2. Arrival

Gergely Köcse
Jul 10, 2017 · 2 min read

Arusha is connected to the JRO Airport with a long, straight, asphalted road. As you get closer to the town, on both sides, you notice an increasing level of “human activity”. Staring out of the window of our shuttle car, driven by Kevin, I was thinking whether it is the essence of the Tanzanian lifestyle.


An hour later, when we checked into the hotel, the bellboy, Uwesu approached me:

-Geri, I am gonna teach you Swaheli. Have you seen Lion King?

-Yes.- I said.

-Geri, first thing in Swaheli to remember is “hakuna matata”. Do you get it?


The first few days of the SoSa is about getting to know each other with 12 SAP members, project coordinators and mentors. We took a day for situational games, logistics orientation — I have to mention our authentic local support by Ruth Meriki — and life-path self introductions from each other.

About the self introductions from the team members. Listening to the ups and downs, wins and losses in their life-stories from such a diverse group of individuals is so overwelming and inspiring that I could listen to them forever.

We ended the day with a delicious original Tanzanian dinner, washed down with some local Kilimanjaro beer.

SAP Social Sabbatical

The SAP Social Sabbatical is a portfolio of short-term volunteering assignments where SAP employees work in highly diverse teams to solve strategic challenges for NGOs in different markets across the globe.

Gergely Köcse

Written by

reader, support engineer, SAP & other tech

SAP Social Sabbatical

The SAP Social Sabbatical is a portfolio of short-term volunteering assignments where SAP employees work in highly diverse teams to solve strategic challenges for NGOs in different markets across the globe.

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