I am not sure that if you would have told me at the beginning of my freshman year at Wofford, in 2017, that I would be spending the summer following my sophomore year in Arusha, Tanzania, that I would have believed you. Similarly, last week, if you would have told me that, moments before writing this post, I would be trying to figure out how to fit fifteen pairs of underwear into an already-brimming suitcase, I am not sure that I would have believed that either (I have always thought I was above stress-packing). All of this to say I am in disbelief, joy, fear, excitement and sorrow that I will be spending the next two-and-a-half months in East Africa.

My placement while in Arusha will be with fellow Wofford student, Meredith Goings, at Silverleaf Academy. Silverleaf is an East African network of primary schools that work towards bringing affordable alternative education that is comparable to expensive private schools. They achieve their goal through tablet technology, intentional teacher training, student centered approaches and community engagement. Since launching in 2016, Silverleaf has opened a total of four schools, and by 2020 plan to open four more.

While it took my parents a while to come around to the idea of me spending the summer over 7,000 miles away from home, I think that they are similarly filled with the same excitement and sorrow that I am. Summer has always been a recuperation from the demands of the academic school year – beach trips, lake days, odd-jobs, hikes and road trips; whereas this summer will be spent in a developing country, working 9 to 5 without AC.

I could not be more excited to spend the next two-and-a-half months with a group of Wofford students exploring a new country and meeting new people – getting to know the culture by naturally existing in a place for an extended period of time is one of the things that I most look forward to. I am joyful for the new friends that I am going to make while abroad and the unforgettable memories that we will share this summer. I am sorry for all that I am going to be absent for back in the States, I am going to miss countless people while I am gone but anticipate my return to see them all again.

Wofford, this sweet school of mine, has provided me with more relationships, knowledge and opportunity than I could have ever imagined. When I saw this one on the table, I grabbed it up and ran. One week from today, I hope to be at least halfway through my 17 hours of flights, hurtling towards an unforgettable summer. So, be sure to check back in the coming months as I relay more and more 'Correspondence from Kilimanjaro.'