Reflections on 2010

It’s hard to believe that as 2010 comes to a close, that this experience is more than halfway completed.  While I am not ready to do a full reflection on my experience so far (that will come in May), it’s hard not to look back on not just the past 6 months here in Tanzania, but also the last year of 2010 which has been focused primarily on getting prepared and starting this journey to get to where I am now. 

I know it’s a bit cliché to say, but a year ago I didn’t really expect to be where I am right now, and learn so much about myself in the process.  I think as I look back on the past year I am extremely proud at the challenges I have successfully faced to get here and also adjust into the culture over the past months.  I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the community here at Mzumbe, and I’m very excited to work hard over the coming final months so that I can leave here with a sense of pride about the work and support I gave to the Mzumbe community. 

As I look at where I am now compared to where I was when I arrived, I feel that I have learned so many skills in and out of the classroom that have made my time here so successful and rewarding so far.  While I do take pride in all that I have accomplished so far, I do not feel like my work is complete.  With new school classes starting in January, I feel like I can face the new year here in Tanzania with confidence that I can be an even more effective teacher to my students and member of my community. 

Reflecting back on the past year, I also think fondly about the cultural experiences I have been fortunate to be a part of as well.  It has not always been easy to adjust to the way of life in Tanzania, but I am thankful for every positive cultural encounter I have had here so far, and there have been many.  I am also thankful for all of the wonderful friends I have made from this experience, as well.

As I have reached a tipping point in my experience as a volunteer, teacher and member of a new cultural community, my hope for the New Year and for my final months here in Tanzania is that I continue to learn and grow from my experiences, and also fully appreciate the remaining time I have here.  I feel very fortunate and thankful for everything I have experienced here so far and I can only hope that as my service winds towards its end that it continues to be as rewarding and fulfilling as it has been thus far.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all of my friends, family and faithful readers back home!!

December in Tanzania

Back in the U.S. right now it’s getting colder as winter approaches, the holiday season is just about in full swing, and people are busy at work and school getting ready for the coming holiday break.  In Tanzania, the atmosphere is quite different.  The weather is getting hotter by the day, most schools are closing, people are taking it easy at work and it’s hard to tell if it’s approaching Christmas or the middle of summer here.  It’s a bit disorienting but December in Tanzania seems to be similar to July or August in the U.S.  Kids are out of school, the weather is at it’s warmest and people are generally more laid back and relaxed.

A couple of weeks ago I finished my first term at Mongola Secondary School.  As the last couple of weeks approached, the students were busy taking their final exams before they were dismissed for a break until January when the new school year begins.  It was the first time when I could gauge the progress of the students that I had, and I was encouraged to see them do well on the concepts that I had taught them in the previous weeks.  Although most of the students still had difficulty with a large part of the exam (all of their exams are in English, so a large part of their success on exams depends on their skill level in the language), they all seemed to give it their best effort, which was encouraging for me.  However, as in all schools there were a couple of my students who were caught cheating, but they were appropriately disciplined after their crime was discovered.  I was disappointed in those students, but was happy that it was only a handful out of about 120 of my students.  After all of the test grading was completed, the students were dismissed for their break and the school closed for the year.  I’m glad to have a break for now (even though I’m still teaching classes at Mzumbe), and I’ll be ready to get a few fresh classes and a new start with a new group in January.

As for the next few weeks, I’m just enjoying the low-key atmosphere and looking forward to our Mid-service Conference that will take place in Zanzibar!  It has been interesting to see how Tanzania observes the holiday season, but as I mentioned earlier, you wouldn’t really notice that any major holiday was approaching.  There are some shops with fake Christmas trees, but other than that the lack of a holiday atmosphere is very noticeable compared what I’m used to seeing on the streets and in the shopping malls back home.  Also back home it’s usually not 100 degrees in December!

It has been an interesting experience to be in Tanzania in December.  It is quite a change from home and while it’s getting colder and festive in the U.S., in Tanzania it feels like the country is on a nice, relaxing summer vacation!

Morning Parades

A Morning Parade at Mzumbe

One of the common traditions at Tanzanian secondary schools is the observance of a daily parade each morning (or an assembly, as we would commonly call it).  This is a daily ritual at just about each secondary school, and it is a way for students and teachers to prepare themselves for the day ahead.

