Ok I lied just time for a very quick post on the blog. See email for ugali references!!
Things to remember:
African sunrise and sunset.
Being helped off the dala dala last week by Oomba, a Masai gentleman who insisted on walking home with me! No language between the two of us but still managed to communicate.
the maize- its every where and whispers constantly.
Laughs and jokes with the family during the week- so warm and welcoming and loving- they want me to stay forever.
The fact that one of my Primary 5 pupils finally was able to say what his name was and how old he is- I nearly burst with pride!!
Off to Zanzibar on Monday- no hotel booked as yet but what the hell, I'll just turn up!
Missing home on occasion but managing to enjoy anyway. Only 4 weeks left till moving on to Nairobi- doesn't time fly when you're having fun!!
Saturday 22 March 2008
Saturday 15 March 2008
End of 2nd week
Yep not an original title but all that I can think of at the mo!
Been working at the Masai village this week and for the next 6. I say village but its enormous, must be easily more than 3000 people there, its just that they are all scattered. I'm not actually staying with the Masai which is a disappointment but am with the headmaster and his family. His wife Mama Last (all women here are called Mama, mother or sister- including me!) is the kindest, hardest working woman I've ever met in my life. She waits on me hand and foot, does all my cooking and washing and is horrifed if I offer to assist.
The school is basic and poor although most of the kids have exercise books and pens so call it a bonus. I'm teaching Standard 5 and 6 and Form 2 at the secondary school. The younger kids are incredibly shy of the mzungu but the older ones are bolder and ask a ton of questions- not all English related either!
Life is tough for the kids- some of them must walk 7 or 8 miles to get to school. They must be there for 7 am and then they have to clean the pupil and teacher toilets (squat toilets- yuck!), sweep and wash all the floors of the classrooms and offices and be ready to line up at 7.30. Then they have to sing the 2 Tanzanian national songs go to class. Most of them do this on an empty stomach. They must wear uniform or stay at home. If their family can't afford it, then they dont go to school. If they step out of line at all they are whipped with a switch which I must confess that I can't bear to see.
It feels as though I've been away from home for much longer than 2 weeks! So much has happened and so much to take in. School is in session for one more week then we have the Easter holiday for one week. I was going to visit Zanzibar but Cosmas said that we would all go to visit his parents in Kilimanjaro so I cancelled. Now he's decided that we are not going and its too late to get a reasonable flight to Z- grrrr! However, I have been invited to one of the teacher's wedding on the 29th so I'm really looking forward to that!
I must mention the food! Before coming to Oldonyosambu I was warned not to expect any decent food as it would all be meat based, so I prepared myself to starve. No such thing! We leave for school at 7 so eat breakfast at 6.30. Its usually eggs or bread or chapati. 10am break is chai and andazi- a kind of doughnut thing without the sugar. 12noon break is the same. School finishes at 2.30pm and then its home for lunch- usually rice with green veggies or ugali (very solid maize porridge- incredibly bland and only edible with something else. Its a staple here and the Tanzanians love it) Then 8 pm its dinner and Mama Last creates something wonderful with beans or lentils- often makandi, made with red beans and maize or plaitain stew- all wonderful. The calories in the chai alone are horrific. Sometimes its black tea with a ton of brown sugar, sometimes white tea with sugar and sometimes milk with brown sugar. No wonder Africans have bad teeth! And I'm starting to look pregnant!
This weekend I'm back in Tengeru. The Irish are leaving tomorrow so open fire and sing song and many beers tonight. Then back to Old tomorrow and another week of work. Ain't life tough!!
Been working at the Masai village this week and for the next 6. I say village but its enormous, must be easily more than 3000 people there, its just that they are all scattered. I'm not actually staying with the Masai which is a disappointment but am with the headmaster and his family. His wife Mama Last (all women here are called Mama, mother or sister- including me!) is the kindest, hardest working woman I've ever met in my life. She waits on me hand and foot, does all my cooking and washing and is horrifed if I offer to assist.
