Tutaonana Baadaye (See You Later)

             I have always been told, “Even if a person is not with you, keep them close to your heart and they will watch over you.”

When I was young, I imagined that my heart had a room in it with one whole wall being made of glass. When I am apart from someone, they go into the glass room showing how they will always stay in my heart. In my glass room, I have always had my grandpa, and God. Year by year, more people join them: Winder, Jesus, and Julio, from Nicaragua; Srey Tom and XO from Cambodia; and many others. Now as this trip comes to an end, the students and teachers of LOAMO will be joining them. Goodbye is always the hardest word to say, I have heard many times that it is not “goodbye”, it is a “see you later”. I hold on to this, because even though I will forever have them in my heart, I would just about burst if I got to see them again.

                Jordan Edward was one of the first students I really made a connection with. On the first day, he was struggling with his math work and the teacher asked me to help him. At first, I was scared I would not be able to explain it well, but after the first few problems, I learned that a visual aid thoroughly helps. We would count on my fingers together and when he would realize he had reached the right answer, his face would light up and he would quickly right it down. A warm feeling of happiness expanded through me as I realized that I was able to help him. The next day, when he recognized me and said good morning to me, my heart grew. The warm feeling returned, expanding through my body, radiating outward through my smile. In that moment, I knew I needed to give my all to these students.

                Friday was sports day. I could feel the anticipation in the class room. When the time finally came to play, it was like a dam opened and all the stress was let go. The teachers and the students all played the same games, and all the classes came together to play football or other small games. They have this one game similar to Monkey in the Middle, but they would try to hit the person in the middle. The person in the middle would try to duck, and when the ball would go out of bounds, they would try to fill up a coke bottle with sand. If they filled up the bottle, the person in the middle won. Yet, if they got hit with the ball, the two people on the outside won. Teacher Upendo and Teacher Lillian both played, it was entertaining to see them taunt the students as they dodged the ball and filled up the bottle. When I wasn’t playing Monkey in the Middle, I would play clapping games with the kids from my class. When someone would get out, the whole circle would light up in smiles and laughter. Then we would start again until we had our final winner. Even though they didn’t win, all of the kids would cheer, shout, and celebrate the winner. This touched my heart to see all the kids being happy for one another.

                Today was one of my last days teaching. I tried to cherish every single moment, every single laugh, and every single smile. I never want to leave, more so, I never want to forget. I never want to forget the warm greeting that slipped off the locals tongues, or how vivid the colors of their clothes looked in the Tanzanian sun. Most of all, I never want to forget the stories I learned here. They taught me to be strong and brave, and how you can conquer anything if you put all of your heart into it. No matter how bad the odds may be stacked against you, there is always a way to find happiness and laughter. In all, I think the kids at LOAMO perfectly represent one of my favorite quotes, “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit, when there are footprints on the moon.”

All You Need Is Education

          Teacher Lillian explained to me that a child’s mind is like a blank piece of paper: you can write anything and it will stay, because they have not learned a lot yet. That is why they learn and remember information so easily. Education is vital here in order to get a sustainable job one would need a good education. However, there is a flaw in their system. In order to get into secondary school, past Class 8, you have to pass the exams at the end of Class 7. While this may seem reasonable, in government schools they teach in Swahili all the way until Class 7, then the exams to get into Class 8 are all in English so it is very hard to pass. The kids at LOAMO all learn in English so that part of the exam will be a little easier in that way, but the material of the exam is still extremely challenging.  Yet with the odds stacked against them these kids still try their hardest every day.

          Last night I was asked the question what has impacted your heart the most on this trip. I think it is the fact that these kinds have to be on their “A” game all of the time, no matter if they’re 4 years old and in kindergarten or if their 13 years old and in Class 7. They always have to try their hardest, slacking is not an option. This really destroys me on the inside because at home we take our education for granted and slack off and complain, and here are these kids who deserve so much more than they are given and yet they come to school every day laughing and smiling, and are elated to be sitting in a class room. These children who come to school laughing and smiling have spectacular stories, of what they have been through and conquered. Glory is in Class 5 her house is made out of cement with electricity and water from a tap, for drinking. While they may seem pretty well of her father got laid off of his job as a security guard as he did not have a certificate of education. Suzie, the mother, is also unemployed. She worked at LOAMO for 16 years; since she worked at the school she was able to send two of her four children all the way through LOAMO. Unfortunately, two years ago she discovered she had a disease in her spinal cord preventing her from being able to bend over. The doctor told her if she wanted to recover she would have to leave her job. Since she has LOAMO Glory and Suzie’s youngest child will have to finish their education through public school. While telling us this something snapped in Suzie and the tears started to roll down her cheeks. All she wants for her kids is for them to get a good education so they can go and live a good life with a good job.