The most important parade is held on Monday, where a number of regular events occur.  After the entire student body assembles (usually grouped by each Form), the parade starts with the raising of the Tanzanian flag.  This is accompanied by the singing of the Tanzanian national anthem.  At Mzumbe, they also sing the school song in addition to the national anthem.  Following the flag raising, the headmaster will conduct an inspection of the students, where he or she will pass through the student body and make sure that their appearance and uniform is in order.  Once the inspection is complete, the headmaster will give any announcements they have for the student body as well as a few other words of wisdom and encouragement.  After this, any other teachers with announcements will speak and then the parade is concluded with someone from the student body giving some announcements, or giving a speech on a specific topic or even reading a poem that they may have written.  This is always a fun part of the parade because it is an opportunity for students to express their creativity to their fellow student body, and also polish their public speaking skills.  Once the parade is concluded, the students are dismissed to their classes to begin their day.

Each day’s parade is different but essentially has the same routine.  Monday is always the most important and longest parade because it is the beginning of the week, and each following day’s parade gets progressively shorter.  By Friday, the assembly only lasts a few minutes.  Because the schools don’t have PA systems, the parade is the only opportunity for announcements to be made for the students.  I think it is a good aspect of the school day because it emphasizes school community and is a good way to start off the day with a regular routine.  It gets the students focused before class and prepares both teachers and students for the day of classes ahead.

Wedding Celebration

On Saturday night I was fortunate enough to attend another community celebration, this time a wedding for two of the members of the Mzumbe community.  The couple that was married was Abel Simon Mtali (a former Mzumbe Secondary School teacher) and Magdalena Hadija Katakweba.  To be honest, I didn’t know either the bride or groom personally, but as a member of the Mzumbe community I was welcome to attend along with the rest of the Mzumbe staff.  Of course I was more than happy to attend to experience how a traditional African wedding compared to weddings I’ve attended in the U.S.  While there were some similarities to American traditional weddings, overall it was quite a different experience that exhibited many of the hallmarks of Tanzanian tradition that I have come to understand and appreciate.

Wedding Invitation- In English and Kiswahili

Last week I received my invitation that welcomed everyone to the ceremony, which was held in Morogoro town and to the reception held at the nearby Mzumbe University campus.  Since the church in town where the ceremony was held was not easy to get to from Mzumbe, most of the invited guests (including myself) did not attend the formal ceremony.  However, at the reception there was a video broadcast of the ceremony so it was possible to see a bit of the wedding ceremony as it occurred earlier that day.

The invitation noted that the reception was to begin at 7PM at the reception hall at Mzumbe University, but since this is Tanzania where there is no hurry, most people did not arrive until around 8:30PM.  There were chairs set out facing an elaborate display, including a head table for the wedding party and an open floor.  After an hour when most of the guests had gathered and were socializing a bit, the reception ceremony began.  As is traditional with most of these ceremonies I have attended, there was a Master of Ceremonies (usually a friend of the family) who proceeded over the events.  First, she called each of the bride and groom’s families to enter the hall, and as each family came in they were dancing while accompanied by a brass band.  Following the family entrances the wedding party entered in a similar fashion.  Once everyone was inside, it was time for the bride and groom to enter.  All of the guests crowded the entrance and as the band started to play the newlyweds entered as the guests cheered and welcomed them in.

The Family Entrance and Brass Band

The Reception Hall

The Bride and Groom Cutting the Cake

After the entrances, the MC welcomed members of each family to say a few words for the bride and groom.  This was followed by the cutting of the cake and also a toast to the bride and groom from all of the guests.  After the toast, all of the guests lined up and went to toast the bride and groom one by one.  At about Midnight it was (finally) time to eat dinner.  Everyone lined up in the back of the hall and we were treated to a large plate of delicious food including all the traditional foods like rice, pilau, chicken, beef, bananas and watermelon.  Once everyone enjoyed their meal, there were a couple of final proceedings to take place.  The MC called upon the each of the families to come up and present their gifts to the bride and groom.  Dancing to music, each family brought up their gifts including a new refrigerator, and kitchenware and some linen.  After that, anyone else who had gifts to present the bride and groom were called up as well.  Finally, at about 2AM the reception ended after a short performance from the brass band and some closing remarks from the MC.

Presenting the Gifts to the Newlyweds

As always, I was thrilled to be a part of yet another community celebration and experience the traditions of Tanzania.  It was a great event, and like the other ceremonies I have been fortunate to attend I was amazed at the warm welcome and sense of community that is such a big part of Tanzanian (and African) culture.  It was a fun and truly festive celebration for the new couple and I am grateful to have experienced it during my time here. 

