Recap of the last few days: Service, physical fitness challenge, cultural immersion
Friday: Painting in the secondary school dining hall
Saturday: Mountain hike
Sunday: Village visit, Luka's house, choir practice
Friday May 21
No bus ride today. Instead after our normal morning routine, we headed across the seminary grounds to the secondary school dining hall. We have frequently visited the school grounds for morning class devotions, choir practice and to visit the store for some cold sodas, so we knew where we were going. The dining hall itself isn't in too bad of shape, but there is a lot of water damage to the ceiling, some mold and just some general wear and tear from the years of use. We sanded, filled in holes and then set to work. The walls became blue and the cement around the top of the walls a cream color. We were going to paint the ceiling,but it is very weak in certain places, so that was vetoed. We stopped various times during the day for tea and lunch, but by the time we stopped around 2pm, it looked completely different and bright. It helped that we had several boys from the school helping us, even if it did mean more of a mess throughout the hall. It was fun to work together with them and all together as a group, even if we did get chased by angry wasps and large spiders. After an afternoon rest, we headed out on our last walk to the orphanage. I ended up being claimed by possibly my favorite talkative little boy, but I managed to acquire another little boy for awhile too, so I had my arms full. They didn't really want to share me though, so I eventually passed off the second one to some empty arms. It was sad to leave at the end of our time, but my little boy got down, waved and said "kwa heri" to me, and it was so adorable. He wouldn't let me put him down before I left, but he understood I had to leave.
Saturday May 22
We woke up to the sound of rain falling and thought "What a perfect day for a mountain hike." Hmmm... We ate breakfast, packed up our stuff and loaded the bus for our drive to the base of the mountain path. It started off with just a light sprinkling, but drizzled on and off for most of the hike up. The road itself started out fairly decent, but then we had to literally scale rocks and climb up, using our hands to pull ourselves up a steep, muddy path. It was quite the workout, and we were all soaked of course, because the path was a muddy stream. We were actually pretty high up and less than a few hours from the top when we ended up having to turn around. It was a pretty traumatic event that occured, but since we are supposed to be careful with what we post, you will have to ask me in private. We'll just say only one girl made it to the top, because she was helped up by one of our teacher's friends who lives up at the top. The rest of us turned around and came back down. We finally got down and got to rest, eat and have some sodas before loading the bus again. Then we stopped off at a police station for a bit, before finally making it back to the seminary. It was quite the exciting day.
Sunday May 23
Last village visit. Possibly one of the top visits we had on this trip, at least for me. We arrived and were greeted by some women singing and shaking our hands. Then we headed into the church for a little while for our customary "sitting period." A new group is at the seminary from Oklahoma/Arkansas, so we were telling them what we knew and what kinds of things to look out for and keep in mind. They're still wishing we were staying awhile longer to help them out more. After a bit, a small group of us went outside to play with the kids. There was a lot of hand slapping/hand games, and then we did things like the hokey pokey, ring-around-the-rosy, london bridge a copycat game. I got claimed by a little boy who refused to share my hands with anyone else, no matter how hard I tried to share, but he wanted to jump and dance with me by himself, so I went with it. Before tea we handed out some textbooks we had bought for the school children there. Tea went pretty well, and then we had another short wait before the 3ish hour service. There was another auction after the service, and we bought lots of the animals again, and a few other pieces of cloth I think . I mostly played with the kids and let them rub my skin and be fascinated with it haha. It's so cute. Lunch was the normal rice, goat, beans and potatoes, so nothing too different. I did get a piece of liver today though...so that was interesting. After leaving the village we headed to Luka's house for tea, snacks and to meet his family. Luka has been a huge help here. He is kind of the pastor's adopted son, so he goes with us everywhere as a driver, guide and assistant pastor at churches. He is going to seminary to be a pastor as well I believe. Anyway, we had lemongrass tea, potatoes, soda and tangerines, and got to sit and talk for awhile, so that was nice. Back at the seminary, I headed for the last time to the secondary school choir practice. I have only been a few times, but they sing sooooo well and are so nice, that I'm glad I went .We exchanged emails and just hung out for awhile be fore getting kicked out by a security guard. Oops!! Now I just have to pack and get ready for our ferry to Zanzibar tomorrow. I may not update again until I'm home. It's hard to say.
Next on the agenda:
Zanzibar- spice tour, snorkeling, swimming, beach resort, beach, shopping, vacation time
Thanks for reading my blog! =) I am so sad to leave this amazing, beautiful place, and I hope I can come back soon.... really soon. The people are amazing and I love the atmosphere. I think I may come back with some sort of medical degree as well.
All for now. Usiku mwema na lala salaama. Jen =)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Kazi ni nzuri kwa roho (Work is good for the soul)
The past several days have mostly been service/work days, so I figured it was easy enough to group them together. May 18, we painted churches, May 19 was a Baribi village visit, and today we helped built parts of a church.
