Home

I didn't know what home felt like until being gone for so long. Home feels awesome! Home feels like being able to drive to Bridgeport with Jeff to get used tires for his tractor. It feels like ruining Kim's internet power cord and having to wait all day for the repairman to show up. It feels like going to a t-ball game with Sara to watch my nephew knock one out of the park. It feels like surprising Leland and Irene over a Runza because they didn't even know we were back. Home feels pretty good.

We spent yesterday at Horizons Church. That was cool and a little surreal too. It was good to see so many familiar faces of friends. But, it was also a little too fast. My biggest shock, though, was seeing Brandon. He used to be a 4th grader I worked with in Discovery Zone. Now, he's 5'2" tall and has a deep voice. What the heck?

And who knew they brought yogurt shops to Lincoln? You can load your cup up as high as possible and then add toppings. Nice addition.

We were also able to get in a little shopping. Lisa is still not a fan!

These past few days have been a little like on the Matrix when Neo wakes up and finds himself in a whole new world. We hadn't planned on coming home. Then when it was a reality there were so many other things going on we couldn't think about being home. Now we are here and...well it's just strange.

Thank you friends and family (and of course Taco Johns) for being "home".

7 Stitches in Sub-Saharan Africa

Return of the Peter

Peter, the director of IEFT, returned from the US on Tuesday. He had been there raising money to run Orkeeswa and buying me two bags of sunflower seeds. I'm not sure of the order of importance of those two things. It's good to have him back! He brings a load of energy when he arrives.

Ben Dies A Slow, Painful Death (Or, why 32 does not feel like 22)

Our poor dear friend Ben died yesterday of a nasty rugby overdose. In case you don't know rugby is a sport similar to football but you don't play with any pads. Ben is recovering from his death by eating sushi and swallowing pain killers. He has mentioned many times to us that a 32 year old body does not move the same way it used to. I think Ben needs to find better friends who do not compel him to play rugby. Or, he should avoid it for a long time. We are hoping for a speedy recovery of our friend.

Testing, Testing

We are busy transferring all of our stress of writing tests on to our students who are busy taking them! We will finish our end of term testing on Wednesday. Bummer that I made a 10 pager for form 3. I had visions of frightening them with it and making them have undying fear and respect for me after they took it. Unfortunately, all I got for my efforts was one student saying "Well, that was a little difficult." Cripes! What does it take to get through to these guys!

Goodbye Everyone

It is time to say goodbye to Ben and Quinn. They have been our friends, teaching companions and house mates for many months. They are returning to Australia and America respectively next week. I must say they will really be missed.

Hello Home!

LISA AND I GET TO COME HOME! We are very excited to be heading home for a month to visit family next Sunday. Bring on the Taco Johns baby!

P.S. - no one received stitches as of the making of this blog. Just wanted to catch your attention!

Do Dik Dik's Mate for Life?

This has been an ongoing topic of conversation around here for many months now. Now, many of you are asking...what is a Dik Dik. Glad you asked! It's a tiny little deer like creature...maybe 16 inches tall. There have been many rumors that they mate for life. So...when you eat one (which is really more like an appetizer!), one could argue that you are robbing the other of it's life partner. I don't make that argument, mind you. Well, yesterday morning, I had a sighting of two little Dik Dik's standing side by side. For me that just confirmed it. They are in fact mated for life. My assumptions were further verified later on wikipedia.com. Ahh, the more you know.

End of School Exams

You'll be happy to know we are nearing the end of our term. We will begin giving final exams on Thursday and finish on Wednesday of next week. Then next Friday is a big celebration and we are outta here. I think the kids are handling the stress pretty well. They are really focused on doing well on their exams. Picture your achievers in any class...that's what most of these kids in each form are like!

Orkeeswa Idol

We have been working on the second annual Orkeeswa Idol! We are set to have it this Wednesday. As of now we have two skits, one singing group and many dancing groups. Should be interesting. My personal favorite as of now is the group of two form one boys who are going to dance off to "The Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira. Yes, come one, come all! It's bound to be one entertaining show!

More Water Issues

There has been little to no water in Monduli for over a week. How can people live without water? Why aren't they sending any more? Don't know! Some corn around here looks OK, but apparently the rains came at the wrong time so many of the crops either failed or under produced. Consequently there is widespread speculation that prices are going to go really high on people's staple food.

