Art in Tanzania receives many different interns and volunteers from different parts of the world, all year round. As an intern myself, it is interesting to meet and live among such a diverse group of people, learn about their home countries and what they are doing with Art in Tanzania. So I decided to interview one intern originally from Japan; Tomoki…
Q: What is your name and where are you from?
A: My name is Tomoki Noguchi and originally I am from Japan but I go to university in New York in the US.
Q: How long have you been in Tanzania?
A: So far I have been here for 15 days and I am staying for 1 month. So I’m about half way through. It is also my first time in Africa.
Q: Where did you hear about Art in Tanzania?
A: I heard about Art in Tanzania through my university on the internship website. AIT was posted on the webpage. Also, one of my friends came here last year so he told me all about it.
Q: What is your job as an intern with Art in Tanzania?
A: I am working on sanitation projects. So currently I am analysing the efficiency of composting/dry toilets. In the future Art in Tanzania are hoping to put dry toilet systems in schools all across Tanzania and I am helping to do the research for this.
Q: Is living in Tanzania very different to living in your home country?
A: Yeah, of course, no place is the same. The roads here are rubbish, I hate shaking. I get stomachache and headache, the government should fix that; there should be pavement. I don’t understand, that should be top priority – I was shocked.
Q: What are you enjoying most about Tanzania?
A: I enjoy making new friends from all over the world. Some of the food I enjoy but some I don’t really like. I haven’t tried much traditional food but I really like cassava. I’m used to eating things like chapatis and cassava so it’s good.
Q: What do you miss most about your home?
A: I don’t really miss America that much. I’ve been missing many things from Japan. For example sanitation and traditional Japanese food, of course. Tokyo city overall. But what i’ve been missing is the culture in more developed countries. When I went to the hospital I didn’t feel like they were professional or had the responsibility of doctors.
Q: Do you think you will come back and visit?
A: I would definitely like to come back and visit Moshi to see Kilimajaro and may be even climb it. I would also like to see a national park.
“I’m really enjoying my time in Tanzania because of the people here, everyone is so friendly and welcoming, especially JJ!”
Asante sana,
Lily
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