With Gratitude

Tanzania and our time in Boma Ng'ombe are now memories to be treasured for a life time.

We would be remiss if we did not mention our hosts at Cross Cultural Solutions who worked hard every day to ensure the best possible experience for each of us.

We are most grateful to Baba Zik. CCS program director in Boma. In charge of developing and overseeing the entire program, his wisdom and insights were of greatest value. Ever the teacher, Baba Zik was happy to explain cultural or linguistic queries.

Mama K, the CCS program officer, was responsible for developing work opportunities for volunteers. Always concerned that CCS volunteers were happy with their placements, Mama K was at the heart of our program. In the attached photo Mama K is wearing pink.

Deo, the house manager was responsible for all the important things that made our stay comfortable. From arranging and delivering our initial orientation to maintaining supplies for the home base, Deo ensured that we had everything that we needed.

Ever-smiling driver extraordinaire, Richard became famous for saying "Everything is poa" (cool). Wither during the morning drive to our workplaces, trips to Moshi or on excursions we could count on Richard for colourful commentary and a vast knowledge of this area.

The Boma home-base was kept impeccably clean by Rose (wearing purple) and Marietha (in maroon). When not cleaning they could often be found helping in the kitchen or aiding volunteers in understanding life in Boma.

Yvetta, in charge of laundry, washed our linens daily. When asked she also offered laundry service for volunteers.

We were very well fed by Isidori and Hendrik, our cooks. With a wonderful mix of African, Western and Indian foods along with an endless supply of fresh fruit and popcorn, volunteer did not go hungry. Working from pre-dawn to late night, these two gentlemen deserve our highest praise.

Gilbert and Edward ensure our safety at the compound throughout day and night. We are grateful for their diligence.

We are very grateful to each of the Cross Cultural Solutions staff. Their dedication and commitment to the program and to the volunteers has contributed greatly to our amazing and life altering experiences.

A New Family

It is said that when an event powerful enough to change lives occurs, those people who are joined in the experience share a bond that will last a life time.
Our time in Boma was shared with twelve other volunteers who are now family.

Patrice, better known as Mama P, is a retired special education teacher who now does private tutoring in California. While in Boma she worked at the Kichijo orphanage and was instrumental in assisting a young Epifania in furthering her education by helping to bring her to boarding school.

Cindi, who we called Mama C, was the only one of us who had previous volunteer experience in Boma. Having worked last year at Good Hope School, she did double duty by working at the hospital in Boma in the mornings and at Good Hope in the afternoon. At home in Florida, Mama C teaches nursing/health care skills to high school students in Florida.

David is a grade 7 math teacher in New York. Taking advantage of this travel opportunity, David joined us following a tour of Tanzania. While in Boma he worked at Good Hope School.

Julie, is a recent university graduate. When she returns home to Windsor, Ontario, she will begin her new career but is looking for opportunities to continue her education. She was scheduled to work at Hannah Elementary School, but because the school was in transition she worked with Paula at the affiliated orphanage.

Amita, from Michigan, will enter her fourth year of studies in Sociology this fall. Her experience at Promiseland Primary School was so rewarding that Amita is hoping to return to Boma.

Brendan, lives with his family in Calgary, but is studying International Relations at the University of Western Ontario. While working at Kichijo Orphange Brendan enjoyed teaching the students and was part of the team of volunteers who brought Epifania to boarding school.

Logan, a student of Cindi's will be studying nursing when she returns to to Florida. Having graduated from the medical specialty program in high school, she is already a certified nursing assistant and phlebotomist. During her time at Kichijo Orphanage she helped to organize Epifania's opportunity to attend boarding school.

Lisa, a student from New York, will begin post secondary studies shortly after her return to the states following a very busy summer. She worked at Good Hope School.

Josh, a student in the Criminal Justice program in Minnesota is hoping for a career in law enforcement. He worked at Promiseland School.

Lacey, also from Minnesota is planning to study nursing this fall with an eye to becoming a Nurse Practioner. While in Boma she worked at Kalaomani School.

Trisha, a volunteer who spent 12 weeks with the program in Boma also taught at Kalaomani School. She took a week off from volunteer work to climb Kilimanjaro. Trisha summited in four days and walked down the mountain in one. She is a true inspiration to us all.

Paula, our special travel companion is a recent graduate of high school along with Katrina. Paula plans to study Social Work at Laurentian University in the fall in hopes of becoming a behavioural therapist. She was also scheduled to work at Hannah School, but worked instead at Teacher Mary's orphanage.

