Mvua inanyesha Morogoro. The rains have come to Morogoro. This morning I set out on my walk to school under a cloudy sky, but no rain. It looked promising that I would make the 2 mile walk without getting very much wet. I had my rain jacket on as a precaution. However, about half-way to my destination it started to down poor and in a couple of minutes I was completely soaked through. Instead of dealing with wet clothes all day I decided to return home and try again later. The rain did not stop, and since this is still training and I am not on my own yet, a Peace Corps vehicle picked me up for my last day of school at Uluguru Secondary.
I think I will enjoy teaching in Tanzania, but I am glad that the internship teaching portion of training is over. A current Peace Corps volunteer was supposed to observe me teach last week, but my class schedule was written down incorrectly. The observer came after I had finished teaching my last class, and so in order to create an opportunity to be observed I was told that the next day I would have to teach a Form I math class. I didn’t find out what subject I should teach them until the morning of. Fortunately unit conversion of S.I. length units is not immensely difficult to teach, but I did come across some hurdles during the lecture. I asked my students to solve an equation for ‘X’ and got a lot of blank stares. After my lecture the Peace Corps volunteer told me that the math nomenclature in Tanzania is a little different than what I am used to. Instead of “solve the equation for ‘X’,” they say something like “make ‘X’ the subject of the equation.” I have a lot to learn about special Tanzanian English.
My day improved after school when I went to Uluguru’s netball and football (soccer) matches that were played against another secondary school in Morogoro that is also hosting Peace Corps trainees. Netball is a sport similar to basketball that the girls play, while the boys play football. I rode my bike to the game, and was really proud of myself when I could ask for directions in Kiswahili. It seemed like most of Uluguru’s student body had come to the games and was recognizable in their lime green school uniforms. Although Uluguru lost both match-ups, what we lacked in athletic ability we made up for in spirit. Uluguru students had even formed a small drum corps including one student who blew on a horn that resembled a plastic funnel. It was exciting to see that school spirit here is very similar to that of high schools in the U.S.
I guess the other big news in Tanzania is that the United States has elected as its 44th president a man of Eastern African descent. Whether I agree with Obama’s political policies or not, I must say it has been fascinating to witness the election of the first black president of the U.S. while living in Africa. The people of Tanzania generally have a good impression of America and recognize that President Bush has contributed much foreign aid to Africa during his terms. But I think there are still a lot of misconceptions about America. In America we know that the majority of Americans are not racist, and now with the election of Obama, Africa and the rest of the world know that too. As I watched this election from abroad I was proud to be a citizen of a country where anyone regardless of gender or race has the opportunity to run for president, where elections are held peacefully, where a losing candidate concedes graciously, and where a current president steps down willingly. I am glad the world was watching. Obama may be hard-pressed to live up to all the expectations the world has placed on him, but from my viewpoint in Eastern Africa I see that at least for today, Obama has succeeded in inspiring many many people around me.
That’s about all for now from Tanzania. Next week I take my final Kiswahili language proficiency exam, and then get to shadow a current Peace Corps health volunteer for a few days in Njombe. Then after that it is not long before I find out where I will be teaching and living for the next two years! I am incredibly excited and nervous. In less than a month from now I will be living on my own in Tanzania. Am I ready? I may be living on strictly beans and rice for a few weeks, but I’ll survive. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
This is Tanzania
Just about every day I catch myself thinking, “I can’t believe I’m in Tanzania.” It usually happens as I begin my daily bike ride home from school and take in the view of Morogoro town with the Uluguru Mountains in the background.
I have been here five weeks now. It feels as though it has been longer, although I am sure the final 4 ½ weeks of Peace Corps training will fly by now that I am starting to feel at home in Morogoro. I am having a great time learning Kiswahili. At this point I know enough to introduce myself, order food, buy things at the market and get around town. My host family has wonderful in teaching me Kiswahili and showing me how to do things the Tanzanian way. I’ve learned how to take bucket baths, wash my clothes by hand, and cook over a charcoal stove. My host mother thinks I am completely inept in the kitchen because I am poor at peeling potatoes in my hand with a huge, dull knife and no cutting board. She peels 5 potatoes for my every one.
