The One With The Zoo (3/30/2013)

This week is school vacation.  So I decided to travel out of the village to the city of Mbeya to meet up with Sarah, another WorldTeach volunteer.  We have been relaxing, enjoying the running water (and it is hot!!) and electricity as well as the luxury of not having to cook for ourselves. 

I had heard that there was a zoo in Mbeya (let me remind you that, although Mbeya is the third largest city in the country, it is really no more than a large town by American standards).  A zoo… in Africa… I have been waiting for months to check it out.  So yesterday Sarah and I set out to find the zoo.  A few hours, four busses, and a few wrong stops later we made it to our destination.  But as we walked up my heart sank… the gate was closed and the only person inside was a woman mowing the grass.  So we stood at the gate looking in and looking at each other.  And then the woman mowing the grass saw us and walked over to the gate.  She welcomed us in and we asked if they were open.  She said no but that we could come in anyway.  We stood there for a minute, realized that she was serious, and started our tour around the place. 

After looking in a few of the cages we turned around and saw an Emu, right behind us, not in a cage or anything.  Then I looked around a little more and realized that about half of the cage doors were open.  So we spent the next half an hour walking around with the animals and looking at other animals before we finally decided to head back to the hotel. 

Nothing is ever what I expect that it is going to be here in Africa, but that is partly why I love it so much!

Me with the Porcupines 

The One With(out) Toilet Paper (3/22/2013)

Sometimes things that are considered essential in America are not regarded as such here in Tanzania.  For instance, I would say that most Americans would put toilet paper on the ‘household essentials’ list.   Here it is considered a ‘luxury item’.  But there are still a few shops in a couple different villages in the area that carry it.  However, recently, after a very rainy weekend, there was a landslide that took out a big chunk of one of the only two roads in the area.  This has made it much harder to get goods in and out of Kafule and the surrounding villages, meaning that the shops have been particularly poorly stocked lately.  Thus, a toilet paper shortage.  Not a problem for the locals.  Dahlia and I try very hard to live like real Tanzanians but we have decided to keep toilet paper on our ‘necessary’ list no matter how different that makes us.  And we have been running low lately.  So over the last two days I have spent a little over three hours hiking from village to village in search of toilet paper.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a good walk (especially after our 5 ½ hour meeting yesterday all in Swahili it was actually really nice to stretch my legs) but 3 hours… for toilet paper… I am once again reminded of how different life is here than in the States.  But at least for now my search has come to an end as yesterday I found a shop with a few rolls left.  

The One With The Contest Entry: Emmy, Form III

An after finish the graduation I prefer a teacher

Education is the special place which people get the knownledge.  This place is called school.  For example of special place which people get knowledge are Kafule Secondary School, Isoko Primary School, Dar Es Salaam high levels and Mpanda girls high school and other many in the nation.  The teacher is the people which can help to teach the students or people.  Example of teach who teach the students of Kafule Sec. School are Madam Dahlia, Madam Carly, Madam Grace, Madam Asha, Sir Zairo and Sir Kabage.  The following are the importance of teacher in the society.

It give the knowledge of the students in the country.  The teacher increase the knowledge of students to teach the some problem of the students like is student who a not know to read and write the work.  The tercher that help the students to read and write.  Like Madam Dahlia and Madam Carly that help the students to understand the English and Mathematics.

It help to increase the development of student because id the country is not teacher at all people it is not to get some knowledge because it is not teach.  Therefore if is not teacher the development of education is poor.  It need the high knowledge to teach.  Id the teacher is not used knowledge to teach in the classroom it leads the student is not understand the subject.  Therefore teacher it need high knowledge to teach. 

It high profit because before the month the teacher take the salary for good work in the society because it is good employment to teach the students.  Therefore the teacher of is very important in the society to developing the education of the people.   

The One With The Bread Baking (3/17/2013)

Yesterday I spent the day in Isoko visiting with Enea.  She has her 7 year old niece, Tulie, living with her.  Tulies parents both passed away from AIDS, however thankfully, Tulie has tested negative.  Her name means quiet in Swahili and it is a very fitting name!  She is only 7 but she makes the best bread that I have ever had, and over charcoal no less.  So yesterday I asked her to teach me how she does it.  She was so excited to teach the white girl how to cook something! And she kept laughing at what Enea called my “American hands” (because I couldn’t pick up the red hot charcoals; thank goodness Tulie was there to help when something was too hot for me to touch!) And the loaf I made turned out almost as good as the one that Tulie made.  

