New Beginnings

After returning to Morogoro, we had a lot of down time. I have no idea why training was stretched out as long as it was. We had a simulation exercise to help us prepare for the LPI. When I took the LPI I made a horrible mistake. When asked what I did before coming to TZ, I said I was a teacher (I forgot how to say assistant, though). Then she asked what I taught and even in English it is hard to explain what I was “teaching” to the young adults with special needs. Anyway, I tried to think of words for about two minutes-starting sentences, then stopping midway because it didn’t make sense. I could tell Loyce was getting irritated and wanted to move on to other questions, so the only full sentence I could come up with was “I taught stupid kids.” I felt so awful afterward! Anyway, I ended up passing the LPI.

It was a tough week getting accustomed to a schedule and living with my host family again. Although I will miss them, I think I was ready to leave. They gave me a hijab as a going-away present so I can “visit Saleh in Saudi Arabia”.

We went to Dar es Salaam for four days. We spent an afternoon exploring and trying to get ice cream. All three shops we knew of were closed, but we had fun getting semi-lost. Then we managed to squish into the most packed daladala yet. At one point, my body was touching 6 other peoples’. Did I mention it was hot and humid also? Yuck. We finished up training and had a conference with our Headmasters. I felt like a horrible person because I didn’t recognize my Mkuu in the crowd, but then I found out he had sent the Second Master in his place.

Our Swearing-In Ceremony was held at the Ambassador’s private residence. I felt so affluent and uppity going there. There was security, butlers, servers, etc. It was a very nice ceremony. I thought it was funny how in the speech they would refer to the guest of honor as “His Excellency”. Tanzanians have a really odd way about being formal. Sometimes things are so formal, that the communication gets lost in all the BS. We sang Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” but changed the words to “Usijali Ufurahi”. It was really fun to perform.

Thursday I took the bus to my site. This bus went directly to Ndanda so it only took about 10 hours. Then the one car of the village was sent to get me. It has been hard adjusting. A house girl was “given” to me when I arrived. I didn’t find out until that night that she is sleeping in my house too. No one is supposed to live in the house with me, so I need to take care of that…She has been cooking and cleaning all day. How many times can you sweep the sand?? She is very sweet though. She is in Form 3, so should definitely know English, but doesn’t (or chooses not to speak to me in English). Two other students are staying with the Mkuu. They are in Form 4 and their English is excellent. They ask me kind of nerdy questions that I wouldn’t expect. Like what is the geography like in America, what is our main cash crop, why don’t we have malaria in the USA…stuff like that. I enjoy their company. We rode bicycles together yesterday and they showed me the “boundaries” of Chinongwe.

Last night a student teacher and one of the other students came over to help us lock the doors. Nothing in my house is level so it takes a lot of effort to lift/push/pull in order to lock the doors. Then I realized I needed to hang my mosquito net. (I moved my bed into another room.) This was my entertainment for the day. They didn’t want to step on my bed, so instead brought in the table, chairs, and stools. They used the bars on my window in order to tie a “harness” around. It was hilarious. I will put pictures on Facebook.

Today, I was finally allowed to come into Ndanda because “proper transportation” (i.e. non-motorcycle) had been arranged. Halfway here, we got stopped by the police. Apparently my driver didn’t have a license. The other police officer holding the giant machine gun turned out to be my driver’s brother, so we were free to go. He alerted other drivers of the police as we continued into town. Mikey has a combination lock on his door, so he gave me that so I could grab my bag that I had left here. When I arrived I couldn’t get the screen latch undone and all the neighbors were staring at me like I was crazy. I finally got in though! I went to one duka that I went to before when I visited. That guy was so nice. I showed him my list and he helped me find everything I needed. He even walked with me about a quarter mile away to find solar light bulbs. I got to practice my Swahili, too. It was nice to be “guarded” by a native. It got people to stare less, and they would also greet me with more respect. One drunk guy selling oranges came up to me and kept saying “Ninakupenda sana!” (I love you very much) and he was comparing our skin color and saying he wasn’t going to wash his hand because he had no shaken hand with a white woman. My duka friend made the drunkard leave me alone. When we returned to his duka, I even got to see his month old baby that was sleeping behind the counter. It was so nice to be able to make a friend so easily. He also gave me an extra pot scrubber for free and told me that when he visits me, he expects I will make him ugali.

My site has spotty cell service and no internet. I hope to come back into town around the beginning of September. School doesn’t begin until September 10^th. I still don’t know exactly what is expected of me until then. Goals: kick out the house girl that is living with me, learn how to cook, meet more villagers, figure out what I’m teaching (oh, by the way, my Mkuu brought over a Biology book this morning…I have now been told I will possibly be teaching English, Math, Geography and Biology), start lesson plans, buy any other supplies I need, find a Swahili tutor.

Awesome things about my new home: cashews and mangoes are their cash crops, so I can eat them endlessly while they are in-season (assuming I don’t develop an allergy like most volunteers); I can see the stars outside my window; my Mkuu’s house is connected to mine, so I feel safe; there are enough people close to me that know English if I ever need help….

Some things that might take adjusting: I have a pet rat that lives in my ceiling, my water that is for bathing, cooking and cleaning is a milky color and salty (thankfully there is other water for drinking); the hang-out spot is right outside my front door; people have been coming in and out all the time; learning how to light my charcoal jiko….