into the unknown - Blogabond

First of all, we are really sorry about photos vanishing off our previous posts...some reason they are not working....the blog maker is onto it for gret, but hang in with us if there is shortage of photos!!

So with Zanzibar and safari behind us, we started our volunteer placement…

We met Douglas (program coordinator) at the Dar ferry port and he knew nothing more than we did about what the next month would hold…very nice guy, but no idea of what was going on! Disorganisation could be the name for our volunteer foundation!

jem & usher

Anyways we picked up Tali (Melbourne uni girl) from the airport who was in massive culture shock!….the airport was crazy…it was the a public holiday and for some bizarre reason hundreds of kids just come and hang out at the airport for the fun of it all…It was so loud and just crazy…!

It took us about 6 hrs to get to Bagamoyo instead of the usual 1.5 hr trip, cause Dar must be honestly the worst place in the world for traffic…
We ended up just walking along the road next to the traffic jam for around 20 mins before our car caught up with us…no air con to top it all off!

So we get to our house around 10 pm, no power, no water and a massive rat running around in Tali’s room…poor girl!! We were ok with it all as somehow we managed a room with double bed & ensuite for our month here…the other volunteers all have no hot water, but the secret is that we actually DO…shhhh : ) yes we are being selfish!

We have 6 other volunteers here with us = two Yanks, Canadian, New Zealander and two fellow Melbournians…its great to be around familiar people again as we are really the only ‘muzungus’ (whities) here…

our home away from home

We have two security guards and a gorgeous cook called ‘Happy’. Somehow she whips up these meals from the dirt and charcoal cooker in the backyard…fresh bread, chapatti, potatoes, rice and ugali (yuck) ….often referred to the anti-Atkins diet

happy

We put some photos up of our cleaner’s daughter, named Usher. She is 4 yrs old and is just too cute and mischievous to describe…she spends all day/night at our house and is Jem’s new best friend...So onto our actual work…

The first week the Pre School kids were still on their xmas break, so we took kids aged 14 – 20 yrs for English and maths……

cool usher

we actually had to learn the English tenses again (perfect tense..what the??!) in order to teach…jem even whipped out some liner equations for them to tackle…the (negative X negative = positive) took a LONG time to GET!

play time with 'sir'

The heat here is so intense…its just constant sweating, no air conditioning and often the power cuts out for days…we have never been so hot! It’s a 30 min walk to school and when we finish at midday, the walk back is an absolute killer…

our classroom

This week the kids came back…well actually only 12 of 70 turned up the first day…but woahh!

sure he has ADD!!

They are 4 - 9 years old and an absolute handful...at the moment there are four of us teaching with only around 40 kids, and still they are just out of control…They just punch/ kick and do generally the opposite to what we try and tell them!! (plus their English is very limited!)
It’s a long 3 hours when we only work from 8.30 till 11.30. We feel for you Rod & Jen!

the little ones

They are so cute though and scream ‘Madame’ and ‘Sir’ at us all the time…They get one cup of water for the 3 hours they are at school & they treasure every last drop…

craft day

There is man called Jimmy who set up the school (African Child Care) and he is often around building/painting etc, but the teaching is completely up to us…

(Although he will beat them with a stick if they misbehave…its awful but that’s they way all kids are bought up here)

duck duck goose

It’s hard to teach when some kids who don’t know the letter A, yet some can read whole sentences… the little ones get lost behind as they chant all the answers and just follow the lead of the 9 year olds.

We introduced play time as before they

written by

jem_gret on January 10, 2007 from Bagamoyo, Tanzania

from the travel blog: East Africa and beyond....

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Hi Jem and Greta,
Wow you are having an experience and a half and it is great to read about it. Good on you both!
Hot here also, perhaps 36 degrees, but probably nothing on Africa. Not much news except busy with house building.
Lots of love,
Sue and Tony

written by Tony and Sue a'Beckett on January 11, 2007

Hello muzungus J & G,
Loved reading your latest blog entry & looking at the photos of those beautiful African children. It sounds as if teaching is very demanding but rewarding and you are gaining a real understanding of village life in Africa. What a brilliant experience! We feel part of your adventure via the blog. Congratulations - we are very proud of you both.
Life continues on in drought ridden Victoria - feeding cattle and water low but some signs that the weather pattern has changed and predictions of above average Autumn rains. Fingers crossed! Spent 4 days playing golf on the Peninsula this week with Tiff, Jane & the Day's. Played 4 different sand belt courses - all brilliant! Mum played 72 holes and walked 3 of the 4 the courses.
Wishing you many more exciting adventures. Thinking of you daily - your African photos are my desktop!!
Love, Dad.

