fundraising

As some of you may have noticed, I officially have a date (and time, and place..) for my traditional Tanzanian dinner fundraiser! This is really exciting because it seemed like even getting that much done was a lot of work. So now that I’m back from vacation its time to really get cracking! I need to practice all of the recepies at least once, figure out exactly how many people will be coming and how i can possibly cook for (and buy all the ingredients for) all of these people. My biggest fear at the moment is no one will come. I began addressing some invitations today, but I’m hoping that facebook will attract some people too. So please come, if you’re able; It will be delicious and I hope to teach a little something about the culture which should be really fun!

visas

so a few weeks ago all the tanzania volunteers got an email that our required visas had been suddenly changed by the tanzanian government from $150 to $500. !!! we were told not to react, because CCS was going to negotiate on our behalf for a reduced price as were going to volunteer. well, we finally got word today that CCS has succeeded and the visas are now $120, LESS that we were originally told! so while for right now im VERY relieved, we were told not to get too comfortable as things can always change again. ill cross my fingers for now, and let you know as i learn more!

flight drama

so everything is good with fly for good (ffg) now. i called today and someone at customer service picked up (!!). apparently the airline didnt feel like flying on the 9th anymore, so ill be rebooked to leave kili on the 10th instead (at no extra charge, thank god). so i now have a new itinerary, and will arrive home with lauren on the 11th!

On my way

I have purchased my plane tickets (2,100!) and am working on paying my dad back. I still have another $360 to go. I just finished a letter writing campaign, appealing to about 70 local and national businesses asking for donations. That was a pretty depressing experience, as I was turned down almost immediately upon the (personal) delivery of each letter.
IN THE works: I am in the midst of organizing a traditional Tanzanian dinner as an actual fund-raising event. I will send some personal invitations and flier around the city and my campus, and I hope to have at least 50 people come. I’m still undecided if it should be “donations welcome” or set a base amount. Any input you have would be welcome =] I did just hear that I will be able to host the event in the campus center at UAlbany, and that one of my professors and the school of social welfare will be co-sponsoring the event. This is very exciting!
Also, I heard yesterday that Capitol Wine on Lark Street will help me fund raise by setting a date where they will donate a portion of each sale made by a someone who mentions me to my efforts! This is awesome because the owner, Mark, is a regular at the bakery where I work and so it’s a little more personal, and also because it’s my first response to the letters I sent! There may be hope yet!
NEW NEWS: I just reviewed my flight itinerary and one of my flights is missing! I have not heard from the company that there has been a change and I have not received a refund, but now there is a large (like, Ethiopia to Washington D.C. large) gap in my schedule! I’m contacting everyone I can to see what happened, and I hope to have some answers by Monday. Stay tuned for more updates on that front.
Dont forget to watch my progress at https://my.crossculturalsolutions.org/login.aspx, log in “madelinehannan”!