          I also go the chance to visit Teacher Lillian. When Teacher Lillian talks, it’s like her words start to fill the room and transport you to another world. It is as I you are standing right next to her experiencing her life and feeling her feelings. Teacher Lillian lost her dad when she was 17 to AIDS then five years later when she was 22 she lost her mother to AIDS as well. Not only was losing her parents hard, but she was left as the guardian of five younger sisters, the youngest being 5 years old. Most of them got sponsors to pay for their school fees, but Lillian had to provide the money for them to eat. I could not fathom trying to provide for five people by yourself, anger rose inside of me as she explained how none of their relatives would take them is as they were all girls. My respect grew for Teacher Lillian as she explained all the set-backs and hard times she experienced, and how she always persevered and was resilient.

         Seeing the work ethic of these kids is astounding to me it has and will be my motivation to work harder. Any struggle or road block I will encounter is incomparable to what these students will do just to sit in a class room for the day. There are time in the school year when I take my classes for granted and start to let up a little and slack off, making excuses for myself, but this year when I start to do this I will remind myself of how Glory and Teacher Lillian and all of the others persevere and fight through it all just to get an education.

A great start to a new beginning

I have always struggled with starting my blogs. Ideas racing through my mind, feelings jumbled inside of me waiting to be put into words, and this year is no different. Arusha is so much better than I ever could have imagined. I thought it would be dry and dusty with minimal trees scattered across the plains, and yet there are lush trees and bushes almost everywhere I look. The culture is also different than I was expecting, they are very welcoming. On Saturday morning we took a class on Swahili and Tanzania culture, our teacher, Nai, explained to us that they do not care about the time they care about the people. Later when we walked through the market I discovered what this meant; you enter the market and you’re greeted with mambo, jambo, and habari, each with a different response you are to give. At this market we saw many handmade goods including jewelry, clothing and many more intricate, colorful objects. We then went to a food market, which had all kinds of food from spices to passion fruits. The smells of the food enveloped me making me feel like I was in a giant kitchen. At the second market our guide, Rasta John, picked up two eggs and told us that the bigger egg was the mzugyu egg, i.e. the foreign egg that was processed and came from machines; you could buy this egg for cheap. Then he brought out a smaller egg he claimed that it would make you stronger and healthier, because it was from Tanzania, it was an “African Egg”.

                On Sunday we went to a Maasi village, I was nervous that we would not be welcomed, as we were a foreign group coming into their homes. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised when we exited the car and were warmly greeted. We were shown to where they keep their cows, a sacred animal. They explained to us that when cow blood and milk is mixed together it is considered a remedy for illness. We then got dressed in multiple shuka’s and conga’s (basically scarves), and made chapatti, one of the best breads I have ever had. After we finished making the chapatti they brought out goat and salty vegetables, which I gladly received. After eating we danced with the Maasi warriors, they started with high pitched sounds and transitioned into song; their dances consisted of many jumps. These warriors seemed to jump more than two feet into the air. After a whole day at the Maasi village, it began to sink in how nervous I was becoming knowing the next day would be my first day teaching.

                My stomach was twisting into knots as we rolled up to the school. I was terrified of messing up, but in the end I taught and tried to think on my feet. While I still have plenty of room for improvement, I will learn from my mistakes today, and improve throughout the week striving to be the best teacher I can be.

                In all, Tanzania has exceeded all of my expectations from their welcoming culture, to the colorful landscape I see when I look out my window. I have had many memorable experiences in the short time I have been in Arusha starting with the Maasi tribe, teaching, and exploring the markets, I am eagerly anticipating the many more to come.