Blogs from Arusha City, Arusha, North, Tanzania, Africa - page 2

Our last work week in Arusha was filled with surprises. School was the same, we shifted teachers around to cover the gaps, and I went back to helping everywhere. The children keep showing more and more affection as the get to know me. The one boy I work with one on one, no longer let's go of my hand during the break. But many other things came up. We got a new room mate, volunteer. I had to cancel my last time with the Masaai men, because of meetings with projects abroad, which disappointed me and I found out, them as well, since most showed up anyway. We had a surprise massage care of Isaac, at the house. He keeps wanting to show me how much he appreciates what we are doing. Then, yesterday, a journalism ... read more

On Friday, school was hectic. We didn't have our normal driver and the new one didn't know the route. I wasn't sure of the way neither so we had to get the teachers out earlier to help. Then they had to go on the second drive, so they were late for school. Along with the other volunteers. So we had to run their classes as best as we could. Elizabeth also had to go to the clinic so I had to take her class, even when the other teachers came back. Quite the morning. I went to town in the afternoon, to connect with wifi. Each time I travel into town, I am struck again by how different the world can be, and how adaptable we humans are. I squeeze against the thorn bushes to get ... read more

We went for home visits on Wednesday again; this time we went to twelve homes and didn't finish until after 6pm. Thursday was different; Isaac had saved enough to bring all of the students to a play park with a train and a climbing mountain. They were in seventh heaven. We transported everyone by the small vans called Dallas and it took forever so we didn't make it home till 6 again. Friday, we were finally able to go to town and prepare for our weekend climbing Mount Meru, and connect with home. It is even more precious when we talk with loved ones since we can only manage it from time to time. The highlight of the week was the three days spent in Mount Meru National Park. We left early on Saturday morning. We ... read more

Our second week of work and everything is beginning to feel easier. I get blisters cutting vegetables. My legs stretch into a crouch better, although Momma Johanna ( the cook and cleaner for the school) makes me take the bucket to sit on half the time. I am beginning to learn student names and I am understanding the rhythm of everything much better. The schooling here is very traditional, with lots of copying, and echo back chanting. Much of it is too difficult for the little ones, and there are not enough people to go around to help students one on one. I watch their boredom and restlessness grow and know that any of my answers to help will not be accepted or space requirements mean that it is just not possible. I can get to ... read more

This weekend, we spent going to town. We went to a grilled meat restaurant. You look at the meat piled at the end of the grill and choose a kilo of chicken or goat or beef. You get side dishes of beans or spinach or rice and eat everything with ugali, the polenta type starch that you form into a ball to scoop up food. There are western restaurants to go to, but they are not as interesting or as tasty, and they are much more costly. We went shopping for kenga and dresses, then we went to use wifi. It will not be easy to call home since the only time we are able to call is when everyone is sleeping. There are very few beggars on the streets here. Everyone is trying to sell ... read more