POST January 23rd...Life in Namabengo is GREAT!

So I guess my b-day weekend was truly a "cathartic" weekend for me because suddenly life became better. I guess after talking with the PCV's in Songea, reading/writing e-mails to PCV's in other parts of Tanzania, talking with people from home,and getting my couches...life has become good. The next day, 25th, my couches arrived. Too bad I did not have any cushions. Yeah!!! I would have to make another trip to Songea th following weekend.
So anyways, an older man from the village stopped by and asked me to help him put his two daughters through school. I had only talked with him once before. I knew he saw me as the "Rich American"...what could I do. His two daughters were in Forms 3 and 4 and his Form 2 daughte was at the top of her class. I had heard that when girls could not afford to go to school, they would then sleep with creeper older men to get the money to go to school. They then would get HIV or get pregnant and would have to leave school anyways...this thought sickened me and after much thought I decided to bite the bullet and agree to put them through school.He is a farmer and I know the farming situation is pretty crap here. But one condition, he had to agree to be my "landscaper/fit-it" person. He agreed. I am happy about this because I was plannning on sponsoring a student anyways, but not this fast. Whatever, I am helping two girls get an education. I feel good.

A former PCV gave me advice to leave my house at least once a day and tp stop being a "hermit"..I took his advice and go see the nun/sisters everyu evening. They give me maandazi and chai. They have now become my "girlfriends" here in Namabengo. They taught me to cook maandazi. I taught them how to cook an excellent pumpkin soup. En route to their house I have become friends with a mamma and her granddaughter. They also feed me maandazi and chai. It is nice to have these outlets.

The little kids do not dare call me Mzungu anymore and rush to help me carry books and what have you.

I should commend my fellow Namabengo teachers...we had a "How to Tech English" seminar at our school. They asked for it. We worked on all sorts of "Participatory" teaching methods and we all learned alot. I should feel proud of them since they made the big step to ask for this help. They all were quite keen on seeing me teach. Classes finally began. I am teaching!!wHOOHOO!!!I was just trying to get to know my students better the first week.

So I went back to Songea, hung out with John and the volunteers, went dancing, bought wire for my dog fence and cushions for my couch.I felt rather rushed with the whole "couch-cushion" buying experience. I hated the design. Regardless I bought it anyways. Upon returning back to Namabengo I was horrified to find that the cushions were "too" big and looked horrible! The kids were scared of me because I was I hated the cushions so much. The next day my HeadMaster came over and said I should return them that day and leave school, classes, and go to Songea. So just like a Tanzanian teacher, I skipped school and went to Songea. I ended up berrating the shop keeper who sold me the cushions and they gave me all of my money back. They were such a pain in my arss. Luckily I found what I wanted for half the price, stayed with John another night, got two packages and headed back to Namabengo. Can I just say how much my London BUNAC friend Liz from Minnesota rocks??? The girl sent me all of her OLD SCHOOL mixed tapes!! I am talking tapes with classics such as "Tarzan Boy","Informer" by Snow,"Best of U2",Neil Diamond, "Brown Eyed Girl",Bon Jovi, and the "Foot Loose" and "Top Gun" sountracks. I truly think that Kenny Loggins is the 80's mots underrated musician...the man is brilliant. I HEART KENNY LOGGINS. If you asked me what music era I love the best I would have to say the 80's. If anyone has Steve Winwood, Journey, Chicago, or any glam rock..send them my way. Thank you Liz for the mixed tapes that you taped off the radio back when it was cool. Heidi, a fellow OCV, also sent me a package with a mixed tape taht had all sorts of Bon Jovi tunes. These mixed tapes have severely lightened my mood in Namabengo.

So my yard looks awesome thanks to my Baba Landscaper.The Head of the English Department enlisted my help in teaching English and commented on how he thinks I am lonely. This helped me alot and now I get to talk with alkl of my teachers. I asked one to tutor me in kiswahili so she invited me over for lunch and so that I could meet her daughter. Baba Landscaper built me a dog fence, my garden has been dug, my living room is set up with the couches, my house is clean, I get to teach, the teachers talk to me...not too bad. Wait it only gets better!

