Final exams
Months really fly by in the blink of an eye, still... Last week flew by faster than ever, probably because last Monday was a holiday. Here in Tanzania they value Islamic holidays too, and last week it was something they call “Idi”, though I don’t know its spelling. It’s a two day holiday at the end of their period of fasting, they did so between sunrise and sunset for the past thirty days or so. They do make things a little difficult, since they have to wait for the moon to show up to know when the holiday starts, which we could only know the night before the actual holiday this year. Fortunately for the school one of the two days was on Sunday, which meant we only lost one day of teaching. Somehow time seems to be more precious before an exam.
Half the class was even present that holiday, so we did some teaching anyway. Well, with “we” I mean “I”, in this case - unfortunately Bebe, on of my fellow teachers, got very ill, because of a rather wrong advice from a doctor. She had to be rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, with great amounts of medicine, milk and fruit she’s now doing well again.
The last day of teaching came and went though, right now we’re just supporting the students with their studying as well as we can. Last Friday they had their spelling exam, they had to know about 160 words. Coming Monday they have their written exam, which will probably be a fair bit more difficult. They have to know all active tenses, eight parts of speech, contractions, questions, opposites, irregular verbs, perspectives, how to write out numbers, plurals... On Tuesday they will have their oral exam, so they need to know pronunciation as well. We’re trying to fix the last few errors there too. Especially keeping the r and l apart remains a problem. For instance, in this Christian environment it’s quite common to wish someone to be blessed if you thank them. If you helped Rehema though, she would sincerely wish you to “be breast”.
But that’s corrected now, quite fortunately. After the tests everyone will have to get ready for the graduation. Here in Tanzania, as opposed to many neighbouring countries, they are allowed to wear the typical master’s graduation robes, with the funny square hats. So everyone is of course quite happy with that – the pictures would certainly look nice on their walls. The graduation itself is on coming Friday afternoon. After that, we’ll have to say goodbye to the students... Which may be a hard thing, again. I was sleeping in the same room as all the male students all this time, often sharing stories, talking about things... The subject of same gender love was certainly food for thought for our Maasai Onesmo. Or for being horror-struck, I do suppose. “This world now...” he sighed. I’ll miss them, though I hope to visit some of them again if I’ll get the time.
Yesterday I visited Asheri and his Brittish wife Beverly at their home, which was lovely again. I was able to transfer the money, so that problem seems to have been solved. Asheri and I formed the plan of travelling up to Arusha together, a six hour journey. We want to visit the computer school at the YWAM base there, see how it works and ask the staff the ears from their heads regarding it. We might be able to take back a copy of their curriculum too, which would be of great help. Visiting Joshua, who’ll happen to be there, would be a plus... As would climbing mount Kilimanjaro, though that’s probably just wishful thinking.
Other than that I’m not sure what the coming weeks will bring. I hope to work on the computer school full time, but I think there may be a lot of waiting involved. Bev already welcomed me to work at the primary school, which would be interesting, to say the least...
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Of this and that
I’m about half way now, officially. The past month went even faster than the first, it’s really like lightning, though I think my illness was the cause of that. I hope, at least. The school nears its end, after that I’ll focus on the computer school, and also on a technology school. It’s really just an idea so far, we will have to discuss, see what is possible.
Last Friday we had the DTS graduation ceremony at the Lukobe base – YWAM has two bases in this area. These people do know how to celebrate, there were dances, gifts, a good dinner, a guest of honour etc. I suppose the graduation from the English school will be similar, though more special for me of course. Right about now the students should start to prepare plays and dances, I’m certainly looking forward to that. Anyway, now knowing what it’s all about, I’d really like to do a DTS myself as well. Of course it should be in the middle of nowhere, again – maybe Mongolia this time, or Antarctica. But I’ll have studying to do first, unfortunately.
I’m happy to tell that Joshua has come to visit us for a few days, together with his family. It must have been the most warm welcome I’ve seen. We’ve missed him very much, and he has missed us. Josh has been visiting friends and family, and taught the choir at one of our students’ church. He’ll only be spending two days here, as they only came to present the dowry for Joshua’s brother. Unfortunately I don’t think he has the money for his university yet. But I know that if God wants it, it will be ok somehow anyway...
