'5000' degrees in Kazovu!

December 12th, 2013

The year is coming to a close! It really does not feel like December to me because it is 5000 degrees in Kazovu, Tanzania. Never in my life have I sweat in the winter months. New experiences every day! Many days I have had to go to swim in the lake just to escape the heat, but don’t forget sunscreen!!! Every time I get sunburn I have to explain why my skin reacts so badly to the sun. This is such a foreign concept for those who never have to worry about sunburn.

I am writing you today from the spot under the mango tree where we can connect to the internet. The weather is actually cooler today because we had rain this morning. I am thankful for that. But, still wearing a t-shirt and feeling comfortable. I am thinking about those at home who cannot leave their homes without their coats and snow boots.

Form 1 and Form 3 students have 9 exams to take this week! WOW! And I had to type all of them! Two weeks ago my headmaster brought to me a stack of white papers with exams written on them. 18 exams all multiple pages long and they needed to be typed, formatted and sent to Mzee (Steve Vinton) the next day. Hokay! Thanks for the short notice! So I spent over 16 hours in front of the computer typing. It was quite exhausting but since I am the fastest person to type, it was the only way to finish the task. The only exams I had trouble writing were the Kiswahili exams written by Mwalimu Kibona. As much as I am learning the language, I am not fluent, so trying to type in a language I don’t know can prove to have its challenges. Kibona had to edit my work to make sure I typed actual words.

The Thanksgiving holiday was absolutely unforgettable here. I did not expect to have such an amazing celebration of an American holiday in Africa. I woke up in the morning feeling sad because it was the first Thanksgiving I spent away from my family. But, I knew that if I spent the whole day thinking about home, I would have a terrible day. Instead, I decided to find a way to celebrate African style. My Pre-Forms love surprises, so instead of giving them exercises I told them we were going to celebrate. I sent the girls out to collect firewood and pots for cooking, and the boys out to buy flour for ugali, fish and tomatoes. When they returned with the supplies we made a big fire and cooked the largest pot of ugali I had ever seen. Seriously, this pot was 3 feet in diameter and it was full! We all sat around the pot and ate our fill, just like I’m sure you all did on that day. Definitely missed the turkey, but couldn’t complain because I was stuffed! Then, we all went down to the lake together to swim. I raced some students who said they were faster than me… I was definitely faster! But, we had a blast. The students enjoy standing on my shoulders as I go under the water and then go flying through the air as I push off from the ground. We also like to play tag in the water and let me tell you, it’s a work out! We laughed and sang songs as we walked back to school. One of the students and I traded shoes and so he walked in shoes that were way too big for him and I walked in shoes way too small for me. As I went through this day, all I could think was, “Wow, God you are so faithful and giving.” It was impossible to not give thanks to God on that day. What a wonderful day of celebration with the most amazing group of students I could have ever asked for. Even though they can drive me crazy sometimes, I love them with all my heart and I know that God loves them too.

I have already told my parents this but, a few weeks ago I was given a gift by the students. I was walking to school to play Go-go (the game with the sand and the Fanta bottle) with the girls and some students called me over to them. They had the most adorable little puppy in their hands. They said, “Miss Emi, come and see, a dog!” Of course I went over to see! When I picked him up they told me he was mine. Huh? You’re giving me a puppy?!? I thought they were kidding at first but they told me it was a gift. So, I have a dog! His name is Mixon. Now Kazovu is really starting to feel like home. I have a pet. He is a little troublesome and definitely an African dog, but he is adorable. The only issue is that I really do live in a ‘barn’. The number of chickens in our home has increased. We now have, not exaggerating, 40 chickens roaming around and living in our house. And now there is a dog and we also have a cat. The chickens are there so we can eat them, the cat is there so he can eat the rats, and the dog is there to chase all of them! Yesterday, I found Mixon in the room where the chickens sleep and he had two little chicken feet hanging out of his mouth… oh, Mixon… What have you done!?! Madaam is going to be so mad! Turns out the baby chicken had died from something else and so Mixon didn’t actually kill it. Phew! But, it’s still really gross.

My Pre-Forms have been troublesome lately, mostly because they are children and it happens! They take all the energy I have every day! I think they are also ready to have a break, just like me. To be completely honest, I am becoming tired. Like most of the other teachers we are looking forward to the approaching holiday break. It is a constant prayer in my head for strength. Strength to pour as much as I can into these kids because I know some of them will not return to Kazovu Secondary School in January. This is for many reasons, but mostly because they don’t live in this village and came to learn English from an American. I have been told by the VST leaders this is very common. I can’t imagine this school without them, but I know that God has a bigger plan and maybe going to another school is the best thing for them. I have to trust God.

One quick story about a particular day in Pre-Form; I split the class into 4 groups and they were required to answer the questions given to each group written on a piece of paper (the school had no chalk that day - improvising!). As they were finishing I allowed them to go outside for break. I stayed inside and was helping a student finish correcting his paper and then all of a sudden a dead rat plops on the desk. One of my students thought it would be hilarious to bring it to me and see what I would do. Now, I have become immune to rats so they don’t bother me. What bothered me was it began bleeding on the desk and most of all my student thought it was okay to bring it into class while I was teaching… yeah, not okay. At the time, I was angry about the situation but now looking back on it, it is really hilarious!

I have enjoyed getting to know the new teachers here. Especially Anne! She is wonderful and we have become good friends. Her English is not super good, but then again neither is my Swahili. I speak slowly with her and she speaks slowly with me. It works out. Yesterday I taught her and Kibona how to say the tongue twisters, “Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore” and “How much wood a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.” Let’s just say it was hilarious!!!! Now I will hear Anne practicing as she is walking here and there. So funny.

The mangoes are now gone and that makes me sad. I was basically living off of them for a few weeks. We were all eating about 10 every day! Sweetest fruit I have ever tasted in my life. Now they are gone, and I’m sad, but I think my body is happier now that I’m not eating so much fruit…

My journey will begin on the 18th of December to return to Madisi. Janelle has told me the updated information of traveling. Due to exams and the finishing of Pre-Form the day has been moved from the 14th to the 18th. Most likely I will travel with Chriss to Kirando and then to Sumbawanga. There I will meet with Godfrey (VST director) and the other American teachers and take a car back to Madisi. A car is much faster and easier than a bus, so I am thankful for that.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!

P.S I received yesterday some letters from America. I looked at the postmark date and some of them were from October. The envelopes are no longer white (covered in dirt), so you know they tried hard to get here. Even though they are from 2 months ago I was so thankful to receive them! Thank you so very much to those of you who write!

I love you all,

Emily, or Miss Emi, or Miss Emilianna (you choose!)