Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thank you
Thank you so much for the comments. We have loved hearing from the friends and family back home and knowing that you are following along with our adventure! Your kind words are very appreciated!
Back at Kiteyagwa
Friday, July 29th, 2011
The honeymoon is over and people are now expecting that if I can learn Swahili- I should also learn Kihaya, the language of the Kagara region where Bukoba is located. As I stumble my way through Swahili the people here have been very helpful in telling us the Kihaya word as well…the problem is that I am not doing so well at remembering everything. Swahili is very basic and words are not masculine or feminine depending on who you referring to. Kihaya, however, is quite difficult and the greeting or word changes if you are talking to a man, woman, child and also changes depending on the time of day. I hope I can find this language as well on my Youtube tutor.
Today we went back to the Kiteyagwa to help in the classrooms. I am also working with COSAD to create a profile for all of the schools to connect with their website. This will hopefully allow people to follow along with the school and see how even the smallest of donations can make a huge impact in this area.
Anna and I sat in a in a 5th grade class as they finished their English lesson. Because there aren’t any teaching aids, repetition is the main approach that we have seen. The teacher will write then sentence on the board and then the students will repeat it. There are a few text books for the class but for what we have seen, 4-6 students will be sharing one book. Every student has a notebook that they use to copy assignments but that paper must last the whole year. The notebooks we observed were very dirty since they are carried back and forth every day. After the lesson, the teacher asked the students if they had any questions for us. At first they thought they had to ask in English and were very shy but he allowed them to speak Swahili or Kihaya and
he would translate. I’m not sure what I was expecting but these kids drilled us on questions about America. I guess when I think of 5th grade I would expect questions about the weather or what we learn at school and there were a couple of those questions. Mostly, the kids drilled us with questions about government, who was the 8th president of the United States, who were all of the congress men and senators, some questions about big business. I was quite blown away by the level of their questioning but it was a reminder that I should know more about our own government.
TMI ALERT!!
On the other hand I had my first experience with the bathroom system outside the COSAD house. I will admit, though somewhat awkwardly, to planning out the amount of water needed to consume each day to meet my hydration need without needing to use a “bathroom” away from the COSAD house. We are very lucky to have a western toilet that flushes. At the hotel we asked Hope if there was a “toilet” and she said she would show us. We arrived in a normal looking bathroom with two stalls. After seeing the “facilities” (aka a porcelain hole in the ground), the need to go magically disappeared. Of cores there are three white women in line for our turn so Anna bucked up and took her turn in line. Mary and I passed and went back outside. I was very impressed with Anna until I found out later that she only went in and stood in the stall the required amount of time to make it LOOK like she had actually gone. I appreciate the women of Africa more ever day as I see what they go through.
Good night,
Erika
The honeymoon is over and people are now expecting that if I can learn Swahili- I should also learn Kihaya, the language of the Kagara region where Bukoba is located. As I stumble my way through Swahili the people here have been very helpful in telling us the Kihaya word as well…the problem is that I am not doing so well at remembering everything. Swahili is very basic and words are not masculine or feminine depending on who you referring to. Kihaya, however, is quite difficult and the greeting or word changes if you are talking to a man, woman, child and also changes depending on the time of day. I hope I can find this language as well on my Youtube tutor.
Today we went back to the Kiteyagwa to help in the classrooms. I am also working with COSAD to create a profile for all of the schools to connect with their website. This will hopefully allow people to follow along with the school and see how even the smallest of donations can make a huge impact in this area.
Anna and I sat in a in a 5th grade class as they finished their English lesson. Because there aren’t any teaching aids, repetition is the main approach that we have seen. The teacher will write then sentence on the board and then the students will repeat it. There are a few text books for the class but for what we have seen, 4-6 students will be sharing one book. Every student has a notebook that they use to copy assignments but that paper must last the whole year. The notebooks we observed were very dirty since they are carried back and forth every day. After the lesson, the teacher asked the students if they had any questions for us. At first they thought they had to ask in English and were very shy but he allowed them to speak Swahili or Kihaya and
he would translate. I’m not sure what I was expecting but these kids drilled us on questions about America. I guess when I think of 5th grade I would expect questions about the weather or what we learn at school and there were a couple of those questions. Mostly, the kids drilled us with questions about government, who was the 8th president of the United States, who were all of the congress men and senators, some questions about big business. I was quite blown away by the level of their questioning but it was a reminder that I should know more about our own government.