written by ian ellis on January 12, 2007

hola chicos
sitting in Santiago airport after a 26 hr bus ride through Chile. now we are 5 hours early for our flight to Buenos Aires....no doubt you can probably smell me from Africa.
Your blogs are sensational. anna and i are sitting here with our mouths open. so proud of you guys! what a cool experience.
Hope you have been getting my msgs,
Talk soon,
Llama x x

written by Llama Holmberg on January 16, 2007

rain, real rain! at long last it has arrived. no more buckets in showers, or bucketing to reuse water in washing machine!! Dams filling , some full, yippee!! Sounds like you were able to enjoy the water too on Friday swim day. can't believe you had 2 yr. olds to look after also. Only 2 more weeks to go doesn't seem so long now. off to Pt' Lonsdale for Granny's 85th tomorrow, should be good fun. Lots of love to you both, Bindi. xoxoxoxo

written by Belinda Ellis on January 19, 2007

Dear Jem and Greta
What a fantastic experience. Life in Melbourne will seem very dull after the exciting time that you are having. And I love your photos. They make your experiences come to life.
I'm enjoying an 'inside' day - it's very humid but it is RAINING and the sound on the roof is wonderful.
Have just been to Barwon Heads for a couple of days to attend a wedding. I also played golf, drank coffee and generally relaxed - a great feeling.
Melbourne is starting to get busier now that people are returning from their holidays. However the Australian Open Tennis Tournament provides lots of opportunity to still 'veg out'
Continue to enjoy
Lots of Love
Wendy xx

written by Wendy McComas on January 19, 2007

Hi J and G
Granny and I have tried to send you a message on my old computer without success....so using Ian's should help!We have had a marvellous family weekend at nutshell for Gran's 85th...all the family there except for you two and kirsty and Alan...great talks and fun. gran missed all the absentees very much as we all did....but except for that she had the "most perfect day". Thrilled to hear about your teaching and we are all looking forward to more details when you return. Penny is setting off for canada and U.S.for 1 week on business . pete swam in the Potsea to pub swim and came 141. he was thrilled to make it ! Anna is working away and geoff and I are having the odd game of golf...off to barwon Heads with I.and b. this afternoon!
love and lots of thoughts {all good ones} to you 2 adventurers
Granny Mouse and Ro Rat xxx

written by ian ellis on January 21, 2007

So long between blogs, you'd think you were in some third world country with no internet access or something...

Was good to talk last week, will try to call again soon.

In other news here, Jem, your house mate, one Hamish Rankin poured beer on my head at 3am Sunday morning (Ryan's 21st), so I proceeded to unload a full stubby down his pants...Safe to say pay back is a biach!

Look forward to your return!

Cheers

written by Simon Turner on January 22, 2007

G bang and Jemmy,

I MISS YOU both, G I am only just surviving the rang without you. Fast paced walks round the levy just arent the same when I'm not being dragged along by you.

YOu both look like you are having such an amazing time. Such a cool experience. BUT cant wait to be living in Melbs with both of you..

Three more days of fruit packing.. i can do it

Love Always
E-bone x

written by Ebb on January 23, 2007

hi gret & jem
sounds like you are having a great time. very jelous.
no news here. unfortunatly we are still looking fro houses. applied for a few so fingers crossed!
when do you ge4t back!!??
miss you
AMELIA XX

written by Amelia McColl on January 23, 2007

Hey Jem and Gret,

My names heather, im from canada and just got back from volunteering in bagamoyo for 2 months, Kenya for a month after that then went back to bagamoyo for a week because i loved it so much and missed so many people..including kitebo(we still keep in touch)!
Man it was so awsome reading your blog and seeing some more pictures of the kids! I taught at jimmy's school too and believe it or not we were up to about 95 kids with 2 volunteers and still no teacher! it was pretty insane but loved..almost every moment of it! i wanted to take so many of the kids home...actually all of them!
it's was really interesting reading your blog because there were so many things that were so similar to our experience. Here's couple things that i thought may make you happy: hassan moved onto primary school..he finally got the funding for it...we were very happy for him but sad to loose our boucer! Sofia is still as cute as ever! We somehow got jimmy to quick caning the kids..and they would either stand infront of the class or in the office...which we felt was a huge accomplishement...however that has probably gone out the window since we left.
anyways that's enough blabbing...feel free to contact me if you want any more updates. alloyha@hotmail.com
cheers

written by Heather Fleming on May 24, 2007

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