Iringa Slide Show

To the right you will see a slide show of all my Iringa photos. You will see pictures from language school, Tanzanian cooking, safari, the local elementary school, cultural events, and more!

Together Again

 I'm thankful that I got to be with my old house mates again for Thanksgiving Day. It feels good to be in Dar... even the humidity feels good:) It's a good rest in between language school and Musoma.

Hongera!

Well, this is me congratulating myself, as "hongera" means congratulations. The stacks of paper you see pictured are all the flashcards I've studied while here at language school for the past ten weeks. Most of those cards are now in the trash, a celebratory measure for the words I know! 
That's not all. I've studied loads of grammar, practiced conversation and story writing, started to read the Bible and the newspaper in Swahili, and taught six geography lessons to third graders. Beyond the academic realm, I got to go on my first real wildlife safari, met lots of neat people, lived at a beautiful campsite, and got back into my mango habit (after the summer away). 
This really isn't a self congratulations. It's a celebration and a thanks to God for the learning and blessings I've experienced here. And now there's one week to go. I plan to depart Saturday, spend two weeks in Dar... then on to MUSOMA!!

Dress in a Day

     Weekend before last, when I was on a homestay in a nearby village, I witnessed the making of a dress in a day. Actually, from measuring to ironing, it only took a few hours. The seamstress, pictured here, measured me, then laid the fabric I'd brought out on the floor. She used her measuring tape very little, relying on her eye. She folded the fabric in different ways, drew a few lines with chalk, then set about cutting. Next the sewing machine was rolled out and the dress came to life. She had me try it on once, adjusted a few things, then wallah! A dress in a day. The price? 8,000 Tanzanian shillings... or about $5.   

Ulonge Elementary

I've started something new, something that adds challenge to my use of Swahili. I'm volunteering twice a week at a local elementary school, speaking only Swahili. I'm working with the third grade, which is 45 kids in one class. I'm pulling out groups of 6 or 7 for about 40 minutes. I'm still getting to know the needs, but some can't read at all, so we'll work on that. Others need work on reading comprehension. Somehow we'll fit in some games and artwork.
You might ask, "why are multiple kids in grade 3 unable to read?" The answer is found in the unfortunate state of current public education. Tanzania is dealing with an overflow of student population and a lack of teachers, especially well-trained teachers and teachers who do their job. Of the 8 times I entered grade 3 on my first day, only 1 time was there a teacher present in the room with them. The other times they were sitting and talking. There were however teachers in the office chatting. From my understanding this is not uncommon. I want to learn more about this issue. I'm sure there is no quick fix, nor one entity to blame. For now, I'm there to observe, and glad to give the kids more educational attention than usual. 

Every Blog Needs One

I've heard that you just need to put a puppy on something to sell it... the same must go for frogs? 
Actually, I consider these more like jail admitance photos, because this guy has been caught entering my room, unwelcomed, three times. The last time it was a red handed situation. Each time he's been kindly ushered out with a flip-flop... but did have to pay the price of a photo shoot. 
I wouldn't really mind, except his entrance means the entrance of more unwelcome guests is possible... I.E. I don't think he's much skinnier than a snake...