March Already?

Hey Everyone,

So I am officially able to travel. I have been a volunteer now for 3 months! What am I going to do. I don't know yet. But will definitely keep you updated. So last week was my birthday and I baked cookies as a birthday gift to myself. I even got to use real American chocolate chips, and they were Toll house too! THANKS MOM AND DAD! I even shared them with the some of my fellow teachers. But don't worry I ate my fair share too. I think they were part of my dinner that night. I have made cookies before but I didn't have vanilla and boy does that make a difference. Some of you may be thinking. Baking cookies how can that be. Did you know that you can make your own oven using a small stove of wood, kerosene, charcoal, maybe even electricity a big pot, three rocks, a smaller pot, a lid, and a damp towel. I have even made banana bread this way.

Also for my birthday I was able to have ICE CREAM. It was pretty amazing is all I have to say. I with fellow Tanzanian friend, and they asked if it tasted like ice cream from the states. I said I had forgotten and that all I knew was it tasted good. I tell you it is the little things that can sometimes make your day - sometimes it is hearing that one song on the radio.

This past week I was able to see some other volunteers that were in town. It is nice to see other people that share the other experiences with you. And to speak English fast. If you have ever lived in a foreign country where all you here is another language, and you are trying to comprehend what is said. Sometimes you get tired and space out. Let's just say that this can happen a lot. For me, this happens especially in church. First, it is in another language. Second, there are really now books. Third, it is in another language. Though, I have to say, I went to a local church this last weekend and I actually understood the main points. Let me tell you how good that made me feel.

Let's see, I am still figuring out this teaching thing. It is definitely a little harder than I thought it would be- at least for the chemistry. But slowly, I am getting it. Hopefully in the next 6 months I will get it down. So another week will continue, though it will definitely be a bit slower that A-level is on break. I don't have to go in as much because I am only teaching the 6 classes a week. I wish you all a great week! Until next time Kwa heri!

Megan

TWO WEEKS in a ROW

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!

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

Happy Early Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy family, food, and football (all the american joys of Thanksgiving! Especially the Turkey!

Well, I will become an official PCV next Wednesday! I am super excited! I am excited to move into my own space and have everything be mine and not feel like a guest. My host family is great, but you never truly feel at home home! Also, I can wait to make whatever I want when I want. With the Christmas season coming, you can bet that I will be making or trying to make cut out cookies and buttercream frosting. I may even post pictures! Sorry, but pictures may take a while to get. I promise hopefully by New Years! I have a lot of pictures to post... safari, new house and hopefully delicious cookies!

Also, since last post was before or near Halloween, I hope everyone had a safe and great Halloween! Really the only exciting thing that I am now about to finish as I become an offical PCV is PC Training. I had my final Language Proficiency Interview and hopefully got a Intermediate-Mid. I apologize for those who don't know what this means but it is way more complicated than I have time for. But hopefully I made the cut! Boy though, am I excited to be done! I can't wait to just sit for one day and do absolutely nothing. I will be able to do whatever I want when I want... to a certain degree. I could sleep in later than 6 am if I want. Got to go only 2 minutes to spare!

Megan

Another Post.

So today was the site announcement. It was so cool. They had African dancers and drum players. I even got to try the bass drum. Well, it was quite the anticipation because mine was called near the end. I will be teaching math and probably chemistry at a boarding/day school for boys and girls. I am super excited.

What have I been up to lately? Well, I finished my student teaching internship this week and our school threw us a little going away party that was nice. A couple of weekends ago, I went on my first safari. I went to McKumi National Park. I got to see elephants, giraffes, warthogs, monkeys, baboons, zebras, wilda beasts, water buffalo, a lot of really pretty birds, a hippo, and even lions. The lions we saw were eating their dinner. I even got a picture of the lion with the carcass. The pictures will come eventually, but it might be a little bit. It was nice to relax for a bit. Normally, I am going going 6 days a week from like 6 until 5 pm. So the days can be long.

Life in Tanzania is great. I really like it. The food is excellent. I just have to learn to eat carb, but guess what..... Tanzania has peanuts AND PEANUT BUTTER!!! I know. How amazing is that! And the peanut butter is appropriately priced. I eat a lot of rice and bean with combinations of tomatos, green pepper, onion, garlic, and meat or coconut milk and peas (FYI.. Christina you would totally be fine in visiting). Most of the stuff I eat is vegetarian or can easily be made vegetarian. I am not the biggest meat eater here either. It tends to be a bit chewy, but what I did learn is I love sardines or small fish!!! Here we call them dagaa. I like them fried best. Also, a lot of the food here is fried, but it is delicious. They even have an omelet with fries in it. It is delicious, but I cannot eat too many. While the food is amazing here, I sometimes have dicussions with fellow PCTs about food that we crave. This is probably one of my favorite discussions in fact. What I would not do for a good milkshake!!!! MMMM! But, don't worry, I have chai time. I get a daily tea break at about 10 am every day. It was great. Also, one more thing I am missing is chocolate which may sound weird to the people that have known me since I was little but I would love a good dark chocolate candy right now. I savor things like this like nothing else. And since I know it is Halloween, I sure am missing Reese's PB shaped pumpkin or bat candies!

Anyway, I am becoming pro Tanzanian kitchen cooker. I hope to become pro baker once I get to site. I am even going to try an continue the Christmas tradition of making cut out cookies with frosting in December. I will let you know how this goes. Like I said before. I will post picture once I get to site.

It's been a while...

So I don't have too much time to post during training and internet access takes some planning. So a quick update:

1. I am alive.
2. I am learning swahili pole-pole (slowly)
3. I am gearing up for my final language proficiency test.
4. I am going to find out my site for the next two years next Friday!!!!!!!!!!!
5. I am almost done with training.
6. I am surviving and loving Tanzania.
7. I have been student teaching for 2 weeks now in Form 3 at a local school as a math teacher. Being creative with math demonstrations is a lot harder than it seems.
8. To all the teachers, I applaud you. Teaching is alot harder than it initially seemed.
9. I also cannot wait to have my own students...because substitute teaching is way harder.
10. Lastly or should I have said before, "Habari za leo?"
11. And now I say "Haya, Kwa heri". I have a minute left. Will post later.

Megan

AHH... Packing!

So, finally after two weeks living with my parents, I have packed away my life that isn't coming with me to Tanzania for two years. Now I have to start packing for my life that is coming with me in 80 lbs, 107 cubic inches, two bags, and a carry on. I started conquering the pile that was once the "going to Tanzania pile" near my bedroom closet that I have been adding to as I have been shopping for things I needed. Now its on my bed, but it looks more neat and even kind of categorized. However, the task of packing for two year seems daunting even though everyone I have talked to has said I can get everything I need there.

As a result of this daunting task, I decided a break was just what I needed and blogging seemed like a perfect idea. Plus, it's almost lunch. These past few weeks have been nice and relaxing while I wait to leave for Tanzania. Though, it is really hard for me to believe in less than TWO WEEKS I will be half way around the world with my fellow PCVs just in time for the Tanzanian summer. This week will be for packing, ties all loose ends, and then off to the Cities to see some fabulous people one last time for awhile.