Lesson taught, lesson learned

Saturday – 17/05/2014

For the first time in two weeks we made the trip to Karatu again. It was an uncomfortable trip on the pikipiki though, especially for Astrid. Paul had told us that the gas bottle was almost empty and that we had to take it to Karatu to have it filled again. So it was mister Ndetio, Astrid and me on the pikipiki together with our backpacks and the gas bottle. The metal of the gas bottle kept hitting Astrid's back, we had to hold our (heavy) backpacks sideways and not on our backs and mister Ndetio was partially sitting on my lap. I have never been so happy to get off the pikipiki before. Yes, I have been happy before when we could get out of the daladala, but not the pikipiki. Even though we left earlier than usual to ensure that we wouldn't miss the daladala, we missed the daladala. Mister Ndetio brought us all the way to Endamarriek Kibaoni and luckily for us, the moment we arrived there, so did a daladala. :) Admittedly, I had never been so comfortable in a daladala before. Unfortunately, Astrid couldn't say the same thing.

I don't think we ever made it to Karatu as fast as last Saturday. This was an extremely good thing though, because we had to go to the post office. It closes at noon and is quite the walk from the guesthouse. We were in time to buy stamps and than we were on our way to Happy Days, which is even further from the post office than the guesthouse. For the first time in two weeks, we could eat pizza again. Delicious! :)

In the afternoon, we went back to the guesthouse and continued working for school there. Later on, we wanted to have dinner there, but the only thing they had was ugali with fried fish. When they say fried fish here, they really mean they put the entire fish in the oil. Instead we had chapatis. We had breakfast food for dinner, just because we can ;)

Sunday – 18/05/2014

On Sunday, Astrid was the first one of us to take a shower. At first she was happy there was warm water coming out of the shower head (something that hadn't happened in a couple of weeks) and then I heard yelp and yell for me to turn off the switch for warm water. What came out apparently felt like boiling water. Therefore, Astrid preferred to shower with the cold water instead. When she got out she noticed there was still shampoo in her hair but didn't want to get back in the shower. Consequently, we washed her hair Getamock-style. With a little cup and me pouring the water of her head. Afterwards, we switched positions and she washed my hair. So I got spared from a scolding hot / freezing cold shower.

Then we were on our way to do shoppings. First to the market and then to the shop. When we got to the shop, we realised we had forgotten garlic and we made the trip back to the market. Upon arriving there somebody addressed us and we were utterly surprised when we saw it was mister Mbwala, our head master standing in front of us. He said we weren't guests any longer because “when you can go to the market on your own, you're integrated and you're not a guest.” I think it was a compliment :)

We dropped of our groceries at the guesthouse and arranged for the gas bottle to be filled. Then we were on our way to Happy Days for a bite to eat. Then we hurried back to the guesthouse in fear of being late again for the daladala. We took our shoppings and the now 8 kilograms heavier gas bottle and trudged to the busstand trying to carry everything. We were relieved to see the daladala was still there and suddenly somebody jumped and came up to us. It was the head master of mister Martin's school! What a coincidence! He helped us out and we got in the daladala with him. Not even 5 minutes later one of our students was there. She walked up to us to say hi and also found herself a spot in the daladala. We had to wait for over an hour before the daladala was full and could leave. Why couldn't this have happened when we were running late?

When we arrived in Getamock, it was already late and Johnny was waiting for us. We were already preparing chips when we remembered why he was there. On Friday, we had promised him we would make cheesebread for him on Sunday. Consequently, we started on the cheesebread and only after that was ready, did we continue making chips. The things we do for that boy. :)

Monday – 19/05/2014

The next morning not even half of students of form 3 were in the classroom. Most of them were standing outside. Astrid and I were entirely confused. Usually, when something happened they get their punishment after classes, so we had no clue what was going on. When we asked the teacher on duty what was going and he told us that they were punished for coming late and said: “If I were allowed to cane them, they would already be back in class.” It felt like a blow to my stomach. The way he said it made me feel as if it were our fault that they were missing class.

