By Solomon Herring
It is with a heavy heart that I sit here today, saying goodbye to everyone that made my stay here in Tanzania so unforgettable. This beautiful country has been my home for the past two months, and now I must come face to face with the bittersweet reckoning that has been on my mind for the past week. My time here is coming to an end, and I must embark on the long journey back to my home in the United States. I have formed friendships with amazing people and immersed myself in a culture that is so different from the western world. It pains me to be reminded that nothing is permanent and that all good things must come to an end.
I would like to thank Tizia for responding so promptly to my Workaway application and providing me with a second home more than 11,000 kilometers away from the United States. I would like to thank Uli, Gloria, Venance, Mama Dennis, Beate, and the rest of the staff at Viva Tanzania and Nyumbani Hostel for accommodating me for the past two months. I would like to thank anyone who has read my blog articles, and I hope that my accounts will encourage you to come and visit Tanzania. My experience here has been unreal, and the memories that I have forged will stay with me for the rest of my life. I ventured deep into the bush of the Serengeti, I slept on the slopes of Ngorongoro crater, and swam in the pristine Indian Ocean. I forged friendships that I hope to maintain for the rest of my life, with people not only from Tanzania, but all over the world. Throughout the past two months, I have had the time of my life, and I am more than thankful that I have been able to share these amazing moments with kindhearted individuals.
Before coming to Tanzania, I was caught deep in the abyss of my own depression. I had spent the past year alone and disconnected from the outside world. I spent my days endlessly sitting in front of my laptop, and participating in online college. I was in a dark place, and I was on the verge of losing all hope that the world would come back to normal. However, being able to spend such a long time in a country populated by kindhearted and positive people completely changed my perspective on life. I am ecstatic to now say that I have regained my sense of optimism. I can now return back to the United States with a positive mindset. Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank my fellow Workawayers and volunteers. Words cannot express how truly thankful I am that I got to spend time with a diverse group of people, all of whom helped make Tanzania my home. When volunteering here at Viva Tanzania, you are part of one big family. Everyone looks out for each other and practices a level of kindness that is unmatched anywhere else. While staying in Tanzania, there hasn’t been a single moment where I have felt alone, and that is all thanks to my amazing friends. You have made my time here unforgettable and you all have a place to stay if you are ever in the United States.