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| Classroom at Kiteyagwa |
After taking some pictures we sat down with Justina, the principal and Josaphine, the director of the district to talk supplies they need. Things like teaching aids, posters and text books are desperately needed along with the basic supplies like pencils, markers and paper. The government is supposed to be supplying money for each student enrolled but it rarely happens.
The Mayer of Bukoba invited us to visit his schools since he toured Clearwater during his time in Waconia. The students were just beginning an extended break but we were able to walk through the teacher’s lounge, tour the grounds and meet with the headmasters. This school is much more like the “American” education system but that is easy to achieve when the upper level is pooling their kids in one place. A new hotel was opening in town and Smart took us out for the “last supper” with Anna and her mother. The New Coffee Tree Inn Hotel is located in downtown Bukoba and is owned by the local farmer’s coop. It was fun to see the people from town and it was quite an event. One of the highlights for me was ordering “freedom fries”, which are similar to French fries. |
| New Coffee Tree Inn Hotel in Bukoba |
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| Anna, Mary, Hope and Erika dressed up for a night out |
On the other hand I had my first experience with the bathroom system outside the COSAD house. I will admit, though somewhat awkwardly, to planning out the amount of water needed to consume each day to meet my hydration need without needing to use a “bathroom” away from the COSAD house. We are very lucky to have a western toilet that flushes. At the hotel we asked Hope if there was a “toilet” and she said she would show us. We arrived in a normal looking bathroom with two stalls. After seeing the “facilities” (aka a porcelain hole in the ground), the need to go magically disappeared. Of cores there are three white women in line for our turn so Anna bucked up and took her turn in line. Mary and I passed and went back outside. I was very impressed with Anna until I found out later that she only went in and stood in the stall the required amount of time to make it LOOK like she had actually gone. I appreciate the women of Africa more ever day as I see what they go through.
Good night,
Erika
Visit to Kangabasharo and Inzigo
Thursday, July 28TH 2011
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
Today we visited the some villages outside of Bukoba. I am amazed at how “Mountainous” it is in this area. I need some help from the Geography teachers to know the correct Geo term to describe the area but it reminds me of trips to the Black Hills in South Dakota….but with jungle. Many times as we drive to different areas of the town, my ears will pop from the changing pressure. The Drive to Kangabasharo was very rough and slow going. We had to go down into a valley and although there is a lot of greenery I was told that it is not a fertile area. Smart informed us that Kangabasharo is the poorest region that COSAD works with. Part of the struggle is that people can not grow many types of food. Right outside the COSAD house there
are banana trees and pineapple bushes but in Kangabasharo, even the bananas trees struggle to produce any fruit.
Because of the lack of food, students in that region don’t always attend school because they are too hungry to make the trek. Students walk for hours to school all over the city but touring the Kangabasharo school was truly heartbreaking. The poverty was very apparent in the student’s clothing and the fact that many did not have shoes. In the previous school we visited, Kiteyagwa, students often had shoes that didn’t fit and were too big but at Kangabasharo, very few students even wore shoes.
One of the things teachers at Kangabasharo would like COSAD to do was serve breakfast for students as an incentive to attend each day. Smart is very hesitant about bringing in food without parents somehow being involved. In my “American” thinking I struggle to see students needing something like food and not rushing out right away to buy it. Smart is very wise in his mission of COSAD and would like to somehow empower the parents to produce something or get a loan for a goat. Empowering the parents help them to see the importance of education and it ultimately benefits the community- not just the students.
We walked to a home in Kangabasharo and I was amazed at the contrast between the “poor” living in a city like Bukoba and the way people in Kangabasharo live. We met Smart’s great-aunt, Anna Marie. We were invited into the first area of her home, which was made of clay. There were no windows and the room was not even large enough for all five of us to sit down. She was happy to take pictures and asked Smart to bring her back some shoes.
