Reflections on Tanzania

The fluorescence of the parking lot lights sprinkles us as we give our finally embraces to our Tanzanian friends and drag our suitcases into the international customs check-in. As we waited for the Turkish airlines baggage counter to be assembled, the enormity of this trip sunk into me. I knew that my effervescent tan would fade long before our friendships and memories from this trip ever would.

While using my carry-on as a makeshift pillow while waiting to board, the past 3.5 weeks kept running vividly through my mind. Dar-es-Salaam’s constant bustle juxtaposed with its peaceful co-existence of individuals of different races, religions and creed was something that was reminiscent but yet so different from my beloved Chicago. Knowing that I would soon be giggling over chai with my friends back home evoked memories of bonding over chai with my colleagues at Muhimbili University’s College of Dentistry at my dining room table in Dar. Seeing the mind-blowing textbook cases of head and neck cancer at the minor surgery clinic made me wonder how my patients who come to the University of Illinois at Chicago’s dental clinics were doing. Yearning to be back biking above the clouds at the literally breathtaking Irente Cliff reminded me that I needed to prop my chair back up on the apartment rooftop to gaze at the Chicago skyline. Feeling the coastal breeze while applying fluoride and doing screening exams for the elementary school children in the region of Tanga made me remember that I had to sign up to present about oral hygiene education at more Chicago Public Schools.

When the Turkish Airlines announcer’s dual announcement in Swahili and English for the passengers to proceed to their gate came back on, I got back up and reluctantly opened my eyes again. Waking up from my Tanzanian dream, I knew that real life and dreams always have a chance to intermix. Will my plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and utilize my newfound passion for global oral health allow me to return to Tanzania? I don’t know. I do know that this trip and life is constantly showing me that humanity is one, regardless of our political climates, social status and where we may live.  

Amboni Caves and Last Day in Tanga

Hey guys,
I went spelunking in a skirt ;) . It was a great experience! The entrance was 20,000 TSH (less than `0 dollars) for an hour and a half tour. We went with the dental therapy students in Tanga and the principal, Dr. Betson, drove us there. Some of the passageways were extremely narrow and I started to get a little scared. Luckily those passages were only scattered throughout the caves. But we did see a ton of bats! People used to hide out in the caves, some that were hiding from oppressive political policies and some that were inflicting those oppressive policies. Ask me for more info about.

Entrance to the cave in the shape of Africa

Tanga Dental Therapy Training Centre Crew

Spelunking in a skirt ;) .

There was also an area dedicated for a mosque inside the cave, as well.
I became close with one of the dental therapy students Asina, so I met her in her dorms. After a while, Imani, one of the other dental therapy students showed me what life truly was like in Tanga and took me to a locals-only beach club. I couldn't help but feeling like a native Tanzanian there!

At the local beach club.