Week 32 at School

This week we went to a Government school and also a Maasai Choir.

For those reading the online blog, there is more if you click on the Read more>> button below.

There is supposed to be a solar eclipse tomorrow afternoon, but I haven't seen or heard anything about it in the papers here.  Not sure whether it has been mentioned on radio or TV as I still don't speak Kiswahili.  That is one of the frustrations of living here, me and languages just don't agree.

Plans are afoot to climb Mt Meru in a few weeks with some of the volunteers from the school.  If it comes off it should be a good trip.  I am still waiting for details, but hey, we are in Africa.

From now on you will have to check the blog as it appears it might be full again, but I just can't be bothered creating yet another site, so instead I will put some videos on this week and see if I can break it.

Now on to the Government school and Maasai Choir.  St Jude's organises visits, mainly for school visitors to do these visits to show them what the real Tanzania is all about.  Remember Felix, he is on his way back from Australia as I type I think after a 1 month tour to raise awareness and funds for St Jude's.  Well, the Government school is where he went to school and the Maasai Choir is from his village.  They are both about 15 mins slow drive along bumpy roads from the St Jude's.

We went with two of the visitors and 1 other volunteer, together with a driver and one of the locals from the Visitors Centre.

The Government school was very interesting.  It was overcrowded and very basic.  Up to 90 students per class, not enough teachers to take every class, a desk that in Australia would hold 2, holds 4 to 5.  In fact Australian school wouldn't have such desks...I hope.  We met with the Headmistress who gave us a bit of a rundown on the school and we got the chance to ask questions.

Next it was on to a class, and as it was Friday, not all the students were there, but the class was still crowded.  It was not a holiday, merely that they choose not to go on Fridays.  They first showed us their books and then they were asked questions by their teacher, before singing us a song.

After the school it was back on the bus and off to see the Maasai Choir.  As we pulled in there was a group of about 12 Maasai already singing and dancing.  We were welcomed with songs and dance, but it was in direct sunshine.  Next they dressed us up for a wedding and circumcision.  I have heard of joint celebration before but a wedding with a circumcision?  The big problem for me was I was the one to be circumcised.  Luckily they had already given me a heavy stick and I made it very clear there would be no circumcision today.

Once we were dressed up it was off for the wedding which was between a young Maasai man and one of the visitors.  Denise and I were the parents and I was given a second wife for the occasion.  The wedding was quite good, but after it finished I tried to find shade as the sun was burning.  It was a little like finding shade in Western NSW or Qld.

After the wedding we got the opportunity to shop and then they danced us to the bus.  I was glad I went but even more pleased to get out of the sun.

Planning is in full swing for end of year parties and travel arrangements.  At this stage Denise has had a few idea of where we are going, but we have to be back in Arusha to meet up with Megan between Meru, Kili and the safari.  Not sure of what we are doing at this stage, but we had better do some planning if we are to go anywhere.

Any offers or ideas????

I did try to upload some video, but after 3hrs of trying over 2 days I gave in.

Until next time.