Microfinance

One of the fun things we have been working with is developing a microfinance project here. Already there are nine groups working on filling out loan applications. We would potentially lend each group a loan to begin a small project. Projects range from cutting hair to buying and selling chickens and eggs. These guys have some good ideas, but as usual, there must be some degree of experience here. So, we're hoping to work with them on developing good businesses. I really enjoy the beekeeping idea that is buzzing around!

I hate sickness!

We had a kid get really sick from some water he drank. At least that's my professional opinion in the matter. We took him in to the hospital and he had a fever and was in pretty bad shape. What killed me is he had dressed in his nicest clothes to go. Here he feels so terrible and just looks terrible and was considerate enough to put on his slacks and dress shoes...underscores why I really like this kid. Anyway, mercifully he was immediately sent to a bed and treated rather than having to wait in the waiting room. Again, it was one of those "sucking chest wound" things with this guy where you felt so sad that he was so sick. I am thankful that when I saw him yesterday he was eating. It just reminded me how much I hate sickness. This was a strong young man who was just taken down by these things that persist here!

Well, it happened...

The Incident -

Well, we all knew the day would come. I'm just ashamed it was so soon! I finally got caught peeing in the garden. Now, before you go judging me, all you non-garden-pee-ers out there, I want to paint you a picture (no, not that picture!) Our school is out in the bush! Plus, the pit latrine toilets are not my favorite thing in the world. Finally, I need to check on the garden anyway. So...it only made sense in my mind. Now, just to be clear, I go well away from produce, etc... I know many of you will condemn me as of reading this. That's a risk I'm willing to take.

I was down there as usual when all of a sudden some students came walking around the corner of the building. What in the world! Why are they out of class? As it would happen, they were bringing me some papers. What are the odds? Anyway, as anyone who has tried to stop early in this particular situation, you know it's very difficult. Well, I did, somewhat. Anyway, to spare you the gory details...I think I'll be heading to the pit latrine in the future!

Whitney Arrives

Whitney, the new office manager arrived last night. I think she was pretty tired. I had made her some spaghetti and just as I was getting ready to dine with she and Lisa, I was called to help take kids home to their bomas. So, I guess I'll get to know her later! She'll be living in the same house as Lisa and I for the next year working as the office manager.

The Sporting Fiasco

We have had a series of sporting events here. They are REALLY disorganized. The latest timetable said, in effect, we need your kids here to play an undefined game at an undefined game in the next three days. So, it's been a lot of chasing around and waiting...especially for Lisa. As I write, she awoke around 6 AM today (after getting to sleep at midnight last night) and is still not home at 7 PM because of the schedule of things today. I'll be glad when things are finished with that!

Projects

Part of what I love about being here are the projects we work on. I love trying things in the garden. I would love to have a plastic greenhouse, beehives, irrigation, goats and dairy cattle and aquaculture by the time I leave. Right now I'm working on using plastic sheeting to capture rainwater for irrigation (failed twice so far...hoping to rally soon). Also, I'm trying to filter grey water from the kitchen through sand to use on the fruit trees. Also... a work in project. It's fun to try these things that you read about. For the most part I fail...but it's fun to try!

What kind of animal would you be?

Tonight we were walking up the hill to our house - Quinn, Whitney, two students and I. I saw some chickens eating some termites off of a tree...kind of cool. So, I commented that I wouldn't mind being a chicken if I had to be an animal (again, all of you who were judging me about the garden incident just back off!). I asked the group if they could be an animal what animal would they be. Quinn and Whitney said a zebra and a unicorn. One student said he would be a sheep because in the Bible the sheep are the innocent ones. The other student said he would be a lion because they are obviously big and strong. This kid is about 5 foot 4 inches and weighs about 110 lbs! He walked along in silence for a while. Then he commented that when he was done with school he was going to grow out his hair and whiskers and have a mane. How could you not love that!

The Hurricane Lantern and the Laser Printer

I knew working in Tanzania would yield a clash of ideologies. I knew enough to realize the area that we were coming to was labeled as an extremely poor area in an extremely poor country in Africa. One thing, however, that has been rather surprising is the chasm of how things are expressed between those who do not have and those who, at least from outward appearances, have.

