I am a little late getting this in this blog but got busy and unfortunately had another death in the family, this one my oldest brother. It came as a shock as my nephew, his son, just died only three weeks ago. I am still reeling from these events, but here goes the original blog I had already drafted:
Charlotte has written her impressions about Christmas this year on the Dodoma Mission Blog. She is in Colorado visiting our son and completing a number of important tasks that will help St John's University, our living conditions in the concrete bunker, and raise funds to suppliment our projects in the villages near campus. I stayed in Tanzania because of the cost and someone had to teach her classes while she is gone. Almost all of the support groups here are funded by an external agency. We are here on our own dime, so to speak, with no help period. She hopes to obtain fundng for both our basic needs and for St John's as well as our school projects.
My impression of Christmas this year involved traveling to Bayamoyo on the eastern coast of Tanzania near Dar es Salaam. I was excited about the trip for many reasons. Dar es Salaam actually has a relatively new shopping center similiar to those in most U.S. cities. It was good to be able to see modern stores with lots of merchandise. My big find was a business level black and white laser printer that is also a scanner, and photocopier. It was on sale and actually cost about what it would when not on sale in the U.S. Dodoma businesses are often dominated by foreigners who work together to keep prices high and keep out competition. The same printer if available in Dodoma, would cost 30% more. Other purchases were for the trip up the coast to Bayamoyo including a gift for a name exchange between those traveling together to Bayamoyo.
Bayamoyo is a small sleepy town that reminds me of Myrtle and Virginia Beach where we went in the late 1950s and early 60s in the summers. We stayed right on the beach (No high risers to block the view.) Cost was only 50.00 per night which included breakfast. Down the road is the oldest Anglican Church in Tanzania. It has the distinct honor of housing the mummified body of David Livingston while waiting to be taken to Zanzibar for burial in 1876. We enjoyed several meals in the open outdoor restaurants and local historical tours including the slave market, talk about man's inhumanity to man!
On Christmas Day, Dr. Carr, the Dean of Humanities and Education at St John's University had been invited by a former theology student to present the sermon at the little Anglican Church I previously mentioned. Paul (Another faculty member St. John's) and I walked down the road from our place of lodging to the church. As we were walking along, a tall slender man passed us and I realized he was a Maasai. It seemed odd to see everyone else dressed more western style and this individual looked like the pictures in a travel brochure from the Serengeti. Paul spoke to him in Swahili, greeting him as he traveled on. Once at the church I observed that men sit on one side and the women on the other. Lots of children dressed in whatever they had that was Sunday best. The church was small, maybe holding about 100 people.
Dr. Carr gave an important message. He mentioned around the world in many countries children were opening lots of presents, but may be missing the real meaning of Christmas. Having a lot of material things and not acknowledging the spiritual side will leave you unsatisfied. His message was right on for this congregation. I doubt many, if any presents were opened on Christmas morning at this beach church because just behind the beach facade is the extreme poverty that exists in Africa. They sang many classic Christmas songs, reminded me of my own church on Christmas eve. When it became time to give an offering everyone filed to the front to give their donation. Paul and I gave 20,000 Shillings (about 15.00 USD) each and the group seemed to gasp at the amount. Think of the irony of that. We never gave it a second thought that the amount was more than many made for two weeks work. After church I felt like I had gotten a sore hand from shaking everyone's hand including the children who seemed honored that this old white man smiled at them and bent down to their level. The whole experience had a reminding effect on what is important about Christmas.
Enough of the serious side. We had several humorious events occur. First, while eating at the open air restaurant on the beach the second night, two large gray furry things fell from the thatched roof directly onto the floor. Rats! The one who had a soft landng ran under a table of six people who demonstrated their athletic skills by fleeing. I turned to the bartender near by and and said what are you going to do about it? He leisurely got a broom and swept the fatally wounded one outside and checked under the table of six, then went back to bartending. Hmmm..,does this happen often?
Other incidents include going to a posh restaurant 18,000 Tsh (13.00 USD) for Christmas dinner. That was the easy part. At the gate the guard tried to charge us 7,000 Tsh each to enter, or 35,000 Tsh total. After an intense discussion between Christine and the guard in Swahili, he let us in free. What I noticed was the age that started for adults, five years old. I don't care how much growth hormone is put in American cattle feed, no child even in America looks like an adult at five years, maybe a rip off?
The next day when I paid up, the clerk took out a receipt book, put in a carbon paper and wrote me out a receipt, vintage 1950s. Not a computer in sight. On the way back we took a 75 mile short cut on dirt roads to save some mileage and time. Christine is an excellent dirt driver. She averaged 55-60 miles an hour on the dirt roads. We would come up on a small village and people would scramble up the banks to get out of the road. Later, literally in the middle of nowhere, we came upon several men putting interlocking bricks on the short street (using the term loosely) in the middle of the village. The had the road blocked off. Christine and two of the guys had another of those pay us to enter talks like the guard at the posh restaurant. This was in Swahili, but I could tell Christine was not winning. They wanted 5,000Tsh to cross their toll or troll road. Christine backs up and puts it in four wheel drive and goes up the bank onto the path in front of the huts and dukas and drove through their "front yards" and back down the bank past where the brick were being laid. The look on the two guys faces was shock.
