tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60180204129079052852023-12-08T23:33:55.186-08:00TanzanianologySarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-39843389919414453392013-05-30T23:11:00.001-07:002013-05-30T23:11:02.404-07:00I want to be a _________<p>A fun way to remember some of my students and their ambitions. What do Tanzanian students aspire to be? Here’s a sampling: though most say a teacher, nurse, or a doctor.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimig-mATHj-lYPM8pN0cr4wSEYVfqRdYNiUwFsQnup2gDMrCTKitWwMLdlyVIHS-MBU3fNM_KbbBFVEOEbo2wdWnD6JFoOIsJAEgcB69wKSGo3-sQ-EOnkrRZZvBG-CV0oEhlSoFthaSLz/s1600-h/IMG_1340%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1340" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiYdRnGzk-KkvNGHk0aAaTZkEK1wL12HcdzE3kGetGd6zbScZJ9bnm2ALU9Td5_DwNrxpnzWUiSCyId7YbjBKnJVZczPtZ_J-jWwr9fzz1qh5vLjBu5g1EWKdi7i2JsyKP-VHQBtHhfLU//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdinAWzZimCK-Vg94jtVIC1zJlwmkjPPPcrnMmTVp8pcaz3cFeKN113an9eIA-0scoz-JmcXKmrO3CFqwgIAHHH6f0pkrT2PUUbhPav31ZLDfn2J95X7MDZmTPCsKXrUPunXeWdasIIr2k/s1600-h/IMG_1341%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1341" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcfGxJ0CubFo5dXSPenVGXnWFYOaJlJjMk9x_7hGcFlvJcLifxq1i-qewmRmASmRu_gsgwfLWAqTevmhx3Q0Tg9k82y2Mn5vL_qiYwIEqecwK2D3Lpl9UYK1SexWqH-jFTuNhPsuGBC0b//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWY7y5F_hrA-83JkGFaw-yDdibopwOLDIsXXgUDStYg2roBVGjSUbO-Bu6kxszyISOCymnCxMy7yCljAi798O_hHeKjHOJKZOmny3sOcQxDyZaCqPAmE2qwNIGZ26fbv7Py_-nlGyzQmo/s1600-h/IMG_1343%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1343" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqP_rf7BnyjxKaGlxLB6pSDBf3DZeHMF1YvEupsXyx_ns37EkmO22-80WbOKw-Tyxj3ccOnCuEUPM0IjMd32CTxGIg477y8hPnDP_KxN5eoGzcL2ohumUHRP76RyAEy9gVTZFZHUhjd2qt//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYpqS9QwKXb6TET7thZUNM8aV0SZ47UPCcukuGYtOhMnjj2d8YlNGGCkvO0tmub74Hs4nSR6r7gCR8C_DjRMaXm8Yd079zaZAszU4o0lyZYY0hdlX2js21gOKJq2kE-CgzSxDWELFHyBw/s1600-h/IMG_1344%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1344" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DvTK8ywQ3SZ4tNQVAQoOL05ee_P8saSBHlWD8i_XNPXMITk2XyCGCsn9H68WJIunLiDGtiNxJiN6EujRAySP5hUkqVAkyCf9F_utC8XafmCPJPCygDop3ScXcjeVioi3F0KBc6aA62Ge//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dwWlhDKismtuHh1Wr6V3NRv0Lrx4R1gOoWwVjvJc6ZiYzRm-SktU6p_SmdxRiiJMPY1HrndecHQFDudAOZ_fU3G4ldVDhQQufMaDm5Gl3DU4RF_R8W2ecQ5tnWhOeNJauL4vM0dyG4-4/s1600-h/IMG_1345%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1345" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34y0KKI0216YG_9klT_Dr1uEyh7Cf0a1s86qQ8xF5c1jyw4m7N2kKehjkSLLsWoHpC2chrK3Pw39Od1CJeRV13vbk57ScudtWP7tDXQyGBlgRnIfzN32BEEqd686BzQ3V3VUM4B7MlSNB//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQnLJGHCekfcHvyVYUKmdPR4vOZ76Cf4BBMfOfyU5XD_bXB_j7YIDiC4khDPFr4pQG07XRNDrFagJ73hQe4tFbsQJIPVA6dfk_t-6UdfBmeJ7z9h5XWWP1YDyIrNb0Ol_YXZCguaP9Qge/s1600-h/IMG_13463.jpg"><img title="IMG_1346" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrdnlU5QfqL9tar7NbvlCkFNUFAQQYHjEzZwHbIUoQw59yoFyD38FVTstr34iHrpr4kXFaQmTBloGE_tWQsYnLABDaT13zOlbc6tIxlBBJnwsGJ1tkExxzveAp23yuyqOFC50BET6h02f//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5VRoEnqh-E_d2Vf3nEzxax8j0xMb6vO2jizmVd87XwZy17M2_9MZUUngko5g1D1BNCzM7HpmyDev9Ti42CROeJzkjHELMhgEiYOny1g1B4wc83nNsYCpR947FOLjS2vvi2TwE-8WlN9U/s1600-h/IMG_13473.jpg"><img title="IMG_1347" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_1347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNN-xchZqqJBJxRNu5IQR_yqtkaK_Jj10WezpGLakXCxoSIEKzG_mJJ2e9iN2Mab66AFBbr0nUiTUvbpcENXMYIKQ_UazGldSaSGmDFebcFourW9s0rjMrnhcIXd2GepSsfD1K3s-ux9v//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-85721638073111076622013-05-10T02:56:00.001-07:002013-05-10T02:56:13.829-07:00Peer Education Day<p>As a follow up post about the <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2013/04/boys-conference_27.html" target="_blank">boys’ empowerment conference</a> that we held a few weeks ago, last Friday we arranged for our students to facilitate their peer education day. We arranged with our school for all of our ninth grade students to gather in the largest hall at school Friday after school. We helped prep our boys the Wednesday before. Our boys stood up in front of their peers for two hours and taught about 160 students about goal settings, HIV and AIDS, and gender roles. Their presentation was absolutely wonderful and I was so proud of them. Some pictures below:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X4KnwubIOAHn1fbooLBvmGzsJv7DlSZFz4k86_t9NVKE46nU9qXyGqDXC-ZhMsRD2ML_YEqa2eQ-qB3EK77-kRKy05jLVIAE9rW48MoDE19UzF6RYnbNIAK60eSJNaJv6ek-MUIonghL/s1600-h/IMG_9275%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9275" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_9275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ELn7TG_j1SvYXtN3je6XDrMye9cg77xBBPgrrilcIHxTeEI5v7aE7U83Yo0iG2xchH4enHQqFwhDH1kYTI0LptlNPrJ14wDsWZMalTVEnVYhTNunaHsvYi0yXvu1QzIVMh8S_mEuvy5t//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Fredy & Fanleck doing the Peel Banana energizer song</em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oR76NkTy1qEraIol5jYLosaWR2rBwHHYEi8SKne2whJ22_TPuDoc7IEiBInIWjad5xbOPDzuaRLgDOSY2igsixoE_CzVP4980q-Fqu6lzRVeTMwFWWBDfovJSdtrGI3gmNQrvnBnA-35/s1600-h/IMG_9286%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9286" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_9286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhth3hNFmL_Sgfo58mx5kY_ZjDo4iXfuHP0akPweog1fSKs-DDOBmtR6BtW3xaCvSsl3f0TyIu_Nnl_6a6ysV7nr6EHJdSN-oWnBvbdSPD-bdu9GH_Vg2HjiorYBFZELy-u6QT7invgyYpC//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Fredy teaching about the difference between a long-term goal and a short-term goal</em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5z4I2vODexzqHJo-JGO5cI8eT2aWUa1P17P2cKMOWuaRZ5TDLK9JjOgST7p9LZmtbv6BPMlpMFd7a8Cin7saMD4TkQqyZ_jGoYkCWlfRqWgtZA-EKFrFP5JXAw8qvn06Tbt1afPxXhvW/s1600-h/IMG_9295%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9295" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_9295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu06Ke2UdRLkEjFgSGa54rpJyPFePiG-ZXuein0pWMsDPXHTy3L1Qv4Uv-ATBNAucVuoF1Wx0zdud_CdoY11zG93GeHSLmbWlEPNKkpylqcmzxu-_egyydjrUh0Fb9nM8_YkIWlJchNHD5//?imgmax=800" width="230" height="306"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Nassoro teaching about the difference between HIV and AIDS</em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyJ0WtzvgmZ2j-H5hF1xdkGg3kgv72QSIjKDRbNv1boW2XN0_moOYK08AF9hFtnuOrP8iq5QSLvpTLcu4XSvliKxRat_U_Cn-d_N3P_rXOrU90Ywhh9Rjs0ZNiRboW-0ksJ6hFkNIdX5G/s1600-h/IMG_9301%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9301" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_9301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ8GM3vZP8Ob-E2gJWkU_crjIfAQ7MS-n-gx16nCisumb3vwLht8F7pD60eGmy7KdAOAQ6AVi-O1vU8alrFbxTB9A4GHKvAi7E7luVWHXfM244pF9YZKag1A8pntXzgRGGFhf9UOErOP3//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Victa doing the exercise of showing two males (or one male and spiderman) and two females and guessing which of the two has HIV. In the end, the students discuss how you can’t tell just by looking at two people who has HIV and therefore, if you are in a sexual relationship, you need to abstain or use protection.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Kl39iXLYtJYLgdXF6a4H8bCm9kZ_lJcZuZaHWiH18J1TPsTnySsaNlx1AX5vvMIoECCjREUWcaJ4ZNNTnpevkMqo5lILjB5R8ZiraUNc42BdckDKpGm8BbI5yggENXwion4kp9gjqhSe/s1600-h/IMG_9308%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9308" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_9308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0gk8fznesgUT-Rz2KLpTZSckc9hYGnG70CS1MzLGM_qr8GhrhFVyFalvqMYypyGbuN8t4qj6tgOMqJcicvmn2KX2B50FeL2kolc9POsGxcoWlPDGtaMIQP5m0PJjRdGJkSjfi8iJoEI_//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>George and John leading the lesson of the difference between sex and gender and identifying gender roles with the help of Fanleck, Victa, and Nassoro</em></p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-63162909356488939352013-05-08T02:34:00.001-07:002013-05-08T02:34:58.303-07:00Ruhuji Falls in Njombe<p>One of the only tourist attractions in our nearby town are the beautiful Ruhuji falls. It’s only a short 10 minute walk from the central area of Njombe. During the rainy season, the waterfalls come to life in full force and create a stunning scene of beauty. Locals come to relax by the waterfall or to do their laundry in the water. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw3UNgtbzdsufjL3FMHfDY3blxE3Ix7ajc3NFFSVgLFwSX-k9nBqOXWNUOyVBzX8njKam3Xd5Eqyrz8Ni8GIy6zdwBXCil7cLjG8r97M4SFPGxN_qSJD5WrCT90p7l-7CZpEgO2OpLdvJ/s1600-h/IMG_9253%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9253" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_9253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLRgs-uqeDQDconbtipYlXbdzWFZwgnjQoAENzxtJKOaNvjlLVy2KepHpYJKTiHyyki-PcgfnNLiZ9EHvbLtS6BuQZso37W8MTP53BAkU7LUxaMRK2Ya4hYHEp2W9JFDtqhGl_81R6Hxj//?imgmax=800" width="230" height="306"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Ruhuji Falls in the rainy season</em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXukoROK9fRv1eRkOaGJ-N5aCUt9E6xyyswN72k32AA1n4WtgrDnVCs816PssRBHHNSWrSOs4bc6-cDFO7Q7q_IdekTm4Km_ENP36xHwUMjwHGKoPBZSZDE_nVHAieoUu3tn8NRGWZljlx/s1600-h/IMG_9254%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9254" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="IMG_9254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEu0qp6PTEC2AC4l05rPNC2O7FgkiY4pR2HE8QwxoD2eedb3oqeUFS40TNJzNH46N_Qm_R5_IxH2xPiEW3YrqIdo58hrKkJk_TcR3vFEMbCSvn81DbLasvsxZpSz_K9HaZbP15qi4I2rJ//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Ruhuji falls in the rainy season</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyL1WkclhwxND0EdxZjYi11j1NbJTDjPiuPOpXLkiE6DPvlKA61yUaIJ3_ndM6-bFj3h4vbTxzzdz0bhdavS05_9MI0GCbrPhJDQdPu9xZtYR7nhNfcMqLVWD4oWPJYYeGM9A0rAjQ4X1/s1600-h/316829_10151382097668998_113559574_n%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img title="316829_10151382097668998_113559574_n" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block" alt="316829_10151382097668998_113559574_n" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPaNvx3cYsgdIgcBEmwspnBTaC1lE6Hwy4qfkMJuS9Zjm0djaVG5LFy543vTPBf4ZHPipgKTGdSij61oYj9AjOdCsl6SpUcw40C1c0ufEPsNfqfqFDfUypm75GdWIq90_rNqNToymiZFG//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Ruhuji Falls in the dry season</em></p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-55795510721858499912013-05-04T03:05:00.000-07:002013-05-04T03:05:00.492-07:00Garage SaleTwo years ago some volunteers had a great idea to sell all of their belongings at the end of their service. When I first heard of this idea, I thought it was kind of selfish, to sell your belongings instead of just giving them away. After two years of living and working here, I realize it is far better to make people buy my belongings, even if it’s cheaply, instead of just giving things away for free. By giving things for free, it gives the wrong message that locals should just rely on free things instead of working to earn things. So, this past weekend, Jon, myself, and 3 other volunteers who will leave Tanzania soon had a garage sale of our own in town. We sold various items, mostly clothes. We all made a decent amount of money and it was a lot of fun. Some pictures below to see how much of a crowd we had at our garage sale! I love that I am starting to blog about the last of my few months here.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMCt5dPSOX5OgmoGyyWyaEee0r8d5IipZkPulCT1SMm1DVbaLm6KTno6bMzKxyN_61btGTQYgUzSGK21TgCwirZURDD9hcw-l1jkIY6R6nW-4EuSFcIxx3Ay5Xhq6K1Z5HIAbqjdfoHwa/s1600-h/DSC02639%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC02639" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONDnnDdvD9KszmTx7Wwfn6VkmTrmwTDlf5KhSWN0i5exthjQxv8GEHrS45h3TZIcrCyGzLNqjTjw2tj_4JELvGT9JItVyn4Z27USkh3JX84zuyoJ9vWJ59BBaqPdt6eQ-lUTfV5uypCC7//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="DSC02639" width="395" /></a><br />
<div align="center">
<em>All of our belongings ready to get sold!</em></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs4Bu4P65C-hUizI8xOZdbgTzHL6gx4S6k-322Qkk-BS10Y-6lvgIY8NvnXtMYeA6NoC46a3biq7g8WP7bGR60nN5z0vRU6bzja0h-EUQZYAaGoAjyVvW9TmLElObzKkAxsgxj4kLHgmu/s1600-h/DSC02655%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC02655" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_YPdu9LIq8X_kmk5vIKR92XpEutv3PKkgsxvTjZ-dg4KCpAsZoXBLXamHWmOLsG5ksKc97_eGdZSnRgkGmYlehskK9LBaje1_fDA8bhnZAZXdmmDSUVkGYB1gBVoF9et1wq5y-ZwQeRP//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="DSC02655" width="395" /></a><br />
