I hope
everyone has had and continues to have a glorious holiday season! I would like
to thank all the generous people who have contributed to my fundraising page so
far! I know this is the trip of a lifetime and I am truly touched that you all
think it is a cause worthy of your donations. Your faith in me has built up the
confidence I have in myself and that is truly priceless. I love every one of
you and I am so glad everyone will be able to follow me along on this
adventure, it would not have been possible without you! (here is the link to my
page: http://gogetfunding.com/grace-goes-to-africa/ )
As the
date of my departure for Tanzania inches closer and the dream of my semester abroad
becomes more of a reality, I’m filled with a unique sense of anticipation,
unlike anything I have ever felt before. The excitement I feel is almost uncontainable,
but flows with a hint of anxiety. This anxiety is, in part, because it is hard
to concentrate on anything other than the daydreams that fill my head about the
experiences I will have and the memories I will make; and because I am feeling
a bit unprepared. Deciding to study abroad was a big decision for me and
although I have fully embraced it now, at first the idea slightly surpassed the
boundaries of my comfort zone. I believe my experience in Florida this summer
gave me the extra dose of confidence I needed to genuinely pursue this dream.
My
time of self-reflection and personal growth in Florida also gave me a second
wind of determination for success in my academics. This semester I was more
focused than I have ever been in college thus far, and to me, the results paid
off because I also earned my highest GPA ever and it felt miraculous! That
being said, this new found focus took a lot of time and practice, and caused me
to put many other things in my life on hold. I now feel the thoughts of my trip
are generating higher levels of excitement because I have had time to do more
research and gain more knowledge. Everything I have read ensures me that I made
a great, life-altering decision additionally, it gives me an exponentially greater
amount to look forward to!
In
re-reading all my emails however, I found a packing list that I clearly missed
when scanning my inbox earlier in the semester. While it was such a relief to
have found the list, reading through it made me aware of how much more research
I need to do before I leave plus a detailed list of what I need to pack
precisely.
Although
I know Tanzania is a Muslim culture, I failed to consider the implications that
this culture would have on the garb of American students. When planning what to
pack, I began gathering almost the exact same outfits I packed this summer, (this
was prior to reading the packing list.) The customary dress through out the
warm climate of Florida is extremely revealing and tends to be lacking in
modesty. In Zanzibar, these outfits would not be socially acceptable
whatsoever, furthermore, they would be considered very offensive. I learned I
will be carrying out everyday activities such as going to school or spending a day
out in the town, and engaging in recreational activities such as exercising and
hiking, wearing floor length skirts. This was news to me, but the packing list
also noted how inexpensive it is to have clothing made there, it also reminded
us that we could tailor these outfits to our unique styles, yet another thing
to look forward to!
I AM
SO EXCITED!!!