Tuesday- We arrived in front of a well-constructed church, located in one of the many villages in the Bush, and split into groups. I stayed with the group that was going to paint the church we had arrived at, but another group headed down the road to paint another village church. We started with tea, then got to work. The walls were white, the doors a teal/blue, and the trim around the doors was brown. After 3 coats of paint, the place looked pretty darn good, considering our time and help constraints. That's a lot of work for a few girls to do in only about 5 hours. We did have some help from Luka and some of the village men, but a lot of it was all us. We even had extended paint rollers constructed by sticking the rollers on the ends of big branches. Quite ingenious if I do say so myself. I of course got rained on, so my shirt (turned inside out of course) is quite speckled with water-soluble white paint (hopefully some will come out). Lunch that day was goat, rice, spinach, and bananas, with water and soda to drink. At the end of the day, we had accomplished a lot, and it looked really good. Maybe I can show pictures sometime of the altar we painted with a cross. =)
Wed 19- We visited a village on Wednesday, expecting a church service, but that's not quite what we got. Instead of visiting Masaai people, this time we visited a Baribi village. The people are known to be the kind that move a lot, so the fact that their church has not been used is not entirely surprising. Since the church was deserted, we drove to the school and found lots of children and some other adults. After sitting for several hours (and napping, reading, etc), it was determined that there would be no actual service. They did feed us, however, and then we got to see a traditional jumping event take place between some of the men and women of the village. Lunch was chicken (kuku) and duck (bata) with rice (wali), beans and water (maji). This was much different from our normal goat meat, but it was very good and we were not complaining. The jumping was kind of cool, because usually the women don't jump with men in the Masaai villages, but there men and women jumped together. I think it's some sort of hook-up/mating time jumping ritual, but I"m not quite sure. The kids in this village were a little more skittish of our group at fist, and for some reason were freaked out by the bubbles. However, several of our girls gained their trust and then played London Bridge, Ring Around the Rosie, and Moja Moja Mbili (Duck, Duck, Goose) with the kids. It was lots of fun to watch. I have to say I like the Masaai villages better, because they are more welcoming, but we are still trying to build trust and relationships with lots of villages, so it takes time.
Today 20- Instead of painting, we arrived in front of a standing chruch (minus a roof) to help put up and build parts of the church itself. After carrying long boards and 2x4's, we split into two groups and either helped build benches or rafters for the roof. I was in the bench group, so I did a lot of hammering. My arms are a little tired, but it was fun. I even got told that I would make a good carpenter by one of the village guys. That was nice of him. Apparently I was decent. =) Lunch was AMAZING. It was pretty much a buffet with chicken, veggies/sauce, rice, collard greens, beans, watermelon, cucumber and bananas. There was lots and lots of food, really good food. After lunch we took a little break before heading back to work. This time I went inside and helped to nail some of the rafters together. I really need to work on my arm muscles, but I guess I don't hammer much, so it happens. After the long day in the sun, most of us are a little sunburned but content. IT was a good experience and most of us feel like we contributed at least somewhat. Reflection tonight was kind of cool. We had to sit by someone we didn't know before the trip ( most of us didn't know many people) and say one thing we admired/would like to be true about ourselves about that person. Kelley did me and she said she admired how I was very quite, but when I do speak, I say what I have to say and it's usually relevant and good to say. Then we all went around and said our favorite parts of the trip. I really like learning the language, seeing monkeys on the roads, waving to EVERYONE and just the natural/community atmosphere of Tanzania. It's one big community.
