We rode in our first BIJAJI

March 18, 2010

Our placements:

Christine: I am at a church-run nursery school with children ages 3-7 called KKKT. It is one of the more “organized” schools in Bagamoyo. They start the day by lining up by class (they are split up into three classes by age) and sing a couple songs (in Swahili) followed by the Tanzanian national anthem. Then they split into their classes and each day they learn a different subject according to what day of the week it is. My first day I helped teach the English alphabet and the second day the English alphabet and drawing. The kids are adorable! They all wear little uniforms (that by the end of the day are unbuttoned, half untucked, and a couple don’t have their shirts or shoes on at all). They love hugging me and hanging on me. My first day I had so many hanging on me that I almost fell over and smushed a few. Subsequently, I learned the words for “stop”, “no”, and “one at a time” that proved very effective for my second day. The second day started off (of course) with lots of hugs, groping (this is a perfect word for what they do), and high fives. Then one gave me a flower and I put it behind my ear. They thought this was so funny, so I then had about ten kids picking handfuls of flowers and shoving them under my headband and in my ponytail. When I got back to our house Meg told me I looked like I ran through a bush. Tomorrow is game day so hopefully that will wear them out!

Megan: I’m volunteering at a church-ran nursery school as well called KLPT. My classroom consists of 3-4 year olds and a teacher named Gracie. Gracie knows as much English as I do Swahili (minimal). We find ourselves attempting to speak to one another and laughing because we both have no idea what the other is saying. I lucked out though because she is very passionate about teaching which is enjoyable to observe. Today I taught my first lesson on animals and nature. It was definitely a challenge but I made it through. The kids are adorable and call me “mwalimi (Swahili for teacher)megana”. The day began with the children singing their ABC’s about 30 times in a row but only go to G then they would start from the beginning. So after 2 ½ hours of lessons on their ABC’s, they sang the ABC’s again and only made it G… They dance along to several songs they sing throughout the morning which might be one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed. Once class is dismissed it is time for porridge. During porridge time I am attacked by children left and right requesting high fives and fist pounds as they attempt to ask me questions in which I have no idea what they are saying. So far I love it though J

Yesterday we took a trip to the Bagamoyo Secondary School which is age 14 and up. Students are asked to pay around 35,000 Tanzanian Shillings a term (2 terms a year) to attend schooling which is about $30 USD and many cannot even afford that. Around 600 boys and only 49 girls currently attend the school… a MAJOR problem facing Tanzania today is funding the education of women. We want to start a foundation…

Today we were supposed to have sports day but boycotted considering we sweat even when sitting in the shade so we opted to walk along the coast of the Indian ocean to two different beach bars/resorts. We enjoyed a Kilimanjaro Lager.. not bad! Tomorrow we are going on a safari until Sunday!!! Wish us luck!! We have been trying to upload videos but it supposedly it takes over an hour to do so and we haven’t had the patience to sit in the internet café for an unknown amount of time. We will write again on Sunday!! Lala salama!! (sweet dreams)