<div align="center">
<em>We never anticipated a crowd this large!</em></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AyliUYx_Bn_7f5xXvOz6bpjz0ts8t5Y4RL1GhltucRx0G98nejZmnLr14P5n3PhOZww6Ef0FDcFOY-NnbkWzgJHpdB4YjB_GmlLEADRFKV-zDZzV4QlItKieLPsWQ4nYO2Sku8DtZTmM/s1600-h/DSC02659%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC02659" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wfdMOGmeAITCj-hecKPbHQnvWzKAA7SWbiZJClscivhR10hRPhTAiSZbW4L_QyALPINn-C2eW4f1kLz7MQ_2X3PEBvlD9qD6Wncle141wVuz-AasExvnVIjh_vv_cRgcWI29DbP9O0pg//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="DSC02659" width="230" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDXacj9UIgFQMld8sBYxRV8dmAXReWCEyIL5Ew388uYwg15lvhgMoTbJguwFBCo_y_dQqAgVi9fY-qT8uE_CjtjZj9bgJX-aoOQxVt1jFH3qfwOufGQctezzVcyZYlcXDCRvP4vN4I4Fv/s1600-h/DSC02694%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC02694" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lVgoqnP2DVtTiHyPdXKnz5KrOYsq9cwAJA24b2fikXaHGSw4Zm-cqiMcBGSMjgaVE1_R4oSRXvFElvqOhOBypESHuImzBvIlxhiIZ-Ch0njdiOgnVz1Yc61c307dSOT92ZKZnMo-G-HO//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="DSC02694" width="230" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSsE2kncBH94wTCRbdVXM3qOBXuUj8i3bANhIzom3LWVOwDwhA0lfbT-t_YpABw-J-cmvCyPo6ADH9JM8YUM5nmAN33BtjjMJ6f9AXaKGkLVjWwFcOhyphenhyphen2Y_Rj_dIxXXs7P4qfdb7-fUe8/s1600-h/DSC02712%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC02712" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQKF3btojozWgptr-EGphfPIzO9QWULSADGCkcjsYtXylsA7YLbD_qPMJx1tOyWQNxtHSmnRqSoq4op9zIBeQOnMKZxGjBPktZGDZe1PD1SmeCCVSkHrbqTVbxVXEArumGzXRIKY3NsVG//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="DSC02712" width="395" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq73IsKJ3tLMgjKm9RAEgkvOtNfLmj7XjnhiwZmUQrlaaRVj6eQhVjTcFWyiW5WMIR0DdpirXVLqRt9gQINFU_GFHh1he1KuAFSwIR170xlrqjkn3_2DqnYXVuF74pwbl7Fq9t4pFHxyBU/s1600-h/DSC02646%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC02646" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAdulQ-YWjkgWgXTcGy0pBF58owD9IirtP6wwrsyZjoSCphdffaC5rAZUdYb6o8_mTupHYMpkAWaKP_Gki0nMzYROZ4b07Xz2AsN4SM7OYPfvJZRfMMz5iZZSBO8hG_DMWkYnuLkl5GlO//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="DSC02646" width="395" /></a>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-64013861312323642172013-05-01T02:53:00.000-07:002013-05-01T02:53:00.065-07:00Tire SandalsOne reality of living in a developing nation is the lack of resources and things available. As a result, Tanzanians are incredibly resourceful and are able to discover ways to reuse nearly everything. This weekend, my sandals broke unexpectedly and so I went and bought myself a pair of tire sandals. A lot of Peace Corps volunteers buy these sandals and I have always hesitated because I worried about how comfortable they actually would be. I was in a pinch and needed some sandals so I figured now is the opportunity to try them out. The sandals are put together by old, cut up tires and four nails. The man cut them to fit my feet and wa-la, I have a pair of tire sandals for the cost of $2. My first day wearing them, I was correct, they aren’t terribly comfortable, however today they don’t seem as bad. I am hoping that they become really comfortable because let’s face it: while not beautiful, they allow me to leave a light footprint on mother earth (pun completely intended) by giving old tires a second use!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH5E8_mmJ3qXu3chw8Gh85T8u2qstThUDYbmIy_6kwUaZChfkHiKuejGpPo7Hy0MKJSI4BXr34xmz3omeXSeV4PhWvTbg1SAFxz8t4dXjIFxE-21r2MV83dPApEhEx-a6q00-FaP8yRM1/s1600-h/IMG_9267%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_9267" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1X-F4-fLtnLzf973xgR484AP5fepulA6j64jQio0SA9us4Vj5UUcmZtNElF44IytsOS6NMaFJFPpr1tgyXXlaENvzfMAX3Rgc7Twz7eiPLKb-TH5v4xfYxVUsNgyXDnz-jWSWMHPQirTD//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_9267" width="296" /></a><br />
<div align="center">
<em>The 4 nails that hold them together: two in the middle and two by the toe wedge. </em></div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-38271808639029536762013-04-27T13:45:00.001-07:002013-04-27T13:45:13.968-07:00Boy’s Conference<p>Last weekend, six Peace Corps volunteers gathered in Njombe and held a boy’s conference. Each volunteer brought 6 boys from their village school, grades ranging from 5th grade to 8th grade. In addition, we all brought one Tanzanian adult to help us with the conference. The conference’s main focus is teaching life skills especially about HIV and AIDS. The idea is for the 6 students from each school to learn as much as they can about these topics and go back to their schools and present it to their peers in a peer educator fashion. The money comes from a grant to help educate Tanzanians about HIV/AIDS. Jon and I brought 6 students of ours who we thought would be great leaders, peer educators at our school, and in addition, we brought some boys who we see have potential but could use a conference such as this to boost their self confidence. We brought a new teacher from our school named Mdotta to the conference. He was amazing. He is a rare Tanzanian who has a lot of training in working with youth in regards to HIV/AIDS. He was seriously so amazing. The life skills topics that we covered included decision making skills and gender roles. We had 4 children living with HIV come talk to our students about what it’s like for them. A doctor and a nurse who work specifically with HIV/AIDS patients came to talk to them as well. Some fun activities included dance parties, games night, and movie night. Our boys were by far the strongest boys at the conference in terms of their leadership and engagement. I felt like a really proud mom and I really enjoyed the whole weekend. It was a great way to end my last couple of months here. Our boys are yet to do their peer education at school, but they are excited to do it. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUcbD_bGrtTb-1yMQasearbTucMwUKq4U7SUqfsl2wXY7imT7csK6I0AUnIUQkoMXz8FanWXC3Hd-dhAluWfmudoO4hC-YNGk9EGL8H_kic6aRwQyuvSLh9DT2iUEbXfvt1deiMi5UKU-/s1600-h/IMG_1008%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1008" alt="IMG_1008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib299gKdfazqbrQTpbdn-F5SkJGzEiz3Q7OKQLkxKFtf2AVUrKlY4mhVMslZWMlzkYitwt8Vs8HLp8bqIUsYDITzVRlFtuP45XccRgzCDvC5fLtWlQkpz-hVhmWw7lTr2U2-0JJyb92L2-//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Jon and I, our 6 students, and Mr. Mdotta</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53qRtTpaprc_Dwe8Yfk0VI_I_TkOmhuV63EJv9kcDldWd55D5kNDSqnTNlEWeGCBPXKiT7FrRO2vIcmvfoDotzdFu6myqKUeby-ktduwHwvQWHEhbn3BJlXFJc0-3U3TS-5o01dkOqm8d/s1600-h/IMG_0702%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0702" alt="IMG_0702" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZmsXOvSkgRNYxiXRJ60rivXKbj03f_LtGrK5UnaxqdY1qXhXNgmZ0ZyoWsU63VGZOaA40lkyLTGuB3uJmbvsVki8NWGNRl9T3pUoJpM8oyZOtdd3szL_IIvzjheJTObmjL62WgykK8Ci//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Getting the boys to dance!</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJykRIYQ7sUpbCJy2f55EdQDMgLNzXWY6jlPiZZ8Jzmt4ko8_gYjIHFd_YTLHfaBJnq8Qc3uhgUBwPGSEbxkB8H2JbkqS9orr4bGOCsf2tgXRjJ42Suv_jHPPiLIV6qNoJABjx1L7LzeJ/s1600-h/IMG_0710%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0710" alt="IMG_0710" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrReRyekBM8_g86BtlozV9BDGFB4i_jKTlnzYw_jbWHO_uw8_AhMKqIAMjnVP_xnNnKBcjoA5ob-wg8fa6pPBS8tib2YW7hP2agrIpSUsPobz0Ipji_9M5pmmu9NHE8YLsx4VtQHWVPu9e//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>John, Fanleck, Fredy, and George</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FpAJXWyoV4pxsCuvu5Z6PhEo4t_uff9oJVZkrewHUu1tWU-VozdEHPdSCo-ivxPYbiuI5AEfTPtiS6v6EdD_qJTYRvbxYos_3kqw-w-ecL30rkP2tInLDlHsE9nH4X59I0DYj5OQPiXK/s1600-h/IMG_0830%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0830" alt="IMG_0830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQHUB_O-3TLDlsA9lHT_FW9KTtkp7rKOwCxlKgS3WDwGsghIXY3WF5OCH0wXHbNNhjWKIhw5JzLKp3tJy1zwzVZ949D2YVAY-N9Qih-qF5eMkzRnMvVNpiH2JLpIVXP7udBwTPy4HeNH7//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Teaching the boys about gender roles and they had to bake a cake to give them experience of a “woman’s job”</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo2SGTBrOUWQowDRuvvNpaVJuHL3xz5RE7NqgZiilJoQJfZylA8eMIBETdBvVV28xmddYbgytyibLty9yi83aXbWJWxkvQtUL5D_r671dJQmbWFsUiBXfgECFzxa3NoEc0emwxuz_U5BE/s1600-h/IMG_0900%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0900" alt="IMG_0900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAafBwMjuItfrpreaIzr2ZVT4vlJfYOS_y2n5GTyqHeQ7xLGODkWVRsc7wP67zSxmS6QKITE1n_H6Tqan4Ox7VVvE-KmMqQ-JPzjZhIFJhEb0Wl-pO-nblXCAVJHd4J-ZG8Dqins65B5sY//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>The boys learned about leadership by creating a “pole” that can hold an egg. The idea was to get the boys to realize that leaders need to listen to each other, delegate work, and cooperate. </em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CJJX2JCEsR5attX6GSRGbgBwsASKsF0lksiyxPvTFglbPOVhwudHmtd-r1c1GixcChKGYdnRelsbYkLA5Y7_ApnkOf8NSscMNjdpRm2iZuwR0mf01NOgCvzgZZkmynQHQuaNFFJROuv5/s1600-h/IMG_0776%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_0776" alt="IMG_0776" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pqSggPVNDVcHA9Kqmy6bdWnZrLDQOhZRuv0KPA0GgBGpLkY6HxUfyadxuptEvb-DkEJIoFckLg8HYGsVa8I30pZ4P2cBwE3LftPWv4LW_vztV2fquyNI0iIoIVQop_y45qZa57t8cUJQ//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>The students working on their short term and long term goals after a goal setting session with the message of setting goals will help them choose to avoid risky behavior.</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgpNY0QXpMMkMuRqr_ti8OrqSyxOuZTmrv_6swCOV7Qxaz5WNLte_vjS732omg7mkzPgMxn2PgTKbEa1reOqG6FslRIc4evoeLdfHpEAlcOPXJniI2QxHh3QJlccMU-gSORh9Iy2hKSta/s1600-h/IMG_1013%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1013" alt="IMG_1013" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcbOo0NlGB9cWRMMYFDBgl9fcnYKovEsG4JVXMl3l2-aTrfuAdJ5hsLSVS77angAkYVMdvOlKDZwpf846MTNHAiRmmVreorLExltJ8otF2D_ShJOfDxva-R19KHmkK-ZpsqS1cZW8gF01//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Group shot of all the participants</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsay13coEkwVALDyq28FnYh248tdULoOQ3n7ATbuB5-sbQwdyEa3glIEJCukZjupX4eaXWHuHQsEcaq2KtsaijS4jcURZkC7W3h38bqtTuepCPhyw-RuixIO7ze82XNpqwHU-nasSNhyN8/s1600-h/IMG_1031%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_1031" alt="IMG_1031" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBkVgin-nx_cKUXXLIH90x0roiqm1w2Z-y3XrihNm7B9IZWaYSUVQomje04J-rBm7stSAZZ0OTzmwohR6osQqyNqapEfwqxQ3muHy01lphBhyphenhyphengZPcCiicvATK3k2BfWy4RvdhEt5ZpeGp//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="263"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>There is a program called Zinduka which ties HIV/AIDS education with soccer. One morning consisted of Zinduka activities. This activity is a metaphor where the students dribble a soccer ball through the risk field of HIV and AIDS. </em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO03LfqKUv3siDa5mVbod6UOJsoWUuQDDiYPaxXoi62D-DBYy1oaR3-a9xaQWHauX__yOjnVZDF3o5yeEniaVk3z6kEDPoTPWvAMG8kLYoaP_HGPSWlkL4bvob2LIpmujuMH0a-R4qI3TD/s1600-h/IMG_7368%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_7368" alt="IMG_7368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFCdbTwFGw404Uo7GmO9KoJS20BbEPjoA9emRpDmAscU6MpW8BAsOy8L8NFe35xmDwvUZMi82CqkUb5kJLiFFbNhJ9_QtvuukoaZRTGDo1PJ6lLyWJON-13PxSXDmoeYjP-SdmRjIIGMK//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>We took the boys out for ice cream. 4 of them liked it, 2 didn’t! They didn’t know what it is really and they tried to put it into their pocket to eat later!</em></p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-69735620933931970002013-03-20T12:41:00.001-07:002013-03-20T12:41:52.725-07:00My little heartbreakerI have a student who I have completely fallen in love with! He is such a smart kid and he tries so hard to study and improve in all ways he can. I have been spending more and more time after school time with him to improve his English. To be honest, his English needs little improvement, just some tweaking. I thought that he must have parents at home that speak English to him. But, it's not the case, his father died several years ago and he just lives with a guardian. He hasn't seen his 3 sisters in over a year. Yet, this little 14 year old will try to be the best he can be is so apparent. I worked on an essay contest with him and he needed to answer the question of why is water precious? in at least 500 words. He did it! I helped him with some grammar points, but they were 100% his thoughts and ideas and 95% his grammar. It has been noted in several publications that when a student is acquiring vocabulary, the average student can attain 7 new vocabulary words in one lesson. He can acquire about 20. Now that the essay is finished (one week of after school work with him), I have been giving him flashcards to memorize vocabulary. At the rate we are going, he is attaining about 100 new vocabulary words per week.<br />
