James Gonzalez, Tanzania 2016

My acceptance into the International Leadership Exchange Program (ILE) to Tanzania, East Africa plays a pivotal role to my success as a Rutgers University-Newark Graduate. My initial feelings towards my acceptance were filled with both excitement and uncertainty. I was uncertain of the unknown and there was barely any idea of what I should expect. The only expectations that I had were all of my preconceived notions of Africa. When Africa came to mind, I ignorantly thought that people who lived there were sheltered in bomas, there were only tribes that lived in villages, there were only dirt roads suitable to drive on, etc. I applied for this program because I wanted to not only enrich myself culturally, but also give back to society globally. Because of the International Leadership Exchange program, I was able to fill certain voids in my life as well as gaining an eye-opening experience of different cultural ways of life.

When we finally arrived at the Korona Secondary School, the group was divided into three subgroups: Ground team, Roof team, and Information Team. Each subgroup had its own individual tasks and responsibilities. This is when I came to the realization that having eight totally different personalities in this group was imperative to accomplishing all of these tasks. Since I was on the roof team, I had to confront my fears of getting on the roof and drill the solar panel on top of one of the buildings in the school. I was so frightened that I could fall off the roof and break a bone. I can close my eyes to this day and feel the anxiety that I had when all three of us were on that rooftop. I conquered a unique fear in an unfamiliar setting which gave me the confidence needed to fulfill the tasks remained in the trip.

Furthermore, when the roof team went on the rooftop for the second time, it was less nerve wrecking. Although some important nails that needed to be drilled had fallen off the roof, we were able to improvise and complete the task. The ground team had already completed their tasks as well as the information team. As the roof team came down from the rooftop, we gathered around the solar suitcase and began the countdown to turn on the newly installed light. Through this experience, I learned how to improvise under serious pressure of possible injury.

There was a sudden pause because the light didn’t turn on right away. For at least five seconds I thought that we failed as a team and something wasn’t installed correctly. After five seconds the light finally turned on! Everybody shouted with joy because we successfully installed the solar panel. We created a new area of the school that has the proper lighting needed to let the students of the Korona Secondary School have a better quality education. It’s amazing how a group of eight individuals with different personalities can come together as one to full such an impactful act of service.

As the trip progressed, we were on our way to Maasailand. A Tanzanian professor, Professor Stephen had stated that Tanzania consists of over 120 tribes, which is why this country has many cultural differences. The Maasai Tribe is one of the groups that have their own culture and customs. In Maasailand, my team had to install another solar panel at a clinic where the people of the Maasai community go to seek medical treatment. The subgroup that I was part of in this solar panel installation was the ground team. At first, our communication amongst each other lacked tremendously. Our team listened to the constructive criticisms given by Dean Walton and Mrs. Nikita Pandit, which enabled us to successfully mount the solar suitcase into the wall.

This accomplishment had an underlying meaning to my growth as an individual. Personally, when I have to complete a certain task, I tend to get tunnel vision and fail to see the situation happening at hand. After the completion of this task, I recall Dean Walton’s advice to my group. I came to the realization that sometimes you may not always be correct, but if you work together with your team and adjust to situations, your tasks can be accomplished. As a result, collectively we installed the solar panel and the clinic now has lighting in three different locations. The women in the Maasai community no longer have to give birth in the dark and the rest of the people in the community can receive adequate health care. Dean Walton stated that we were the first team in ILE of Rutgers University-Newark to ever install two solar panels as well as installing them in two different locations. It is astonishing that I had the opportunity to work abroad to provide basic human rights to women, men, and children of a tribe in East Africa.

After the solar installation, I received another life changing experience. I was able to receive a first hand experience of how the warriors in the Maasai tribe live their everyday lives. Ngongoi (the Massai tribe leader) invited us into his family’s boma as well as singing to our group. I had to wear a Shuka and learned certain greetings out of respect for their culture. We also witnessed a goat being cut open and cooked. This taught me that although certain customs may seem different to an individual, it is important that one understands that there are different ways to live and it should always be respected.

As I look back and reflect on my college career, my acceptance to ILE and the trip itself was a life changer. I’ve learned that it is imperative that as an American citizen, we shall work towards preserving our culture. As our group walked through the streets and alleyways of Stone Town, Zanzibar, we can see how historical buildings are bought by Big Businesses, which may be the cause of the gentrification. Similarly, the City of Newark is currently undergoing a changing landscape. Many Americans like myself are conditioned to believe that it is imperative to adapt to drastic societal change unlike the Maasai, who choose to live life without change. This trip taught me how to be more appreciative and understanding of circumstances that we may take for granted. I may not be able to change the world entirely by myself, but after this trip I know that the world is a lot better than it was prior to the solar panel instillations.