The rest of the trip was uneventful to Dodoma. As I think back, Paul and Christine balanced the importance of Christmas and yet gave their children presents. The two children know what was important about Christmas because they would tell you when asked. Enough for this time.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Home Again and Back
Today is Christmas and I find myself in Colorado and David is in Dar es Salaam. A decision was made for me to fly back and acquire a new computer plus of course to visit family and friends. It has been an unusual Christmas for me and for David. We usually spend major holidays together but with one son in Japan and our oldest in Colorado it meant a world wide Christmas this year! It is nice to be home and to see my church family and my son and his wife. But it has created in me a different view of the world I came from to the world I really belong. So here are some thoughts just rambling around in my head...enjoy and please comment if you can.
December 24, 2009
Denver …Tanzania… Reflections
I went to the Christmas Eve Candle Light service tonight. The lights, the lighted tree, the candles, the carols, the pastor’s message all seemed to be perfectly fitting into that holy space on this the holiest of nights. But the images in my mind tonight were not of the wonderful snow, or the candles or the smiling faces I see around me. The images I see are of a place far from here. One that is full of poverty and desperation but at the same time full of hope and faith. The images I see are of Tanzania.
Everywhere I look tonight my mind shifts me back to a place where little is more, to have is to give, and to receive is a blessing. This is country where daily life is a struggle for all. Where water is obtained by carrying it on ones head not by turning on a faucet. Where traveling to work is by foot, by bike or local bus not by personal car. When it is time to do your laundry it is done by hand not by machines. Reading at night is by candle or flashlight not by electricity. Learning is done with a piece of chalk and board not by textbooks, pencils, crayons and paper. Cooking is often done over a charcoal pot in the middle of a room rather than on a stove and food is bought daily rather than stored in a refrigerator. Trash is burned in a pit in your backyard rather than gathered up by garbage collectors. Plastic bags are saved and washed instead of thrown away and coke comes in glass bottles rather than cans. Most roads are dirt and not maintained rather than paved with four to six lanes..traveling is only done by car when needed..not for a pleasure drive on Sundays.
The differences are so great from this wonderful country of plenty to Tanzania that is has created in me a sense of have and have not mentality. I seem at times to be a state of unequal balance trying hard to juggle the reality of Tanzania and reality of Colorado.
For example, my head spins when I enter a supermarket. Too overwhelmed by all the choices I often leave with little I came for. And when I do buy it is often the items I would select in the open air markets back in Tanzania.
Starved for western entertainment I have spent hours looking at movies to buy or rent. I have not done well in this area, usually only buying movies to share with others back in Dodoma.
Armed with a shopping list from Tanzania friends I walk among the isles of department stores my brain going into overload until I retreat to the safety of my car. My list is still very long!
The simple fact is that life for us here in the United States is not difficult for a large part of our population. But for the average citizen in Tanzania life is difficult and often not kind. Take Christmas, for most children in Tanzania it will not be one full of presents with decorations on a tree. It is a church event with carols and thanksgiving. Not one of endless presents and expectations of toys. There is little talk of Santa or Father Christmas. Christmas in Tanzania is simple and with family. It is all about the birth of Christ.
Another example is Tanzanians have little disposable income. Over 90% of the population live on less than two hundred dollars a year. And if they do make more it usually goes to their extended family to help out others who are in need. No one is expected to keep their money it goes for the good of the family. As a foreigner in Tanzania I must constantly keep in mind that I can spend more in a week than most people make in three months. I try to be careful about how I shop taking care not to buy too many items at one time. Theft is a problem in Tanzania.
One last example is the Church in Tanzania is not just a place to go on Sundays, but a place for the people to meet and greet, it ties the villages together and creates a place where social events happen through out the week. Being in touch with God is a way of life in Tanzania. Morning prayers and church bells ring out each and everyday at 6:00am and through out the day. Church members join choirs and spend hours every week practicing hymns for a Sunday service. The choirs hold competions and compete for the best choir in their area. They even make CD recordings of their hymns and sell them to make money for their church. It is considered an honor to be part of a church choir.
Writing tonight has helped my head to settle down. I see by the clock it is 6 minutes past midnight. Merry Christmas Evergreen, Merry Christmas Japan and Merry Christmas Tanzania!!
December 24, 2009
Denver …Tanzania… Reflections
I went to the Christmas Eve Candle Light service tonight. The lights, the lighted tree, the candles, the carols, the pastor’s message all seemed to be perfectly fitting into that holy space on this the holiest of nights. But the images in my mind tonight were not of the wonderful snow, or the candles or the smiling faces I see around me. The images I see are of a place far from here. One that is full of poverty and desperation but at the same time full of hope and faith. The images I see are of Tanzania.
