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Hey Everyone,
Sorry it has taken me sooo long to get this started - internet has been a bit of a problem. Have found a good intertnet cafe near my school now though so hopefully will be able to keep you a bit more posted!
So to fill you in quickly about the last 2 weeks! Spent most of first week on orientation - a day walking around the local area to find the market, ATM, stationary shop etc. Also involved a close encounter with a cow charging at our group eeek! And then got accused of not paying for our drinks in the cafe! Second day involved a tour around Dar es Salaam, which is just over an hour away. Was lots of hustle and bustle everywhere. Was shocked by the lack of tourists. This is the only place I have travelled and not seen many other muzungus (white people!).
Started our project at the end of the first week. Me and Kate are spending the mornings in a school about 30 mins walk away in a town called Tegeta. The school is called the Jeecaan Mission nursery and primary. Its really basic, the kids have hardly anything and the teaching is pretty appalling. On my first day for the whole 3 and a half hours I was there, all the kids did was 10 subtraction sums that were on the board. The teacher spent the rest of the time writing their homework in their books and sitting down. She hardly interacts with the kids, there is minimal teaching, mostly parrot fashion learning. And this is a school that parents have to pay for their children to go to!
Have found it quite frustrating trying to improve things, but think it is a mammoth job! So we have now realised that we wont be able to make any major changes while we are here, just have to be content to help a child at a time or make them laugh for a bit.
In the afternoons I am doing adult english lessons. Got thrown in at the deep end a little as the last teacher left the day after I arrived so didnt really have any guidance! Im teaching the intermediate group, but often have the advanced group with me as well if there are not enough teachers. Is really hard work trying to plan 2 hour lessons everyday in between teaching the kids and then doing my adult classes, but I really enjoy the english classes. We often have a discussion about the differences between Tanzanaian and European life which can get interesting!
Last weekend treated ourselves to a Safari. Went to the Selous National Reserve, which is the biggest protected wildlife area in Tanzania. Also as its a long way away from the more popular places like the Serengeti, relatively few people go there so its more unspoilt. Stayed in a luxury tent which was a nice change from the volunteer house we are living in. The safari was amazing, saw all the popular animals - giraffe, zebra, lion, elephant, wildebeest, antelope, warthog, hunting dogs etc. The scenery was stunning and our guides were excellent. We had an open top jeep so we got some really good views! Also went to a hot spring in the park which was nice!
Planning on going to Zanzibar with some girls from the volunteer house this weekend for some relaxation! Get so tired here, think its because were sooo busy and it gets really really hot during the days.
Well I gotta go now, will try to keep this updated more often now so can go into more detail for you :)
Hope all is well in the UK, see you soon xxxxx
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