Inzigo is another village about 30 miles from Bukoba. This area is also poor but it is the home of the COSAD One Woman, One Goat project. Smart said the women of this village were some of the hardest working he has ever seen and I can believe it from the conditions we saw. We met Joyce, the coordinator of One Woman, One Goat and Consolatha, who organizes the Sewing Singers.
One Woman, One Goat is a project where a woman takes out a loan (from COSAD) for a goat. COSAD provides a goat, and builds a pen for it to be kept. The woman can use the goat to produce milk for her family as well as to sell as a business to bring income into the home. There are over a hundred women that are a part of the program right now but because it is so hard to get water in this area, many of the goats are not producing milk. Joyce took us to meet a couple of the women in the program and both have already repaid their loans and were beginning their own heard of goats. One of the women did talk about the water issue and shared that she has to walk over a half hour to find water and even then, she only has one water jug which she uses to bring back water for her family.
COSAD and Joyce are working in the next few weeks to begin phase two of the program and rather then women all raising their own goats, they will work together on a centrally located goat farm. Also, the homes are spread apart and the only way to reach them is by walking. Even if the individual goats begin producing milk, it would be hard to go around and pick up a liter from each. COSAD has already found a private school that will purchase the milk once the farm is up and running. Each woman would be a share owner in this enterprise. What an amazing program!!!
The Sewing Singers is a choir in Inzigo that helps COSAD provide uniforms for students in the Kagera region. It costs around $20 for all of the fabric and supplies to make a school uniform including shirt, sweater and shorts or skirt. The singers have all been trained on how the stitching should be done for government protocol on the uniforms and while the choir sings in practice, they sew. All students attending a public school must have a uniform. Although they might start out with one as a child, if they grow out of it- they are unable to come to school until they find a new one that fits. Twenty dollars is more then many families, especially in some of the villages, make in a month. Even then, the money is usually needed to buy other supplies in the
family. COSAD has received many donations that have been use toward providing education for these students. The uniform is never just “given” to families but Smart will go to the family and find out what they can provide instead. If COSAD gives a “loan” for the uniform what can the family sell them that will pay back the debt? The child is able to receive an education and the family doesn’t feel like they are receiving charity, but instead is earning the money. When the loan (weather paid in produce or money) is paid back, COSAD can turn around and scholarship another student with those same funds. The scholarships and support from the US has made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of children here.
I know I am not explaining either of these programs as well as they have been told to me but please check out the COSAD website to the left for more information about their organization. What an amazing way to change a community one goat or uniform at a time. The proverb of give a man a fish and feed him for a day or teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime has never been so strong in my mind as when I am visiting this area with COSAD.
Since Inzigo is quite a ways out of town we went to visit Jasper, a member of the Imuka singers that was unable to come to the US for their tour but made all of the drums sold at the concerts. COSAD hired Jasper to make over two hundred drums which they sold in the US to pay for their tour. Through this sale, his hard work and amazing attitude, Jasper is able to provide much better for his family. In Tanzania it is common for extended family to live together so Jasper cares for his wife, children and some relatives in his modest house but with his new enterprise he is making plans for a nicer home.
Jasper welcomed us into our home and the shy man I met at the Imuka dinner back at the COSAD house was replaced with a very proud man who showed off his home, family and booming business. Because of the Imuka tour, Jasper has received orders and offers from people in the U.S. who will help him sell the drums all over the US and online. He is now the owner of a company and will have to employ around 50 people to get the orders finished.
Jasper’s home was a simple clay home, made up of three or four rooms. The dirt floors had been recently covered with fresh straw and a mat for us to sit and eat. There was a chicken laying some eggs in the corner but we tried not to disturb her. The reception was so warm and friendly. Jasper was very proud to have us in his home and many of his extended family came to see us.
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
Today we visited the some villages outside of Bukoba. I am amazed at how “Mountainous” it is in this area. I need some help from the Geography teachers to know the correct Geo term to describe the area but it reminds me of trips to the Black Hills in South Dakota….but with jungle. Many times as we drive to different areas of the town, my ears will pop from the changing pressure. The Drive to Kangabasharo was very rough and slow going. We had to go down into a valley and although there is a lot of greenery I was told that it is not a fertile area. Smart informed us that Kangabasharo is the poorest region that COSAD works with. Part of the struggle is that people can not grow many types of food. Right outside the COSAD house there
are banana trees and pineapple bushes but in Kangabasharo, even the bananas trees struggle to produce any fruit.
