Training and My Assignment

These past two weeks have been a combination of challenges and encouragement. We have been in the village of Madisi doing our training for the past two weeks. In order to show us what our students’ lives are like, and to immerse us in the culture of Tanzania, I have lived with 2 host students named Dicta and Epista. They are wonderful, and the hospitality in African is unlike anything I’ve seen. They live in a modest “shack-like” house that has dirt floor, a tin roof, and mud walls. There is no electricity or running water. It has been fun living alongside of them for these 2 weeks, and really seeing what their life is like.

In these weeks, I have been laughed at while learning how to:

-speak Swahili
-fetch water from a well
-carry gallons of water (unsuccessfully) on my head
-wash clothes rigorously in a bucket with a bar of soap
-bathe with a bucket in the freezing cold
-go to the bathroom in a hole (they call them “choo”)
-do everything with my right hand, even though I’m left handed (The left hand is the “dirty bathroom” hand.)
-fetch firewood and attempt to carry it on my head
-chop firewood with an ax
-hoe a small field of corn
-light and clean a kerosene lamp
-light a fire and cook over it
-eat and cook ugali (The staple food here, basically like blended rice/grits in play-dough form)
-eat a fish while trying to ignore its face staring back at me
-climb super steep mountains for 2 miles in 7,000ft elevation (the girls do this walk twice a day just to go to school!)
-sing at awesome choir practice

Because of my deficit in all of these essential African life-skills, Epista and Dicta were shocked to find that I can:
-stir food
-shuffle cards
-ride a bike
-strike a match
-walk easily in a flat area
-cut a tomato

I have really learned so much here, and it is so fun to absorb in the culture. I feel that the kids at this school have such difficult lives in comparison with our American ones, yet I feel that theirs have more meaning, and that they are filled with such joy and peace. There is no rushing here, no stress, just a wonderful and simple life from day to day. I love it. These kids work hard all day, and then study until late at night. They are such hard workers. It is amazing to the hospitality and warmth from everyone. I’m picking up some more Swahili, but not much yet. I can carry on a full cheesy greeting/how are you, but that’s about it.

I have been assigned to a village called Malindindo, in Ruvuma region, which is on the border of Tanzania and Mozambique. I will be living with Abby Tibbetts (Rounda’ Bout), and we are so excited about it! We didn’t really know each other very well before the trip, but we have had so much fun together during training. We will be teaching an intensive English course for about 8 hours a day. We have about a 2 day bus ride on the way. Hopefully we will be able to have weekly internet access! I am so excited!

I love you all, and I’m having a great time learning about the Tanzanian culture. Thanks to everyone who wrote a note to me in Ashley’s little project; so far I’ve gotten letters from Ashley, Keith, Amanda, Emily, and Dwight Schrute. Love it.

Please write me an email if you can, since I’d love to receive letters, know about what’s going on in America/who is the president/pop culture fun. I should have weekly internet access. lizziejean@gmail.com

Love,
Liz