Getting to CCS

Arriving at CCS – Saturday, 26/7/08 (That’s right…Tanzanian format!!!)

After finally arriving to CCS, we were all greeted with a warm Karibu and a hot meal. The staff members here are incredibly welcoming. We were also greeted by some of the older volunteers who were staying longer than 3 weeks.
After dinner we were broken up into two groups. The groups were defined by what house we were staying in. In Bagamoyo there are three houses. The main house is compiled of two buildings: the main house and the Annex. One is right across the road from the other. The summer house (which will close in Mid-August) is a five minute walk from the main house. Those of us who were staying in the main house had been separated from those staying in the summer house when we boarded the different buses at the airport. Anyway, so we were split up into the Annex group and the Main House group.
I’m staying in the Annex, in a room with two bunk beds. (BTW, I haven’t slept in a bunk bed since I was a kid!) My roommates are Robbie from Connecticut, Brandon from North Carolina, and Abid (a left over volunteer) from somewhere in Canada. They’re all very cool guys, however, significantly younger than me.
After finally settling in, the volunteers and the staff did a little more “getting to know you” stuff. We were all asking questions about each other and so on. Funny thing is that, usually in the US, the questions asked are “What’s your name?”, “How old are you?”, and “What do you do?” However, the Tanzanians ask, “Habari za jioni?” (“How are you this evening?”), “Umeoa?” (”Are you married?”), and “Una watoto wangapi?” (“How many children do you have?”). If you’re local you may also be asked “Una wake wangapi?” (“How many wives do you have?”). It was definitely fun meeting everyone.

Seeing the Indian Ocean

Lots of stuff has happened since I left London. Leaving London Bridge was an excursion in itself. Because of the police activity the main entrance to the LB Tube Station was closed off. So, I had to finagle another way to get in. After dodging some po-po and ducking the yellow tape, I got into the station, got back on to the Tube, and went off to the airport to get my “checked” luggage, check-in, and get on my plain to Nairobi, Kenya.

I started my Heathrow experience on a low note having problems checking-in with Kenya Airways. They had given my seat to someone else, so I didn’t have the aisle seat I reserved; they gave me a window seat instead. I was burnt, but too tired to bitch and moan about it.

My saving grace was meeting a really wonderful woman from Cameroon, West Africa. Her name is Bernadette Fonge. While on the plane, Bernadette and I joked and laughed, watched “Vantage Point”, talked politics and social development, and bullshitted the whole way. It was an over-night flight, but unfortunately she and I couldn’t sleep. We got some wine (South African Chardonnay) and talk more about her life as well as mine. She’s a brilliant woman with some real need and want for social change in her country and is acting on and for it. She is a real inspiration.

After a crazy long flight, we finally touched down in Nairobi at 6:45am Saturday (11:45pm EST, Friday). Bernadette was sweet enough to walk me to my terminal and gate for my next flight to Dar Es Salaam. She had a 6 hour layover in Nairobi, before going to Cameroon. While in Nairobi, I noticed that there was a shower and a place to sleep (for purchase of course) right by my gate. After checking-in AGAIN, I went back and took a shower. I was a little freaked out, though. The place looked like a bath house. Well, it had been almost 2 days since I had taken a shower and I was feeling really grimy, so I went in and took one.

After my shower and changing into a new outfit, I waited for my flight to Dar. While waiting I realized I was finally in Africa. I couldn’t believe it; I WAS IN AFRICA!!! All I could think was I’ve waited my whole life for this. It smelled different. It looked different. It even felt different. I was excited to know that I was in the Motherland; the center of human existence. WOW!!!

While in the cabin, waiting for my flight to taxi and take-off, I met 2 of the volunteers from CCS: Melanie and Allison. Melanie is from Canada and is very down to earth and cool. Allison is from California and is super funny, loves to have a good time and full of personality. We hit if off right away. Melanie is more laid back and Allison is very exuberant. I also met a really nice guy from London. Well, he was actually from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, but had moved to London. He was on his way back to Dar on business. He is a tech geek, and is super cool, smart, and charismatic. He is a consultant for a computer networking firm. We shot the shit on our flight. We talked about ourselves, he filled me in on Tanzania, and just chilled. It was great!