I’ve got some money trouble of my own as well, though it isn’t as serious. For some reason none of the ATMs have worked for the past month, leaving me with about six Euros’ worth in Tanzanian shillings. Thankfully Bev, who is from the UK but married the one I’m starting the computer school with, offered to help me out. I sent her money via internet (it took me nearly an hour to get all the required information right, with BIN and IBAN and such), and she’ll hopefully then give it to me.
Other than that I’m at strength once again, except for a small cold. Though I did lose some weight, according to one of the teachers, which isn’t a good thing considering my rather lightweight frame. It’s nothing a good plate of ugali can’t fix though...
Last Friday we had the DTS graduation ceremony at the Lukobe base – YWAM has two bases in this area. These people do know how to celebrate, there were dances, gifts, a good dinner, a guest of honour etc. I suppose the graduation from the English school will be similar, though more special for me of course. Right about now the students should start to prepare plays and dances, I’m certainly looking forward to that. Anyway, now knowing what it’s all about, I’d really like to do a DTS myself as well. Of course it should be in the middle of nowhere, again – maybe Mongolia this time, or Antarctica. But I’ll have studying to do first, unfortunately.
I’m happy to tell that Joshua has come to visit us for a few days, together with his family. It must have been the most warm welcome I’ve seen. We’ve missed him very much, and he has missed us. Josh has been visiting friends and family, and taught the choir at one of our students’ church. He’ll only be spending two days here, as they only came to present the dowry for Joshua’s brother. Unfortunately I don’t think he has the money for his university yet. But I know that if God wants it, it will be ok somehow anyway...
I’ve got some money trouble of my own as well, though it isn’t as serious. For some reason none of the ATMs have worked for the past month, leaving me with about six Euros’ worth in Tanzanian shillings. Thankfully Bev, who is from the UK but married the one I’m starting the computer school with, offered to help me out. I sent her money via internet (it took me nearly an hour to get all the required information right, with BIN and IBAN and such), and she’ll hopefully then give it to me.
Other than that I’m at strength once again, except for a small cold. Though I did lose some weight, according to one of the teachers, which isn’t a good thing considering my rather lightweight frame. It’s nothing a good plate of ugali can’t fix though...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Illness and departures
As some of you noted, I unfortunately didn’t update this blog last week, my apologies for that. Unfortunately I got quite ill the week before last, I had diarrhoea. They call it “driving” here. On Wednesday it was especially bad, I had to rush to the toilet thirteen times that day. The following days were somewhat better, but the lack of nutrients made me very, very tired. On Monday I went to the government hospital, which was quite an experience. I was lucky to have James to escort me – he works for the local government and knows many people in “high places”. Without that, he said, you could wait all day before getting help. Of course, knowing that some people wouldn’t be helped that day because of me wasn’t a nice thought. But the doctors didn’t want to give me too special a treatment, they feared to be blamed of taking bribes. James also studied at that very hospital for two years, so he knows his way around very well. Of course we had to greet many of the doctors etc. They all seem to know reasonable English, but funnily enough most were too shy to talk with me directly. They didn’t get to practise their pronunciation properly, and feared to make mistakes.
If you don’t want to wait a long time, there’s fortunately an alternative: The private hospitals. Of course I didn’t have any experience with those yet, but I think the government hospital would probably be more interesting anyway. Private hospitals are said to be very expensive, but knowing the prices of the government hospital, I think the latter is just very cheap. For 56 eurocent you could have a malaria check, fortunately using new, clean materials for each patient. Checking stool costs the same, and some medicine against diarrhoea was just 28 cent. Unfortunately I couldn’t have my stool checked that day, they need the day’s first and that one was already down the drain.
But when I came home that Monday I recalled the medicine I took with me from home, namely Imodium, or loperamide. The pills are actually in the typical pill shape, one half was green, the other purple. But as worrying as it looked, I deemed it better to take one anyway. And well, if I was “driving”, the pill was really a handbrake. Or maybe a car accident. I straight went from diarrhoea to constipation, I didn’t have to go until Thursday. So it just made things worse, really. The stomach aches got worse, and because I lost my appetite I remained very tired. My belly got notably bigger too, but then it did hold some seven meals eventually, which was an awkward thought.
