(SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH; ARUSHA, TANZANIA) Jambo! We hope that your girls have begun to share the stories, pictures, small gifts, and memories that they brought home with them from Tanzania. Perhaps you also had news to share of cousins happily engaged or new neighbors moving to your street, and the recent Fourth of July holiday was most likely also a time of visits with family and friends. All of us our 14 girls and the adults who know and love them have a lot to process. Dory and I would like to offer the following comments on the girls and on the trip because we agree that important work happened during our time together, and we want to honor that work and encourage each girl to continue to develop a nuanced understanding of her place in the world.

PASSPORT TO TANZANIA 2009

During our first hour together:

THE GIRLS DURING OUR FIRST HOUR TOGETHER

AND ON OUR LAST NIGHT IN AFRICA

CLARE NAEPUO [COME]

During our visits to Alfayos, Clare was never without a pair of small children, one of whom, a young boy, was too afraid to speak to her, although hed cling to her side. Because he wouldnt tell her his name, she dubbed him Rafiki and continually tried to gently break through the barriers of shyness, culture, and language that separated them. On the last day, she was rewarded with his name, but by that time, her little friend had lived up to the name she had given him. Clare is persistent and finds ways to make experiences rewarding. She is also resilient, which proved useful on at least two occasions: when she was hassled in the Maasai market and during our cramped daladala ride, when a number of humans and suitcases all seemed to be perched on her lap. Over the course of the trip, we saw Clare beginning to distinguish herself from the crowd, forming her own beliefs and confidently voicing them to others.

ELLIE NEMBURIS [MESSY]

Before the trip, Ellie already had a reputation among her friends for being nurturing and motherly. Every girl and all of the chaperones! benefited from her very real care and concern for others. When we considered important moments in Ellies time in Tanzania, we saw a pattern of leadership that seems indicative of future growth. On our second morning at Mount Meru University, Ellie led a short yoga class to prepare us for the hike. On our third, she and Alex led the unmarked 90-minute walk up Mount Meru a complicated path that she retained in memory, which speaks to her finely honed sense of direction and ability to move with confidence through tasks requiring spatial relations. In Zanzibar, she helped Angela teach James to swim, patiently demonstrating strokes and taking great delight in her pupils success. Ellie is beginning to think critically and make connections; she is a delightful combination of idealist and pragmatist, and she often chooses to work on practical solutions to the very real problems she sees around her. In addition, she looks like a model in natural Tanzanian lipstick.

So many of the adults and girls in the building say wonderful things about Ali that we werent surprised when she was elected president of student government this spring. A quiet and unofficial leader in her class, Ali spent the first few weeks of her tenure getting used to being the center of attention during morning announcements. Although she definitely recognizes that leaders have to take charge, Ali does not need group adulation or attention in order to function. She is the kind of leader who acts as a mentor and an advocate for others, and she has a core integrity that allows her to keep confidences and operate according to her own beliefs despite what may be going on around her. She doesnt get caught up in difficulties or obstacles but puts each challenge in perspective and continues to work with positive energy toward her goals. She has a great laugh and a wonderful smile and although she refused to give us a taste of her dancing skills, we remain hopeful that she wont go off to college without showing us a plie or two. [You have a whole year to work up the nerve, Ali!]

ALI NDAVUKA [LEAVES]

During one of our first group discussions, Madeleine talked honestly and openly about being homesick, and we were so impressed by her willingness to let down her guard around girls she was just beginning to know. This act required a kind of courage that her peers respected and it seems to have encouraged many of them to be similarly open about their feelings and challenges. It was a joy to watch Madeleines increasing level of comfort with her surrounding, her companions, and herself. As we moved deeper into the trip, she began to ask (and answer!) questions, to contribute her voice more and more to our ongoing conversation. She was particularly worried about the camping trip, having had a rather grim camp experience in the past, but the safari campsite seems to have redeemed the idea of outdoor living. In the last email home, Madeleine said that she was moving to Africa, and while she may not be packing for a new life in Dar, we have no doubt that shes ready take to more risks with support as she moves ever closer to the person she wants to become.

MADELEINE NENGILANGET [LIGHTNESS]

At one point, Angela called Christine balanced, and the entire group roared with laughter who knew that Christines nickname is Wobs because of a tendency toward klutziness? During our time together, Christine didnt wobble she showed grace under pressure and was perhaps the most docile and uncomplaining sick girl weve ever encountered. For several days, she battled various ailments, but she remained positive and participated in each activity to the best of her ability, finding ways to connect with (without infecting!) the children at Alfayos and Olevolos while also forging new relationships with her fellow Laurel girls. By the end of the trip, she had gotten to know everyone and her sense of humor (and sincere appreciation of the various kinds of food we sampled) were particularly valuable.