On one of our last days in Boma, Ali told us that she would miss her family...this group of people we once viewed as strangers who we will now and forever hold dear. Thank you to each an everyone for enriching our experiences and our lives.

Lost in Translation

Swahili is a difficult language for new-comers to masters. I imagine that, by the same token, English is equally difficult for people here.

Over the past few weeks, we have noted a number of signs along the way. We thought this would be a good time to share some of our giggles.


Road sign: Take Diversion (at home we would say Detour)

Sign in School at the beginning of High School semester: “If your timetable has a collision please see the administrator”


Store Names: We Sell Coffins
The Pentagon
Obama Hair Salon
Jane’s Saloon and Cosmetics
Mummy Shop
Black Money Barber Shop
Spanish Tiles and Sanitary Ware
Shabby Electronics

Our personal favorite: The Watoto Butcher (in Swahili Watoto is “children”)

Always Remember

Our time in Tanzania has come to an end. In what seems to be the blink of an eye our three weeks of adventure flew by. However the memories will last a life time.
On our final day at our placements we struggled to find ways to say good-bye wondering if we would ever see these people again.
Teacher Margaret at Uhuru School showed Peter Josef to her house saying that when he returns to Boma, if she if retired from teaching, this is where he will find her. Little David the son of one of the teachers at Bomani clung to Katrina, refusing to let her leave. The students at Bomani sang farewell to us. The children at the orphanage offered extra hugs to Ali and Elizabeth. One child kept jumping into Elizabeth's arms.
None of us knows when we will return to Boma, but "if" doesn't seem to be an option. Some fellow volunteers have already made their plans to return next year. Although we do not have any concrete plans to return, no doubt we are leaving a piece of ourselves in this community.
We have learned a great deal about the difficult lives these new friends endure daily, but the best lessons focus on their positive approach and sheer enjoyment of what little they have.

Religion Class

For one hour every Thursday, students at Hai Day High School separate themselves by religious background for one hour.
During that hour students lead each other in song and worship. The joyful refrains of celebration reverberate through the halls. Praise for "Mungu" (God) is accompanied by clapping that is intricate and uplifting. There are no teachers in the classroom; there is no need. In the true spirit of a community engaged in worship these young people happily share their love and their talents for all to hear.

Order in the Classroom

To maintain order, teachers here frequently yell or hit children with a switch. Raised with a different system of education and values these acts of violence are often difficult for us "Westerners" to handle.
Children often answer questions in hushed tones to avoid the consequences of an erroneous response.
In an effort to demonstrate that order can be maintained in a large class while encouraging learning, we set out to create positive learning environments. Initially teachers reacted with a degree of concern or perhaps even horror at our attempts to engage students in meaningful learning that was fun. We created paper airplanes and measured the distances that they flew, we played hangman to encourage spelling and used active songs to engage students in learning.
It was rewarding when, into our third week of teaching, the regular teacher came to class without her switch. Perhaps in a small way, these demonstrations will change the way the teachers that we worked with approach their students in the future. Maybe one day they will retire their switches for ever.

Nane Nane Festival

The eighth day of the eighth month is marked as Farmer's day in Tanzania (Nane Nane translates to Eight, Eight or August 8th). A large multi-day festival in Arusha, similar to the CNE or Royal Agricultural Fair in Toronto, ON, highlights current innovations and farming produce in the various areas of Tanzania.
Because only 20% of Tanzania has access to electricity, many innovations are green and/or contribute to a green society.
Once such innovation was a hand operated press for the fruit of the Jatropha tree. This hardy plant will grow in conditions where other plants fail, thus it does not compete with food crops. By working a large levered system, the hard shell of the fruit is ground away and the interior of the fruit is then pressed to produce fuel oil, that can substitute for fossil fuels or be used in the production of soap and fertilizer. The ground shell can be burned as a heat source for cooking.
Another display demonstrated how to capture gas from the decomposition of plant material and animal waste. This combustible gas is then used as a source of energy for cooking or heating.

