One semester down

Two weeks ago I made the trip up to one of the western teachers side project of building a school in a near by remote village. Ian who is an Art Teacher at the new campus, began the project in the village where his girlfriend grew up and family still remain. Her brother who is very switched on for a Tanzainian has provided his old house to be the initial building and Ian is gradually modifying it, raising money and going through the channels to register the school to hopefully start next year. It is still very much in the initial stages but the government has said they will support it as much as recognizing it, no funding though. Greg an Australian teaching mentor and I said we would come up whenever possible to help him. So Sunday two weeks ago we bought some paint and brushes and headed off early to give the school its first coat of paint. The village is well off the beaten track. It took us a dulla dulla, a bus, another dulla dulla, a taxi and two hours to get there. For this reason though it was completely different to the hustle bustle and pushy locals of Arusha. These people were so beautiful, welcoming and thankful for us coming. Apart from Ian he said that they almost certainly get no westerners up there. The people are subsistence farmers and any excess produce they will sell to buy sugar, oil, coffee, tea but almost everything else they grow in the small plots around the house. Greg and I expected to get straight to work as soon as we got there but in typical Tanzanian style we had to first meet everyone sit and have tea and bananas. Eventually we got over to start work at the school building. Gradually relatives and friends came out of the woodwork from everywhere so we had plenty of helpers. Despite interruptions for tea, more tea, more food we managed to get a fair bit done by the end of the day. It was so refreshing to be amongst people without an ulterior motive. So often in Arusha, even people you know quite well will come out with questions asking for money or sponsorship etc. These people were all genuinely grateful. It was honestly one of the best days I have had and can’t wait to go back again.

Last week was quiet as exams took a lot of lessons away. Again all students including prep did two full days of exams. On Friday I caught a bus down to Arusha to play Dar es Salaam for the Arusha Rhinos. A good bus trip of 11 hours, reminded me of the TAS trips to Sydney. We played on maybe the worst rugby field I have ever seen and unfortunately lost 25-23. That night the Tanzanian Rugby Ball was held. I had won two tickets in a raffle luckily as it was $80 a head to attend which covered me and I gave one to a local guy who otherwise would not have gone. It was held at a seriously swanky hotel and was a black tie event. Gary Teichman (former Springbok captain) was the guest speaker who after having a beer with I can tell you has an interest not unlike a five year old, in tractors. We gave the all you can drink a real nudge and set ourselves up for a painful 11 hour bus trip back the next day.

On Wednesday we had a reunion day for all the students. As half of them went to the new campus this year many have not seen their friends in quite a while. It was a great day. I organized a few hours of sport where every kid was able to participate, all 1000 kids. So all classes at the old campus played their corresponding class in football for boys and netball for girls and staff played each other in both as well. It was a brilliant day, stressful at times but brilliant. The standard ones and prep had their own little where they played skittles, blew bubbles and all sorts of things and the rest were involved in sport until the main event the teachers football Usa campus v Moshono campus before lunch. After lunch there was dancing and singing before the kids went home for the holidays. The day is hard to describe but the faces on the kids in the photos tell the story. I even managed to sneak into the Moshono staff football team. After a grueling 40min trial they decided I was the goods and their decision was vindicated as I kept clean sheet in a 2 – 0 victory. They take it all so seriously, was good fun though. Luckily Gemma thought it was big success so I have got the go ahead to organize one at the end of every term.

Yesterday was reports day. Reports at home seem a breeze now I had to write these in both in Swahili and English which was interesting. Tomorrow I am off to Cape Town which I am mighty pumped about. Meeting Mum and Dad on Sunday followed by two weeks of traveling including Cape Town, Vic Falls and Zanzibar. Sounds pretty good to me!!

Some great photos on Flickr link. Having issues getting them on here.