Next on the Agenda:
Friday: painting the secondary school dining hall located on the seminary grounds, orphanage
Saturday: Mountain hike all day =)
Sunday: Last village church visit
Monday: Leave for Zanzibar
Tuesday/Wed: Zanzibar/home
I can't believe how fast this trip has gone! It's been so amazing, though ,and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I hope to come back someday and either volunteer or visit people again. It's such a great place, and even with the poverty, AIDS, other problems it has, it just needs love and hope and people that care to make a difference. I think we as a group have, and for that I am very happy! =) Usiku mwema (Goodnight) Jen
Tuesday- We arrived in front of a well-constructed church, located in one of the many villages in the Bush, and split into groups. I stayed with the group that was going to paint the church we had arrived at, but another group headed down the road to paint another village church. We started with tea, then got to work. The walls were white, the doors a teal/blue, and the trim around the doors was brown. After 3 coats of paint, the place looked pretty darn good, considering our time and help constraints. That's a lot of work for a few girls to do in only about 5 hours. We did have some help from Luka and some of the village men, but a lot of it was all us. We even had extended paint rollers constructed by sticking the rollers on the ends of big branches. Quite ingenious if I do say so myself. I of course got rained on, so my shirt (turned inside out of course) is quite speckled with water-soluble white paint (hopefully some will come out). Lunch that day was goat, rice, spinach, and bananas, with water and soda to drink. At the end of the day, we had accomplished a lot, and it looked really good. Maybe I can show pictures sometime of the altar we painted with a cross. =)
Wed 19- We visited a village on Wednesday, expecting a church service, but that's not quite what we got. Instead of visiting Masaai people, this time we visited a Baribi village. The people are known to be the kind that move a lot, so the fact that their church has not been used is not entirely surprising. Since the church was deserted, we drove to the school and found lots of children and some other adults. After sitting for several hours (and napping, reading, etc), it was determined that there would be no actual service. They did feed us, however, and then we got to see a traditional jumping event take place between some of the men and women of the village. Lunch was chicken (kuku) and duck (bata) with rice (wali), beans and water (maji). This was much different from our normal goat meat, but it was very good and we were not complaining. The jumping was kind of cool, because usually the women don't jump with men in the Masaai villages, but there men and women jumped together. I think it's some sort of hook-up/mating time jumping ritual, but I"m not quite sure. The kids in this village were a little more skittish of our group at fist, and for some reason were freaked out by the bubbles. However, several of our girls gained their trust and then played London Bridge, Ring Around the Rosie, and Moja Moja Mbili (Duck, Duck, Goose) with the kids. It was lots of fun to watch. I have to say I like the Masaai villages better, because they are more welcoming, but we are still trying to build trust and relationships with lots of villages, so it takes time.
Today 20- Instead of painting, we arrived in front of a standing chruch (minus a roof) to help put up and build parts of the church itself. After carrying long boards and 2x4's, we split into two groups and either helped build benches or rafters for the roof. I was in the bench group, so I did a lot of hammering. My arms are a little tired, but it was fun. I even got told that I would make a good carpenter by one of the village guys. That was nice of him. Apparently I was decent. =) Lunch was AMAZING. It was pretty much a buffet with chicken, veggies/sauce, rice, collard greens, beans, watermelon, cucumber and bananas. There was lots and lots of food, really good food. After lunch we took a little break before heading back to work. This time I went inside and helped to nail some of the rafters together. I really need to work on my arm muscles, but I guess I don't hammer much, so it happens. After the long day in the sun, most of us are a little sunburned but content. IT was a good experience and most of us feel like we contributed at least somewhat. Reflection tonight was kind of cool. We had to sit by someone we didn't know before the trip ( most of us didn't know many people) and say one thing we admired/would like to be true about ourselves about that person. Kelley did me and she said she admired how I was very quite, but when I do speak, I say what I have to say and it's usually relevant and good to say. Then we all went around and said our favorite parts of the trip. I really like learning the language, seeing monkeys on the roads, waving to EVERYONE and just the natural/community atmosphere of Tanzania. It's one big community.
Next on the Agenda:
Friday: painting the secondary school dining hall located on the seminary grounds, orphanage
Saturday: Mountain hike all day =)
Sunday: Last village church visit
Monday: Leave for Zanzibar
Tuesday/Wed: Zanzibar/home
I can't believe how fast this trip has gone! It's been so amazing, though ,and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I hope to come back someday and either volunteer or visit people again. It's such a great place, and even with the poverty, AIDS, other problems it has, it just needs love and hope and people that care to make a difference. I think we as a group have, and for that I am very happy! =) Usiku mwema (Goodnight) Jen
Break the Silence; Stop the Conspiracy
May 17-
Today we stayed close to home, as our destinations were located in Morogoro. Considering our course is entitled The Global AIDS Crisis, it would make sense that we spend some time looking and and considering the disease itself and all the issues that go with it. Downtown Morogoro is a fairly busy place. Lots of people, several small vendors and all kinds of sights/sounds catch your senses as you drive through. Located within all the commotion is a special organization called Faraja. This organization started out as a response to the AIDS crisis that occurred in Tanzania a few decades ago, when AIDS was still considered a "gay disease." While we now know how one gets AIDS (and how one does not), there is still a high stigma here for people that contract the HIV virus. There are several reasons for this, as well as several reasons regarding the high transmission rate in Tanzania, but let's get back to Faraja itself.
We arrived at the main office and spent some time talking with and asking questions of the main director. We learned about the different branches and outreach services someone can seek through Faraja and what exactly goes on. While Faraja was started as just a HIV/AIDS organization, it has now branched out to help with poverty, some womens' rights advocacy (it's still in progress), and has a big role in both orphaned and HIV+ children. After our Qand A session, we headed to two separate street schools. These schools take children that come to them off the streets that are either orphans or social orphans and give them the education and some skills they need to survive in the world and get into higher levels of education. The kids learn Swahili, English, Geography, Math, Science, Health, etc, and also get a meal provided to them during they day and a place to play with other children. We donated a soccer ball to each school as well as a laptop, and we got to meet the students and teachers at each school. The students promised us that they wanted to work hard and do well, and they really wanted to make us proud of them. I totally would have taken a few home with me... and they were willing to come... Our last stop before lunch was a home-outreach center. The center provides counseling (pre and post-HIV testing), HIV testing, and specifically does home visits and works with children. Each month they try to have a big meal and game day for all of the kids they have, so that they can come and enjoy a safe place together, without having to be ashamed or alone.
