Saturday, February 14, 2009

Thank you everyone for all of your encouragement and support through various letters these past few weeks. It seems like when I am having an overwhelming day, I always get a letter encouraging me to continue. It was once said that in Peace Corps you will have some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows. I feel like sometimes I am on the top of the world because students are responding to my teaching, teachers are excited about upcoming programs that I want to do and everything is going my way. Other times I feel like if one more thing goes wrong... it will be more than I can bear! So the saying I have found to be true, although I am still a neophyte in Tanzania.

Someone told me before I left that I should take this opportunity to learn from people who arent necessarily as "smart" as me. Also that humility is the number one item that should be included on my journey.

I have tried to keep this in mind and allow it to reflect on my outlook in a positive manner. There are many things that drive me insane about this culture (i.e having no concept of a line and although I have been waiting in line for two hours to get money, four people just get infront of me as I was about to go to the teller!) but somethings I truly appreciate. People in this country, especially in my region arent well off finacially ( I live in the poorest region in the country) but you can go to someones house and they practically force you stay for dinner... this culture is all about caring for one another. Also, I like how you can go to someones house and just sit. It's not required to speak, just being in one's presence is enough. This is really good for someone who is still learning the language, you just go to someones house, sit and BE. Another teacher has taken me as her daughter and treats me as so. I absolutely love her two small daughters and she treats me as I am one of the family. Also unlike the states, people are willing to help you out, and dont see it as an inconvience to them. I can just go up to one of my fellow teachers and ask them a question (where to buy this, how can I get that) and not only do they tell you, but most times they will escort you to make sure you are successful. This is really helpful and makes me feel as though I am intergrating into the community because of their commitment for my success in everything, whether it's big or small. Overall, the people here for the most part are loving and caring and I feel honored to be in their presence.

Well a brief update of my life since school has begun.

*Teaching is going well. I like my students (atleast most of them) and I feel like some are really enjoying having a teacher from america. They ask me the most random questions and they crack up when i speak swahili. I was really nervous about teaching, but the students seem to understand and perform well on tasks given. Also I feel like I was able to establish the level of respect (without beating them into submission with a stick) and a friendly friendship. They know when they need to be serious and when we can relax.

~ Using a stick here is normal to discipline children. It's sad to be around, I usually just leave because the mentality that I have observed and was told that "Africans dont respond, unless their is force is brought." This is really depressing because this behavior was started by the british when they came to colonize the country.

*Two weeks ago one of my form 1 students passed away. She was only 13 and she died of malaria. It's sad that people die here so often from a virus that can be prevented. ( I went to the funeral and let's just say that it was an interesting cross-cultural experience.)
~Sidenote: I have been here (at site) 2.5 months and 8 people have died.... most from preventable diseases.

* Many of the teachers at my school have been geting typhoid... I keep telling them its because they dont boil water but no one believes me....

*Two other volunteers and I have decided to put on a women's day program for secondary girls here on National Women's day (March 8th). In this culture girls are expected to marry at 15 and have kids immediately so they can raise a family. Most times education ceases and these young girls are dependent on men(too many times abusive men) for their survival. Here girls are told that they are the inferior sex and arent as intelligent as their male counterparts, which diminshes their aspirations for the future. Also too many times secondary school girls "sell their body" for money for school fees and if they get pregnant they have no future. So I am really passionate about educating girls that they are capable of achieving goals that they have set. We are inviting local women ( a business owner, teacher, police commisioner, tailor and a social worker) to come talk to the girls about how theyovercame the roadblocks that were place to impede their success and how they juggle family and work. Also we are going to have time where the girls can go around and ask questions. I think it is important for young girls to see other women that have broken down cultural expectations so they can have role models and know that since she did, it's possible.

*I started a small program where I allow students to write any question they may have on a piece of paper and give it to me to answer. I have found that many students are too scared to ask me in person because of their lack of english... or because they are embarassed. But thus far I have had an opportunity to educate them on a variety of issues ranging from puberty, to math and america. It's wonderful how inquisite these students are and their desire for knowledge.

* In a few weeks (at the end of march) I will go to my in-service training... I can't believe by that time I would have been here for 6 months. It doesnt seem like that long at all.

* I have made a lot of friends here and I am staring to feel like this is home.... I never thought this day would come.

(Sidenote... I was able to watch the presidential inauguration and honestly I was amazed. I felt like it wasnt true and to see him taking the presidential oath (the same oath peace corps volunteers take) it made me begin to feel optimistic for my future and the direction the country is headed. GOOD JOB AMERICA!!!)

Well I hope all is well in America... I miss you all and please enjoy the snow for me... Winter is my favorite season. :-)