Salome and Leticia On The Road: Part 2

Editor's Note: Now that Salome and Leticia are back on the JBFC campus in Tanzania, they have had a lot of time to reflect about their past few weeks of travel and all of the things they were able to experience during their trip to the U.S. To follow up with their first blog, the girls decided to use this blog to share some of their favorite memories from the trip. During their trip, the girls visited schools in Los Angeles, Tulsa, and Bronxville, and they noticed quite a few similarities and differences between education in Tanzania and the United States. Given that they are now well-seasoned travelers, Salome and Leticia also share advice for volunteers coming to Tanzania!

What are some of the most memorable moments from your trip?:

 Leticia: "I have many memories from my time in the U.S. First, meeting different people who I had never met before and that they made my time here so wonderful and meaningful. I was also happy to see people who I had already met before but who I didn't get to see for so long. My days in the U.S. were all full of joy and it was because of the people I met. Second, going to Disneyland was so great! I liked when people said, "It doesn't matter how old you are as long as you're having fun and enjoying the day!" I also really enjoyed Tanzanite Nights - I met so many people and took pictures with almost everyone! Also, I really enjoyed going to the different schools. I admired the schools and how the kids learned. I enjoyed going to New York and seeing many familiar faces there, like the Paul family and Jim and his students."

Salome: "I really enjoyed the day at Santa Monica pier. The day at Disneyland also has to be one of my favorites because I have always wished to meet princesses and I did! Also, going on the roller coasters was very nice and screaming was fun! I also really enjoyed Tanzanite Nights. It was good to meet everyone and taking photos. Singing at Tanzanite Nights was my favorite part, and I also liked how the auctioneer spoke - I wish to hear everyone talk like that! I was also glad to go to different schools and meet all of the different students. I also really liked going to New York City and watching the Boston Celtics basketball game on tv!"

Speaking of visiting different schools, you all visited La Reina in California, Holland Hall and Bishop Kelley in Tulsa, and Bronxville in New York. What similarities and differences did you notice between these schools and Joseph and Mary Schools?:

Leticia: "The similarities between the schools I visited and Joseph and Mary is that we both wear uniforms and the classes are similar with what we study. One difference I noticed is how we study at Joseph and Mary, we use the same schedule for the whole school, but the schools we visited, they have to change and everyone has his or her own schedule and they have to change rooms. At Joseph and Mary, we stay in a single room for all classes. Also, they use computers, iPads, and watch videos on TVs but we use pens and exercise books to keep our notes and write anything.

Salome: "I noticed that the schools we visited have almost the same subjects like English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. They study the same subjects, but not exactly as we do. There are many differences. They wear shorter skirts than we do at Joseph and Mary Schools and they are allowed to use tablets in finding answers for questions during exams and class times. They go with calculators to examinations and also take phones to school. They buy food but at Joseph and Mary we do not buy food in school because it is free. The American students also change rooms for certain classes but we change teachers and not classrooms. Also, they use "8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade" and we say "Form 1 to Form 4"."

Now that you have traveled across the world and experienced a totally different culture, what advice would you give to our volunteers who are coming to Tanzania for the first time?:

Leticia: "For the volunteers coming to Tanzania for the first time, they should be charming and not nervous! And another thing - it doesn't matter how old you are as long as you are having fun and meeting people you never met before. Thank God as long as you are happy and enjoying your days!"

Salome: "The advice I would give to volunteers is to enjoy themselves the first time they come! The second time they visit, they should bring new people and advise them to volunteer too! Also, they should be charming and never give up on what they are doing. The girls will love them and be happy to see them!"

What advice would you give your JBFC sisters who may visit the U.S. in the future?:

Leticia: "To my sisters who visit the U.S. - first, always be thankful, helpful, and enjoy every second! Second, listen to whatever you are told and do as you are told, because you will learn so many new things! And always remember, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"

Salome: "The advice I would give to the other girls who will also come to the U.S. is that they have to be confidence and happy for everything. Also, get ready for everything that they will be asked to do and try everything!"

Salome and Leticia On The Road: Part 1

Editor's Note: This year, two of our residential girls, Salome and Leticia, came to visit the United States to explore our support communities, visit volunteers who have been to our campus, and learn more about the United States and its education system. This was the first trip overseas for both Salome and Leticia, and as you can imagine, quite an eye-opening experience for the both of them! This blog will be the first in a series over the next couple of weeks, where the girls themselves share about this incredible experience!