The One With The Mid Term Exams (3/16/2013)

Yesterday we began midterm exams at school.  Mathematics was up first which means that all last week the staff room was filled with students who were there to ask me questions.  And it was not just the staff room; students were stopping by my house after school.  One boy even showed up at 6:38 am Friday morning to ask a last minute question.  And now I am buried beneath about 500 exams to grade. 

To prepare for exam week all of the teachers needed to turn in a hand written copy of their exams about two weeks before the exams are given.  They are then typed up on the school typewriter by our secretary and then transferred to carbon paper.  After that the teachers get to look over the exams and edit them before they are run through the school copy machine (the hand crank one from the 1950’s).  Exam week takes a lot more preparation then I ever realized when I was in school!  

But I am excited that it is underway since after exams we have a whole week off for Easter!

If you are interested in donating, I am still raising money for the school so that we can buy the solar equipment necessary to power a computer and printer to make exam week easier to prepare for.  Please visit and http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/CarlySpoor-1/Tanzania2013 and check out my blog post “The One With The Letter From The Headmaster” for more details.   

The One With The Contest Entry: Neema, Form III

After you graduate form IV what so you want to be.

After finished form IV in Kafule Secondary School I want to be a people with moral.  The following as the job which I want to do in the society.

I will help my parent to work the functioning home.  Which finished form four I will help my parent to work the functioning like digging, farm, planting crops and washing dishes, cooking food and other activities of the home. 

I will start to study pre form five when I finish in form IV I will start to study form five and then I will practice to do the mathematics form IV.

I will started to buy and selling commodities in the market.  In order to get money which could help me to buy soap and that money can help me to collect the school fees in form five school.

I will not agree to get marriage because some parent they want to get the income from their children.  Income like cow, blanket, hoe that is the culture of some society. [She is talking about bride price here which results in girls being forced to marry before they finish school so that they fathers can receive their bride price.]

I will wait the result of national examination.  If I will succeed I will continue in form five class.  I will be able to attend in religion in order to get moral behavior which is good in the society.  I will avoid bad challenges like thief, sexual activities, to use drug, like Ridar Double Punch, cigarettes, these are bad challenges in the society.  Myself I will avoid these bad behavior.

I will do exercise like playing netball, basketball voleball and other exercise which could help me to avoid disease that is good exercise.

I will started to cooperate with society.  My self I will cooperate with society in different activities.

I will a respectful person because have get knowledge from school.

I shall visit Mbeya to exchange ideal of different society.

I part from my opinions I need good result of national examination and then I need to be a teacher when the result a good.

The One With The Mothers Verses Daughters Netball Game (3/9/2013)

Yesterday afternoon Kafule hosted its first ever, but long awaited, mothers verses daughters netball game.  It was incredible! Everyone came out to watch and cheer and I have never seen a game that intense in my life.  Elizabeth was the one who organized the game and she was definitely one of the better players on the mothers team.  However the daughters still won by a lot! And the referee had her work cut out for her keeping disputes at bay.  But I really loved seeing women, who are usually not seem outside the kitchen, the farm and the market, out and playing and laughing (in between the yelling) with their daughters!  

Elizabeth catching the ball

Me with some of the cheering section

One of the few moments where the mothers had control of the  ball

The One With The Contest Entry: Roda, Form II

My name is Roda Kananasi.  I am studying at Kafule Secondary School in Form two.  The following are my expectations of the occupation I am going to engage with after finishing my studies. 

After finishing my studies I would like to be a doctor.  This profession I have chosen is from heart due to the following factors. 

I remember one day when I was young about six years old I suffered from Malaria hence I was went to Isoko hospital.  It was so amazing to me because at hospital there I saw both doctors and nurses who dressed in white clothes. Really not only I liked in the way they dressed but also in the way they were full of kindness to me and other children I accompanied with them.  Therefore one day I would like to be like them.

Also another thing which has been influenced me to be doctor is due to the lack of enough qualified doctors in many of our hospitals and dispensaries is my country.  For example this problem is the one which lead to high infant mortality rate and death of pregnancy mothers.  In fact it pain so much me when many people are dying because of poor provision of health care in our hospitals and dispensaries.

On top of that, the good salary payment is being made to doctors is the one it has encouraged me to take this occupation.  Nowdays life is so miserable to many Tanzanian people.  I think is because of poor leadership it exist in our country so in order to have a good life I suppose to have a good job which help me to earn enough money.

