I am Ilaria and I am a 24-year-old italian girl. Going to Africa has been my dream since many years and kyosei foundation made it come true. Steven, the school director, followed my preparation step-by-step and answered to all my questions. I’m almost sure this isn’t over, because I am already suffering from the famous “longing for Africa”. Once you see Tanzanian landscapes, the amazing view of Kilimanjaro, you taste the delicious traditional food like “mandazi”, you dance local music and especially you meet the kindness of Tanzanian people, you think you can’t live without all of this. Their smile will always be impressed in my mind. I stayed in Arusha for 5 weeks, from the middle of April to the end may. It’s incredible how much this experience has meant for me in such a short time. When I arrived, it was the end of the raining season, so tourists usually avoid this period, but I can say it was very nice to live there in that time. The daily routine doesn’t stop, you just need to wear boots to walk to school, and moreover this made me understand how much raining water is important for Tanzanian people: for washing clothes and dishes, for corn plants which are the main food in the region. Anyway, for the whole time of my stay, I managed to arrange hiking or trips during weekends, because Steven and Mary, his sister, ensured I could have a great time in Tanzania in my spare time. I was lucky enough to share my volunteering experience with another girl, Lucy, from France. Mary accompanied us everywhere we wanted to, and she planned good experience for us. We also went in the city to buy colorful fabric, from which the tailor made us wonderful dresses. During my time we went to visit Moshi, a town on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. There we hiked in a banana and coffee forest, where local people showed us how to make coffee powder, and of course we drank delicious coffee (trust me, I’m Italian!). I have also visited the cultural heritage and the Arusha Museum in which are stored remnants of prehistoric man! Moreover, I had a safari experience in Serengeti and Ngorongoro, which I really recommend. The view of landscapes and animals in the Savana is indescribable. Steven helped me in founding the best safari typology for me, balancing my desires with my needs in terms of range of dates and budget. He contacted a trusted agency which has picked me up from home, and I can ensure the volunteer price is much cheaper than the tourists one!! Mary also took me to lake Duluti, an amazing volcanic lake, in which we canoed; the hot spring where we swam; and the mount Mery waterfalls! Every weekend trip has been amazing, but I can say that what is most engraved in my hearth is the everyday life at home and at school. I was hosted by Steven’s family who was more than kind to me. His wife, mama Lou cooked for us delicious typical food, and she ensured we were always satisfied. The house was full of love and fun, I played with the kids all the time, they welcomed and loved me since the beginning. Everyday coming back from school, they started screaming our names as they heard our voices: “Lucyyyyy, Ilariaaaaaa”. I have always felt that place as my home. When I could, I helped the family in washing clothes, or dishes, of course it takes more time than the washing machine, but it makes people working together and speaking to each other! What I liked most was, with no doubt, the school. When I saw the pictures on the website, I was so curious to go there, but once I was there, there is no pictures that can expresses my feelings. The smiles and the happy black eyes of the children captured me. Since primary school, Tanzanian children have a strong desire to study and be well prepared, in order to reach university. This is unbelievable! I used to teach computer, which is not something I am used to, but I enjoyed. I prepared the lessons, the monthly tests, and helped the teachers with their lessons in other subjects. I had the opportunity to get involved and discover other qualities of myself! We also started the sewing project, which consists of making sanitary pads for young women of the community. Me and Lucy learned how to saw with an old sewing machine and I’m sure this is a skill that can be useful in the future! Moreover, everyone in the school was very nice to us, and during the break we used to drink tea and eating traditional food prepared by the cook of the school. It was so hard to say goodbye! To sum up, I highly recommend this experience. I think it is a privilege to see how so far -away- people live happy and in peace. I learned a lot from Tanzanian people and their attitude to life, you can do everything, just “pole, pole” = slowly, slowly. I wish the best to kyosei foundation, and I hope other volunteer will have great time there, while making the school grow.