Everywhere I look tonight my mind shifts me back to a place where little is more, to have is to give, and to receive is a blessing. This is country where daily life is a struggle for all. Where water is obtained by carrying it on ones head not by turning on a faucet. Where traveling to work is by foot, by bike or local bus not by personal car. When it is time to do your laundry it is done by hand not by machines. Reading at night is by candle or flashlight not by electricity. Learning is done with a piece of chalk and board not by textbooks, pencils, crayons and paper. Cooking is often done over a charcoal pot in the middle of a room rather than on a stove and food is bought daily rather than stored in a refrigerator. Trash is burned in a pit in your backyard rather than gathered up by garbage collectors. Plastic bags are saved and washed instead of thrown away and coke comes in glass bottles rather than cans. Most roads are dirt and not maintained rather than paved with four to six lanes..traveling is only done by car when needed..not for a pleasure drive on Sundays.
The differences are so great from this wonderful country of plenty to Tanzania that is has created in me a sense of have and have not mentality. I seem at times to be a state of unequal balance trying hard to juggle the reality of Tanzania and reality of Colorado.
For example, my head spins when I enter a supermarket. Too overwhelmed by all the choices I often leave with little I came for. And when I do buy it is often the items I would select in the open air markets back in Tanzania.
Armed with a shopping list from Tanzania friends I walk among the isles of department stores my brain going into overload until I retreat to the safety of my car. My list is still very long!
The simple fact is that life for us here in the United States is not difficult for a large part of our population. But for the average citizen in Tanzania life is difficult and often not kind. Take Christmas, for most children in Tanzania it will not be one full of presents with decorations on a tree. It is a church event with carols and thanksgiving. Not one of endless presents and expectations of toys. There is little talk of Santa or Father Christmas. Christmas in Tanzania is simple and with family. It is all about the birth of Christ.
Another example is Tanzanians have little disposable income. Over 90% of the population live on less than two hundred dollars a year. And if they do make more it usually goes to their extended family to help out others who are in need. No one is expected to keep their money it goes for the good of the family. As a foreigner in Tanzania I must constantly keep in mind that I can spend more in a week than most people make in three months. I try to be careful about how I shop taking care not to buy too many items at one time. Theft is a problem in Tanzania.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Reflections...Primary School...
Reflections on Teaching...Thanksgiving far from Home...
Chritmas Tree in Front of Apt.(red one)
As I stood in Lecture Hall # 2 watching my class come in for the exam it occurred to me that this scene could be repeated anywhere. However, it wasn't; it was in Dodoma, Tanzania in a start up Christian university running on far less than is needed. As I walked around the room for test monitoring three lizards greeted me out one of the windows. They had been sunning themselves in the late afternoon sun on a few rocks near by. Now that you would not see in Denver, Colorado even in the summer. Strange I think, here I am on the eastern side of Africa in a dusty town of 350,000, teaching at a small university that hopes to educate students with a Christian foundation in Humanities, Nursing, Geography, Sciences, and Theology. In general teaching here is harder but the rewards of getting to know your students are greater. Most of my students must ride a local bus transportation system which is always breaking down, they have no computers or memory/flash drives and more rely on photo copied notes or hand written notes for studying. (come to think of it so did I when I went to college). More often the class is hot (4:00 pm) with no screens just open windows and most of the time my power point presentation projector will not work correctly. . But with a stroke of good luck and prayers my lectures usually start within 5 to 10 minutes and end on time.
This week is Thanksgiving week and its hard not to think about it. What we are doing is having a Saturday evening dinner for all of the missionaries and us, plus a few other invited guests, about 20 people all total. No turkey, though, as they are only available for Christmas here. Chickens are having to do, plus a pork roast. Chickens, well, they are not very big, even those we bought at Two Sisters Grocery. Hopefully there will be enough. Everyone is bringing a traditional dish fixed the way they prepare it. Should be fun. Last night the Carrs had a belated birthday dinner for me and his wife who had a birthday this week. We had three kinds off pizza, none like the U.S. pizza, but very good!
This week David and I went out to a k-12 village school (see pictures) and we were impressed with the eagerness of the students to learn even though the school had not windows or doors in some cases and 1100 hundred sudents wearing dingy, torn, and too large uniforms in most cases. The average number of students in Primary was between 60 and 70 per class. In secondary, about 40-50. This is a government school, not private. Private schools have better materials and equipment and teachers are paid more and tend to remain with the school long term.
It is an understood fact that if someone with a white face visits, they assume you have lots of money to help their school. This is because so many agencies are trying to help Tanzanians in many areas, it gives that impression. The first thing we said was we are not missionaries, not from an international agency, but just volunteers. We have no agency supporting us. We only have at this point services to offer. Some disappointment but we discussed other ways we could help and it not cost much money. Visiting classrooms (see pictures) illustrated why it is chalk and talk.