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| Road to Kangabasharo |
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| Homes in the village are tucked away on the hill |
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| Kangabasharo school |
One of the things teachers at Kangabasharo would like COSAD to do was serve breakfast for students as an incentive to attend each day. Smart is very hesitant about bringing in food without parents somehow being involved. In my “American” thinking I struggle to see students needing something like food and not rushing out right away to buy it. Smart is very wise in his mission of COSAD and would like to somehow empower the parents to produce something or get a loan for a goat. Empowering the parents help them to see the importance of education and it ultimately benefits the community- not just the students.
We walked to a home in Kangabasharo and I was amazed at the contrast between the “poor” living in a city like Bukoba and the way people in Kangabasharo live. We met Smart’s great-aunt, Anna Marie. We were invited into the first area of her home, which was made of clay. There were no windows and the room was not even large enough for all five of us to sit down. She was happy to take pictures and asked Smart to bring her back some shoes.
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| Walking from the school to the village. |
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| Joyce, Consolatha and Smart |
The Sewing Singers is a choir in Inzigo that helps COSAD provide uniforms for students in the Kagera region. It costs around $20 for all of the fabric and supplies to make a school uniform including shirt, sweater and shorts or skirt. The singers have all been trained on how the stitching should be done for government protocol on the uniforms and while the choir sings in practice, they sew. All students attending a public school must have a uniform. Although they might start out with one as a child, if they grow out of it- they are unable to come to school until they find a new one that fits. Twenty dollars is more then many families, especially in some of the villages, make in a month. Even then, the money is usually needed to buy other supplies in the
family. COSAD has received many donations that have been use toward providing education for these students. The uniform is never just “given” to families but Smart will go to the family and find out what they can provide instead. If COSAD gives a “loan” for the uniform what can the family sell them that will pay back the debt? The child is able to receive an education and the family doesn’t feel like they are receiving charity, but instead is earning the money. When the loan (weather paid in produce or money) is paid back, COSAD can turn around and scholarship another student with those same funds. The scholarships and support from the US has made a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of children here.
I know I am not explaining either of these programs as well as they have been told to me but please check out the COSAD website to the left for more information about their organization. What an amazing way to change a community one goat or uniform at a time. The proverb of give a man a fish and feed him for a day or teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime has never been so strong in my mind as when I am visiting this area with COSAD.
Since Inzigo is quite a ways out of town we went to visit Jasper, a member of the Imuka singers that was unable to come to the US for their tour but made all of the drums sold at the concerts. COSAD hired Jasper to make over two hundred drums which they sold in the US to pay for their tour. Through this sale, his hard work and amazing attitude, Jasper is able to provide much better for his family. In Tanzania it is common for extended family to live together so Jasper cares for his wife, children and some relatives in his modest house but with his new enterprise he is making plans for a nicer home.
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| Eating lunch in Jasper's home |
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| Jasper carving a drum |
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| Jasper's workshop |
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| Jasper's family with us outside his workshop |
Jasper’s home was a simple clay home, made up of three or four rooms. The dirt floors had been recently covered with fresh straw and a mat for us to sit and eat. There was a chicken laying some eggs in the corner but we tried not to disturb her. The reception was so warm and friendly. Jasper was very proud to have us in his home and many of his extended family came to see us.
It was a busy day and we were all tired by the time we headed back home.
Tuta onana baadaye (see you later), Erika
Day spent around Bukoba
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
Today was a casual day around Bukoba. With our transportation being serviced and a surprise visit from the Tanzanian “IRS”, it was too late in the day for us to begin the drive to outer villages. Anna and I were able to visit the Internet café and spend some time walking around downtown. I will admit that our presence is more warmly accepted when Smart is with us. We have never been treated rudely but it does reinforce the fact that Smart is very respected here.
