END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!

The school year for the primary, secondary and high school levels in Tanzania runs from mid January until the end of November or the first week of December. Shaloom kindergarten closed on Friday, November 28th. On Wednesday, the 26th, we had another parent/caregiver/teacher meeting. In spite of rain in the morning, all the caregivers and students attended our meeting. 

Boniface's sister, Mwaju Mdogo's bibi, Omari's mama mdogo & Aglipina's mama

Magi's mama & baby sister, & Dollie's mama mdogo with her little boy

Shalo & Casi's bibi, Jeremia's mama, Mwaju Mkubwa's mama & little sister, & Justina's mama & brother

Thobiasi & Naomi's father, and Rehema, the assistant teacher

Progress reports (thanks again to Corine for editing my Kiswahili) and the student's workbooks were distributed to the caregivers. They also received an envelope containing all of their child's school work for the second half of the year. Some of the caregivers registered children for next year's class. We already have five students registered! After discussions and refreshments, the children performed all of the songs they learned this year. Because our classroom rehearsals hadn't gone very well, I was afraid the children would have trouble with the songs, but they really surprised me...and their caregivers!

 

I've already had uniforms made for the 13 students who will be advancing to Primary One. The tailor (fundi mshonaji), who made the boys uniforms, sits outside a little shop, with his manual sewing machine, on the main road which runs through a village nearby my house. Many of the tailors work in these conditions. They don't seem at all distracted by the activity going on around them. This tailor was referred to me by a local woman, and I also had him do some work for me, so I was sure of the quality of his work. The girl's uniforms were sewn by one of the members of the Lulu Project (Corine's group). I wanted to give one of the girl's the opportunity to make some extra money. Corine asked the girls which one felt comfortable with the responsibility of sewing school uniforms. Violet made a sample for me to inspect. I was pleased with her work so I hired her to sew all of the girl's uniforms. The boys wear khaki shorts and white shirts, and the girls wear green skirts and white blouses.

Fundi Mshonaji

Violet-member of the Lulu Project

A couple of weeks ago, Rehema asked a shoe peddler to come to Shaloom and bring shoes for the students to try on. He came with a bag full of shoes and we managed to find shoes for all but three of the students. The peddler returned the next day with three more pair of shoes. It's nice that the children aren't at all fussy about the kind of shoes they receive. They're just happy to get a new pair of shoes! I picked up 13 pair of socks from the little shop across from Shaloom. Next on our list of things needed are school supplies. We already have the bags, compliments of our very generous supporters in New Jersey! All of the items will be distributed the week before the new school year begins...that way everything will be in good condition for the start of the new year.

 

VISITORS AT SHALOOM!

At the end of November, the staff and students at Shaloom welcomed a couple of international visitors...Fr. Daniel Lee, who is a South Korean diocesan priest, and Miro, who is an S.M.A. seminarian from Slovakia. Our visitors took part in every aspect of our day. They participated in our morning English class, and even tried to sing along with our English and Kiswahili songs. It was so much fun! When it was time for uji and hard boiled eggs, our guests helped peel the eggs! Fr. Daniel taught Rehema and I a trick for getting the shells off easier...using a teaspoon. Unfortunately, we don't have any teaspoons available but we'll keep that in mind for the future.

After our math lesson, the children went outdoors to play. Fr. Daniel and Miro are both tall so they were able to fix one of the swings, which has been broken for as long as I've been at Shaloom. Having two swings available, instead of just one, was a real blessing! 

The students also enjoy jumping rope. Fr. Daniel and Miro were happy to take the ends and give each of the children an opportunity to jump without the usual challenges, which inevitably take place when the children take the ends!

 At the end of the day, we like to give the children time to be creative. Fr. Daniel and Miro taught the students how to make interesting things with the wood scraps we have available. Miro also taught a few of the students some hand slapping games. It was wonderful to see how happy the children were! It's always nice to have some change from the daily routine, especially when the children get a little extra attention and love.

Fr. Daniel and Miro, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your visit, and especially your kindness. The children will never forget your visit! Your gift of patience will always serve you well while in mission! Karibuni tena Shaloom!!

HOME VISITS (continued)

 "MAGDELENA"

All of the families who are registered with Shaloom are poor...some more so than others. Recently, I visited the home of Magdelena, the latest student enrolled in our kindergarten. This visit was unplanned. Magi came to class sick. When she fell asleep during our first session, and we struggled to wake her, I took her to the clinic within Shaloom Care House. Luckily, there happened to be a doctor on site that morning so he checked Magi over, and then had the lab run some tests. We returned to the clinic after our class was finished to get the results. Magi had malaria, intestinal worms and a UTI. The nurse gave her three different medications to take. As she was giving Magi instructions on how to take the medications, I could tell by the look on Magi's face that she would not be able to remember the instructions. I asked the nurse to give me the instructions and I would pass them on to Magi's mother. 