I am beginning to know my way around Morogoro town. I have a bike that I ride to school everyday, but if I want to go to the main market I take a daladala, which is the public transport consisting of a van absolutely packed with passengers. It costs about 30 cents each way.
I have completed two weeks of internship teaching at Uluguru Secondary School. I teach Form III (equivalent to 11th grade) physics for 80 minute periods two days a week. Jumping into teaching during the middle of the term without much direction or former teaching experience has been tough. Mostly it is impossible to figure out what the program is at Uluguru. Apparently the only physics teacher left a few weeks ago to pursue higher education. I was told by another teacher to teach Form III, stream D on Monday at 10:00am and begin with the topic static electricity. In Tanzania each grade level is split into streams A, B, C, D, etc. Each stream of students has a permanent classroom and their teachers for each subject come to them.
When I arrived at school on Monday morning at 8 am, I decided I should find my classroom. As I looked for a classroom labeled III D, all I found was III A, III B, and III C. It was chaos since the Form III B students were locked out of their classroom. I asked a group of teachers to show me where Form III D was. After some confusion I pieced together the story that Form III D did not currently have a classroom because it was occupied by Form IV students who were taking the national exams that week.
As I wandered around cluelessly, word had spread through the students that there was an American teacher who wanted to teach From III D physics, and before I knew it the Form III D students had taken over a Form II classroom and want me to start teaching right away. I was thoroughly confused at this point, wondering who was supposed to be teaching these III D students, where were they supposed to by studying, and why were the III D students even at school if they didn’t have a teacher or a classroom. But I was impressed with how quickly they had organized themselves, and so I retrieved my materials and walked into class.
My materials consist of chalk, a physics book published by the Tanzanian Board of Education and whatever else I can scrounge up. Since I don’t have internet access, I have found Encarta to be extremely helpful in filling in the holes of my cursory Tanzanian physics book.
My students, on the other hand, do not have text books or calculators. They have pens and notebooks and about 3 desks/chairs for every 4 students. They rely on me to provide all necessary information on the chalkboard.
It has been difficult to know if I am teaching material at an adequate pace or if everyone understands, but I think most students are learning something and having some fun. This week while learning about circuits I let them play with batteries and paper clips that I had brought from America. At least I am better than no teacher at all. I don’t think most of their other teachers are teaching them right now. I’ll come into class with my lesson from the previous day still on the chalk board. The language and cultural barrier has made it difficult to understand why even though I have asked. The students show up to school every day even when their teachers don’t. They deserve a better education.
On a brighter topic, last weekend the other Peace Corps trainees and I went on our first safari! Thirty of us piled onto a rickety bus with seats for 25 for our trip through Mikumi National Park. Even from the highway through the park I was amazed to see giraffe, zebra, warthogs, antelope, elephant, and water buffalo. My favorite part of the safari was when we got out of the bus to watch crocodiles and hippopotamus floating around in a water hole. Tanzania certainly is a beautiful place!
I’ll do one more week of teaching, and then have one week to brush up on Kiswahili before taking the final oral language proficiency examination that determines whether I have learned enough Kiswahili to be a Peace Corps volunteer. After that I will spend a week shadowing a current Peace Corps volunteer at their site to get an idea of what the next two years of my life will really entail. And then if I still think I have what it takes I will receive my site placement and get sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on November 26. I have no doubt that I will make it. Despite the challenges of teaching and missing home, I am very happy to be in Tanzania!
