Dada na Kaka

'Sister and Brother'

When I finish each blog I think that there will be nothing more for me to write about. Fortunately, that is never the case. I am always wrong since each week there are more and more stories and new things that happen. It’s really great. Not only does it make for an exciting experience, but my blog will go on! J

Though, before we go on, you will have to bear with me during the month of March. I will be traveling and away from the internet during the majority of the month so blog posts will be limited. I am sure I will be able to post a few, but it won’t be as it normally is. Hakuna matata, though. February, April and May will be filled with posts.

Passion Fruit is delicious!

With that being said let’s get into this mid-February post!

First, I hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine’s Day. From what I heard it seemed like most of yours were great which is fantastic. Whether you spent it with a special someone or not it’s a day where we all are allowed to chow down on chocolate and that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

This week has been going well. My supervisor, Br. Paul, has been trying to ask the Abbey to allow me (and all volunteers from here on out) to eat with the monks rather than in the guest refectory. I don’t mind either way. In Katibunga you eat with the brothers and in Hanga you eat with the nuns who are visiting and the guest master, Br. Germanus. To me it doesn’t matter all that much. Both are fine. I just look forward to my rice and beans every day and so if that is there then I am a happy Joseph. I’m fairly certain I could eat rice and beans for the rest of my life and be fairly content. Not that I want to, but I think I could make it work.

There are about eight to ten nuns that work and live here at Hanga Abbey. They live in the newer guesthouse and some cook meals and do other jobs while some are here for school. There are a few who are learning to become carpenters and plumbers and I think that’s pretty cool. Most only speak Swahili, but there are a few from Namibia who speak English.

Considering nuns are called sisters I have always called them dada (the Swahili word for sister). So, for example, I will say Habari za jioni, dada (good evening, sister). I must be the only volunteer to have called them this because they find it hilarious and have made a point to call me kaka (brother) every time we speak now. I think the words dada and kaka are more for relatives, but I don’t know any other title to call them so I just go with dada. To them, it is a joke that never gets old and so we keep on calling one another dada and kaka.

Throughout Africa there are quite a few albinos. If this is a derogatory term for them (which I don’t believe it is) then I apologize. If you are unaware of what an albino person is it is someone who is completely white. They have white skin, white hair, white/red eyes. I don’t know too much about this condition, but it is a congenital disorder (existing from birth) where there is an absence of pigment in the skin and as well as a problem in creating melanin. This condition is unknown or feared by many because they are uneducated on the topic, but in reality there is nothing to fear. These people do suffer from other illnesses, though, and as you probably have guessed they have a high chance of getting skin cancer. I have seen a donation box where one can donate sunscreen and it will be given to the albino community.

Rain in the classroom

I do think that I have seen more here than in the United States. At first  I thought that was just because it is very easy to spot and, therefore, very noticeable. However, research shows that albinism is highest in people of sub-Saharan African descent. 

While teaching the other day it began to rain. Considering there is no glass to cover the windows this rain comes pouring into the classrooms. When this happens there is an immediate shift where all the students move to the far-side of the classroom and the lesson I am trying to teach is put on the back burner. In addition to the rain coming in through the windows it also falls on the tin roof which makes a deafening noise and so both of these factors make it almost impossible to continue teaching.

Rather than continue with my lesson on vowels, pronunciation and heteronyms I began to speak about my family. If you want to get these kids attention all you have to do is bust out your phone and show them pictures. Soon the kids who were talking or sleeping are practically tackling you to see the picture. So, this is what ensued after beginning to talk about my family and showing them pictures.

I showed them pictures of my Mom, Dad, brother and two sisters as well as my grandparents Donna and Tom. I happened to have some pictures with them on my phone. I am unable to pull up Facebook for obvious reasons so I couldn’t begin showing them my extended family.

My class loved it. Oh man, it was as if they couldn’t get enough. They asked for me to show them each person at least 5 times. They also loved being able to see my grandparents and parents. This may not make much sense to you, but all they have ever seen is me and so to see all of these other people (who are all white) is fascinating. Also, the different hair color was just too much. They thought it was so cool.

I love the books in the Hunger Games trilogy and in these books there are thirteen districts with one capital. In the capital there are people who have crazy hair colors, different skin color and more. This is what I feel it must be like for them when they see all of these photos. It is as if we are from the capital in the Hunger Games trilogy.

They also thought my Mom was one of my sisters, they marveled over my sister Grace because she is close in age and has the same name as a few, they couldn’t believe Abby’s hair, they thought my Dad was very handsome and I think some needed CPR after seeing my brother.

