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Jo Collins
I am a teacher from New Zealand, currently volunteering in Tanzania with VSA.kiwilala
Travel Blog Posts
October 11th 2008
Hi again, I know it’s been a long time, but the college has been having major problems with the internet. When it is actually going, it is usually so slow that getting anything done is practically impossible. Most days I can’t open anything, and other days it takes me over an hour just to read my emails!! So, how are things there? I hear that there have been some major upsets weather-wise - I hope all has improved now. It must be starting to get warm again there, and all of you at school must be looking forward to getting through the last term! About 6 weeks ago I headed up to Mwanga with one of the Sisters from school. We went to visit a Catholic Mission there (hospital and orphanage). I really enjoyed the time ... read more
July 15th 2008
Hello all, I know it has been a long time! As you can see, I am now back in Tanzania and straight back into it! I have now been back at school for 2 days and it feels like I never left! Still, I had an amazing trip so no complaints! The tour was great, a wonderful group of people and for once I wasn’t outnumbered by Aussies! I began with 5 days on my own in Istanbul - had a good look around at everything - the history is amazing. Managed to get myself lost a number of times, but all fun. The tour itself was great, although really busy. We had lots of wonderful people and for once I wasn’t outnumbered by Aussies! Once we began the tour properly it was straight into it. ... read more
April 2nd 2008
Well, somebody’s rain-dance must have worked!!! Yes, you guessed it - the long rains have finally started and I don't think I have ever seen so much mud!!! I think I now know how it would have felt to be slogging my way out of the primordial ooze to walk on land!! I have had to crank out the gummies and so look very special as I negotiate my way along the road. On the plus-side, I have managed not to fall over yet (touching wood as I type!). It seems ridiculous to think that only 2 weeks ago we were so desperate for water - talk about going from one extreme to the other!!! We ended up having absolutely no water coming through for 4 days - doesn’t seem like too long, but it is ... read more
March 5th 2008
5 March 2008 Well, it has finally happened - I have now had my first encounter with a snake! (I don't really think the snake park counts as an encounter). This one was curled up in my doorway when I went to leave for school on Monday morning, blocking my way out! I guess it would have been a good excuse for a day off school, although then I would have been stuck at home with the snake!! I think it was a black mamba (very dangerous!), although it was quite small and, to be honest, it's not like I got real close! I managed not to freak out completely and become a blithering mess in the corner, but it was a pretty close-run thing! I eventually grabbed my broom and swept it out of the ... read more
February 28th 2008
I have been back teaching now for 6 weeks and everything seems pretty much normal. It was a slow start to the year as they organised subject teachers and teaching loads and then the timetable (no, apparently none of this could be done before we all arrived!). I am teaching English grammar to Form 4 and Form 3 (8 classes between the 2 forms, so that should keep me busy). I am also now Head of the Computer Department - what a joke! Still, with the equipment we’ve got (or rather, haven’t got) it shouldn’t be too onerous! However, I am ever hopeful! Apparently we have been given some more computers so now have 6 for the whole school - don’t know if I will be able to keep up!! We have had a little bit ... read more
January 9th 2008
Hello everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! We had Christmas in the Serengeti - how cool does that sound??? I left Mum and Dad in Zanzibar this morning when I flew back to Kilimanjaro (they are heading on to Dubai then back to Kiwiland). We’ve had a really great time and managed to pack heaps into the 3½ weeks they were here. I picked them up from the airport the same day I got back from Zimbabwe, only to find that their bags had been lost as well!! What are the chances?? We stayed in Arusha and spent the next day having a wander around the city (and trying to replace the most urgent items from our bags). Mum and Dad’s stuff arrived the next day and it was like ... read more
December 16th 2007
WOW!!! Have just returned from a safari travelling in South Africa and Zimbabwe for 11 days - had the most amazing time!!! There were 21 people on our tour, with a significant percentage of them being Aussies (however, they were actually pretty cool so could have been worse!!!) We began with a couple of nights at Kruger Park in South Africa and I finally got to see Rhinos - practically right beside our truck! From there we headed up to Messina via Blyde River Canyon. We had some fantastic views on the way, despite the rain. However, when we got to ‘God’s Window’ He had unfortunately shut the curtains so we never got to see what heaven is supposed to look like - maybe someone was trying to tell us something??? From Messina it was across ... read more
November 2nd 2007
Hi again everyone, How is everything going in the land of the long white cloud? Hopefully you are working towards summer and starting to get some warmth in the days! It is a bit cool here today - I am even wearing a light jacket! We have had a bit of rain lately, but the rains haven’t come fully so we are reaching something of a water crisis. There is a public tap near my house and all day there are people crowded round it waiting their turn to fill their bucket/s. Unfortunately the lack of pressure means that my tank is not filling up so I am stuck washing in a bucket every day - that definitely loses its charm very quickly! Apparently 2 years ago these rains failed completely, so people are starting to ... read more
October 11th 2007
Well, despite changing post codes etc, it seems I couldn’t avoid the big day, so am now finally 30 - thanks for all your warm wishes. It was a pretty quiet day, almost managed to pretend it wasn’t happening!!! Jane cooked dinner for Louis and me, and we had a bit of local liquor - tasted much like you would expect paint thinner to taste! Didn’t go too hard though as I had to teach on Friday (getting responsible in my old age!) Louis and I managed to go out for a few beers at a local tin shed on Saturday night - avoided the locally brewed stuff though! Things here are settling into a good pattern - it’s amazing how quickly things begin to seem normal! I am now teaching 12 hours a week (sadly, ... read more
September 27th 2007
Hello again, After a week on mid-term break I am now back at school and doing some proper teaching - it feels like forever since I did any teaching and I think I actually missed it - how sad is that? The kids have been very welcoming and responsive and they are starting to understand my kiwi accent. Unfortunately they have been taught partly from the old syllabus and partly from the new one so things are a little confused. I am only teaching English for 9 periods a week, the rest of the time I am responsible for teaching computer literacy to the staff and students (I don’t remember this being in the job description, but am willing to have a go!) We have been given 3 computers by the PM (who comes from Monduli) ... read more
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