There is no doubt we are in the "have" group. On my plastic table in our living room is a hurricane lantern. It's there because we have regular power outages. Most of the electricity provided to Tanzania is driven from hydroelectric generators. Due to many reasons such as shifting weather patterns the power gets cut. To be honest we've become so used to it that on Friday when we celebrated Quinn's birthday we sat with the lights off even though electricity was available! What sort of strange psychology is that? The power outages are frustrating for business owners. However, many manage by purchasing generators or just stocking up on candles. Of course our students aren't terribly bothered because most live in homes without electricity. The hurricane lamp reminds me of how quickly I can be sent back to a time without electricity. Then, my lesson planning (done by my ancient laptop), my e-mailing (done by Lisa's newer but recently broken laptop), my reading (done by electric light), and my DVD viewing (again, previously done on Lisa's computer...but difficult now with a broken screen...the West Wing just isn't quite the same with a split down the middle of Sam's head!) all gets taken back to the, shall we say, dark ages.

I'm surrounded by a lack of technology in many respects. Farmers farm here with a mouldboard plow pulled behind a set of cattle. Sometimes they can hire a tractor (typically a Massey Furgeson). Most people walk wherever they go due to lack of transport. If they do ride, it's in a crowded share ride such as a dalla dalla (small bus) or boda boda (reckless motorcycle). People get water from a reservoir. I thought it was just for livestock until some of my students said that was what they drank too (which yet again underlines my belief that any of our kids on their worst day is way tougher than me!). Food is cooked over charcoal or wood. Yep, this is truly hurricane lamp country...if you are fortunate enough to have a hurricane lamp in the first place or fuel to make it work.

Now, right next to that hurricane lamp is our printer. It's fairly new. It's constantly out of ink, but works fine for the most part. It also scans and makes photo copies. I can attach at least two of our three computers (and sometimes four or five computers if Quinn is visiting from the other volunteer house) and print in no time. Our school is equipped with solar power that runs, on occasion, one of three LCD projectors we have at the school. Recently, a partner of IEFT donated 15 laptops - nice ones too - not some reject stuff. I saw our kids flocking around it in the library the other day teaching each other how to use Microsoft Word. Further, EVERYONE here has a cell phone (and NOONE has any credit. EVER!). It's a very strange site indeed to see a Maasai man or woman walking along in their traditional garb, holding a spear or walking stick in one hand, and talking or texting from a cell phone in the other! When I go in to church, the church is decked out with swanky speakers, a mixing board and wireless microphones. Recently there is a trend to listen to your music, whether from an I-Pod or some knock off. The rule, it seems, is that you have to walk along with one ear-bud in place and the other dangling down around your neck. I think that's so you have one free ear in case someone "flashes you" on their cell phone (which means they call and then immediately hang up so you have to call them back and waste your credit and not theirs!).

Drake University and some team from Mexico came here to play an American Football game. Lisa contacted them and a few of the administration and players wanted to come visit the school. They left Arusha late so they arrived at the school after all of the students had gone home. Someone must have thought there to be great danger at Orkeeswa because the first car (of three) was filled with a dozen armed police. The second was a fancy new car of a government official of some kind. The third was a 35 passenger bus filled with around 10 athletic administrators. Of course, the presence of all the armed police made everyone more than just a little uneasy (including the villagers who immediately started calling our security guy...from their cell phones...to find out what was going on...thank you small town!) But, eventually everoyne calmed a bit and the touring of our guests resumed. They had digital cameras, video cameras and I-phones to capture the moment. They were courteous and genuinely interested in the work we were doing out at the school. Some of our students were there and I couldn't help but wonder - what must our student's think of these people who need an armed guard to accompany them. I also couldn't help but wonder about our guests - what must they think of Tanzania that they need to be escorted by such a patrol. They left after about an hour. On their way out they passed a small church with plank board siding painted with used oil to keep the termites away. Nearby there was a couple of young boys with sticks herding their cattle (a constant site around here).

There is no doubt I have become used to my new world conveniences. I love being able to type my blog from a new computer and instantly broadcast it to the world. I loved taking a group of students last week to Skype with students from America. But, I can't forget that here it's also the land of the hurricane lantern. And I think that's a big part of why I like it.

