Hi all,
so after a bit of searching...Connie and I have found internet in Ikwiriri which is excellent as it means I will have more contact with home than I was expecting.
Will start with the rest of my travels and then will update you all on whats been happening since I have been back.
On the Thursday night, we all went and stayed in the Maasai camp and it was SOOO awesome! Stayed in huts made of mud and cow dung, on beds of sticks and cow hide! Was a real experience. Fun for a night but not sure I could live like that my entire life! Learnt lots about the maasai culture and their history, which was really good. Went for a walk and saw all the plants they still use as natural medicine and elephant and zebra poo but none of the actual animals :( Although we did see zebras from a distance the day we left! Also learnt how to start a fire using sticks and elephant dung (very useful back in Australia, lol) although us girls werent quite as good at it as the Maasai men (suprise suprise). So had a lovely time there. Got to shower outside with the most stunning views surrounding me, was very cool!
We got back to Arusha from the Maasai camp Fri and began our journey home Sat! Had an 8 hour trip to Morogoro on the Sat and then stayed with Marie, Pheobe and Ross the night there! From there we had to catch 3 busses to Ikwiriri which took ALL day, so we didnt get back here until dark.
Monday school started so we headed up there and worked out classes, timetables etc. I am teaching form 1 english-there are 4 streams (classes) with about 60 in a class so have about 240 students in total. As they are in form 1, it is their first year of secondary school so they have VERY basic english (if any at all). I teach each class 3 times a week, for 80 mins at a time so teach 12 a week in total (although headmaster already wants me to pick up more subjects!). School goes from 7:30am until 1:10pm which means we get afternoons to ourselves to do housework/tutor students etc which is good. There are 740 students at Ikwiriri Secondary School and only 9 permanent teachers!!! So its hugely understaffed.
Had the rest of last week to write our schemes of work for the term (which is a semester in Aus) and get ready and prepared to teach, which was so good because I was pretty scared about teaching. Was hard to prepare lessons though as had no resources other than a syllabus!
Today was the first day of teaching. Got to school about 7:20 and then Connie and I had to introduce ourselves in assembly. Was quite funny as we can only speak a little swahili so half our introduction was in swahili and then it turned into english when we didnt know anymore. I started off the day with form 1b english, followed by 1d and then a break before form 1a last period. Didnt get off to the greatest start, had nowhere near enough planned and had overestimated their english level so the first 2 periods included a fair bit of improvisation. So planned a whole different lesson for my last period of english and it went ALOT better! Being a teacher is hard work but Im really enjoying it so far! There are, of course, the disruptive students but there are some very dedicated students as well, who work incredibly hard.
When I first got to Ikwiriri, I struggled with the concept that it was going to be my home for the next 6 months but its starting to sink in and Im liking it more and more everyday. The students are great, the teachers are lovely and the people in the local community are very friendly. Communication is still very difficult, however. But we are finding ways around it. I've realised that the best way to make it feel like home, even if only temporary, is to have lots to do with the people so thats what we have been doing. We always have students round and little kids come around and we play with the ball with them. Is lots of fun! On the walk from our house into town we pass so many gorgeous kids who never fail to put a smile on Connie and my's face. Its definately my favourite thing about walking into town!
Other interesting things:
I killed my first scorpian the other day! Was so scared! I cant even kill spiders back home and here I was faced with a scorpian. And they DONT die easily!!! Took a fair bit of whacking. But eventually I won the battle and could sleep peacefully knowing that it wasnt going to sting me during the night. Pretty sure Connie thought it was hilarious to listen to as she lay in her safe, comfortable bed!
Also, I had my first up close and personal run-in with a rat/mouse (I keep telling myself it was only a mouse) last night. Went to go to the toilet and when I shut the door I saw it on the top of the door, we were pretty much looking into each others eyes. Was so scary! The only way to get it out was to open the door but it was on it! So i quickly grabbed the door and flung it open and practically climbed up the wall until it ran out. Then I called Connie to see if she could see it, but we didnt know where it had gone (I pretty much make Connie deal with all those kinds of things, I dont know what I'd do without her!). Took about 10mins for my heart to go back to a normal rhythm I reckon.
Anyway, best be off. So, in essence, that is what I have been up to so far! Cant believe it has been a month since I left Australia.
Missing everyone back home!
Alisha,
xx
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Hello from Arusha!
Hey Hey,
Another update. Im doing well...trying to update lots now as I know that I wont have as much of an opportunity once i get to placement.
