My itinerary then took me to Tanzania, where myself and five other gap students had the opportunity to learn about the culture and life of the Tanzanian people. We were welcomed into the environment of a small village, living amongst the people and engaging with the children.
This experience not only brought to light the privileges I have in America, but it gave me an entirely new perspective on life itself.
To the children and families in Tanzania, clean water is a privilege. Their day-to-day challenges were fundamental: food, water, and shelter. One would typically think that people facing these hardships would be struggling visibly; however, what I found so interesting about the children in Tanzania was that they were genuinely happy. They didn’t have smartphones, TVs, or computers, but they all had one thing in common: their love for life, and everyone living it!
The happiness, kindness, and love they showed me was truly inspiring and brought forth the motivation that I had been seeking.