Since we were in town, Hope took us shopping for some fabric. The colors and patterns worn by the women here are beautiful. Matching and color coordinating are not important but there is functionality to all of the clothing. Woman wear skirts and usually matching tops but they also carry a piece of cloth over their shoulder which I later found out is like a jacket or shawl if they get cool. I was told in the fabric store that if you are going out on a date, you would wear some kind of cloth or fabric wrapped around the top of your torso and arms. This look is supposed to be sensual which was funny considering that our American idea of dressing is quite the opposite. How great would it be teaching 8th graders when being completely covered is “sexy”. No more having to fight over ridiculously short skirts and spaghetti strap tops.
Hope, one of the Imuka singers, is helping take care of us at the COSAD headquarters. She is a fantastic cook and laundry has been done sometime this morning and is now drying in the courtyard. Flavia is a nine-year-old girl who is staying here as well. Her mother is the caretaker at the COSAD house so. She is very sweet yet I have found her to be quite ruthless when it comes to playing games. As a teacher I have spent years “nurturing” young minds and their self esteem so playing cards with a forth grader, I thought I would need to go easy. As the night went on, I came to realize that the first few games were a courtesy to me. She is quite talented at cards and proceeded to “school” me several times. Even playing my hardest, she was a tough cookie to beat (which I did only a couple of times).
The food has been amazing during our time in Africa. Fruit is very plentiful and Hope even made fresh passion fruit juice in the blender. We eat a lot of rice and green bananas but usually there is cabbage, beef and even sometimes flatbread that goes with. For breakfast we usually eat hard boiled eggs, bread and tea.
The Imuka/COSAD family seems very close and we are privileged to be invited into it. The people we spend time with regularly are Smart, Hope, Justina and Edison. We (Mary, Anna and I) often refer to Edison as “Waldo” because he is like the Bukoba version of “Where’s Waldo”. We will part ways with him and then he keeps popping up everywhere we go. It has become a game to find him in the crowd.
Technology has been a little bit of a struggle. The internet café in town has been a savior for updating the blog but with all of running we do every day- I hate to make everyone stop for me to go online. I do apologize for the gaps in updating.
Hope all is well back home.
I love and miss you all,
Erika
Today was a casual day around Bukoba. With our transportation being serviced and a surprise visit from the Tanzanian “IRS”, it was too late in the day for us to begin the drive to outer villages. Anna and I were able to visit the Internet café and spend some time walking around downtown. I will admit that our presence is more warmly accepted when Smart is with us. We have never been treated rudely but it does reinforce the fact that Smart is very respected here.
Since we were in town, Hope took us shopping for some fabric. The colors and patterns worn by the women here are beautiful. Matching and color coordinating are not important but there is functionality to all of the clothing. Woman wear skirts and usually matching tops but they also carry a piece of cloth over their shoulder which I later found out is like a jacket or shawl if they get cool. I was told in the fabric store that if you are going out on a date, you would wear some kind of cloth or fabric wrapped around the top of your torso and arms. This look is supposed to be sensual which was funny considering that our American idea of dressing is quite the opposite. How great would it be teaching 8th graders when being completely covered is “sexy”. No more having to fight over ridiculously short skirts and spaghetti strap tops.
Hope, one of the Imuka singers, is helping take care of us at the COSAD headquarters. She is a fantastic cook and laundry has been done sometime this morning and is now drying in the courtyard. Flavia is a nine-year-old girl who is staying here as well. Her mother is the caretaker at the COSAD house so. She is very sweet yet I have found her to be quite ruthless when it comes to playing games. As a teacher I have spent years “nurturing” young minds and their self esteem so playing cards with a forth grader, I thought I would need to go easy. As the night went on, I came to realize that the first few games were a courtesy to me. She is quite talented at cards and proceeded to “school” me several times. Even playing my hardest, she was a tough cookie to beat (which I did only a couple of times).
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| Flavia |
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| Cooking with Hope outside |
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| Dinner of greans, fried bananas, meat and rice |
Technology has been a little bit of a struggle. The internet café in town has been a savior for updating the blog but with all of running we do every day- I hate to make everyone stop for me to go online. I do apologize for the gaps in updating.
Hope all is well back home.
