Been here almost a month and we now have internet right here in our house! Pole, pole. Ann came out of the internet café on Friday telling us about our president. Yeah Obama! We are so proud of him as are all the people we meet whether they be Tanzanian, South African or European. One of the first things people will ask us when they find out we are Americans is about our president. He is a hero to so many; and the one consistent remark is, now there is more hope in the world.
October 4: Sunday at Laweta Lutheran Church took 7 hours from start to finish. A 40 minute drive to get there, greetings, getting the kids out of the car and into their wheel chairs (some of them), tea with Pastor Kileo and a few others, then the church service started at ~ 10:00. Singing, praying, singing, praying, reading scripture, introductions, announcements, praying, the sermon, dancing, more singing with an interpretor at our side. Mama Matthews or Mamma Annie, or better known as Nell, was presented a kangas by the women of the church. Women are seated on one side of the church while the men are on the opposite side. 5 collections were taken, one for our Faraja dance group , one for their choir, one for their church, one for the harvest and one for…we’re not sure. Then the bookkeeper for the church came up to the front twice to review the “take” whereby one time the pastor was not satisfied so he gave a little lecture and collection began again with people walking up to the front with money in hand. The lady sitting next to me got up THREE times to contribute. You walk up to the front to give your money. Upon exiting the church, the women turned left out of the church and the men lined up on the other side, thus began the harvest auction . We came home with soybeans, pinto beans, kidney beans (much to Stubbys’ delight), papaya, cassava, a stalk of green bananas (you boil them) and 1 live chicken.“ Elfu moja”, we would yell (about one dollar) for 4 or 5 eggs presented by a woman in her church finery. We did not bid on the chicken. It was given to us.
Lunch was served at 2:00 to a bunch of hungry people. The adults ate in the church office while the children, including Ann, ate in another room. A “guest” meal consists of rice, beef or chicken, a vegetable, bread and a soda. Sodas cost .35 and are everywhere! Definitely a wonderful 7 hours of new culture overload. We are still digesting all we saw and heard.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Back to food:
A usual meal at Faraja is ugalli (cornmeal) with beans, a scant amount of sukumueki (vegetable) and water. We eat lunch at Faraja with all 85 children, some of the teachers, farm workers, cooks, matrons, patrons (dorm attendents), deacon students, and Femke and Franzie (the two German student volunteers). Germany has a volunteer program in which it pays for young people to go abroad for a year to volunteer.
Breakfast for us is a “normal” American meal consisting of cereal with fruit, or an egg with bread and fruit. Our French press coffee maker is the best thing we brought along. Dinner is rice or noodles with a vegetable, fruit and bread. Going mostly vegetarian has not been difficult.
At Babus’ kitchen, Faraja’s head cook, breakfast consists of porridge and chai., 10:00 chai always has scones (little yummy rolls) and dinner is guess what, ugalli or rice with beans with a scant amount of some nondescript meat, which is only served on Wednesdays and Sundays, but we don’t really want to know.
Last weekend we left the drouth and dust behind to spend the weekend at an 120 year old hotel at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was lush tropical rainforest with beautiful gardens everywhere. We took a 6 hour guided tour of 2 waterfalls and a Chagga tribe living history museum. The Chagga were short people who had their livestock living inside their huts. This was done to protect them from wildlife, and Massai who would raid the Chagga to steal their cattle. Remember, more cattle = more wives for the Massai. Some Massai still deal in cattle; a stay at the hospital may cost 1-3 cows.
We had dinner with 2 Swedes, Anders and Karin. Having just returned from their unsuccessful attempt on Kilimanjaro, they had made it to the last hut, but with Karin vomiting and hiking and more vomiting and hiking, and Anders believing he had died,”I died for maybe 5 minutes, so every day from here on out is a Bonus!” They smartly turned back.
It is Sunday morning and we are sitting out in the luxuriant gardens of our hotel. Birds and a nearby church are filling the air with music. The birds are more melodious. There are no ugly birds here, with finches of every color and iridescence along with an amazing red bird with a long plume and tail. We must get a bird book. There are 500 bird species recognized just in The Serengeti.
A usual meal at Faraja is ugalli (cornmeal) with beans, a scant amount of sukumueki (vegetable) and water. We eat lunch at Faraja with all 85 children, some of the teachers, farm workers, cooks, matrons, patrons (dorm attendents), deacon students, and Femke and Franzie (the two German student volunteers). Germany has a volunteer program in which it pays for young people to go abroad for a year to volunteer.