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Recently, he came over to my house and we were having a "chat session". A session where we don't learn new vocabulary but where I ask him questions and he responds and then he can ask me questions. We only speak in English. His questions were these: when you are on an airplane to Tanzania, how do you eat? how do you bath? what do you do for that many hours? Then, he asked me if it's true that Americans have pictures of the sun, moon, and the planets. I told him it's true, they exist and that I will show him pictures of space His smile was ear to ear and he responded with I will become so smart!<br />
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Selfishly, Jon and I want to keep him at our school because he's so great to work with and it's so rewarding, however, we are looking into the possibility of having him accepted into a better boarding school about 1.5 hours from our school. The students at the boarding school are much brighter than most of our students. He will excel at a better school and be surrounded by smarter students. We asked him first if he would want to switch schools and he said yes without hesitation. We hope to work it out, if possible, before mid-April. He is just so smart and bright, he deserves a better education and we're going to do all we can to try to make it work out for him. In the meantime, I am ecstatic to be spending so much time with a Tanzanian student who aspires to be the President of Tanzania when he grows up. He's so hopeful and studious, he just breaks my heart with how adorable he is!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-35602029894396026372013-03-08T00:45:00.000-08:002013-03-08T00:45:01.008-08:00Life Skills or Sex Ed 101Since arriving to my school and learning about the opportunity to work with female students on life skills, I have always been interested in teaching the topic. Peace Corps provides an easy-to-follow curriculum that addresses things from decision making skills, communication skills, to learning the truth about HIV/AIDS and pregnancy. I kept putting off teaching the material because Peace Corps strongly encourages us to do it with a Tanzanian colleague. After waiting around for a year and assessing which teachers might be interested in doing this with me, I didn’t come across one teacher who seemed responsible or willing enough to teach with me. First of all, I only wanted a female teacher to work with me. My plans were to only work with female students, I didn’t want a male teacher who might make things real awkward for the teenage girls. That narrowed down my teacher candidates to 4. One had a baby, one got married….that narrowed it down to two. One beats students excessively, now that’s just one female teacher left at my school. The remaining teacher is scared to talk to me. That left zero. So, I put it off. This year, I decided, F-ck it, I’m going to teach it without a Tanzanian. The major road block? My Swahili. I openly admit it, I have been one of the laziest volunteers to attempt to learn Swahili. Sure, I can get around, I can have easy conversation, however, am I going to be able to discuss sensitive and delicate issues such as teenage pregnancy, HIV, and birth control options? Am I going to only make things worse by not speaking Swahili well enough to get my message across? Well, I decided to go for it. It’s now or never.<br />
I decided I would teach it to the grade 9 females. They were all my students last year, so we’ve built a relationship over the course of the year. They like me. I went to gauge their interest. I got all of them into one classroom. I explained my interests and asked for a show of hands on who would attend. Every single hand flew into the air, 110 hands waving around like they’re at a soccer match. Well, it looks like I can’t back out now.<br />
My first class was 3 weeks ago. I had about 100 girls in a classroom and I was incredibly overwhelmed and unsure how I was going to manage this. Of course, the boys are all curious and jealous about the girls receiving a special, secret lesson. A lot of the discussion was interrupted by the necessity of telling boys to stop watching through the windows. They all pretended to accidentally enter the room. I needed to put a desk in front of the door and a sign on the door saying, do not enter. The girls were enthusiastic and excited. I had to enlist a few helpers to keep the girls from giggling too much. We took a vote on the topics they want to discuss first. First request: relationships. I had them ask anonymous questions to me in Swahili. I took them home with me and spent hours translating them. My Swahili concerning sex, STDs, birth control, and other related terms has suddenly increased tenfold. <br />
To try to improve the situation of boys, my second class consisted of moving the lesson to a more secluded classroom at the school. I still had a few intruders, but it was negligible compared to the first lesson. My friend informed me about these wonderful FAQ booklets where you can get one in English and one in Swahili. The FAQs are completely geared towards the type of questions my students are asking. There’s a booklet for various topics such as : growing up, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, healthy relationships, love relationships, drugs & alcohol, etc. These books are what is making this class possible for me. I translated their questions, then located the answer in the English version of the book and found the corresponding questions in the Swahili books. I organized my next lesson so that the first thing I did was draw the male and female reproductive parts on the board. Then, I let the girls giggle for about 3 minutes. Then I broke out some condoms and asked what is this? I showed them the proper way to open a condom, I let the girls who were curious to touch it and pass it around. Then, I did a condom demonstration. I showed the girls how to properly unravel the condom using a wooden penis. I then showed them how it’s not possible to use the same condom twice and that they should not try it. Finally, I showed them how to undo the condom, tie it up and told them to throw it down their pit latrine. The girls were giggle, giggle, giggling, but when I asked follow up questions, they understood what I said. The students took turns reading the Swahili out of the FAQ booklets to answer the questions. We only were able to get through a handful of questions in this lesson but they really like the books and want to continue in this format for the lesson. I think I have found a successful format to convey the correct information in a way that the students can understand despite my lack of Swahili skills. I am working to move the class into either our computer room or the library where it’s even more difficult for boys to try to be a nuisance. It’s times like these that I feel my school is such a zoo that I can’t do anything productive without having to deal with behavior issues. Or to have a classroom properly constructed where outside disturbances are minimized by the walls, windows, and doors.<br />
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Just to give you an idea, here are some of the questions asked by my students:</div>
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If I use a condom, can I get HIV? If I use a condom, can I get pregnant?</div>
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What is a good age to get pregnant?</div>
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If the condom breaks, can I get pregnant?</div>
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If I sleep with a man who has HIV, can HIV transmit to me?</div>
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If I use birth control, can I get pregnant?</div>
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What is puberty?</div>
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I am 16 years old, am I old enough to have a boyfriend?</div>
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If I don’t have my first period and I have sex, can I get pregnant?</div>
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Are condoms and birth control the same thing or different?</div>
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Why do boys want to have a relationship with me?</div>
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If I kiss a boy, can I get HIV?</div>
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If you talk with a person who has HIV, can you get HIV?</div>
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If you have sex only one time without a condom, can you get HIV?</div>
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If you have sex with a boy younger than you, can you get pregnant?</div>
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If I use a condom, can I get syphilis?</div>
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As you can see, they have little to no information on how to protect themselves both from pregnancy and HIV. On top of that, if a girl gets pregnant while in school, she gets expelled, meanwhile, the boy gets to continue his education with just the speech that he should try to help pay for his baby, but without any real pressure to do so. I think what I am doing with these girls is super important and can change their lives if they are informed well enough to make the best decisions for their body and future.</div>
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And for all of you wondering, here is my wooden penis:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7L1oPLeD6yBtB5WY4_VCtoGg9qwOhFuqT02oAWdCS4iuYNFNKmMKkWEw7PbL4yd0K9TCI7SoBZ9Yix97Glcnh6H9jPivChFV6x6OVfs7Bcze3L48wTAytibPKSS_kdC9-OfF2mq3ue1t/s1600-h/IMG_8814%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8814" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSVkHBCz4m1ulQEN25hIjtRWZBrSlrRLUzsjNeOLhyphenhyphenjEVFReM1GfMbwipjZaBICoLOQqCxGduAe_y4oWnjGcIBa2_Wc5CjZpopaBgITXTVk_zXGKzFsnMviu4ZCz1dZiCpPXv4_3fyH5p//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8814" width="230" /></a></div>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-60681838955281478802013-03-05T06:54:00.000-08:002013-03-05T06:54:00.197-08:00Jon & LiaJon teaching math to Lia. She knows that 1 fish + 1 fish = a fully belly now.