Neets' Tanzanian Journal

Short term plans...

2011-09-29T03:38:00.002-04:00

I have been so busy with many interesting things happening! In about two months I will be leaving this place..it's weird to know that this is the same feeling I felt last year at this time. I will be back dating my blog to tell you about my interesting life here on ZBar..I have learned alot and the culture here is different than on the mainland but for now I just want to let y'all know my short term plans.

I leave Tanzania December 8th of this year. I am going to Ethiopia for 2 weeks. My plans are to visit the Simiens (via Gondar), Lailebela, and Addis. After that I am going to India for a month to see my relatives so I will stick mainly in the South and of course Mumbai. :) I am excited as I will be there during Pongal which is a Tamil holiday similar to Thanksgiving in the States where they celebrate the harvest. Apparently buying a ticket on Ethiopian gives me a free stopover in Addis for as long as I wanted so I get to go to Ethiopia (I have always wanted to go) for no additional cost in the flight. :) I will be back in the States on January 22nd for good (at least for now).

Kwa heri..I wish you all love! :)

Busy like a bee..

2011-02-28T02:31:00.000-05:00

It's been a month and it has gone by fast! I now live in Zanzibar and I am a 30 minute walk from the beach near Mbweni Ruins. Living in Zanzibar has been an adjustment as I realize how expensive it is here compared to Mbeya! But at the same time it has much better mangos and other fruit. You have to try the mangos and pineapples here if you ever end up coming! The second thing to adjust to is the amount of tourists that come in. It is night and day between where I live and when I go into the Stonetown tourist area- but it's only a 20 min dala ride away. I feel like I escaped into an alternate reality when going into the tourist area sometimes when I go into it with so many people calling out for me to join their tours or to buy souveniers..luckily most of the time I can get away with being a local especially when I put on a salwar kamis. The other things that are different are that I wear my Indian clothes (finally getting a use out of everything that was sitting in my closet back home), I go to work Mon-Fri 8-3:30 pm, I hear the call of prayer instead of songs about Yesu, I eat lunch when I get home at 3:30 instead of during the day, and I live far from work (15 mins by car)- work is in Stonetown close to the Ministry of Health. I am learning alot about development work in the other countries, international relations, and logistics when it comes to drugs.

My first week here I had one day to literally get myself together before starting work the next day- they literally picked me up from the port, introduced me to some people , bought me some food for lunch (which lasted into dinner), drove me to my house, and just left me there. I was a little nervous about my house since I had nothing to cook on, didn’t know how often the water came on, and I had no idea how the electricity payment system worked (it’s a voucher system). To get over my nervousness I visited my neighbors. One neighbor explained to me the electric voucher system and told me water comes on once a day for an hour starting at 7:30 am so it’s good to have buckets to store water in, the other told me which market to go to, and in general I had information on what stove to get. I ended up deciding on a gas stove (which I bought two days later) since power cuts are frequent here and gas is usually cheaper than electricity. I also found out who was living in my building- my building has 3 floors with 2 on a floor. It turned out my next door neighbor was a guy living on his own who was some sort of fundi, the neighbors in the middle was a family with both parents working for the ministry and a TZ guy who was part of the UNDP program, and the neighbors upstairs was a woman who works in animal health and who just had a kid and the other was a VSO volunteer who is a retired educator from Ireland who works with the ministry of Education. Visiting the neighbors was great and it totally calmed me down as I now had info on how my place worked. Luckily I live near the dala stop (not like the 15 min walk of my previous site) so that also made me feel better.

The next day I started work and had an interesting week as a consultant from South Africa came and we toured the warehouse to evaluate the use of the space and I learned a lot about planning for the construction and usability of a warehouse and what to look for. Some things to look for when building a warehouse is accessibility to utilities, backup generators for cold storage, ventilation that doesn’t let rodents in, accessibility to roads and to the people you are servicing (you want to build centrally), the aisle and ceiling height, if the floor plan tapers, and some other things. We also visited the site where they had a plot of land allocated to build the warehouse and looked to see the above mentioned things as well as land specific things such as if it was flat or not flat- if it is a hill you have to think that laying foundation will be expensive because you first need to level the site. Also space of a warehouse also depends on the system of supply chain and how much stock the central warehouse is going to keep. You don’t want to keep too much stock because of expiry dates, budget, and space, but you don’t want to keep too little stock because there might be a stockout of a certain drug at the supplier so you want to still be able to provide for your customer. And Zanzibar used to have a kit system where they asked MSD in Dar would already supply drugs packed into kits. Now Zanzibar is going to pack their own drugs as they plan to change from a vertical push system to an integrated pull one. A vertical system has each type of health program request drugs individually but an integrated system lets all the health programs to request from the same system. This helps with streamlining but in some cases vertical is better and in other integration is better- it depends on the amount of health programs you have and how complex your system. A push system is one in which the higher level gives drugs to the lower level and a pull system is one in which the lower level requests drugs from the higher level. Each system has its own pluses and minuses- for example, if there is not enough drugs available is better or in cases of crisis, a push system is better. For now the ZILS (Zanzibar Integrated Logistics System) is piloting only with essential drugs (WHO has a list of essential medicines like aspirin, ciproflaxin, etc.). During the week I discovered Lukman’s which is a pretty good place to eat for Zanzibarian food (rice and beans are about 2200 TSH in Zanzibar but in Mbeya you can get for 1000 TSH), found out where the other PCV lived, met an awesome co-worker/friend, met the VSO volunteer in my building and found out where the stuff I had place when I came to Zanzibar last time was placed, and found out I can get the Forodhani type food and sugar cane juice near me for cheaper. Another place to eat which is near the port is Passing Show hotel..I have been there before but I think Lukman’s has more variety but Passing Show has excellent vegetable biriyani. I also explored Darajani with the PCV and we found where to buy things; went to the safi dukas with the VSO volunteer (one is a 30 min walk from me); and by myself I went to the market near me (a 15 min walk)- Mwanakwerekwe, which has lettuce, basil, and cilantro among other mzungu veggies!

The second week at site was the start of Sauti za Busara which is a East African music festival which is pretty well known throughout Africa. It was awesome and met lots of other volunteers while enjoying free music (free to residents before 6 PM). I also discovered that the last dala leaves Stonetown at 10 PM- a plus in that I can eat dinner and attend concerts without having to take a taxi in comparison in Mbeya the last dala left at 8 PM or earlier from town so I could never hang out to eat dinner at night. The highlights for me were seeing Bibi Kidude and seeing a Senegalese kora performance by Sousou&Maher Cissoko. The kora is a beautiful string instrument that is a worn around the body. I wanted to go to the Twanga Pepeta (they are TZ more dance hall type music similar to Congolese) concert but it was too late (midnight or even later) so decided not to go. The second week work wise I started to learn a lot about MSupply which is an LMIS (Logistics Management Information System) and enter data into it along with another person who works at the stores. The LMIS helps manage how much stock we have, expiry dates, shelf locations etc.- it is similar to JDE/ERP systems used in manufacturing except drugs have different types of needs (like cold chain) than some electronic parts. There are other simple types of LMIS used in the warehouse as well like bin cards and inventory sheets- so you don’t need a computer database to do everything but a database simplifies things especially if you want to do forecasting for procurement! I found a lot of people at work wanted to learn computers so it has inspired me to start a class in Excel as they use it for doing various calculations and of course MSupply as they will use it as a LMIS in the future. I also finally bought an internet modem, I settled on Zantel because it is the fastest here because I wanted to be able to Gchat (free to call phones in the States) with my family and friends. They used to have a highlife program that was real cheap but they recently changed it so it is not that good a deal anymore. But you can call the States and India for 3 TSH a second on it. The Zantel network uses CDMA as opposed to GSM for it’s internet modem so you can’t unlock the modem and use it on other networks. Plus the coverage within TZ isn’t the best except in bigger cities but it has a max speed of 3.1 Mbps. On the weekend I explored Mbweni Café with some of the VSO volunteers where we had pretty good pizza for 7000 TSH. The Café is a 30 min walk from me which is pretty close. I also find out the two western Supermarkets by me the Diplomatic and the Supermarket which both sell cheese!

The third week work wise we went around some health facilities and mentor them fill out R&R forms (forms where you request medicine). I got to see Bwejuu, Paje and Makunduchi-that part of Zanzibar- as well as see the different types of health facilities here: PHCU (primary health care unit), PHCU+, and Cottage Hospitals. There is only one hospital on Zanzibar (which is Mnazi Moja in Stonetown), but there are over a million people living on the island. Luckily most of the population is centered around the urban areas and it’s not that far of a drive to anywhere in Zanzibar (about 2 hrs- similar to living in CT) but still some of the people will have to go to town for major emergencies. Luckily at some levels of health facilities (PHCU+ and Cottage Hospitals), there are maternity wards so women don’t have to go far for delivery. At the basic level health facilities they do primary care such as sutures, diagnoses of colds/flus, etc. For each level of facility they are only allowed to request certain types of supplies as some of the items such as scalpels aren’t applicable to lower level facilities as there are no surgery wards. The drugs are all purchased by donor agencies- essential medicines purchased by DANIDA, ARVs by CHAI, and others (malaria and family planning) by USAID. So it’s important to do make sure drugs get to facilities, that the stock levels are adequate, and that they order on time so that we can procure them from donors on time (and request the appropriate funding). The reason for the mentorship is because Zanzibar is trying to change from a push system (one where the higher level gives drugs to the lower level) to a pull system (where the lower level requests drugs from the higher level) through ZILS. So now that the facilities need to request their own medicine they need to be taught how and we, at the central level, need to make sure we properly forecast the medicine so we have enough medicine to supply them with. Right now they are piloting ZILS for 6 months and after that will assess how it performs. There are 3 groups (based on geographic locations in Unguja and Pemba) and each group will order in 6 months quantities for 3 months each cycle- a total of 2 cycles for the pilot in a max quantity ordering scheme (to ensure that budget is adequate). The reason for a 6 month supply is to ensure stockouts don’t happen- a 3 month supply+1 month lead time+ 2 month buffer in case the central facility doesn’t have stock. This requires facilities to give adequate data to the central level to ensure that forecasting to procure drugs happens on time which is why filling of the R&R forms is crucial. Another thing we saw during this trip is the need for a logistic assessment/supervisory visit for facilities in terms of how they are keeping inventory/ordering supplies and to see if our max scheme results in stockouts. On a non-work level, I visited Mbweni Ruins and the nearby hotel- I have an awesome beach that is a 30 minute walk from me! The joys of living on a tropical island. :)

The last week of the month, I went to Dar for a JSI training on Pipeline at the Holiday Inn in Dar. I learned about the homegrown software that helps in creating charts that will help with the quantifying of commodities. They were doing this training because they were going through the process in quantifying drugs in the mainland as well as some medicines on Zanzibar. I got to learn about a new system and learn about drug quantification as well as what JSI’s role in strengthening the health supply chain on Zanzibar. I learned more about ZILS and the monitoring plans/training they did there last year, which has been helpful as I wasn’t sure what role all the donors played. I also met some JSI staff from the States, it was good to hear about what was going on there as I am out of touch with that part of the world. Holiday Inn was a pretty nice venue and it was good to have a salad every day. :) My Swahili has suffered I think as I have been using English at work, but oh well, at least I can still omba maji (request for water- in other words survive).

Mafunzo

2011-01-30T22:37:00.001-05:00

Training was pretty interesting. It covered inventory management, designing a supply chain system, and other stuff which related to health supply systems. I am excited to start work! Today I leave for Zanzibar. Hope all goes well.

Nipo

2011-01-23T06:53:00.002-05:00

Back to TZed. I am currently in Dar waiting to start training relating to my extension. What I will be doing is alot different than teaching was. I think I will enjoy it though! :) I do miss Mbeya but hope to return soon to say hi to everyone.

Australia...

2011-01-12T00:32:00.003-05:00

It's been great being home but now I am in Australia...my last continent! For more info see my other blog:

http://aramamur.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

At home I saw my parents, friends, and even saw pictures from my sister's wedding in India. I hope to attend her wedding in the States in May. I can't believe this trip is almost over but I am ready to get back to TZ..that sounds odd right? :)

On Home Leave..

2010-12-22T10:25:00.002-05:00

Had a great Thanksgiving and then after that some training in Morogoro. But now I am on home leave! This is typically given to extending volunteers for one month. I am in Michigan right now and it is cold but nice to see the snow! I will be going to Australia for a short trip, it will be my last (7th) continent- a treat for my 30th bday! I am happy to be home but can't wait to start my new assignment on Zanzibar.

Exciting News!

2010-11-24T04:50:00.002-05:00

Next week, I will, hopefully, be moving to Zanzibar to start a one year extension in the health sector! I will be working with the Zanzibar Ministry of Health on Health Logistics. I am excited! Will let you know more later...hope it all works out..

Almost Kwaheri...

2010-11-17T03:04:00.002-05:00

This past week had the new PCTs come visit! We had some delicious food, they saw Mbeya town, observed/taught some classes, and went hiking in the Ngozi Crater Lake..which is beautiful. Seeing them reminded me on how I felt when I first came here in TZ. Time is sure flying by fast..yet it seems like yesterday. One teacher here thought I had been here for 3 years..LOL.

I also met my replacement...can't believe it's already happening! It finally hit me that I am leaving this place. I will miss the view from my balcony, the neighbors especially one family in particular, my host mama in Moro, new friends that I just made, the fresh produce, walking everywhere, etc. It has been a great 2 years plus..I would recommend this experience to anyone. Now back to the real world unless I get what I want. To turning 30!

