LUKUBA ISLAND

In the beginning of September, the students of Makoko Language School, along with two of the teachers, visited nearby Lukuba Island on Lake Victoria. We traveled in a fishing boat with only one “makeshift” seat, which was generously offered to a few of the women, while everyone else either leaned against the side of the boat or sat on the support boards running across the inside of the boat. The ride took about three hours roundtrip. The waters were a little rough but everyone seemed to enjoy the ride, except for Sr. Chiara, who got a bit seasick. She was determined to enjoy sight-seeing on the island, though, which she did, along with the rest of us!

 

 

 

Lukuba Island has approximately 3,000 inhabitants. Stepping onto the island was a little like, what I thought it might have been like, to step into the world of the fisherman during the time of Jesus. Men repairing their nets for the following evening’s catch, women drying fish caught during the previous evening’s catch, carrying firewood for cooking, and preparing meals for the fishermen and their families. The boats used by the fishermen are made by hand. The women bath the children and wash the family’s clothing and dishes in the lake. Life here on the island is very similar to life in any other Tanzanian village, except for the number of fisherman.

 

 

 

 

 

Another common sight throughout Tanzania is the marabou stork. This bird eats just about anything; glass, cans, paper, shoes and, most important; garbage! The people call it "ndege ya afya"...translated "bird of health". Because the people have no form of waste management, these birds are quite valuable. They are very plentiful but I think I saw more here on Lukuba Island than anywhere else in Tanzania. They are also referred to as the "undertaker bird" because of their appearance. Personally, I think it's one of the ugliest birds I've ever seen! Fr. Jean-Francois' wanted his picture taken with the bird so his 4 year old niece could get a better perspective of how big the bird is. She seemed to be fascinated with it! The marabou stork can reach a height of 5 feet and weigh as much as 20 lbs. Its wingspan is the widest of any living bird at 12 ft.!

Finally, we visited a neighboring private island which is considered part of Lukuba. It's designed for tourists only, with beautiful cabins and clean sand. Lounge chairs and swings could be found along the beach. The island resort is run by an Australian man. The price for one day & night is approximately $100, which includes being picked up from, and returned to the main land (on a nicer boat than we road in). The price also includes meals. Not a bad price for a private island but definitely not within the budget of any of the local people, or any of the missionaries! Quite a contrast from the island we had just left!

 

 

 

 

 



 

COOKING WITHOUT A RECIPE!

 

Home of the kuku (chicken)!

I was given the pleasure of visiting at the home of one of my teachers from Makoko Language School. Her name is Mwalimu (teacher) Magdalena. She is the only woman teacher employed at the school. I had requested a lesson on how to cook some traditional foods so Mwalimu Magdalena was more than happy to accommodate me. She lives very close to the language school. We walked across the street to Epheta Centre one Saturday morning to purchase a chicken for our meal. One of the Capuchin friars took us into the chicken coop so we could choose a chicken. We chose it, he caught it and Mwalimu Magdalena carried it home. When we arrived at her home, two of her grandchildren took the chicken, removed the head, pulled feathers and prepared a bucket of water for plucking the pin feathers. Mwalimu Magdalena's granddaughter was such a big help and she's only nine years old! She is named after her grandmother, so she is called Magdalena mtoto (child). Interesting, yes? Both Magdalenas and I plucked the pin feathers.

After Mwalimu Magdalena cut the chicken into pieces, Magdalena mtoto took over with the preparations and cooking of the chicken. She was amazing! She prepared the charcoal stove and when  the charcoal had reached the right temperature, she put a pot on the stove and began washing the chicken and putting it into the pot.

 

After the chicken had cooked for about a half an hour, Magdalena mtoto began to add tomatoes to make a nice sauce. When she grabbed the pot to stir, she often didn't even use a pot holder! She is a pretty tough little girl! I've heard that most women end up getting nerve damage in their fingers from holding hot pots. When you don't have the necessary supplies for the job, you do whatever is necessary to get the job done!

 

 

 

   

While waiting for the chicken to cook, Magdalena mtoto started a fire outside so Mwalimu Magdalena could start cooking the rice. The rocks in the fire pit are positioned just right so the kettle sets at the correct distance from the fire.     

                                                                   

After washing the rice, and cleaning all the little rocks and sand out of it, it was time to boil the water for the rice. The rice was added after the water boiled.

 

Once the rice was cooked, Mwalimu Magdalena removed the hot coals from the fire pit under the pot and placed them on top of the lid of the pot so the rice wouldn't cook any longer, but would remain warm. Ingenious!

 

We cooked ugali (corn meal and water) on the gas stove in the kitchen and green vegetables, as well. The meal was a success! After visiting outside for awhile, Mwalimu Magdalena's daughter, Mariana came for a visit with her children. We took a few family pictures. It was a very nice day!

Mwalimu Magdalena, Magdalena mtoto & William 

 

Magdalena & William w/Mariana & grandchildren

 

EPHETA CENTRE

On the shores of Lake Victoria, and just a short walk from Makoko Language School, is a retreat center called Epheta Centre, which is run by the Capuchin Fathers and Brothers (friars). This center is very well maintained, with a variety of flowers, trees and plants.  The environment is quiet and very conducive to studying or relaxing. There are many concrete tables with seats available for reading or eating. Although the friars are often busy with the maintenance of the property, they are very friendly and welcoming. There are four friars currently residing at the center. Some of the students from the language school attend Sunday mass at Epheta Center. Sometimes the students are invited to join the friars for breakfast in their dining room after mass.