I love and miss you all,
Erika
Friday, July 29, 2011
Bukoba -Kiteyagwa School/Student Photo Journey
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| Ms. Arndt showing students Video Camera |
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| Kiteyagwa Students Playing in School Yard |
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| Kiteyagwa Students |
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| Frieda Teaching Pre K "Counting" |
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| Kiteyagwa Girls Welcome Poem Ceremony |
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| Pre K using bottle caps to learn "counting" |
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| Kiteyagwa Student Welcome Parade |
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| Kiteyagwa Students |
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| Kiteyagwa Classrooms |
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| Kiteyagwa Students Showing Soccer Ball (Made of Plastic Bags) |
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| Kiteyagwa Student Uniform (kinda dirty & in need of buttons) |
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| Kiteyagwa School |
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| Kiteyagwa Student Close Up |
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| Kiteyagwa Students singing the ABCs |
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Teaching
July 26
Another amazing day! I know it is only our fourth day but I can't imagine leaving the people of Bukoba.
Our schedule yesterday changed because of testing in the Kiteyagwa school. I KNOW-testing even follows us to Tanzania!! The students in grade 7 have district examinations Wednesday and Thursday so we spent the day with them and will visit some of the other school while they are taking their exams. Kiteyagwa has become such a sanctuary for me. I have completely fallen in love with the students and teachers.
We observed Frieda, a Pre-K/Kindergarten teacher, in Kiteyagwa. She was an inspiration-1.) because she teaches 4-6 year olds (93 of them!!), and 2.) she has made wonderful learning tools for her students from garbage or whatever she has lying around. I will admit that the idea of going into a classroom with 4-6 year olds was quite intimidating (we all know how well I do lass, and helping Frieda was a wonderful experience. Her classroom is decorated with all kinds of posters that she has made of letters, vowls, pictures of animals, and numbers. The posters are written on random paper or the insides of boxes with markers. The language barrier is hard to gap with these young students - what is your name or other greetings) was lost on them since they are learning Swahili along with English. Most young students only know the local language.
Unfortunately, we were something of a novelty and while level seven was preparing for the examinations and using the other classrooms, the level 1-6 students were outside looking in the window at us and trying to touch us through the door or windows. Frieda was unstoppable, which must be a testament to how many distractions there are for her as a teacher with these small kids. While the students were working on numbers and simple addition, she and her aid corrected the work books. Many students needed help or more direction but with only two teachers- it was impossible to get to them all. After the primary students were dismissed at 11am, we spent time with the level 1-6 students during their play time drew immediate attention and we were swarmed with students. They all push to get in the picture, many holding up their hands and blocking to make sure they are seen. Rather then just let them fight to be seen, Anna tried to have the students sing or show us some dances but they were still quite focused on getting in front of the lens. We tried to come up with a distraction so after putting the students into a circle (we started with almost a hundred students and it grew as the game went on), we taught them how to play Duck, Duck, Goose. The words were lost and they dried to imitate the noise we were making without success but they really enjoyed the game. The flaw in our plan was that because we were Mizugu (white traveler), we we hundred students, racing children who walk for hours to school each day was not what we had and honestly tried to beat me back to the starting place. So much for wearing a skirt to school.
The Regional Director of Kagando (similar to our school district where the Kiteyagwa school is located) was visiting the school, helping the administration prepare for the exams over the next few days. We felt very lucky to meet her and had no idea that our play time made such a good impression with her. She spent the rest of the day with us, having lunch and even joining the party with the Imuka singers back at the COSAD house.
It was very hard to leave the school but we promised to visit again Friday so Mary and Anna can say goodbye.
The Imuka singers gathered tonight for some fun and fellowship and we were very lucky to have a private concert. Some Imuka members we know from their time in America, like Hope, Justina, Edison, Joas and Smart. Others we were meeting for the first time and they welcomed us like family. This was their first time gathering since their tour concluded and it was fun to hear them discuss what happened. Obviously pizza was not a hit.
Those of you close to me know averse I am to being touched but my new adopted Bukoban family is clueless. Hugging, touching and even holding hands is common between friends (rafiki= friend in Swahili) in Tanzania. I will admit to being taken aback the first time one of the women held my hand but it is quite common between even men. Now that it is day four I am appreciating the reception- even if it is a big hug.