July-October

2010-11-17T03:01:00.003-05:00

The past few months have been a whirlwind! In July I was hiking Mt Hanang, attending an Education Project Review, and having bus adventures. In August I went to COS conference and had my friend Katwren visit me. In September I started the extension process and went to a VAC meeting. In October we had the elections but the incumbent won..though everyone around me wanted Chadema to win.

PCV Talent Show Performance

2010-06-25T16:20:00.002-04:00

Here is the video of our Single Ladies performance for the Girls Empowerment Talent Show. We basically made the routine up 2 hrs before the show, inspired by Glee. :) If you have Facebook the quality is much better.

Single Ladies Performance

Wasichana wanaweza tena!

2010-06-25T09:58:00.001-04:00

We had the 2nd Annual Girls Empowerment Conference at my site! Here are some pics:

Mbeya Girls Conference 2010

It's Been a Month

2010-06-19T05:50:00.002-04:00

Well it's been a busy month, I was barely at site and when I was at site, I was helping with the Girls Empowerment Conference. For two weeks I went to Dar and Tanga to help with the PC website and with various PSDN (peer support and diversity network) trainings. Tanga looks like a neat town and hopefully I will get the chance to visit it once more later before I leave here. When I got back we got right into the Girls Empowerment Conference..our 2nd one in Mbeya and the last one before I COS (close of service). This year was less stressful due to the fact we had done it before and there were more volunteers to help out. I definitely am glad that we did it again, and sad that this is the last one. More on it later with pictures!! :)

Changing Again

2010-05-23T11:56:00.002-04:00

New plans:
Dec 1st- Close of Service- official end date of Peace Corps Tanzania
Dec 2nd-18th- India to see grandma and relatives
Dec 18th-25th-Michigan to see parents
Dec 25th-Jan 18th-Australia: NYE Sydney, Tasmania Overland Track, Cairns Great Barrier Reef.
Jan 18th- back to Michigan
After that...who knows! :)

pears and more pears

2010-05-15T10:55:00.004-04:00

So I am currently making pear and guava wine..we'll see how that experiment goes. So far when I take the bucket lid off it smells like wine. :) The pears here are more like the Asian pears in the States (crisp and not as fragrant). The guava though has a nice smell, right now it just smells like fruit. The funny thing is in swahili pears are pears and guava is mapera...it almost sounds the same when you are at the soko (market). I remember when I first got to site I mixed the two up..when asking for pears I got guava. We shall see as weeks pass on. This is my first time making wine at site, no initiative till now.

Changing Plans

2010-05-12T13:12:00.000-04:00

I will be now leaving TZ Dec 1st..but going to Australia Dec 16th-Jan 18th- my last continent..yippee! :) So my 30th bday will now be spent in TZ and I will have completed my 7 continents plan at the age of 30.

Wakike na Wakiume

2010-04-20T15:00:00.000-04:00

Even in the States we are all about empowering women. I think it is a great idea, yet there are some ways this can be improved upon. In some of the poorer countries there is still a need to empower women, but in the richer countries I think we need to start teaching men that women are empowered. What is the point of women’s empowerment if only women believe in themselves? Yes, a woman can get things done but she needs support of the community- that community includes men. Here in TZ, many volunteers are focusing on boys’ conferences to teach them how to treat a female with respect- this is the next step in women’s empowerment.

Problem Solving..Engineering Style

2010-04-17T07:39:00.002-04:00

Today we had a meeting about how to give an exam. It was hilarious as people came up with every situation and tried to talk about it. This is what happens in a room full of engineers. Nothing ever gets accomplished because every situation is logically thought of and each situation demands an answer. I was thinking about programming and how when we program we need to consider all cases. The only bad part is the meeting then goes on forever like a very complex program.

And this got me thinking about myself-I wish I wasn't so logical sometimes..maybe then I could just live life instead of analyzing everything.

But the best part of this meeting was when in typical style they asked for payment for giving an exam. Here in TZ teachers get payment for extra things liking giving final exams and marking papers..but that is the culture here, though they are trying to get away from it.

Mungu akipenda...if God wishes...

2010-04-15T22:09:00.001-04:00

Just to be clear, this has nothing to do with Tanzania or Peace Corps; I am very happy here.

I don’t know why things happen the way they do- they just do. But I know somehow, somewhere they play a part in the grand scheme of life. Sometimes events change the course of your life, like the winter wind affecting a snowflake in the sky. Right now, I am that snowflake. The wind has changed what I am going to do with my life; it has made that decision for me-I just have to follow through, whatever that means. At this moment, I am thinking about the Robert Frost poem, “two roads diverged in the woods”, yet of course in this instance I am not taking the path, but instead I am forced to take this path by events that I cannot control. I hope this is all part of some master plan that gets even better as life goes on, because right now I am feeling the opposite of happy. I know I am definitely learning a lesson from this event, maybe I am a stronger person now because of it and it might help me in my quest to do extraordinary things. The path is vaguely clear, however; the event took all stability out of my life and has forced me to take some risks. And hopefully these risks will, as Frost states, make all the difference.

Wow...6 months

2010-04-12T22:18:00.002-04:00

Time has flown by fast with almost 6 months left here for me. Lots of happened. We had some protests at school which everyone was sent home for 3 weeks to come back so that they can take finals. The management was trying to punish students by doing this but I think they have punished us teachers (well the ones that care if the students learn) as well because we don't get to finish the syllabus for the students to actually learn something. And also 40% of their grade comes from homework, etc...I don't think the students did enough assignments to properly assess a 40% grade. No clue why they sent students home just for not showing up to class one day (that was it for the protest, no violence).

Plans for after going home are to travel around South India and finally hit my last continent Austrailia. Hope to hike the Overland Trek while I am there...and maybe enjoy New Years Eve in Sydney..it all depends on when I get there.

So by the end of this month I should be done with my last full semester teaching here. It's kinda scary and sad...I do love this place but it will be nice to go home..

nitamaliza

2010-02-21T22:24:00.002-05:00

We already picked our dates to leave TZ. I am gone from site Oct 28th. It's going to be sad to leave here...can't believe we are already thinking about that as it seems I just got here. Only 8 months to go...

Heri ya mwaka mpya 2010

2010-01-28T12:09:00.002-05:00

I went home for Xmas and New Year's. It was great seeing everyone and having tofu. Yup brought back some tofu with me. :) Then went to Dar for Mid Service..can't believe I am more than halfway through my service! And now I am back to Mbeya (have been for a couple of weeks now) starting to teach students Data Structures. Good news is that they have hired a teacher to teach computer programming and I am training another one to teach it when I leave. Things are good so far. :)

Mwezi wa kumi na mbili...

2009-12-10T11:54:00.003-05:00

This month I spend half of it at home! I can't believe it! Besides that I met the new volunteers, they seem cool and I am sure they will be great teachers. I finally got to climb Mt Rungwe and the view from the top was beautiful..was able to see all the way to Lake Nyasa (aka Lake Malawi). We were lucky to have a clear hiking day in all the rainy days here since currently it is rainy season. It felt good to hike again, haven't been in a long time.

India and TZed

2009-11-29T07:44:00.004-05:00

Reading this article in the NY Times I am seeing the similaraties between India and Tanzania. When I first arrived to TZ I thought it was similar..but now I am sure..the culture is the same which is a good thing if I plan on going back...I am already adjusted.

NY Times Article

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T12:31:00.004-05:00

Today is thanksgiving and there is alot to be thankful for. A great site, being here one year, not getting too sick, not having any major problems, and of course making the move of quitting work to be here in TZed. I think I made the right choice and I am on the correct path in life.

I have been in Mbeya for one year and I remember the first time I came how there was no electricity for weeks. I also remember how it was to meet all the previous volunteers and now these same volunteers have left. I can imagine now how they must have felt a year ago as we welcome new ones to the region. And at the same time I am trying to imagine how sad they must have felt leaving. How would it be to leave my site? I can't even begin to describe the feeling but it is like leaving a home that you may not come back to. It's not like when I left the States knowing that I would see my mom in 2 years to come (or even sooner now that I am visiting home). It's going to be different because I don't have a blood-related family to come back to, but at the same time I have the family that I created in TZ. The neighbors that treat me like their daughter, the kids that treat me like their sister, and the students and fellow teachers that treat me like their friend. I hope to come back to see them after my two years, but I don't know what the future holds for me after this commitment. And that is scary.

But for now living in the present I don't have to think about that thankfully as I have a year left, and for that I am very thankful.

Balozi

2009-11-24T22:15:00.002-05:00

The new US ambassador to TZ came to Mbeya region! :) He had only been here in TZed for 2 weeks and already was traveling outside of Dar to the Mbeya region. He was here to see the Walter Reed foundation which is an excellent organization partnering USA and TZ to fight against HIV/AIDS. The other reason was to visit the Peace Corps volunteers in the region. On Sunday we met him and showed him a presentation of some of our work here in the region. He seems like a nice person and very enthused about helping with non-profit work which is awesome. He came to my site on Tuesday and the people at my institute liked him alot. He saw the department where I worked and met some of the heads of schools. MIST is trying to expand so they were honored that their institute was one of the few visited in the ambassador's time here.

Bday TZed Style

2009-11-20T00:07:00.002-05:00

So for my bday my department got me a kitenge. I was laughing the whole time they sang me happy bday..it is funny to see men singing happy bday in English..they even added in the how old are you part..I think that is part of the song here. Then at night celebrated with my favorite TZ family so far..the mama carried me in her arms like I was nothing..it was a sight to see.

The Prez Has Come

2009-11-01T11:25:00.002-05:00

So us volunteers down south have spotted the president of TZed as he makes his grand tour. Some got to meet him, me not so lucky..but I did get to attend a "beer" fest..that is some South Africans have opened a beer factory near me. Funny 'cause I don't like the stuff..but great for friends that visit! :) Maybe some day I will get a tour of the place. :) Anyways, I got to see the president speak but it was mostly about how this modern technology has come to TZed (there aren't really any manafacturing plants or industry here in TZ). Having industry like this is good for TZ because it imports most of it's processed food from Kenya, and it makes mechanical and electrical engineering students obtain jobs more easily. Here in TZed people with an undergraduate engineering degree don't make much money, those who do studied arts or business. I think it is the opposite of America. But without engineers there is no innovation in technology, so this could be a great stepping stone for Tanzania in the global market place.

Also, had some interesting forward thinking conversations with some fellow co-workers about how to budget money, which is a strange concept here as most people spend their money on day-to-day stuff without saving. I think the modern educated Tanzanians are forward thinking and that this country will prosper in the years to come.

Send-Off Party- Wedding Celebrations TZed Style

2009-10-25T03:43:00.002-04:00

Recently I attended a send-off party in Tanzania. This happens before the wedding and after the engagement/kitchen party. It is equivalent to the time before a wedding in an Indian wedding. They had dancing (mostly to religious songs), presents, food, speeches/introductions of the families, they also had something where the bride searches for the groom, etc. The wedding traditions here seem to emulate that of Indian weddings more than American weddings. Of course with western culture coming into Africa there is a combining of the two. In wedding celebrations there is a engagement party, a kitchen party (similar to a bachelorette/wedding shower), send-off party, and the actual wedding. A kitchen party is where women get together to advise the bride of martial responsibilities and give gifts of that nature.

Umeme again..new books to be read..

2009-10-25T03:36:00.002-04:00

So now we have increased to 3 times a week so about every other day I have no power from 9 AM till 11 PM. It doesn't hinder me too much as I try to get everything I need power for accomplished on the days I have power and before 9 AM on the days I don't have power. But besides that it forces me to read books instead of being on the computer all day. Of course as usual I visit my neighbors. Some books that I have read: Three Cups of Tea, Into Thin Air, Zahir, and various others. I am trying to look for more upbeat "junk" books but right now all I have is the well-written, somewhat philosophical variety which is nice to expand the mind but tends to leave me a bit sad.

My Community is Awesome!

2009-10-17T03:27:00.007-04:00

Everyone is so loving and supportive of me during this time of stolen stuff and police investigations. I definitely feel the love of my neighbors, fellow co-workers, and students. And despite everything happening I am still optimistic and love working here..so I need to constantly tell them not to worry..that I am not going home. :) The first few days were a shock but I am getting back into the swing of things again, hopefully gaining momentum..you never know what life throws at you but you got to deal with it and keep on moving because it gets better. And everything falls into the past. I think that is why I am all about memories and not about material possessions. I would rather have experiences than physical objects-because of this value system it helps me recover in times like these when physical property and money are stolen. 'Cause when I look back in life I want to feel as though I have fulfilled what I wanted to accomplish. But for this to happen, of course, everyone must have their basic needs met and I feel as at least my basic needs are met.

Harusi

2009-10-17T03:19:00.002-04:00

There is a wedding at the institute so I helped in cooking food yesterday. It was awesome to feel the energy as we used wood and big pots to cook food instead of electric stoves that most people have here. I think it was due to the fact yesterday was a non-umeme day. But at that moment I felt how it probably feels to live in a village..I can say I totally like the community feeling. I visit my neighbors alot when I am at site and actually like doing that but I have always been like that even back home in the States..it's my personality. And I enjoy cooking with everyone..cooking should be a social event. :)

Tangazo..

2009-10-17T03:15:00.002-04:00

So for two days a week I have no power from 9 AM to 11 PM due to shortage of electricity here in TZed. It is the end of the dry season and until the rains start we probably won't have constant electricity (we use hydro-electric power here). It's nice because I get to make consistent use of my kerosene stove finally...

But on a better note the institute is planning to install water tanks so that we can get constant water instead of water just 3 times a day. I don't mind getting water only 3 times a day but when I have guests it tends to be a problem.

I Feel Like I Am In A Mystery Novel...