Respect of Elders

In Tanzanian culture, it is very common and expected that you pay respect to those people who are older than you are.  Whether it is someone who is much older than you are, or even just a few years older, it is not unusual for them to expect to be greeted properly.  In Swahili, there is a word said when greeting someone who is older than you are- “Shikamoo” (Sheek-a-moe).  This phrase literally means “I hold your feet”.  In response, you will hear them say to you “Maharaba” (Mah-hah-rah-bah).  It’s a common greeting for those who are older than you, and it is said as a sign of respect.  Most often, it is used for someone who is clearly older or elderly, and also it is how children will greet any adult.

As an American, this has been one cultural aspect that has taken some getting used to.  In the U.S. there is not really a culture of formally respecting your elders, so there are many instances where I will just greet an elder as I would anyone else.  Because there is a culture of individuality in the U.S., when most people become adults they often will treat everyone equally.  Sometimes people in the U.S. might even be insecure about their age and if they were to be acknowledged as being older by a particular greeting signifying that then they might even take offense.  In Tanzania, it’s quite the opposite.  I have yet to truly understand that if I forget to greet someone who is older with “Shikamoo” if they will take offense.  Usually I just tend to greet people who are senior citizen age with this greeting, because to be honest I sometimes still feel uncomfortable greeting someone not too much older than I am with a greeting acknowledging that they are older.  It also can be a weird experience when I hear students and children greet me with “Shikamoo” because I don’t see myself as what we would typically call an “elder.”  I certainly respect this tradition, but as I said, it has been one of the more difficult cultural aspects to get used to only because it’s quite a foreign concept to Americans.  However, the more I do get used to it, the more I understand and respect it.  It shows a sign of respect for all people and a respect for the tradition that the elders exhibit for those who came before and will come after them.  While it might not become a cultural tradition in America anytime soon, I certainly think it is one aspect of Tanzanian cultural that would have a positive aspect in American society. 

Always On Your Toes

You know those commercials on TV for Staples stores where there is a giant red EASY button that people press to make all their problems go away?  Well, if those actually existed, there would not be any lack of need of them in Tanzania.  In Tanzania, although life is really simple, it’s certainly never easy.  One of the most difficult aspects of this experience has been facing all of the unexpected challenges that come on a regular basis.  Just when I think I’ve settled in and overcome most of the major obstacles to come my way, it seems like a few curveballs get sent along that always force myself to adapt to new challenges and changes.  Both in my daily life and in life in the classroom, I am always kept on my toes and have to really learn how to improve myself and my situation in spite of these challenges.

A good example on dealing with daily challenges lately has been the recent lack of a regular water supply.  Over the past few weeks our water has been shut off every now and then (and it's been off completely for the last three days straight), and there’s never a regular time of day when you can expect it to be on or off.  Same goes for electricity.  Sometimes this can be really difficult when you are relying on water for a shower or to wash your dishes or even just cook dinner.  While this has been really challenging to face at first, it’s taught me to think ahead and just learn how to adapt to this kind of situation.  Now I just have to fill up a lot of large water containers when we do have water, and take advantage of the situation when water does flow (meaning always take a shower when you have the opportunity!)  Plus, it’s gotten quite a bit hotter over the past few weeks (it is getting to be Summer here, after all), so there are times when the lack of water can be extremely frustrating. 

In the classroom I am always learning to adapt because not only am I still getting the hang of teaching English, but I’m also learning the nuances of the system of education here in Tanzania.  As any other teacher will tell you, one of the most important skills to have in a classroom is adaptability.  As I am learning, you can be extremely well prepared to teach a class, but no matter how well prepared you are there are always going to be unforeseen challenges thrown your way in a classroom. 

It can be quite exhausting at times dealing with new challenges on a daily basis, especially the truly unforeseen ones like loss of water and electricity, but I’m learning that it’s not always a bad thing.  In every challenging situation I face I inevitably find a good lesson from it, whether the outcome is good or bad.  As I continue to stay on my toes, I learn more about myself on a daily basis and I’m developing many skills that will keep me well prepared for any test I will face in the future.  Although this is not one of the easiest aspects of living and volunteering abroad, it is certainly teaching me the most valuable lessons about who I am and the challenges I can overcome.

Recipe: Bean Burgers

As I’m learning new skills in Tanzania, like cooking, I thought it would be fun to share a recipe now and then for some of the food I’ve successfully pulled off.  This also might be something good for future Tanzanian volunteers to use, too.

One of my favorite meals so far that I’ve made are Bean Burgers.  They’re pretty simple, and really delicious.  As a good hamburger is one of my favorite foods back home, it’s a great recipe that is not only delicious, but also a good cure for culinary homesickness from time to time.  Also, since it’s difficult to get beef (especially ground beef), it’s a pretty tasty substitute if you add enough flavor to the recipe.