Breakfast for us is a “normal” American meal consisting of cereal with fruit, or an egg with bread and fruit. Our French press coffee maker is the best thing we brought along. Dinner is rice or noodles with a vegetable, fruit and bread. Going mostly vegetarian has not been difficult.
At Babus’ kitchen, Faraja’s head cook, breakfast consists of porridge and chai., 10:00 chai always has scones (little yummy rolls) and dinner is guess what, ugalli or rice with beans with a scant amount of some nondescript meat, which is only served on Wednesdays and Sundays, but we don’t really want to know.
Last weekend we left the drouth and dust behind to spend the weekend at an 120 year old hotel at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was lush tropical rainforest with beautiful gardens everywhere. We took a 6 hour guided tour of 2 waterfalls and a Chagga tribe living history museum. The Chagga were short people who had their livestock living inside their huts. This was done to protect them from wildlife, and Massai who would raid the Chagga to steal their cattle. Remember, more cattle = more wives for the Massai. Some Massai still deal in cattle; a stay at the hospital may cost 1-3 cows.
We had dinner with 2 Swedes, Anders and Karin. Having just returned from their unsuccessful attempt on Kilimanjaro, they had made it to the last hut, but with Karin vomiting and hiking and more vomiting and hiking, and Anders believing he had died,”I died for maybe 5 minutes, so every day from here on out is a Bonus!” They smartly turned back.
It is Sunday morning and we are sitting out in the luxuriant gardens of our hotel. Birds and a nearby church are filling the air with music. The birds are more melodious. There are no ugly birds here, with finches of every color and iridescence along with an amazing red bird with a long plume and tail. We must get a bird book. There are 500 bird species recognized just in The Serengeti.
Monday, October 19, 2009
October 4:
Sunday at Laweto chruch took 7 hours from start to finish. A 40 minute drive to get there, greetings, getting the kids out of the car and into their wheelchairs (some of them), tea with Pastor Kileo, and a few others, then the service started at ~ 10:00. Singing, praying, singing, praying, reading scripture, introductions, annoucements, praying, the sermon, dancing, singing, collections with an interpretor at our side. Mamma Matthews, or Mamma Annie (women are called by their first born daughter, but since Kate is not here, my name is Mamma Annie, I guess it will change to Mamma Kate when she gets here) or better known as Nell, was presented a kangas by the women of the church. The women of the church are seated on one side of the aisle while the men are on the opposite side. Five collections were taken, one for the Faraja dance group, one for our choir, one for their choir, one for harvest and one for, we're not quite sure.
Lunch was served at 2:00 to a bunch of hungry people. The adults were served in the church offi ce while the children, including Ann, were served in another room. A "guest" meal consists of rice, beef or chicken, a vegetable, bread and a soda. Sodas cost .35 and are everywhere! Definitely a wonderful 7 hours of new culture. We are still digesting all we saw and heard
October 12:
Been here a month now and we have internet right here in our own little home! Pole, pole. Ann came out of the internet cafe in Moshi telling us about our president. Yeah Obama! We are so proud of him as are all the people we meet whether they be Tanzania, South African or European. One of the first thing people will ask us when they find out we are Americans is about our president. He is a hero to so many; and the one consistent remarks is, now there is more hope in the world.
Getting into a routine
October 12:
Been here a month now and we now have internet right here in our own little house! Pole, pole. Ann came out of the internet cafe a week ago telling us about our president. Yeah Obama! We are so proud of him as are all the people we meet whether they be Tanzanian, South African or European. One of the first things people will ask us when they find out we are Americans is about our president. He is a hero to so many; and the one consistent remark is, now there is more hope in the world.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I am learning this blog thing, so please be patient with my postings. Here is some more:
Hugh's reflections:
Our new home and surroungsing are slowly sinking in. So many new sights and sounds. Gone are the car and truck sounds, now there are donkeys and chickens and goats and cows. People walk everywhere. Everyone greets everyone womeshat elaborately. Habari, Salama Mzuri, Mzuri, Karibu, Asante sans! This is hello. A warm handshake and smile accompany all greetings. We were in a barren fiely (there is a terrible drouth), and a Massai man came up to me while we were looking at his cattle. The greeting was the same. Daktari Joseph showed up at our house on Monday, the 29th, yes on his bicycle. He is the area vet. He covers 7 villages on his bicycle. He straps a wooden box of medicine on the back of his one gear bike, carries a 30 lbs. liquid nitrogen tank on his back for bull semen, and away he goes. His smile is captivation and his English is very animated. He castrated a pig and dewormed 3 others, and also gave Epsom salt which every animal gets by "throwing it down their throat with your hand. He charged less than 3.00 US, but the older lady gave him less than a dollar. It was all she had. I thought the bicycle was crazy till I saw the back roads. We have a car so Joseph and I have been on Calls for the last 3 days. We turn here and there, i have no idea where are and eventually we arrive at a house. If it weren't fr the hills, remember the one geared bicycle, a car might be slower!