C H R I S T I N E

N A I S H E Y A

[PROUD]

If we had voted before we left for the Laurel girl most likely to be chased by a baboon, Avery would have won. Perhaps the baboon outside the gate at the Ngorogoro Crater knew this because when she appeared he went careening after her like she was dressed as a giant banana. Avery would also win a prize for her interest in witches, a subject she continually returned to with James and with Solomon, our guide on Zanzibar. If Avery appears before you without clothes and carrying a saucer-shaped basket, you will know she has cracked the secret of witch travel. Averys questions, which come fast and furious, are evidence of her interest in the world and her attention to more than superficial differences. She wants to arrive at the fundamental nature of things. During the trip, she worked through a few anxieties and found a way to be true to herself and also part of a group, creating new friendships and discovering commonalities across cultures and grade levels.

AVERY NENGARIVO [KINDLY]

Competent and confident, Alex has long established herself as one of the leaders of the senior class. During our time together, she allowed people to see her in a different way and developed relationships with the younger girls that were mutually engaging and satisfying. Her interactions with them added many positive moments to our days, and she often helped to set an upbeat and constructive tone for the groups dynamic. In developing countries, the infrastructure is often strained to the breaking point, and on days when we lost power or water, Alex was invariably game for unconventional approaches to living, even if the power went out while she was in the shower and covered with soap! Alex brings people together, and we believe that this, more than her remarkable ability to roll her stomach, is what her future classmates at Princeton will come to identify as one of her most remarkable qualities.

ALEX OLMALAIKA [ANGEL]

Alefiyah had a remarkably successful recruiting trip for the Speech and Debate team almost every freshman on the trip vowed to give this extracurricular activity a try after hearing Alefiyahs impassioned descriptions of the joys of argument. Perhaps Alefiyah is a successful debater because she understands that argument is the last step in a long process. Before you can argue an opinion, you have to gather and collect and analyze and synthesize as much information as you can. The more you know, the stronger your argument becomes. Alifeyah spent her time in Tanzania watching and observing and questioning her surroundings. She has a global perspective and delights in uncovering contextual and foundational elements of issues and ideas. Her ability to make connections leads to a greater understanding, and she shares her knowledge with those around her. Her decisions are based on genuine engagement with real questions and solutions, and if she makes her future in foreign affairs (she was the Laurel girl most outwardly excited by our visit to the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam), we have no doubt that she will bring all of these qualities to bear positive changes are coming!

ALEFIYAH NAMNYACK [BLESSING]

Attitude may not be everything, but theres no quality a chaperone might value more highly on a 12-day trek in the developing world. Julias energy, excitement, and willingness to work and work hard! are commendable. Shes handy with a saw, is game to join in a Maasai dance that requires leaping into the air while wearing a heavy collar, and is quite unselfconscious when teaching young children the parts of the body. As Julia will tell you, Im an athlete, but shes also discovering how valuable she and her talents are and how much people admire her for all of her different gifts and qualities. Her willingness to try new things and be daring is balanced by her interest in reflection and quiet interaction. At the end of the day, shes in your corner. And its a delight to have her there.

JULIA NAMELOCK [SWEET]

As the sole student returning for her second trip to Tanzania, Mandy helped others to overcome anxieties while continuing to build her relationship with Happy. Mandy is figuring out the balance between when to be a leader and when to let others lead, and she was able to achieve this perhaps most notably in her organization and execution of the tie-dye activity during our last day at the project site. Two days later, when the orphans arrived at Mount Meru for dinner, Mandy and her helpers were able to present each one with a tie-dyed t-shirt. Mandy lived through tight sleeping quarters and her second encounter with a baboon in her safari car. She also took so many pictures that were all waiting with baited breath for her to post them on Flickr. It was wonderful to see her relationship with Happiness mature (pictured above). Upon their first encounter together, Happiness ran right up and into Mandys open arms.

MANDY NAROVILI [GOOD SMELL]

Stephanie is a complete beast: she doesnt stop for anything, including lost suitcases, abdominal pain, or lack of gear the girl walked 8+ miles in flip flops on our first day and was always at the head of the pack. She even played soccer in these same sandals, though she may have kicked them off in delight over how good the boys at Alfayos were at the sport. Steph loves straight talk and appreciates it when people say what they mean. She is also soft, caring, adaptable, and flexible she is very intuitive in her approach to others and knows when to communicate with a soccer ball, when to draw a picture of a lizard, and when a hug might be necessary. She loved snorkeling and would have spent hours more in the ocean if time had allowed. In addition to honing her Irish accent and finding ways to meaningfully contribute to our activities, Stephs uncomplaining and always game approach made her a stellar traveling companion.