The students have a cheap notepad they write down everything the teacher puts on the board, often have to repeat the information in unison, yet they are very eager to learn.
In the English class, Primary level 3, students introduced themselves (10 students picked at random). Their English pronounciation was excellent. The teacher is doing a good job with viturally nothing to work with!
David has finished writing the Master's in Special Education and it is ready to be reviewed by the various university committees.
I am sure it will need some amending, but the plan is to send it on to the Tanzanian Ministry of Human Services and Education for hopeful approval.
The special education course for undergraduates he wrote will be offered in second semester (March 2010). While an optional course, he hopes he doesn't have 400 students enroll as there is a great deal of interest.
No word yet on our computer and phone. I can only assume they are gone forever. Every once in while I get a little sentimental over the loss of my mother's pictures and our oldest son's wedding pictures. But we now back up all our photos and data we type.
Chritmas Tree in Front of Apt.(red one)As I stood in Lecture Hall # 2 watching my class come in for the exam it occurred to me that this scene could be repeated anywhere. However, it wasn't; it was in Dodoma, Tanzania in a start up Christian university running on far less than is needed. As I walked around the room for test monitoring three lizards greeted me out one of the windows. They had been sunning themselves in the late afternoon sun on a few rocks near by. Now that you would not see in Denver, Colorado even in the summer. Strange I think, here I am on the eastern side of Africa in a dusty town of 350,000, teaching at a small university that hopes to educate students with a Christian foundation in Humanities, Nursing, Geography, Sciences, and Theology. In general teaching here is harder but the rewards of getting to know your students are greater. Most of my students must ride a local bus transportation system which is always breaking down, they have no computers or memory/flash drives and more rely on photo copied notes or hand written notes for studying. (come to think of it so did I when I went to college). More often the class is hot (4:00 pm) with no screens just open windows and most of the time my power point presentation projector will not work correctly. . But with a stroke of good luck and prayers my lectures usually start within 5 to 10 minutes and end on time.
Most faculty work 70 plus hours a week, teach very large classes in an effort to offer the students the courses they need to stay on schedule and graduate on time. The biggest bottleneck now is reliable printers to make master copies of tests, notes, and handouts.
The photocopy situation is very good as we have several heavy duty copiers that usually do not break down. Printers are another story! Also the internet out of Kenya is not always reliable and can be off hours at a time, interfering with faculty and student's research for assignments. Personally, we use Vodacom, a wireless broadband system. It is expensive for here, about 45.00 U.S. per month but has unlimited use. So... as I watched, I thought about the difficult logistics to get the exam ready to give to 130 students. After they were seated David helped me distribute the exam. He had to be stern with a couple of students about talking and looking at each others test. He gave them the option of one of them moving or both of them out the door. A big problem here in the secondary schoools where these students come from do a "Talk and Chalk" approach because of limited resources. As a result the study model for students is to memorize the material and write everything they know for each question, often not fully understanding it meaning. I graded all 130 tests, and believe it or not, they all made at least a passing grade.
This week is Thanksgiving week and its hard not to think about it. What we are doing is having a Saturday evening dinner for all of the missionaries and us, plus a few other invited guests, about 20 people all total. No turkey, though, as they are only available for Christmas here. Chickens are having to do, plus a pork roast. Chickens, well, they are not very big, even those we bought at Two Sisters Grocery. Hopefully there will be enough. Everyone is bringing a traditional dish fixed the way they prepare it. Should be fun. Last night the Carrs had a belated birthday dinner for me and his wife who had a birthday this week. We had three kinds off pizza, none like the U.S. pizza, but very good!
This week David and I went out to a k-12 village school (see pictures) and we were impressed with the eagerness of the students to learn even though the school had not windows or doors in some cases and 1100 hundred sudents wearing dingy, torn, and too large uniforms in most cases. The average number of students in Primary was between 60 and 70 per class. In secondary, about 40-50. This is a government school, not private. Private schools have better materials and equipment and teachers are paid more and tend to remain with the school long term.
In the English class, Primary level 3, students introduced themselves (10 students picked at random). Their English pronounciation was excellent. The teacher is doing a good job with viturally nothing to work with!
David has finished writing the Master's in Special Education and it is ready to be reviewed by the various university committees.
I am sure it will need some amending, but the plan is to send it on to the Tanzanian Ministry of Human Services and Education for hopeful approval.
The special education course for undergraduates he wrote will be offered in second semester (March 2010). While an optional course, he hopes he doesn't have 400 students enroll as there is a great deal of interest.