The school is basic and poor although most of the kids have exercise books and pens so call it a bonus. I'm teaching Standard 5 and 6 and Form 2 at the secondary school. The younger kids are incredibly shy of the mzungu but the older ones are bolder and ask a ton of questions- not all English related either!
Life is tough for the kids- some of them must walk 7 or 8 miles to get to school. They must be there for 7 am and then they have to clean the pupil and teacher toilets (squat toilets- yuck!), sweep and wash all the floors of the classrooms and offices and be ready to line up at 7.30. Then they have to sing the 2 Tanzanian national songs go to class. Most of them do this on an empty stomach. They must wear uniform or stay at home. If their family can't afford it, then they dont go to school. If they step out of line at all they are whipped with a switch which I must confess that I can't bear to see.
It feels as though I've been away from home for much longer than 2 weeks! So much has happened and so much to take in. School is in session for one more week then we have the Easter holiday for one week. I was going to visit Zanzibar but Cosmas said that we would all go to visit his parents in Kilimanjaro so I cancelled. Now he's decided that we are not going and its too late to get a reasonable flight to Z- grrrr! However, I have been invited to one of the teacher's wedding on the 29th so I'm really looking forward to that!
I must mention the food! Before coming to Oldonyosambu I was warned not to expect any decent food as it would all be meat based, so I prepared myself to starve. No such thing! We leave for school at 7 so eat breakfast at 6.30. Its usually eggs or bread or chapati. 10am break is chai and andazi- a kind of doughnut thing without the sugar. 12noon break is the same. School finishes at 2.30pm and then its home for lunch- usually rice with green veggies or ugali (very solid maize porridge- incredibly bland and only edible with something else. Its a staple here and the Tanzanians love it) Then 8 pm its dinner and Mama Last creates something wonderful with beans or lentils- often makandi, made with red beans and maize or plaitain stew- all wonderful. The calories in the chai alone are horrific. Sometimes its black tea with a ton of brown sugar, sometimes white tea with sugar and sometimes milk with brown sugar. No wonder Africans have bad teeth! And I'm starting to look pregnant!
This weekend I'm back in Tengeru. The Irish are leaving tomorrow so open fire and sing song and many beers tonight. Then back to Old tomorrow and another week of work. Ain't life tough!!
Friday 7 March 2008
First post- currrent location, Arusha Tanzania
At last I have a few minutes to write up this damn diary- I think it may have been easier to keep a written one! And I only have 5 minutes left on my internet time so I'd better be quick!
So. Tanzania. Its hot and beautiful although we have just entered the rainy season (fecking typical, I come from Scotland to Africa and I get the rain!). However it really only rains at night and then its like a monsoon. Never seen anything like it. Not even in Edinburgh.
I've been working at the orphanage this week. 32 kids under 2. No running water and no disposable nappies. Can you imagine! Its been really good fun though and the kids are wonderful. As are my fellow volunteers the fighting Irish, Deirdre, Anna Marie and Siobhan. And the American nutcase, Cynthia. All great fun.
Going up to the Masai on Sunday to begin work on Monday. No electricity, running water or English speakers. AAAAHHH! You may never hear from me again.....................................
So. Tanzania. Its hot and beautiful although we have just entered the rainy season (fecking typical, I come from Scotland to Africa and I get the rain!). However it really only rains at night and then its like a monsoon. Never seen anything like it. Not even in Edinburgh.
I've been working at the orphanage this week. 32 kids under 2. No running water and no disposable nappies. Can you imagine! Its been really good fun though and the kids are wonderful. As are my fellow volunteers the fighting Irish, Deirdre, Anna Marie and Siobhan. And the American nutcase, Cynthia. All great fun.
Going up to the Masai on Sunday to begin work on Monday. No electricity, running water or English speakers. AAAAHHH! You may never hear from me again.....................................
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