I’ve pulled this recipe from the Peace Corps cookbook I’ve been using frequently, but decided to put some of my own touches on it, after a few times experimenting with the recipe (It serves about 4 people).

What you will need are the following ingredients:

1 Cup of cooked beans

½ Cup of cooked rice

¼ Cup of flour

1 egg

¼ teaspoon of salt

Pepper to taste

Onion

Garlic

Other spices or diced veggies, as desired

After you cook the beans and the rice (make sure they cool off after cooking, so as not to burn your hands), add all of the ingredients in a bowl and mush them together with your hands to form a sticky pile of burger batter.

Bean Burger Batter

Let it sit for 30 min to one hour.  Then form into patties.  Don’t make the patties too big, since it will be difficult to fry them up if they’re too large.

Patties ready to fry

You should be able to make about 4 decent sized burgers.  Heat up some oil and once it’s pretty hot, fry up the burgers until they’re nice and browned on either side (I like them a little on the crispy side).

Frying the burger

Serve on a bun with any of your favorite burger fixings (ketchup, cheese, veggies, etc) and enjoy!

It's not quite an In-N-Out burger, but it's quite tasty!

Placement Reports

I had to write up a couple of reports on my school placements for the WorldTeach website, so I figured I would share them with all of my readers.  Enjoy!

Mzumbe Secondary School

Host Community:

           

For my placement, I am located at Mzumbe Secondary School, which is about 15 miles outside of Morogoro town.  The Mzumbe campus is actually a community comprised of both the boarding secondary school, as well as Mzumbe University, which is one of the main University campuses in Morogoro.  The campus is located right in the middle of the Uluguru Mountains, and is rather vast and spread out with many fields and trails surrounding the community.  It is quite peaceful and quiet at Mzumbe, with no lack of gorgeous scenery.  Also, because it is a large campus, there are many resources available nearby including a market for any basic needs, as well as wireless Internet access at the University library, which is only a short 15 min. walk from the secondary school.  Since the community is a bit removed from Morogoro town, most of the faculty lives on the campus in teacher housing, and this provides a great opportunity to get to know the other staff members of the school.

Host School:

            Mzumbe Secondary School is known as one of the top secondary schools in all of Tanzania, consistently ranking at the top of all government schools in national examinations.  There approximately 650 students (all male), and about 30 teachers.  Mzumbe offers both O-Level (Forms 1-4) as well as A-Level (Forms 5-6) studies.  Each form has approximately 100-150 students, with roughly 35-45 students for each “stream” or class.  While the school has a sufficient number of classrooms, as well as a library, there is no functioning computer lab or appropriate science labs for the students to use for their studies. 

Teaching Assignment:

            I am currently teaching A-Level English Literature to a class of Form 5 students.  There are 31 students in my class, and I teach them twice a week for 80 minutes each class period.  For this class, I had to familiarize myself with many of the African texts that are on the Ministry reading list, since African literature is not commonly taught to American students.  A-Level students prepare for a national exam that is taken at the end of Form 6 for each subject they are studying.  If they are studying English as one of their subjects, they take one examination solely on literature, and one exam on language skills.  The topics I have been covering include analyzing Novels, Plays and Poems.  Most of my students have a good grasp of English, but still need a lot of help when it comes to analyzing literature and reading advanced texts.  There is a lot of emphasis on English communication skills, including speaking and writing about texts in the English language.  In addition to teaching A-Level, I also assist other teachers and provide language lessons to some of the younger classes from time to time.

Language Issues:

            At Mzumbe, most of the faculty and the students speak English with ease.  Since English is the language of instruction at all Secondary schools in Tanzania, it is encouraged for the students to speak English at all times while on school grounds.  However, there are often times when students may not understand my American accent, or some of the more difficult words or phrases I might be using.  Also, since English is a second language for both faculty and the students, they are reluctant to speak in English unless they have to.  It can be frustrating at times when you can’t understand any of the faculty members in the staff room, or understand what’s being said during staff meetings, but on the bright side it encourages me to learn Kiswahili on a daily basis!

Living Arrangement:

            As for my living arrangement, the house I have been provided with is basic for most American standards, but relatively nice for Tanzania!  I have a fairly large house with a furnished kitchen, living room, bedroom, toilet and shower room, and a large porch that overlooks the Uluguru Mountains.  I am also lucky to have running water and electricity.  The accommodations are simple and basic, and aside from having a few insects and geckos as roommates every now and then, it’s a very comfortable house that’s quiet and peaceful.

