Life in Tanzania

Hello everyone. Sorry for the lack of updates on my blog. I have been busy making myself at home here in Korogwe, Tanzania. I am currently living outside of town in the little village of Kilole. I am already humbled by my experience here and my initial contact with this new culture. Tanzania is rich in beauty, in both its people and scenery.

My host family has been nothing but welcoming and accommodating as I learn the ins and outs of Tanzanian culture and language.  Everyday I get up around 5:15am. Depending on what day of the week it is, I either: wash some clothes, sweep and mop my room, or do some other chores around the house. Breakfast can be a little bit odd here. My Dada (sister) usually puts out a huge spread for me. She doesn’t want me to go hungry. Breakfast consists of 5 pieces of white bread, a mango, a bowl of spaghetti, a glass of chai, a hardboiled egg, and sometimes a couple chapatti. Nonetheless, I usually eat a little bit of the spaghetti, a piece of bread, the mango, and depending on how I am feeling, the egg as well. This is first breakfast, mind you. At around 10:00am, chai occurs at my school. I usually have another chapatti and some cassava root for this meal. I was able to skype my family and they somehow think I am losing weight. Maybe it is all the sweating I have been doing…

The wajiko (charcoal stoves)....Both of these are are used to
make every meal.I can whip up some mean ugali on these!  

My sisters cooking another delicious meal.

My Dada (sister) looking through the kitchen window inside the
house. There is a little mudroom that this connects to. Food is
cooked outside and brought in doors and put on serving plates
in the kitchen.

Anyway, after taking my bucket bath, I begin my five-minute walk to Kilole Secondary School. This is where I am doing my internship. Just so happens that I am the only chemistry teacher at my school. The running joke in our PC group is that I am the head of the Chemistry Department. This is true, but I won’t let it get to my head. Teaching has been an interesting experience so far. One of the hardest things I have had to face in Tanzania is the disciplinary action used on kids. Corporal punishment is legal and employed by teachers here. Everyday, there is an assembly in front of the school where uniform inspections and disciplinary action takes place. It is one thing to hear about this and another to experience it first hand. I have taken it upon myself to have conversations with the teachers at my school about this and its effectiveness. They have been receptive to my thoughts and offered some of their insight. Cultures differ in these regards. I cannot expect things to change overnight, but having these conversations is part of the process in changing the culture of discipline. Despite this hump, the teachers and students have been wonderful. Teaching is something that I thought I would never do. Now, as I embark on this new journey, I think back on all the amazing educators I have had in my life. I hope to use their tricks of the trade to help mold some minds on this side of the globe.

Everyday, I have 5-6 hours of Swahili class with my Community Based Training Group. There are eight other groups in this PC cohort. Each group lives within a different village and has their internships at that village’s school.  Each area is unique and all of us are having great experiences.

My living room. I sit on the right side of
the couch for dinner ever night.

The past two weekends we went on “field trips” to Tanga and Lushoto. Tanga is a coastal city with lots to do and see.  Not going to lie, I had to indulge in a burger and ice cream while there. I do sometimes miss my American eats after all the rice and ugali here.

The hallway where all the bedrooms are.
I will post a picture of my room later.

Speaking of ugali…this is one of the staple foods of Tanzania. I learned how to make the other week. It is as simple as corn flour and boiled water. My taste buds have not yet fully appreciated this dish, but I’m slowly coming around.

Back to Tanga…We split into a couple of groups in the city and my group walked along the coast. We arrived at a beach where there was a bunch of activity occurring. I was not sure what was going on, but it looked like a 13-year-old girl was getting married. I later showed the pictures to my Tanzanian Mama and she said that it looked like a confirmation ceremony. This was comforting to know. We were greeted by the family and asked to be in multiple photos. Everyone is part of the family here, even if you are American.

Family photo. Some of my fellow volunteers (from left to right):
Theo, Dirty-D, Julia, Bryn, and Haeli

 The next weekend, we headed up to the mountains of Lushoto. We arrived at the Irente Biodiversity Farm around lunchtime. Once there, we were welcomed with an abundance of foods that were all made on site. This included bread, three types of cheese, passion fruit juice, jams, and a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. Along with the delicious meal, we took a hike to view a beautiful overlook. The trip was a long journey on some bumpy and winding roads, but was well worth it!

The view from Irente. Sorry about the lighting, but you get the point...Pretty awesome view.

More updates to come later. I have to study for my midterm Swahili test! Karibu Tena!