So I am now the proud momma of a 2 month old puppy. I have had him for nearly two weeks. His name is "Mila" which means "Customs/Traditions" in kiswahili. I knew a girl named Mila at Phillips so it reminds me of America and because Tanzabia is a country full of traditions and customs I figured the name was fitting.He is the sweetest dog. I carry like a baby. It follows me and cries when I leave. Everyone loves my dog.It really makes a big difference. I love it and do not feel so alone. I even take walks with him at night.I love child. I am not gonna think about what I will do in two years. I will just focus on the present and cherish it now.

I had to give a test the other week.Let me just say that grading sucks!!!Mad props to my teacher friends who have been doing this for awhile. I love it though and feel productive.

Summary
I now teach 20 periods a week (4 English/ 16 Biology). I start next week volunteering at the hospital. I have 4 hours of kiswahili tutoring a week. I am also going to start to teach English to the nuns every Sunday. Form 2 asked me to teach them an English song for the "Welcome Form 1" party which will take place next Saturday. I figured "This little Light of Mine" was a good one. Cannot wait to teach them more English songs..let me know if you have any suggestions. I also started my Biology/Health Club yesterday. It rocked out. My Kiswahili tutor Anna and I have been getting pretty close to. I am happy. Life is good. My studenst are great. I chewed out a few for making fun of my Kiswahili. I told them that I would never dare to make fun of their English but woudl try to help them. This has helped my relationship with my students. Right now we have some Student Teachers doing their "Student-Teaching" from the Songea Teachers Training College.They are energetic and utilize participatory methods of taeching. This is pretty awesome to see Tanzanians using these techniques.They get on my nerves a bit because they think they are superior to me since we are the same age and they can speak Kiswahili...of course they can,THEY ARE TANZANIAN...but can they speak English??English is what every Secondary school teacher must teach in and is the language that all of their exams are in. The male student-teachers are the only ones who talk with me. They were also surprised to see a WOMAN teaching science. I had to explain to them that that was why I was there...to show that girls can do well at science. Of course I am not gonna tell them that I have to re-study my biology.The Head of my Department tried to cop attitude with me one day for something that was not my fault in front of the other teachers. I put the smack down on him in private and told him never to treat me like a student because I am a teacher and came from far away to be a treated like a teacher and not a child. He got the point and we are hunky dory.

Last weekend I came here to Songea and rejoined with Alicia and Charles. We had so much fun and played the "Life Questions" games on Valentine's Day with the VSO's. It was really one of the best nights I have ever had in Tanzania. So Charles, Alicia, and I celebrated V-Day in style and went to Songea's infamous disco where we met with at least 100 Tanzanians. They all were there for Valentine's Day. After witnessing the crippled guy win the "dance-off", the V-Day festivities began. They had a woman wearing a bikini and a man in a suit passing out cake to the lovely "couples". So Alicia and
I went up together. We were wearing matching second hand shirts and
truck driver hats while also carrying umbrellas....STYLIN AND PROFILIN in Songea. So the MC asked us our names and Alicia said hers and I said "Charles".Then when he asked where we were from Alicia said "German". Alicia and I then fed each other cake. Some random has been shpwing this picture all around Songea. Some guy stole Alicia's umbrella later on she managed to get it back. Since me and the VSO with us were in a "Kahli/Fierce" mood. She called him a "mwezi" while him and his mpenzi were making excuses saying that he meant to take his girlfriend's umbrella. Bullocks! I did not buy that and had to "get Baltimore on his arss" (a.k.a yelled at him, waved my umbrella at them, called him a "mwezi", and pushed him)....good times, good times in Songea.

Moral of the story...Don't Let Vicki get "Baltimore on Your Arss"

I am happy. It is great to have things that give shape to my days in Namabengo.I finally am starting to feel like I am doing what I came here to do.

Thanks to all for the letters, phone calls, packages, and thoughts.

About packages...if you want to send me anything declare the items as "Educational Materials". I also have plenty of pencils and rulers. Thank you.

Take Care

Oh yeah the wedding count that I am missing this year is officially 11!!!Regardless of me being invited or not I am still missing 11!!!!I will be back in December for Varsha and Bertie's wedding. Think mom is in India now. Not sure.Anyways, love to all.