An hour had passed as did Mt. Kilimanjaro (I missed it because I fell asleep) we landed in Dar Es Salaam. FINALLY, I HAD MADE IT TO TANZANIA!!! After a day and a half of traveling I made it to my final destination. However, the fact that I was in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania still didn’t hit me! It wasn’t until much later that it would.

I hooked up with Allison and Melanie at the place where you show your visa, just before baggage claim. (I want to say Customs, but the word is escaping me) CCS was due to pick us up at 3:30pm and it was 10am. We had a lot of time to kill. After much lollygagging and checking our emails, we decided to take a tour of Dar Es Salaam. We hooked up with a tour guide named Saidi (Sah-ee-dee). He was incredibly chill. As a matter of fact I realized that everyone we came in contact with was incredibly chill. The pace in Tanzania was much slower than that of NYC. And the people actually greet you with a warm and welcoming “Mambo?!” (What’s up?!). Hence the name of the city Dar Es Salaam; it means “City of Peace”.

In a small and beaten up Honda Camry with the driver side on the right (like London), Saidi took us around town for a couple of hours. We passed the City Center (kind of like a downtown, market place area), passed a couple of big hotels, and passed the local towns people, all whom were staring at the mzungus (white people). Funny thing is in America, I am not white. But here, I am considered to be one. I’m assuming that word also means foreigner. Anyway, we told Saidi that sisi tu njaa (we were hungry). He took us over to the fish market. This was my first experience of culture shock. The fish market looked like a giant flea market where the mwuzaji (sellers) were under a huge concrete shed. It smelled pretty horrible, but the sights were super interesting. It finally hit me: This was Tanzania! Everyone was trying to sell us something. From raw fish to cooked; from hand-made jewelry to beautiful seashells. I made my first purchase here. I was too afraid to eat anything here, so I opted to buy the seashells. I couldn’t help it, the mwuzaji ran after me to greet me and show me these absolutely gorgeous seashells. They were also a bargain at 10,000 shillings (equivalent to $8.70 USD). BTW, the exchange rate is 1150 shillings to $1. So freaking ridiculous!!! The fish market was just off the beach so we got to see the men fishing in the boats and even swimming with snorkel goggles trying to fish with their bare hands. The beach was beautiful; the water crystal blue and green. This was my first time seeing the Indian Ocean.

Mel, Alli, Saidi, and I decided we’d go get a bia baridi (cold beer) at another beach. So we drove passed a bunch of Embassies and the President’s house to Coco Beach. I asked for Tatu Bia Baridi, (3 cold beers. Yes they drink warm beer hear!) and a Coke for Allison. She doesn’t drink bia. Saidi order grilled goat. It was a little gamy, but satisfying for the moment. While sitting on the beach, we witnessed a birthday Sherehe (party). They sang a happy birthday song with a completely different tune than that of the one we sing. It was joyous and so wonderful to watch. We headed back to the airport after our bia baridi. We had an hour left before CCS was to show up. We engaged in conversation with Saidi in our broken Swahili and his broken English on the ride back. We talked about his family and how he likes to go clubbing once in a while. He even asked me if I’d join him for a weekend. He gave me his phone number. LOL

When we made it to the airport, a group of mzungus were grouped together. I saw some with the CCS t-shirts, so we made our way over to them. We also ran into some volunteers who were on their way out. There were about 15 of them waiting. Alli, Mel, and I were greeted by Didase, one of the driver for CCS. With a giant smile and a warm Karibuni sana (Welcome All!) we greeted by this wonderful man.

I seemed to be the life of the party in our party. I greeted the whole group with a HAMJAMBO CCS which seemed to get everyone cheering!!! We were all huddled together introducing ourselves to each other. I escape the little mzungu crowd and went over to talk to Didase. We waited for some other flights from Dubai and Nairobi to arrive with some more volunteers.

