By: Jarreau Freeman
Read all posts by Jarreau
For the last two weeks of May I had the incredible opportunity to go to Tanzania for a service learning trip with Chestnut Hill College, Rosemont College, and Marywood University. Going into this experience I had no expectations. I had no idea what the two weeks would hold and the adventures that it would bring. I entered into this experience with an open heart and mind, and was excited to receive from this trip whatever God had for me. Little did I know that I would be receiving more than any words can describe.
To actually get onto African soil it would take twenty-four hours of travel. The team would take a fourteen hour flight from New York to Dubai, and then another five hour flight from Dubai to Dar es Salam, Tanzania. In addition, we would have to endure a five hour van ride to Morogoro, the region that we would be working in. I was a little apprehensive to take a fourteen hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean. I have never flow for that long, heck I have never left the continent before. To endure the long hours of travel I made sure my carryon bag was filled with Tylenol PM (a sleeping aid and my life saver on the flight) my iPod, and a book. However, my iPod and book were not really needed on the flight. I was able to entertain myself by watching a selection of films on my own personal TV that was attached to the seat in front of me. A fourteen hour flight goes by fast when you have films like Lovely Bones, When in Rome, Invictus, and Leap Year to occupy you.
Before I knew it we were in Dubai. Though I was exhausted from the flight I was ecstatic that I was safely out of North America, and in another part of the world. My eyes were overwhelmed at what I saw in the Dubai airport. People from India, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and European were scattered about checking for flight times, shopping for souvenirs, and claiming their luggage. I had never heard so many different languages spoken, in one place, in my entire life. Plus, Dubai was known as one of the wealthiest countries in the world; it showed! The airport was filled with glamorous stores and palm trees. The airport also had rooms just for prayer, smoking, and had a quiet lounge. It was one of the most interesting airports I had ever been in my life!
