Once in a lifetime

I'll keep this brief--I believe everyone is a little apprehensive when they enter the unknown continent of Africa for the first time, based on preconceived ideas of what it's like there. I would be lying if I said I wasn't one of those people. At the moment of arrival I was anxious about the culture, the natives, the other volunteers, the food, getting sick... By the second week, I had come to love everything about Tanzania. You have to be open-minded if you are going to survive here. And by "survive" I mean getting along with your fellow volunteers, getting around town, and experience everything this beautiful country has to offer. The mamas' cooking was excellent, the sights: Moshi (waterfall + hot spring), safari, Zanzibar, Maasai village were all breathtaking, and the nightlife at Via Via with my new friends were unforgettable.
What I'm trying to say is, be in the moment--every second of it--because although it's not what you're used to, that's what makes it awesome. Appreciate the kids you are teaching, embrace their hugs, and return their smiles with yours because it means more than you can imagine. Enjoy sitting around the table with new friends from all over the world and share your life with theirs'. Before you know it, your last day will come and you'll wish you had more time!