Traveling to Tanga: ‘The longest day of our lives’
Written by Brandi Barhite | Special Sections Editor | bbarhite@toledofreepress.comEditor’s note: This is a continuing series on Toledo International Youth Orchestra’s planned trip to Tanga. Toledo Free Press Special Sections Editor Brandi Barhite is in Africa with the group.
We arrived in Africa on June 30. I won’t even bother to complain about what we are calling the “longest day of our lives.”
The trek started on June 28 with a charter bus ride from Toledo to Chicago, a seven-hour plane trip to London, an eight-hour layover in London, complete with a whirlwind tour of the city, and then a nine-hour flight to Dar es Salaam.
Even so, our worst days of travel would be a dream day for those living in Tanzania.
Many of the stereotypes about Africa seem true so far. I hate to say it because I was told to push those out of my mind. These stereotypes, however, are glaring at me: hut-like homes, people milling around with nowhere to go, dirt streets, natives trying to sell us T-shirts through our bus windows and children running around with no supervision.
Members of the Toledo International Youth Orchestra with several new friends in Tanzania.
The hotel we are staying in Dar es Salaam is considered an upgrade. If that’s the case, I don’t want to see our original hotel rooms. These rooms are simple with no amenities, which is a minor inconvenience. The problem is lack of cleanliness, which took my breath away when we arrived at the airport. Out of necessity, I used the restroom. The smell took me back. The toilet didn’t flush and there was no soap. TIYO member Paris Johnson summed it up best: “You feel like you are going to die.”
I don’t want to sugarcoat this trip. We are getting the real thing. I don’t want to criticize the natives’ lifestyle either, but even they know it could be better. I was talking to a resident of small village who is angry that the president of Tanzania is only concerned about his “self-interests.”
This 34-year-old man cringed at the word “poor,” but wanted answers on how to improve life for his family. He envies my English because English is “opportunity,” in his opinion. He showed me his huge English dictionary, which was the nicest item in his wife’s bedroom. He asked for help before I left. All I could do was smile. The kids waved. We left and didn’t complain about our crowded, hot bus.
What can we do? I don’t know. I don’t think any of us know. This is everything we expected, but were told not to expect. Well, it’s true. We are here and seeing it firsthand. This part of Africa is poor and it’s a type of poor we have never seen before. I guess seeing is believing.