Lunch was at a restaurant in town, and we all got to order our own food off the menu. It was a little difficult to pick, but we all ended up with good food, and it was a fun experience to eat out as a group.
That night after dinner we talked about AIDS/HIV transmission and why it's so high. Some of the reasons we came up with/have found to be true are:
-condom use is relatively low still
-women cannot ask about sex partners of their spouse
-women belong to their husbands
-sex workers are very prominent
-nutrition is often an issue, so immune systems are the best
-STDS are common
-stigma is still a big player
AIDS is a big problem in Tanzania, but there is always hope. ARV's (Anti-retro virals) are available to anyone that can get to a center to pick them up for free, education is becoming more prominent, and women are slowly being given more than a beating. Working together with people and breaking the silence about AIDS and the stigmas it carries are our best warriors in this battle.
Today we stayed close to home, as our destinations were located in Morogoro. Considering our course is entitled The Global AIDS Crisis, it would make sense that we spend some time looking and and considering the disease itself and all the issues that go with it. Downtown Morogoro is a fairly busy place. Lots of people, several small vendors and all kinds of sights/sounds catch your senses as you drive through. Located within all the commotion is a special organization called Faraja. This organization started out as a response to the AIDS crisis that occurred in Tanzania a few decades ago, when AIDS was still considered a "gay disease." While we now know how one gets AIDS (and how one does not), there is still a high stigma here for people that contract the HIV virus. There are several reasons for this, as well as several reasons regarding the high transmission rate in Tanzania, but let's get back to Faraja itself.
We arrived at the main office and spent some time talking with and asking questions of the main director. We learned about the different branches and outreach services someone can seek through Faraja and what exactly goes on. While Faraja was started as just a HIV/AIDS organization, it has now branched out to help with poverty, some womens' rights advocacy (it's still in progress), and has a big role in both orphaned and HIV+ children. After our Qand A session, we headed to two separate street schools. These schools take children that come to them off the streets that are either orphans or social orphans and give them the education and some skills they need to survive in the world and get into higher levels of education. The kids learn Swahili, English, Geography, Math, Science, Health, etc, and also get a meal provided to them during they day and a place to play with other children. We donated a soccer ball to each school as well as a laptop, and we got to meet the students and teachers at each school. The students promised us that they wanted to work hard and do well, and they really wanted to make us proud of them. I totally would have taken a few home with me... and they were willing to come... Our last stop before lunch was a home-outreach center. The center provides counseling (pre and post-HIV testing), HIV testing, and specifically does home visits and works with children. Each month they try to have a big meal and game day for all of the kids they have, so that they can come and enjoy a safe place together, without having to be ashamed or alone.
Lunch was at a restaurant in town, and we all got to order our own food off the menu. It was a little difficult to pick, but we all ended up with good food, and it was a fun experience to eat out as a group.
That night after dinner we talked about AIDS/HIV transmission and why it's so high. Some of the reasons we came up with/have found to be true are:
-condom use is relatively low still
-women cannot ask about sex partners of their spouse
-women belong to their husbands
-sex workers are very prominent
-nutrition is often an issue, so immune systems are the best
-STDS are common
-stigma is still a big player
AIDS is a big problem in Tanzania, but there is always hope. ARV's (Anti-retro virals) are available to anyone that can get to a center to pick them up for free, education is becoming more prominent, and women are slowly being given more than a beating. Working together with people and breaking the silence about AIDS and the stigmas it carries are our best warriors in this battle.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Another Day, Another Adventure
Mambo rafiki! I have managed to snag the computer again, and it's actually cooperating, so here goes!
May 14- Village visit #2. After our usual breakfast, we loaded the bus and headed to another village church. However, this time our ride was 4.5 hours (5+ on the way back). It was a decent trip though, aside from the bumps, jostling and off-roading we did. We got to drive up through the mountains and through the rainforest, so the view was gorgeous! We even got a few peeks at some tumbili (monkeys) along the way. After finding the village, and following a bike down the bike path ( in the bus, mind you) we arrived and were greeted by several people in the village. This particular village is a new village, and is a little poorer than others we've been to, so there is no actual church building. Instead, we had church under some trees, while sitting in a circle around the pastors. It was a little hard to hear, and there were tons of distractions, but it was a good service. Since most villages we will visit have an auction after the service, this one was no different. However, we ended up buying most of the items being auctioned, including: 3 mbuzi (goats), 2 kuku (chickens), several pieces of fabric for kitenges and some jewelry. We donated all of the animals to others in the village, and gave 2 chickens to one of the drivers with us (so we got to hear crying chickens part of the way home... ) We finally made it home around 12 am, and then we all went to bed.