After teaching form 3 – well, half of them – we went the staffroom and there was quite an announcement. It said there would be a meeting that day, but that the time wasn't specified yet. Nevertheless, everyone HAD to be there, no choice. Consequently, we were quite curious about what was going on. The meeting happened during break-time and it was not really a meeting, but more an introduction of the new head master. The entire meeting happened in Kiswahili, so we had no clue what was actually happening. Mister Herriel was supposed to translate for us, but he is also the secretary during meetings. Hence, he didn't really have time to translate anything and as a consequence, we were just sitting there. After the meeting the new head master disappeared as sudden as he had shown up.

Around noon we went to mama Regina. During the weekend we had bought a cutting board and a new knife for her. She was extremely happy with it and kept thanking us profusely. We were glad we could do this for her :)

When lunch was over, I taught remedial to form 3 and form 4 together for the first time. Even though a lot of students of form 4 didn't show up after the mock examinations were over, the amount of students in the room was still insanely big. Unfortunately, about half way through the remedial the head master stopped by and said that he needed all the students in half an hour to do chores. The collateral damage? I lost half an hour of remedial. I was starting to wonder if there would ever be a remedial again without any interruptions.

In the late evening mama Leonie paid us a visit. They taught Leonie had a fever and asked if we had something to break the fever. Before giving Leonie any medicine, I looked for my thermometer. When we checked Leonie's temperature, it was almost 40°. It was obvious Leonie was sick and everyone was thinking the same thing: “Please, don't let it be malaria.” Baba Leonie went to the dispensary with Leonie and all we could do, was hope our little girl was okay.

Tuesday – 20/05/2014

The next morning the first thing we did was go and ask how Leonie was doing. The answer we got wasn't very straightforward, so again the only thing we could do was hope. Someone who was straightforward that morning was Paul. He said he wasn't going to be at school because he would be teaching at Florian Secondary School in Endamarriek instead. I found this strange because I know that on Tuesdays Paul is supposed to teach mathematics in form 4 (and I teach all the other hours of mathematics). I decided to teach instead. When we noticed that form 4 also had chemistry – which in form 4 is also taught by Paul – that day, Astrid decided to use it to teach civics.

During break-time we got a very nice surprise. Mama Regina had made kekis! Just for us! It was a thank you for the knife and the cuttingboard. She had made it a couple of times at the beginning of our internship, but one of the teacher had said he didn't like them. After that mama Regina stopped making them :( But now..... She made them for us! :D

After lunch there was the second remedial for form 3 and 4. For the second time the head master was joining a remedial. Unfortunately, he left after 10 minutes because of an important call.

Wednesday – 21/05/2014

For the last time ever I taught form 2, then form 3 and then form 4. Next week form 1 up to form 3 will have examinations. The students knew, we knew and everyone was trying their hardest. Form 3 was very concentrated and giving their all, when the bell was rang 20 minutes early. The bell indicated an assembly and if the students are not as fast as the teachers want them to be, they get punished. All the students ran out of the classroom and class ended 20 minutes early. This was all due to …. A magician! He came to put on a little show which was over when break-time had already started. Afterwards the teachers told us that the magician would be back the next day and the students were told that they had to bring money to see the show. I was happy the students would get some entertainment and for once could relax. Unfortunately, the show was in the afternoon, which meant I couldn't teach remedial. The teachers had known this for more than a week and nobody had told us anything. It felt like a blow to the stomach.

Luckily, the show was over before the lessons after break-time were supposed to start. Therefore, I could teach a full lesson in form 4. :) After lunch, there was our last debate. The motion read: “Students must be beaten at school.” In Tanzania, caning is allowed at school and we were extremely interested in what the students' view was on this matter. Even though, in a debate the students are obligated to represent a certain side, the controversy was immense. It was obvious some students had strong opinions on the topic.

After the debate, we had a date with mister Herriel to go and see the monkeys at mama Regina's house! We were extremely excited, both to see the monkeys, but also to see mama Regina's place. :) Something we've learned over the past couple of months is that Tanzanians don't take appointments very strict. They often show up late, move it to another moment or don't show up at all.... This time it was the kind of appointment were one of the sides doesn't show up at all. Can you guess who it was? Here's a tip: it wasn't us. We were really disappointed and we fear we won't get to see the monkeys or mama Regina's place anymore. :(

On Wednesday evening, like on a lot of other days, we were on our way to the evening study sessions. Ever since the maize grew high, it is quite scary to walk there at night. We always take a flashlight to make sure we can see where we're walking. At one point the small road splits up, one goes straight through the maize and the other one next to it. We didn't notice that somebody was walking on the road through the maize and coming our way. When we noticed the guy, we almost had a heartattack and started screaming. Then we noticed it was Costa. He was looking at us strangely and seemed a little apprehensive, especially when we bursted out laughing and couldn't catch our breath. After a couple of minutes our laughter seized and we parted ways. Upon arriving at the school, the students started laughing when we entered the classroom. They had obviously heard the screaming and figured out it was us....

