Full of Resolve and Energy…

Friday, 13th March

“Full of Resolve and Energy…”

Before I start this posting properly I must just tell you quickly that yesterday I learnt to carry water from the stream on my head, and I have just been passed a note from my pupils saying ‘Thank you for teaching us, Miss Lucie. You are a very good and very brave girl. Gord (sic) Bless you!

!!NEWSFLASH!!

The new desks arrived by cart yesterday, and are already being put to full use. A very heartfelt thank-you to those who bought the desks. Once I have the names painted, I will photograph them and send you pictures of them in use. Thank you. They have been gratefully received.

Coming home to a mouse/rat-infested, water-less, electricity-less house was a bit of slap in the face after the bliss of Zanzibar, but actually I love my little tin-roofed house!

After only two days of dust and grime, Kat’s very affluent and extremely generous parents visited Arusha for the weekend. As Kat was staying with them in the most exquisite luxury lodge we naturally made full use of a powerful shower and fluffy towels! Her parents treated us to drinks and a beautiful meal, with all taxi costs paid. When they went they left us with all sorts of practical presents – top ranking were loos rolls and water! Seriously nice people. Amy’s parents arrive on Friday – what a flurry of visitors!

On Thursday Mama Hasani, the bubbliest middle-aged teacher in the staff room, took us to meet her sweet (and enormous!) little granddaughter, and showed us literally all the family photos. There were a fair few…. The quieter, but equally lovely Mama Mkala invited us to her house this evening, in a bid not to be out done by her good friend and rival! She held my hand all the way home, and we were left with strict instructions to come again for UGALI. I love visiting people’s houses as they offer such generosity and it’s a chance to see far more clearly how professional Tanzanians' lives tick.

My resolve to learn more Swahili began in earnest with Mama Kessy on Friday – she taught me reams of vocabulary including a song to remember the days of the week, a catchy little number….

Back to the most important thing – school. Teaching has been a joy this week. I have started the topic of description, first covering emotions. It has far more creative opportunities than other topics and, Alleluia!, the kids have understood and enjoyed my new-fangled ideas. One example is flash cards. We give each word from the vocabulary list an action; e.g. they cross their arms and say “Hmmph!” for grumpy. I would hold up a card with a word on, and they have to say it and do the action. It’s a big hit!

My resolution number two – to throw myself into school life more – led to another singing club (not entirely successful, more of a brawl!) and watching Mr Lugenge’s seventh grade lesson. He teaches social studies, but feels that the textbook will not be good enough for the coming exam. His lesson was like Hector’s enriching General Studies lesson in ‘The History Boys’. It was over two hours of explaining anything from Australia’s chicken success, to why some people are Albinos, to IVF treatment!

If a pupil stood up to ask a question, he would give them a full and proper answer. I’m very keen to get involved in this, and so will help Mr Lugenge prepare some topics and hopefully give a few mini lectures (in English with him translating) about maybe philosophy or politics or English cultural history. I cannot wait – I will keep you posted.

In my new and improved ‘resolved and energised’ state I have got a number of school improvements going. My personal project is to make a big display board with a secure Perspex cover to go on the back wall of my classroom. Disappointingly, anything left on the wall gets stolen. It’s very sad, but I have to accept that's how it is. This way I can put up long-term displays and screw the cover on so that they actually stay there.

Amy has a pot of gold to spend on school, so I spent sometime with Mr Mkosi and a Fundi (builder) discussing school improvements. (Amy couldn’t come, but we will project-manage this together.)

The three classrooms in the outer block next to me will get their rooms finished with ceiling tiles, 7A will maybe get a repaired floor, and we will ourselves paint the outside walls in a bright colour with artwork, hand prints and ‘Welcome to Sekei Primary’. You see the building as you walk up the road, so the school is keen for it to look attractive and create a good impression. There is a lot of work involved – step one is drawing some designs to have a staff-and-pupils vote. To keep labour costs down we will be doing all of the painting ourselves plus helping to mix concrete etc! I’m very excited about this.

Such a lot to write this week, and I have left reams out! I hope next time I write I will be able to update you on these various projects.

Tutaonana Badaye!

Lucie xxx