May 15- Because our previous day was soooo long, we were granted Saturday as a "free day." No commitments all day, so we were free to participate or not in any of the normal activities. Saturday was our last Swahili class, but we ended up just talking about culture instead. Couples (married or dating) do not really participate in any PDA, so it's hard to even know who is together, because there is no association. Also, tipping at restaurants is very uncommon and unexpected here, even though severs aren't paid well (similar to the US). Be prepared if you invited someone to "go out" with you, because what you are saying is that you are going to pay. Greetings are #1 pretty much. When people come to visit, you escort them i nand out of the house and don't start conversations until they are comfortably seated. No sniffing the food, because it means you think it may be rotten (Thought you would like that mom... since I do that a lot). When you receive something from a elder, you bow as you receive it. Modesty is much more prevalent in clothing ( below the knees is a good idea). To get someone's attention when they are walking away/across the way, you clap; Never call out to them ( Too bad Bwana Ed didn't approve of us practicing this with him...). After that we had lunch, then many people napped or did laundry. Some people headed to the orphanage around 4pm, but lots of us stayed behind, so those that went had to deal with double the children, lots of dirty diapers and crying when they left. Reflection that night was about AIDS/HIV in preparation for our visit to Faraja tomorrow.
May 16- Village church visit #3. Today we took land-rovers, which I thought made the trip better, but several people got carsick from sitting in the back on bench seats. Lots of people thought today was the best visit so far, but I still like village #1 better. Church was muchthe same as it always is, but the auction was slightly more fun, since we all know our Swahili numbers now. =) We got several things again, including a goat we named Speckles. After the auction, the village men did their traditional jumping/dancing, like they used to do to scare their opponents before battle. They chant and jump and sing. Many of the girls and Bwana Ed joined them in the middle and it was quite the sight. I was on the wrong side of the circle, but I had fun watching anyway. Then it was time for a quick lunch of goat meat, rice, beans and tea, before heading back to the Seminary. Nothing much has happened since we returned, but tomorrow should be a good time. Since I'm a bio major, I'm interested in disease and health stuff, so I'm sure tomorrow will be good for me to see how health care and something so stigmatized has been handled.
I guess that's all for tonight! Kwa heri! Usiku mwema! Asante! Comment please! Jen
May 14- Village visit #2. After our usual breakfast, we loaded the bus and headed to another village church. However, this time our ride was 4.5 hours (5+ on the way back). It was a decent trip though, aside from the bumps, jostling and off-roading we did. We got to drive up through the mountains and through the rainforest, so the view was gorgeous! We even got a few peeks at some tumbili (monkeys) along the way. After finding the village, and following a bike down the bike path ( in the bus, mind you) we arrived and were greeted by several people in the village. This particular village is a new village, and is a little poorer than others we've been to, so there is no actual church building. Instead, we had church under some trees, while sitting in a circle around the pastors. It was a little hard to hear, and there were tons of distractions, but it was a good service. Since most villages we will visit have an auction after the service, this one was no different. However, we ended up buying most of the items being auctioned, including: 3 mbuzi (goats), 2 kuku (chickens), several pieces of fabric for kitenges and some jewelry. We donated all of the animals to others in the village, and gave 2 chickens to one of the drivers with us (so we got to hear crying chickens part of the way home... ) We finally made it home around 12 am, and then we all went to bed.
May 15- Because our previous day was soooo long, we were granted Saturday as a "free day." No commitments all day, so we were free to participate or not in any of the normal activities. Saturday was our last Swahili class, but we ended up just talking about culture instead. Couples (married or dating) do not really participate in any PDA, so it's hard to even know who is together, because there is no association. Also, tipping at restaurants is very uncommon and unexpected here, even though severs aren't paid well (similar to the US). Be prepared if you invited someone to "go out" with you, because what you are saying is that you are going to pay. Greetings are #1 pretty much. When people come to visit, you escort them i nand out of the house and don't start conversations until they are comfortably seated. No sniffing the food, because it means you think it may be rotten (Thought you would like that mom... since I do that a lot). When you receive something from a elder, you bow as you receive it. Modesty is much more prevalent in clothing ( below the knees is a good idea). To get someone's attention when they are walking away/across the way, you clap; Never call out to them ( Too bad Bwana Ed didn't approve of us practicing this with him...). After that we had lunch, then many people napped or did laundry. Some people headed to the orphanage around 4pm, but lots of us stayed behind, so those that went had to deal with double the children, lots of dirty diapers and crying when they left. Reflection that night was about AIDS/HIV in preparation for our visit to Faraja tomorrow.
