Today was the community celebration of Earth day!! It was very interesting and fun! We went with David, the director of TAYODEA and Samuel, the headmaster of the Toledo Secondary school. We got there at 10:00am when we thought it started but it didn't actually start until a little after 11:00- as I've noticed, it is much more relaxed around here and there is no rush for anything! It is refreshing and much different than what I am used to. This concept of time is more my style, as you know, I will be late to my own funeral (as my mom always used to say :)
So, the celebration was held to recognize community members who have done significant work to help the environment in some way and the Toledo Secondary school won an award for how they have worked towards improving the environment here in Tanga! With the award, prizes were distributed in the form of tools- a shovel, a wheelbarrow and some other materials were given to the school! Part of the celebration included traditional African dance, drums, songs, and other forms of entertainment performed by the children from the primary and secondary schools! It was so awesome! The children were so happy to dance and sing and they were really good at it! I was able to take lots of photos and some video of the event! Hopefully I will find the resources to start posting pictures soon!!
After the ceremony we went with the headmaster, Samuel, to tour the Toledo Secondary school! I was so impressed with what they have done with such little resources- it was very astounding. The teachers were so informative and dedicated to the students and their learning. They teach all subjects in English because the National Graduate Exam is given in English. The English teacher is also the environmental teacher, the net ball coach and the head of the English department! They told us that motivating the students to learn English is hard because the students come from primary school where only Swahili is taught. They were excited about the relationship between their school and the Toledo Early Start school for many reasons- but one of them was so that they could reward the students who do best in English by sending them to Toledo in an exchange program! I thought that was pretty amazing! Another tool they use to motivate is a disciplinary act of making a student wear a shirt that says "Speak English To Me" if they are caught speaking Swahili during the school day! I got a picture of the shirt and it is pretty funny! There is a significant lack of resources in the school that is almost heartbreaking.The headmaster gave us a list of books that they need because right now the ratio is one book for 64 children! The physics and science teachers are having to draw bunsen burners and test tubes on the chalkboards to be able to teach! The lack of resources is really eye-opening because their level of dedication is not hindered at all by what they do not have! Of course they are trying very hard to find the resources, but in the meantime- the students are still learning because these teachers care so much that the students are educated!
Building this relationship between the Toledo Secondary school here in Tanga and the Toledo Early Start school will be highly beneficial for both schools! During the conference Dan and I will be attending there will be some work done at the school and in my work with TAYODEA I will be at the school volunteering. I really enjoyed this experience today!
Most people here do not privately own cars so after we were done at the school, the headmaster gave us rides back on his scooter!! It was SO FUN! i'd never been a passenger on a scooter before...let alone riding with a headmaster in Tanzania!! We went over bumps and hills and it was just so fun...I was laughing hysterically most of the time because Dan was right behind us riding with another guy from the school on a scooter- and a 6 foot 4 inch beefy white guy hunched over on the back of a tiny scooter looks really funny- especially when all of the little children we passed came out of their homes and ran after yelling "Mizoongo!!" which means "white person." HAAHAHA...it was so fun!
I have been learning more Swahili and I hope to be able to conversate soon! Everyone I have met has been so helpful and generous and some people will write down words for me and explain things very well! The people here are so friendly that it is shocking!
We met a contact from Louis, Dharmish is his name. He was born and raised here in Tanga and knows all the good places to go...we went out with him last night to hear live music! The venue was phenomenal because it was outside and you had to go through these metal doors to get in- the front of it looked like a butcher's shop and someone was cutting meat- ut that was actually where we bought our tickets to get in- who knew? So we go in and on stage was a full band, drum set, bongos, bass guitar, lead guitar, electric and acoustic and a keyboardists and great singers! And one look up at the sky and you're blown away here- I have never seen so many stars!! We are meeting Dharmish again tonight and he said he will take us to a local spot on the water that's really nice!
I hope everyone is doing well! Thank you for reading!
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4 comments:
Hi Boomer,
It sounds as if you are learning all about the "night life" in Tanga! Did your excursion include a trip to the Protein Pub?
Yes, I am sure the lack of adherence to time will suit you just fine.
It was in the 90's here today...much to hot for me and the Scotties.
I sent you several comments at the end of your first blog entry. I didn't realize a person should comment after each blog entry. So...go back to the first one and read all the comments.
Wow...64 students to one text book...very sad. How old are these students? What could be done is to contact schools to obtain their texts when they purchase new ones.
The texts would be out of date here...but certainly better than nothing for some subjects. Shipping the books would be expensive...but it could be done.
Do they not sell towels there? Dad said you had no towels.
Love,
Mom
Hi Rachel!
I feel a little bad that I haven't found a chance to read up on your blog/leave comments until today. But I also know how busy you must be and it could be difficult to respond to everyone anyways.
Moving has keep me super busy. My classroom is pretty much done now I just need to work on my apartment. Now that school is over I get to talk to brian a lot more. He's really miserable... he'll survive though. He's just looking forward to this tour being over.
Do you have an address or a way I can send things to you? I saw something today that reminded me of you and I went to text you and that's when I remembered you weren't in toledo anymore.
I hope things are okay and if you need anything just let me know :)
ashlee & taylor
Hi Rachel,
I am a teacher at The Toledo early College high School (not early Start, although it really is!). We are excited about this partnership. Do you have any ideas about how our students can participate in this partnership? Randy Nissen
Mr. Nissenhaus,
I am sitting with Mr. Ndauka, the headmaster, right now and I had him read your comment! He said that a correspondence between the students in the form of a pen pal relationship would be ideal as a start! So, just writing letters about Toledo on behalf of your students and what they're education is like would be a good beginning and then the students here can respond and start building the relationships! Thank You very much for your interest and for reading this blog! Mr. Ndauka is very grateful for this relationship and is eager to start the pen pal relationship for the benefit of the students on both sides! Thank You!
Rachel
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