I must reflect on Amsterdam where we layed over for 3 days. There are 800,000 people in Amsterdam and 1.2 million bikes. Our cab driver sheepishly told us he has 3 bicycles. There are separate bike and pedestrian lanes on every street. Rush hour is amazing with bikes going everywhere. There are bikes with large wooden frames attached to the front of the bike where typically 2 beautiful tow-headed children sit, with groceries, as their mother or father peddle them home. The people are gorgeoun and vibrant, and very friendly, Everyone sits outside socializing. People are "plugged in" to each other; not something electonic.
Van Gogh. He never had an art lesson. He once painted 80 paintings in 60 days. He had periods of recurring "fits" which he constantly combatted y searching for peace in the countryside where he found solace? or did he just feed his obsession, by painting. What wafts from the painting are COLORS. Vibrant, amazing colore that captivate. Ann's favorite painting is a fruit tree in spring bloom, a gift to his brother's new baby. The bright blues in this painting are delightful to the eye.
Ann Frank's house. I was studying and listening and learning about her life with some objectivity until I enteren her bedroom. As I entered her bedroom, my eyes welled. I could sense her presence, her soul . She slept in this room for 3 years. She had pictures on the wall of Greta Garbo. Rudy Valle, and Ginger Rogers. There was a small print of a rose by Rembrandt. Some of her quotes:
I long to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at the world, feel young, and know that I'm free.
When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived!
The English radio says thery're being gassed. I feel terribly upset.
Ann Frank started her diary when she was 13 years old. She died one month before liberation.
Next post I hope to have some pictures
Hugh's reflections:
Our new home and surroungsing are slowly sinking in. So many new sights and sounds. Gone are the car and truck sounds, now there are donkeys and chickens and goats and cows. People walk everywhere. Everyone greets everyone womeshat elaborately. Habari, Salama Mzuri, Mzuri, Karibu, Asante sans! This is hello. A warm handshake and smile accompany all greetings. We were in a barren fiely (there is a terrible drouth), and a Massai man came up to me while we were looking at his cattle. The greeting was the same. Daktari Joseph showed up at our house on Monday, the 29th, yes on his bicycle. He is the area vet. He covers 7 villages on his bicycle. He straps a wooden box of medicine on the back of his one gear bike, carries a 30 lbs. liquid nitrogen tank on his back for bull semen, and away he goes. His smile is captivation and his English is very animated. He castrated a pig and dewormed 3 others, and also gave Epsom salt which every animal gets by "throwing it down their throat with your hand. He charged less than 3.00 US, but the older lady gave him less than a dollar. It was all she had. I thought the bicycle was crazy till I saw the back roads. We have a car so Joseph and I have been on Calls for the last 3 days. We turn here and there, i have no idea where are and eventually we arrive at a house. If it weren't fr the hills, remember the one geared bicycle, a car might be slower!
I must reflect on Amsterdam where we layed over for 3 days. There are 800,000 people in Amsterdam and 1.2 million bikes. Our cab driver sheepishly told us he has 3 bicycles. There are separate bike and pedestrian lanes on every street. Rush hour is amazing with bikes going everywhere. There are bikes with large wooden frames attached to the front of the bike where typically 2 beautiful tow-headed children sit, with groceries, as their mother or father peddle them home. The people are gorgeoun and vibrant, and very friendly, Everyone sits outside socializing. People are "plugged in" to each other; not something electonic.
Van Gogh. He never had an art lesson. He once painted 80 paintings in 60 days. He had periods of recurring "fits" which he constantly combatted y searching for peace in the countryside where he found solace? or did he just feed his obsession, by painting. What wafts from the painting are COLORS. Vibrant, amazing colore that captivate. Ann's favorite painting is a fruit tree in spring bloom, a gift to his brother's new baby. The bright blues in this painting are delightful to the eye.
Ann Frank's house. I was studying and listening and learning about her life with some objectivity until I enteren her bedroom. As I entered her bedroom, my eyes welled. I could sense her presence, her soul . She slept in this room for 3 years. She had pictures on the wall of Greta Garbo. Rudy Valle, and Ginger Rogers. There was a small print of a rose by Rembrandt. Some of her quotes:
I long to ride a bike, dance, whistle, look at the world, feel young, and know that I'm free.