2009-10-15T11:22:00.005-04:00

It's a combination of alot of things but I feel like I am in a mystery novel. Maybe it's the old James Bond movies I recently watched or the dealing with the stolen laptop. It's horrible to be suspicious of everyone that you love with your heart. I realize in going through this experience it is not getting the stuff back that is most important but for me it is the questions that I have... What is the motive? How did they get it done? That is what is fascinating me right now as I try to contemplate many scenarios. And I recently discussed with my friend to be a good theif you must be a good planner, and planning is something that I like to do so how the criminal mind works interests me. Of course it would be nice to get the stuff back...

My Life at this Moment

2009-10-15T00:13:00.002-04:00

Teaching computers to bachelor level and ordinary level students, getting the ICT conference off the ground, dealing with stolen laptop/money, getting rid of rats in my home, preparing to run the Moshi Kili Marathon in Feb 2010, and preparing to take the GMATs sometime next year. Also hanging out with neighbors & attending various student events like New Student Day, Graduation, and various sports competition.

A-Town and Iringa

2009-10-14T02:54:00.005-04:00

I visited Arusha before my climb and I stayed at Ujamaa Hostel near Fire Road. I totally recommend staying there, it is very homey and the people are awesome. In Arusha a good pizza place is Albero's- they had a wood fired oven. And Meat King has cheese and also sells Pesto. There was also some good veggie samosas at a Raha's veggie snacks place in Arusha. I took the Hood bus from Mbeya to Arusha to arrive at 2 AM in A-Town...it was a long journey so on the way back I stopped over in Iringa. I stayed at VETA in Iringa which has nice rooms for cheap and then went over to Neema Crafts for good food- veggie lasagna and passion fruit ice cream and some stuff to bring back home in Dec. Also got some quilted kitenge bags aka Iringa bags for 5000 TSH each. :) Iringa and Arusha has some good dairy yogurt products.

Climbing Kili..I passed the test!

2009-10-14T02:11:00.007-04:00

So I made it to the top of Kilimanjaro though it wasn't without some struggles. Here is the following info about the trip and tips too. I hiked the 8 day Lemosho route with Duma Explorer. It is not easy due to altitude and I don't know if I would do it again. But I am glad I did it (I don't regret it) and am proud of getting to the top.

I took with me hiking poles (recommended), 3 fleece shirts- Old Navy, 3 pairs of Patagonia capillene long underwear (top/bottom)-midweight, 2 fleece pants- Old Navy, 1 set of wind/raingear (top/bottom)- REI, 2 short sleeve running t-shirts, 1 pair of quick dry hiking pants- Patagonia, fleect hat- Old Navy, fleece scarf- Old Navy, fleece neck gaiter- Old Navy, 3 fleece gloves- Old Navy, 1 waterproof mittens- Old Navy, 5 pairs of wool socks- Smartwool, 1 pair of backpacking Gortex boots- EMS Summit GTX Women's, 1 pair trail runners- Gortex Salome, Petzl Tikka headlamp, extra batteries, digital camera, GU Energy Gel (for summit night), Diamox, daily contact lenses, 0 degree down Women's Sleeping bag (Marmot), Down Jacket with hood-Mtn Hardware, and other stuff. I used all the clothes I brought during the 8 day hike. I used the trail runners the first 4 days of the hike and on the last day. I used the backpacking boots all other days including the summit attempt.

I took Diamox 125 mg twice a day starting the day before the trip. Took it for first 4 days and then started taking 250 mg twice a day and took the last dose the night of the summit attempt. Took it during breakfast and dinner- experienced nausea, dizziness and slight tingling of fingers during the days I took Diamox. Summit attempt got a bad headache but once I started drinking more water it went away. Tried to drink at least 3 liters of water a day- normally I never drink water. Took lots of Chocolate flavored caffeine enhanced GU every 1-2 hours during the summit attempt till the sun came out and then I had energy again.

The hike overall is not too bad in terms of technical difficulty. There are some parts like Barranco Wall with scrambling and some parts where short people really need trekking poles to go up and down. The major difficulty is altitude and you really need to force yourself to go slowly to acclimatize. On summit night the major difficulty is exhaustation (not enough sleep during the day) and altitude. The going is steep but you are going slow so you don't feel your muscles hurting as much.

Preparation wise I ran 3 times a week about 5 miles each time in hilly terrain and I live at 1700 meters. The 2 months before I did not do any physical activity but living in Tanzania you are forced to walk everywhere so I think this helped. Also the fact that I had good physical fitness previously (I am able to run 13 miles without stopping and ran a marathon the previous year) helped even though I didn't run as much. Also I didn't get to do any day hikes on the weekends.

What really helps if you want to reach the top is doing a longer climb to acclimatize, and having good guides who set a good slow pace and give you help if needed during the climb. Diamox helped as well at least for me and drinking lots of water. Having some basic level of fitness is also important.

Climbing Kili..

2009-09-25T11:29:00.002-04:00

So this is it..next week I am put to the test. I have to admit I didn't study hard for this test. Hopefully I'll pass and make it to the top with no problems. I will let you know the results in 2 weeks. Wish me luck!

It's Been Awhile...

2009-09-08T13:38:00.001-04:00

yes it has...alot has happened..but just want to let you know that I am still alive and having fun. :) In a few short weeks I am climbing Kili the Lemosho route..wish me luck. And in December I will be back in the States for 2 weeks. I can't believe it has been a year! It sure has gone by fast since I first came to TZ...

Zambia- Victoria Falls

2009-08-10T03:02:00.002-04:00

Went to see Victoria Falls this week 8/3-8/7. Took bus from Mbeya to Tunduma/Nakonde border. Took a Juldan Motors bus from Nakonde to Lusaka and then boarded a Muzhandu Family Bus from Lusaka to Livingstone. Stayed at Jolly Boys Hostel. And had good Italian food at Olga's Kitchen (an Italian NGO teaching local boys Fundi type skills)- totally recommend the restaurant.

Victoria Falls was an awesome site to see. Also went on a Sunset Cruise which was alot of fun and very pretty along the river. We saw some giraffees and hippos. Zambia is more developed than TZ but I think that is because it is a part of Southern Africa and the places we went were more touristy. Though I will have to say the buses are definitely nicer in Zambia.

Girls Conference and Other stuff..

2009-07-14T02:06:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted much about our girls empowerment conference which happened at my institute from June 14th-20th. It went well with 63 girls coming from over 7 schools. We taught them about HIV/AIDS, computers, income generation, goal setting, confidence building, etc. Nothing went horribly wrong though there were some major challenges along the way. And some of the volunteers made the national news (TV and newspaper). All in all it was a success! :)

In July I travelled around TZed because I had to attend some meetings for Peace Corps, so I got to see my host mama in Morogoro again and that was great. Also spent a few days in Dar- still don't know it well but had some amazing experiences along Kisutu St (Hindu Temple Street).

Msimba

2009-05-31T07:42:00.000-04:00

Just went to a funeral this past week for a worker from the institute. He was one of those who always teased me in a joking way about the way I pronounce certain words in Kis. So it was sad that as I pass the halls I will no longer hear his voice. Apparently he died of heart failure but there is rumors that he was also HIV positive. Funerals in Tanzania are attended by all, man and woman are seperate for the procession and before the procession. Before the procession women gather in a room crying and singing and men gather seperately doing what I don't know as I am not a man. Men wear normal clothes but women cover their lower body by wrapping around a kanga or kitenge(a piece of cloth) over their clothes (whether they are wearing pants or skirts underneath). Wrapping it like a sarong of sorts. And some also cover their heads. There is no wearing of black clothing- that is a Western tradition. On another note HIV positive men in TZ tend to be (but not always) those with money as they can afford to obtain certain things certain ways- which saddens me as some of these wealthy men prey on innocent girls who can't afford school fees (these men are known as Fataki). It is the opposite of the US- those with education and power here tend to get the disease. Which strengthens my stance on the girls conference coming up in a few weeks.

Love is in the Air

2009-05-23T11:21:00.004-04:00

Spring is a time for love and same with summer..but alas it is not spring nor summer here but almost winter. How I forget that! It is funny when talking with Tanzanians I reference June, July and August as summer and they look at me strange, then I realize my mistake..ha ha. :) It is winter here! It is getting cold!! And coming home to the States in December I will be missing a part of summer here and heading to winter again. :(
On a brighter note...the girls conference planning is going well..we just got our conference uniforms..periwinkle blue! :)
I just started teaching a short course to fellow teachers about basic applications hoping to get them to start grading their final grades using an Excel spreadsheet. And of course creating webpages, creating lectures using PowerPoint, learning Matlab, and typing faster. :)
And I realize how much the sound of our voice is due to the language we speak..the tone the inflection..I try to sound Tanzanian..but I still sound American. :)

Curriculum Review and BarCamp Mbeya

2009-05-23T11:09:00.003-04:00

Last weekend I participated in a Curriculum Review at the institute..it is interesting to see where the institute is trying to reach in order to be competitive in the global world. I had to present current curriculum changes to the group and then a bunch of us got together to talk about a new curriculum for ICT. It is also great to see that teachers here are into research..one of them is interested in tele-medicine. And great to network with different groups around Mbeya. Doing this sort of networking opened up our eyes and we plan on hosting a BarCamp Mbeya August 22nd at the Mbeya Institute of Science and Technology. Karibu MIST!

Mei Mosi

2009-05-06T13:18:00.002-04:00

Labour Day was fun! It was great to be part of a celebration and interesting to exchange the fact that in America Labor Day is celebrated in September. They were surprised that not everyone celebrates Labour Day on May 1st. I saw my first fire truck demo and first fire truck for that matter that day. It was from China which prompted me to ask about an emergency 911 type system..they apparently have it but no one knows the number. And that day I was Tanzanian. And even now more and more of my community accepts me as one of theirs. It is funny once a stranger called me mzungu (foreigner) and a fellow TZ said she's not a mzungu she is my friend, or some will say daughter. Nice huh?

Right now we are marking exams, which I tend to get done faster but I think it is because English is my first language so I can read the student's exams quicker and thus mark quicker. And I have started to offer short courses to teach fellow teachers such skills as PowerPoint, Excel and even creating Websites so they can use these tools in their jobs. Some know it already but not well so they are open to the fact to learn these tools and it is the best time for such training as the only students left are bachelor's students and they are very few. Also I invited some students to my house for pizza, most Tanzanians don't like cheese so I put very little on their side of the pizza but that is ok because I like it alot. :) And the nice thing is my previous students that are going for summer internships have been dropping by my home or even texting me to say goodbye..makes me feel loved..as a teacher of course. :) And no I am not an easy teacher..I prefer to be tough..but I think I do put alot of effort into learning and I think the students like that. I hope to see some of them in the States one they..I hope they can get there..it would be awesome!

Currently I am busy planning the Girls conference..a month left to go! Hope it goes well..many women in my community are interested in helping out..hopefully they mean it.

Bachelor's Degree

2009-04-22T08:28:00.003-04:00

It feels good to be teaching bachelor degree students. They are definitely more motivated and interested in the topic and I like it alot! I am teaching them C programming right now, and will be teaching them C++ or Java in September. Other than that, this week consisted of trying to get the Windows NT Server to act as a router and then also helping out with some JavaScript menus on the institute's website (it is definitely going to be a change compared to the old one).

Next week is May Moisi festival (TZ's Labour Day on May 1st)and will be celebrated at a local stadium in Mbeya mjini (town/city), so we are busy at the institute preparing for that. And we are going to plan more on the girl's conference this coming weekend. I plan to climb Kilimanjaro the end of September and beginning of October using the Lemosho route using Duma Explorer as the tourguide (reaching the summit during a full moon). Hope to make it to the top..we'll see. And I have formally submitted my vacation for Zambia so I am definitely going in the beginning of August.

I am currently looking at my future after I get back..some possible choices: becoming a teacher (getting a teaching certificate), getting a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy, or getting an MBA. I want to focus on international development in regards to education or engineering. Or using engineering to help educate..something along those lines..of course doing this by using computers. I realize that I like the academic environment because I have always loved learning something new, when I am in this type of environment I feel excited. Anyways..that is just what is in my head for now. I don't think it will change too much.

Heri ya Pasaka!

2009-04-13T08:51:00.003-04:00

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it. This past week was spent marking exams and also deciding on whether or not I am teaching bachelor degree classes. Also this coming week is the last week of lecture and next week finals! Though I am teaching bachelor degree classes starting next week, which means no real big break this year except for a week in August (where I plan on going to Victoria Falls in Zambia but have not finalized that yet) and a few weeks in December (where I may climb Kilimanjaro). The Saturday before Easter I visited Matema Beach for the day. It was an interesting trip up where I rode in an ambulance Land Rover (they had room). Along the way the driver stopped to show cocoa pods and palmero (a type of grapefruit). Cocoa pods once you open them up have a sweet, slimy candy like lining around the beans. So I sucked on a few and spitted out the bean. The bean is bitter and did not smell like chocolate. The water was warm, but unfortunately not clear enough for snorkelling though they say during the dry season (from June-Oct) and January/February timeframe has clear water and warm weather. If you ever do stay in Matema I recommend you stay at the Luthern Beach Center (it seemed cheap though cold showers I am told). I had a nice latte and some pizza at the Beach Center. It was great to have real coffee again. To go to Matema take a dala from Mbeya to Kyela and if you arrive before noon you can take a bus from Kyela straight to Matema about 7500 TZ shillings at most one way. The nice thing is that it is possible for me to head to the beach and back in a day or weekend! :)

Don't want to go home..'Cause I am home

2009-03-30T11:05:00.002-04:00

This past month I was realizing that it has been 6 months and soon before I know it will be next December! I can't imagine going home, to me right now I feel like I am home. I was trying today to think how it would be to be in the States..how would I remember Tanzania? Would the memory fade eventually? Will I have changed my perspective on life in the States? Would I wander the world for the rest of my life? These questions are unanswered, but at least you know what is on my mind and maybe you can provide some insight.

