A Mzungu in Africa

My life in St Judes School,Tanzania from January 2006

Sunday, August 20, 2006

MAKING UP FOR BEING SO SLACK THE LAST FEW MONTHS

Okay, I know, I know, I've been really slack at this whole blogging thing over the last few months. I've had a few things slow me down, so while I don't normally write this a sa diary thing, since i've also been horrendous at emiling people, I'll write about what I've been up to the last few months, and then I'll be back on track, with my usual witty but poignant insights into life as a "missionary".

But before that, I'd like to knock this missionary rumour on the head. Somehow, some of my Aussie mates heard that I had obtained a missionary visa adn took great delight in passing it around (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE JW, MH AND HB). I'm not even sure what the modern day definition of a missionary is, but I'm sure that whatever it is, I wouldn't be allowed to be one. I would possibly ruin it for the other poor missionaries : ) So, to clear up this rumour... I'm on a "missionary" visa over in lovely Tanzania. What that means is that the nice people in the church, in recognition of hte good work of hte school, get us visas through the contacts. So TECHNICALLY, I'm a missionary. But I won't sully the reputation of real missionaries by lettting you think I am : )

That aside, let me update you on the last few months.

School is very, very, very busy. I'm not going to go on and on about it. If you want to know more about the school, either check out newsletters from the last few months (they're actually really interesting - here's some links. If you like them, sign up for a monthly newsletter by emailing your address to schoolofstjude@habari.co.tz or to me at visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz and we'll get you on the list. Anyhow, here's the last few newsletters
May (there's a pic of me somewhere in this one) http://www.schoolofstjude.co.tz/News/NewsletterMay2006/tabid/85/Default.aspx
June http://www.schoolofstjude.co.tz/News/NewsletterJune2006/tabid/116/Default.aspx
July http://www.schoolofstjude.co.tz/News/NewsletterJuly2006/tabid/115/Default.aspx

Or if you just want to check out the new website that I've been working on, along with our team in Australia, go to www.schoolofstjude.co.tz

My job now is to look after visitors and groups who visit. So a visitor might be a sponsor, donor or someone who is just interested in the the school. Some come just for a few hours, others come and stay. So I look after them. It's a great job because it's a real feel-good type of place, with children who are pretty ecstatic to be getting an education, and great resources and overall, I'm doing PR for a fantastic product/ service. I also look after working groups who come. So, for example, many rotarians come to the school to help us with building, making furniture and various other jobs. They get to experience life in an African school and in return, they work their little butts off for around three weeks. It's a fantastic relationship/ arrangement.

So in July, we had a group come and visit. They weren't rotarians but they were fantastic. There were 13 of them, including Ange, the very first headmistress of the school. They stayed for three weeks, went on a safari, had a trip to Zanzibar and helped out at the school. I've got some pics to share but don't have accesss to them right now as I'm in Zanzibar, so I'll put them up in a week or so when I get back.

So apart from looking after visitors and groups, I've also started teaching one class English. They're class 2A and they're an average age of 9, and cute as anything. They're a little bit naughty at times, like any kids they try it on to see how far they can push you. But after around three weeks at the end of last term, we're getting there. I'll keep you updated on my angels/ demons!

In the middle of all that, we had a new website launching. I'm the 'webmaster' - basically that means that I put the content on and update it. The tecchie stuff was done by a guy in Australia. He built it from scratch, designed it and uploaded a new accounting system onto it, almost single-handedly over around six months. I came in near the end to fix up the content, make it look the way we wanted to, in terms of navigation. It was a bit stressful for a while, but it's nice having a nice new toy to place with, and help with marketing.

Work aside, life in Tanzania has been up and down. I've been here for seven months now and in some ways it feels like it's flown and in others, it feels like I've been here forever. There are days when I feel incredibly happy, and that I could stay forever. And there are other days when I just want my normal, old life back again. I love so many things here; the children who are so positive and funny and cute and don't whinge at all; the weather which is fantastic - the coldest it gets is around 15 degrees in the day and around 10 at night, but on average it's more like 20 during the day and 12-15 at night. Being at a fairly high altitudes means that it doesn't get too hot, but also being in Africa, right beside the Equator means it doesn't get too cold. It's gorgeous almost year round.

I also love the culture here, increasingly so as time goes on. The people are very laid back, are in no rush to go anywhere, always have time to greet you and generally just want to be friendly. There are many flip-sides to all that, such as if you are in a hurry it can be frustrating. But once you slow down and accept that things just don't happen fast, it's pretty nice to slow down a bit and take it easier. I've even found myself walking slower, when I walking through town.

I also love Swahili. Over the months, I've been picking up more and more phrases and over the last month or so, I've been able to have conversations! It's all still a little daunting but I love the challenge of learning a new language and the buzz of being understood, and understanding, however simple the conversation.

And then there are the hard days when I just want the creature comforts of being able to call good friends on the phone and just have a chat. I miss hugging the people I love, hearing the little details of my family and friends lives. I miss silly but comforting things like a cinema, going shopping in normal shops (they don't really exist here) sitting in a cafe reading the Sydney Morning Herald (the website is NOT the same). I miss wandering around a bookshop for a few hours intending to buy nothing but always finding something I have to have. I miss crap, reality TV, a comfy couch to lie on that is mine, in a home that is my own space. Some days I miss the freedom of having a car to drive around in, being able to walk down a road on my own in the evening. I miss being able to be completely independent - when I want to go somewhere I can, without having to get a taxi or someone to go with me. It's just not safe in Africa to go out at night alone, or to even take a taxi if you don't know the driver. Soemtimes I miss going to a supermarket and buying normal stuff like nice bread, biscuits and the usual comfort food we eat i nthe Western World.