We put the ZZZ's into Zanzibar!

This will be the most boring blog post yet.

Which is AWESOME!

We went to Zanzibar this past week in search of some rest and that is exactly what we found, in abundance (Oh, the sweet abundance of it!)

We landed in Stone Town on Sunday, went on a spice tour (wow, who knew we could spend four hours talking about spices, the use of spices, the medicinal use of spices and also the history of spice). I was very happy to head on up north to the beach at that point.

Then we found Kendwa. Sweet, wonderful Kendwa. With her unassuming ways, her restful bandas and her lazy, lazy days.

We slept, we ate, we...well actually that's about it!

Then we migrated to Jambiani...another beach...only to repeat the therapy.

Check out the pictures on Lisa's Facebook page. I know I will be to relive the...mmmm.

Drama, Drama, Drama....

Last week of a thirteen week term! I should have known there would have been some grand finale's. Here are a few...

Monday-Wednesday not to bad. Did the Insanity workout video that Scott, Lisa's brother sent. I literally thought I was going to drown in my own sweat!

Then Thursday hit!

I sent a student to our local clinic because she was complaining of headaches and chest pain...not uncommon for this time of year. In the mean time, I was getting ready for our new woodworking club (which is always fun...but a mess when I'm involved!), teaching and doing other stuff at the school. I had had a lot of coffee on Thursday, but when I saw Ben drinking some in the afternoon, I thought I needed another cup. Oh, what a bad idea! You know that "twitchy" feeling you get when you have too much coffee...well I was there.

Just as we were about to begin clubs, we had an unexpected visitor show up, handing out gifts, but throwing off the flow of things a bit. No sweat, I've become used to interruptions.

Then, as clubs were ending, I had the typical 54 students around me. "Teacher can I have some seeds for my garden." My saying, "Oh, yeah....I forgot about that...". "Teacher may I keep this thing we just made?" "You betcha" (which I am always convinced really gets lost in translation). "Teacher, teacher, teacher....." It's fun for reals. That "buzz" is part of what I like about teaching here. Or was that the last cup of coffee....

Anyway, in the midst of all the end of day stuff, one student said..."Teacher, you're needed outside. A student is passed out there." Crap.

So, I ran out and sure enough there was a student down with a few others around. We loaded the student up, took her to the local clinic and then on to the district hospital. This is when I got really angry.

This was my first experience with the Monduli District Hospital. Let me just be succinct in saying I would not feel comfortable going there for many procedures. What really struck me, though, was the ARROGANCE I perceived from the staff. We spent more time talking about who was the "big man" amongst all of us who accompanied our student than we did trying to fix the problem! I got yelled at to get out of the way...but only after they discovered I was "only teacher." "I am not!" I thought about saying. "I'm the chief medical officer at Orkeeswa...." Oh shut up, Seth! One more ego in this mix isn't going to solve anything!

Friday was the last day. Last days are hard for teachers. They makes teachers all over the world want to drink. I did enjoy our end of school party...we had a whistling contest and even gave away two of our very own chicken eggs as a prize to the top whistler amongst the teachers. Personally, I thought the maintainence guy should have won, but you know what they say about art, and all that... We even heard there were elephants near the school. One student came up to me and said "Teacher, I almost had to say goodbye to my parents. I walked between two elephants on the way to school today." You gotta love that! Anyway, we survived and were celebrating after school with the teachers and other folks. That's when we got the call. That student was still sick and needed to be seen to know if we needed to go to a different doctor. So, in the car I go...bouncing through the bush. The student lived WAY out there. We loaded the student in the Land Rover and off we went to Arusha. After some blood work and a couple more IV bags (man, I ought to start taking some of those IV bags instead of coffee...) the student was good to go. Unfortunately since it was 12:30 AM, I wasn't. Plus, I realized I had lost my wallet in the mix.

Finally, we dropped off the student and returned home about 2 AM this morning. I still havn't found my wallet and thank the stars above noone was attacked by elephants. Lisa had made some chocolate chip cookies...so I ate them by myself at 2:30 this morning with some tea. Don't get me wrong... I love this stuff! But, sweet, sweet beaches of Zanzibar, I hear you calling my name next week!