Busy Bee

2009-03-28T08:12:00.005-04:00

I came back to school on Saturday and was thrown into a whirlwind of activity. The day I came back there was a student government ceremony for the newly elected government. My favorite student won the position of vice president! So as soon as I put my stuff in my room, I went to the ceremony. It was all in Swahili so I did not understand most of it, but I am getting better at picking out words and ones I don't know. The good thing about attending such events in Swahili is that it has the potential for me to learn new vocabulary and getting better at listening to the spoken word. Afterwards there was dancing. When I came to use the internet it seemed the school switched to wireless, yet the way they did it was inefficient they should have bought routers instead they bought access points. So now there are only 30 or so IP addresses for everyone!

On Thursday, the Japanese volunteer and I celebrated his 38th bday. We made pizza and had some Konyagi (which is the local gin/vodka made from papaya). And we made passion fruit bread! It is good stuff and while I am in Tanzania I am trying to make things that I normally can't get for cheap in the States (like passion fruit, mangos, pineapples). Though right now it is pear season (they taste crispy like Asian pears found in the States) which means pie time! Also, I went with a Tanzanian girl who works at my school to a local tailor whom she trusts, hopefully the dresses turn out good and I have found a good tailor in my neck of the woods! I know a good one in Morogoro, just not here as this is the first time I am visiting one in Mbeya to make dresses. The few days before that we had to prepare stuff for the party for the opening of the new bachelor programs at our institute

The opening was yesterday (Friday), and it was a big deal and probably felt like a weekend day (and it was the most fun I have had here in terms of at work). The day started early and we prepared exhibitions for our diffferent depts to show to the guest of honor- the Minister of Science and Technology of Tanzania! So I prepared stuff on the webpage design club that we have made for students and others in my dept prepared stuff related to what they were working on. Then we had a ceremony which had a dance troupe that did Cirque de Soleil type acts and did some traditional mcheza ngoma (drumming and dancing). The best part was the minister spoke about how there were not enough girls in technology and how we should encourage girls by going to surrounding secondary schools and primary schools. Which is awesome because that is the point of the girls conference at MIST! And it is also one of the things I would like to happen is for women from the institute to go to local schools, so maybe because the minister said it there will be more encouragement with that project.

Lastly we had good food and they had my favorite peas and coconut milk with a spaghetti flavored with pilau spices. It is funny how everyone knows I am vegetarian by now. :) After that I became team manager for the employee soccer team at school (which mostly consisted of being the doctor, and spraying people with heat spray). So I sat down to watch the soccer tournament of employees vs bachelor/advanced diploma students. I had fun cheering them on, but it was a close game and my team lost. :( The Japanese volunteer played for the employee soccer team and he even scored a goal! Afterwards the Japanese volunteer and I followed some students to the social club at the institute and played table tennis. We also talked to another worker about climbing Mbeya Peak sometime.

Unlike most volunteers I don't get the week of Easter as vacation as school ends the week of April 15th! Originally I was planning on attending a Boy's Conference down in the Ruvuma region but it looks like I won't be able to attend it next weekend. Time is sure flying by fast..it's already almost April!

March pics are up:Pics

IST

2009-03-28T08:10:00.001-04:00

We had in-service training at Njombe. This was my first time to that area and I will say it is beautiful. If you are ever in Njombe get the Provolone Cheese at the Duka la Maziwa- pretty good for Tanzanian made cheese. Doesn't exactly taste like Provolene but is better than their other cheeses and is good on pizza (better than the Njombe Mozzerella)! Stock up if you have a freezer, if you don't I think if you are in a cold enough climate it should keep. The Duka la Maziwa is a project between the Njombe district and some Italian NGOs. So if you ever visit that region and you are white, you will be greeted with a chorus of 'Ciao'. A good place to eat pizza that was close by to the Nazareth Youth Center was the A.R.M. Hotel. The Youth Center (where we stayed) was beautiful and nice hot water showers with good pressure..better than mine. They also had rosemary growing!

Besides that training was tiring and long but it was good to see people and to have information on Girls Empowerment, Gardening, and HIV/AIDS. The highlights of training for me were Girls Empowerment, teaching about HIV at a local elementary school, and learning about Permaculture. But the best part of course was seeing everyone from training! For fun we had a Murder Mystery dinner, picnic at a waterfall nearby, PCV brewed wine, and nightly game/movie nights (using the projector or cramming in someone's room).

We did an exercise about HIV/AIDS and it is interesting to see how religious Tanzanians are compared to Americans. They are certainly more religious and don't believe in condoms but they believe in abstinence or being faithful..though in reality most do not practice that in Tanzania..at least from what I have seen. I don't know if the belief in not using condoms stemmed from the fact that the Pope visited and declared condoms ineffective or because they actually believed that. And they also believed that HIV was created in a lab in America. But some of the more biologically educated Tanzanians did not believe such things, but the rest of the educated ones did. Certainly our viewpoints did not agree, I accept that they have different beliefs but that does not mean I agree with them. The funny thing is that they learn about HIV and prevention (birth control) in their equivalent of high school but they don't believe in it; though I guess it is like learning evolutionary theory in biology in the States and some religions in America not believing in that either. Now let us talk about the Pope and his decree that condoms are ineffective. Though I see his point in that abstinence and being faithful are the keys to prevention and not condoms, that is not the reality in Tanzania at least. In Tanzania you see poor girls you can't pay for school fees preyed on by older man who can give them money, you sometimes even see martial affairs being acceptable. So before the Pope makes such a decree I advise him to first see the state of affairs in a country, you can't change culture but you can prevent disease.

Mwezi wa tatu..

2009-03-07T08:43:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it's March already! I have been in TZ about 6 months, yet it feels so natural to me. So many things have happened. First we submitted our grant to get funding for the Girls Empowerment Conference. Cross your fingers because I hope it gets approved. So far my school has responded positively. I had to put on my project engineering hat and "grease the wheels" as Rosato would say. So in addition to submitting a letter for the formal processes at the institute, I informally talked to the management to let them know what is going on and they gave their approval. So far the institute has agreed to give us facilities and rooms for 70 people! MIST rocks! Also, talking to faculty here they are very interested in this conference, mostly women but some men as well. Also, have gotten quotes on food and it looks reasonable. Definitely budgeting, resource allocation, stakeholders, milestone/goal setting, etc. is all coming to play here.

And here at the Computer Department we are thinking of getting local orphans to come by to show them about computers. Maybe the vision of a community service club here at MIST will happen. If other teachers are involved it will certainly be sustainable. Maybe IPT (like summer internships) can be done to help the community..a thought. But another thought was that we could use IPT as a way to get companies to come here for a career fair next year. Too many ideas, hopefully enough time to get people interested to make it sustainable.

I had an interesting discussion with the principal of the institute this past week, it definitely feels like an executive's office when I enter his office and when I talk to him. He does stuff with Habitat for Humanity..apparently he is a Structural Civil Engineer and helps that NGO with surveying for available infrastructure. They will be having a project on Zanzibar, I wish them luck.

This past week I have definitely been happy because I love planning things, as one student noticed last night at the debate club (the fact that I was happier than usual). And I can even joke with the students. Though I had an exam this past week and some students cheated again. It breaks my heart. I know they do this because if they fail they have no career and they take 15 different subjects a semester, so they cheat to pass so they can get a job in the future..but this doesn't make it right. They need to learn ethics and consequences, I try to tell them about the consequences but they don't understand (or maybe it's my English). I had an interesting debate on this with some staff in the computer department to learn the other side of the story of why students cheat. And also some debates with some of my smarter, ethically minded students as well. Last night I certainly learned alot at debate club..more about the history of TZ and Zanzibar union, though they were surprised that I knew about it, and cheating at the institute.

Oh and the students had a strike because of food. Which is totally different than the States! Can you imagine college striking because of bad cafeteria food? Every college in the States would be striking. :) Anyways it was pretty funny to me..but it wasn't scary or anything. I think there was a deeper issue than food.

I am going to Njombe for 2 weeks. Don't worry..no news is good news.

I Know This is Home..

2009-02-25T04:34:00.001-05:00

This feels like home to me. I can be me- ni kweli- it's true- I can joke with and tease my neighbors using Swahili and English. I feel so comfortable with them and I don't feel like I am putting on a facade. I feel like I am part of the community. I can visit neighbors at any time. When I am sick they care. The old mamas greet me as though I was their daughter- various neighbors have told me I am like a daughter to them..binti yangu..my daughter they call me..some even reference the song "Anita" by Matonya saying Anita wangu..my Anita. I have friends around my age that are Tanzanian. I have mentors in the female Tanzanian professors. Various neighbors want to actually learn how to make cookies and cakes from me. Students are my friends and some of them like a younger brother/sister but at the same time I am their teacher as well. When my neighbors see me they offer me beans from their farms. It is bean harvesting time here, I have so many fresh beans (the beans are in pods) offered by my neighbors that I think I will be eating wali and maharage (rice and beans) forever- which I don't mind as I don't eat meat. If you have any recipes involving beans email them to me..I will try and make enchiladas, chili, minestrone, maybe even some more red bean buns...

Kuwa na Moyo- Have Heart

2009-02-25T04:33:00.001-05:00

Even if one needs one will give- this is so true. I was greeting a local farm worker the other day, she knows me pretty well. She showed me a bag of beans and 2 mangos and said "kupe" which means give you. So she gave me those items, I felt so bad as she could have sold them and made some money instead of giving it to me for free. . Later I was hiking Loleza peak with a student and I related my story to him. He said that there is a Swahili proverb about the heart and even if one is in need they give. I don't remember the exact proverb otherwise I would write it down. Tanzanian people here have so much generosity, even if they don't have they give. When I visit people's houses I am not intending on being fed, but they feed me even if they weren't expecting me. You would never see this in the States. You can see here community is important.

Sasa Hivi, Bado Kidogo and other TZ Sayings/Doings

2009-02-25T04:31:00.001-05:00

So here in Tanzania they say sasa hivi or bado kidogo..when really it is not right now or just a little bit longer..it is sometimes 30 or more mins longer! Why do they say that you ask? Because they don't want you to lose hope. They feel if they say it is not too much longer than you will think that it will happen at some point and it is not never going to happen. But in a sense you lose hope because you know that it won't happen right now. I am bad explaining this feeling, but you will know what I mean if you experience it. But I guess it is like in the US when we say, "one minute"..instead of something taking one minute it actually is 5-10 mins..kinda like sasa hivi..right now..

We'll see each other tomorrow if God wishes. This is self explanatory. They love to say this to me when we end our day.

Be free. Meaning don't worry about being polite just do what you want to do, we are family so we don't care about formalities.

This one is not a saying but an action. Raising your eyebrows means yes. This is going to get take some getting used to and I can forsee if I get into this habit it will be hard for me not to do it once I get back in the States. Though for now my reaction is to laugh whenever I see this though it confuses the person saying the yes with raised eyebrows. In the States raised eyebrows usually means confusion or asking the question "What?" or "what did you say?"...so when I see it I want to repeat my question when in fact I should keep my mouth shut because they said yes. :)

Kuwa kali kwa sababu wasichana wanaweza!

2009-02-24T04:30:00.000-05:00

On the 13th of Feb I attended a NGO meeting that some fellow health volunteers in the region organized. It was regarding HIV/AIDS and what we can do to help the NGOs promote their organization and to help them with teaching prevention to citizens. The other facet was to help people who have HIV/AIDS learn useful skills..this is where I can help..one of the useful skills they want to teach is computer skills in order to help people with this disease get jobs. They want to build a computer lab in mjini in order to teach these skills. I hope that we can do it and I definitely will give any knowledge I have to make this happen.

But the 13th of Feb brought a topic I was totally excited about and knew I could help with: Girls Empowerment Conference. The health volunteers wanted to get the girls around them preferably in Form 1 or Standard 7 (like 6th or 5th grade) to come to a venue to learn about life skills. They plan on doing this in June and I offered the idea as the institute as a place where we can have it. They want to teach them about careers, life skills, and their bodies and HIV/AIDS (many girls in poverty resort to getting money by other ways). We can also let them play computer games as many of these girls probably have very little access to computers. I have spoken to various women professors at the institute and they are excited about the idea and willing to help. My neighbor is one of these women and she is one of 2 female professors that attended a conference on how to counsel young girls so I can definitely see her having an impact. The director of studies (DOS) is also a woman and she is excited to help to get more females interested in math. She feels that math is the simplest of sciences and most gals feel like it is hard but if you can tell them it is not that hard and make exciting activities you can gain their interest. We were talking about involving female students at the institute in these activities in order to let the young girls see girls that they can relate to like themselves. I have written a letter to the principal to request use of the facility and hostels and I think the response will be positive.

Also those two professors and I were talking about starting a women's group here at the institute beginning with a study skills and mentorship session during orientation week to retain female students at the institute- kind of like SWE or WISE. Also about having female students and professors going to local secondary schools in the area to show them that girls can be scientists and that science is fun in order to attract girls to enroll in the institute.

The DOS showed me some research she did on the number of women entering the institute. Apparently they started offering a short course to people before attending the institute to teach people math skills if their math was poor. If they pass the course then they may be accepted at the institute. She was showing me that because of this course there are more female students here, but because some can't afford it they were trying to get some scholarships so they can allow these females to attend this course for free. I am so excited for this positive response from various teachers here. I feel like this will be a sustainable activity because there is this interest and motivation.