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VlLJx6R94mCY7hGqGN5_sVQSSnbwzyiq6h7qMAGl9Ako7EpqRyDJVVKLaHUZJq1Pmd27pyFc1q5dJrUUGHLwqxP_OZB-srRuhvj-8yIhGi-YmX6G6-EMicb3BNw3koxzMuwU3CwX6lw8/s1600-h/IMG_8573%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8573" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8WTZ89h-jOz5mCSKX5_zIdPo6-2FM-uvCaCmUrfF2HrLjlWTG50hMh_CfI5HjbC4HHPn6ChXLymgFYeySfB62_jzWkjLZgEpndQagNUaj390dV7vNb88uXsjJBva-M1SQWJTEhkHAeKy//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8573" width="230" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6IqUFdaiqXrptfcinq3j_si_ZrjfrgJSfy7Rvh1HiwZZNRoezq2GFY8ATohjwu6ejCSCs1zLgbaJl4N-Z3fCm3fyld0zbzDDAezQWjM1jkQ4IoRUNwHWlCTuXwTL8htJz7wMDqb2Csu6/s1600-h/IMG_8574%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8574" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYynb9jBRlhW2s49PiFyOyaw8xKb4B8csLAzHccW6tJQppQWxkWK_GUpT0r_G3meuWhVVnebq1EgZFt1g1M1QU7EUK39uVrkOe-_uLMQZHJfTVex_bLvfRA9QYHuOlyGmEEzcLMYkz-Do//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8574" width="395" /></a>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-17360635200512031152013-03-02T06:20:00.001-08:002013-03-02T06:28:52.072-08:00Letter Reading<p>A large thank you to everyone who not only requested a letter, but wrote back to their Tanzanian penpal! The letters have been trickling in since late December. It was great timing since school had a month-long break from December to early January. I held my first letter reading in mid-late January. The students were overjoyed with their letters and even a few gifts that were sent. Even the students whose letters had not arrived yet enjoyed letter reading because it naturally ended up that everyone was showing their letters to everyone and passing them around. I provided dictionaries and Jon & I were there to help with certain words/phrases that were difficult for the students. Even though some words can easily translate to Swahili, the students are still not familiar with what the word is or means. Not only was it a great educational opportunity, it was an excellent way to share American culture with students. I held a second letter reading in mid-February to give the letters to the students whose letters arrived later. During the second reading, we showed 20 minutes of the Mighty Ducks because nearly 90% of the letters to my students involved hockey in one way or another. A former professor of mine from SUNY Plattsburgh even sent one of the students a Plattsburgh puck. Students loved learning about hockey and asked us to arrange for them to play. Obviously, there’s one major barrier to this: there’s no snow or ice. Some letters got lost on the way, some letters are on their way now. I will still return any letters that arrive after this because some students are still asking about their letter. I have a dedicated group of girls who are eagerly responding to several middle school classes in my hometown. This has turned into letter writing club for me. It is one of the most rewarding activities I have done in my Peace Corps experience and I want to thank each and everyone of my friends and family and even people who I never met spanning 4 continents who helped me with this project! I thank everyone who is receiving a second letter because my students requested to write again. Thank you for your time and energy to make letter writing a success! Some pictures are below!</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrP8QZUFdxnJzuwp5fOua5tv1wwWytWwmgVn9aYDa3NDDFbObxoDeDBg31Ug2pD3fSC0aWdoGNOaVluYSbdmxT1WmCBseartBiyMtoK8aGbAGJ-exjAzzQlD5s3JhwBp1K6Qo1BrxO1Gc/s1600-h/IMG_8506%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8506" alt="IMG_8506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcSxLgMDylAAF3z-yOuFgIku8iuyi0XtDYS2-4yueQ2BFt-Y1n3suMeewew06SQNI-rpX_vTCfEJQ7x6B5vRpXwmAycUHVc8g-lMIy_44XlsjH7-fGrVq0p7mxNvjREI-li4yo1lG5kkZ//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXjP07UBN7WHNbmSerUkHN6MdnmvQi5uK39REMuDZEunlox6kiLFG1kcieY7AY_3lUG_ahtvX2fthsB3dhm0QYDpgui-hqMbqXw5y7_LpPMyCbDgch8RIFORUkGosmgWqnRhatS6p-Zv8/s1600-h/IMG_8510%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8510" alt="IMG_8510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Or3NBJ43C1F7t_L-QgRE1gYWjCboXi5G8w0HODR52vRIpYq60-ZJUMbaXIWjQqUapvMmQxYnq81_2PJ9P_zyXqmgXl6jUvF3uarWyX35ZbMU9t6egVlc19ShBZk8ORrxCIaM2t3rM4gL//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3ft0yUoi-wTXhFJyVRjbyeiT4Hd-cjkt7EnWfAufUvP_stERD4Hib9FEQeY0wF5YXwxzwx-x-mV2x5nCH6zVGeBzw-CnGhpRI8ATepps_QSQ3cP9NxLwgD0MOXY1P1zvLIAqCkamU9J3/s1600-h/IMG_8517%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8517" alt="IMG_8517" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfWnpiNGXKDoNx8uuEZtMIWCw41y5C4enAAQFUbiCfNgmLUgAtHljAZcXTyypNV5s-uWHTqKDAiuUvRBWBM6wm4AwBepV5cT1AXfbPyzY_24CJehDtcyDYIuF6h29DiAdanIHOqSGERjH//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>Above: helping with some vocabulary or sentence structure</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYo0gaTHVc7m3Ph7zO0XoQ6QaBmDAdADOBkrJeawO1b4QgVoDx2mgJqBDASogVLCxLFZqZN6YCAyM5uxUSfRqCEAz_0iuvpQlqY9Kc4fqN6l_d9J3ePTFfRUupaRhPTta1XR8ibNLLhQ_/s1600-h/IMG_8518%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8518" alt="IMG_8518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQj2JAU9IeSmZ_LmN4kXamKoiPV7x3Tq8SfXJXes_Dev3dmbluXLVDQp6QQwuCfuAGiOpcLI_6Zo1KpkOq0mpiI7j4UABkxA4ol0B-fn8jODjlh4z630lPH5NMjrJX0BS7IJ9_oUKnqlj//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>Above: the crowd of students looking at one letter!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbngchdiOXysxlF_HeJA7Zqe4y-VS-vgD9fLvhI8zZXnJqX5WXLACxzVR0pu_QLTeD7YvZE7aq91ZBjsUa65DjqdLyLkDtiP1hqP3xmGy9FiXQ32RILQh1YvxgCuN5Px9v9ZzDNTRx-sHJ/s1600-h/IMG_8520%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8520" alt="IMG_8520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOhtmeh6DJytTB2qmP_JrlS-qRLWhPhk6kH2SdaaPG_hoPcEulYy-pigSybpafHzdzzRmQfOxRVz6nLZhrrkp5Nfa_RRejLoRfCTH1V4tGT5KYX-MdZt37VIJmydp5LHPbGMRJ_OlfDET//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguYU8WH5XcbIL7mo1hjieBPhZhggWyx4plfuZsiMx3IDyS4adePVjMCBnUk8nIOPu1Gg8YxedEf6Y_elbEUt_DdMuyA8vDOsGsnXpKfc5soTbKfQ_pKSZS068nEE7Df9-U1TFOr1ZP6Jk/s1600-h/IMG_8783%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8783" alt="IMG_8783" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsj5atff3koWrCcYVpLMDXsuZjC4t46YFjZzwZHyLOrXyZDgus3CLYdPwKZT67g57hJb4FwVINx3Y0i6I35FE-_emE-kyLOUK0fV4NCZT9CD2I28YlDW4AxoEJ_tRliN3snrcnzrA2-zfa//?imgmax=800" width="230" height="306"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yZ8vgre0plsxjrA2GkQ6jEvj1asduONdq8zK0fehUkPR4WjHzkQ4Cs0DOLpY2y6Df_VWSHlit1JzUeVzqxQ6HparxGpXMEpAnZSWFehFrL8P0mhLkD3aLWic-S7Vk5wHzAIb5EviRzhj/s1600-h/IMG_8785%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8785" alt="IMG_8785" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc__1758GQemjS4nIq-xsO8oacjbA9UTr9iFAvGkKtRzK3fe-_n9q_xyNKKdeRmvlZsOiAfq59kJPi13rGYfZmOo9OYLQGgBbu9d-VwiGRHxxsXhvY-ajJfD7MOzeYqcpcabSn6Zk8zDO//?imgmax=800" width="230" height="306"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9E8Z7nfYSAuN21w3L422zJSRa7GXP10pRBGTnBBCydkMrAClI8ITIlzLly8XbK8_XQuvXSoHBEkvZ4zqVtlG46GQitOc2Pz-Pm4GoTRAza1oJrs0-cndM7tRnSYowQxBu647Ts3BvGhY/s1600-h/IMG_8786%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8786" alt="IMG_8786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3CHyF-XDEHLvgPeCvXwf0rkLGWLdsDFJWyF_ZHO2H4qI7hGn_eDeI1_ZAXlz3ICpfAHsBjCAuKiJZkwWEaqMqNwed0rEMHBeW61m5qUGJNP6J8zgocu-j1cAU2FvsVIpyfXCuD0q4JOH//?imgmax=800" width="230" height="306"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdH32OtfHOmuIRCecnVxxrkCNXjXJwjhviK_GcRTX4h8kmokj3BPDDmzP_zKU553JseVqna-xqnad3jyTdNUvcURmp2KVOtP8fu98Wv-EWW_-GgcEWrzEk44L2hJ0lCI9tzlkYrFZgSj0/s1600-h/IMG_8790%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8790" alt="IMG_8790" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlQ_-1xGUE6JFxB5X2-XBirzWOcu3X-0pFzp0nRGO5BIQzC3Q22Qd0v09Mqs47hNuQPrYfOYA7zIPBDYnAFpaE3b27XVrCjoI8LIrmET0Ql3N5ljI6JlgkiiwWYuergJ4wjApCfhE_Pbb//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>(above: Jon showing kids the donated puck before a 20 minute video of hockey from the Mighty Ducks)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h3_FrYzImHUT_goXbb3OCaluDd3cBRL6O_CaAS8tkt63vol-2C-nCE64x_-YYSTu0lYYmrmAPetKQEsG_6X5tVdSxcq05mQESK4tV0uxIZh1ydK0cH6mFVRSM92ToetZ3oTdybWqsEfI/s1600-h/IMG_8799%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8799" alt="IMG_8799" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSmW2WZaVtMZcCLXAPulzUb0Ydm12COtCmZfEL_cAXrN2FvTyvKN04fTuCct51-_gd3IjOb0pBLx-XXvgFY5iy8xp5ez_ZZLzGCKF8qOY9dmhWx-xZmtcb4lTNN8YzBNd2vNzi2_ILFhq//?imgmax=800" width="230" height="306"></a></p> <p>Above: Happy students</p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-74737057124313932842013-02-24T23:00:00.001-08:002013-02-24T23:00:05.008-08:00An ode to a colleague….and am I just a glorified babysitter?<p>An opportunity walked right by me, yet I am still very happy for our colleague and friend. When Jon & I first began working at our school way back in September 2011, there was a student teacher here. His attitude towards teaching and his dedication to his students was eye-opening for Jon & I. It is rare to find a Tanzanian teacher who does not use corporal punishment, that uses interactive teaching, and who dedicates his life to the well-being of the students. He is one of the French teachers at our school. Around November of that same year, he returned to Dar es Salaam to finish up his university studies. Late last year, he returned to our school after completing his own studies. It was a great day when he returned. You see, Jon & I are viewed to be rather strange to our colleagues. We’re strange because we put our students before ourselves, we put our students before our colleagues and we don’t hit them. In short, we’re viewed as strange because we respect our students. This French teacher shows the same characteristics as us. With his presence, we felt that he was a phenomenal role model to the other teachers. He’s Tanzanian just like them and he does the same thing as us. He believe in education. He believes in the same language acquisition styles as me.</p> <p>How did this opportunity pass me by then? We had so much to learn from each other. Both being language teachers and having the same belief system in education, we should have been collaborating. Alas, we didn’t because we were both so busy with our students and lives. Two weeks ago, he was offered a job at a college on the northeast coast of Tanzania. He’s ecstatic and so am I. This is an excellent opportunity for him and he always told me he wanted to be a professor. This is an excellent stepping stone for him. While I am really happy for him, I am very disappointed that we are losing potentially the best teacher at our school. It’s hard to express how much his presence and his dedication to our students has left an impact on me. You see teachers like him in this completely dysfunctional school system and it gives you hope that maybe, someday, the Tanzanian education system can turn around.</p> <p>In the meantime, in reference to my last few blogs titled “why, why, why?”, I asked him why do the parents of our students in the one classroom where they are about 5 years behind continue to pay for them to come to school? I didn’t get it. It seemed like such a waste of resources on everyone’s part. It seems like they can just get to work on the farm. Yet, his response made me realize that there is no real point in teaching these students. He said there are basically two reasons to keep these failing students in school. The first reason, he said, is because it is shameful to the family if they pull their student out of school at this age. It’s shameful for them to put him/her to work even if they are failing everything and not understanding anything at school. Secondly, he said they send their failing students to school because it keeps them out of trouble. If they are not at school, it’s possible they are engaging in relationships (getting pregnant or the risk of HIV), or getting themselves into other trouble (perhaps drinking, drugs, etc). So, sending them to school, even if they are failing, is like daycare for teenagers. Essentially, for this classroom, I am a glorified babysitter. It’s too bad that the parents can’t be talked into sending them to a vocational school to learn useful skills such a being a seamstress, driving cars, maintenance of cars, carpentry, etc.</p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-13653164864313735062013-02-22T14:27:00.000-08:002013-02-22T14:27:00.064-08:00Kitulo National Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just a simple picture blog today about Kitulo National Park, known as <i>Bustani ya Mungu </i>or God's Garden. This remote, yet not terribly difficult to get to National Park is rarely visited by tourists. There are several endemic species...monkeys and flowers and the towering cedar trees. Unfortunately, we were unable to afford the route that allows you to see the monkeys and giant trees, however, we were very pleased with the flowers we saw on our day hike. The park boasts 45 different types of orchids among several other flowers belonging to the touch-me-not, pea, daisy, and other families. It is required to take a guide with you, which was absolutely fine considering he was very knowledgeable on all the flowers. I was actually quite surprised on how much he knew his flora! There is on-going research in the park. While we hiked, there were two researchers present. Besides the researchers and their workers, we had the entire park to ourselves that day. While it rained all around us, we lucked out, finishing our hike on the Matamba ridge down into the valley of Kitulo about 20 minutes before the rain started coming down. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_mmXWPAJFSbJTOM4BdDC2FGd8Hq49vI2UopA9GMvdZeRhfiVUpfbv0JtOQSMlOtRj4vkAlfKGtJR9lFvGzEQeNOZRqUm32-Lecq8IiVXItGkoat02QgSPYWtfE5JXacHd38icHYs1Yxv/s1600/IMG_8582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_mmXWPAJFSbJTOM4BdDC2FGd8Hq49vI2UopA9GMvdZeRhfiVUpfbv0JtOQSMlOtRj4vkAlfKGtJR9lFvGzEQeNOZRqUm32-Lecq8IiVXItGkoat02QgSPYWtfE5JXacHd38icHYs1Yxv/s320/IMG_8582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from Matamba, the village nearby the park that you can stay in and arrange your guides and pay for your fees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAmS-mukyjjcAftY_yGlViI6xHzxQfmjsbnV2vvDSaacrHwMd6ng0vWFJ5PGNNEmMKtwdDU562amV0oCFA9J4xoGAJ7YE5L3DjuH_HVt5Fm_LStDHAuecTvpXgAtirrcZsoctV4BAFpU5/s1600/IMG_8594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAmS-mukyjjcAftY_yGlViI6xHzxQfmjsbnV2vvDSaacrHwMd6ng0vWFJ5PGNNEmMKtwdDU562amV0oCFA9J4xoGAJ7YE5L3DjuH_HVt5Fm_LStDHAuecTvpXgAtirrcZsoctV4BAFpU5/s320/IMG_8594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHy_VM-AzKg_Wx3XfrF13YO7c1Rk6lVOnx7G2CsBwaq_kpfNPSkDeg8r-xPd0qPeAUa82Orj9GszTfPNrTmNmEgRyswRf8-JRIT-iSKabMx9R1i9dOG5QQRoewHU6ODYTRqkzGrihSeIJ/s1600/IMG_8610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHy_VM-AzKg_Wx3XfrF13YO7c1Rk6lVOnx7G2CsBwaq_kpfNPSkDeg8r-xPd0qPeAUa82Orj9GszTfPNrTmNmEgRyswRf8-JRIT-iSKabMx9R1i9dOG5QQRoewHU6ODYTRqkzGrihSeIJ/s320/IMG_8610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb2VCWGzSGee_ahArSh6H9qYyD26fzHTsTlNZSgljQIc5JQUGnIgDeDkIx90yQP4oVKlUb2IESp0y6cZRKv5ifD8iK3rF6kp-2Uj0qVwhRyGrHFTHgsVZr77fhY4Zmzfsy90WVy0O6D_G/s1600/IMG_8603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb2VCWGzSGee_ahArSh6H9qYyD26fzHTsTlNZSgljQIc5JQUGnIgDeDkIx90yQP4oVKlUb2IESp0y6cZRKv5ifD8iK3rF6kp-2Uj0qVwhRyGrHFTHgsVZr77fhY4Zmzfsy90WVy0O6D_G/s320/IMG_8603.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an orchid </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EbG_ppj-0DV_OWuQlIwW-FliMLAbu_i2FZavMBBTjv6cWBnlwf2jQl_mTyeAFUgiDdbq3TiL8BwtddLum_gUfvTcssAF5Uh1pF_Ma4sy9onUn5IEiukCZfreJavH-LUKxcEx1tMBcDJh/s1600/IMG_8624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EbG_ppj-0DV_OWuQlIwW-FliMLAbu_i2FZavMBBTjv6cWBnlwf2jQl_mTyeAFUgiDdbq3TiL8BwtddLum_gUfvTcssAF5Uh1pF_Ma4sy9onUn5IEiukCZfreJavH-LUKxcEx1tMBcDJh/s320/IMG_8624.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjIJVYVzW-6t0MhkWdMOfkv8G0WUGRZJvx2Tog6D11gBtO61uy_HHg8_WRJdwNKwg67vRMG7CCazfDd8ZBvHST6Wd594r2jIXqui2Gxpe5HBsbMTzs_7mbAuQjJ0fiSrxEM5Dv4iJtgV7/s1600/IMG_8617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjIJVYVzW-6t0MhkWdMOfkv8G0WUGRZJvx2Tog6D11gBtO61uy_HHg8_WRJdwNKwg67vRMG7CCazfDd8ZBvHST6Wd594r2jIXqui2Gxpe5HBsbMTzs_7mbAuQjJ0fiSrxEM5Dv4iJtgV7/s320/IMG_8617.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This flower towers over me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JI6F-X5zUqgj5YpNsOhbqM5vbRh8SzEAQkIO4ipcjqilZbVmUAIMR9ZVzx_Gc_EDnxGK1-1EqjgdjUpdD9zuKsoTDD0eOiNcy7Vomo-F_24oupsLQc7NoqrIaI9chZL2ixCEW9IVZlr7/s1600/IMG_8647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JI6F-X5zUqgj5YpNsOhbqM5vbRh8SzEAQkIO4ipcjqilZbVmUAIMR9ZVzx_Gc_EDnxGK1-1EqjgdjUpdD9zuKsoTDD0eOiNcy7Vomo-F_24oupsLQc7NoqrIaI9chZL2ixCEW9IVZlr7/s320/IMG_8647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon's favorite flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKPxAb_rLx5QIa13tbLvyjWdIJE_nnDsliPvXLsf9dolzp21yeArNEnR-gkDUpPBL-7hGS1ndAAK-p7tMnxAjyNm_v8FjTu0QmKE33vELE3t8yNX7PY9V9edsrPqrmsWrCtrHNBpeqose/s1600/IMG_8663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKPxAb_rLx5QIa13tbLvyjWdIJE_nnDsliPvXLsf9dolzp21yeArNEnR-gkDUpPBL-7hGS1ndAAK-p7tMnxAjyNm_v8FjTu0QmKE33vELE3t8yNX7PY9V9edsrPqrmsWrCtrHNBpeqose/s320/IMG_8663.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This flower is endemic to Kitulo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guide drinking from the stream</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out that crazy bird tail</td></tr>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-19295185987043800572013-02-17T07:47:00.000-08:002013-02-17T07:47:00.030-08:00Why? Why? Why??It's really hard to explain the Tanzanian education system. It's hard to describe all the of shortcomings of the system. One of many shortcomings is that obviously there are students that have some sort of learning disorder. Unlike America, these students are never diagnosed and will never receive any extra attention. Since my students are streamed this year, I have one classroom where all of the lowest performing students belong. This week the class size increased even more. There are 55 students in this classroom where only about 5-10 can perform at a level where they might consider completing high school. When there are 55 students and just me (and a total student count of about 150 now), it's nearly impossible to reach every single student who needs the help. To be honest, more than half of the students in this stream should not have entered high school. They should return to elementary school and relearn nearly every subject. It's heartbreaking. It's upsetting to see these students struggle so badly, but short of teaching them English that they should have learned 5 years ago, I do not know how to help them. There are too many of them. These students could succeed if they had perhaps a special education teacher or aide to help them through. The language gap doesn't even matter. They don't know any of this material in Swahili. I get so frustrated at my complete inability to help them. Some of it is pure laziness on their part, but a lot of their problems are a result of a poor elementary education background, lack of support in their homes, and just not having any idea on how to learn. An example of one of my student's work is below. Because as much as I type about this, a picture speaks 1,000 words (especially when they are all incorrect words).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypHyAKOn5t1YJBGpokr2ALuB54YWWJdvpQ5nA7Bln0Z7i1NXADEbvQNwsIAGvcsYVBXPZhkg8LjLqJzYtNwkJb3XhacBYBo7O6x-IZhP0GRha5-RPPxHbuQd1CEatxCajdsxCilU3BgFL/s1600/hwex2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypHyAKOn5t1YJBGpokr2ALuB54YWWJdvpQ5nA7Bln0Z7i1NXADEbvQNwsIAGvcsYVBXPZhkg8LjLqJzYtNwkJb3XhacBYBo7O6x-IZhP0GRha5-RPPxHbuQd1CEatxCajdsxCilU3BgFL/s320/hwex2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where do I even begin?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The translations to the English are only one page behind. The student simply needed to turn one page to correctly find the translations. I didn't have the heart to mark every single one of his Exercise one attempts wrong, too.</td></tr>
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-49351779281888684922013-02-15T07:32:00.000-08:002013-02-15T07:32:00.290-08:00Zebra-cheetah bugWe found this unique bug hanging out on our house the other day. He seems to be a cross between a zebra and a cheetah.<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-24023674183381175792013-02-13T07:25:00.000-08:002013-02-13T07:25:01.995-08:00ChicksWhy are baby animals so cute? A newborn chick peeping away and chasing after its' mother always brings a smile to my face despite the daily challenges of work and life. Overall, chickens are really annoying to live around. They crow early to wake you up, they leave droppings in your yard, and they swarm in your backyard hoping that you'll give them food, however, the advantage is definitely the cutest little chicks ever!<br />
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-24325456320730903432013-02-11T01:44:00.000-08:002013-02-09T01:46:05.347-08:00Movie Week!Experience is the best teacher. After one year of teaching 8th grade last year, I made several adjustments to teach my students better this year. As mentioned in previous posts, one of the many struggles of working in the Tanzanian school system is that corporal punishment is still used as the main motivator for student respect and good behavior. While I have grown numb to witnessing children get beat on a daily basis at school, I have not participated in this method. I have to admit that I have sent students to get hit by other teachers. These students had shown month after month of disrespect and were burdening the learning process of other students. The first time I did it, I went home and cried. It's not an easy decision to go against your beliefs even when it seems to be in the best interest of everyone. Jon hasn't done this, yet, I have chosen to do it on a handful of occasions. Last year, my students requested that I use corporal punishment. That is what swayed my decision. My well-behaved students weren't learning because the poorly-behaved students were disruptive and rude.<br />
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Jon & I had attempted to put into place a positive behavior reward system. For whatever reason, it failed last year. The students didn't care. They weren't interested in what we developed. They would rather just behave rudely. This year, we are being much stricter with our students. We have scared them. There is punishment now. Our students who do not do their homework come to our house during their recess and do our household chores. Is this too much? We don't know. But, it's working. I went from around 16 of my students not doing their homework each week to about 6 students. When they do our chores, we tell them that they can either spend 30 minutes doing their homework or 30 minutes cleaning our house. Their choice. We also remind them that they are going to school to improve their living situation. If they don't put forth the effort to learn, they should get used to doing household chores because many students who fail high school just end up becoming housemaids for Tanzanians who are better off. What would a Tanzanian teacher do if they didn't do their homework? The kid would get hit. The kid would still prefer to get hit over doing my dishes. Let's face it - getting struck by a stick is over in 30 seconds. Doing housework during their recess? 30 minutes of awfulness and embarrassment.</div>
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But, the students are also being rewarded for their good behavior. Each time a student does their homework, they get a stamp in their notebook. With their stamps, they can buy school supplies from Jon or I. We're trying to show them that hard work will pay off. If they want or need things, they have to do some work. Last week, we had students buy 11 pens, 30 pencils, and 5 pencil sharpeners. A lot of kids are saving up for "more expensive" things like rulers and protractors. </div>
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In addition to that, we are continuing with our movie reward system. This failed last year for some reason, but it is working amazingly this year. What's the difference? We have no clue. But, it's working and our students have been excellent. Students can be individually awarded with movie tickets for various things. For example, consistent excellent homework, effort put forth during class, good results on tests, etc. Every two weeks, Jon & I show a movie after school for students to show if they're holding a ticket.</div>
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The other system is giving stamps to the whole class on a classroom chart when the whole class shows exemplary behavior. For example, being attentive and not disruptive, being punctual, being on task, and putting forth effort. The entire classroom needs to do this for the classroom chart to get a stamp.</div>
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This week we showed 4 movies. One movie was for the ticket holders. And I'm pleased to say that each of the classrooms earned their first movie reward for the whole class. Our attendance was excellent. 40/60 ticket holders came. For one classroom, only two students didn't come, for another class, about 90% came, and the third class about 70% came. They are really excited about watching the movies and I hope their enthusiasm holds out so that we continue to have well-behaved classes and students can learn that they can be rewarded for their work and not just feel worried about getting punished.</div>