Since we are on the topic of affection- Michele Melius would be happy to hear that Anna may have found a Tanzanian husband...if you don't count that multiple wives is a status symbol here in Bukoba. I will admit to being VERY entertained at how uncomfortable the barrage of attention is making her. We also laugh at the lack of attention given when his fiancé is present. On the bright side I could possibly have a place to stay when I return to Bukoba.
Peace and "Love" from Africa,
Erika
Another amazing day! I know it is only our fourth day but I can't imagine leaving the people of Bukoba.
Our schedule yesterday changed because of testing in the Kiteyagwa school. I KNOW-testing even follows us to Tanzania!! The students in grade 7 have district examinations Wednesday and Thursday so we spent the day with them and will visit some of the other school while they are taking their exams. Kiteyagwa has become such a sanctuary for me. I have completely fallen in love with the students and teachers.
We observed Frieda, a Pre-K/Kindergarten teacher, in Kiteyagwa. She was an inspiration-1.) because she teaches 4-6 year olds (93 of them!!), and 2.) she has made wonderful learning tools for her students from garbage or whatever she has lying around. I will admit that the idea of going into a classroom with 4-6 year olds was quite intimidating (we all know how well I do lass, and helping Frieda was a wonderful experience. Her classroom is decorated with all kinds of posters that she has made of letters, vowls, pictures of animals, and numbers. The posters are written on random paper or the insides of boxes with markers. The language barrier is hard to gap with these young students - what is your name or other greetings) was lost on them since they are learning Swahili along with English. Most young students only know the local language.
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| Frieda teaching addition |
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| counting using bottle caps |
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| with 94 students in the class, it is hard to check that all of them are understanding |
The Regional Director of Kagando (similar to our school district where the Kiteyagwa school is located) was visiting the school, helping the administration prepare for the exams over the next few days. We felt very lucky to meet her and had no idea that our play time made such a good impression with her. She spent the rest of the day with us, having lunch and even joining the party with the Imuka singers back at the COSAD house.
It was very hard to leave the school but we promised to visit again Friday so Mary and Anna can say goodbye.
The Imuka singers gathered tonight for some fun and fellowship and we were very lucky to have a private concert. Some Imuka members we know from their time in America, like Hope, Justina, Edison, Joas and Smart. Others we were meeting for the first time and they welcomed us like family. This was their first time gathering since their tour concluded and it was fun to hear them discuss what happened. Obviously pizza was not a hit.
Those of you close to me know averse I am to being touched but my new adopted Bukoban family is clueless. Hugging, touching and even holding hands is common between friends (rafiki= friend in Swahili) in Tanzania. I will admit to being taken aback the first time one of the women held my hand but it is quite common between even men. Now that it is day four I am appreciating the reception- even if it is a big hug.
Since we are on the topic of affection- Michele Melius would be happy to hear that Anna may have found a Tanzanian husband...if you don't count that multiple wives is a status symbol here in Bukoba. I will admit to being VERY entertained at how uncomfortable the barrage of attention is making her. We also laugh at the lack of attention given when his fiancé is present. On the bright side I could possibly have a place to stay when I return to Bukoba.
Peace and "Love" from Africa,
Erika
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Day at Kiteyagwa
July 25th, 2011
Habari za asubuhi! (Good morning)
We had our first close up encounter with the city and school yesterday. After running some errands around town and stopping at the internet café we headed off to meet Dr. Anatory Amani. He was meeting with a political council when we arrived but it was important that we stop by and let him know we were in town. He was still very proud of the time he had in Minnesota and even had the news clipping of his visit to Waconia laminated. We are planning to have dinner with him later in the week.
Justina, the principal of the Kiteyagwa primary school in Bukoba, brought us to visit and spend some time with the teachers. We will be working with students later on in the week but this first welcome to their school was very touching. Justina traveled with the Imuka singers the past few months and this was her first time back to the school since the the singers returned. Students were so excited to see her that they mobbed her with hugs as soon as she got out of the van.
The students are excited to learn English and it was so funny to see similarities with the students in Waconia. There are the quieter students who do well as the clowns, eager to get in front of the camera and funny enough placed toward the front of the class. I will be spending more days in the Kiteyagwa school and be sure to fill in more details but I will point out that she number of students per level (class) is usually in the nineties with 2-4 students sharing a desk.