I am doing my little part in trying to befriend the various female students around here..though they aren't as talkative to me as the male students are. Hopefully having cooking parties and running with these girls will let them open up to me more. As we pound up those hills and they start to quit because they are tired the Anita Hitler in me (my former running partner Elena G has coined the Anita Hitler nickname in endearment of course :) ) tells them "Kuwa kali kwa sababu wasichana wanaweza!"...be fierce because girls can! :)

Cultural Exchange Through Cooking and Hiking

2009-02-23T04:28:00.000-05:00

On Sunday the 22nd, I went hiking with that fellow student in addition to that saying about heart (see a previous post) we talked about listening, respect and tolerance. We were talking about this in regards to the student debate club. The guy was saying that he watched CNN and he was amazed that when they debate that they actually wait for one another to talk before talking (well they do to some effect). At the debate club at school the students try to rile up the debater by interrupting him/her before he/she finishes. This is because in secondary school they did this to have fun, but he thinks in their culture people like to put one another down when arguing to say that their point is right. I told him though in order to be effective at debate, you need to listen to the other person in order to prove their points wrong (you can do this once you know their reasoning behind their points) and in order to come up with a solution or compromise. So we both agreed that respecting and tolerating someone's opinion by listening and not just saying you are right without reason is the best way to become better at debating. And that got us on a different topic of cultural exchange when it comes to being on time as many students aren't on time for these debates. As a different student keeps telling me "There is no hurry in Tanzania". Tanzanians aren't punctual in general but those in the States are. So if someone was doing business with the States they should know that one should be on time. But at the same time an American should be tolerant of Tanzanians when they show up half an hour to an hour late.

On Saturday the 21st I had the students that I run with at my house in order to teach them to cook "American" food. We made egg noodles (from scratch) with pasta sauce, garlic bread, and peanut butter cookies. I showed them oregano and basil and they died and went to heaven when they bit into peanut butter cookies... We also talked, danced, sang, and I got to know them better. I am trying to get the token guy student that runs with us interested in cooking so far he tells me that I should teach him how to make peanut butter cookies. I plan on teaching them to make pizza next! :)

Conflict Resolution Management

2009-02-21T04:27:00.000-05:00

I am not a conflict resolution manager or career counselor but last week I felt like one. The head of dept was letting a teacher know about something that he didn't like about this guy's performance. So he calls me into the room with the other guy because he felt like I was a third party and could give objective advice. Myself, though, I felt very uncomfortable because I did not want to offend either party by my advice. But in the end I successfully managed to give advice that didn't offend any of them by telling them that it all boiled down to communication. My advice consisted of the following:

A manager needs to communicate announcements timely to his subordinates and his subordinates should not be afraid to tell the manager when they could not complete a task. If you can't complete something you should communicate and tell the manager you can't get it done instead of not saying anything. If you don't say anything then the manager will think you didn't even start the task and he or she will get annoyed at you or even think you are performing poorly, when in fact you did start the task you just could not get it done. Also one should tell the manager about any problems one is facing so that if one needs help the manager can help find the resources in order to get the task done. At the same time a manager needs to create a friendly environment so that his subordinates aren't afraid to tell him any problems. I am thinking in this case the culture in TZ is to not be direct so as not to offend anyone so I am guessing the guy was afraid to tell the head he couldn't get his task done for that reason. But the head went to school abroad so he has adopted this direct manner of communication so he expected his subordinate to be direct with him. Open, honest communication- it is important in the world. But at the same time understanding culture matters in order to work effectively with one another.

V-Day

2009-02-14T04:26:00.000-05:00

We made a Chinese New Year dinner at my house (yeah we celebrated it kinda late) complete with red bean buns, stir fried egg noodles (a la longevity noodles), and spinach/ginger dumplings. It was a definite yummy delight. Later that night we watched as students participated in an English debate club. Hope everyone had a valentine's day filled with friendship or love..whichever the case may be.

Engineering and Science

2009-02-10T09:42:00.005-05:00

Last night the mama I was talking to was telling me about how engineers in TZ are not awarded for their hard work so most TZ people end up going into the arts and commerce as it is easier to study and they end up making more. There were more details to the talk, but I can't go into it here on my blog. Today afternoon some other woman was telling me the same thing and that she would like to change that, she would like to see more and more students go into science and engineering. And to that effect she would like the government to encourage this by creating more research opportunities and to encourage secondary students to go into math/science.

On that note I found these opportunities for higher learning institutions to get funds after talking to the mama about USAID, this is especially important here in TZ. The institute I work at might have a computer lab but here they have no where near the equipment that higher institutions of learning have in the States:

http://www.africa-initiative.org/

http://cit.aed.org/center.htm

http://hedprogram.org/

Ndiyo wasichana wanaweza!

2009-02-10T00:44:00.003-05:00

So on Monday no one showed up for running except the guy. He apologized and today morning 2 out of the 3 gals (these are the faster women runners at the institute) showed up! We ran about 8 kilometers and it was awesome! I really want to encourage them to keep it up and I really want us to run in Moshi next year. In TZ running is not the norm..it is not like Kenya or neighboring African countries. Women are not running here as there is some stigma with it..I haven't understood it though as it is not seen as a bad thing..just not done. So for that reason I want to encourage these gals to run for health and for competition. Although some of these gals run in jeans or shoes that are too tight. If anyone out there has any old running clothes or running shoes that they no longer use (as long as they aren't broken)..please send them my way! Let me know by email...I think there are flat rate boxes for $11 to send international stuff in. My address is to the right.

On another note, yesterday I invited my neighbor to my house and I cooked us Indian food. I plan on eating with her again tonight as she is staying alone like me (she is a mama..older than me) because her daughter is in boarding school. We had some interesting conversations..she is an electrical engineering lecturer at the school and she raised her children on her own (she has 2). She put her daughter in the best boarding school because she thinks if a girl goes to day school than they can get into trouble (lot of men chase after them)..so it is better for a gal to go to an all girls boarding school so there is no trouble. Like I said this woman is awesome and she is a modern woman. I seem to meet alot of them around where I live but it is not suprising because I teach at the institute.

There is another couple that I visit frequently both have PhDs with a strong woman in the family. The man is so funny because he complains that his wife is so busy working (she has a high position at the institute) that she doesn't have time to cook for him. But he is joking..of course, I can see that he loves her. :) And she doesn't put up with his joking, she is a strong woman and stands up for herself. At the same time he cooks or helps around the house sometimes when she is busy. They remind me of some people close to me in the States...

Pili Pili Sauce

2009-02-09T09:07:00.002-05:00

Another favorite of mine. Cut up an onion, a few cloves of garlic, and a small piece ginger. Fry the onions in oil till brown. Add ginger and garlic and fry till cooked. Add a tomato or unripe green mango (I use the unripe green mango for a different kick). When tomato or mango has cooked down add hot peppers to your desired liking. Squeeze a juice of one lemon. Cook for 5 more minutes. Your pili pili hot sauce is useable with all things now. Taste real good with rice and beans!

Pumpkin Leaves with Peanut Sauce

2009-02-09T08:39:00.003-05:00

So I really like this recipe and if you can get this at home try it out..it's a recipe here in TZ..but I think it applies to alot of countries in South/East Africa as they eat something similar. Usually you are supposed to grind peanuts but I just dissolve one tablespoon of chunky peanut butter in a cup of hot water (preferably the water you boil the pumpkin leaves in) since I don't have a blender. You need about 5 stalks of pumpkin leaves, 1 tomato, 1/2 an onion, and 1 Tbsp of peanut butter. Remove veins from pumpkin leaves and chop off any tough parts to the stem. Then cut the leaves in ribbons and finely chop the stems. Cover and boil it in water with salt for 5 mins. Drain the leaves. Reserve 1 cup of the liquid and mix with 1 Tbsp of peanut butter. Chop onions. Peel the tomato and chop. In a seperate pan fry the onions in oil when brown, add the tomatoes. When it begins to look like a sauce (tomatoes cook down), add the peanut liquid. Add salt to taste. Boil for a minute and add the pumpkin leaves. Boil until liquid is reduced. Serve with rice..yum!

Research

2009-02-09T02:32:00.001-05:00

This weekend I attended a workshop at my institute turns out they want to do more research here so they were talking about writing a proposal, coming up with an idea, collaboration, etc. At the end of the discussion it was our turn to come up with research topics that people were interested in. Some research topics were more like projects like getting a better road to the university (a civil engineering project), but some were very good like sustainable renewable energy...it seems everyone all over the globe is interested in this topic. Some other ones were more social in nature like preventing poverty, having a better infrastructure in Tanzania, preventing HIV/AIDS, etc. As I participated I realized I am not in a normal PC assignment: the people around me are all educated, they all are able to eat meat every night with their meal, they all have progressive thinking and optimism that they will succeed in life and that they can achieve higher goals, etc. In a way my assignment doesn't have the frustrations that most volunteers are facing but at the same time I have the little ones like things not getting done in time, things that are comitted to get done are not always executed, etc. I don't know whether to be happy or sad about this..in one aspect it would be nice to be able to have little and make a big change (though how realistic a big change would be is very uncertain..but at least a small change would be nice)..but in another it is nice to be here and to know that there is this side to TZ..that there exists people who have such thinking to want a better way of life and who are willing to execute in order to achieve their goals. And it is refreshing to see that the stereotype of Africa being undeveloped is not entirely true. If someone told me to live here for good, I probably could do it though I would miss my family back home.

Computer Club

2009-02-06T03:12:00.002-05:00

So yesterday I had my first computer club meeting which all the computer engineering students attended. In this meeting I taught them basic html some seemed to get the hang of it and some were slower but eventually caught on. I know I definitely need to slow down the pace of my English..especially when I am excited (in a good way)..when I teach I am excited so it tends to get too fast. I thought I would have problems with speaking in front of 50 kids but really I am very comfortable at doing this, I think part of the reason is that I am teaching not giving a boring presentation and they are all here with the intention of learning..or maybe because it is because I have authority as a teacher..I don't know what it is. Anyways I plan on teaching them Java Script next week. The computer engineering program is new at the institute so these are the first kids to graduate from this program. I will be there for their graduation. They will start learning computer programming as a class for their program next year but I am hoping in teaching them Java Script I can give them a head start in the basic constructs needed in programming (like control statements and variables). The culmination of all this is to have them start a student website for their computer engineering program. We will see where this takes us. For now they need to learn these concepts. I finally had to finish teaching because the electricity went off so with that they left.

On my way home the student who I befriended was so surprised that these computer engineering students actually wanted to attend this class even though it is not required for their program and he was surprised that I was teaching it (he thought I was working too hard). I told him I enjoy teaching but he now wants to learn this work ethic of mine (putting in effort and trying hard). He was surprised that I was not complaining or tired and I was happy to teach. Maybe I can teach students about work ethic by example. I do want to start teaching them a resume writing and interview skills workshop of sorts to help prepare them for getting jobs in the future.

Like I said many ideas..the nice thing about being here is that I can create and execute my ideas without having lots of red tape. As long as they don't require money I can do it, they just require time and I have lots of time to give.

Students Rule..well sorta

2009-02-04T09:34:00.003-05:00

So many new things to report. I found a friend in one of the students..too bad he is one of my students but definitely think that it is a good thing. It all started when my running partner who coaches the institute's athletes invited one of the students to go running with us. Well he invited one of the good runners..this boy is fast. It turned out he was the same kid who gave me Obama's speech in my class. Anyways a few days later the same kid wanted me to help out with the English debate club at school on Saturday night. Saturday morning I ran 10 miles with the kid..I totally was slowing him down but he wanted to run with me so I let him. I mentioned to him that I wanted to get some gals running and he said he would try and organize it. I went to their debate club..it was amazing to see students being able to articulate on some of these topics. That night the topic was is the English language a disadvantage to third world countries...or something to that effect. The points and logic that these kids were making were awesome and some of them are such good speakers. One guy in particular reminds me of a preacher..he could probably get a job as one. That night I saw these students in a new light..but I also know that teachers can't be friends..but can give guidance. I know how it feels to be a manager now, you can be chummy but you still have to do your job. Anyways the point on talking about the gals running is that he followed through on it. This week he came to my flat with 4 gals and said they would like to run. We'll see because we start next week. My hope is to either get them to do the Moshi Half Marathon next year or something similar..maybe our slogan can be "Ndiyo Tunaweza"..ha..

On the downside today I gave my first quiz and I caught students teaching. Yup I had to be tough and give them zeros. So this is the downside of being a teacher..just like if a manager caught their worker not being productive. It hurts to tell a student that I have to give them a zero because here they are desperate to get a good grade...but desperation can lead to cheating. And that I cannot tolerate. It probably feels just as bad to lay someone off because you know that they have a family and need the money but they just aren't productive. So yup today was a sad day. Another funny thing is students try to play on the fact that some teachers are lazy. I told them that they have homework due next week. Well they told me is it individual or group? And I said individual but they said to me well if you make it group you will have less papers to grade. And I just laughed at that and said I am not a lazy teacher..this is an individual assignment. Like I said I gotta be tough! But the day ended on a good note. On the upside again is that when a student understands programming it makes me so happy. Today some students got the hang of programming..though I have had to dumb it down for them but to see them get the simple concepts is great! I see the thrill in being a teacher as well as the hardships..and that of managing as well. But I guess all this boils down to ethics.