No word yet on our computer and phone. I can only assume they are gone forever. Every once in while I get a little sentimental over the loss of my mother's pictures and our oldest son's wedding pictures. But we now back up all our photos and data we type.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Computer Grew Legs..Swimming...Company...Making Do
Today is Wednesday the 18th and it is my birthday!! Never thought I would be in Tanzania for a birthday, but God always changes your plans! It has been a difficult couple of week for us. This past Friday someone on campus stole our computer and phone right out of our office. David left the room for about three minutes to pick up a print copy down the hall only to return to an empty desk. Well, not entirely empty. The power cord was left behind as well as the computer case. That was a blessing we are told because the power cord is hard to find in Dodoma and our computer had no battery in the back. So our HP is useless unless someone can find the right cord and battery for it. In the meantime Davd and I are working hard to replace the lost lectures that were in the computer. Because our computer was to be our home away from home for calling family and friends,(Skype), pictures of life in Colorado with family and friends and pets, generally personal correspondence, etc., it feels like our life was ripped into pieces. Needless to say I have been very upset...but life is slowly returning to normal. Below is David wih the university car we use on weekends.
Saturday we took the UK family again to the swimming pool.
They are such a joy to be with. Daniel and Issiac
are learning to swim and both their parents are such good swim teachers.
The Dodoma Hotel has great pizza (but I am told it depends on the cook).Sunday we had Moses and Ruth over for lunch. Moses had just finished two Sunday services at the Cathedal for the local Tanzanians. (Service is not in English). Grace came all dressed up in red with cute little shoes.
Here is David with little Grace. Moses has written a book, REAL POWER: Jesus Christ's Authority Over the Spirits. He points out from his research that many Tanzanians Christians still believe that the Spirit World is also needed because they don't believe that God answers their prayers soon enough to solve personal issues in their everyday life. He feels that missionaries and native Tanzanian ministers need to support both the spiritual and personal side of Tanzanians. The book is so popular that it had to be reprinted. Defintely worth discussing in Bible Study sessions.
David's Point of View:
Having the computer taken was devastating because I had all my Modules for the class on it. For Charlotte, it was even worse. She had loaded a lot of pictures, etc. because that was the easiest way to travel. We thought we could use a computer to reprint important ones. Nope! All the printers at St. John's are toner black and white due to difficulty getting ink refills. Everyone has been sympathetic because they know we are trying to help them get an education. They are embarassed by the epsiode. The good news is that all the computer shops are looking for it. The dummy who stole it doesn't have the power cord nor a battery and HPs are not normally sold in Tanzania. Some students have said please don't leave. I have no plans to let this situation deter me. I am more determined than ever! The police say that there is a ring of thieves that have stolen computers at the University of Dodoma making them think that is what has happened here. The University will replace it if its not found soon. I am using the Vice Chancelor's indefinitely. It was a new one still in the box. He is an excellent leader for the University.
The rain has made everything much greener and people are starting to plant gardens as they depend on them to eat. The rain in some ways has actually helped the dirt roads by packing them down but still deep mud puddles that could stall out a car. I am going to be able run a special education course next semester to sample interest in disabilities. Little or nothing is done for those with disabilities due to few teachers with training and little money to pay them. I got some help on my quest to get these future teachers to structure lessons to get students to think and problem solve. An education meeting was held in Dar es Salaam and it made the major papers. The focus was how to move from "Chalk and Talk" to a learner centered approach, exactly what I am stressing in class. "Chalk and Talk" refers to the instructor writing on the board and students copying the information down, memorizing for tests and to get ready for the national tests that allow you to enter a college or just graduate from secondary school. To be fair, a lot of the problem over the years has been a lack of supplimentary materials (How about basic course textbooks for a start?), resulting in a rut in how students are taught. Secondary schools including government schools are tuition based, not free.
Enough on these issues. Oh yes, one positive note. We are now hooked to two water storage sources giving constant water availability. We are going to a wedding on Saturday out in one of the villages. Let you know how that turns out.
David's Point of View:
Having the computer taken was devastating because I had all my Modules for the class on it. For Charlotte, it was even worse. She had loaded a lot of pictures, etc. because that was the easiest way to travel. We thought we could use a computer to reprint important ones. Nope! All the printers at St. John's are toner black and white due to difficulty getting ink refills. Everyone has been sympathetic because they know we are trying to help them get an education. They are embarassed by the epsiode. The good news is that all the computer shops are looking for it. The dummy who stole it doesn't have the power cord nor a battery and HPs are not normally sold in Tanzania. Some students have said please don't leave. I have no plans to let this situation deter me. I am more determined than ever! The police say that there is a ring of thieves that have stolen computers at the University of Dodoma making them think that is what has happened here. The University will replace it if its not found soon. I am using the Vice Chancelor's indefinitely. It was a new one still in the box. He is an excellent leader for the University.
The rain has made everything much greener and people are starting to plant gardens as they depend on them to eat. The rain in some ways has actually helped the dirt roads by packing them down but still deep mud puddles that could stall out a car. I am going to be able run a special education course next semester to sample interest in disabilities. Little or nothing is done for those with disabilities due to few teachers with training and little money to pay them. I got some help on my quest to get these future teachers to structure lessons to get students to think and problem solve. An education meeting was held in Dar es Salaam and it made the major papers. The focus was how to move from "Chalk and Talk" to a learner centered approach, exactly what I am stressing in class. "Chalk and Talk" refers to the instructor writing on the board and students copying the information down, memorizing for tests and to get ready for the national tests that allow you to enter a college or just graduate from secondary school. To be fair, a lot of the problem over the years has been a lack of supplimentary materials (How about basic course textbooks for a start?), resulting in a rut in how students are taught. Secondary schools including government schools are tuition based, not free.