Having said all that, there's a definite benefit to not being able to get to such things. Not eating rubbish, not zoning out on the TV and not spending money for the sake of it is a fairly good thing. I feel like I apreciate the value of time and money more. I read more books, talk to friends more and probably work more (not sure the latter is ideal but at least it's for a great cause).

Overall thoug hI'd say that although it's hard, hard work because the school is growing at the most tremendous rate and we have to work accordingly, it's been very rewarding. It's also been quite tough and consequently really rewarding in personal terms. I find that I am a more tolerant person these days. Having lived with over twenty people for the last six months, worked with them and socialised with them, if you don't become tolerant, you suffer! We all have different backgrounds, personalities, quirks, pet hates and likes - living together for the first few months was TOUGH at times. But at the end of the day, like living in a University residence or a share house, you learn to compromise, communicate and also to shut up at times (yes, I can do that sometimes!!!)

The last month has been up and down. First of all, my computer had a bit of a tragedy. I had a minor problem with the connection on the plug to recharge the batter, so I left it in to be repaired at a VERY respected shop, run by a Dutch guy. I was assured it was a really good repair shop... famous last words! The next words were "your computer has had a problem..." Not, we have a problem with your computer or we fecked it up... no, it was the problem of my very dear and now dead laptop!! Sigh! I won't go on like I could and spew forth a diatribe of invective. I've moved on now (only just) and just have to forget it. Thankfully, a very dear friend that I know from the school, who lives in America, got me a new one at a really subsidised price (thank you Mr Paul) and it's coming over with another dear friend of the school (thank you Ms Cindy) next month.

Meanwhile, my digital camera went awol (try teaching 9 year old Tanzanzian children the meaning of that expression). I don't know how, where or when but somewhow my lovely though fairly inexpensive camera went astray. I might have left it on my desk in the school of fficeor my room. either way it's gone! My dear father sent his over with a friend of mine just last week so I'm using his until Christmas when I'll try to replace mine. Oh well, in the grand scheme of things they're just... well.. things. But oh, how we can get attached to things... well I can anyway!

After all that... yes there's more. I got SICK! I consider myself to be a healthy person. When I'm a little ill, I whinge a bit and act like a sook / baby. When I came to Tanzania, people told me about malaria and I didn't particularly care because when you get it, you just take antibiotics and you're right in a day or two. I didn't get malaria but let me tell you, what I go was very similar and now I do NOT EVER want to get it! What I got is thought to be the flu - the REAL flu, as in influenza. And God, was it awful. I woke up feeling a bit achey around 7am on a Sunday morning. Then the headache came, along with the chills and hot sweats. That all sounds okay but it got worse and worse and worse as the day progressed. Eventually I was in such pain, I couldn't lie down, painkillers did NOTHING. That lasted for a day until I finally went ot hospital. They gave me some painkillers which killed hte pain a little bit but even then it was hellish. At some points, I felt like I was going crazy - my head was just out of control in a way that I can't describe - I was hallucinating and delirious, fainting etc. It was NOT pleasant. AFter around 3 days, I was almost back to normal.

And then, to add insult to injury, agony to pain, the ear infection came long. This is apparently not uncommon after such a fever/ flu. The ear infection though was chronic. I won't go into it cos I've no idea what was wrong - suffice ot say it hurt like hell, so much so that I tried poking those white things in to clean in and somewhere along the line, I perforated my eardrum! That was last week. Thee infection is finally gone after around ten days of some intense antibiotics , though my eardrum isn't in the best shape. It's going to take a month or so til that's okay. but I don't mind cos I'm jsut so damn happy to be feeling okay again.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, Maria, my cousin from Belfast arrived. That really was a lifesaver. Because no matter how well you get to know people here, there's no-one like someone from home and even better, someone who is blood - practically a sister to me. She's now been here for nearly three months and it feels like she was always here. AND she gave me a LOT of love and care when I was sick. God bless cousins.

That probably all sounds a bit dramatic and tragic and God, I felt tragic for a while. The GOOD news is that I'm writing this from Zanzibar. It's school holidays so I took a week off and came here with a friend who's over from Ireland. And it's Paradise! Gorgeous weather in the daytime (around 25 degrees) but a lovely wind to keep it a little bit cool, perfect blue seas, seafood to die for (and you might know how much I love my seafood), beaches that have the whitest, softest, cleanest sand. Add that to great books to read, relaxation time - well, I feel so much better than I did a week ago!

I could write so much more but at US$5 an hour (expensive by Tanzanian terms) I'm going to finish off there and get back to my Zanzibar holiday, because soon enough it will be TErm 3 at St Judes and I'll be back there.

I'll write more again soon. I have so many postings I want to write, and when my new laptop arrives in a few weeks time, I'll be able to do it with no problems.

Email me if you get a chance - either at tynanme@hotmail.com or marketing@schoolofstjude.co.tz

And if you know anyone who wants to support a REALLY good cause, helping poor but clever children to get an education and to change their lives, send them to our website. Every single dollar/ euro, whatever counts. And if not, keep the school in your thoughts.

By the way, if Dan O'Sulivan is reading this, I've tried to email you a few times. Can you get in touch with me by emailing me - marketing@schoolofstjude.co.tz

In the meantime, take care all. I miss you all very much but soon enough I'll be back in the real world and this will all seem far away. So while I'm here I'm going to carpe diem...

Mary xxx

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