So this is a new record for me. I have officially posted for two weeks in a row. So for those of you that heard about the bombings in Dar es Salaam, about 20 people died and about 300 people were injured. No one I know was injured. And I have not been affected by this not being near Dar.
Not too much as happened this week. It has been kind of slow because the Form VI students finished their test last week, and the Form V were studying for the annual exams. They are finishing up this following week. Then I will only be teaching 6 periods a week on three days. Until school starts up again in the beginning of April. I don't know if I will continue to teach only Basic Applied Mathematics or more. I will see.
Though by the end of the week I was definitely ready for Friday! It had felt like a long week. Also, I was ready to be alone for a little bit. So I have a pretty good sense of humor about making mistakes. I laugh at myself if I fall, but you get to a point where you get sick of people laughing at you. My Swahili is pretty good. I know when people are talking about me but not always what. So, on Thursday I shut the door, turned on my American music, and read all the wonderful mail I received from everyone! SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO SENT ME MAIL! THANKS! It really brightened my day. Also, glad I have so many people writing because then I get all the stories. Also, if you sent me a letter you should be getting one soon.
Last night was pretty exciting too! I made the most delicious thing ever... banana bread in my homemade oven. YES you can cook without an oven...even bread. And I still had some left this morning. And today, I am going to pick up a new outfit that I am pretty excited about. And get a few items. I am also meeting a fellow PCV. Overall, last night and today have been pretty good. Well, I wish you all the best on your last week of February. Time is flying this year. Before you know it will be December 2011 and I will be seeing you all and wishing you Merry Christmas, baking cookies with delicious frosting, being really really cold (I think I may even be able to empathize with Laina on how cold it is), and putting up Christmas decorations. But now, I will say Kwa heri until next time. Missing you all. Have a good week!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Back with a superb internet connection...well, at least for today!
Guess what everyone! I was able to post! So I haven't posted since before Thanksgiving. HAPPY CHRISTMAS and NEW YEARS! Hope your new year's resolutions are going well!
I am currently teaching at a school in the Mt. Kilimanjaro region. I am teaching mathematics at the A-level (kind of like the first two years of college) and computers. Then, I am teaching chemistry at the O-level (like high school). It is going well, but there are a few things that are a little rocky. All the things that go along with being a first year teacher. I am slowly learning.
I am really enjoying my life in Tanzania and I actually feel that I can get around by myself. People finally believe that I am able to go to the market by myself and find my way around town. I can even bargain. Last weekend, I bargained for a taxi (trust me this is a big stepping stone). I am able to somewhat communicate with the students. Though my form 2 student still laugh at me. Eventually, I will be able to communicate and teach in English and Swahili without laughing.
I had a good holiday season. I spent it at school. I went to church on Christmas. So during the service, I was really trying to pay attention and understand. But I just didn't know what was going on. So I found out later, that the service was actually in kichaga, which is a local language in the area. Also, I now know about 10 words in kichaga. I am learning both kiswahili and kichaga. When I speak kichaga, everyone always laughs because I am a mzungu (which means white person). On New Years, I visited the mother of my friend.
Since then, I have been teaching. On the weekends, I go to the local market to buy food for the following week. On Sunday, I go to church and do all the cleaning and washing for the week. So the average day is as follows:
6 am- I wake up and go for a run or do yoga.
6:30 am - I return, get ready for school and eat.
7:35ish- Running a little late, I head to the school chapel for school devotions.
8:00ish - School starts and I teach, prepare lessons, and correct. It depends on the day for my teaching schedule
4:00ish - I leave school and go home about a 2 minute walk. I live on campus.
until about 5:30ish I do whatever and then prepare dinner, and do whatever until about 10 pm when I go to bed.
I am really excited to return and cook some of the tanzanian food I am learning to cook. I am learning to cook boiled bananas (don't say you won't try it before you have tasted it) because it is delicious. It is probably one of my favorite food. I can make ugali, kind of rice, and chipati. I have had a failed attempt of doughnuts, but I think I figured out the problem today. So I will report back on that.
So since today is the 12th of February, I am going to throw out a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELE! I hope that you have a great birthday!
Well, that is all for now.
Megan
I am currently teaching at a school in the Mt. Kilimanjaro region. I am teaching mathematics at the A-level (kind of like the first two years of college) and computers. Then, I am teaching chemistry at the O-level (like high school). It is going well, but there are a few things that are a little rocky. All the things that go along with being a first year teacher. I am slowly learning.
I am really enjoying my life in Tanzania and I actually feel that I can get around by myself. People finally believe that I am able to go to the market by myself and find my way around town. I can even bargain. Last weekend, I bargained for a taxi (trust me this is a big stepping stone). I am able to somewhat communicate with the students. Though my form 2 student still laugh at me. Eventually, I will be able to communicate and teach in English and Swahili without laughing.
I had a good holiday season. I spent it at school. I went to church on Christmas. So during the service, I was really trying to pay attention and understand. But I just didn't know what was going on. So I found out later, that the service was actually in kichaga, which is a local language in the area. Also, I now know about 10 words in kichaga. I am learning both kiswahili and kichaga. When I speak kichaga, everyone always laughs because I am a mzungu (which means white person). On New Years, I visited the mother of my friend.
Since then, I have been teaching. On the weekends, I go to the local market to buy food for the following week. On Sunday, I go to church and do all the cleaning and washing for the week. So the average day is as follows:
6 am- I wake up and go for a run or do yoga.
6:30 am - I return, get ready for school and eat.
7:35ish- Running a little late, I head to the school chapel for school devotions.
8:00ish - School starts and I teach, prepare lessons, and correct. It depends on the day for my teaching schedule
4:00ish - I leave school and go home about a 2 minute walk. I live on campus.
until about 5:30ish I do whatever and then prepare dinner, and do whatever until about 10 pm when I go to bed.
I am really excited to return and cook some of the tanzanian food I am learning to cook. I am learning to cook boiled bananas (don't say you won't try it before you have tasted it) because it is delicious. It is probably one of my favorite food. I can make ugali, kind of rice, and chipati. I have had a failed attempt of doughnuts, but I think I figured out the problem today. So I will report back on that.
So since today is the 12th of February, I am going to throw out a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELE! I hope that you have a great birthday!
Well, that is all for now.
Megan
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