Is overlanding 22,000 miles from London to Sydney for Charity. www.ChitlessFoodieOvelandsToOz.Blogspot.Com
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tanzania: Mt. Meru Orphanage
Volunteering at the orphanage in Mt. Meru is one of my favorite things to do. I am still not comfortable taking these kind of photos, because I would never want the vulnerable to feel exploited, but these kids are absolutely adorable. While they don't live under best possible circumstances, the orpahnage is very clean and filled with genuine love. The children are very sweet and the mamas really nice. Many local villagers visit the orphanage daily, especially the teenage kids. The children are well behaved and love by everyone. There is even a hospital and school on the premises. The lush village is beautiful. There are coffee and fruit plantations, the masai community is active in this region, and spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I fell in love with the little boy in the photo above. He reminds me of myself sometimes. He is a very loving and a happy little boy. Always smiling. I was very sad to leave him behind. Thank Christ for You tube! My wishes are to adopt him, but in the meantime I can't wait until my next visit which will happen very soon.
for Landmine Victims (Click photo to support COPE)
Tasting, Tasting...
Who's that Foodie?
While stationed in New Orleans with the United States Navy, Rica became an instant foodie. "New Orleans has the BEST food in the world and it is just a really cool city!" After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy three years later, she moved just 90 minutes away to Baton Rouge to attend Louisania States University, though her heart was already set on a professional culinary path. Her passion was food and her only problem in the world was that she didn't know how to cook. She left her last year at LSU to attend the Texas Culinary Academy, Cordon Bleu Programme in Austin and never looked back. She enjoys working in the kitchen, and is talented, but her true passion in life is learning about food and cultures in their natural habitat. "I used to watched the Food Network channel and was obsessed with the Two Fat Ladies and found Sara Moulton recipes easy to follow." They were having fun, and not cooking to order in a fast paced kitchen. "I craved that kind of freedom." After my first kitchen I left for Tokyo and Paris. I did not stay long instead I got a case of culinary wanderlust. For the last 5 years she has traveled the world, teaching English, learning foreign languages, getting involved in cultural volunteer projects, meeting beautiful selfless interesting people and tasting and cooking local dishes in over 95 countries in all 7 continents. When she 'settles down' she hopes to work as a food historian and teach others about holistic Eastern practices using natural foods and rejuvenating therapies, raise a big family, she wants 5 boys, and of course, keep challenging herself and others to step away from their comfort zone and enjoy everything life has to offer!
Life is too short to eat bad food
My Favorite Local Eats
1. Japan: sushi, udon/ramen noodle soup 2. Brazil: street churrascos, feijao, caipirinhas 3. Spain: tapas! papas aioli, paella, mussels, sardines, sangria 4. Vietnam: pho ga, spring rolls, and that fresh local seafood, crabmeat 5. China: peking duck, any dish with spicy aubergine 6. All the Muslim countries-E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! 7. Thailand: green chicken curry, green papaya salad, sticky rice w/t mango 8. France: duck confit, crusty breads w/t cheese, French wines 9. Cuba: arroz con habichuelas, chuletas con ajo, Mojitos!!! 10. Tanzania: nyama choma, kuku na chipsi, biryani, and all that tropical matunda from the sokos 11. *Puerto Rico: serenata, pasteles, mofongo, sopa de pollo, pernil, TODO!!! 12. Pakistan- chicken parathas, anything w/t gravy!
Volunteering at the orphanage in Mt. Meru is one of my favorite things to do. I am still not comfortable taking these kind of photos, because I would never want the vulnerable to feel exploited, but these kids are absolutely adorable. While they don't live under best possible circumstances, the orpahnage is very clean and filled with genuine love. The children are very sweet and the mamas really nice. Many local villagers visit the orphanage daily, especially the teenage kids. The children are well behaved and love by everyone. There is even a hospital and school on the premises. The lush village is beautiful. There are coffee and fruit plantations, the masai community is active in this region, and spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I fell in love with the little boy in the photo above. He reminds me of myself sometimes. He is a very loving and a happy little boy. Always smiling. I was very sad to leave him behind. Thank Christ for You tube! My wishes are to adopt him, but in the meantime I can't wait until my next visit which will happen very soon. 
Happy times! click to enlarge