So let me now talk about ethics. On Saturday we had a teacher's meeting and we discussed the ethics of teaching. I guess some teachers here just give students grades without really marking papers and give easy tests so they can pass everyone. Well we finally got around to discussing the normal distribution curve. And how it is important to be fair not too easy and not too tough because we want students to decide to come to our school so they can learn not so they can just get a good grade. I see how colleges think now..Michigan would say we need to make our tests tough so that the smarter students come to our school..and people who just want to pass and be lazy don't..ha..I could see it because that is sorta how we were discussing things then. And the best part was this "students are our clients, without students wanting to come here teachers wouldn't have a job so we have to provide a good service to our customers..the students." :)

Stuff

2009-01-22T06:05:00.008-05:00

I taught full classes this week. Each of my four classes has about 50 students each and it is using a computer lab (the new one). So I taught them basic algorithm development and design..hoping to start teaching them C next week. One of the students printed out Obama's speech and gave it to me..lots of them asked me if I had seen the inauguration. The reason for the late arrival of students last week was due to them having to pay school fees, getting back from Xmas break, and orientations. But schedules here never seem to work.

A case in point: One mama asked me to come over because she was going to teach me to make pumpkin leaves (the various greens here are awesome..luckily I love to eat greens) with peanut sauce..it is real yummy. So I came by her house at time she told me to come and her husband told me that she attends church and won't come home for another hour. So I talked to him about various things, he had taped Obama's inauguration on the VCR because he was at work late (he's one of the school's accountants)so he was watching that. When I told him I did not have a TV he was so surprised. Most TZ peeps here think news is very important and they place a high importance on TV and radio. So he told me that I must get one. Also, he told me that "Africans don't always come when they say they are going to come." Luckily I expected that but some of the people in my apt complex actually are on time so I did not want to assume. She did come eventually and we made the dish..it was wonderful..and we watched the inauguration (I watched it again). I wonder what you all did as I got to watch it live since it was morning in the US when it was night here. Did you all get time off work to watch it or did you all watch it when you got home from work?

Also that same mama saw me in pants and she smiled and complimented me by telling me I am fat. :) See if one heard that in America one would be taken aback but here in TZ it means you have some curves.

On another note today is the first day I saw a lawnmower here in TZ (I saw it at the institute I teach at). They do most of their grass cutting by hand with a machete..it is alot of work and requires alot of people to get it done. It is good to smell the scent of freshly mowed grass. :)

Inauguration

2009-01-21T04:10:00.002-05:00

So yesterday I watched the inauguration with other TZs. It was nice that my neighbor actually called me to remind me about it. We watched it live on CNN (most of the people around me have satellite dishes). Some interesting questions were asked about him..mostly involving his race and about what does the word black mean in America. Some questions I did not know how to answer, but it is interesting to known an African perspective or two about the meaning of race. Besides that it was awesome to see his speech..he really does speak well. And his point on making harmony with other countries instead of trying to change them really hits home..especially being in the Peace Corps we are not trying to change cultures but trying to work with them. And that is what America can do in order to work effectively with other countries in this world.

Peke Yangu

2009-01-17T03:56:00.003-05:00

I am teaching alone, no co-teacher! I am so happy now..I do not have to coordinate with anyone else and I have sole control over the class. Also I now have 8 hours instead of 4 hours of teaching..so I will actually be a bit busy. I suggested it to the person who was supposed to teach with me and he was alright with it. :) Thankfully.

Touring the World

2009-01-17T02:16:00.004-05:00

"Athletes (runners) get to tour, that is the right word yes, tour? They get to tour the world and see places that others who don't run get to see.", said the man I run with to me. We did tour the world alright. Today I saw places that were so beautiful that I did not know existed near me. We definitely ran through some mtns but we started on a paved road running from the institute to Mbalizi and then we went through the beautiful terrain on our way back. We ran a little less than 20 KM (sadly I forget to put on my Garmin GPS) starting at 6:15 AM this morning..the most I have run since Labor Day..but we did so in tough terrain...like terrain I would hike up not run up..but he was inspiring just keeping on running while all I felt like doing was walking. To my credit, I ran most of the time, just a few little spots I walked on.

He also said to me when we finished, "I have never seen a woman like you. Most women can only run a few kilometers and then they start complaining. You could actually run with me without complaining.". Ha..I am nothing..he should definitely see the thousands of runners in the States that do marathons..I am so slow..but I hope to get better. I certainly will get better as here I run at altitude and in mountainous terrain. I think I am more of a social runner when it comes to training, I need someone to run with, to keep me company though I will get competitive with myself during races. He has it in his head that he can train me to compete in some games that the workers here participate in that is put on by the ministry called VETA games..I am not sure if I am allowed to participate as even though I work here I am a volunteer not a TZ resident (at least not yet)..but we'll see. I am totally up to training but I am not sure about this competing thing. He also thinks that because I am a woman and I can run such distance without complaining that I can inspire the woman at this institute to run too. We'll also see about that one. But for now I can just keep on running..it's what makes me feel like I am strong and can conquer anything.

Education is Power

2009-01-17T02:08:00.003-05:00

I really like this teaching thing. On Friday I taught that person's class again because it happens twice a week and the person was sick. The students really are interested to learn unlike the classes I am teaching, I think it is due to the fact that these are actually computer engineering students vs the others who are everything but computer students. I have never known students to actually want to be taught and that is refreshing. They asked me to keep the lab open a little bit after class so I did and they asked me if I was there teacher, sadly I am not, and if I would be teaching them any other subject (this year I am not).

On another note, I am a little frustrated at the class scheduling situation here so we are going to try and create a scheduler program here at the institute using PHP and MySQL..when something is broke instead of complaining you should see a way to fix it..so that is what we are going to do..or at least I will try to do. Teachers only teach one or two classes a week leaving their time to do other things..this is one project I will undertake. And another one I was thinking about last night was to take over the school website and make a webpage club to teach students who are interested how to make a webpage and then get them to update the school website. This is just an idea right now it will probably come to fruitation in a few weeks when I am ready, I was inspired by the fact that these students actually want to learn. And of course everyone is interested in the web. Another thing I hope to do is get more females involved with running and engineering..of course that is going to take a bit of time. Maybe create a SWE like thing here? We'll see. I am probably too ambitious..but ambition is good it leads way to new ideas sometimes.

Ninaweza kukimbia tena!

2009-01-15T01:32:00.002-05:00

I found someone to run with! You know that sports program I was talking about? Well the man asked me why I wasn't there last week. I told him I was but no one was there..well apparently everyone came..but an hour late! So on Tuesday I showed up at 4:30 PM. We ran around the make shift track (it is basically a path around a field) around the soccer field. And then we did some stretches and short drills. Then I was introduced to this 56 year old TZ man who runs everyday, he lives in the flats like I do. He is the head sports tutor here at the institute. So today I met him at 6 AM in the morning and he ran with me and showed me a route that goes through the back of the school. It is absolutely beautiful and I probably wouldn't have known it existed on my own as it is not near the area I usually go for the market. Also it is good for the knees, somewhat like a trail run but at the same time more packed dirt than a normal trail. There were some short blips (hills) to spice things up. So now I am going to proceed to run with him kila siku (every day). Tomorrow I will bring my Garmin GPS to measure the route, it works here (well at least it did in Morogoro)! We saw his son running too..he definitely looks like a runner..he is a student at school here. I am excited for my new running partner. And I am thinking of taking up soccer...what do you think?

Now some totally unrelated stuff: People here like to get up really early..like 7 AM on weekends! But luckily I am a morning person so I am adapting well. And people like to be real late to things..hopefully it is not a habit I will carry over with me. But things are changing as some people actually are on time but they tend to be the ones who have studied abroad. I found out also that teachers that stay here get a half acre plot to plant whatever they want! No wonder I always see them going to their shambas (farms)! Too bad planting season is starting to end or so they say. Yesterday I found out the TZ gal that I like to hang out with is back from Dar..so I went over her place. She is 25 years old and she quit school young because she was pregnant with her child but she is going back to school. Her kid is the cutest thing! And I love the gal..she is so awesome with her sense of humor and jokes..she is definitely what I call spicy. :) My type of gal..totally..strong minded and independent..

Darasa..Class.

2009-01-15T01:02:00.005-05:00

So today is the middle of the week but I thought I would write so that I would not forget as I have finished teaching for the week. Yesterday I taught my first class, there were only a few students so I did a basic introduction to the class. I can't wait to actually get to the meat of the stuff but before I do that I must install the GNU compiler on the new computers. Also I found out that I will have a co-teacher teaching the class with me. He is going to take 2 sections and I will take 2 sections but the bad part is the coordination. Also, we have a new head of department..well you know Corporate America and the meetings we always have..apparently over here they like to have their meetings as well..sometimes at the expense of teaching students! The strangest thing happened yesterday. My co-teacher was supposed to teach the class we taught, but the head told him tell the students to wait because I want to hold our department meeting. I was so surprised! I would have went ahead and taught the class..how can students learn if the teacher won't be teaching..but alas we had our meeting. The meeting was about organization of our dept since it is a new course (which means new subject) here at the institute and about keeping our computer lab open all the time. No one wanted to be the one to keep it open all the time because students tend to steal here in TZ. We don't have this problem as frequently in the States as they do here but that is because we have cameras and alarms, here we replace machines with people (for alot of things). Today one of the teachers was sick and he was supposed to teach at 7:30 AM. I was the lucky one who was here early so the students came up to me and asked me if I would teach their class. I had no idea what I was going to teach but then I remembered this was one of those classes I thought I was going to teach and I had slides prepared just for the introduction...luckily I didn't delete them! So basically I taught this class at the seat of my pants and it was about databases. So I went over the basic concepts (field, record, etc) and then told them to open up Access to play with the sample database a bit. This bit of teaching got me excited for databases! :) I am supposed to work on a database using PHP and yadda yadda to help the school keep track of salaries so in addition to teaching this is something else I have as a project. Yet no more information on this as of yet. I do want to start. And we are supposed to plan an ICT (info communication technology) conference..another thing in the works..we'll see what happens with it. But the real key phrase here is "Be Free".

Za wiki iliyopita?

2009-01-12T01:19:00.000-05:00

Lots of things happened this past week. First a professor died so I went over his wife's house with some other TZ peeps from school. After we said our condolensces, we sat in a room full of people (mostly women) who were sharing the sorrow with the wife. Many of them were crying but I could not cry as I did not know the guy but I definitely felt sad for the guy. Unfortunately he was working on his PhD and he died only a few months before finishing at the young age of 40! Pole sana!! :( Some of them also sang some worship songs and I could understand some of the lyrics with the little Swahili I know. School started but students did not show up since they don't usually the first week of school. I asked one of the professors about this and he said that it is because most students are trying to find school fees or are still with parents during the holiday break. Very odd because in the States everyone would be there for the first week of school, but here in TZ things never happen on time so it makes sense that even though it started no one was there. BTW officially I am called a lecturer here not a teacher so I guess my title changed a bit. I went to the post office to get packages from people. Thanks for sending stuff! It is a interesting process here. First I had to go to the post office and pay a fee, then I had to go to customs to open the package and pay a fee. Apparently you don't have to pay a customs fee if you are receiving computers and books. Computers here are very expensive to buy here BTW. Much cheaper in the States but it is because of import/export fees. Next they are starting a sports program at school for teachers but no one showed up but me and the KOICA volunteer. So I just ran with the little neighbor kid and it was fun..he totally beat me! I am not going to do the Kili half marathon this year because of school teaching and other things...going to try for next year. Finally I had a fellow PCV visitor so along with the KOICA volunteers we made brownies and spinach ravioli from scratch! While watching Mama Mia we concoted the brownie dance..'cause brownies are yummy in our tummy! Today is Zanzibar Revolution Day so there is no school. BTW the best time to visit is in January for airline ticket prices and it is very warm here (well not where I am, where I am it gets in the high 70s at most), not yet the rainy season though we still get the occasional rain. Kwa heri! Tutaonana baadaye!

Thoughts on teaching...

2009-01-05T06:29:00.002-05:00

Last week I spent most of it trying to figure out what I will be teaching as most things here things happen slowly, but I am getting used to it. Initially I thought I was teaching MS Access and stuff like that, but now it turns out I am teaching C programming to non-computer major students. So I had to change my slides and had to find out the schedule, which I had to rearrange because I have 150 students! I changed it from 2 hours of teaching a week to 8 hours of teaching a week (4 periods vs 1). I hope that will be more manageable as the computer lab is limited in space. They do not break things up into sections here they just have a class and have 3-4 people share a computer, so I made sure that at least in my class they will only have 2 people sharing at most. The funny part is that I am supposed to start teaching this week, yet I had no idea of what I was teaching or of the schedule till last week (most of them didn't have a clue to the schedule either). And I love the name time table master..sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel..basically they are the teachers in charge of making the schedule for the coming semester. My goal is to become time table master for next semester as you know me and my love of making schedules! Here at the institute it is definitely different than college in the States where everything is planned out beforehand. And the schedule can still change till the 2nd week of class!

My goal is to be a tough teacher by giving them lots of homework and quizzes, but at the same time I think tough will help them because in the end I hope that they will pass the final exam. And I hope they will get good jobs..they may hate me during the semester but they will thank me at the end. Can you imagine me being tough? I sure can and if you know me well enough you could too. :)

A word on optimism. Talking to another teacher they told me that the new computer lab (50 students can fit in at a time) should be ready by the beginning of the semester, I told them I don't think so (knowing how things here and elsewhere, like the USA, work). They told me to be optimistic, I told them I am realistic. :) If you think of it if you become too optimistic than you will be pessimistic later in life because nothing will happen on time, it is better to be realistic..a nice middle ground. Of course I didn't explain all of that to them. And right now I am pleasantly surprised the computer lab is not quite ready but I think it should be ready in less than a month which is less time than I was realistically expecting..alright MIST! Unlike schools in the States where they get discounts for computer equipment, here in TZ the vendors charge more to schools and govt because they know they can get their business. I think that really sucks but oh well..such is life.