I have been here five weeks now. It feels as though it has been longer, although I am sure the final 4 ½ weeks of Peace Corps training will fly by now that I am starting to feel at home in Morogoro. I am having a great time learning Kiswahili. At this point I know enough to introduce myself, order food, buy things at the market and get around town. My host family has wonderful in teaching me Kiswahili and showing me how to do things the Tanzanian way. I’ve learned how to take bucket baths, wash my clothes by hand, and cook over a charcoal stove. My host mother thinks I am completely inept in the kitchen because I am poor at peeling potatoes in my hand with a huge, dull knife and no cutting board. She peels 5 potatoes for my every one.
I am beginning to know my way around Morogoro town. I have a bike that I ride to school everyday, but if I want to go to the main market I take a daladala, which is the public transport consisting of a van absolutely packed with passengers. It costs about 30 cents each way.
I have completed two weeks of internship teaching at Uluguru Secondary School. I teach Form III (equivalent to 11th grade) physics for 80 minute periods two days a week. Jumping into teaching during the middle of the term without much direction or former teaching experience has been tough. Mostly it is impossible to figure out what the program is at Uluguru. Apparently the only physics teacher left a few weeks ago to pursue higher education. I was told by another teacher to teach Form III, stream D on Monday at 10:00am and begin with the topic static electricity. In Tanzania each grade level is split into streams A, B, C, D, etc. Each stream of students has a permanent classroom and their teachers for each subject come to them.
When I arrived at school on Monday morning at 8 am, I decided I should find my classroom. As I looked for a classroom labeled III D, all I found was III A, III B, and III C. It was chaos since the Form III B students were locked out of their classroom. I asked a group of teachers to show me where Form III D was. After some confusion I pieced together the story that Form III D did not currently have a classroom because it was occupied by Form IV students who were taking the national exams that week.
As I wandered around cluelessly, word had spread through the students that there was an American teacher who wanted to teach From III D physics, and before I knew it the Form III D students had taken over a Form II classroom and want me to start teaching right away. I was thoroughly confused at this point, wondering who was supposed to be teaching these III D students, where were they supposed to by studying, and why were the III D students even at school if they didn’t have a teacher or a classroom. But I was impressed with how quickly they had organized themselves, and so I retrieved my materials and walked into class.
My materials consist of chalk, a physics book published by the Tanzanian Board of Education and whatever else I can scrounge up. Since I don’t have internet access, I have found Encarta to be extremely helpful in filling in the holes of my cursory Tanzanian physics book.
My students, on the other hand, do not have text books or calculators. They have pens and notebooks and about 3 desks/chairs for every 4 students. They rely on me to provide all necessary information on the chalkboard.
It has been difficult to know if I am teaching material at an adequate pace or if everyone understands, but I think most students are learning something and having some fun. This week while learning about circuits I let them play with batteries and paper clips that I had brought from America. At least I am better than no teacher at all. I don’t think most of their other teachers are teaching them right now. I’ll come into class with my lesson from the previous day still on the chalk board. The language and cultural barrier has made it difficult to understand why even though I have asked. The students show up to school every day even when their teachers don’t. They deserve a better education.
On a brighter topic, last weekend the other Peace Corps trainees and I went on our first safari! Thirty of us piled onto a rickety bus with seats for 25 for our trip through Mikumi National Park. Even from the highway through the park I was amazed to see giraffe, zebra, warthogs, antelope, elephant, and water buffalo. My favorite part of the safari was when we got out of the bus to watch crocodiles and hippopotamus floating around in a water hole. Tanzania certainly is a beautiful place!
I’ll do one more week of teaching, and then have one week to brush up on Kiswahili before taking the final oral language proficiency examination that determines whether I have learned enough Kiswahili to be a Peace Corps volunteer. After that I will spend a week shadowing a current Peace Corps volunteer at their site to get an idea of what the next two years of my life will really entail. And then if I still think I have what it takes I will receive my site placement and get sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on November 26. I have no doubt that I will make it. Despite the challenges of teaching and missing home, I am very happy to be in Tanzania!
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