May 16- Village church visit #3. Today we took land-rovers, which I thought made the trip better, but several people got carsick from sitting in the back on bench seats. Lots of people thought today was the best visit so far, but I still like village #1 better. Church was muchthe same as it always is, but the auction was slightly more fun, since we all know our Swahili numbers now. =) We got several things again, including a goat we named Speckles. After the auction, the village men did their traditional jumping/dancing, like they used to do to scare their opponents before battle. They chant and jump and sing. Many of the girls and Bwana Ed joined them in the middle and it was quite the sight. I was on the wrong side of the circle, but I had fun watching anyway. Then it was time for a quick lunch of goat meat, rice, beans and tea, before heading back to the Seminary. Nothing much has happened since we returned, but tomorrow should be a good time. Since I'm a bio major, I'm interested in disease and health stuff, so I'm sure tomorrow will be good for me to see how health care and something so stigmatized has been handled.
I guess that's all for tonight! Kwa heri! Usiku mwema! Asante! Comment please! Jen
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Watoto, Simba, Masaai. Oh My!
Sorry I have not updated lately. The computer is very very slow, and I get so frustrated, that I don't get on. That and it's so hard to get a chance to use it. Anyway...
Things we've done since my last update:
Masaai village church visit
2 more orphanage visits
LOTS of Swahili class time
Mikumi game park
If you have ever been amazed by a choir sing, think again. African choirs, especially church choirs and school choirs are AMAZING! There are actions, chanting, noise-making and singing (of course). We arrived at the village around 9:30 am, but church did not start until 12ish, since here it is custom to wait for everyone to arrive first, and greet everyone as they arrive. The service itself was about 3 hours, with singing, talking, communion, offering, choir performances, and even a few songs from us Wartburg kids. With all the entertainment, it didn't seem like that long, but there were so many people standing the entire time... Crazy... After church, everyone goes outside and shakes everyone's hand, while forming a giant circle. Then it was time for the auction and taking pictures with all the children, which is what I did instead. This may also be why my camera doesn't work right now...but it happens. We also ended up eating at the village. The meal consisted of goat, rice, tomatoes and.... all of the goat innards cooked. So some unknowing(and some knowing) Wartburgers ended up with intestine, liver and stomach to eat. The liver apparently was decent, but the other stuff was interesting, so they got interesting with the ways they ate it. We also had soda for the first time, which was pretty sweet, not to mention that some of us used the "outhouse," which is an experience all in itself... The toilet is in the floor, so you squat. Enough said.
The orphanage stories are the same pretty much. We run, swing, talk and just carry the kids around for however long we are there. They are so talkative and love to look out the window, even though we are outside anyway. Slowly, we are learning more words to try and use with the kids, but mostly we just listen to them babble. It's cute that way anyway.
Swahili lessons are almost over, but we have learned a ton in the few days we have been learning it. We can form lots of full sentences now with verbs, adjectives and adverbs and we know tons of vocab. Napenda Swahili-I like Swahili. I would say more, but I don't have my notebook, so this is all from memory. =P
Today we got back from an overnight trip to Mikumi game park. It's pretty much a huge animal reserve, and i do mean HUGE! We saw so many twiga (giraffes), simba (lions), tembo (elephants), impala, birds, etc. Our lodging for the night was in little hut/cabin-like things. There was a "honeymoon suite" and another room with three single beds in it, plus a bathroom and shower room. Quite the place! Dinner was amazing too. We all got to choose from a menu and order drinks. I had a beef kabob with peanut sauce and chips(fries). Fanta was also available, so I was very excited about that! This morning we went out on another safari at 6:30am, however, that is when we really found the lions out and even eventually found a hippo in the water. It was definitely worth it! We got omelets for breakfast as well. Talk about luxury! After the excitement of having a male simba(lion) walk toward our bus, however, most people were tired and napped on the way home.
Tomorrow we have a 4-hr drive to another village. Apparently we are going through the rain forest though, so I am very excited! We will have another church service and meal. Who knows what new things we will learn tomorrow!!
Saturday is our last day of Swahili, and we will also head back to the orphanage then as well. I will try to blog again soon when possible!!