Challenges and Rewards:

            Living and teaching at Mzumbe has many challenges but also many rewards.  As with all Tanzanian schools, the lack of resources and the large class sizes are some of the greatest challenges.  There are often no textbooks to provide students, or teaching materials at your disposal, so it’s really up to you to get creative with how to teach a lesson to the class.  While this is challenging, it’s also quite rewarding when you successfully pull off a lesson for a class of 40 students.  Also not knowing the native language can be challenging, especially when you encounter someone who doesn’t know English.  One of the other challenges of living in Africa is adjusting to the culture.  Africans tend to take their time, and are usually more relaxed with their daily schedules.  While this can be a luxury at times, for an American who is used to keeping a schedule it can be frustrating from time to time when you are unaware of when and where things are happening (like staff meetings or assemblies).  Along with the frustrations of getting used to the culture, adjustment to it also brings some of the greatest rewards.  Tanzanians are some of the warmest, friendliest and most welcoming people you will ever meet.  Strangers will constantly smile and greet you respectfully, and as a foreigner you are always as welcome as any family member would be.  Getting to know Tanzanians and getting to learn more about their rich culture has been one of the greatest rewards in this experience.

Mongola Secondary School:

Host School/Community:

For my placement I am located at Mongola Secondary School, which is a day school located about 15 miles outside of Morogoro town in the community of Mzumbe.  Mongola is located across the street from the Mzumbe University campus, and is surrounded by the Uluguru Mountains and vast plain fields as well.  The school is fairly new (founded in 2006), and while there are plenty of adequate classrooms, some of the grounds and facilities are still being constructed or are under improvement.

            Mongola Secondary School is strictly an O-Level school, meaning it only offers classes for Forms 1-4.  There are approximately 600 students, but only about 10 teachers for the entire school.  This means that there are some subject classes that do no have a teacher, including English.  Until I arrived at the school, there were only two other English teachers for the entire school.  Each classroom has a blackboard for use, but because there are so many students in each class, oftentimes students have to share desks and even chairs.

Teaching Assignment:

            I am currently teaching Form 3 English.  Form 3 has two “streams” or classes and each class has about 45-50 students.  The students have already been studying English for over two years, and since every class in secondary school is taught in English (with the exception of Kiswahili) the students have at least a basic grasp of English.  Many of the topics I cover with the class include more advanced English communication skills, including writing, speaking and listening in English more effectively.  Also, Form 3 is when the students are introduced to literature (novels, plays, poems), so I have been discussing basic concepts to them based on African literature texts on their syllabus.

Language Issues:

            While all of the classes are taught in English in secondary schools, most of the students are still at an intermediate level when it comes to understanding the language.  It’s often difficult for them to understand my American accent, and they sometimes don’t understand me when I speak at a faster pace.  On the other side, it is sometimes difficult to understand my students as well, since they all speak with thick African accents when they attempt to answer a question I ask of them.  It has been an adjustment, but as time continues we grow to understand one another more clearly.  As for my fellow colleagues, they all know English well, but are often reluctant to speak English unless they have to (meaning in the classroom or in front of students).  Usually they will speak to me in English, but it can be frustrating at times to not understand any conversations taking place in the staff room or to be aware of any important information that might be relayed to the staff.

Challenges:

            As with most Tanzanian schools, there are many challenges.  Aside from the challenges with language, the most challenging aspects of my teaching assignment are the severe lack of resources and the class sizes.  None of the students have any textbooks, or copies of any of the books we discuss in class.  The school doesn’t have the resources to provide books to the students, so it’s up to the students to purchase any books they may need for their studies.  Unfortunately, since most of the students come from poor families, this often isn’t possible.  The large class sizes also pose many challenges, as well.  It’s near impossible to learn every student’s name, and also since there are so many students there is a large discrepancy between each of their individual English language skills.  Therefore, it is often difficult to gauge if the entire class comprehends the material that is being taught to them.  Also with large class sizes, space can become an issue, making it difficult to move around the classroom or divide the class into proper groups and conduct class activities.  Another aspect of Mongola that can be difficult to understand many times is the use of corporal punishment on the students.  Of course, I have no interest in taking part in this practice, and don’t appreciate any of the other teachers using it as well, but as a visitor it is difficult for me to say anything to change the policy.  All I can really do is show by example and not get involved with this uncomfortable form of discipline.

Rewards:

            With the many challenges also come many rewards.  Because there are many difficulties teaching at a school like Mongola, it challenges me as a teacher to be more creative and attentive to my lesson plans and class needs.  It is extremely rewarding when you pull off a successful lesson and effectively teach a new concept to your class.  While not every student understands each lesson, there are many that are eager to improve their English skills and learn more about the subject.  Teaching at Mongola has been incredibly rewarding because both the faculty and students have been tremendously grateful to have a native English speaker at the school.  The students have been eager to get to know me and more about American culture, and I have enjoyed learning about their culture as well.  While it is definitely a challenge teaching at Mongola, with each challenge that is successfully overcome there are many unforgettable rewards that I won’t forget after my time here.

