Sophie in Africa

On Saturday, the 26th, it was half time for me in Africa and it feels very weird. It is always interesting with time; while you're in it, it feels like an eternity, but when it is over, you can't believe it went so fast. This period has been both great and tough emotionally and I have learnt so much about so many different things. I have also thought lot about what I miss the most from Sweden, (except family and friends of course) and come up with that it actually is – tap water! Just such a simple thing as being able to drink tap water. I can't believe it is so easy in Sweden, just to open the tap and water flows. Here people have to walk to get water. In Namanga, there are taps and wells everywhere, so it is never too far away, but it still is a process every time. And the water is not safe to drink. After being boiled or treated it tastes pretty disgusting so I really miss a cold glass of safe, good water. You have no idea what you will miss if you have not been without it!

Last Saturday Susanne arrived and it has been so nice. I am happy for company, Namanga easily gets pretty lonely because there is nothing to do so I love to be able to talk and discuss about several different topics. Susanne also opend my mind to knew things, for example that if you just give Africans a chance they are often not so bad. For example we met some very nice boys that I don't think I would have been talking to if she had not. I know where they work so I think I will go and meet them every now and them which suddenly gives me some company. We also met a very nice man by conincidence. He was in a shop where we wanted to buy something and then he spoke english with us (most Tanzanians are very bad at english) and it turned out that he lived in Switzerland! So amazing, I sopke german with an african man. He was really interested in us and very happy to have met us. Stories like this just light up your days.

We have done several things together these days that are just not fun alone. Going out drinking a soda, sitting together in a cafe etc. We also did another very interesting visit. Susanne had lived and worked with Sisters in Burundi for two months so she really wanted to see Sisters here as well. I found out that there was a Congregation here in Namanga so we went there. And somehow, it always reminds me of Taize which always makes me feel a little at home. They welcomed us inside and they welcomed us to join their prayers and visit them whenever we want to. There was a very warm environment and they also had a very nice garden. I think I will continue to go there, even though I am not catholic, just because the garden looks a lot nicer than the walls of my room. And there are not really any parks where you can just sit on a bench and relax and I miss that.

The work in school is going on but sometimes it is a little hard for me to know what to do with the kids. Since I am no educated teacher I don't really know what is the most pedagogic way to teach the kids and to make the most of the time. I can just try and develop and see what works for this school. When I see all the schools here, not just mine but in general, I am so happy I want to school in Sweden. Here the schools are noisy, crowded and often lack a lot of material. And also the learning process is different, often the teachers just write on the blackboard and then the students have to copy. It is not so interactive which I think would be more fun for the students and also mor efficiant.

This Satuturday we also visited Arusha together. I showed her some parts of the city, but it was very busy since it was week-end. We did something wonderful though – swimming! Susannes idea of course, she said that it is possible to ask Hotels to use the swimming pool for a little cost. And it was really very easy. The pool we went to was small and the water maybe not the cleanest, but who cares! It’s Africa! (The best expression ever by the way, it suites for everything). I enjoyed to lay lazy by the pool and to swim in water. Ah, thank you for that Susanne!

It feels like I have been away for a long time but I would not be ready to go home now. There is so much I have left to explore about Tanzania and Afrika, I am happy I am here for longer still. Even though 5,5 months is a long time, it takes a while to really get used to life and to make it like your everyday life. Right know, though some difficulties, I am just enjoyoing my company for another two weeks and than I have to try to stay busy until I go home. Who knows when I am in Africa next time!

Now I have been back in school for a little more than a week and it has not been as tough as i thought it would. Since it is a new term now many students don't come to school in the beginning so we have had pretty small classes and the afternoons free which feels nice. I have missed the kids, many of them I haven't seen for over a month. I like when they smile towards me and run to me wanting to play with me. They fight to take my hand and when I tech them they usually giggle. Still, they see me more like a funny play-mate than a teacher. I have to work to get the same respect from them as they give to the other teachers.

 

I discussed with my contact person here about some changes for the centre and I feel like it has improved. Just some small things, like shorter lessons and more play time. Now I personally think it is more conductive and better for the kids.

 

I don't have so much to write about, but on Saturday my visitor arrives and I am curious to see what she thinks of the school and everything here. Just another few days!

 

December was a rainy month, but January has until now been very hot. I am still adapting it, but sometimes it is a little tough. The African sun feels different than the European, but I like it.

My two weeks of free are slowly coming to an end. I enjoyed them, it was very nice to have some free time. I loved the Safari, really an experinece for a life time, but have also done some smaller other things. My two first months in Africa became kind of a start-up; on Monday the real tough work begins. Three months of school, the entire first term in Tanzania. Puh, I already feel exhausted. Then I will have two weeks of free again before I go home. I have something that I am longing for though: a visitor! My friend Susanne from the Netehrlands will come to visit me in the middle of January for three weeks. I met her in Taize in 2011 and she was also in Rwanda for the meeting. She will do kind of a World tour for a few moths and will be in east Africa during this period as well, so she asked if she could visit me and of course I said yes. It will be very nice to show her the school and the kids.

 

Otherwise there is not so much happening here that I could write about, I am mainly just getting prepared for school again. I imagine being very tired when that first week is over...