Hakuna Matata! (which really does mean "no worries" in Swahili)

Hi friends!
Wow - every day is so packed full of greatness here. I feel like I'm living with 40 hours in a day. I seriously experience so many new things each day that I don't know where the time is coming from.


School is GREAT. I am teaching at the Kaole Primary School, about 5km from our home base, in the preclass (5 and 6 year olds - my favorite age). The teacher I'm paired with is called Timothy after her first born son (pronounced "tee-moht"). She is wonderful and so organized, which is a rarity from what I've heard from other volunteers. Each day, I teach English (letters, ABCs, words that correspond with each letter, and a "letter-of-the-day"), Math (numbers kwa Kiswahili and kwa Kingereza - in Swahili and English, adding, and we're starting on subtraction next week), and Drawing/Sports/Music (we drew a flower and have been learning the "hokey pokey"). Timothy also teaches Kiswahili to the kids when I'm there while I observe. It is such a treat to be paired with such a great teacher and class. I have learned so much about the educational system here; it differs a lot from the educational system in the US. The kids are allowed so much more freedom but are expected to be responsible for themselves and others. They may talk, stand up, hit each other, or squirm during class, but they do not disrupt the rest of the class and genuinely love to learn. During break time, they are allowed to run around the grounds wherever they want and are not supervised by any adults. Sometimes they even run away from the school, maybe to visit home, but come back for the next lesson. The system they have at this school works well, which surprised me at first but I really like it now. One thing I do not agree with in the educational system in Tanzania in general is the use of corporal punishment, which while illegal, is still widely used throughout the country. Thankfully, I have not witnessed the use of it yet, but other volunteers have. It's an interesting topic to discuss with teachers here. One response I received about why they do it is "because it's just the easiest/quickest."

On an entirely different note, the ride to and from school each day is beyond beautiful. The road runs right along the ocean, but up several hundred feet. The waters here are so blue and the breeze this time of year is so comfortable. I'm hoping to begin walking home from school next week so I can enjoy it even more. I even saw a camel walking down the road yesterday - whoa!

Outside of school each morning, I have been having a great time at the home base with the other volunteers. We've had a lot of great cultural activities this week, from learning about family/culture in Bagamoyo on Tuesday, to visiting a secondary school and learning about the educational system in Tanzania on Wednesday, to drumming/carving/beading yesterday. The family we visited on Tuesday lived in a compound because the husband, a Muslim, had four wives, whose children all have children now. It was a gigantic family, but the reason they've all stayed together is because they all make music together. They even have a group that has travelled internationally - Chibite (I think...). After visiting with them for a while, they broke out into impromptu song and dance for us. It was SO cool! I have never seen anyone perform with more enthusiasm and pure joy. They were great. Some of us are going to go back next week to see them again and try some of the instruments. Seeing all this African music firsthand is so much cooler than learning about it in my World Music class. Yesterday, the men from the Arts Centre came to the home base to teach us drumming, carving, and beading. It was awesome to learn from them. And I have fallen even more in love with the djembe (a drum), and will probably buy one if I can figure out how to get it home.

This weekend, nine of us are travelling to Zanzibar. I'm really excited for a new cultural experience and to get some time to just relax! I've heard it's so beautiful there, so I can't wait to see it.

In other REALLY big news, I ate watermelon and pineapple for the first time ever this week. In fact, I have had watermelon multiple times since then. I also eat oatmeal every day. So no one can make fun of me for being picky now.

Also, I have learned that "duck, duck, goose" is just as traditional a kids game here as it is in America, but instead they call it "rafiki, rafiki, simba" - "friend, friend, lion"! Who knew it was such an international game?

I know I am forgetting to mention essential bits of news that I wanted to talk about in this, but I have to go get ready to leave for Zanzibar! Love you all!

PS - some shoutouts:
*J^2 - have fun at PROM this weekend!!!!! Be safe :)
*Kiely - sorry that I forgot where you volunteered! Kara is teaching at Mbaruku and loves it!
*Mandy - HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAYYYYYYY!!!!!! Sorry I won't be there, but we will celebrate for sure when I get back!

For now, that is all. Baadaye!