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

Farewell to New Friends

When I arrived at Mzumbe Secondary School, there were many pleasant surprises, one of which was the fact that there were so many other young teachers!  Quickly these young faculty members (there were about 15) quickly became my friends, as they were the ones who were always the most welcoming and curious about life in America.  It was great to become friends with other Tanzanian teachers, most of whom were my age.  What I came to realize a couple of weeks ago, was that just about all of them were at Mzumbe only for about two months as part of their Teaching Practice for their studies at their respective University.  I was a bit saddened to learn that so many of my new friends would be departing, not only because I had become close with most them, but also because I realized that so many teachers would be leaving the school!  I’ll be curious to see how the school fills the classes that are now found teacher-less.  It will also be very quiet in the staff room with only a few other colleagues there.

The other evening on the last day of their practice, one of my neighbors and fellow teachers hosted a very nice dinner for the departing teachers and other guests (including myself).  It was a really enjoyable evening to get to know my friends further, and enjoy a great Tanzanian meal and hospitality.  There were a lot of laughs (especially when we all had to talk a little about ourselves and even discuss our marital status), and also a lot of warm thanks and wisdom given from the older teachers who hosted the dinner. 

Although I’m sad to see my new friends go so soon, I’m happy to know that in my brief time here so far that I’ve made close friends that I’ll hopefully get to see again throughout the year.  I know that with some colleagues that are departing I’ll be able to make even stronger friendships and connections with the ones that I still get to see everyday and the new people who will be joining the Mzumbe community as the year continues.

The Simple Things

I mentioned before about the value of taking things at a more leisurely pace in Africa (Pole, Pole).  Another value that I’ve personally come to respect about life in Tanzania is appreciating the simple things.  As a foreigner living in a completely different culture, you tend to open your eyes a bit more to your surroundings and become a lot more self aware about who you are and your life in that different culture.

As each day brings a new challenge, it also brings the joys of overcoming those challenges and respecting the fact that there are many simple things in life here that probably go unappreciated back home.  Simple moments like sharing a laugh with colleagues and friends, slowly sipping and enjoying a cold soda, a fresh piece of fruit or vegetable from the market, a successfully cooked meal, getting a seat on the bus into town (as opposed to standing in an extremely cramped bus), a quiet evening with time to read or write, and the power of a greeting and a smile as you approach a friend or even a stranger.

While the initial wave of challenges of adaptation to a new culture begin to wane, I’m beginning more and more to understand the key to truly enjoying life in Tanzania and getting the most of this experience- appreciate the simple things.