Can you tell I am excited to teach? This has been a huge research project for me trying to plan out how I am going to execute the topics, come up with programming assignments, and the schedule. Totally my niche as I feel so creative now.

Heri ya mwaka mpya! Happy new year!

2009-01-05T06:07:00.004-05:00

My first post of the new year, it better be special right? Ha. I don't care. Anyways can you believe by the end of next year (2010) I will be out of here? I can't..it is going by too fast. I am loving it here so far, who knows what my future holds.
For New Years I went to Tukuyu to visit some PC volunteers, the fellow KOICA (Korean) volunteer came with me too. Tukuyu is 2 hours south by coaster (public bus)and is where the majority of the Nyakusa tribe live in TZ. So I learned a few words in Kinyakusa which is their language, luckily the folks at the Ikuti soko speak that language too so it is very helpful to know. I only know basic greetings (like 5 words) but it is enough to get people smiling and happy that I know anything of their language. It is very green in Tuk but it rains alot so that is why.
On the Eve we baked various American things but on New Years Day we walked down to the Kaparogwe Falls..very beautiful walk with plenty of banana trees and lush vegetation along the way. On our way back we just missed the pouring rain. I also got to see my fellow volunteer's cute kittens..it was a great weekend overall. And along the way back I got 3 pineapples for a dollar in Kiwira! :)

Sikukuu (Holiday)

2008-12-27T03:52:00.005-05:00

Happy Holidays folks! You know it's Xmas here when you smell pilau (spiced rice dish) spices from the jirani (neighbors). It is a food made here during the holidays. As I walked out of my flat to buy maziwa (milk) from the soko (market). The smell hit me in the face..in a good way. And as I walked I asked people Habari za Xmas? Which means literally news of Xmas..or how is Xmas. And prices for things go up here during Xmas instead of the sales that you get in the US. But I was still your happy little volunteer feeding my fellow jirani cookies and cakes (it was mango bread made with pilau spices). A few days prior some volunteers came over my place and we cooked lasagna and mango crisp (mangos are real cheap..5-10 cents each here..yup be real jealous..pineapples are 50 cents) on a kerosene jiko (stove) as there was no umeme (electricity). But do not be too jealous of the awesome fruit prices, as making lasagna here is a major feat in itself. It requires making ricotta cheese from scratch (boil milk and add lemon juice), making noodles from scratch(yummy in my tummy), and making the sauce from scratch. The only thing we had to buy was grated cheese (which almost tasted like the ricotta we made). We also went over the home of a Canadian gal who runs an NGO out here in Mbeya for a mini Xmas party complete with Secret Santa exchange. But umeme has returned and with that a volunteer who is from Korea whom I have been hanging out with. I also have met an awesome TZ gal who lives in the flats next to mine. We had some pretty interesting conversations about poor in TZ vs poor in US. Which is a foreshadow into my next topic about an interesting book I am reading which I received from a local PCV during a book swap called the Working Poor by David Shipler..about poor in America. It is interesting as they make comparisons about how poor kids in other countries can play with a tire for fun or other creative toys like taking bottles to a stick and adding wheels (which yes I have seen here in TZ) and us in America we need our Barbie dolls and Hotwheels no matter the income bracket. I am still reading the book but it shows that it is harder to be poor in America as most people live beyond their means in the States and most people have things (like cool toys, cable TV, etc) which in other countries they don't have these things even if they are middle class. Also that there are poor in America and that working hard does not necessarily mean that you get alot of money. Though being in TZ, at least I appreciate the fact that the US govt tries to help poor people with some assistance programs, they don't over here or if they do I don't see it. Anyways I am not done reading the book yet so I may be a bit premature in my assumptions as to the point of the book..but it is written really well. I do recommend it. I am going down to Tukuyu in Mbeya region for New Years Eve..till then have a great rest of the year!

Za leo?

2008-12-15T02:06:00.001-05:00

Greetings are so important here. Most are surprised when I start talking to them and some of them don't answer back because they are surprised. A funny thing happened on the way to the market. I was walking with another Tanzanian and I said shikamoo to an old lady. She didn't respond so the Tanzania told her I said shikamoo..she looked up in surprise..because I knew that word. Yesterday on my way back from town I had many conversations along the way back home. Most of them ask where I am from and where I am teaching. The best conversation was when the security guards at the college started talking to me and trying to teach me Swahili. It was funny because the stuff they were teaching me I already knew but I tried to appease them by listening and pretending that I was learning from them. At the same time it can be time consuming to greet when you have to get somewhere fast. I feel impolite if I don't say hi because in this culture it is the thing to do..to say hi. Or when I need to get an answer fast, then I also have to take time to greet even though I want to ask a question and get a reply immediately. A totally unrelated market incident. I walked into mud so my feet were dirty. At the dala stop the woman selling fruit were so ashamed for me that they wanted to give me water to clean my feet so they offered me water that the fruit was in to wash my feet. It was a funny experience..you had to be there. Such sweet ladies. :)

The Stash..Viungo..

2008-12-15T01:50:00.003-05:00

I found the stash..of viungo. Indian spices to be exact. If you are in Mbeya and want to know..let me know. :) I can buy toor dahl, dosa mix, etc. I am so happy..I don't have to make a trip to Morogoro or Dar to get these things. Of course finding Italian spices like basil still remains a chore. :) And I also found the Hindu temple here! An affair that is much smaller than that in Morogoro..and I thought Morogoro's temple was small.

Tools of the Trade

2008-12-12T02:06:00.003-05:00

The man said to me, "Americans use machines for everything, in Tanzania we don't have them so things take longer". As I sat there amazed as the fundi (contractor) tried to drill a hole into cement with a hole punch (it is basically a tool that you pound a hammer on to make a hole), I found that we take drills for granted..well alot of things for granted. The simple act of washing clothes can take hours here since we do them by hand and in the States we just throw them in the machine and they are done. Why don't they use machines here? For one machines are expensive and secondly umeme (electricity) is expensive as well. So not using machines for things makes creativity important here. How can you get the job done without tools you used to rely on? Makes you think a little bit...at least for some things.

Project Engineering 101

2008-12-12T01:59:00.002-05:00

I bet some heads perked up at this title. Yup..I am using stuff I learned in project engineering here. So what kind of things? Making sure things get done and on time, people meet commitments, they are enough resources and tools to get the job done, etc. Here in TZ they say sasa hivi which means right now..but really it is not right now as we Americans think of it, right now could mean 30 minutes to an hour later. The culture differs and the pace is different. Unfortunately I still have the American view of time as being important, but I hope to change that to adjust with life here. To learn patience and to slow down a bit..which is one of the reasons I am here out of many.

Whack on the head...

2008-12-10T05:04:00.001-05:00

I do realize now that many things that I used to think are important or not so important. Priorities have shifted a bit..I have gained perspective. I know now that I can live simply and be happy. We want alot but we can live on what we have...which is common sense but sometimes we need a good whack on the head to realize that it is true. And this I have learned from umeme..the whack on my head so to speak. :)

The return of Umeme

2008-12-10T04:53:00.002-05:00

So umeme (electricity) has return to my humble abode in TZ. Humble is not really a good description as my abode rocks. I spent Independence Day and Eid going to the local market in Ikuti, talking to the bibis (grandmas) at the sokoni (market), visiting jirani (neighbors) in my flat complex, learning Swahili, and visiting a co-worker's home. Most of the teachers here have gone to mark exams so I am left here all by my lonesome. I found that Ikuti has nice cheap produce but for alot of produce the markets in Uyole is much bigger and cheaper. Parachichis (avocados) are cheap here but nazi (coconuts) are expensive compared to Morogoro.

My new address

2008-12-05T05:45:00.002-05:00

This is the school address but I can receive mail here, please start sending mail here:

Anita Ramamurthy, Peace Corps Volunteer
MIST
P.O. Box 131
Mbeya, Tanzania
Via Air Mail

Remember to keep the weight to under 4 lbs and use padded envelopes..the smaller the package the better..no custom fees!

Why I haven't yet communicated...

2008-12-05T05:37:00.001-05:00

Went to Dar and walked around. Saw the Hindu temple there as well as the Indian district. Spent Thanksgiving dinner eating Lebanese food in Dar..had a good falafel! Next day took the long bus ride (12 hours) to Mbeya and arrived to no mattresses in my new home. Instead I got to stay at a safi hotel for the night called Paradise. Next day went shopping in town for some things and then met another volunteer who lives nearby for a Thanksgiving dinner. We didn't have power in all of the Southern Highlands (Mbeya had not had power for a week!) and all of a sudden the power came on...we had alot to be thankful for on a belated Thanksgiving day. Had a tour of the place where I work met some PhD's in engineering. Everyone is so nice and friendly, hope it stays that way. Living here has a nice feel with the kids playing outside and the mountain view from my new flat. I will post pics up as soon as I get more furniture. :)

Now there is no power again. It is amazing how much you can do with no power- we won't get power back for a whole month (a transformer is down and it affects the whole Mbeya region) which means I have to have help carrying water up 3 flights of stairs, I use candles during the night time, and that I use a kerosene stove for cooking. We have a generator at school so I have a place to charge my cell phone and very rarely use the internet. The staff that I work with is amazing full of such smart people and the families of the apt complex have been taking care of me. They really want to let kids from neighboring schools tour the facility to encourage them to grow up to be engineers. I really enjoy everyone I work with so far. There is the most amazing mama there who is full of life..she is like a mother to me already. And 2 16 year old girls who have become my friends. People here seem to have two jobs..the farm and their present job as teachers. Nearby there is mchicha and matembele growing (2 types of greens which people here eat). They have given me furniture to use and I wake up each day with the beautiful view sipping chai. Tanzania has an independence day on the 9th of Dec. So I will return back to school on the 10th. Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season. We all have alot to be thankful for. Kwa heri.

PCV- It's official...

2008-11-26T09:48:00.003-05:00

So we are officially PCVs. These past few days consisted of leaving our homestay families, getting ready for swearing in today, and meeting our headmasters of school. Leaving our families was sad. I can say at least for me it was really like leaving a mother. :) I will try and keep in touch though.

The next part was meeting our headmasters. I met my head of department (computer department), as my school is pretty large. He seems like a cool guy and I am excited about teaching and living in Mbeya. We will be traveling together from Dar to Mbeya tomorrow.

Then we have swear in which to the families was graduation of sorts. Some volunteers put on a rocking skit which we all took part in. Then another volunteer said a thank you to the families in Kiswahili which I thought he did well at. We also had speeches from various officials. It felt long as the room was hot but it was like a typical graduation type thing.

The cool part was that the swear in oath we stated is the same oath that our new president will state when he comes into office. Apparently it's the same oath that military personnel and foreign officers state when representing our government.

Overall it was good to see our families and finally feel closure with the first chapter in our PCV experience. Looking forward the next one! Kwa heri till I am in Mbeya. You can check for swear in pictures, in the Swear In folder at: Swear In Pictures

Bustani kwa miasha bora..garden for a better life

2008-11-21T10:03:00.007-05:00

Today we learned about permaculture and how we can develop gardens in our communities as a way of making a sustainable food source. It was an interesting topic as the guy who taught it was very passionate about it. I definitely learned alot and feel ashamed of my paltry little tomatoes plants that somehow grew in the Northeast with my obvious lack of knowledge on what the heck I was doing. We learned about double digging, creating a bed, and how to space out seedlings..to make a garden with only a jembe (hoe) as a tool! We also learned how to create a compost pile. I hope to have a garden at my site..that is if I actually have land. On another note pretty soon mango season will hit us over the head..it's in December! And one more note..kiti moto (translates to hot seat) is the term for pork here, because if you eat pork and you are Islamic you will be in the hot seat. On my way to school here I passed an interesting sign..Pata Kiti Moto Kwa Afya..get pork for health. I don't know what to think of that being the vegetarian that I am, but I did take a picture of it.

Shadow and Site Annoucements

2008-11-20T10:07:00.003-05:00

Thanks for the bday wishes! I got them. :)

I spent the last week shadowing a fellow PCV in the Pare Mtns and then going to Dar for Site Annoucements. The Pare Mtns site is absolutely beautiful and the work she does is awesome. Her students are real smart as they are Form 5 and 6ers. I can definitely see the difference between them and the Form 1-4er's we taught in Morogoro. Her secondary project that week was to get the students HIV tested as HIV/AIDS is a problem in TZ- they call it UKIMWI over here. Later we met up with some other PCTs and PCVs to go hiking near a waterfall and to see another PCV's site. Then we headed out to Moshi to eat some Italian food, go dancing, and to catch the bus the next day to Dar. We stayed at Backpacker's Hostel in Moshi which was pretty clean and had real showers that were hot! :) My first hot shower in TZ, boy did it feel good.

For Site Annoucements: We had dinner in Dar and celebrated two bdays. Then the next day we had site annoucements. I am going to Mbeya to teach computers at a higher institution of learning (like a college). In case you didn't know Mbeya is in the Southern Highlands area of TZ so that means mountains! I am excited! And apparently there is lots of fruits and veggies there. Yummy. But it is similar to Seattle weather right now: rainy. Half the year is a very cold, dry season and half of it is rainy and less cold but overall it's much cooler than most of TZ. It can get to zero Celsius there! I would say about half our training group will be living in Southern TZ. After site annoucements we had a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at one of the staff member's house in Dar. It was absolutely beautiful house..I felt like I was in the US again.

On another tangent or two:

It is funny to finally meet people's whose blogs I have read before coming out here. It is interesting to finally meet the people behind the writing, some are different in personality than I expected and some are similar. It makes me wonder will the reverse happen when new trainees come next year?

Learning Swahili I find that a few things may carry over when I come back to the States like pole instead of sorry. Bei when someone calls my name. Haya when I want to say ok or when I want to end the conversation.