Omari, the student I tutor, had accompanied Magi and I to the clinic because that afternoon we had a tutoring session planned. I think by the end of the afternoon Omari wished he would have gone straight home after class. When the three of us left Shaloom, we walked for a least an hour before we finally arrived at the home of Magi's babu (grandfather). I wanted to take pictures of his home but I didn't think that would be appropriate. There were large pieces of old metal sheets propped up with sticks to create a border around a small campsite. Within the campsite stood a tent, approximately 8ft x 8ft, and 6ft high. The tent was made of empty flour or feed sacks sown together, tied to four posts made of tree branches. There was an old bed with a piece of tattered foam sitting on top under the tent. When I arrived, Babu welcomed me with open arms and managed to find an old stool for me to sit on. Magi's mother was cooking some dagaa (small fish) over an open fire at the corner of the tent. Two of Magi's brothers and one sister were also present. I gave the medicine and instructions to Magi's mother, along with some fruit we had purchased along the way. At first, I thought this was where Magi lived, but shortly after we had arrived, Omari and I were asked to follow Magi's mother. I thought she was showing us a short cut back to the village where I live. No...we walked for about 15 minutes and then arrived at Magi's home. The shack she lives in with her mother and four siblings is pictured below. It's made of cow dung and sticks! I understood then why Magi was sick so often, and why she misses so much school.

After we visited for awhile, and drank a soda, Magi's mother did show Omari and I the way back to Bwiru, the village where I live. We climbed up, over and down large rocks...jumped over gulches cut into the hills by heavy rains, and walked another 20 minutes in the hot afternoon sun. We arrived at my house about 5pm, four hours after we had closed the classroom. Omari and I ate some lunch but cancelled our tutoring session. Both of us were pretty tired after our afternoon adventure. "Maisha wa Tanzania!" (The life of Tanzania!)...a statement I often hear.

Magi is wearing the orange skirt. Omari is standing to the left of Magi. Doesn't he look thrilled!

"BONIFACE"

Bibi, Boniface & Octavius

Boniface is one of my brightest students. He seems to be starving for knowledge and really tries hard to complete his assignments without errors. It warms my heart to teach such a willing student! Boniface lives with his Bibi (grandmother), along with an older brother and sister. His Bibi is a home care volunteer for Shaloom Care House, so I had met her before. She had invited me to come to their home a couple of times and I'm glad I finally went. Bibi is able to speak a little bit of English so our conversation wasn't nearly as stressful as most of the conversations I find myself involved in. She is such a pleasant woman! She told me that she is praying for Boniface to become a priest when he grows up. Boniface was sitting next to her when she told me that and he agreed that he wanted to be a priest. Hopefully that "seed" continues to grow! The walk from Shaloom to Boniface's home took only about 15 minutes and we didn't have to climb a mountain! I really appreciated that! 

Bibi, Octavius, Boniface and the boy's older sister

Boniface's grandmother has a problem with her eyes due to overexposure to smoke while cooking. She has taught all of the children how to cook so they can assist her. Although she did most of the prep work for our meal, the two boys, Boniface and Octavius, did the cooking. I walked outside and asked what they were cooking, and with smiles on their faces they said, "Maharagwe na ugali" (beans and ugali). They seemed pretty proud of themselves, and they should be since they are only 6 and 8 years old (respectively)!

The living room in the house is about 8' x 8', with one bedroom attached for Boniface's grandmother and sister. The bedroom is also used for storage. Behind the chair I was sitting on, there was a small bed frame with an old tattered piece of foam wedged in between the wall and my chair, somewhat resting on the bed frame. This is where the boys sleep. Octavius came in once the meal was almost ready and crawled over my chair onto the bed. Within minutes he was fast asleep! It was necessary for Boniface to crawl over my chair and jump on his brother to wake him up when our meal was served. 

There was only enough space left in the room where we were sitting to rest a 5 gallon bucket upside-down on the floor and place a large metal tray on top. A plate of food for me was placed on the tray, and a plate of food for the kids to share. I don't know where the grandmother ate, or if she ate. The kids sat on buckets, and we all ate with our hands. I'm getting pretty good at that now! Rice is still a bit of a challenge, though.

"JUSTINA"

Justina is the little girl on the right dressed in red. Bernardo is the little boy in the middle.

Justina lives with her parents, two brothers and a sister. Justina is one of only three of my students who lives with both parents. Her father is a "fundi seremala" (carpenter). In the USA, carpentry is one of the higher paying jobs...not in Tanzania. Most of them are paid a very low wage, but then their knowledge of woodworking is pretty limited, too. At least their house is a little larger than many I've seen. However, the furnishings were scarce, and there was no electricity or running water. Those are real luxuries here. The garden was pretty impressive. I've found that shrubs, trees and plants are very inexpensive here.