Can't believe how fast the holidays are going! After a 12hr bus trip (with no air conditioning or open windows!!) we FINALLY arrived in Arusha and got a bit of a shock as its really cold here. Arusha is up near the Kenyan border and is home of Mt Kilimanjaro. It is so much prettier than down south (where Im placed) as is very mountainous and lush up this way (whereas its very flat and dry down south unfortunately). Arrived at Arusha Backpackers at about the same time as the 4 Waamuzi guys (Alex, Angus, Cindy and Candice) so was really nice as the 4 Kilombero girls were already here so the 10 of us have been able to hang out.
On Monday all 10 of us went to St Judes which was just AWESOME. Had the best day there! Its incredible to think one Aussie girl with a dream did something that amazing!! I've read the book but its about 100x better in the flesh. And so much more has been done since the book was written. Was a real shame though as Gemma, the lady who started the school, was in a meeting all day so we couldnt meet her. But was still a really great day and we got to look around and go into some of the classes and have lunch with the kids (the best rice and beans I have had so far in Africa!). I have a lot of respect for such a person, it is so obvious how many lives she is changing every single day! I spoke to a form 1 girl (approx yr 7) and she spoke really good english, whereas at Government schools like Ikwiriri, form 1 students cant speak english at all or very very little. She is giving kids that are so poor and disadvantaged and, thus, would have no hope otherwise, a real start in the world and a chance to really do something with their lives. It is so admirable, I dont think I could ever do something like that!
We decided not to go on Safari as was taking too long to organise etc so we were running out of time and found out that September (which is when we next have hols) is when the migration happens so is the best time to do safari so will wait until then. So yesterday (Tues) Casey, Alex and I went for a waterfall walk which was really fun but hard work! My thigh muscles are feeling it today. We walked from about 10am until 6pm with only a short stop for lunch. It involved a few hour up hill walk, a very steep drop down the mountain with a tiny, muddy path cut through it to get down there (and then get back up), then a barefoot walk through the freezing water for about an hour until we arrived at the bottom of a stunning waterfall. Reminded me quite alot of rainforests in Australia. Then we turned around and walked all the way back. Was a fun day and our guide, Moody, was cool.
Today we have had a lazy day, just lounging around and going out for meals. Went to a little gelato bar for lunch (what a find!) and had spinach and ricotta ravioli with pesto sauce (YUMM!) and then double choc gelato and Alex and I got a chocolate brownie takeaway for later because it looked too good to resist. So has been a real indulgent day.
Tomorrow we are heading off to a Masai camp where we are staying overnight which Im really looking forward to. Have already spoken to some Masai which I found interesting so it will be amazing to go and live with them in their village for a night and see their culture and customs in action.
Will get back to Arusha on Friday and then will leave for Morogoro on Saturday to begin the journey back to Ikwiriri.
Well thats about it at the moment,
Alisha
Another update. Im doing well...trying to update lots now as I know that I wont have as much of an opportunity once i get to placement.
Can't believe how fast the holidays are going! After a 12hr bus trip (with no air conditioning or open windows!!) we FINALLY arrived in Arusha and got a bit of a shock as its really cold here. Arusha is up near the Kenyan border and is home of Mt Kilimanjaro. It is so much prettier than down south (where Im placed) as is very mountainous and lush up this way (whereas its very flat and dry down south unfortunately). Arrived at Arusha Backpackers at about the same time as the 4 Waamuzi guys (Alex, Angus, Cindy and Candice) so was really nice as the 4 Kilombero girls were already here so the 10 of us have been able to hang out.
On Monday all 10 of us went to St Judes which was just AWESOME. Had the best day there! Its incredible to think one Aussie girl with a dream did something that amazing!! I've read the book but its about 100x better in the flesh. And so much more has been done since the book was written. Was a real shame though as Gemma, the lady who started the school, was in a meeting all day so we couldnt meet her. But was still a really great day and we got to look around and go into some of the classes and have lunch with the kids (the best rice and beans I have had so far in Africa!). I have a lot of respect for such a person, it is so obvious how many lives she is changing every single day! I spoke to a form 1 girl (approx yr 7) and she spoke really good english, whereas at Government schools like Ikwiriri, form 1 students cant speak english at all or very very little. She is giving kids that are so poor and disadvantaged and, thus, would have no hope otherwise, a real start in the world and a chance to really do something with their lives. It is so admirable, I dont think I could ever do something like that!
We decided not to go on Safari as was taking too long to organise etc so we were running out of time and found out that September (which is when we next have hols) is when the migration happens so is the best time to do safari so will wait until then. So yesterday (Tues) Casey, Alex and I went for a waterfall walk which was really fun but hard work! My thigh muscles are feeling it today. We walked from about 10am until 6pm with only a short stop for lunch. It involved a few hour up hill walk, a very steep drop down the mountain with a tiny, muddy path cut through it to get down there (and then get back up), then a barefoot walk through the freezing water for about an hour until we arrived at the bottom of a stunning waterfall. Reminded me quite alot of rainforests in Australia. Then we turned around and walked all the way back. Was a fun day and our guide, Moody, was cool.