Thursday – 22/05/2014

This Thursday during the checking of the nails and hair, a girl was reprimanded for wearing a ring. The teachers yelled at her and humiliated her in Kiswahili. The form 3 student was obviously ashamed when she was called out in front of the entire school and pulled to the front roughly by one of the teachers. The teachers took away her ring and I wasn't sure if they were planning on ever giving it back.

When the morning assembly was over, it was time for mathematics in form 3 for the last time. FOR THE LAST TIME :( In spite of losing 20 minutes of class the day before, I was able to finish the entire topic I wanted to. At the end of the lesson we handed out papers, so they could give their opinion about us. After all, they are a little bit our class more than the others. We let them all put their notes in an envelope that we sealed and promised not to open until we were back in Belgium. I'm a little bit nervous. :p At the end of the lesson several students told me they were unhappy because they wanted us to keep teaching them. My heart was breaking and I really wished I could tell them, we were coming back after the holidays.

As announced on Wednesday, the magician came back and we couldn't teach remedial. Almost all of the students were watching his show. There were a couple though, who weren't. Some of them didn't have enough money to pay and others had purposefully decided not to go, so they could use the time to study. When we entered the classroom of form 3, it were those students who immediately came up to us to ask questions. So maybe, we did teach a little bit of remedial :)

After dinner, Astrid was in a strange mood and soon she pulled me in as well. It all resulted in a dance party with just the two of us. I'm sorry to disappoint you (actually I'm relieved) but there is no single proof of that.

Friday – 23/05/2014

On Friday morning, we arrived at school and saw the table for the examinations and along with it the one for the supervisions. We immediately checked when we had to supervise. The first time would be on Monday afternoon in..... form 4 A and B. Wait, what? Form 4? Form 4 didn't have examinations.... Surprise, they do! They wouldn't have final term examinations like the others do, but they would have 'Big Results Now'- examinations or also known as BRN. It is a project from the government were form 4 has to do examinations on which in the entire country scores low. There are four subjects of which they have to take a test: biology (+ a second test for practical), English, Kiswahili and naturally mathematics.

Since form 4 would also have examinations the following week, the lesson I taught on Friday morning was also the last one I would ever teach them or ever teach in Getamock. This came unexpectedly and I didn't fully realise it at the moment. At the end of the lesson we also asked them to write down their opinion about us on a small paper. While I was teaching form 4, form 3 had to cut the grass for the entire two periods. Afterwards we found out the reason for their punishment was because they couldn't answer a question about chemistry....

In the morning I had checked the time table and form 3 would have English that day. The English teacher was absent though, so I decided to teach instead. I spent half of the lesson on making exercises on logarithms and the other half the students could use to ask questions about any topic of mathematics. They were quite glad with this because the first examination would be mathematics, so if there were any questions, Friday was the moment to ask them.

Right after break-time Astrid taught her last lesson of civics and therefore it was my last lesson assisting. This would be the last time we ever taught at Getamock Secondary School, but I think neither of us realised. After 20 minutes the bell was rang and an assembly was held. Lessons were over and all the students had to clean their respective classrooms for the upcoming examinations. The students of form 3 themselves decided they wanted to finish the lesson before starting to clean though. To save time Astrid and I decided to jump in and help them with carrying the desks outside and cleaning. We succeeded in finishing at the same time as the other classes even though she had taught for another 40 minutes.

When the cleaning was done, there was religion period. It was the last time we could ever see them like that. Our students are happy when they're singing and dancing during religion period. They're smiling and they're carefree. I love seeing them like that. :) The entire lesson we took pictures and made videos. We might never be able to see these students sing and dance again, but we will always be able to remember it! :)

This was my last week of teaching in Getamock.... :(

Bye, bye

xxx

Laura