Hospital Birth

There are times when the unexpected seems almost the norm around here.
We were fortunate to be offered a tour of the Hospital in Boma. As we visited the men's ward (which consisted of a small room with three beds) and the the AIDS clinic we noted a herd of cows grazing on what little grass found life around the various buildings.
After touring the pediatric ward we head to the Maternity/Women's building.
Just outside the Maternity ward a cow had given birth.
Nurses and other staff joined us outside to celebrate this miracle. As the mother carefully and loving licked her new born, the youngster struggled to find the strength in his legs to stand. Unsuccessful over a number of attempts it seems that due to the lack of grass available for the mother cow while pregnant, this calf was weak and it would be a long time before it would rise.
We returned home, but wondered throughout the evening about the fate of this youngster.
The next morning, we learned that late into the previous evening the calf did begin to walk.

Sunday Morning

Sundays are different in Boma. The usually casual pace is just a little slower. People are dressed in their Sunday best. It is obviously a day different from the others days of the week.

We left our compound for a thirty minute walk to the only Catholic Church in Boma. We reached the Church as Mass was beginning. We quickly took our places, noting that we were capturing glances from the rows of children seated directly ahead of us. An elderly man and a few young ushers maintained discipline during Mass by turning heads and pulling youngsters off the pews.

A children's choir sang joyfully with the accompaniment of drums. Conducted by youth, this choir engaged the entire congregation in singing, clapping and responses at appropriate times.

As we moved forward for communion we noted that the Church was filled with almost 500 young people. We had found a Swahili Children's Mass. As the Liturgy of Eucharist ended a priest approached Dad and asked him to speak to the congregation. Dad obliged and was asked to sit beside the priest in the Sanctuary. The priest introduced him, Dad introduced our family and the priest translated. Dad indicated that is was a pleasure to experience the devotion so many children.

After Mass mom wanted to take a photo of the family in front of the Church. As she drew back on the camera lens it was astonishing to see the crowd that we had amassed. Children were eager to talk to us in English or Swahili. Many of them walked us home to CCS. This was a Sunday morning Mass to remember.

Kili Time

Kilimanjaro called and we answered.

Our guide took us by van through the jungle area at the base of the mountain to the Kilimanjaro National Park Entrance, Marangu Gate which is 1860 m above sea level and is surrounded by thick lush alpine forest. Up the steep grades of the Mandara trail we were careful to avoid rough edged stepping stones, exposed roots and muddy soil. A side trek off the main trail lead us to a small but lush waterfall.
Our 3 hour, 8 kilometer strenuous trek brought us to the Mandara base camp situated at an altitude of 2720 m. Covered in sweat, hearts beating almost out of our chest and legs aching from the strain, we rested and ate lunch. After that well deserved break we traveled at further 875 m to the Maundi crater. From the crater we got a break in the tree line to see Mawenzi peak, but Kili kept herself hidden.
The down ward journey was less taxing physically, but our all ready weary bodies yearned for the site of the park entrance.
Our aches will subside in a few days but our memories will last a life time.

Friday Afternoon Games

Uhuru School where Peter Josef teaches invited him to stay for lunch on Friday and to play games with the children in the afternoon. They also invited other CCS volunteers to join in the fun.
The girls began with a game of netball, a basketball/handball cross. However, with no available net, a goal was scored by hitting a rock with the ball. At this school they used real balls.
Later, the girls formed a large circle in which they sang and danced to both English and Swahili songs. Girls were called into the centre to do a special dance. Their abilities caused Paula to remark, "The upper part of their body and lower part of their body are not connected!" At one point Kat and Paula were called into the circle with two other school girls. Their were "out-danced", proving that white women can't dance.
The boys played a competitive game of football (soccer) on the other half of the field. CCS volunteers were divided between the two teams with a total of almost 50 children playing. The dust storm caused by this game and mid-afternoon heat gave volunteers obvious reason to enjoy a shower upon their return to CCS after 1/2 hours of play. However, the dust had barely settle when we were asking if we could do this again nest week!

Pumkazi

At Boma Primary School pumakazi is recess.

The boys run onto the dirt field to play foot ball (we call it soccer) and the girls play "trikri" (hopscotch) or dodge-the-ball.

Sounds like recess any where. But the girls are playing in the school's dirt driveway tossing a ball of fabric at each other. Their speed and accuracy when throwing is to be marveled at. The ability to dodge and leap out of the trajectory of the ball is equally skilled.

The boys are chasing a deflated soccer ball held together with twine. The dust whirls around them, causing by-standers to lose track of the ball, but the children play on making the most of these meager surroundings.

The bell rings and accompanied by sounds of chatter and laughter, they run back to their classroom to continue with their school day.