This is the blog for you who wants to join me on my journey of reinventing myself. But it is also the blog for you, who might want to be a volunteer yourself and find inspiration and answers to some of your questions and doubts. The blog will also contain travel inspiration and my perception of being a tourist in first and foremost the area around Arusha, but later on I will also be visiting Zanzibar and Madagascar.
My motivation for being a volunteer in Tanzania, was to contribute and learn. Soon after I arrived, I found out that work processes just goes slower. Actually so slowly that I barely had anything to do for two months. Which is why I ended my volunteer ship May 9th. So what am I gonna do now?
Well, there is not much to do. At least not workwise, but I have had some nice experiencing in the weekends.
My second week definitely went better that my first. The work was and is still very much NOT structured, but I guess that is just the Tanzanian way of living. Or maybe it is just the department where I work ;) Anyways, because I have not have that much work, I have been doing a lot of research about the different topics which we will be working with, among other Maasai women and their challenges and empowerment of the youth of Arusha. Maybe I also spent some of the time researching for those experiences I would like to receive while I visit the country. It is so cheap to live here as a local, but OMG when I want to try tourist attractions the level raises like crazy. Damn I'm not a rich white girl - do not steal all my money :O But off course I will go and let them steal all my money. The first safari trip has been booked, so here I go in mid May :D
The first week has both been exciting, exhausting, boring and a huge cultural shock.
So the day started very early. The alarm rang at 03.39, and my flight was a 06.00. So good morning to me. As we say in Danish; Oppe før fanden får sko på, or translated up before Satan gets his shoes on.
Within this presentation, you will hopefully reach knowledge about my previous travel patterns and where my adventurousness and courage stem from.
The next step is almost as long as my journey are going to be.. at least if we look at the period of time. My journey to Africa will last for 4,5 month. The planning started in mid October and the journey will start in the very beginning of March. For a person who enjoys to coordinate, this step was exciting, but at times it could also be challenging.
My thoughts of being a volunteer started in late June 2024, when I was told that I was suffering from stress. At that time, I decided that i needed to change my life and do more of what I love. One of my big passions is to travel and experience new culture. I have always dreamed of working in a foreign country and thereby the idea of being a volunteer appeared. In that way, I can receive new experiences, both personal and professional. I did my research with different companies, which are sending volunteers to all over the world. I decided to go with Global Contact, which is Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke's travel program. I will be working within a program called ActionAid. If you are interested in learning more about the work of ActionAid, you can find more information through the link www.actionaid.org/who-we-are
For those of you, who doesn't know me: my name is Mia Malling Jensen and I am 34 years old. Originally I come from Aalborg, but the last 8 years I have been living i Copenhagen, where I have been working within the service industry as a waiter with different responsibilities. In 2021 I graduated a master in Global Tourism Development. The summer of 2024 I felt that i needed to receive new experiences and that is why I am starting my adventure as a volunteer in Arusha, Tanzania.
I look forward to share this experience with all of you who wants to follow me on my adventure.
You can also keep up on my Instagram account next.stopafrica