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Jon & I are lucky that we have eachother to reinforce these positive behavior reward systems. Most Peace Corps volunteers are the only volunteer at the school. They struggle with enforcing these new methods and ideas because it is only them trying to use them. In addition to this, although I can't say for sure, I think one reason that the system is working this year is that we have about half the amount of students in each classroom. As opposed to having 80 students in a classroom, we have about 55 in our largest class. On top of that, the students have been "streamed". This means that my smartest students are in one classroom, while our mediocre performing students are in another classroom, and our lowest performing students (probably only about 1% will pass) are in the third classroom. While many American teachers will think this is a terrible idea - when you have 55 kids in a class, it is really the best system for the students. You begin to lose classroom management when the kid's abilities are so extreme. The smartest students are bored or the lowest performing students are so far behind, they start misbehaving because they can't understand anyway. Streaming students when you have 55 of them in one class really allows for best classroom management because you can go at the speed that will best serve the students.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each classroom has this rewards poster hanging. It allows the students to visually see how many stamps each classroom has (bottom right-hand corner), the "cost" of each item of school supplies and the schedule for movie ticket holders.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk725Yo0XIeOG9CmPkNmKnQQJ4dXJP1ELt4zydevkOniY3Vhk5Yll_LGV5JsqdX-MfoKcjlcOKIuXTk2EtOypwTPR3fjy_J9OjGnWzoRs6QG1StgvPLEb9UdvDK9IFWKzzjfeACoxB6gP5/s1600/movies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk725Yo0XIeOG9CmPkNmKnQQJ4dXJP1ELt4zydevkOniY3Vhk5Yll_LGV5JsqdX-MfoKcjlcOKIuXTk2EtOypwTPR3fjy_J9OjGnWzoRs6QG1StgvPLEb9UdvDK9IFWKzzjfeACoxB6gP5/s320/movies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon didn't get a great picture, but supervising a movie for one of the classrooms. They watch the movie on my netbook computer (9"x5" screen) if there is no solar electricity or on a 19" TV if there is enough solar power. 55 kids crowded around such small screens and they're still pleased!</td></tr>
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Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-79285974457478748972013-02-09T00:24:00.001-08:002013-02-09T00:32:23.000-08:00An Open Letter by Perusing bloggerSomeone in Peace Corps Tanzania recently posted a link to this blog. It is written by a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Cambodia. It sums up pretty much everything that I feel I have gone through as a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Tanzania. I couldn't express this better, so I am going to save you all the extra effort clicking an extra link and copy and paste her words below. Of course, I take no credit of this work and her original blog can be found <a href="http://thesharpiemarkerapproach.tumblr.com/post/42420977797/an-open-letter" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Dear Person Contemplating Joining Peace Corps,<br />
<br />
I imagine that you’re at a transition point in your life. Perhaps you’ve just graduated, perhaps you’re going through a career change, perhaps you have an itch for something more that can’t be scratched. Whatever the reason, here you are: contemplating joining Peace Corps.<br />
<br />
But should you? Is it right for you?<br />
<br />
Honestly, you might not know that until you’ve arrived. You can research by reading books and official publications or by talking with current/returned volunteers, but everything you read and hear will probably tell you the same thing: every person’s experience is different. Your Peace Corps life will be uniquely shaped by your country, program, and site.<br />
<br />
I’d like to think, though, that there are a few things that are universal throughout the Peace Corps world, and those things tend all to revolve around how you yourself will change - for the better and for the worse - because of your time in Peace Corps.<br />
<br />
*
‘Sanitary’ will become an obsolete concept. You will eat on mats that you know are saturated in urine. You will prepare food on counters that also serve as chicken roosts. You will not have consistent/frequent access to soap. You will eat street food that is undoubtedly questionable. You will be dirty, dusty, and sweaty at all times. You will have mind over body battles to force yourself to bucket shower in the winter. Bugs, lizards, chickens, ducks, and mice will crap on everything. These things will be ok. You’ll adjust. The sterile environment of the States will become a distant odd memory or a constant fantasy.<br />
<br />
Your body, though, might not adjust as quickly. You will have parasites and infections and illnesses that you had never heard of before training. You will be constantly constipated. Or go the opposite extreme. I hate to say it, but you will probably poop in your pants at least once. You will learn to vomit over a squat toilet and into a plastic bag during a bus ride. You will discuss your bodily functions openly and enthusiastically with other volunteers. No topic will be taboo.<br />
<br />
The way you communicate will completely transform. Learning a language from scratch through immersion is a powerful experience. You will learn to have complex communications though expressions, gestures, and basic vocabulary. You will learn to bond with another human being through silence. You will answer the same basic questions over and over and over again. You may never achieve the ability to discuss ideas and concepts. You will develop a new English language which consists of pared down vocabulary and grammatical structures. You will actively think of each word before you speak. Your speech patterns will slow. You will have to define words whose meanings you had always taken for granted. You will learn to listen.<br />
<br />
Your concept of money will entirely alter. Paying more than $1 for anything will cause you to pause and question your purchase. You will understand value in the context of a different economic system. You will learn to barter, even on cheaper items. You will consistently feel as though you have been cheated on the price. You will be enraged by all prices upon returning to the States.<br />
<br />
You will embrace the thrilling dichotomies of thrift versus splurge and ration versus binge. No one knows how to budget like a Peace Corps volunteer. And no one can binge like one.<br />
<br />
You will be discontented with your work. You will wonder – and scream to the heavens – about the benefit of your presence. You will feel lost in unstructured expectations and crushed by promising ideas fallen to the side. Your expectations will fade into an unexpected reality. You will learn to celebrate small victories. You will look at mountains and see mole hills. You will try to tackle the impossible. Maybe you’ll succeed. Maybe you’ll just pick yourself up and take aim at another impossibility.<br />
<br />
You will learn to do all of this through pure self-motivation. You will be the one to drag yourself out of bed and out the door. You won’t have anyone holding your hand or pushing your forward. Just you. You will become a stronger person for yourself, by yourself.<br />
<br />
You will be a celebrity in your community. That status comes will hardships and benefits that will ineradicably change you. You will be the exception to the societal rules. You will be the foreigner, the one set apart. You will receive privileges and have special attention/status because of your nationality. You will always have eyes on you. You will have joined as an agent of culture exchange and understanding, but you will still find yourself falling into an ‘us versus them’ mentality. Use it. Consider it. Contemplate the value we place on people because of arbitrary characteristics. You will come away from your experience more attune to your own merits, to those that are deserved and to those that are given.<br />
<br />
Your culture of personal space, one that maybe you have always taken for granted, will be challenged. You will wonder why you need an entire room to yourself while no one else even has a bed to himself. You still won’t want to give your room up. Privacy will be a privilege or a rarity, not a right.<br />
<br />
You will lose all control of your emotions and be on an unpredictable roller coaster of extreme ups and downs. You will go from happy and confident to sullen and tearful by things as simple as ants in your candy or yet another child saying ‘Hello!’ Your highs will be high, but they will be fragile. Your lows will feel inescapable. Your family and friends in the States probably won’t understand this. Your isolation will force you to become your own support system. You will become aware of yourself in the context of solely being yourself.<br />
<br />
Your government-issued friends will be your reprieve. The love and closeness you share with people back in the States won’t change, but it will be your fellow volunteers who understand. They will be friendships forged from necessity, and they will be deep and fervent.<br />
<br />
You will witness a whole new way of life, and you will question your notion of necessity. You will consider your personal wealth, and people will constantly remind you of it. You will discover what your ‘needs’ are to live a productive, satisfied life. I hope you will remember that when you return to a culture of plenty.<br />
<br />
You will be the biggest product of your Peace Corps work. You will change. And you will bring that change back with you.<br />
<br />
*I insert a disclaimer: I believe the above assertions to be true for PC Cambodia, a program in its 6th generation of volunteers; I cannot speak with authority on other countries’ programs.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-69357110026615636562013-02-04T06:36:00.000-08:002013-02-04T06:36:34.151-08:00Bucket Wine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">A lot of Peace Corps volunteers choose to make their own wine. Not only is it a fun project, but it saves a lot of money. A cheap bottle of wine is generally $6.00 for 750 ml . It costs us about $5.00 to make the equivalent to having 9 litres worth of wine. You can instantly see the savings for us. The basic process is outlined below, but we are tweaking the process to make the best wine possible. Our first batch was mango wine. We're currently fermenting pineapple wine with peach wine on-deck.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIadt1KxvBg9AlbmwGBy1PWTlbF080TF-MieO6lWcAcCwrMRFiedELY0lkRm0uTxDHyC3nXazj-rsZ5VN6gxrIorM73OBLjlsfPSDntfadgdcGGWjfOUQ5m3Brgw_Baq95FPS9ExQtdBr/s1600/IMG_8332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIadt1KxvBg9AlbmwGBy1PWTlbF080TF-MieO6lWcAcCwrMRFiedELY0lkRm0uTxDHyC3nXazj-rsZ5VN6gxrIorM73OBLjlsfPSDntfadgdcGGWjfOUQ5m3Brgw_Baq95FPS9ExQtdBr/s320/IMG_8332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First, sanitize a bucket that can hold about 8 litres of water plus other solids.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmfjaQW_aeRvx9YRIyGWU7iUwoKvjUEwr9QrkqkGuqWn1Y-oglk-kFPCPbVLl_myyZ8xlVfFD6CZc91IloxvhX9BZK4trTgo65BBvz_W0eSTOuLLLn-9O4O0H1fD9nOZL8Gjg7jbKDqi5/s1600/IMG_8346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmfjaQW_aeRvx9YRIyGWU7iUwoKvjUEwr9QrkqkGuqWn1Y-oglk-kFPCPbVLl_myyZ8xlVfFD6CZc91IloxvhX9BZK4trTgo65BBvz_W0eSTOuLLLn-9O4O0H1fD9nOZL8Gjg7jbKDqi5/s320/IMG_8346.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepare about 6 ripe mangoes, 2.5 kilograms of sugar, 3 vitamin C tablets (500mg) or use juice of lime or lemon, and 1-2 tablespoons of yeast. 1 tablespoon is required, the more yeast you use, the more alcoholic your wine. We used 2 tablespoons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21eK-aX8BmUktLew2Gwtrtji_tV475J13TP7OpVOq6ZZceLk454bMS089IofTjdfDyvfUzOvEKp5ljfnlOyrhLqev5OvAGO6JUoRE1GxxmGIuq1-WSp7Huf2rXgoGBCkNDgEY39ckjilf/s1600/IMG_8351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21eK-aX8BmUktLew2Gwtrtji_tV475J13TP7OpVOq6ZZceLk454bMS089IofTjdfDyvfUzOvEKp5ljfnlOyrhLqev5OvAGO6JUoRE1GxxmGIuq1-WSp7Huf2rXgoGBCkNDgEY39ckjilf/s320/IMG_8351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6 ripe mangoes, prepared</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlMiTAxZTNKMp5v8fTPUr7m18n9RncM467AzY7e_qIyhRHBBw8nWtF3qpz0L9SyN5Ak1dwgW_U2pGECvyi1ZFm0x7HmYkdgePYEouj5RbnJGc0IB_3wv4GOKFcXTohinK-c3k_AOxg2sI/s1600/IMG_8353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlMiTAxZTNKMp5v8fTPUr7m18n9RncM467AzY7e_qIyhRHBBw8nWtF3qpz0L9SyN5Ak1dwgW_U2pGECvyi1ZFm0x7HmYkdgePYEouj5RbnJGc0IB_3wv4GOKFcXTohinK-c3k_AOxg2sI/s320/IMG_8353.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After boiling 8 litres of water, add it to the bucket</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x5GlM1e4mRaJCNZhbdAOgSCAZR8kGSFCt4eQ6UtB-oetH0YVr42cbSJOGXg3RNABqM6Du2EvNyYmPIc4tRVTb93UbLxxTUBPS8C6wkAvHlzwxGpNEY7w3d1UBS6Kc8gVaVAFN8QKEt40/s1600/IMG_8355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x5GlM1e4mRaJCNZhbdAOgSCAZR8kGSFCt4eQ6UtB-oetH0YVr42cbSJOGXg3RNABqM6Du2EvNyYmPIc4tRVTb93UbLxxTUBPS8C6wkAvHlzwxGpNEY7w3d1UBS6Kc8gVaVAFN8QKEt40/s320/IMG_8355.