Cell Phone Etiquette

My cell phone- a far cry from my iPhone!

In Tanzania, everyone has a cell phone.  It’s not really different from the U.S. where it’s become the main way for people to communicate with one another.  Of course in another culture, even communication and technology has its differences.

For the most part, cell phones are pretty much the same here as they are in the U.S.  They range from the very basic (which I have myself since I’m only here for a year) to the same smart phones (blackberry, etc) that are more common back home.  Smart phones aren’t as common since people don’t really use them for e-mail or Internet, like people in America are increasingly addicted to on their phones.  Usually you’ll see younger people with smart phones, and mostly so that they can play music loaded on to it. 

What has been most interesting to see from people using their cell phones in Tanzania is that there doesn’t seem to be any appropriate etiquette for using your phone.  Not only do most people seem to use the loudest and wackiest ring tones possible, but I’m not sure if people have discovered a silent mode on their phones.  There really isn’t an inappropriate time for someone to answer their phones.  Often you’ll hear a phone ring and answered during class (not students, but teachers), in staff meetings, even in public libraries and other public areas.  You might even be in mid conversation with someone and they won't hesitate to use their phones!  One reason for this is because most cell phones don’t have voicemail, so usually it’s acceptable to take a call if you get one.  I think it’s been a funny observation while I’ve been here only because cell phone manners (keeping your phone silent, not taking calls in meetings, etc) are pretty important in the U.S.  If anything, it’s always funny to hear a ridiculous ring tone during a serious moment, and also I guess it’s just another part of the very social culture of Tanzania.

Celebration of a Life

In one of the more bittersweet cultural experiences so far, this past weekend I attended a memorial service and funeral for one of our recently departed community members.  Of course it was a sad occasion, but it was still an interesting experience to be a part of and observe.

The story actually starts last Wednesday, when in the late afternoon I heard quite a bit of commotion coming from my nearby neighbor’s house.  A couple of women were running out of house in hysterics, and an ambulance arrived at the house for a reason I was unsure of.  I didn’t want to pry too much, so I didn’t inquire about what was going on.  A couple of days later I was walking home from school when a fellow teacher told me that what had happened was that my neighbor had collapsed and was taken to the hospital.  The next day she passed away.  I had never met her before, but I found out her name was Dorica Amasi and she was 58 years old.  She was a teacher at the nearby Primary school and her husband was a retired teacher who taught at Mzumbe Secondary School for many years.  Apparently their son had suddenly died back in February, and when I asked what her cause of death was, people said she was still in so much despair from the loss of her son that it was probably one of the reasons, yet no one knew exactly why she died.

In typical Mzumbe (and African) tradition, the memorial service was a big community affair.  Starting on Friday afternoon, people came from all over the country to pay their respects, and one thing that I learned is that it’s common tradition for many people to sleep over at the house to comfort the family and those mourning.  Since my house was nearby, I could observe a lot of what was going on first hand, and from Friday up to Sunday there was lots of music and people gathering.  For the most part it was a more festive atmosphere rather than a somber one.  It was less the mourning of a death than the celebration of a life.  Even at 4AM on Saturday night I could hear music and singing coming from the house.

On Sunday afternoon, the entire Mzumbe community gathered at the house for a meal and a memorial service.  The yard was filled with children, students, teachers, parents, family members and friends.  There were probably over 200 people there, all to pay their respects.  And like myself, most of them didn’t know the departed too well, if at all.  It was a humble sight to see the whole community gather together to show their support for the family and also pay their respects for a fellow community member.  After lunch was served, the coffin containing the body of Dorica was carried down to the front of the assembly and one by one, everyone in attendance went by to pay their last respects, not unlike a wake service in the U.S.

After the memorial service, almost all of the people in attendance traveled into town by car or bus to the cemetery where Dorica was laid to rest.  At the burial site, there were some words and blessings by a pastor, as well as a lot of traditional African hymms that were sung by the crowd.  Once she was lowered into her grave, one by one each of the men present took turns shoveling dirt into the grave to cover the coffin.  Once this was finished her family put some final flowers and wreaths on her grave and the funeral ended and everyone traveled home.