At about 4:30, all the CCS volunteers were all accounted for and ready to head to Bagamoyo. We all packed into 3 small buses (2 for volunteers, 1 for our luggage). We were finally on our way. This is where we met Tuma. Tuma is one of the guards at CCS. He is a beautiful man with a Taye Diggs smile that just lights up his face. (Sorry baby!) He seems to be the popular one with the girls here. It's funny to see him surrounded by the girls here. Tuma is poa sana (very cool) and just safi (great)! Anyway, our ride was a long ass ride on a long unlit, paved road.

After almost 2 hours and a very sore ass, we made it to the home-base in Bagamoyo. We were greeted with a Habari za jioni (Good evening! Literally translated: What's the new this evening?) and chakula za jioni (dinner). Of course I was famished being that I didn't really eat anything because we were urged not to eat anything uncooked or peeled. At this point I had only put a bia and grilled goat in my stomach.

My time is up at the internet cafe. More to come soon!

World Traveller at your service...

Funny thing is I really felt like one. I had the opportunity to spend a few hours in London before my next flight. After sobbing like a fool on the Metro North to NYC and then on the E-train to the Airtrain to JFK, I finally got to JFK in one piece with 1 giant piece of luggage, one carry-on, and a backpack. Unfortunately, my luggage was too heavy; fortunately, I have the smartest boyfriend in the world that suggested I take a fold-up duffle back in case my luggage is over weight so I can split it, because, little did I know, I was allowed to check in 2 pieces of luggage. I also didn't know that I could check myself in. I scanned my passport into some machine, punched in some numbers, and I was done! Technology kills me; actually it's taking peoples' jobs away therefore actually killing some, but I won't really go there.
So my first stop on my trip to Tanzania was London's Heathrow Int. Airport. After 7 hours, watching Horton Hears a Who (which I absolutely loved!) and trying to sleep in a seat that barely fits a tween, I arrived in London on Friday morning about 11:30am. I checked my bags into a business that holds bags for days at a time that you have to pay for. This was my first experience paying in pounds. It was so cool!
Although audacious and a bit aprehensive, I took the "Tube" or the "Underground" to Central London where all the "touristie" things are. The Tube was an experience. It reminded me a lot of the Long Island Railroad or the Metro North: cushioned seats, colorful decor, and clean. I had to take 2 trains to Westminster. I took the Pickadilly line (which btw, the last stop was Cockfosters! Imagine hearing that in an English accent!) and then the Jubilee line to the Westminster stop. I wanted to check out the Abbey and perhaps Big Ben. Little did I know that as soon as I got out of the station my friend Mr. Big Ben would be towering over me. I didn't know it was part of the Houses of Parliament. It was such a great site. After enough picture taking I walked across the street to Westminster Abbey. The architecture is beautiful, the detailed carving, AMAZING!!! I only got to see the cathedral from outside, but it was lovely! I had to pay a fee to go inside and see the cloisters. I was cool with not having to see it, plus I was on a time constraint.
Then I walked over to Buckingham Palace (again, just beautiful) and took some photos there. After BHP I jumped back on the Tube to the London Bridge. I had asked a citizen if the London Bridge was the same as the Tower Bridge. I've always wanted to see the Tower Bridge of London, but didn't have time. I learned that London Bridge and the Tower Bridge are not the same bridge and opted to visit the London Bridge because if was closer. I literally had to look at it and leave because I was due back at the airport for my flight. Well, fortunately, the Tower Bridge is visible from the London Bridge. I took some pictures and tried to jump right back on the train.
Here is where Cabbie starts to panic a bit. Supposedly, in the very large London Bridge train station, there was an incident happening. The exit from which I came out of was blocked off. I had to go all the way around to another entrance. Mind you, I was running a few minutes behind schedule already. After finally getting back on the Tube I made it to the Airport with more than enough time to spare to buy a munchie and coffee. I was off to gate 14 for my flight to Nairobi, Kenya.
I really enjoyed London. It was my first time in Europe. I had a great time!
You can check out my picture on my myspace: http://www.myspace.com/cabbiecabberson.