Enough on these issues. Oh yes, one positive note. We are now hooked to two water storage sources giving constant water availability. We are going to a wedding on Saturday out in one of the villages. Let you know how that turns out.
Monday, November 9, 2009
RAINING!!!.....Retreat with the Nuns....Lecturing and Planning
Today is Sunday, November the 8th and it has been raining off and on since last night. What a relief to all of us. We still have no water today but no matter....the rains are coming and the weather is cooler. Everyone tells us we need to buy umbrellas but we can't find where to buy them. So for now we are making do...
David requested one of the three cars the university keeps around again for today. I never thought I would say it but it is nice to be able to drive to church on our own and be independent for at least one day a week. After church we ventured to our market places ( David enjoys teasing the two retired sisters from India who own one of grocery stores) and then drove home only to find the electricity and water off.
Oh well,that is Dodoma!
What a relief! Now I can concentrate on the grammar course and other three seminars during the week! David is still working on developing a master's degree program in special education and teaching his class of 300 students.
This Friday and Saturday we ventured along with the Salaman's and their two boys to a missionary conference for UK people. It was held at a Catholic retreat ran by nuns and local residents. The Catholics sure know how to invest their money in God's name.
The facility was wonderfully build like a villa opening to a courtyard. It had acres and acres of walking gradens, food gardens, orchards and a trade school located across the main road to train young adults in woodworking, cooking, sewing, etc.
The rooms had great hot water and had it all the time!( Can you tell we were very impressed!) It was also located on a rise from where you could still see the small hills surrounding Dodoma and the communication towers. The local residents still live in extreme poverty right up to the walled gates but at least this retreat offers them some local employment. David and I were the American babysitters for four British children, the Salaman's children, and two wonderful girls ages five and eight who came up from the sourthern part of the country (near the Mozambique border) with their parents.
All in all it was a refreshing change and the food was great!
Missionary Truck from
Tobora Area. (notice
no dirt even though it came
60 miles on dirt roads)
Courtyard at Catholic retreat.
David with some of his 300 students.
Tobora Area. (notice
no dirt even though it came
60 miles on dirt roads)
Courtyard at Catholic retreat.
David with some of his 300 students.Teaching in a lecture hall with a poor sound system and concrete walls and floors makes it tougher be understood by students who speak English as their second language.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
New Camera Will Travel...
Tonight is Thursday( November 5th) and we have new pictures and a new camera. The week has gone fast! It was our first week with classes and a full schedule of seminars. Add in early morning Chapel, prayer meeting on Tuesdays, Bible Study on Wednesday (7:00 pm) and Choir practice on Wednesdays (4:00 to 6:00pm) and Saturdays I am one tired puppy this week. Not to mention the fact I am now recovering from a very bad cold I caught last week. With the week nearing an end and a retreat coming up at a conference center Friday night and Saturday, I decided to enter these pictures of the campus, We are still learning about our new camera...so don't expect too much. Just a footnote here on how our camera came to be. Yesse the young man who picked us up in Dar es Salaam (Human Resource Director) was going back to Dar on business and said he would pick us up one. SO....we gave him the money and here is our camera. Now you might ask why would we not buy one here in a town of 350,000 people. BECAUSE most things sold in Dodoma are either very cheap, or possibly an "old-new" camera and may not work well or they are very high end and cost more than they are worth.
Everyone told us to wait and buy in Dar or the United States when we were back there. Yesse was our knight in shinning armor. We are very grateful to him.
Yesse with David in Living Room..with camera!!
We still have nothing up on our walls because the walls are concrete.
All the pipes and electrical wiring are on the outside on the walls.
If anyone has any suggestions would love them on how to hang things in concrete. (No special nails or screws are sold here!)
There are places to sit around it for the students. It is one of the best places to be when it is hot which is everyday.
David teaches Dialects of English and Aurelia teaches the Oral Traditions of Africa along with myself doing Written Literature. There was bad traffic accident involving a professor from our English Department killing two people. Due to issues related to the accident he is unable to teach his Literature class so Aurelia and I were asked to take over. WOW!, what a difference taking on another class makes to my schedule when you include two more seminar classes per week to prepare for. So I said of yes,course, but hope he is back soon to teach.
David's (Reid) Curriculum and Methods class is waiting to get in the
main theater which holds around 600 people.
His class now averages around 300 students for lectures.
He has been using a projector for his power points. Things are going better for his huge group now. David's course is on educational curriculum for secondary students.
Notice the way we keep our windows open with the now broken rulers.
David and I are using the same computer (ours). Most professors use their own computer. Our little office has two desks, two chairs and a very small book shelf with a few of our books.Throw in a power strip and internet/printer connections and we have many things to tangle our feet.