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For a sweeter and less alcoholic wine, add the sugar all at once immediately into the boiling water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13QTVnvr96klwCCwsnR5rFLy1ncmA1pB9dd8E8AKYr6zGhyBCcE90CQ1e6KvMeei2DyJEpHh3Wlk0HsWjtZ3ljq5NHgV85OuHy24ZiLDE66yQt8lA1b7rb7WQHq6S47Heg2Xf8jjtMweW/s1600/IMG_8356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13QTVnvr96klwCCwsnR5rFLy1ncmA1pB9dd8E8AKYr6zGhyBCcE90CQ1e6KvMeei2DyJEpHh3Wlk0HsWjtZ3ljq5NHgV85OuHy24ZiLDE66yQt8lA1b7rb7WQHq6S47Heg2Xf8jjtMweW/s320/IMG_8356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add 2-3 tablets of 500mg Vitamin C or juice of a lemon or two.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oqufHIOqTMxG-rPq0zJnWsbBCSszhwDLC4ZPqNJ984RzcYFmJromjbuGyPL4lszMeL5VyW4jzIXAqft-yRFroP01UnZXMIij29QB0tDfvcewjZWZsM6gZy7D2SFrgE7h7sEUbrL7C4s9/s1600/IMG_8357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oqufHIOqTMxG-rPq0zJnWsbBCSszhwDLC4ZPqNJ984RzcYFmJromjbuGyPL4lszMeL5VyW4jzIXAqft-yRFroP01UnZXMIij29QB0tDfvcewjZWZsM6gZy7D2SFrgE7h7sEUbrL7C4s9/s320/IMG_8357.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add your fruit immediately</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq9S8OZrxciA3dzTen2jYRQnxx0tWstqItOWKR13izwkaJJtdXiBVWeflOK5WfAXGP_wXSZCmToYiNdUMg0Bxepkwuv-K2cLa_Y6L6sESrAQ4hrwKVVqb8liOKB26_dITjQGmI1Hb-5So/s1600/IMG_8361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq9S8OZrxciA3dzTen2jYRQnxx0tWstqItOWKR13izwkaJJtdXiBVWeflOK5WfAXGP_wXSZCmToYiNdUMg0Bxepkwuv-K2cLa_Y6L6sESrAQ4hrwKVVqb8liOKB26_dITjQGmI1Hb-5So/s320/IMG_8361.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover it temporarily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROiNqr88bLW_IeKi-cfjCUFDWSavpndUv-wf_dFeFy2FXiD7ZCkdSEL_2atubOQIcyaoP9v13My6fjTeNueawKs4JFQ05wu3b_VjKkBm9YNM0RTXNWFFeT8Lm9NSX7Ee_ydhchOA-oXvU/s1600/IMG_8401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROiNqr88bLW_IeKi-cfjCUFDWSavpndUv-wf_dFeFy2FXiD7ZCkdSEL_2atubOQIcyaoP9v13My6fjTeNueawKs4JFQ05wu3b_VjKkBm9YNM0RTXNWFFeT8Lm9NSX7Ee_ydhchOA-oXvU/s320/IMG_8401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the water becomes room temperature, add your yeast and stir. Cover it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfiON3GZvW9xWPyK0igNhHHp01Wp3WIoEyOc_UyYDrPB6sMXPVWP3CDlmojerwmfvrTlEcrNJhKVzeEH9a-ZvFSVCthkLOqqsYYv0EKlkePl_KKG94Wf0znqD5Skaewsu2XmQCy98PHjX/s1600/IMG_8408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfiON3GZvW9xWPyK0igNhHHp01Wp3WIoEyOc_UyYDrPB6sMXPVWP3CDlmojerwmfvrTlEcrNJhKVzeEH9a-ZvFSVCthkLOqqsYYv0EKlkePl_KKG94Wf0znqD5Skaewsu2XmQCy98PHjX/s320/IMG_8408.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every 3 days, remove your cover/lid and stir the wine. Or shake the wine. This allows the yeast to keep activated to continue fermenting the fruit and eating the sugar, creating alcohol.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtZkwqcr8AfNaPxcHPByPzKygPFtLBRmHgjRpqX9t8ldTvrHsNZBOeKiXC4Yelurk1GAG8XrITVdEHWl5-7Coj-3rcsXNVwgiMxLpKqnuVBhoNmKd0GRXUo0hyphenhyphenXvrFAIpYNo6GTlDBfP1/s1600/IMG_8402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtZkwqcr8AfNaPxcHPByPzKygPFtLBRmHgjRpqX9t8ldTvrHsNZBOeKiXC4Yelurk1GAG8XrITVdEHWl5-7Coj-3rcsXNVwgiMxLpKqnuVBhoNmKd0GRXUo0hyphenhyphenXvrFAIpYNo6GTlDBfP1/s320/IMG_8402.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixing....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz2ooAks8BOfL-qb625sgppJq2_4_XIXejnLbdvoOdkjx-M1v8Sqfi3_ok2x5GGDWhttgc4r8M6qMWdc5uedOXStjozliFo0BeXQ-TOvvEvAiSwocvfy2LpZ0slax6c9WXH3ii7Mr27qO/s1600/IMG_8492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRz2ooAks8BOfL-qb625sgppJq2_4_XIXejnLbdvoOdkjx-M1v8Sqfi3_ok2x5GGDWhttgc4r8M6qMWdc5uedOXStjozliFo0BeXQ-TOvvEvAiSwocvfy2LpZ0slax6c9WXH3ii7Mr27qO/s320/IMG_8492.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 3 weeks of fermenting which involves stirring every 3 days, it's time to bottle your wine. First, you need to strain out the fruit and trying to keep as much yeast as possible out of your bottles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gzlGv0HOS7sjA2tV6ec8NKVfIuBBMmeF0PKjttxcHkSgHcJ8LVnmntmtsJ2WU9GqVG8bs1_-V7erccg1qblYPEtZ5XXBzbd21xwM4TYliBYy2cf7BL_UjAxVNQbJ5vtjvmDf3c5zUURC/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gzlGv0HOS7sjA2tV6ec8NKVfIuBBMmeF0PKjttxcHkSgHcJ8LVnmntmtsJ2WU9GqVG8bs1_-V7erccg1qblYPEtZ5XXBzbd21xwM4TYliBYy2cf7BL_UjAxVNQbJ5vtjvmDf3c5zUURC/s320/IMG_8486.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be sure to sanitize ALL bottles and filtering equipment</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw_E6t1WghyYLP8glk6lv-PA7K0tKruoj_LHW15qMDjVOie1AvXUwIwyAJPLsAjmPM6RZ6Sys3NKLD2Tnx2X8wbYFDFE4uR43ZA-1R_rcX3DK2IHnn5v_9eWPoDHe2JqgDNcBv0uKSd9I/s1600/IMG_8488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw_E6t1WghyYLP8glk6lv-PA7K0tKruoj_LHW15qMDjVOie1AvXUwIwyAJPLsAjmPM6RZ6Sys3NKLD2Tnx2X8wbYFDFE4uR43ZA-1R_rcX3DK2IHnn5v_9eWPoDHe2JqgDNcBv0uKSd9I/s320/IMG_8488.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bottling process</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIa-mqwQtYLgu2C3ZKCLcoHNJZXWvYrELtnX17NCCRPm7Bx-u2a40_hzbkgNsjKJZ2cROYrQxt05NITc4dlSVQPy8BRkmlGurIxDUEpndqcodFAjCtc1KoSK_MrKKrc4tcObKj55P2W4U/s1600/IMG_8493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIa-mqwQtYLgu2C3ZKCLcoHNJZXWvYrELtnX17NCCRPm7Bx-u2a40_hzbkgNsjKJZ2cROYrQxt05NITc4dlSVQPy8BRkmlGurIxDUEpndqcodFAjCtc1KoSK_MrKKrc4tcObKj55P2W4U/s320/IMG_8493.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first bottle of wine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTrMi1rHMVvPiyWAuW8TdJtNYXU_jGawBWOjHgXh2SiF4od0ifyOvK-LwaBP5BhQVa9G5qYgjJshe4KumHUF-YNYDP6VKIk_xRYjbtHGXKAEiKVwxH8-kpHknJ27Mkb82sgHYkwynkvl4/s1600/IMG_8497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTrMi1rHMVvPiyWAuW8TdJtNYXU_jGawBWOjHgXh2SiF4od0ifyOvK-LwaBP5BhQVa9G5qYgjJshe4KumHUF-YNYDP6VKIk_xRYjbtHGXKAEiKVwxH8-kpHknJ27Mkb82sgHYkwynkvl4/s320/IMG_8497.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrated with our first glass of wine...though waiting 5 days to drink after bottling the wine reduces the yeasty tasty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d-ISX0bS18hX7jG_LYp7-e8ksg676WSk6mC3palY_cWrTyIUkcSM2mGf6R7elSUvfFNTh-1UezGovhqQ0vefc894Z3IQ1X-KgI0F2MYdjk1N6RBsKSGbELGKM_i6lN0MN5UtRWX5wnBH/s1600/IMG_8498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d-ISX0bS18hX7jG_LYp7-e8ksg676WSk6mC3palY_cWrTyIUkcSM2mGf6R7elSUvfFNTh-1UezGovhqQ0vefc894Z3IQ1X-KgI0F2MYdjk1N6RBsKSGbELGKM_i6lN0MN5UtRWX5wnBH/s320/IMG_8498.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our yield for $5.00</td></tr>
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-31681924560258733662013-01-26T02:09:00.002-08:002013-01-26T02:09:43.375-08:00Fly SeasonThere is a season for everything: rain, hot sun, cumulus clouds, colorfully bursting wildflowers, tall corn fields hiding my whereabouts from everyone but the chickens pecking between the stalks, leafy potato plants, juicy peaches, crunchy pears, sweet mangoes, irritating dryness, barren farm fields, cool wind, the cold, and even flies, buzzing, small, annoying flies. We're battling 50 buzzing flies that have decided to set up shop in our house. To make any meal consists of swatting away dozens of scavenger flies hoping to land on my food and have a taste. To eat food consists of walking around the room to confuse the flies of where my food is. They sequester in groups of 10 buzzing around and trying to mate, trying to fly faster to my old food. We cover the food, we keep all old food products out of the house, we keep the garbage burned, the litter box changed, and all potential fly attractions off limits. Even the cats are annoyed, chasing them around and on occasion making the swift jump into the air and catching one in their mouth, enjoying a mid-afternoon protein snack. I thought it was just us, but no, I visited our neighbors and sat in their house wishing for conversation but instead my ears were constantly filled with the zzzzz of a fly trying to say "feed me". Even as I type this, there's a loner fly buzzing back and forth in my peripheral view. It's time to fight back. I hung a sticky fly trap. I've left food in water and found 5 drowned this morning. I swat them. I point them out to Lia to help in her hunt of winning against the flies. But, ultimately, what will beat them? The weather. Once it starts to get cold again, these buzzing nuisances will fall one by one to the cold, frost-bitten earth. I'll win but am going to have to keep an all out battle on them to prevent them from simply taking my house and flying away with it in the meantime.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D4n2-gR1ShBp8BD3tAlU9JJ_3nrBK7wpqt0VRIelScwiI8RA6ZyYtGKVoO-zG9QolURRCy0ZMRztAeYN8HOMbZS8fhOysuC78-pom9wOuv5ATWppGzcq0uWE1upuvKxMtrNBYpYnTXOT/s1600/fly+trap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D4n2-gR1ShBp8BD3tAlU9JJ_3nrBK7wpqt0VRIelScwiI8RA6ZyYtGKVoO-zG9QolURRCy0ZMRztAeYN8HOMbZS8fhOysuC78-pom9wOuv5ATWppGzcq0uWE1upuvKxMtrNBYpYnTXOT/s320/fly+trap.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now what, bitches?! (excuse my language!)</td></tr>
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<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-57391937700015255242013-01-19T01:35:00.000-08:002013-01-19T01:35:00.779-08:00ChopsticksMy friend Ron widdled me some chopsticks! I am so excited!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYabtBToAPFow3t9xCr_9dv-oH71urLQ7i_jsBg-xPTa667lpEjujMrENEsPPInwiY8-I-RfGC77ZEWQVLv4PvES5uTMDvqkln26vJCjrg4G2YEQVepW_SQqtAFhVImfupEx0YnNSbzhPa/s1600-h/IMG_8481%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8481" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzilHgnnLwxerumtRw-YDRVQpz_uB4JolF_qzu6LyI_sL_tIOGVizjSrDKa0X0qND04YcIFuWoZk5vZjmGytNxTWuDcLf7MQ50KpRie8O5emoaY8EuttP9UC_oq6EAw8S1UWyqONq0QC9//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8481" width="395" /></a>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-52325564246643458752013-01-16T01:31:00.000-08:002013-01-16T01:31:01.685-08:00Where there is no Wal*MartKeeping a pet in Tanzania can be challenging when there aren’t commercialized products to simply go purchase. People ask me how do we do it? A lot of volunteers choose to have cats for rat control, such as us. Others choose to have cats for company to relieve some of the isolation and loneliness that Peace Corps volunteers experience. Some volunteers get dogs for an extra sense of protection. Dogs here are not as domesticated and locals are scared of them. <br />
We feed Lia fish and rice and on occasion eggs:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7dzMhNRHAakUcWdKU5qDYZsmoj_0YROYqGywWFuazG32rPdq-a-d1pZVSPk09wVADVOzi0FnHnfAppzuATTqcGi9YwtUIubSHdyT6wR0qYNITMyWQTHDLv-YmxUmUq0qPlyyFdVvlhYG/s1600-h/IMG_8480%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8480" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Qwmr7GRJS2thc9AGdUE1xD9Su9XSXzC_bpG9bx6V5kO3KmQuNsaKeouR1EwipDFt0JXpIu8WcRtRjJHQaI6Moeo3hywu7Olatfgq-VLglOG6vYhgRrJM7v0G_Qg7uFT3mEJnwTYFby83//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8480" width="395" /></a><br />
For litter, Jon rides to a secluded forest where there is lumber foresting and piles of wood shavings. He fills up our huge backpack full of wood shavings and these bags last us for a month of two of litter. Prior to this, we used dirt, but the dirt made our house smell unpleasant real quick. The wood shavings litter works well for nearly a week. I rode with Jon on his last trip to see and take some pictures. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s6_NUTsYWSfaJ1W-o59lTogBcvLSt1iVAY2qcOXE7D-MMxOYqg2xm1_zuvA5OV0Fbx9QGtXhlcGolrHa-FBXY7_Okn41CsGhlItCYG6WbfXxe2DSsyHt2JzqmL02YO2gLChyphenhyphenXh4hcI83/s1600-h/IMG_8454%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8454" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2gcbuleN7elPMTZ1uzlfQ29NaSIqI7amlrjnTA8LUqteKw_4EsFzdhe4i8gupcxv7We3AqZII6tgbesR7Yw6_TiIuzxiCLUjnjQs7IAbcBh-ebxHoUKqlIHww5hF7sJH08Os70B2VvF-//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8454" width="395" /></a><br />
<div align="center">
<em>The pile of wood shavings</em></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFUStEH_gQiRbSEUw7YWoetjpFI92RGnpfaGYT53aeoKaVRitHZcO9C_-X6D0McfPAcWUEP_QHp9FRM5dyvOiPlpnosTtxAx6EsZ3Bd5T-W2OGM5O2OL5vv1jnsgbF3e7S0nGvRRkVWm8/s1600-h/IMG_8457%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8457" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ytj3IcyjbPDfyl-sqSWRG5s47KjyJrB4zgjLzgWpNMLV9x8X9QXQoFZ74wJ71fOlp-rgZU9oyM1ZrJg9MixE_UnahH1JDJTORuMfXKMp0_5P9nxJ24aW_JfUr_WeBTha8Q5lozLoFzmF//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8457" width="395" /></a><br />
