The One With The Tribal Dancing (written 8/24/2012)

I know, I know with a title like this I have you hooked.  But before I tell you about the dancing I’ll tell you about my morning.  I got to go to a school here in Iringa and observe a biology and a math class.  It was so great to be in the classroom, see some of the students, what their participation is like, and what the classroom pace is like. It was so refreshing at this point in training to be able to step back and be reminded why I am here and how I am going to be able to serve my community.  It gave me so much energy and motivation. I am really excited now to finally get to my placement and meet the students that I will be working with!

After school we came back for Swahili class and then some sessions where we all became hypochondriacs.  We had a local doctor come and tell us about some of the common diseases in the areas we are going to be and some ways we can prevent contracting them.  Basically all I came away with is either I can not eat anything for the next year or I can be continually sick, not sure which I am going to decide yet.

Then we got to go to this place called Neema Crafts.  It is kind of similar to a café with a gift shop but all of the workers are deaf (I know mom, I wish you could have been there with us! Maybe we can come back when you visit J) and everything in the gift shop is handmade by deaf or disabled Tanzanians who, if it weren’t for this shop probably would not have a job.  The owners of Neema Crafts invited two local tribes to send dancers from their villages to perform that evening.  It was incredible! We got to see incredible dances, cirque do sole style acrobatics, a guy who danced with snakes, and amazing drumming.  Then, for the finale, some of the deaf staff came out and danced.  Amazing night!! I am going to try to upload some pictures later tonight so stay tuned for those.