island offered were so beautiful and filled with so much happiness. I found it crazy how these people had so little but were the happiest people I have ever been around in my life. It was truly inspiring.
“Everyone smiles in the same language.”
One morning as I was doing construction with a few of the volunteers, we began to have a conversation that left such a remarkable impact on my life. One of the volunteers asked to the group, “What was the highest and lowest points of your life thus far?” I asked if I could go first, and stated my answer. I said that the lowest point of my entire life was when my grandmother passed away about a year before this excursion, and the highest point I had ever felt was right there in that moment. I honestly have never felt so much peace and happiness in a consecutive amount of days like I did while I was in Zanzibar. Witnessing all of the smiles on all of the locals’ faces and seeing how appreciative they were that we were helping to make a difference in their lives was the most incredible and heart-warming experience.
“Sometimes if you travel far enough, you meet yourself.”
I am a strong believer that there is a reason certain people walk into your life and that’s how I feel about two guys I met on the island, Mcheni and Khamis (a.k.a. MC and Katelephone). From the second that I met these guys, we were cracking jokes on each other and created such an awesome bond.
Every day I would always look forward to tutoring Mcheni in the afternoon. Even though we would joke around a lot, when it was time to learn English he would be very serious and was so dedicated to study. I have never in my life seen a student who was so eager to learn and accomplish all of his dreams.
One day I asked him what he wanted to do with his life and he said that he wanted to be a doctor and a pilot, and if those don’t work out he wanted to be a professional soccer player. I have so much hope in these two and I know that they can accomplish their dreams one day.
Even though I was Mcheni’s tutor, just being around him taught me so much about life and I will always be so grateful for that. Before I left the island I went to say my goodbyes to Mcheni and Khamis and they told me to wait a few moments. Mcheni ran to his home and came back with shells that he polished and gave them to me and two other volunteers and said that it was a thank you gift for teaching him English. Even though it was something so little, it was the most meaningful gift I have ever received.
Coming from someone who doesn’t have much to give, he still wanted to give me what he had and that will always mean so much to me. Leaving these guys was one of the hardest things that I have ever done, but I promised them that I would be back and always be there for them. Since the day that I got home there hasn’t been a day that I haven’t thought about these two guys and I can’t wait to go back to help them accomplish their goals in life.
“From the time that i left for my trip to the time that i got home, I was a completely changed person.
Tanzania really helped me figure out who I truly am and what is actually important in life.
All of the things that I thought were huge problems at home suddenly became so little after this experience. I feel that everyone should experience a trip with GIVE at least once in his or her life. Experiencing a culture that is so unique and undertaking things such as salt water showers, watching wild goats and animals walk through the village freely, eating different foods, and experiencing the things you can only dream of first hand is so life changing. Seeing the looks on the faces of the people while helping them is just simply priceless. The guides, the volunteers, and the locals of Zanzibar will always hold such a special place in my heart forever.