David's assistant, Angelina teaching a seminar, one of 13 during the week. His other assistant Focus (pronounced Focooz) teaches half of the seminars as does Angelina. David acts as a mentor and guide to help them review lecture content and hear students make presentations on topics from the curriculum course. They will help "mark" test papers and other assignments for the 300 students.
My Week in Review (By David Reid)
This week has had both good and not so good things happen. Good is that the lectures are going well and lecture assistants are reinforcing the lecture content in the seminars. I am lucky to have two very competent people assisting me. I am working on an undergraduate course for all our future teachers to take on how to work with mild disabilities. The Dean has also asked me to put together a proposal for a possible master's degree in Special Education. I have completed the prospectus so far.
Things that did not go so well include not getting things printed in a timely manner, due to the department being sold "new-old toner" replacement that was only half full. It had to be taken back and demand a refund to go and buy one in the box that totally sealed with a manufactor's date. (Only $157.00 U.S.)
Next, the tech assistant was not at the checkout center for PowerPoint projectors and made me late to class for both lectures this week. Then another instructor put the power cord for the projector that Charlotte was to use in his own computer case leaving Charlotte without a cord to power her presentations ruining her lecture effectivness for the class. Finally, students were upset because if they did not have their ID card showing they had paid their tuition, they could not continue attending class. Naturally this left some students very unhappy.
It getting late about 10:00 p.m. here in Tanzania, but 11:00 a.m. in Denver, so I am signing off. The next blog entry will include our visit to the Catholic Retreat for a two day meeting of Anglican missionaries! Think about that for a moment.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
BACK TO SCHOOL!! SOUNDS OF MORNING AT ST. JOHN'S , WATER NEEDED! CHOIR AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
BACK TO SCHOOL BY DAVID
Well...the first week of classes has past and we have survived! I met my class for the first time and had about 100 students. I went over the course syllabus and explained the usual about importance of attendence, etc.
It was a strugggle from the start. First, the power strip for the projector would not work properly, delaying class a few minutes. Second, I have to learn to slow down and re-explain often due to their English as a second language. My assistant instructor told me I had an accent. Like the British don't! Third I made the mistake of trying to handout a one page correction sheet for the seminar schedule. I was mobbed, pushed, and had the handouts taken out of my hands by the students. I hope they got a copy in the chaos. My assistant said don't hand out things but let them go to the copy shop a get a copy.
The second session went much better and I had 250 students show up. I slowed down and repeated information from the PowerPoint and this seemed to help a great deal. One of my goals is to get the future teachers to understand how to teach for understanding and not just memorize a lot on information to later forget. On Monday, yesterday, I think they are beginning to understand what I am trying to do.
Charlotte's classes went pretty well. She has only about a 100 student in one of the many smaller lecture halls and doesn't need a microphone. However she has to write on the board which needs resurfacing.So she bought some large chart paper and is supplimenting with that. She has three seminars later in the week. I have 13 seminars but my Assistants, both who have taught and have their Master's Degree or working to finish it, wanted to conduct the seminars and have me serve more as a mentor. They both are very capable.
I went to church twice this past Sunday, once to the 7:30 a.m. on campus where Charlotte now sings in the choir. Then at 9:30 a.m. at the Catheral where she teaches Sunday School for about 20 missionary and Tanzanian kids age 3-7 years. We had Communion at both. Wow, one more communion could make one begin to feel pretty good! (Not really, but it was an interesting morning.) . Later in the afternoon we went to Msalato to visit Moses and Ruth. Ruth and little Grace have had a touch of Malaria and Typhoid, but they are better now. Charlotte had made baby Grace a sweater and it just did fit her. Moses and Charlotte discussed her working at Msalato next semester. What she is doing here at St. John's is a good primer for her to teach English there. I will continue to teach here at St. John's. All in all the week went fairly well for us both.
MORNING SOUNDS OF DODOMA
BY CHARLOTTE
I remember reading a person's blog before we left about all the noise in Dodoma. They were right! Long before a normal person would begin to stir the sounds of the day come floating into our bedroom. First there is the call to prayer which starts before the sun comes up. I am not sure how long it lasts because I am dozing. Then just when you think it is safe to fall asleep again here come the Catholic bells ringing loudly for a good three minutes or so. Next the local dogs pitch their howls in with the bells. Long after your head is left damaged a group of roosters down the street start to crow. Last but not least are a small group of pigs squeling for food. All this noise and it's only 6:00 in the morning!
WATER NEEDED
Dry and more dry...water is in short supply right now. Over the weekend we had a 24 hour period without tap water available. Our buckets are now half full with water. Everything needs water. Once last week we actually had a small shower which lasted about 15 minutes as a storm moved through. It didn't even wet the sand. The trees here are amazing though. They seem to thrive without water pushing out their flowers for the spring. Pink, red, purple, white flowers all creating a canapy of sorts. Once we get our new camera I will provide some spring time pictures. Right now the word on the street is that come early November the rains may begin. Due to global warming and deforesting of the local trees Dodoma has only one season for rain instead of the usual two. With its population growing the results will be difficult in the future! I hope and pray the city starts to increase ways to store water and to provide water to its people.
