"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."

Our trip to Tanzania is about seven months away, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about what we're in for. One of the many things I've learned from my past travels is that what I'm about to experience, is not even close to what I fantasize. The expectations that I unconsciously set for this trip will undoubtedly be exceeded by what is coming, and I will be left, once again, breathless.

With every new experience comes new fears. Going into this trip, what worries me the most is the acceptance of the people there. I'm not concerned with the ability of people (on my team or that we meet) to love a stranger, because everyone is more than capable of that. 

My fears lie in the actual process of acceptance, of building a relationship from scratch that will last forever. Doing this is not at all impossible or improbable, but I know that I will have to work for their trust. I'm worried that, despite my best efforts, I will not be welcomed as a friend.

I also know that there will be difficulties that I have to face. Not all of them will be enormous and horrifyingly daunting, but rather seemingly insignificant and only slightly troubling: waking up early, sweating a ton, tripping and falling (this will surely happen to someone as it always does), and bugs. 

But what I think will be the most difficult is leaving. The bond we are capable of making in only a few days is extraordinary, and it is always heartbreaking to leave the people you've just fallen in love with. 

With each trip I've gone on with CGA, there has been a different outcome. After Cambodia, I learned to be less "blind" to what is happening in the world, and to live each second the fullest. After Nicaragua, I learned that doing more in less time doesn't mean more happiness, that appreciating even the smallest details rather than working ourselves out over the big picture can make a world of difference, and that the smiles, laughter, and lessons that you experience with someone else are the building blocks of a friendship.

Even though I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to take away from Tanzania, I still can imagine. I think that this trip will teach me to be bold and set out after what I believe needs to be done. I believe I will learn more about what it means to be grateful, and take advantage of the amazing opportunities I see everyday. 

This journey to Tanzania will undoubtedly give me yet another life changing perspective, open my heart wider, and leave me with another home and family.

"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you." - Aldous Huxley