8 Dec 2010

Okay, okay, I apologize for the tardiness of these last posts. Gosh, since I got home from our trip to Moshi, the internet place where I usually take my computer has not been working. And then other difficulties happened with connection issues... It’s been a really frustrating week because of it, especially because I’m trying really hard to detach myself from things like electronics and internet. However, it’s hard to give up something like my email when that’s my best way to hear from home. It’s almost more important than my phone, considering it’s how I talk to the majority of people I really care about.

So things have changed around here for me this past week. I went back to teaching and was feeling refreshed and excited to try new things. The last exam was really helpful for me because now I had some sort of gage on how much my students actually comprehend. I tried a different approach on talking and teaching, gently singling out students to try things on their own with occasional help from their peers. By the end of the week I felt like we were actually accomplishing things together. And that is when I found out that orientation at Peter Claver was to begin the following week, which was going to pull us completely from teaching at the Youth Centre. As excited as I am about getting things underway for my real placement at the secondary school, I felt terrible about leaving these kids after a month to get another teacher only a few more weeks until holiday. I didn’t even get to tell them. And I was just figuring out their names! I’m still a little bummed about it…

But the last day with them was really fun. The women that take tailoring classes at the Youth Centre were having a fashion show of sorts. Only the girls were required to come to school that day. That morning, the girls got to cleaning the hall, setting up chairs, and getting things ready for the “talent show.” Usually the teachers sit in the office and drink tea while students do things like this, but I wanted to be around them so I tried to help. The girls are so much fun. As I was talking with them or trying to sweep with a broken broom I would feel tiny pulls on my hair. I’d look around and there was a flood of giggles. They are fascinated by my hair. Remembering my own interest in my African American friends’ hair in elementary school, I empathized with their want to just reach out and touch it. After realizing I was completely surrounded by possibly 30 girls just staring and whispering I told the closest one to me that if she asks me in English, I would let her touch my hair. So slowly, together, we said, “Teacher Laura, may I please touch your hair?” (Such a strange sentence, right?) In her sweet accent, she repeated after me and then touched my hair, giggled profusely, and her other friends started reaching out. Students have a hard time articulating questions in English, so I figured I’d take this slightly strange opportunity to practice with them.

“Madam, may I touch your hair?”

Soon the room was all set up for the show. The teachers sat in the front. The women danced their beautiful dresses and other sewn creations to the front. I love the incorporation of dancing with everything. It brings life to everything, even displaying freshly sewn pillowcases. And it shows how fun life can be. There were a few dance breaks between the “acts.” The women and girls tried so hard to get Sean and I to dance. We did for a while, but I haven’t quite figured out the dance shuffle thing yet, and so I feel silly, and consequently look much sillier than I should. But I keep trying. And they love seeing Teacher Laura up there trying to do what they do. The morning ended with a wonderful lunch for the teachers and guests. I often find myself eating with my hands here. I’m not sure why one occasion warrants forks and others don’t, but I’m starting to love the opportunities where I can just dig in (literally). Sometimes I find myself eating with my hands at home, too. I think it tastes better that way. I’m serious!

This week Sean and I have been reporting to K’Ndege (the parish’s name – airport parish) at 8am for orientation with our five other colleagues and Fr. Marty (headmaster). We’ve been reviewing the history of the Jesuits, the history of the Jesuits in Tanzania, learning about how the school has come to be, reviewing the student handbook and discussing a teacher’s vocation. I’m really enjoying getting to know the other teachers and getting an idea of the kind of environment we hope to establish at the school. I am definitely teaching a study skills and speech class for one semester and a ethics/applied philosophy class the second semester, in addition to helping with the English classes small group work. (Teacher friends, I will soon be frantically emailing you for ideas for these classes – so start thinking!!). At first I was a little unsure about all this, but now I’m actually really excited. These types of classes are real-life skills that I can help develop, instead of a typical subject class. I think I will have a lot of flexibility here to really practice cura personalis, care for the whole person (thank you to Paula and Carrie, and the many others, who did this for me during my time at Carroll). And Marty has this incredible vision for incorporating values of the Jesuits and the values of a very important president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, which I know will help foster good citizens of this beautiful country.

Soon I will write more details about what I’ve been learning about the school, but for now I just ask for your prayers that we faculty can be guided in the right direction so this school can truly be an institution that truly helps students “to learn, to love, to serve".