When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived!
The English radio says thery're being gassed. I feel terribly upset.
Ann Frank started her diary when she was 13 years old. She died one month before liberation.
Next post I hope to have some pictures
Arrival to Tanzania
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Our family has reached their final destination, Faraja, Sanya Juu, Tanzania. Two plane trips of 16 hours, one hour car ride will get you here with months of planning. Mount Meru is to our west and Mr. Kilimanjaro peaks out occasionally to our east. We cleaned, unpacked, shopped, and hooked up our gas for cooking. After putting a few postcards, a map of Tanzania on the walls, our house began to feel like a home.
Eight months at Faraja, what can we do to help? Teach English (second language in Tanzania, Swahili is their national language with tribal languages), computer skills, extracurriclular activities, veterinary work (the farm is large) and . Pole pole; it's the African way. Slowly, slowly, we will get busy. Our meeting with Pastor Kielo, Gabby and Gunter Neidhart helped steer us in the right direction.
Moshi, an hours drive from Faraja, has all you ever need. A stop at The Hole in the Wall, a grocery store and more, run by Indians is almost a one stop shop. The "plastic" shop we got kitichen in many colors, all made in Tanzania. The cell company is where you get your link to the world for $30.00 with a sim card and a Tshillings card for time. The best was left for last, the bread store, a European type bakery.
Market at our nearby village, both on Wednesdays and Saturdays, is quite the time. Wachingas, white people, we were the only ones. Of course, Francie, the 19 year old German volunteer with her blonde hair is much sought after. We bought tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, okra, onions, bananas and watermelon, which is what we have been eating for the past days. Our dinners consits of these items with noodles or rice or potatoes.
Our 4 wheel drive Mitsubi mini bus got us to Sanya Juu where it died. Many wavulanas, men, gathered around to help. Nelson, the gas station attendent who speaks some English, was the leader. A bit of water in the battery and a fee of $6.00 and we were off again.
Sunday was watoto day, children's day in Tanzania. The children read scripture, sang and had a little drama. We sat, stood and prayed for two hours in a language we know few words. Being in a different culture is quite the experience. Basketballi on Suunday afternoon down at the drying cement floor at the farm was enjoyable. Language is not a barrier while chasing a ball.
Rogate started on Monday. She walks 2 hours to get to our house and will earn $3.00 per day. She will clean, do our laundry and cook some for us. Ann thought we should drive her home. I told Ann that Rogate feels very fortunate to have a job. Ann's reply was, "she would feel more fortunate if you drove her home."
My first English class with the support staff at Faraja was fun. Teaching the ESL way by getting them interacting by greeting one another by saying "Hello, how are you?", "I am fine, thank you, how are you?" "Fine, thank you." "My name is Adjule, what is your name?" makes them feel less intimidated about speaking another language. The ESL books we brought have many lessons for teaching vocabulary, commands, grammer, …………………..
Loading keyboarding software on the 5 computers for the children was a task in itself. The electricity goes off intermittedly, obviously causing problems. Playing soccer, basketball and tennis has been an everyother day occurance. The girls do not join in those sports. We will have to figure out if this is a cultural blockade. Regardless, I got some of the girls to throw a ball around our circle, hit the wiffle ball with a "pitcher", "catcher", "hitter" and "outfielder", I have them say so they learn English as we play. The smiles on their faces tell me they enjoy being included.
Doctori Joseph showed up at our house on Monday, the 29th. He and Hugh went out in the country to see a cow with 106* temperature. The diagnosis was made from the car before examing the . I have plenty of work to do.
I started maths class at Faraja on Monday. Sharon tells me, "I will help you in math and you help me in English." There are 16 children in my maths class.
The. dry season is upon us. Corn is done and being brought in. Mogali is being dried, beat, seeved through a mesh like apparatus and stored in the barn for selling.
The children of Faraja are like all other children; they have hopes, dreams, fears and but all have some sort of disability. This school seems to be a bubble for them, they are with like people as never before. They help each other and are pole (commpassionate) with each other.
The children of Faraja are like all other children; they have hopes, dreams, fears and but all have some sort of disability. This school seems to be a bubble for them, they are with like people as never before. They help each other and are pole (commpassionate) with each other.
I finally figured out how to post this article that was published in my tennis district's magazine, so here it is.
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