Kwa heri na usiku mwema (Goodbye and good night!) Jen
Things we've done since my last update:
Masaai village church visit
2 more orphanage visits
LOTS of Swahili class time
Mikumi game park
If you have ever been amazed by a choir sing, think again. African choirs, especially church choirs and school choirs are AMAZING! There are actions, chanting, noise-making and singing (of course). We arrived at the village around 9:30 am, but church did not start until 12ish, since here it is custom to wait for everyone to arrive first, and greet everyone as they arrive. The service itself was about 3 hours, with singing, talking, communion, offering, choir performances, and even a few songs from us Wartburg kids. With all the entertainment, it didn't seem like that long, but there were so many people standing the entire time... Crazy... After church, everyone goes outside and shakes everyone's hand, while forming a giant circle. Then it was time for the auction and taking pictures with all the children, which is what I did instead. This may also be why my camera doesn't work right now...but it happens. We also ended up eating at the village. The meal consisted of goat, rice, tomatoes and.... all of the goat innards cooked. So some unknowing(and some knowing) Wartburgers ended up with intestine, liver and stomach to eat. The liver apparently was decent, but the other stuff was interesting, so they got interesting with the ways they ate it. We also had soda for the first time, which was pretty sweet, not to mention that some of us used the "outhouse," which is an experience all in itself... The toilet is in the floor, so you squat. Enough said.
The orphanage stories are the same pretty much. We run, swing, talk and just carry the kids around for however long we are there. They are so talkative and love to look out the window, even though we are outside anyway. Slowly, we are learning more words to try and use with the kids, but mostly we just listen to them babble. It's cute that way anyway.
Swahili lessons are almost over, but we have learned a ton in the few days we have been learning it. We can form lots of full sentences now with verbs, adjectives and adverbs and we know tons of vocab. Napenda Swahili-I like Swahili. I would say more, but I don't have my notebook, so this is all from memory. =P
Today we got back from an overnight trip to Mikumi game park. It's pretty much a huge animal reserve, and i do mean HUGE! We saw so many twiga (giraffes), simba (lions), tembo (elephants), impala, birds, etc. Our lodging for the night was in little hut/cabin-like things. There was a "honeymoon suite" and another room with three single beds in it, plus a bathroom and shower room. Quite the place! Dinner was amazing too. We all got to choose from a menu and order drinks. I had a beef kabob with peanut sauce and chips(fries). Fanta was also available, so I was very excited about that! This morning we went out on another safari at 6:30am, however, that is when we really found the lions out and even eventually found a hippo in the water. It was definitely worth it! We got omelets for breakfast as well. Talk about luxury! After the excitement of having a male simba(lion) walk toward our bus, however, most people were tired and napped on the way home.
Tomorrow we have a 4-hr drive to another village. Apparently we are going through the rain forest though, so I am very excited! We will have another church service and meal. Who knows what new things we will learn tomorrow!!
Saturday is our last day of Swahili, and we will also head back to the orphanage then as well. I will try to blog again soon when possible!!
Kwa heri na usiku mwema (Goodbye and good night!) Jen
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Kwanza: The Beginning
And so we have made it! We have journeyed thousands of miles, crossed an ocean and landed in this beautiful, exotic land called Tanzania. It's only been 4 days since our arrival, yet it feels like we have done so many things. Maybe because we have. Just so you know, our internet is a little shaky, so we get on when we can, which is a big reason why this post is number moja. So let us begin our little tour while the signal holds.
We are staying in Morogoro at the Lutheran Junior Seminary, which is a few hours from the big city of Dar es Salaam. There are several guest houses on site, and we have been split up into groups, many rooms of one or two people. My room for example has two bedrooms with queen sized beds, a common room in between and a bathroom attached to my bedroom. Most rooms I believe are like this, but one group of 6 has a separate bathroom facility they must use. The grounds are expansive, and we have all done lots of exploring. There is a dining hall, where we eat and have tea (x2), a lounge and a language school. Another boarding-type school exists across the way, and we have already met some of the students that attend it.
I will try not to make this too long (as I have a habit of doing), so here is a recap of the first few days. Feel free to ask questions or post comments.
Moja(1): Our first taste of Tanzania was a hot and sticky mixture of diesel fuel, humidity and wilderness. After 20 some hours in a plane though, land was quite the welcome relief. With stamped passports and carts full of luggage, we loaded ourselves into our assigned bus and headed for the night's lodging. We arrived at a Catholic guest house and were welcomed in the lobby by a gust of cold air, however it did not last for long. After dividing into groups of three, we dragged ourselves to our rooms, which contained 3 mosquito net-equipped beds, a desk, wardrobe and small bathroom, which was both bathroom and shower stall (making for quite the mess post-shower). However, we were not concerned with much except the concept one gets when exhaustion meets bed.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Mbili(2): After a decent night's sleep (thanks to the rain and heat), we grabbed some breakfast and moved the party elsewhere. The drive to the seminary was very scenic and slightly entertaining. They drive on the left side of the road here, roads are very narrow, and there are all kinds of bikes, motorcycles, small pedestrians, etc. It would seem as if the U.S. is one of the few places where traffic may be somewhat structured. We finally arrived at the seminary, got
settled, and then had the rest of the day to ourselves. Most people explored and used the free-time to take pictures and make friends with the local centipede population (they are huge!). Perhaps the main excitement of the day was at dinner, when one of the black-outs I've heard happen occurred, and we got to eat by candlelight. Very romantic.