What has surprised you most about your time in the U.S.?

Leticia: "That most people pay with cards! I was surprised people don't pay in cash, and how people buy tickets on their phones and use them right off their phones! I was also very surprised at how developed the U.S. is. There are so many buildings and everything is so developed, I was so shocked and amazed!"

Salome: "The most surprising thing to be in America is I did not know how they put your money in the cards. At La Reina (a school we went to visit in California), they even pay using a fingerprint! I was very surprised to see someone doing that and the student said that's what they do and money will come out of your account when you buy things for lunch. I was also really amazed when we went to a museum and I saw a helicopter, airplane, and four cars INSIDE of a building. When I asked our host how they got inside, she said they separated the wings and put them inside and then put the wings back on. I didn't know they could do that!"

What were you most nervous about before the trip?:

Leticia: "Before the trip, I was so nervous about the interview at the embassy. After I passed that, I was more nervous about the long flights and being off the ground for 23 hours! It was scary, but I made it!"

Salome: "On our way to Mwanza when we were leaving, it was raining so I got nervous that our plane would be cancelled. When we arrived at the airport, it became a little bit sunny so I became happy!"

What has been your favorite food or restaurant on this trip?:

Leticia: "Pasta has been one of my favorite foods. That and sandwiches and toast and peanut butter. And I love Italian restaurants! They are my favorite!"

Salome: "My favorite food in America has been the cheese and beef burgers and pepperoni and sausage pizzas because they taste really delicious. I wish I would know how to make them, so that one day I will be able to eat my own pizzas and burgers made by myself!"

JBFC on the Road: West Coast, Pt 1 (San Francisco)

Editor’s Note: JBFC is back on the road. The next few blogs will be dedicated to chronicling JBFC’s whirlwind trip around the U.S.

Founder & Executive Director Chris Gates returns to the US two times a year to help raise money and awareness about our mission in Tanzania. In the Spring, we have been fortunate enough to bring several students from Tanzania. This year, Chris brought 18-year-old Elizabeth and 10-year-old Zai with him.




Elizabeth, one of JBFC’s oldest girls, is a veteran traveler. This is her third trip to America. She told Chris, “I want to learn how to find my way around airports. Because I want to study abroad. And if I study abroad, I need to know how to travel.” So this intrepid 18-year-old was put in charge of airport navigation.











Zai is the youngest girl Chris has ever brought on an international trip. “I chose her despite her age, because Zai has an incredible English skills, she’s at the top of her class, and she’s got great behavior.” Zai is also a favorite among guests to JBFC because of her outgoing personality and winning smile.


This is Zai’s first trip to America and her first ride on an airplane. Once they reached cruising altitude, Zai looked at Chris and said, “flying is pretty normal.” It was on her first descent from the clouds, when the plane was preparing to land, that the 10-year-old grabbed Chris’ hand and said, “Ok, this is a little bit scary.” Once on the ground she flashed the smile that lights up her face, signaling she was fine and ready to try again.

It took the crew 41-hours and four different planes to reach U.S. soil from Tanzania.

Their first stop: San Francisco, CA.

 JBFC would like to thank our gracious San Francisco hosts the Enthoven family, in particular Martha Enthoven Stid, who served as our main hostess, guide, and new best friend.


The JBFC crew kicked off the journey at beautiful Stanford University, where the girls learned how to scooter with Martha’s daughter Isabelle and Elizabeth got the chance to quiz someone on the American higher education system.

San Francisco was filled with lots of adventures from gliding across a college campus to hiking through the California redwoods in a nature preserve to visiting the San Francisco Zoo.

The girls were joined by some more new friends and also got a chance to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge as the fog was rolling into the bay.

The Enthoven family was kind enough to host a reception for JBFC to introduce them to some of their friends from the San Francisco community. Founder Chris Gates spoke to roughly 30 people about JBFC and our work in Tanzania. And it was immediately apparent, we were on the doorstep of Silicon Valley, from all of the technology questions we received.



JBFC met a lot of new friends in San Francisco and even got to catch up with an old one at the California Academy of Sciences. Sonaz Safari, who visited JBFC in August of 2013 stopped by to see the girls and get an update on JBFC's work in Tanzania.

But Eliza & Zai’s American Adventure had only just begun. Next stop: San Diego.