Habari n'do hio

Habari N'do Hio- That's the way it is (In Kiswahili). It's also the title of a popular song here in Tanga!! SO, a lot has happened in the past few weeks! I have met some very good people and had some amazing adventures...and a few eye openers that have been shocking.

I was thrown in front of a classroom about four weeks, totally unawares to me, there I was, told to teach English. So, I didn't have time to be shocked at all, I just took the book that was handed to me and then went into discussion and had the students come up front to read aloud. With only two books and over 60 students, there isn't much of an alternative. Since that day, I have been able to prepare myself and actually write lesson plans and have structured notes ready for class, full with role-playing and discussions and homework!! It is so different here than education in the U.S....I will have to devote an entire posting to just this subject because it is actually quite unbelievable... I have some students who are just wonderful and so eager to learn, and others who are shy and can't understand me, and even others who prefer to come to me for counseling...I never thought I'd be a teacher in a classroom, but much to my surprise, i really love it!!

In the afternoons when school lets out I go between the girls and the boys' orphanages to read with them and play and talk. I seem to be spending more time with the boys recently. It's nice to be with them because we can all sit and talk together and i know how they all interact with one another, whereas with 35 girls, it is much mopre difficult to show them all the attention they deserve and so badly need.

I travelled to Arusha, the town where Mt. Kilimanjaro is, two weekends ago. It was so nice! The weather was cool and there was a breeze and even the people were a little different than in Tanga. It was nice to get out and see another part of Tanzania. While I was there, I met some very nice people who were very interesting and each of them have outstanding projects they are working on and some have asked me to help! We have a holiday at school next week and one of the people I met asked me to come to Zanzibar to help with a project they are starting there. There is a small island, Kazimkazi, that is the Southern part of Zanzibar and this group wants to expand one of their culture enhancement centers in this location. It is called Via Via Cafe and there are other locations all over the world. The Cafe offers a cultural perspective of the region with local foods, local music, traditional dance lessons, language lessons, etc to enhance tourist's understanding of the local culture. So I will be going there for a week to do a survey and an evaluation!!! Yea, I'm PUMPED!!!

I had a very nice meeting yesterday. i brought together Mr. Charles and Mr. Ndauka, the headmaster at the Tanga International School and the Toledo Secondary School where I teach. They met and discussed ways to facilitate the growth and development of their schools and their students. It was a very positive meeting and I have high hopes for this new bond! The Tanga International School is where the TIYO concert will be held...I hope to be posting pictures soon.

For now I am living in a hotel. It is nice but I cannot stay there long as it is expensive. I will soon be moving in with a Hindu family, Dharmish's family, I have mentioned him in previous posts. I am excited to learn the Hindu traditions and this expereince is one I a m looking forward to. I am practicing Ramadan again this year and it is much MUCH HARDER in this heat!!

My time is up...

THANK YOU to my friends and family who have been keeping in contact with me...you have no idea how it is carrying me through! THANK YOU...i miss you