Today we have had a lazy day, just lounging around and going out for meals. Went to a little gelato bar for lunch (what a find!) and had spinach and ricotta ravioli with pesto sauce (YUMM!) and then double choc gelato and Alex and I got a chocolate brownie takeaway for later because it looked too good to resist. So has been a real indulgent day.
Tomorrow we are heading off to a Masai camp where we are staying overnight which Im really looking forward to. Have already spoken to some Masai which I found interesting so it will be amazing to go and live with them in their village for a night and see their culture and customs in action.
Will get back to Arusha on Friday and then will leave for Morogoro on Saturday to begin the journey back to Ikwiriri.
Well thats about it at the moment,
Alisha
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Hi all,
Just a quick update.
Zanzibar was beautiful! Had the best time there. Spent the first night in Stone town and went and did a rainforest walk where we got to see red colobus monkeys which was really cool. We then went up and spent the next three nights in Kendwa in the north and stayed right on the beach! The place we stayed at was REALLY nice and it even had...wait for it...running HOT water! So I got to have my first hot shower since arriving in Tanzania. Was perfect timing, too, as the weather wasnt great up there so it was a little cold which made you appreciate the hot water even more!
While in Kendwa we went Kayaking and snorkelling and met some masai men who we spent a fair bit of time with! They were just the most lovely people and their culture and customs are just so unique and interesting. Every night we would go down to the beach to have our milkshakes and we'd sit around the bonfire discussing everything from religion to politics to marriage and even female circumcision (masai are known for female circumcision) with them. I was very impressed as they spoke AMAZING english and Paulo, the guy I spent most of my time with, was REALLY well educated! Was so nice to not have the communication barrier that is normally present when trying to speak to Africans.
Got back to Dar Es Salaam yesterday and the ferry ride back was HORRIBLE! About 80% of the people on the boat were sea-sick! Was the longest few hours ever! The Kilombero girls left to go to Arusha today so Connie and I are spending the morning doing a few jobs we needed to get done and then this afternoon is headmasters brother-in-laws wedding.
We will then leave for Arusha tomorrow (the bus leaves at 5am so we have to get up at 3:30am!!!!) and then on Monday Connie, Ellie, Casey, Jess, Claire and myself are going to visit the school of St Judes (some of you may have read the book-its a school started up and run by an Aussie woman from near Armidale) which Im really looking forward to. Then hopefully Connie, Alex and I will do a safari from Tues until Fri and then will travel back down to Morogoro to visit the people placed there on Sat then back to Ikwiriri on Sun.
Well better leave it there,
hope you're all happy and healthy and enjoying life!
xxx
Just a quick update.
Zanzibar was beautiful! Had the best time there. Spent the first night in Stone town and went and did a rainforest walk where we got to see red colobus monkeys which was really cool. We then went up and spent the next three nights in Kendwa in the north and stayed right on the beach! The place we stayed at was REALLY nice and it even had...wait for it...running HOT water! So I got to have my first hot shower since arriving in Tanzania. Was perfect timing, too, as the weather wasnt great up there so it was a little cold which made you appreciate the hot water even more!
While in Kendwa we went Kayaking and snorkelling and met some masai men who we spent a fair bit of time with! They were just the most lovely people and their culture and customs are just so unique and interesting. Every night we would go down to the beach to have our milkshakes and we'd sit around the bonfire discussing everything from religion to politics to marriage and even female circumcision (masai are known for female circumcision) with them. I was very impressed as they spoke AMAZING english and Paulo, the guy I spent most of my time with, was REALLY well educated! Was so nice to not have the communication barrier that is normally present when trying to speak to Africans.
Got back to Dar Es Salaam yesterday and the ferry ride back was HORRIBLE! About 80% of the people on the boat were sea-sick! Was the longest few hours ever! The Kilombero girls left to go to Arusha today so Connie and I are spending the morning doing a few jobs we needed to get done and then this afternoon is headmasters brother-in-laws wedding.
We will then leave for Arusha tomorrow (the bus leaves at 5am so we have to get up at 3:30am!!!!) and then on Monday Connie, Ellie, Casey, Jess, Claire and myself are going to visit the school of St Judes (some of you may have read the book-its a school started up and run by an Aussie woman from near Armidale) which Im really looking forward to. Then hopefully Connie, Alex and I will do a safari from Tues until Fri and then will travel back down to Morogoro to visit the people placed there on Sat then back to Ikwiriri on Sun.
Well better leave it there,
hope you're all happy and healthy and enjoying life!
xxx
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