 

 

                                                                             Brother Jerome (Capuchin friar)

 



Many times we find groups of young children visiting the lake. Since water isn't available in most homes, the children take advantage of these visits to bathe in the lake. Unfortunately, Lake Victoria is known to be infected with parasitic worms which can cause a disease called bilharzia. The parasites that cause bilharzia live in certain types of freshwater snails. You can become infected when your skin comes in contact with contaminated water, at which time the worms can penetrate the skin. It has been highly recommended that no one enter the waters of Lake Victoria, especially during the hours of 9am to 4pm. Many people in the villages around Lake Victoria either are unaware of the dangers of swimming in the lake, or just ignore the warnings because of a lack of any other water source. 

 

 

Each day I walk to Epheta, I'm greeted by these two little children. They live along the path I take to the lake and they run up to me, grab my hands and walk along with me. We talk a little but mostly they just chatter along like little kids do and I have no idea what they're saying. I don't even know their names because they have African names and I can't understand them when they tell me. They don't seem to mind, though, that I don't understand. They're just happy to get a little attention, I think. The kids here make the most of any little thing they can find to play with. This little girl has a plastic bag on her head. Not a good idea by our standards but I didn't have the heart to take it from her.
 






Most every day that I visit Epheta, I find the "kenge" walking along the sea wall. The kenge is a cross between a lizard and an alligator. The largest one we've seen so far has been about five feet long. They waddle a little like a duck. I've never felt threatened by any of them but I've been told that if they feel threatened by humans, they will swing their tale at whoever is in their path and their tails are quite strong. I don't think it's life threatening, though. I enjoy watching them but I keep a good distance.

 

     Kenge

 

 

 

 

 

MAKOKO LANGUAGE SCHOOL

During the month of July, and into the first week of August, I taught the preschool children at Shaloom. We worked on a little English during the first hour of each school day, and after that it was all Kiswahili lessons until the close of the day at 1pm. God bless Rehema, the woman who has been doing most of the work with the children during my transition! She is so patient with me, and the children! I’m happy I made the attempt to begin teaching the children while I studied the language, but I realized during that month that I needed more help with Kiswahili before I could really work well with the children. The lessons I was getting at the International Language Training Center in Mwanza just weren't sufficient enough to meet my needs. I knew there was another four month course beginning at Makoko Language School in Musoma, three and a half hours northeast of Mwanza, because one of our new S.M.A. priests, Fr. Jean-Francois’ (John Francis) was preparing to attend. I asked my superiors if I could attend the course and they were delighted! Within days I was registered and off to Musoma on August 9th! The course began on Monday, August 12th.

 

My room is on the 2nd floor; last room on the right.

The classrooms are on the lower level.

 

I am one of ten students attending the language school, and the only lay missionary. We have two priests in our group; Fr. Jean-Francois' S.M.A. from French speaking Quebec, Canada, and Fr. Orlando from Mexico. We also have seven sisters studying with us; Sr. Dariana from Poland, Sr. Chiara from Germany, Sr. Theresa and Sr. Linet from India, and three sisters from various islands in the Pacific Ocean near Australia. These sisters are Sr. Sofia from Samoa, Sr. Margareth from the Solomon Islands and Sr. Lucinder from Papua New Guinea. 

 

 

Makoko Language School was founded by the Maryknoll fathers and brothers in the early 1950's. However, since 2001, the diocese of Musoma has been operating the school, under the direction of Fr. Edward Gorczaty, from Poland (front and center in the photo).

 

The school has a very practical approach to teaching Kiswahili. The teaching staff includes eight teachers, all of whom live in the local villages.

Daniel (teacher), Petro (guard) & Joseph (teacher)

Joseph

                                                                                Magdelena 

 

                            Silvester

Stephano



 

Classes begin each morning, Monday through Friday, at 8:30am. Each morning includes five (5) 40 minute class periods, with a 15 minute break after the 3rd period. The classes include story reading and memorizing; practicing dialogues between local people, which are read, played out and memorized; grammar lessons and practical exercises based on the grammar lessons. The students are divided into five classrooms, with two students in each class. The teachers rotate between classrooms. Classes conclude at 12:25pm, with lunch served for the students at 12:30pm. The teachers return to their homes for lunch after the final class, but return to the school by 2pm to work with students in the lab, and to be available for extra assistance. Many of us students walk into the village in the afternoons and on weekends to chat with the local people. I  think that has been most helpful. After completing the third week of study, I feel confident that this course will help me improve my Kiswahili language skills.

 

The school staff is very accommodating, providing three meals a day, seven days a week, washing and ironing our laundry, washing our bedding, cleaning our rooms and cleaning all of the other rooms in the facility. The cooking staff is excellent! There have been very few meals that I haven't enjoyed, and I've tried at least a little of everything. On Thursdays we have a traditional Tanzanian meal. There is a beautiful chapel within the building. We have mass every morning at 7am and rosary every evening at 6. We also have adoration of Thursday evenings at 7:30 for an hour. We have a recreation room (right next to my room!) with a TV, DVD player, refrigerator stocked with sodas and beer (at a very minimal cost), and free coffee, tea and water 24 hours a day. We also have WI-FI available at a reasonable cost. We have tennis and volleyball courts on the grounds, as well as table tennis in one of the larger classrooms. There is a beautiful retreat center, called Epheta Centre, run by the Capuchin friars, located on Lake Victoria, which is only a five-ten minute walk from the school. (More on the Epheta Center in another post.) 

School Chapel

 

                                                                  Epheta Centre