Going, Going, Gone...

So, the last huge step besides getting my visa and immunizations (it is mandatory to get a yellow fever vaccine in order to entire into Tanzania) was to purchase my airfare. Finally, 2 weeks ago I purchased it from vayama.com. I couldn't believe how much cheaper the airfares were on this website compared to some of the other sites Carlton and I were researching. I was thinking the flights would be booked or uber expensive, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially considering I had to wait 2 weeks before I was to leave to make the purchase.
I'm flying tonight, July 24th, 2008 at 11:35pm. I arrive in London at 11:25am on Friday (London time) and have an 8 hour layover. I'm hoping to escape the airport for a couple of hours to go checkout Westminster Abbey and maybe even Big Ben. (I know I'm a typical tourist. I can't help it; it'll be my first time in Europe!)
After, checking London out briefly, I'll be getting on another plane at 8pm and arriving in Nairobi, Kenya, the next morning (Saturday). Then I have to get on one more plane to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania where I will picked up with the rest of the volunteers arriving on Saturday. Yes, that's right, I'll be traveling for 2 days. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.
As many of you know, I'll be staying in Tanzania for 6 weeks working with local NGO's, particularly a CBO that works towards youth empowerment called the Chivane Cultural Group. Their mission is to perpetuate African traditional music, by dancing and composing. They address the issues currently relevant and sensitive to the community by using theater arts to educate and sensitize. By volunteering with this CBO I'll be immersed in the culture of Bagamoyo, Tanzania and learning and enjoying it as best I can.
I will have access to the internet at a local internet cafe. I will be checking my email as often as I can.
My contact information in-country is as follows.
Mailing address:
Attn: Michael "Cabbie" Caban
Cross-Cultural Solutions, Bagamoyo Office
c/o Zik Kundy
P.O. Box 312
Bagamoyo, Tanzania

The volunteer phone line is (011) 255-753-429-068. Just remember that Bagamoyo is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. The best time to call the home-base is between 6:30am and 1:30pm E.S.T. In case of an emergency, you can call Cross-Cultural Solutions NY office at 800-380-4777; or 24-hour CCS Emergency Hotline: 888-772-9336; or the Home-Base Office: (011)255-232-440-185.

I'm excited and nervous to go to Tanzania. I will miss you all dearly.
I'll be leaving Tanzania on Saturday, September 6th and will be back in NYC/JFK on Sunday, September 7th. I can't wait to come back and share my experiences with you over coffee or wine!
Nakupenda Sana!!!

Sherehe Wakaa - Party Time

On June 22nd, 2008 starting at 6pm and ending at 9:30pm I had a little fundraiser at the LGBT Center in the West Village, NYC. The evening was filled with music by DJ One Mic and DJ Hectah. I also had a silent auctions with Jewelry, bath set, and artwork donated by Sandra Alley (my mother-in-law); snow globes and cookbooks donated by my friend Jennifer Medina; Starbucks Gift Baskets donated by my friend Shannon Fleishman; dinner dates from Michael Darnel and Quinn Sidon; and theater tickets donated by my 'manito Mario Robles for Latin American Theater Ensemble.

Throughout the evening there were theater performances by Improv Theater Troupe Bad Luck Rising and an excerpt from my friend Piper's one woman show In Her Memory; stand up comedy by Fish; and singing by the piano with pianist Franca Vercelloni. As the party unraveled, my friend and co-worker Crystal Clarity composed a live painting to be auctioned off at the end of the evening.

Many of my friends and family attended the event. Everyone had a great time and I raised a good amount of money from the door and the auctions. It was a wonderful evening! The support both emotionally and financially was more than I could ask for.