No joke, my brother gives Tom Cruise a run for his money and that is not me just being nice.  Not only is he a pilot, but this guy is like a 23 on a scale of 1-10. Now you know the kind of shadow I have lived in all of my life haha! So, Thomas, if you aren’t pleased with any American women there are plenty in Africa who would give you a call. No, seriously. They have asked for your phone number.

While at dinner the other night I overheard that there may be another volunteer from Italy coming to Hanga. I quickly asked if this was true and it just may be. However, they are unaware of when the volunteer will arrive. I have heard March, April and May. With my luck it will most likely be in May when I am planning to leave ha. Also, as you can tell, I constantly live in a state of not knowing because it seems as if nothing is ever for certain here. Ah, you just have to embrace it J

Now that I have begun teaching at the Vocational School I have been granted access to their very small internet room. They just got it up and running. I think most people have to pay, but they allow me to use it for free because I am a teacher. It is a slow connection, but it totally beats having to use a modem or go into Songea every week. I have also begun teaching Br. Germanus how to use the computer. I believe he is 52 years old and has never used a computer before. We have made progress, though. He now has a Gmail account and has sent emails!

Laundry time!

I have heard rumors that author J.K. Rowling will be releasing an eighth Harry Potter book. If this is true then we all can relax because we will know that there truly is a God who cares deeply for us. Another Harry Potter book would be amazing! At the end of the seventh book the main characters Harry, Ron and Hermione are all grown up, married and are watching their children go off to Hogwarts (the Wizardry School) for the first time. Supposedly this eighth book will follow the kids on their journey to Hogwarts and bring the entire series full-circle. It sounds good to me!

On the topic of reading, I have just completed the Lord of the Rings which is written by J.R.R. Tolkien. I love fiction books as you well know considering I just finished praising a book about magic, but now that I have read the main series like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Game of Thrones (which another book is about to be released) and others I think I feel myself getting more into the nonfiction realm of reading. My next book will be The Things They Carried which is on the Vietnam War. I believe the stories told are based on true events with a bit of fictional pieces added in. I think a book on the civil war would also be a good read.

To conclude, something I have mentioned in past posts is my growing love for podcasts. Podcasts are like listening to a TV program without the video. I am able to listen to Anderson Cooper news broadcasts, presidential debate updates, BBC world news, sports and many other things. It is great to have when you are in a part of the world that lacks outside information.

---- The next few paragraphs are less about Africa and more about me trying to pick an NBA team to root for. If you are not interested, you may stop reading now ---

One thing I have noticed, though, is now that football is over and baseball has yet to start there is a lot of talk about basketball and the NBA. I enjoy playing the game, but have never been one to sit and watch basketball with the exception being the glorious March Madness college basketball tournament. However, I feel as if this needs to change. I have friends who are obsessed with the NBA and I think it would be fun to have another sport to follow while waiting on the NFL and MLB to start up.

So, first things first, I must pick a team to follow. Now, I am totally a guy who is swayed by things such as the name of a team. I know, I know. It’s probably not what I should focus on, but once I begin following the team I then will get to know the players. I also care about where that team comes from. Take for example the New York Yankees and the Green Bay Packers, hate them both. Despise them. I am actually a bit upset that I even wrote those names in my blog.

The Yankees have a cool name, but are from New York and they are rivals with the Twins so I can’t be a fan. The Twins name is super cool. Having a name that refers to the cities they play in, that’s just smart. I love the Vikings (always have always will) and have to root for Minnesota so I obviously can’t be a fan of the Green Bay Packers.

So, basketball - I have narrowed my selection to three teams: The Minnesota Timberwolves, the Toronto Raptors and the Memphis Grizzlies. One of these teams will get the great privilege of having me as a fan. Yes, I know, it is a big deal.

So, first, all of these teams have stellar names. So, I begin leaning towards the Minnesota Timberwolves considering they are from Minnesota. However, this is my chance to root for a team outside of Minnesota and considering Minnesota is famous for having terrible sports teams and with the Timberwolves easily topping that list this would be my chance. They did pick up some great new players, but they still are just not that good. So, then I look at Toronto and Memphis. I grew up in Memphis and so I have some strong ties and good reasons to root for them. Yet, the Toronto Raptors are from the north and you have to love their name. A raptor, that is so cool. They are also the only Canadian team which is neat (the Memphis Grizzlies used to be the Vancouver Grizzlies before moving to Tennessee). So, I am stuck. Both Toronto and Memphis are new teams. They are around 20 years old. I will have to pick eventually and when I do I will let you know. If you feel like helping a brother out then give a shout out to what team you think I should root for in the comments section. Adios, folks. That is all for now.

* I recently received some very sad news about a friend and fellow Johnnie of the class of 2015. Justin Flascher recently passed away due to complications that followed a surgery for Crohn's disease. Rest in Peace, buddy. Until next time.

Thanks for reading!