Of course a funeral is never an occasion that anyone hopes to attend, but for me it was without a doubt a humbling cultural experience.  The outpouring of support and celebration for the life of a departed community member was an amazing thing to observe.  It was a true expression of the level of humanity that exists in Africa that I have not experienced often in the United States.  Only in Africa can you see how the death of a fellow human being can become a true celebration of life.

Community Celebrations

Every so often I am amazed at the sense of community that exists here at Mzumbe.  Last Sunday I experienced quite a bit of that community togetherness as I was invited by a couple of families here to join the celebration of their children taking their first communion at the local Catholic Church.  I know the importance of this ceremony for both the parents and the young children, so I was quite honored to celebrate it with them.

The feeding of the cake!

After a festive Sunday Mass, I went to the house of the Singano family that lives nearby, along with many of my other Mzumbe colleagues that were also celebrating.  At their house, each person was introduced, then following that there were some traditional rituals that took place for their daughter, Lusia, the girl of honor.  One such ritual included calling up a few guests (myself included), to be fed a piece of cake by Lusia.  Each person that was called upon was greeted by singing and clapping from everyone present. 

Following those rituals, we celebrated further with a delicious Tanzanian meal.  Once the meal was finished, there was some music and gift giving for Lusia, and then it was off to another family’s party!  The other party was the same joyous celebration where the community joined together to congratulate the family and celebrant and enjoy the company and time with one another.

It’s really quite warm and humbling to experience the sense of community that exists here in Tanzania.  Everyone is incredibly welcoming (just about the entire Mzumbe staff was invited and attended both parties), and it’s at these events where you really get to see how important family and community is to the way of life here.  As a member of the community (no matter how big or small), you are treated like family and even at important events like a first communion, you are welcome as any other family member would be.  It makes you realize what really is valued here is that sense of community and family, values that are truly easy to appreciate and be grateful for.

New School Work

After getting pretty settled into life and school at Mzumbe, and after a few days of traveling and relaxing, this week I started teaching more classes at another nearby school called Mongola Secondary School, as well as another education center in town.  Mongola is a secondary school that only has O-Level (meaning only Forms 1-4), and is a day school as opposed to a boarding school like Mzumbe.  It's "across the street" from Mzumbe (meaning about a 25 min walk to get there), but relatively close.  I decided to pursue more classes at another school because I knew that there were other nearby schools that needed English teachers (hence the reason I’m volunteering here in Tanzania), and since my load at Mzumbe isn’t so heavy, I was more than happy to take on a little bit more work.

When I started at Mongola this week, I quickly learned how desperate they really were for more teachers (especially English).  For a school with about 600 students, there are only roughly 11 total teachers!  I also came to find out that there were only 1 or 2 English teachers for the entire school!  Needless to say, they were quite relieved that I offered to take up some of the English classes to help fill some of the void that existed in the classrooms.

As of this Monday, I started teaching English to the Form 3 students.  There are two different class sections (called “Streams” in Tanzanian schools) for Form 3, one is an Arts concentration, and the other is Science.  Both class sizes are a bit overwhelming, with around 40-50 students in each class.  I will teach each stream three times a week (two 80 min periods and one 40 min period for each stream per week).  Also, since I’ve started teaching them towards the end of their school year (O-Level runs from January to December), I am still gauging their English speaking ability and their learning styles.  So far it’s been quite an adjustment.  In addition to these challenges, the students also suffer from a severe lack of resources (meaning no textbooks at all), so it will be up to me to get a bit creative with teaching them.  I hope that within a few weeks I can get into a rhythm with the class and be helpful for them and their English education in the closing weeks of their school year.  It will certainly be a lot more difficult teaching these students as opposed to the Mzumbe students, but I’m up for the challenge.  After all, the reason I decided to come to volunteer in Tanzania is to help teach English at under serviced schools like Mongola.  I’m looking forward to reporting a lot more about what my experience is like at this school, and I think it will very interesting to contrast Mongola and Mzumbe in regards to both the students and also the teachers themselves.  I also think that the challenges that Mongola will provide will build a lot of my own character and will be a great opportunity put my newfound teaching skills to the test.

In addition to teaching at both Mongola and Mzumbe, I have also started teaching introductory computer classes at a center in Morogoro town called the Hill Education Center.  This center was formed by one of my colleagues at Mzumbe, so I offered to help in any way that I can.  Centers like these are common, and they offer classes to many different types of students.  Some students are already in secondary school, and are attending classes for extra help in preparation for their examinations.  Some classes are for older students who making up for lost time or didn’t have the opportunity to attend some years at secondary schools.  Other students are younger students who are about to go into Form 1 at secondary schools, and are getting a jump on certain subjects and their English skills.  These students are commonly referred to as “Pre-Form 1’s.”  What I will be teaching is a class of basic computer skills to Pre-Form 1 students.  This will be helpful for them because it is not only important for them to know how to operate a computer and learn the programs needed for school, but also it’s an opportunity for them to learn a bit more English, since I am teaching the class in that language.  While it’s really only a part time job in my spare time, I’m really looking forward to working with younger students.  I think teaching basic computers will be a lot of fun, since most Americans take their ease and knowledge of technology for granted.

