Traveling vs Immersing

   I've already learned a lot from the little time I've been living in Tanzania, which has made me realize the differences between traveling and actually experiencing another country. If it wasn't for Peace Corps I wouldn't have had the opportunity to learn how to cook on a charcoal jiko with the mama's,  I wouldn't be sitting down with the wazee of my village and drinking street coffee while I talk about life here compared to life in America, and I wouldn't have built great relationships with community members or students. Granted I also wouldn't be listening to rats run above me every night, or have to deal with my neighbors chickens coming into my house every day, and I definitely wouldn't have crammed into a Daladala with 20 extra people just to get into town. However, the negatives are so miniscule in the scheme of what I am getting out of my life here. Yeah I'd rather not have seen that giant cockroach in my bathroom, but I'd see it every day if it meant I could continue teaching here.
     If I hadn't joined Peace Corps I still would have followed my dreams to Africa, but in a much different style than how I currently am. I would be spending 20 times my monthly pay if I had decided to simply travel. It would pretty sweet to be on a safari, or on the beaches of Zanzibar, or hiking Kilimanjaro. But, if I was doing that I would be in the tourist areas that don't really have as much to offer me (besides safi food). I would even still be referring to the separate islands of Zanzibar as Zanzibar. I wouldn't have had my host family to teach me how cards are shuffled here, and what card games are played. My Swahili would still be at the same level it was in the states, since you can get by with English in the bigger cities, and I would seal my financial fate at the market by using English. I had no desire to go to the region that I currently call home, but because I am here I've been able to watch the sunset over Mozambique from the top of the Newala Plateau. 

     My day to day life has drastically changed from what it once was. My hands are becoming calloused just from the work I put into a meal, or drinkable water. I haven't even been here for four months and I've already benefited so much. I'm excited to see who I am after two years. Some people may think that life like this is difficult, but it's incredibly rewarding compared to my life in America. I'm proud of myself for overcoming different obstacles that I've been presented with here. In the end I wouldn't have had to face the vast majority of these if I had just traveled. Life could have been incredibly different if I didn't join the Peace Corps, but then I wouldn't have actually known Tanzania would I? You can travel the world as much as you want, but that doesn't mean you will experience all the world can offer you in return