Tatu(3): Habari gani! Nzuri; Hujambo? Sijambo. Asante. After 5 hours of Swahili, this is what we have mastered. Basic greetings, along with some nouns and adjective structures. Brain overload only barely touches the real feelings of most. But greetings are very important in Tanzania, so in order to start a conversation, you must meet and greet. Then you can proceed with your business. However, all news is good, so even if you don't think it is, it never gets worse than "a little good." Perhaps my favorite part of the whole day was our trip to the orphanage. As soon as we walked in the gates, a swarm of little children ran up to us and wanted to be held or talked to. Even the heat could not melt a heart like the big, innocent eyes of a child. Or maybe I'm biased... Anyway, we spent about an hour holding, talking to, swinging and blowing bubbles with our new children. Even though we could not really say much to them, there is so much communication that can take place in a smile or a hug. You don't need words when you have laughter and love. It was hard to say goodbye, but the children needed to eat, and so did we. The walk to and from the orphanage as many will tell you, is one of beauty and splendor. It's so green here, and bananas and coconuts grow along the path we walk. There are also many people sitting, swimming and walking along the path to wave to and smile at. Most are extremely friendly and very curious.
I actually think this is long enough.. SOrry for the rambling. I will write about Day 4 later. =)
We are staying in Morogoro at the Lutheran Junior Seminary, which is a few hours from the big city of Dar es Salaam. There are several guest houses on site, and we have been split up into groups, many rooms of one or two people. My room for example has two bedrooms with queen sized beds, a common room in between and a bathroom attached to my bedroom. Most rooms I believe are like this, but one group of 6 has a separate bathroom facility they must use. The grounds are expansive, and we have all done lots of exploring. There is a dining hall, where we eat and have tea (x2), a lounge and a language school. Another boarding-type school exists across the way, and we have already met some of the students that attend it.
I will try not to make this too long (as I have a habit of doing), so here is a recap of the first few days. Feel free to ask questions or post comments.
Moja(1): Our first taste of Tanzania was a hot and sticky mixture of diesel fuel, humidity and wilderness. After 20 some hours in a plane though, land was quite the welcome relief. With stamped passports and carts full of luggage, we loaded ourselves into our assigned bus and headed for the night's lodging. We arrived at a Catholic guest house and were welcomed in the lobby by a gust of cold air, however it did not last for long. After dividing into groups of three, we dragged ourselves to our rooms, which contained 3 mosquito net-equipped beds, a desk, wardrobe and small bathroom, which was both bathroom and shower stall (making for quite the mess post-shower). However, we were not concerned with much except the concept one gets when exhaustion meets bed.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Mbili(2): After a decent night's sleep (thanks to the rain and heat), we grabbed some breakfast and moved the party elsewhere. The drive to the seminary was very scenic and slightly entertaining. They drive on the left side of the road here, roads are very narrow, and there are all kinds of bikes, motorcycles, small pedestrians, etc. It would seem as if the U.S. is one of the few places where traffic may be somewhat structured. We finally arrived at the seminary, got
settled, and then had the rest of the day to ourselves. Most people explored and used the free-time to take pictures and make friends with the local centipede population (they are huge!). Perhaps the main excitement of the day was at dinner, when one of the black-outs I've heard happen occurred, and we got to eat by candlelight. Very romantic.
Tatu(3): Habari gani! Nzuri; Hujambo? Sijambo. Asante. After 5 hours of Swahili, this is what we have mastered. Basic greetings, along with some nouns and adjective structures. Brain overload only barely touches the real feelings of most. But greetings are very important in Tanzania, so in order to start a conversation, you must meet and greet. Then you can proceed with your business. However, all news is good, so even if you don't think it is, it never gets worse than "a little good." Perhaps my favorite part of the whole day was our trip to the orphanage. As soon as we walked in the gates, a swarm of little children ran up to us and wanted to be held or talked to. Even the heat could not melt a heart like the big, innocent eyes of a child. Or maybe I'm biased... Anyway, we spent about an hour holding, talking to, swinging and blowing bubbles with our new children. Even though we could not really say much to them, there is so much communication that can take place in a smile or a hug. You don't need words when you have laughter and love. It was hard to say goodbye, but the children needed to eat, and so did we. The walk to and from the orphanage as many will tell you, is one of beauty and splendor. It's so green here, and bananas and coconuts grow along the path we walk. There are also many people sitting, swimming and walking along the path to wave to and smile at. Most are extremely friendly and very curious.
I actually think this is long enough.. SOrry for the rambling. I will write about Day 4 later. =)
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