“Its always hard being a foreigner. You want to try to blend in, but when you are the only white guy around, its kind of hard,” explained Matt of his experience. “Not so much in my village, but in others, the locals would joke that I looked like Jesus with my beard and sandals,” recalled Matt. “When you are over there for a while though, you get used to it and the people and their way of life.” Simplifying his lifestyle, Matt’s daily activities like cooking were very different from what he knew in the states, as each day he carried his water in buckets from the local stream and cooked his food on charcoal. Matt lived in a small “teacher house” near a school, with a tin roof and pit toilet. “It was kind of frustrating at first, knowing how much junk and clutter we have in America that we can surely do without. Living so simply showed how truly rich we really are and that our incomes seem expendable,” said Matt. Focusing on environmental work, Matt worked with the community and area elementary schools on many projects. One involved the planting of trees in a nursery, with a variety of 17 different tree species. It was a goal to help establish the trees which could serve as a resource for the villagers. Matt also worked on a water clarity project using a catchment system and spring box, as the nearby water source had been polluted by an oil line.
Matt Raboin worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania on a water clarity project using a catchment system and spring box
Matt returns from Tanzania after Peace Corp experience
by Katie Kleine
Action Advertiser
Caption: Fond du Lac resident Matt Raboin displays items brough back from his stay in Tanzinia. The trip was part of a two-year mission through the Peace Corp.
It’s hard to imagine temperatures of 80 degrees, as most Wisconsinites spend their mornings shoveling their sidewalks and scraping their cars, a task which we are accustomed to.
However, more than 8,000 miles away in Tanzania, Africa, winter weather is something only realized by those who climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
Experiencing the best of both worlds, Matt Raboin, Fond du Lac native and 1997 graduate of L.P. Goodrich High School, returned home in September after spending two years in Tanzania, working as a community-based natural resource management extension officer for the Peace Corps.
Contrary to belief that all African countries struggle with terrible war, poverty and ravaging diseases, Matt discovered that Tanzania was different.
“People have this misconception about Africa that it is a dark country. You tend to only hear bad things from this region, but there are other countries that are very nice. You can’t really stereotype,” said Matt, the son of Mary Alsteens, of Fond du Lac, and Bill Raboin, Manitowoc.
At age 24, and a graduate of UW-LaCrosse, Matt had not yet satisfied his urge to travel, and after looking at many options, saw the Peace Corp as a great opportunity.
The Peace Corps, established in 1961, is an independent United States federal agency. The Peace Corps promises to promote world peace, serving under conditions of hardship. Over 187,000 people have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 countries.
Matt, along with 17 individuals from around the United States, participated in training before being sent to different locations for the two-year commitment. Matt was placed in the small Tanzanian village of Kitelewasti, with a population of approximately 1,000 and almost all villagers are substance farmers.
Matt was given a location based on prior experience studying and living abroad in Alaska and Central America, work experience with the environment and his bachelor’s degree.
“Its always hard being a foreigner. You want to try to blend in, but when you are the only white guy around, its kind of hard,” explained Matt of his experience.
“Not so much in my village, but in others, the locals would joke that I looked like Jesus with my beard and sandals,” recalled Matt. “When you are over there for a while though, you get used to it and the people and their way of life.”
Simplifying his lifestyle, Matt’s daily activities like cooking were very different from what he knew in the states, as each day he carried his water in buckets from the local stream and cooked his food on charcoal.
Matt lived in a small “teacher house” near a school, with a tin roof and pit toilet.
“It was kind of frustrating at first, knowing how much junk and clutter we have in America that we can surely do without. Living so simply showed how truly rich we really are and that our incomes seem expendable,” said Matt.
Focusing on environmental work, Matt worked with the community and area elementary schools on many projects.
One involved the planting of trees in a nursery, with a variety of 17 different tree species. It was a goal to help establish the trees which could serve as a resource for the villagers. Matt also worked on a water clarity project using a catchment system and spring box, as the nearby water source had been polluted by an oil line.
What Americans take for granted - food, water and sustenance - are everyday priorities for the impoverished villagers.
HIV and AIDS education was also a large part of Matt’s work. With five participating schools in the area, the awareness program brought in guest speakers, and students put on skits and songs.
HIV/AIDS is a problem becoming progressively worse in Tanzania because of the lack of education, noted Matt.
While much of the time spent in Africa was devoted to assisting the villagers, Matt did have some time for exploring.
One memorable adventure was a trip with six students to Mount Kilimanjaro. Another Peace Corp volunteer and two teachers were along, and just Matt and one other adult made it to the very top.
Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising 15,000 ft. from the base, and includes the highest peak in Africa at 19,340 ft., providing a dramatic view from the surrounding plains.
Matt noted the scenery from the mountainside was breathtaking, adding that some of the travelers succumbed to altitude sickness.
Several bike excursions took Matt to different parts of Africa including into the countries of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Upon his return home, Matt found the adjustment to be increasingly difficult, as he was away from the “business and materialism” of the states.
“I was pretty taken aback by all of the pre-packed food and how many varieties of it there were. All I wanted was some beans. It seemed like there were 8,000 types of Pastaroni…but I just wanted some plain garbanzo beans.
“It’s a staple food all around the world, but not there,” commented Matt.
“I definitely realized that having more things and more money doesn’t necessarily make you happy. I saw people with no shoes on their feet, but they were happy, and laughed all the time. They seem to have their priorities in order.
“And yes, there are wonderful things about America, but it seems like we have lost track of what is important.”
Matt has no immediate plans of traveling outside the country. He has been working on a manuscript, a possible book of fiction that will incorporate some of his experiences. He currently teaches children about the environment through a program in Wisconsin Dells.
