Staying Busy in the Village

Swahili is turning out to be a fun language. I have managed to learn the basics and have completed a full conversation in Swahili. I even used “hakuna matata” which means “no worries” and is a popular phrase from the Disney movie The Lion King. The movie’s characters are actually named after Swahili words. Simba, the lion, is named Simba because that is the word for lion in Swahili. So, now that I have used the phrase “hakuna matata” in real life I feel as if I have accomplished a goal every kid from my generation has had. Woop!

Br. Germanos is also going to help me with my Swahili by writing down some words each day for me. The sentence structure can be challenging, but once you get the pronunciation of each letter down speaking the language isn’t too bad. It helps that each vowel only has one way to be pronounced unlike English.

Working hard in the carpentry shop building desks!

Br. Germanos has written down the prayer that is said before every meal and so I am beginning to learn that. Once I have it down I’ll be the one to say grace.

Additionally, I will be learning some Swahili from working in the carpentry shop. I stopped by on Monday and found a few guys working. They knew no English and so we communicated through the little Swahili that I know. It was actually really fun to do so. It’s amazing how far a few words can get you. 

I began to sand and create joints for a number of desks they are building. They helped show me what to do. I don’t know much about carpentry or Swahili, but I think working in the carpentry shop will teach me quite a bit about both. I have committed my mornings to helping them make desks and chairs for the schools. I feel like that is a good way to use my time. 

The supervisor, Br. Christian, also suggested that I help tutor the boys that I work with in English considering they don’t know any. Now I will have another group to tutor which is great.

The carpentry shop currently has men cutting down trees for lumber (we will be working with pine), another group using machines to cut the wood into small pieces and then the group I will be working in which takes those pieces and puts them together. My group is level 1 which is the lowest level, but I am 100% okay with that. Personally, I think the work we do is more fun and I won’t be cutting off my fingers anytime soon which is always a plus. The older more advanced guys work on the machines. Also, it is quite easy to work up a sweat while working by hand. 

My afternoons will be spent tutoring at the secondary schools. I finally figured out the afternoon schedule at the secondary school. It looks like this: 

Monday: School ends at 2:00PM and tutoring goes to 4:30PM.

Tuesday: They have church and sports so rather than tutor I will play sports with them (maybe create a Frisbee study group again).

Wednesday: They have club-subjects. The kids get to meet with others to study one single subject. I will help with whatever they need but probably English, though.

Thursday: Church and sports again. 

Friday: They have debates in English on certain topics picked by the teacher. I think this will be interesting and fun to help with.

Some of my Form 4 students!

On days with sports the students get to go and play football (soccer), basketball or volleyball. I am going to bring my Frisbee’s over to see if anyone wants to throw those around too. The sports here are much more structured. Form 3 may play Form 4 and if they do play there are uniforms to identify each time. There are also multiple football fields which allows for a few games to be played at one time. It is a fun time. 

My schedule is beginning to take shape. I am sure it will change around a bit more, but I am happy with how it is for now. A good start! One thing you learn while being here is that you must be the one to take the initiative. I just walked into the carpentry shop and started helping. No one told me to, but knowing I wanted to try working there I knew I had to go ahead and see for myself.

As for the clinic, I have checked it out and may be able to lend a hand there as well. The problem I see is that I may get stuck with the dispensary job which I feel wouldn’t be the best way to use my time. Dispensing drugs and recording who got what is important, but in Katibunga I was doing that and more. In Zambia I was the main doctor so I was testing, giving shots, bandaging wounds, giving advice, etc. which was a fun time. In Hanga, there are more employees and so a volunteer may get put on pharmacy duty which is what John is doing now. I am sure I could wiggle my way into a more intense and fun job, but it may take time with so many others working at the clinic. I’ll keep checking it out, though.

Br. Germanos runs the gardens and so if I ever have free time he said I could assist him there. He is a really nice guy so I may help out there if I have time. 

Jan and Ed, the couple from Oregon, have left. They flew out yesterday. It was nice having them here and playing cards. They run a blueberry farm back home so they had to get home before blueberry season.

Mango season is coming to an end which stinks. However, with mango season ending that means advocato season is beginning and they are just as delicious as mangos. Plus, the papaya trees are beginning to deliver some papayas as well. I am unsure if I have had them before, but I really like them. They serve them for lunch and dinner now.

The other day the light bulb in my room burned out so I went to ask the two women who work at the guesthouse to help with getting a new one. They are mother and daughter and go by the names of Mama-Baby and Baby which is funny. I sometimes mix up Mama-Baby with Baby-Mama, but they don’t seem to mind. They are really nice. So, I asked Mama-Baby for a new lightbulb and after some time found out that they had none. Instead of waiting to get a new one they had me climb up and take one from the small gathering space at the front of the guesthouse. I didn’t mind ha, now I have a fresh light bulb in my room. 

My sweet ride into Songea!

John and I are in Songea today at the internet café. We come in to get fast internet every once in a while. It is worth it. The modem works, but is not very fast. We plan to come in at least once a week. This may change once he leaves, but for now it works. It is a cheap ride into town and the internet is also cheap. It helps with getting some important things done that can’t be done on the slow modem connection.

We have continued our search for the best Chips mai-yai around and have tried a number of different shops and vendors. It’s amazing how cheap you can get some for. We recently tried a small restaurant called St. Monica’s located in Hanga village. It’s great because it is so close. I, personally, really liked the Chipsi (another name for it) there so I will definitely be going back for more soon. Whenever we go into Songea we make sure to try the different street vendors which are fun.

This week is a big week for the Abbey. It is the week they vote for a new Abbot. The Abbot is the head of the Abbey (like the president). The past Abbot, Abbot Thadei, was in the position for 12 years and has stepped down. Only a priest can become Abbot (not sure if that is a universal rule or just a personal one) and so elections will take place throughout the week. The Abbot President, the Abbot of the head monastery which is located in Germany, has come down to help with the election. So, obviously it’s a pretty big deal.

Well, I better get going, but things continue to go well here. I am happy to see my work schedule is shaping up. 

*My wonderful mother’s birthday is this Friday, the 22^nd. Happy Birthday, Mom! Thanks for all you do. Enjoy your day – I’ll be thinking of you!

Thanks for reading!

The Prayer before Meals in Swahili:

Kwajina la baba na la mwana na roho mtakatifu amina

Tunaomba mungu ubariki sisi na chakula chetu tupate nguvu

za kukutumikia vema amina

Kwajina la baba na la mwana na roho mtakatifu amina

Tumsifu yesu Kristu milele amina