1st Person Africa
‘Living Abroad in Tanzania, I Felt Peace, Belonging, and Freedom’ l Never Forget’ By Ayah A.
J
oyce Oladeinde always dreamed of living abroad; her dream finally became reality in December 2020 when she moved from her home in the UK to Tanzania. For the 26-year-old engineer and freelance marketing consultant, the decision to move to Tanzania was a multifaceted one. In addition to having the opportunity to work remotely and travel throughout the country slowly, Joyce had goals aimed at showcasing the African nation in all its magnificence. “Among the things I wanted to do was to create content and promote Tanzania as a tourist destination to inspire Africans and people throughout the diaspora to visit Tanzania and support local businesses. I wanted to see more people who look like me travel to East Africa and experience its true beauty.” Speaking with many locals involved in the tourism industry, Joyce learned how the pandemic was negatively impacting their businesses. As the world dealt with the pandemic, learned to adapt, and pivoted, so did local tourism businesses. As a result, one local tour guide was forced to leave the job he loved and become a taxi driver to support his family. “Hearing these stories was very disheartening, and I wanted to do something about it. So I collaborated with local creatives and brands such as tour companies and small businesses to provide digital marketing consultations and strategies to improve their businesses.” Joyce found a great sense of fulfillment in helping these businesses. This was one of the many ways in which living abroad in Tanzania allowed her to
restore her physical and mental health after the ordeal of being in and out of lock down for nine months in 2020. “It had truly taken a toll on my mental health. Also, the death of George Floyd and seeing Nigeria fall apart with EndSARS was mentally draining. Being able to connect with people of different cultures in Tanzania was a saving grace for me. After all, travel is my love language.” Despite having been born and raised in the UK, Joyce never felt like she could genuinely call the country her home. She always desired to create her own home for herself, somewhere other than the UK. She had once moved abroad to Nigeria for three months. Now she had the opportunity to create the home she envisioned for herself, living abroad in Tanzania. “In Tanzania, I felt peace, belonging, freedom, and was comfortable enough to experience my true self without having to code-switch, worry about racism, microaggressions, or ‘working twice as hard as my white counterparts,’ as my mother would tell me growing up. The pandemic reminded me that tomorrow may not always be promised, so I began doing a lot of research, watching YouTube videos, and learning basic Kiswahili using the Duolingo app to prepare myself to move there.” Joyce’s time living abroad in Tanzania was split mostly between Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Zanzibar. She enjoyed the diverse landscapes, natural beauty, and wonders Tanzania has to offer, including Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, wildlife-rich national parks, such as the Serengeti, and Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean coast. “I could work at a beach resort one day and a
16 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021