Of course, the matter is up on to me so as to achieve my goals. I have to make sure that I study very hard in my school subjects especially the science subjects which are Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Although these subjects are so difficult I hope I will success.

The One With The Contest Entry: Evelina, Form III

*if finish the school what I prefer

Parliament- is the branch of government responsible of making laws of the state.  Members are elected from different constituencies or seat appointed by the president.  If finish the schools I prefer member of parliament.  The following are the reason for me say member of parliament.

To make laws, if me is a member of parliament the people who are not use the law get decion and go in the parliament.

To discuss the performance of every ministry before passing new budget.  If the other member take the money before the discussion the member other take laws.

To discuss the annual budget.  That is the budget of every financial year.  This are led to other people to understand the new budget and what are the budget used. 

Asking questions to ministers.  They can ask different matters in the parliament. Example of questions is what are the budget of this year?

To solve the problem in the society.  If the citizen of the tribe were problem me it help to solve the other problem.  Example I need water, I need fertilizer and other.

Participation the citizen if was announced.  I stay and discuss the announce who caused the development in the society.  This are say me is finish the schools I prefer member of parliament.  

The One With The Contest Entry: Oliva, Form III

The world has became beast

Its when evils survive

Its creature are two beast

It is when they don’t blame

The world has became beast

I met globalization

He said I stay in the world

He said I was worn in the world

He said I love all people in the world

But I told him I love him not

Globalization is at the corner

His voice is heard all over

His action are sweet but taste bitter

His parent are still younger

But where do they live

Any people want your bitter love why

Walking style globalization

Dressing style globalization

Lesbians and guys globalization

Indecent clothes globalization

The One With The BYOC Party (3/9/2013)

Dahlia and I decided a few weeks ago that we wanted to have a party and invite all of the teachers over to watch a movie on the computer.  So we charged up the computers and made plans to have everyone over on Friday.  I have a few movies on my computer and we decided on The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  And when the new teachers showed up this past week we thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate their arrival.  We soon realized though that there are 10 teachers and we only have 6 chairs at our house and a concrete floor.  So we told everyone that they have to bring their own chair.  We said in America we have parties called BYOD (“bring your own drink” or rather soda, since alcohol is so taboo).  They thought this was the most hysterical thing ever since hospitality, especially providing guests with food and drinks, is so highly valued here.  But we told them that our party was going to be BYOC; bring your own chair.  They loved it and so all week they have been asking each other what chair they are going to bring.  Anyway, the big night was last night and, although no one actually brought a chair (so we sat Tanzanian student style all sharing chairs) the night was great.  They loved the ‘American party’!  

The One With The New Teachers (3/9/2013)

The Tanzanian government just released the postings for all of the recent university graduates who now hold teaching degrees and this past week was “reporting week”.  The government just increased their education budget again which means that all over Tanzania public school are getting more teachers.  Kafule was high on the list because of our already small staff and the fact that next month the school is planning on adding form V classes which will mean 50-100 more students.  So we were assigned 4 new teachers!! Only 2 have arrived so far (and I was reminded that just because we are assigned 4 teachers by no means guarantees that we will get 4 new teachers) but I am still hopeful that the other two will come.  The new teachers will be teaching Swahili, History and Civics.  So unfortunately no new math teacher, it had been really fun to welcome new members to our staff and to give back some of the incredible hospitality that I received when I first arrived.  

The One With The Contest Entry: Fanikiwa, Form IV

I would like to be a pilot. A pilot these means the person who direct eloplane.  The following are the advantage of pilot.

First of all to be a pilot it helps to know English.  A pilot is a job which require knowledge different language because you travel in different area.

Also it pays more money than other jobs like teachers and doctors.  This jobs need high capital if you need to travel by using aircraft.  Therefore it is better than other jobs.

Further more it would allow me to know different areas in the world for example in (USA).  Therefore I would like to know different areas.

Not only this but also does not require manual labor.  Rather it require profession skill.

Finally people respect pilot and I like to respect by people. Therefore to respect by many people because it is good.

Other it help to transport pesible goods from our place to another place for short time example avocado.

In addition it not consume time compare with other transport therefore it is a good for me.

In conclusion if you need to be a pilot you wanted to be active in the following subject in secondary school. Geography, English, and physics.  Also me I like these subject especially physics.