But through this the hospitable and caring nature of the people here really showed. People were genuinely concerned, some came and prayed for me, they bought fruit, fruit juice and jam and tidied up my bed. One of the teachers cooked light but very good meals for me (eating ugali or makande at that time would be a very bad idea), even with meat. I don’t like to be a burden at all, but they told me to please not worry about that either. People genuinely want help, not just because they have to. So this impressed me very much, and the memory of it will be at least one good thing that came from these troublesome weeks.
Unfortunately my illness and inability to teach weren’t the only bad things in the past weeks. Two students had to leave the school, too, the week before last. One of them was Revered Ntangale, who we’ll always remember for his very amusing one-liners. He had to because the church he’s a pastor of had its four year conference around this time, and there was no way for him not to be present.
The other person that had to go was Helena. She really was such a lady, always polite and composed, though she could have fun too for sure. Unfortunately her boss called her back to work. Just as Ntangale she really wanted to stay, but there was no way. Fortunately she’s able to visit us after her work and can still gather some new things from the other students. Her English is already excellent though, I’m sure she’s able to reach the goals she has for it.
Though our class is somewhat smaller now, it of course continues... By now I feel very much fit enough to teach again, and the students that remain are doing very well. The course is really nearing it’s end, there’s just some three more weeks to go. The students have been counting the days for quite a while now, after that, they’ll have to make do on their own.
If you don’t want to wait a long time, there’s fortunately an alternative: The private hospitals. Of course I didn’t have any experience with those yet, but I think the government hospital would probably be more interesting anyway. Private hospitals are said to be very expensive, but knowing the prices of the government hospital, I think the latter is just very cheap. For 56 eurocent you could have a malaria check, fortunately using new, clean materials for each patient. Checking stool costs the same, and some medicine against diarrhoea was just 28 cent. Unfortunately I couldn’t have my stool checked that day, they need the day’s first and that one was already down the drain.
But when I came home that Monday I recalled the medicine I took with me from home, namely Imodium, or loperamide. The pills are actually in the typical pill shape, one half was green, the other purple. But as worrying as it looked, I deemed it better to take one anyway. And well, if I was “driving”, the pill was really a handbrake. Or maybe a car accident. I straight went from diarrhoea to constipation, I didn’t have to go until Thursday. So it just made things worse, really. The stomach aches got worse, and because I lost my appetite I remained very tired. My belly got notably bigger too, but then it did hold some seven meals eventually, which was an awkward thought.
But through this the hospitable and caring nature of the people here really showed. People were genuinely concerned, some came and prayed for me, they bought fruit, fruit juice and jam and tidied up my bed. One of the teachers cooked light but very good meals for me (eating ugali or makande at that time would be a very bad idea), even with meat. I don’t like to be a burden at all, but they told me to please not worry about that either. People genuinely want help, not just because they have to. So this impressed me very much, and the memory of it will be at least one good thing that came from these troublesome weeks.
Unfortunately my illness and inability to teach weren’t the only bad things in the past weeks. Two students had to leave the school, too, the week before last. One of them was Revered Ntangale, who we’ll always remember for his very amusing one-liners. He had to because the church he’s a pastor of had its four year conference around this time, and there was no way for him not to be present.
The other person that had to go was Helena. She really was such a lady, always polite and composed, though she could have fun too for sure. Unfortunately her boss called her back to work. Just as Ntangale she really wanted to stay, but there was no way. Fortunately she’s able to visit us after her work and can still gather some new things from the other students. Her English is already excellent though, I’m sure she’s able to reach the goals she has for it.
Though our class is somewhat smaller now, it of course continues... By now I feel very much fit enough to teach again, and the students that remain are doing very well. The course is really nearing it’s end, there’s just some three more weeks to go. The students have been counting the days for quite a while now, after that, they’ll have to make do on their own.
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