The following is a special thanks for those who have supported me through this journey:

Robert & Sandra Alley
Piper Anderson
Brooks Ashmanskas
Bad Luck Rising
Brooke Barnum
Alex Brandt
Drew Burke
Angelo & Claribel Caban
Jahaira Caban
Joshua Caban
Cable Positive
Brandon Caplan
Elizabeth Caplan
Crystal Clarity
Alika Crew
Michael Darnell
Alison Dembe
Sasha Dobos-Czarnocha
Kathryn Dunn
Jocelyn K. Ellams
Heleen Ellmore-Walzer
Fish
Shannon Fleishman
Michael J. Foster
Jessica Fraser
Amanda Gurung
Tante Anna Hacker
DJ Hectah
Miranda Kaplan
Roberta & Lilly Kyle
David Labahn
The LGBT Center
Katie Lindebeck
Lottie & Mary
Katherine Mask
Jennifer Medina
Elizabeth Moore
Marco & Crystal
Natalie Novak
Mike Pace
Elaine Rodriquez
DJ One Mic Rivera
Mario-Francisco Robles for Latin American Theater Ensemble
Steve Rosenthal
Alison Schwab
Quinn Sidon
Ian C. Signer
Peter Simba
Libby Stanton
Orie Urami
Franca Vercelloni
Kara Walsh
Beth Wehner
Barbara Zahorodny
Kristin Zahorodny

To anyone else I might have forgotten. Thank you for your support!!!

And last, but certainly not least, my partner Carlton L. Rounds. Thanks you baby for helping me, pushing and encouraging me, and dealing with me when times got stressful and I didn't think this was going to happen. Thank you Papi; I love you!!!

The fundraising letter

The following is my fundraising letter I sent out to over 400 peeps. Many responded and I am forever greatful to them. Others could't support financially, but are still a huge part of this experience and support me in other ways. Thank you to all!!!

My fundraising letter:

Dear Friends,
It has been a long dream of mine to travel to Africa. I know that Africa is a vast place with many different countries to choose from, but I've narrowed my choice down to Tanzania. When I go to Tanzania, I don't want to go as a tourist; I want to create lasting relationships and really connect with the people and their culture. After doing much research, I found an international volunteer organization named Cross-Cultural Solutions that will help me achieve my goals. They have a great program in Bagamoyo, Tanzania where I will be volunteering in local organizations working towards helping the community. I will have the unique opportunity to work with youth organizations impacted with HIV/AIDS, orphans, women's empowerment groups, secondary schools, and children with special needs. In the town where I will be doing service exists an arts school that teaches dance and culture. Through contacts on the ground in Tanzania, I have been invited to be a guest instructor not only with the arts school, but with other youth programs around Bagamoyo. I will be the first person to have this opportunity open to me. It is groundbreaking. I am super excited! Since my partner Carlton and I work for non-profit organizations, we are poor and need help supporting this trip. Carlton has donated significant funds to support me. I'm saving my money little by little and have some fund raisers planned, but I still need your help to make this dream come true. I have two financial goals I must meet. The first is the program fee of $3776 which includes food and clean water, lodging, travelers' medical insurance, basic amenities, and much more. I've been working towards my program fee since September 2007 by volunteering with CCS in my spare time. Also, I've raised money through donations from friends and family. I still need your help! Please consider sponsoring me by donating to my program fee directly through CCS. There are three in which you can sponsor me.
You can either log onto crossculturalsolutions.org to pay by Visa or MasterCard (you will need my email address for this transaction: macaban110@gmail.com), or
Call CCS at 1-800-380-4777, or
mail your check or money order to Cross-Cultural Solutions Headquarters 2 Clinton Place New Rochelle, New York 10801 USA. Make sure to put my name in the memo portion of the check or money order.
Sponsoring me for my program fee is tax deductible if you itemize your taxes. The following is a break-down of what I've raised towards my program fee:
Program Fee: $3776
Deposit: -$275
Fundraising &
Volunteering @ CCS: -$2708.40
Left for program fee: $792.50

The second financial goal includes airfare, travel and emergency money and living expenses when I'm away for the six weeks. So, in addition to the program fee, I must raise $3800. The important thing to keep in mind is this financial goal must be donated to me directly or to the financial institution listed below. Because CCS is a non-profit organization, if they receive more money than I need for the program fee, CCS will not be able to give me the extra back.