While the first few months were a bit slow so that I could get adjusted, it hasn’t taken very long to take on a lot more work to keep busy.  I’m sure this will make the coming months go by very quickly, and I’m really excited about working with students of all levels and teaching a number of different skills to them.  I know it will be a busy and challenging few months ahead, but I am certain that all of this work will prove to be very worthwhile and once the year is done, I hope to be proud of the effort that I put into all of students that I got to work with and teach.

Photo Post

For a change of pace, I thought I would share some photos of Mzumbe school and the campus, as well as some other fun pics.  Enjoy!

The Main School Yard

The School Yard (Reverse View)- For the morning assembly the students gather and line up in this year for daily inspection and announcements.

A Classroom Building

The School Library

Staff Rooms

View of the administration buildings

One of the student dorm villages

The School Yard

Road from School to my house

School Dining Hall

Football Pitch behind my house

Home Sweet Home

Another view of the beautiful school yard grounds

Hard at work!

With the Second Headmaster, Mr. Mtelesi

Working with a fellow colleague, Mr. Adam

Mzumbe Form Four Golden Jubilee Graduation

On Thursday, Mzumbe Secondary School celebrated the graduation for the departing Form Four students.  It was called the “Golden Jubilee” because it was the 50^th graduation ceremony for the school.  All week the students have been preparing the school for this important occasion, and it was a wonderful celebration for the graduating students and Mzumbe community.

Assembly Hall ready for Graduation

The clean school grounds

Starting on Monday, every student was busy cleaning up the school grounds in anticipation of the graduation.  By graduation day the school campus looked amazing, as all of the landscaping was pristine and each classroom and workroom was thoroughly cleaned.  The staff was busy with our own preparations for the end of term, grading mid-term exams and filing out student reports for parents.

The staff (including myself) taking tea before the Graduation

As the big day arrived, the school was buzzing with excitement starting in the morning.  The faculty gathered in the staff room for some morning tea and breakfast while the students put the final touches on the assembly hall for the graduation.  After tea, the staff walked over to the assembly hall, which was already filled with Mzumbe students, visiting parents and students from nearby schools.  Before the ceremony began, students from Mzumbe and other secondary schools put on a few performances that were fun and entertaining to watch.  It was sort of like talent pre-show with some students singing, dancing and performing other skills.

Talent Pre-show

The Form Four Graduating class

Once all of the teachers and guests were seated, the graduating students marched in to the beat of drums and flutes, waving handkerchiefs and looking sharp in shirts and ties.  After they were seated, the school administration, and some other guests of honor (other headmasters, ministry members and the district superintendent) arrived and took their seats at a head table.

As the ceremony commenced, we were treated to a number of other performances, including a couple of tradition African dances and songs.  Also, the entire Form Four class gathered on the stage and performed some really incredible songs as a whole class.  It gave me chills and was certainly a highlight of the ceremony. 

After the performances, the guests of honor were moved to the stage and the Headmaster, Mr. Njawa, presided over the rest of the ceremony.  The guest of honor was given a copy of the annual school magazine (of which I served as faculty editor), and following this, the guests each gave a speech and words of wisdom for the students (the whole ceremony was in Swahili, which was great exercise for my Swahili listening skills).  Finally, each student was called up on stage and given their leaving certificate.  They were officially graduates of Mzumbe Secondary School (O-Level).

The guests of honor and Mzumbe administration

Headmaster Njawa (Left) Presenting the guest of honor with the school magazine

The Library ready for lunch

Following the ceremony, the staff and guests went to the library to celebrate with a wonderful lunch and to appreciate the hard work that went into making the day a great success.  The whole ceremony was a thrill for me, and I was interested to see how a school graduation in Tanzania compared to those in the U.S.  For the most part, it was similar with the traditional pomp and circumstance exhibited.  However, at the Mzumbe graduation they also included a lot of African culture and it was a genuine celebration of the diverse talents and accomplishments of the highly talented students of Mzumbe Secondary School.

With Fellow colleagues Mr Komba (Left) and Mr. Mdende (Right)

Myself with fellow Mzumbe teachers after a great Graduation