And here are some pics from shadow/site annoucement week:

Shadow Week Pictures

Piga Picha

2008-11-10T13:40:00.003-05:00

Some photos of my time so far in TZ:

PC Tanzania Training Photos

Visiting other regions..safari njema..

2008-11-08T09:06:00.006-05:00

The time is passing and slowly we will be off to our respective sites on Thanksgiving day. The beginning of next week is our final language exams so wish us luck. More ongoings of Morogoro include finally trying out Mama Pierna's which is an Italian Greek restaurant. I tried the pesto there and it is fantastic.

Also we visited local NGO's, one that we visited was Chadoye which uses traditional dancing and drumming to talk about HIV prevention and life skills here in Tanzania. It was interesting to visit and we got to dance to the drums at the end. Apparently they are having a performance on Tuesday and some of us are planning to go. We have secondary projects here besides teaching that we will implement, which include talking about life skills and HIV prevention as it can be a problem here at a young age (whether young gals sleeping with teachers/villagers because they are poor and need money or female circumcision). Also there are various other secondary projects to implement which include: helping villagers generate income, girls empowerment, building a library, etc. We learned how to do a Needs Assessment to find out what the community wants and needs which was interesting to learn how to do. I think this will be very useful at site and I hope to focus on girls empowerment, as women here do all the chores and end up being the ones that drop out of school.

After the exams next week, I will be traveling with another fellow trainee, he is also from Michigan. We will be going to the Kili region to shadow another education volunteer. Our first long distance trip on local transport in Tanzania..I am excited! Though I will definitely hate the sitting on a bus part. After that we are going to Dar (we will be there during my bday) for site announcements. All the possible places for the ICT volunteers (there are only 3 of us) seem great to me, I have no preference of one over the other, they will either be in Southern or Central Tanzania. We will also have a early Thanksgiving dinner while in Dar which will be nice considering we go to site during real Thanksgiving and will not be with the rest of the group.

Shinda

2008-11-05T07:09:00.002-05:00

Obama has won! All around Tanzania today we were hearing people happy about Obama's victory as we walked through the market, when riding on the daladala, and when we visited the fundi who makes our clothes. For those who think that he has no ties with his family back in Kenya, do not think that way. It is a collectivist culture here and family is very important no matter any issues that one has. Therefore, the people of East Africa associate with this new president elect.

We were at the local expat hotel at 6 AM in the morning and we saw Obama's speech as well as McCain's. We noticed for once the headlines around the world were cheering at our new president elect. This is an important time in our country's history, Obama represents for many the ideals of America and of course it comes at a time when this nation's economy is how it is. I feel Obama has alot of work to do in his presidency, and I hope he can fulfill those shoes. I am sure he can. I wish him good luck.

Election Day

2008-11-04T00:06:00.007-05:00

Walking around Tanzania you see lots of support for Barack. In case you didn't know his name means blessing in Swahili. Apparently his baba is from Kenya, his bibi lives there now, and they will have a party in the town where his father was from if he wins. I don't know if this is true..this is all heresay. It's amazing the support here and the fact that lots of Tanzanians know about American politics..though them knowing is not so odd..most countries know what happens in America. Lots of the people here hope Obama wins but at the same time don't think he will because he is black. I hope the American people can prove them wrong. I tell them it doesn't have to do with what color he is, it is the issues that are important. Here is an example of support for him that we saw walking around Morogoro:

On that note: Please vote today..no matter your choice as I am sure I have friends who's choice differs from my own..it is important. I voted by absentee from Tanzania. Tomorrow the people in our trainee group are getting up at 6 AM in the morning to watch the election results here in Morogoro. We are aware that Daylight Savings time has happened in the States. And here is a picture of the beautiful surroundings of the town of Morogoro just to invoke peace:

Halloween

2008-11-03T23:53:00.004-05:00

So we sorta celebrated Halloween. I definitely didn't get into the spirit as I usually do..I do miss carving pumpkins. A few others made interesting costumes using their creativitiy. Some interesting observations here: The word tako means butt..so we can't say we eat tacos..otherwise we get people laughing at us. Also it's really interesting the amount of used clothing you see here. I see Michigan t-shirts on people who have no idea what Michigan is. :)

Next week we get to visit local NGO's that will be fun! I signed up to visit a NGO that focuses on teaching children about health issues using traditional methods like song and dance. I am pretty excited to visit.

This weekend people from my group came over and we made American food. Like guacamole, pico de gallo, chips, pizza (5 types including roasted garlic and eggplant), and real chocolate chip cookies! Apparently you can make chocolate chip cookies without brown sugar they came out alright...a little moist. The sugar here in TZ is similar to the Sugar in the Raw in the States. 2 more weeks till we find out where we'll be in Tanzania for the rest of our 2 years!

Msimu

2008-10-29T09:59:00.001-04:00

BTW..right now is the season of short rains. When the rain hits during this time it hits hard. But when there is no rain it is absolutely beautiful outside. I heard that the Northeast got hit by a big storm..how weird. And it's already Halloween in the States? That is amazing..I would never know.

Hakuna Umeme..

2008-10-29T09:37:00.003-04:00

What if there was no electricity? Well I can tell you the things I have done with no electricity. One day we made sambusas which are similar to Indian samosas. I can officially say that I know how to make them. We made them with potato and pea filling. And the trick to the dough is to add oil which is similar to chapati dough except uses white flour. Then we fried them on a charcoal stove. So for those of you who actually do visit me..let's make them! You definitely need to do this one with someone else. Sorta like making dumplings. There is a Tanzanian woman next door who was married to an Indian guy. She taught me how to make them..next I want to learn how to make alu parathas.

The other thing I just did the other day without electricity was teach computers. How? Well I taught computer theory. It wasn't too hard. Explain about the different parts of a computer and point to them. And then give them definitions of different security issues. Thursday will be my last day internship teaching. And then in a few weeks (3 to be exact) we will be at our sites. Scary prospect, huh?

This weekend some volunteers may come over for dinner. We'll be making American food with electricity hopefully using my mama's oven. Chocolate chip cookies, chips and guac and the American favorite pizza (with mozzerella cheese..sorta fake stuff).

On a random note as I was walking home from school I saw two guys hold hands. I would never see that in America but here all it implies is friendship. If only there was no stigma attached to a simple act.

Oasis..

2008-10-29T08:47:00.000-04:00

So this week has been a week of changes. In that change we went to Oasis Hotel for dinner. This was my first experience of Indian food in Tanzania and I can tell you that it was good. The malai kofta was alright but the palak paneer here was fabulous. The best part of it all was that when I said I wanted spicy they made it spicy. :) And I had garlic naan..yum. As we walked home there was fireworks for Diwali. On our way to Oasis we had a funny daladala ride with a old Tanzanian man who was just talking random stuff..maybe a bit crazy..but it was fun. :)

Elections

2008-10-24T21:54:00.000-04:00

As I am slowly learning a little bit about the Tanzanian system of things, I must tell you guys about the most important thing. I finally got my absentee ballot! The funny thing was it came in a Priority Mail envelope..as if that means anything here in TZ..ha ha. :) I mailed it immediately upon arrival..it costs $3.50..3500 shillings..so the guy I voted for must win! Just kidding. I discussed the elections with my mama's friend who is very well educated. He is a Tanzanian man who used to be general manager for a telecommunications company in TZ. He spent 8 months in Japan which is awesome. That was the first deep conversation I have had while coming here..it felt great. :)

Mwalimu

2008-10-22T09:45:00.003-04:00

That is what I soon will be after training and as I am interning as a teacher I am amazed at how they learn with so little resources. The computer lab at the secondary school is made up of Windows 95, computers with differing keyboards (German, US, etc) which can be confusing for the students, and 300 MB hard disk space. It made me realize how far technology has gotten since then and how far behind it is in that school. Yet at the same time I know that just because it’s Windows 95 doesn’t mean that it is any worse than Vista. Every form (it’s like grade in the States) is learning the same thing like what is a computer, what is a mouse, etc since the school just got computers. Even though it would be more fun for me to teach programming, these basic things are essential as most Tanzanian families do not own computers. If they do have exposure to computers most likely it would be in the internet cafes in town. The States doesn’t have internet cafes like they do here because most families own computers or can access computers through public resources like libraries. The only problem is they don't understand how to type or what is meant by a right click of the mouse. The syllabus instead focuses on definitions. They first need to learn typing and using a computer. The school we are student teaching it isn't taking the national exams yet. I think they may start to take them next year.

Teaching is going ok but at the same time frustrating. We have 40 minute periods only once or twice a week. I definitely have to slow down my English but that is alright with me. Though sometimes students understand the concept but just don't talk because they are shy (which I can totally relate to). When I see a student get a concept they didn't originally understand it makes me so happy. We end our teaching next week. We are currently teaching Excel in Form 2 and teaching why technology is important in the real world in Form 3 for O levels. I think I like teaching, but I do miss programming. Maybe I will create a program to teach typing in my spare time..who knows. We'll see.

On other note: I can't wait for pineapple and mango season in December! I will be buying them frequently when I get to site. :) If they are available. Also my favorite soda is Tangawizi..a ginger soda that when you breathe in while drinking makes you cough..potent like wasabi. We also just had our mid exams this past Friday. :) I know I probably did better on the writing than on the oral, but that is life. :) We changed language teachers as well. We got write in ballots so I am definitely voting yet I haven't received my absentee ballot from Michigan. And Diwali will be the end of this month. And I got a dress made here with the local kitenge fabric. It is a wrap style top, a head scraf, and a pencil skirt with a flared bottom. I think it's pretty cute, new clothes just in time for Diwali! And on that note, the Hindu temple in town is having fireworks so I might go for that. Apparently there is an alright Indian restaurant in town which I will have to check out sometime as well, it's called Oasis. Some of the volunteers have already checked it out. We will find out where we are going to be posted near my bday (Nov 18th) in Dar. So I will finally be 28 then! Finding out where my site is will be a bday present for me! :)

My name is a wimbo in Tanzania...

2008-10-17T23:19:00.005-04:00

Two interesting things about names. My American mother's name is uma, in swahili that means fork. :)

Another interesting thing. Apparently there is a really popular Tanzanian Bongo Flava song called Anita by Matonya. It was real popular last year for a few months which explains why people's eyes light up over here when I tell them my name. So thank you mom and dad for calling me Anita...just kidding. The song is about a husband telling his wife (named Anita) to come back home (she's staying at her parent's place). Apparently she leaves to her parent's place after learning that he is cheating on her from other people. In the song he says I would never cheat on you, all those other people are lying and I only want to be with you. It's basically a love song with an interesting beat.

Here is a link to the video if you want to watch, unfortunately I can't as the network is to slow here so tell me what you think as I have no idea what it contains. It's probably not as good quality as the States as most music videos here aren't as good in production quality.

Video of Anita by Matonya

On how to make coconut milk….

2008-10-15T08:38:00.002-04:00

I have learned a lot about cooking here in Tanzania and at the same time I have taught my mama some things as well. To make coconut milk: First grate coconut (kuna nazi). Here in Tanzania they use the same grating device that they do in South India to grate coconut. A wooden block with a sharp serrated blade protruding out of it. Put the grated coconut in a bowl and add enough warm water to make a paste with the coconut. Then take put a colander over a bowl and put the coconut in the colander. Squeeze the coconut into the colander, what falls into the bowl is the coconut milk. Add more warm water and repeat squeezing the coconut into the colander. Interesting enough huh? Some other useful things is to using a mortar and pestle to mash garlic and ginger. Also, cutting a tomato in half and then using a plastic grater to make a tomato sauce by grating the side without the skin. That’s it, there is your Tanzanian cooking lesson for now. I find that a lot of Tanzanian cooking has no measurements- like most cooking around the world. I find that my taste buds are the true measurement here. Here is my favorite recipe so far in TZ, so simple yet so flavorful:

Peas (njegere) with coconut milk.

You need peas, coconut, tomatoes, and onions.

Make coconut milk as above. Grate the tomatoes to make a liquid, like a tomato sauce. Cut onions into thin rounds. Add oil, and onions into a sufria (saucepan). Add peas with tomato sauce. Cook till peas seem cooked (these are much firmer peas than what is found in America). Then add the coconut milk and heat till warm. Fresh coconut milk tastes better than that canned stuff in the States..it is also a lot more watery than the canned stuff.

Surviving in Tanzania

2008-10-15T08:37:00.000-04:00

Some survival skills you need to know here are how to take a bucket bath, use a pit latrines, to use a charcoal stove, wash clothes by hand (without a machine) and then dry them on the line, to mop the floor with a rag, cut veggies without a cutting board, peel veggies without using a peeler- just a knife, bury or burn your trash (there is no curbside pickup here), carry various heavy objects on your head, do things (like brushing your teeth, washing your hands, etc.) without running water, and to cut grass using a machete (no lawn mowers here). Also it helps if you are strong enough to fetch water. But no worries you will learn most of these things if you have been here long enough. I am still learning many of these things (luckily I have been exposed to many of these things when I visit my relatives in India) but I have been given the stamp of approval at washing my clothes by hand. :) Look at how many things we take for granted in the States and there are more things as well. Like there are no school buses. Some children walk for 2 hours just to get to school! That is if they can't afford public transport. Yes, people get their daily exercise just living life here as opposed to having to do additional stuff. No wonder they think I am crazy when I go running just for fun.

Star TV

2008-10-11T09:20:00.004-04:00

So the favorite show among my housegals is a novella (soap) from the Philippine's called Till Morning Comes (Darating Ang Umaga). It plays on Star TV. I wonder if you can find it on YouTube. :) Nothing too thought provoking in this post.