To donate to my airfare and other expenses, I have setup a savings account for my Tanzania trip with Washington Mutual. The address is 90-14 Jamaica Avenue Woodhaven, NY 11421-2103. The routing number is 021-272-723.The savings account number is 353-637-6234. You can also send your checks and money orders to me directly: Michael Caban 51-11 Skillman Avenue, Apt 3R Woodside, NY 11377.
Here's the breakdown of my second financial goal:

Airfare: $2000
Travel/Emergency
Expenses: $1000

Living Expenses: $800 (I still have to pay rent and utilities while I'm gone!)
Second Financial
Goal: $3800


I am very excited to go to Bagamoyo to do the work that is so desperately needed. Not only is Tanzania rich with culture and beautiful spirits, East Africa is said to be the origin of Human existence; very apropos for the work I do and am going to do in Bagamoyo. In this work, very few men are represented, much less men who are from under served communities. In fact, of the 4,000 volunteers Cross-Cultural Solutions sends abroad, less than 1% are Hispanic men. It is my hope that for the sake of inclusion and for the fact that the people in Bagamoyo are counting on me to do this work and create change, you will help me with this life changing trip. I am sure that this trip will inform me as an artist, an activist, and a soul. I also think it will, hopefully, inform me about my graduate education and maybe even help my entrance into a graduate program as well as with scholarships.

If you have any questions at all about Tanzania, the work I'll be doing, finances, or anything else, please feel free to contact me. Asante! (Swahili for Thank You!) Best Regards, Michael "Cabbie" Caban51-11 Skillman Avenue Apt. 3RWoodside, NY 11377Mobile Number: +1(718) 503-1749Email: MACaban110@gmail.com

P.S. - Please circulate this invitation to help to any networks that you think might want to support me. Anything and everything helps. If you are in the NYC area, I will be having some events to try and raise money. These dates and venues are yet to be announced.

My next steps...

After registering for the program to Bagamoyo, Tanzania I had a short time to try and raise some money for this trip. I spoke to my program manager and friend, Libby Stanton from Cross-Cultural Solutions, a day or two after I registered. Over some wine over at the Gnarley Vine in New Rochelle, Libby not only briefed me on my program, she also gave me my first Swahili lesson.
Bagamoyo - Lay down your heart

Greetings:

• Habari -News (Like, what's the news?)
• Hujambo (Hamjambo if speaking to a group) - Are you fine?
• Sijambo - I am fine.
• Shikamu or shikamoo said to elders or persons of higher status than yourself. It is followed by the proper nouns
• Shikamu Bibi - Greetings Grandmother
• Shikamu Babu - Greetings Grandfather
• Shikamu Mama - Greetings Mother (The Tanzanians have a non-nuclear family structure; Mama is used to refer to any woman who is older than you.)
• Shikamu Mzee - Greetings gentleman
• Mambo (Slang) - What's up? (said to folks younger than you)

Numbers:

• Moja- one
• Mbili- two
• Tatu - three
• Nne - four
• Tano - five
• Sita - six
• Saba - seven
• Nane - eight
• Tisa - nine
• Kumi - ten
• Isharini - twenty
• Thelathini -
• Na - and (used in between single digit and double digit numbers. For example: Twenty One - Isharini na moja; Fifteen- Kumi na Tano.)

Libby was increble at helping me out with my first few steps in this process. We were also discussing fundraising ideas. Letters, hosting a bar night, parties, raffles were all discussed. Libby also hooked me up with a couple of handbooks so I can read to prep me further. Asante Sana, Libby!

I finally decided to have a fundraising party. Watch out for details...