Justina, her older sister, little brother & Bernardo

Justina with her parents and two brothers

 Justina's brother, Bernardo was a student in last year's Shaloom kindergarten class. Justina's mother was interested in seeing what Justina had learned so I brought along some Kiswahili word flashcards and was quizzing Justina and Bernardo. Justina knew as many of the words as her brother, who is now in Primary One. Their mother said he hasn't learned much new since he left our kindergarten class. Bernardo is one of approximately 100 students in his class, with only one teacher. The number of students can be anywhere from 75 to 150, or higher! I can't imagine what that would be like for the teacher or the students!

Selling teething biscuits

 To supplement the family income the children sell small teething biscuits in front of their home. They are made from flour, salt, oil and water. I guess they are pretty popular for all ages but I couldn't recommend them. I tried one and it wasn't for me...hard as a rock! I've been to visit Justina's family a few times and each time there was something different for sale in the front yard. That's very common here. 

 

"MWAJUMA & PETER" 

Mwajuma is on the right of the picture, with her mother and two young sisters

 

Peter, with his mother and baby sister

Mwajuma and Peter are cousins but they live together with their mothers and siblings in a one room cement structure. Their mothers are sisters. When we arrived at their home, I thought they were celebrating something because there were so many women and children present. The house is among a few others arranged in a horseshoe pattern. They build them this way often for security purposes. That way they can watch out for one another and share food and necessities. Like so many times, there is no father (or any man) present, or available for help. The woman have children as a kind of "retirement plan" in the hopes that when the children grow up, they will provide for their mothers. This is also the case when the parents are both present. The more children you have, the more "blessed" you are! Of course, the difficulty comes in trying to feed and educate large families.

The day of my visit was very hot. Sitting outside in the shade after our walk from Shaloom sounded like a good plan to me but the families always want the guests to come inside the house. I suppose, in this case, since there were so many people outdoors, Mama Mwaju and Mama Peter thought it would be more private to visit inside. Not to mention the fact that the families are proud of their homes, however small and broken down they might be...it's still home and it could always be worse. "Karibu ndani", they say! Welcome inside! So, we sat inside. I tend to perspire easily normally, so by the time our 2 hour visit was over, I needed to hydrate myself in a big way! Lunch was my favorite...dagaa and ugali! (I'm trying to keep a positive attitude!)
 

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION 2014!

Unlike last Halloween, which was not celebrated at all (by me anyway) because of language school, this Halloween...our very international group of missioners from 5 different countries, celebrated together at Marga & Hoja's home! Three SMA priests, two from India and one from Poland; three SMA lay missioners (Holland), one SMA lay missioner (USA)...(me); one Maryknoll priest (USA), seven Maryknoll lay missioners (USA), and one Maryknoll lay missioner (Tanzania) all gathered to celebrate! 

Because Halloween is celebrated as a secular holiday, mainly in the USA, those in attendance from other countries were curious as to how Halloween originated. The word "Halloween" means "hallowed evening" or "holy evening". The reason for celebrating it on October 31st is because November 1st is "All Saints Day" on the Catholic Christian calendar. There are many customs associated with Halloween. Here are just a few...In France, some Christian families, on the night of All Hallows' Eve, prayed beside the graves of their loved ones, setting down dishes full of milk for them. In Italy, some families left a large meal out for the ghosts of their passed relatives, before they departed for church services. In Spain, on this night, special pastries are baked, known as "bones of the holy", and are put on the graves in the churchyard, a practice that continues to this day. In many countries, jack-o'-lanterns are traditionally carried by those in costume in order to frighten evil spirits. There is a popular Irish Christian folktale associated with the jack-o'-lantern, which is said to represent a "soul who has been denied entry into both heaven and hell. 

At our celebration...a few dressed in costume, Richard (Maryknoll) brought nose whistles for entertainment (which everyone tried), we had interesting "finger food", good drinks and all-around fun!

THE COSTUMES

Ashley, Martin & Michael (Maryknoll lay missioners)

Kristle, Ashley & Michael (Maryknoll lay)

Michael & Ashley (married couple) & Jean (SMA)

Fr. Prabu (SMA), Richard (Maryknoll) & Fr. Simon (SMA)

Chris & Katie (Maryknoll married couple)

 THE GUESTS

Joanne & Martin (Maryknoll married couple for over 30 yrs!)

Chris, Mara (SMA), Kristle, Jean & Marga (SMA)

Fr. Jim (Maryknoll) & Fr. Janusz (SMA)

Mara, Marga, Katie, Corine (SMA) & Kristle enjoying drinks & "finger food"!

FOOD & DRINKS

Marga & Mara preparing the food

Corine & Katie preparing "mojito" (rum drink)

Everyone enjoying the meal

Finger food prepared by Katie

ENTERTAINMENT

Richard brought nose whistles for everyone to try and anyone who successfully made a sound with the whistle was given a lollipop as a reward. Richard said it took him hours before he could make a sound. Some of the others managed to play a tune right away, although not nearly as well as Richard. We all had fun trying, and some of the comments were really comical!

Katie suggested...maybe the spouses of those who managed to whistle should receive a reward!

nose whistles & rewards