STEPHANIE SINYATI [PURITY]

CELENE NAILELEJI [PROBLEM SOLVER]

No one looked better than Celene in the Ngorogoro Crater. In her sweet safari outfit and with her binoculars around her neck, she attempted to convince her companions that they would know if they met an Australian because he would invariably say Crikey, within the first five minutes. Her sense of humor brought a lot of energy to the group, and her infectious laugh and excitement at the prospect of trying new things definitely had a positive effect on her peers. Celenes comfort with herself and with her needs gives her a strong foundation and allows her to operate honestly with others. She forged strong relationships with those around her and began to make connections she perhaps hadnt expected when the trip began.

Adventurous and compassionate, Carolyn was the first to try Lindseys surprise spit-roasted goat birthday cake. Whenever we worked with children, Carolyn lit up; on any walk, she was never without at least two small companions. It seems likely that Carolyn will continue to pursue her interest in humanitarian aid. She is beginning to put herself in context against a backdrop of the world and is passionate about wanting to create positive change. We can see that as she moves forward, shell spend time evaluating how best to do this, taking into account her own ethical framework and the needs she identifies around her. Laurels mission statement can be a puzzle for some, but we believe Carolyn will find joy in putting together the pieces as she attempts to fulfill her promise and better the world.

CAROLYN OSINGA [ATTENDANT]

If the trip had a catchphrase, it might be, I think I see a cheetah by the side of the road. No one ever actually saw a cheetah, but we laughed every time Nancy claimed, in the Crocodile Hunters Australian accent, to be staring into the big cats eyes. Nancys sense of humor is infectious, her wide-eyed interest in the world equally contagious. Quite often, she says the thing that everyone is thinking but is afraid to say and her ability to break the ice was much appreciated by both her peers and the chaperones on the trip. By the time we flew out of Dar, Nancy was a convert to African tea and had forged close relationships with many of the people she met. She is enthusiastic, thoughtful, and remains true to her ethical and moral principles. She was a wonderful companion to have on long walks through the winding paths of Mount Meru.

NANCY NEMBURIS [GRASS]

THE GUIDES

JAMES, KING OF SPICES AND CHAPATIS AND TRUE FRIEND TO LAUREL GIRLS

LINDSEY, QUEEN OF PINEAPPLE FANTA AND THE HEARTS OF LAUREL GIRLS

Thank you very December to Jana, Lindsey, and James for serving as our chaperones and guides. Wed be lost without them! JANA, DOCTOR AND SURROGATE MOTHER TO LAUREL GIRLS AND TRUE MOTHER TO JULIA

(ABOVE)

During our time together, the girls performed service work with children at two separate locations and also contributed manual labor to the Olevolos Childrens Center, building a chicken coop, painting the new preschool, and clearing the OCCs land. Mama Adiele talked to them about living with AIDS in her community. They went on safari at Lake Manyara and in the Ngorogoro Gorge, hiked up Mount Kilimanjaro, and traveled to Dar es Salaam by bus, a journey of 10 hours that gave them a good view of the changing countryside. In Dar, they were welcomed by Jamess brother (Mr. Africa!) and the rest of Jamess family, and they met with diplomatic officials at the new Tanzanian embassy. In Zanzibar, they tried their hand at bargaining for Maasai goods, toured locations associated with the slave trade in East Africa, sampled spices on a farm, and spent a good amount of time on the beach in Nungwi. We believe that this combination of experiences gave the girls a complex and multifaceted picture of Tanzania and its people. We hope that each girl will be able to use her newfound knowledge to effect change, whether this means working on poverty in Cleveland, applying to the Cooperative Education Program at the U.S. Department of State, volunteering her time to Be.The.Change, or targeting her efforts specifically to the Olevolos Childrens Center. As she makes choices about how to allocate her energies, she may need you to serve as a sounding board as she considers how to proceed; she will definitely need your support as she begins to take action. Please know that we Dory as a Laurel fellow who will return to campus periodically for the 2009-10 school year, and Angela as a permanent faculty member are looking forward to working with the girls and with you. Should you have any questions about the trip or about future projects, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your trust in placing the girls in our care. We already cherish the time we spent with them. All best, Dory Namayam [Blessing] and Angela Naseriani [Peace] July 10, 2009

THE FUTURE

Laurel School 1 Lyman Circle Shaker Heights, OH 44122 www.laurelschool.org