But it is the warmness of the people that I find most appealing.  Perhaps bright lights and big cities have hardened me, because I find myself charmed by the bright smiles and big hearts of this country.  Harmony is not easy to achieve in a continent that has suffered through so many tragedies. But Tanzania, a melting pot of various ethnic groups, is relatively free from the tensions that plague so many other African nations.  This is partly due to the beloved Julius Nyerere, who won Tanzania’s freedom from the Europeans and became her first president. He tore down old ethnic and social divides and rebuilt the nation upon the notion of equality and unity:

“In Tanzania, it was more than one hundred tribal nits which lost their freedom; it was one nation that regained it.”

However, living with a Tanzanian family has helped me open my eyes to the everyday plights of  the people. It is hard to romanticize about a place, however stunning and exotic, when blackouts, water shortages and two hour traffic jams are real and frequent.  But I fully appreciate the authenticity of the experience, because it is so easy as a Muzungu (foreigner, usually a white person) to see half the story.

And so, it is against this backdrop of breathtaking visuals, humbling hospitality and demoralizing realities that I will carryout my fellowship…

ps. here is my first blog for Kiva

On Sept 21st,  49 individuals came together in SF to begin the training for a  journey.  These individuals could not have been more different but for a desire they all shared. This desire is to engage themselves in the grassroots movement that is Kiva.  These 49 comprise the 9th class of Kiva Fellows (KF9) and will be spread across South America, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.  And I have the honor of being a part of this group. 

Like fellows before us, we have agreed to journey out onto the field to collect invaluable stories about the Kiva borrowers.  These stories can not be underestimated. They are the threads that tie the young Kiva community together and the source of transparency that many NGOs fail to provide.   

However, the role of the fellow extends far beyond storytelling. For the past week, we have undergone sessions about the many deliverables needed to be accomplished at our respective MFIs. For example, some tasks include revamping  journal updating procedures, verifying borrower information, and carrying out miscellaneous projects for the MFI.

The weeklong training laid the groundwork of what is to be expected of us.  But it was also an opportunity for the group to get to know each before heading for our separate ways.  For myself, I will be placed in Tanzania, one of only two who will be there. I’m extremely fortunate for the inspiring opportunity to the meet the Kiva staff and fellows.  By the end of the week, we were no longer 49 individuals, but KF9.