Test week = hell week

So you thought test week was only hell when you're still a pupil? Think again! If it's hell for the pupils they will turn it into hell for you too. Let's go back to where I left of last time.

Weekend 22 – 23/02/2014

On Saturday we went to Happy Days and there it started already. A large group of Americans and a slightly smaller one of Germans had flooded our little piece of paradise and turned it into a noisy place. On top of that the internet didn't cooperate at all. Nevertheless, the pizza there was so delicious it made up for a lot of it.

In the evening John, the owner of the guesthouse we stay at on weekends, borrowed us his modem so we could finally upload our blogs. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears (more like a huge amount of patience) but after several hours they were finally online. So thank you, John!

On Sunday we did the usual grocery shopping and unexpectedly we ran into mr. Snorrie, a teacher from Getamock Secondary School. His real name is actually Herielly but we prefer Snorrie because of his moustache. ;)

Since it was the first time we had travelled to Karatu on our own, we also had to wait for the daladala back to Endamarriek, where Paul would pick us up, by ourselves. It was supposed to pick us up between 4 and 5 pm but because of mechanical problems it didn't show up until 7 pm. That is how a normal trip from Karatu to Endamarriek changed into quite an adventure. 

While waiting for the daladala for several hours a little boy showed up and stared fascinated at Astrid's pen. After a minute or so he asked if he could have it and when Astrid gave it to him a smile took over his face. It was unbelievable how something so small could make him so happy. When we arrived at Getamock, as a reward for being so brave during the trip, we ate our first mango and piece of chocolate in Tanzania.

Monday 24/02/2014

This Monday, we saw the hoisting of the flag, whilst the pupils sang the anthem of Tanzania. They do it regularly but it was the first time we witnessed it. After that test week really started and so did hell week.

Every Monday morning I teach mathematics in form 3 for the first two periods. So this time they had a test. They kept trying to cheat of each other and while walking around I could notice that most of them had trouble solving the exercises. 5 to 10 minutes after the beginning of the period Ndetio, one of the other teachers, walked in thinking it was his period. When he noticed it wasn't he walked out laughing. Two minutes before class was supposed to end I told the pupils to write down their names on every paper and hand them in. Ndetio walked in the classroom, something which is very unusual here. The teachers of the next hour always wait at the door for the other teacher to leave the room and otherwise they knock and talk to the teacher who is in front of the class at that moment but almost never do they walk in without permission of the one teaching. Ndetio started yelling at the pupils in Kiswahili and I don't mean yelling like parents sometimes do when you break your curfew. I mean yelling with everything you have and invading somebody's personal space. I've seen things here that shocked me, I have seen things that I've questioned but this time I was petrified for myself and for the pupils. And so were they, I could see it on their faces.

Furthermore, the mathematics teacher from form 3 had promised to help me correcting the tests since most of the material on it was still taught by him. Nevertheless, it were Astrid and I who did most of the correcting while he was playing draughts with other teachers.

Later on in the day, Ndetio made an announcement in Kiswahili. According to the rules these should happen in English though. When Astrid asked some teachers why they weren't in English they said they didn't know but that she was right. Afterwards she asked Ndetio and he just pretended he couldn't hear her, like she wasn't there. After Ndetio's little show, all of the teachers were speaking Kiswahili and it was obvious we weren't allowed to know what about.

Tuesday 25/02/2014

The next day was calmer, but the events of Monday were still fresh in our minds. I helped Pweza by supervising the test of mathematics in form 4. Here less pupils tried to cheat off of each other, but there were still some.

After school hours there was a football game between the teachers and the pupils from form 3. After 105 minutes, of which 90 were spent playing, it were the teachers who could cry victory.

In the evening we had to cook alone because Pweza would be home late. Surprisingly enough, it was Ndetio who helped us light our little charcoal fire.

Wednesday 26/02/2014

After Tuesday comes Wednesday: my busy, busy day. The first two periods I had form 2 and this week was the first time I taught them. It was really nice but they also have the most difficulties understanding me. When I asked if one them could explain it in English to me and then in Kiswahili to the others only one of them wanted to try but he did a really good job and I truly believe it helped the others immensely.

During third and fourth period I had form 3. They were all over the place and I had to take at least ten books away because they were studying for other courses. Even that didn't help. I told them they could ask for the books back at the end of the lesson but not a single one of them did. Afterwards a student whose book I hadn't taken, came to ask for the books back. Then it turned out that they were afraid of the punishment.

The two periods after that I had form 4. They were a little more cooperative and I only had to take one book from another subject, so that's better than ten. But here as well, the girl didn't ask for the book back.

When those classes were over Astrid and I took a look at the tests of civics from form 2. One of the last questions was: 'What is the nationality of one who lives in Tanzania but he or she comes from Belgium?' There were several pupils who answered 'Madam Astrid' or 'Madam Laura'. This was utterly adorable but unfortunately incorrect :(

After school hours, Astrid and I washed our clothes for the first time. This takes a while. Probably because we're Mzungu (white one, European) and don't really know how to go about it. While I did some more of the washing Paulina, one of the teachers, and mama Leonie, who lives next door, made braids in Astrid's hair. The end result was hilarious! Words wouldn't do it justice. After they left I adapted it a little bit so it would be suitable to leave the house with.

Thursday 27/02/2014

On Thursday morning a parent of one of our pupils came to the school. By Friday all the form 4 pupils had to pay 50,000 Tshilling (about €25) to be able to participate in the national exams. Unfortunately, the family was unable to pay such amount of money and came to talk it over with the principal. He asked all the teachers to make a contribution for the girl so she would be allowed to take her exams, something we did with great pleasure.

The end of the week was nearing and there was another football game coming up. This time between the teachers and the pupils of form 4. A goat was at stake for this match and everyone realised the pupils had a real shot (get it? :D ) at winning the game. The teachers had already made two goals when the pupils still hadn't made any. The closer they got to the end of the game the more passionate the pupils became and they scored twice making it equal.

The teachers wanted penalties to decide the game but the pupils didn't agree with this. Consequently, a yelling match broke out. After 10 or so minutes the referee decided there wouldn't be any penalties and the game ended with 2 – 2. The pupils were ecstatic but the teachers not so much.

Friday 28/02/2014

The next day four pupils of form 4 were taken out of class by the principal (he was also part of the game the night before). We didn't see those pupils for the rest of the day and in the teacher's room no one would tell us what was going on. Only in the evening did we find out that the four boys were suspended for 3 or 4 weeks for going against the teachers during the football game.

I understand that here you can't do something like that and get away with it. However that doesn't change the fact that those pupils are in form 4 and have to take national exams soon. They won't be back at school until a mere couple of days before regional exams, which have to prepare them for the national ones. This punishment could impact their future heavily and that bothers me.

Greetings from Tanzania!

xxx