Art in Tanzania internship program
By Lily – Art in Tanzania intern
Art in Tanzania attracts many interns and volunteers from diverse parts of the world throughout the year. As an intern myself, it is interesting to meet and live among such a diverse group of people and learn about their home countries and what they are doing with Art in Tanzania. So, I decided to interview Tomoki, an intern from Japan initially.
Q: What is your name, and where are you from?
A: My name is Tomoki Noguchi, and I am originally from Japan, but I went to university in New York in the US.
Q: What is your job as an intern with Art in Tanzania?
A: I am working on sanitation projects. Currently, I am analysing the efficiency of composting and dry toilets. Art in Tanzania aims to install dry toilet systems in schools across Tanzania in the future, and I am assisting with the research for this initiative.
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 stomachaches and headaches; the government should fix that; there should be pavement. I don’t understand, that should be the 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 want, but some I don’t like. I haven’t tried many traditional foods, but I like cassava.—I’m used to eating chapatis and cassava, so it’s good.
Q: What do you miss most about your home?
A: I don’t 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 professionals or had the responsibility of doctors.
Q: Do you think you will come back and visit?
A: I would like to visit Moshi to see Kilimanjaro and maybe even climb it. I would also like to see a national park.
“I’m enjoying my time in Tanzania because of the people here; everyone is so friendly and welcoming, especially JJ!”
Asante sana,
Lily