Teachers sat down with us and told about the education system as well and some of the needs for their classes. I was amazed that although food was something that many students lack at home- it was not something the teachers/school thought it was important to supply. They are so focused on education that things like food should be taken care of in the home.
Samahani (excuse me or sorry)
Hapana (no)
Bei gani (how much is this?)
Nataka kuona daktari (please give me a better price)
A special shout out to Bibi and Babu (translated grandfather and grandmother- for Ron and Elaine Larson). We saw the water system that your church provided for the Kiteyagwa school. You are spoken of as family by the people here.
Today we are off to some of the other school COSAD supports as well as a dinner with the Imuka singers.
Until next time~
Erika
Habari za asubuhi! (Good morning)
We had our first close up encounter with the city and school yesterday. After running some errands around town and stopping at the internet café we headed off to meet Dr. Anatory Amani. He was meeting with a political council when we arrived but it was important that we stop by and let him know we were in town. He was still very proud of the time he had in Minnesota and even had the news clipping of his visit to Waconia laminated. We are planning to have dinner with him later in the week.
Justina, the principal of the Kiteyagwa primary school in Bukoba, brought us to visit and spend some time with the teachers. We will be working with students later on in the week but this first welcome to their school was very touching. Justina traveled with the Imuka singers the past few months and this was her first time back to the school since the the singers returned. Students were so excited to see her that they mobbed her with hugs as soon as she got out of the van.
The teachers and students put on an amazing welcome parade. The traditional school uniforms are navy and white but the students in the parade had made hats from banana leaves and red shirts that they wore special. They saluted and sang Karibu sana, which means “very welcome”. Some of the higher level female students sang a poem for us about how they were happy for us to come and spoke of their principal Justina as an angel (We will work on one for you Mr. Gustafson!!). Justina spoke to the students about her time in the United States and how schools are different from what they are accustom but was very passionate about the fact that their learning and education was the key to them bettering their lives. She used Smart as an example of how he is in America but also in Bukoba helping raise money for their school.
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| Students sitting outside for the program |
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| Welcome parade |
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| Watching the parade |
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| Girls reciting their poem |
The reception was held in the yard of the school and after we finished teachers got students working on things in the classroom while we got a tour by Justina and Felician, the assistant principal.
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| Kiteyagwa School |
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| Edison, Felician, Smart and Justina |
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Teachers sat down with us and told about the education system as well and some of the needs for their classes. I was amazed that although food was something that many students lack at home- it was not something the teachers/school thought it was important to supply. They are so focused on education that things like food should be taken care of in the home.
After visiting the school, Smart took us to lunch with Justina and Edison (our resident comic and camera man). We stopped at a place called Kitimoto- Kibeta or “Hot Seat”. Our hosts raved about the pork served here and I was quite amazing. We sat outside again but this time we got to eat with our hands (my roommate Kristi wouldn’t make it at this restaurant). Our meal was prepared in a room across the parking area and I’m pretty sure I watched the chef chop our dinner off from the slabs of meat hanging in the screen. A server came around with a pitcher of water and bowl with soap. Following our hosts, we washed our hands in the water (not hot and no towels to dry) before digging into pork, grilled plantains and ugali (a corn yeast dough that you dip into a tomato sauce). Not having napkins was uncomfortable at first but at the end of the meal the server came around again with the wash basin.
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| Kitimoto- Kibeta |
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| cooking outside |
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| Anna, Mary, Hope, Edison, Smart and Justina |
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| eating with our hands |
Our fantastic day concluded with a trip to Lake Victoria and grocery shopping at “Cub foods” as Smart calls it- also known as the local market. I hope to take pictures of the market at a later date but didn’t want to draw more attention to ourselves since our presence alone was causing the prices for our hosts to rise.
Swahili words important to navigate the market- Samahani (excuse me or sorry)
Hapana (no)
Bei gani (how much is this?)
Nataka kuona daktari (please give me a better price)
A special shout out to Bibi and Babu (translated grandfather and grandmother- for Ron and Elaine Larson). We saw the water system that your church provided for the Kiteyagwa school. You are spoken of as family by the people here.
Today we are off to some of the other school COSAD supports as well as a dinner with the Imuka singers.
Until next time~
Erika
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