CHOIR AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
The local chapel choir I have joined is still very small. Not everyone from last year has returned to practice I am told and we are too many altos or base to carry a good tune. Oh well, it is still fun and close. I just walk around the corner to another house for practice. The couple that leads the choir have two very small children and are wonderfully dedicated to being missionaries. I have enjoyed interacting with their children. They are so cute and sound so British! (Reminds of the voices in Harry Potter movies.) Speaking of children, the Sunday School experience I may not help at all. The children really don't another adult since the activities are done in one large group with three other adults. That may change so I was asked to come back in another two weeks. David groaned and moaned about the two services but time went really fast at both.
Well...the first week of classes has past and we have survived! I met my class for the first time and had about 100 students. I went over the course syllabus and explained the usual about importance of attendence, etc.
It was a strugggle from the start. First, the power strip for the projector would not work properly, delaying class a few minutes. Second, I have to learn to slow down and re-explain often due to their English as a second language. My assistant instructor told me I had an accent. Like the British don't! Third I made the mistake of trying to handout a one page correction sheet for the seminar schedule. I was mobbed, pushed, and had the handouts taken out of my hands by the students. I hope they got a copy in the chaos. My assistant said don't hand out things but let them go to the copy shop a get a copy.
The second session went much better and I had 250 students show up. I slowed down and repeated information from the PowerPoint and this seemed to help a great deal. One of my goals is to get the future teachers to understand how to teach for understanding and not just memorize a lot on information to later forget. On Monday, yesterday, I think they are beginning to understand what I am trying to do.
Charlotte's classes went pretty well. She has only about a 100 student in one of the many smaller lecture halls and doesn't need a microphone. However she has to write on the board which needs resurfacing.So she bought some large chart paper and is supplimenting with that. She has three seminars later in the week. I have 13 seminars but my Assistants, both who have taught and have their Master's Degree or working to finish it, wanted to conduct the seminars and have me serve more as a mentor. They both are very capable.
I went to church twice this past Sunday, once to the 7:30 a.m. on campus where Charlotte now sings in the choir. Then at 9:30 a.m. at the Catheral where she teaches Sunday School for about 20 missionary and Tanzanian kids age 3-7 years. We had Communion at both. Wow, one more communion could make one begin to feel pretty good! (Not really, but it was an interesting morning.) . Later in the afternoon we went to Msalato to visit Moses and Ruth. Ruth and little Grace have had a touch of Malaria and Typhoid, but they are better now. Charlotte had made baby Grace a sweater and it just did fit her. Moses and Charlotte discussed her working at Msalato next semester. What she is doing here at St. John's is a good primer for her to teach English there. I will continue to teach here at St. John's. All in all the week went fairly well for us both.
MORNING SOUNDS OF DODOMA
BY CHARLOTTE
I remember reading a person's blog before we left about all the noise in Dodoma. They were right! Long before a normal person would begin to stir the sounds of the day come floating into our bedroom. First there is the call to prayer which starts before the sun comes up. I am not sure how long it lasts because I am dozing. Then just when you think it is safe to fall asleep again here come the Catholic bells ringing loudly for a good three minutes or so. Next the local dogs pitch their howls in with the bells. Long after your head is left damaged a group of roosters down the street start to crow. Last but not least are a small group of pigs squeling for food. All this noise and it's only 6:00 in the morning!
WATER NEEDED
Dry and more dry...water is in short supply right now. Over the weekend we had a 24 hour period without tap water available. Our buckets are now half full with water. Everything needs water. Once last week we actually had a small shower which lasted about 15 minutes as a storm moved through. It didn't even wet the sand. The trees here are amazing though. They seem to thrive without water pushing out their flowers for the spring. Pink, red, purple, white flowers all creating a canapy of sorts. Once we get our new camera I will provide some spring time pictures. Right now the word on the street is that come early November the rains may begin. Due to global warming and deforesting of the local trees Dodoma has only one season for rain instead of the usual two. With its population growing the results will be difficult in the future! I hope and pray the city starts to increase ways to store water and to provide water to its people.
CHOIR AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
The local chapel choir I have joined is still very small. Not everyone from last year has returned to practice I am told and we are too many altos or base to carry a good tune. Oh well, it is still fun and close. I just walk around the corner to another house for practice. The couple that leads the choir have two very small children and are wonderfully dedicated to being missionaries. I have enjoyed interacting with their children. They are so cute and sound so British! (Reminds of the voices in Harry Potter movies.) Speaking of children, the Sunday School experience I may not help at all. The children really don't another adult since the activities are done in one large group with three other adults. That may change so I was asked to come back in another two weeks. David groaned and moaned about the two services but time went really fast at both.
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