GRADUATION!!

On December 5, 2013, the students of Makoko Language School successfully completed the Kiswahili language course. Of course, none of us were ready, at that time, to go out and speak it fluently, but we're doing our best to use what we've learned. Speaking a new language is definitely a VERY slow process, at least for most of us!

 

Graduation day began with classes, as usual, in the morning. We were expected to meet in the afternoon with our assigned teachers for conversation in Kiswahili, as usual as well, but that didn't happen. We were all too busy decorating the chapel, the dining room and the library for our celebration. The festivities began with mass in the chapel. The main celebrant was a newly ordained diocesan priest from Tanzania. Some of the sisters who live nearby attended our celebration, as well as the teachers, staff workers and a few visiting priests. After the mass we all met in the library/lab, which had been cleared out for the party. Fr. Edward, the director of the language school, presented the students with certificates. The students presented Fr. Edward, the teachers and the workers with gifts of appreciation for all of their hard work. Next came the entertainment. Mwalimu (teacher) Daniel performed a sing and dance routine, Fr. Orlando sang a favorite Mexican song, accompanied on guitar by his friend, Fr. Leo. Sr. Sofia and Sr. Lucinder sang a song together and Sr. Sofia performed a traditional Samoan dance. The grand finale was the "Sister Act" performed by Sr. Chiara, Sr. Sofia, Sr. Lucinder, Beata, myself, and Fr. Peter, our conductor. I wish I could post the video because it was hilarious! Finally, our celebration concluded with a very nice dinner and cake. All of the students returned to their assigned mission sites within the following two days to put what we learned into practice.
 

       Decorated altar in the language school chapel

 

Sr. Sofia, Beata & Fr. Orlando decorating the dining room

 

                                                                 Sr. Lucinder decorating the library/lab

 

Dining room decorations complete!

 

                   Balloons for the library!

 

Mwalimu Daniel - Singing & Dancing

 

                                                                    Sister Act performers - Beata & Jean

 

Teachers

            Cooks, Housecleaning and Guards

 

 

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