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<em>Bags loaded up with wood shavings</em></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwl4F6C4LAufQw6yE9HPg3iUgazb20159pllUhtAxDVXg6iMGjL9jVORZIUfoMuy0C2eLhWpESxeiikVd3UalTrVmU5HY5qMNV0sRE-fa_qU8reBkxRccGy9oUbQc0jwwq3veEVP8FHKE/s1600-h/IMG_8460%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8460" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5-9BMMkGqSISsaeR9sWX9z9aWacS1lh2sZePu_c7pxzHLbP6LriWH4jqTmxcLUJMC6OwuZs_OIfTyUzRfUbBsE9_-tlf_soiEc4hh66uuy_j-b33R1_KRrQlwVWDSf-gWpvqJoXLPZWw//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8460" width="395" /></a><br />
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<em>Jon loaded up with wood shavings</em></div>
We still have one kitten staying with us, but he will go to his new home later this week. Lia loves playing with him, but he has to go to his new home!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IzX7AyrQr1DjIHO-oa390k5Ty2vjDEWRsNQLf2cb33pDioq_sO4TqRGa62HIG6raorTNjKp6K86tr-sMJVhrDZmivk0iXOzTg8tGquXJjt2qVAQNOTKxcqjrFdpxSauP8vWqxN9CzmvH/s1600-h/IMG_8448%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8448" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2mCATJWI9zMmO5FzJAQhCwabDbxrQz5ewDSlfNJVlRPHE9zb1qRG3mIWwpjmVLWUYkc4cLvJkdvsU6YPHJmNIgFzBaM2jABqsGQs8FF5qbPHQJteiADxtwSpJV-PEfz5CwrHSkVbRiYz//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8448" width="230" /></a><br />
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<em>Playing with Lia</em></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB1CFwOrrrPoaW1VL_nwGrEq7OM3aaiHUens3mm64U69kiC0HVmROKqZPVwZqhmhFLUsysC2AhKD1mg5eJfXS5cg9GIp9oizZNUPw3vJEeQgm79_fH_3FvbAOndQpRvhswS0v2nfU7Zog/s1600-h/IMG_8453%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8453" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2Dr9TYPpc1qcmydrwDhRKb9CMgL_qMApvdKYb-x6y5uthr88QPBdZt1PHFg6DO3aKhHZZQJPFF8MFSjW8sAmJ17nI0wZr3X2oKp3Fs5NbsS8kDuRA9pb8qx3a-_j2372LkHk_U_7xw1D//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8453" width="395" /></a><br />
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<em>The baby sleeping</em></div>
Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-76603189053263371302013-01-12T04:31:00.001-08:002013-01-12T04:31:08.699-08:00First week of school<p>Well, our “first week of school” has come and gone. I’m teaching 8th grade again which I am pleased about. Jon is also teaching 8th grade. I am doing things a lot differently this year though I will be using a lot of the same material. Going into the new 8th grade classrooms with new students was a great way to see how far my former students have come. I am most excited about the fact I have 60 fewer students this year. Last year, I had 220 8th grade students. This year they are projecting that we will only have 160 students for 8th grade. This means my class sizes will drop to 53 (every time I say that, I see lights shining down from heaven on me and the song hallelujah being sung). I am hopeful I can do a lot with smaller class sizes. Jon and I have implemented very strict behavior rules and punishment but also a very good system for positive behavior rewards. Together, we have scared the students into thinking we’re really mean, though, we’re really excited to rewards our students who try hard.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_Ch0EDC10RHsmGRks2RM-ecbZ3wiTzQ-H8lXRljKdgtYRWgGZgIDQoV3CQXFfR8V_Rm3BnEkGIy5ZOHq0BUezRMSLhE8ce6HEXcSSa84ru6OvNsdhe677MPUznMKkX6mJKjieNgGUVvU/s1600-h/IMG_8462%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8462" alt="IMG_8462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhe2K9Mdw4i5ZkCLiQM3NaP4XWY0PLv3ES1gwTG_P4QerQ_MNPhyzwaaZQVhM3R_yI2D2esFQljNnem5SByUNN-wcW_DTfwjLLxkyJaGeRTz9dFR6MChRCj7zAcNXowqM3kTzuhBI3yuXU//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Together, Jon and I made posters for each classrooms conveying information about points and stamps that can be earned by good behavior for students. They can either purchase school supplies with their points, earn movie tickets to see movies, or earn stamps for their whole class to see a movie.</em></p> <p>I went to see my former students, who are now in 9th grade. I am teaching Life Skills class this year to the 9th grade girls after school. I introduced the idea to them yesterday and they were ecstatic. I’ll teach them 2 times a month. The curriculum has been developed by Peace Corps and it includes peer education, relationship skills, learning about HIV/AIDS & other STDs, how to use condoms properly, and decision making. I gathered the girls in a room and told them that I am interested in teaching these topics to them. I asked for a show of hands of how many girls would want to attend. Every single girl raised their hand. No exaggeration. There were about 100 hands high in the air. They LOVE that I have selected to teach them over the boys and they want to keep the whole class a big secret so the boys don’t know what we talk about. I loved it. I also loved when three girls followed me out of the classroom to tell me how happy they are that I am going to continue teaching them. </p> <p>I am also proud to brag that 1/4 (about 50) of my students who took their 8th grade district English exam, passed it. This is a huge feat for them. I know 1/4 doesn’t sound promising, but to put it into perspective, only 6 kids from 9th grade passed their English exam and only about 15 of these students will move on past high school education. Also, my school is ranked the worst school in the entire district. So, really, I am counting this as a huge success for me and for my students.</p> <p>In other news, my former college roommate and one of my best friends sent my students some bubble gum. At first, I acted like only the students who got the top 12 English scores were going to get bubble gum. When I told them that there is actually enough gum for every student, they went into a joyous uproar. Students were jumping out of their seats and whooping with their hands in the air. I could barely get control of the class again after I told them (to their benefit, I had crammed 110 kids into one classroom to give announcements and return their exams). Jon got a picture of the joy:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEACowYI8oskPC1E_f2yoBkPbUeYzIkaGQviMcIVHMKDyGaSA1phQMfsMNg1Plc3BZ7l7nhFDXaB81VEACYjdRcRQpGqGrKf-5M4VAuNXKk0RvRECgqjJMDYimNgt4lZNW5G829oNConW/s1600-h/IMG_8475%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8475" alt="IMG_8475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5-v7WsgDEy9vmuOfThHAUYfGOKouJIrm30B2l1emTkXjEmJTfNTU3FJnSMMd-bw-KmQRLldQg4CoiYnbh5CdDxfufsAaTdkYz2TZEjzIXmi1IGvRMTCM2sgjc2YagIp9rECmYLyLvxld//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>Thanks Erin for bringing a lot of joy on Friday to my students!</p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-34590862224572098372013-01-08T02:51:00.000-08:002013-01-08T02:51:00.254-08:00Every day is Earth day!When you live in an African village without running water or electricity, every day is Earth Day! A lot of days I can’t wait to get out of here, I can’t wait to get back to America. But, one of the things that I really love about living here and “roughing it” is how gentle our impact on the earth is. We do have a bit of electricity through solar power (you can see about it in this <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2011/09/solar-savior.html">post</a> & this <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/05/solar-power.html">post, too</a>). But, solar energy is so amazing. I have no electric bill and I am not using nonrenewable resources. Sure, I don’t always have electricity when it’s rainy, but it’s so good for the environment, I want all American hippies trying to save the earth to try living like this for a few months.<br />
Similarly, we don’t have running water in the house. We have to go to a nearby water source and carry it home by buckets. This results in some serious water saving techniques so that we don’t have to carry as much water. It also results in water conservation. To be even more earth friendly, you can catch your rain water, like we did <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/04/rain-raingo-into-my-bucket-everyday.html">last year</a>.<br />
<strong>Idea</strong>: Reusing laundry water to be our flush water. An idea that developing nations should try to engineer. Why use clean water to flush our toilets?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTEFsBCWlY6s84SiE-Zaei_YxyL00p_IckWvcOZhlODVXHu8Ts1zfreE9mLUUm898o3I1pouxZveayhocKlFq1nRdrXNE8rTALH1Sd4JipeTVufZMR5LnoryBMfFj8auF8lVbKr7yzQna/s1600-h/IMG_8422%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8422" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj7aIbk-mmP_2_8UBkDC4GuYNbitXaDpvJ6QbiCodJ-7dAguhPFONtqjHGLEBuFqF0sgCbxQogT2MG4Mf9xZSquIhb4ys6iQxnCh4O_qQIf5w9PeUsbvIm00SPpg3gCyc2WDucgbFGk1a//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8422" width="395" /></a><br />
Step 1: Draw one bucket of water from nearby water source. use 3/4 of the bucket to wash your laundry.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke3-OEk5vO5_7uqcG_3MmBCuifxCvRiYAyuYdOoAJ_AAqvorhWnMxXMTk56mbW1vC5SleujgxaW6c-bNsfr-bOTHmkCdxBHofvukhjYj_cS7GrMCiX-zX-nnfzw47Wo7M11h0HpZeDbaM/s1600-h/IMG_8423%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8423" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2KjsyfkdYtlndRmSDfDD2Z8FjnwEWpGCcsq3hW-XtYYepYm_HJjRQ1nLy0ockplz_DbUxaQWOpIJKrkF35Qsk7-OzPrphafbXbLCzz-I41RAIkQmYFATLMd7whpCyX1mG1eZNSXKdtcv//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8423" width="395" /></a><br />
Step 2: use remaining 1/4 of water to rinse laundry<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZD8glDkGlxrH1i3kQgytvKtOpiFCJ_DHlcEWJzzwe4UiUIxLNnASAjw1pTZtsxMayCCgJZu8bKKOnTWH-o-JGf4dCyPzH-rpuQYtJafC9v_M-wyPSVwhE1bQzcg9aH_O6jzXoSBVLK8-/s1600-h/IMG_8424%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8424" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJuIPMt5nA9LQGRcRx_j8b8U7rFT75Fhm4Bfj6bbKuKVmkFNzBV-P57hghyphenhyphens9qzoKncqbAfl7qiWBVsvxuYzn1BEByJqkk-p5ejlTfVHWt5hK8zPT_tkH9r0YoG9JHMgDyqVUHLOB8qcs//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8424" width="395" /></a><br />
Step 3: when water becomes too dirty to do more laundry such as above, do not discard. This is your flush your toilet water.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzhenGlp7U9iQYWsPY2jOAx0TqQsDDe5NHiCZ4EY8RTPitgkqun8WlemOzKSX2eBSFWign77M-TBiOldxIeZWEQ697-C_AAtFdGOq7kzXdcMx5eLO0A6a8yTl_XGmHONm6I6fMWj-lW1V/s1600-h/IMG_8428%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8428" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F0OPnErPXo3GpA2xzKcOXRs0P8O2gz-CVVQxd764eUh_f_wlDO2A4n6o_aWs4oamvx8UpTko3nyz5vCj0Uex3Sb1fns9EwQYkEMW2poZ-XpIvKLAzY4BfFHwCEA2C7nsnWFQavK-Zk40//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_8428" width="395" /></a><br />
Step 4: fill your flush bucket with old, dirty water.<br />
I haven’t flushed clean water in ages. It seems so ridiculous to flush perfectly good water. In fact, our flush water is not only used laundry water, it’s used dish washing water, used mop water, used hand washing water. All dirty water gets used as flush water. It’s my million dollar idea, why not figure out a way to employ these water saving techniques in our nice homes around the world?Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-150788587689367772013-01-05T02:22:00.001-08:002013-01-05T02:22:47.055-08:00Happy New Year!<p>Happy New Year from Jon & I! We celebrated together by eating a lot of delicious food that we saved for the big night. We canceled our initial travel plans for the evening because I was exhausted from so much travel already and decided just to go home, relax, and spend the evening together.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPn5OiBEYXt44Ft4nq4p4DsKduUDHeSarcbUKJ3467kH-Zd8Q9y4hEOQVK4aDGCITrItAvdFM7yBzSp_viRqFItYFn5yq0c_Bn6h_PC-vvbgciqs8ohXIlbtgiQ0GCC-IzSpeSkJEtwbIV/s1600-h/IMG_8325%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8325" alt="IMG_8325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbXdAX-5g6aPeVJxilg4675ViJyEXMQKYaShTb8WXiGbAYPgNpiwpMIJpHCxCtK2aTIQiwk5D6DcDJo5KFVezhqj42iGQ1Ejb2A8fbxEH9L6DI71QiZqwOppSpGODtO4ViYH_o0VH6Vce//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>We started early in the day with South Africa’s fine Amarula drink mixed with milk. It’s a light drink similar to Bailey’s & cream.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdaiXy-wcKqbeg9VCnqv8eYKCbXZi3Tbjpc_A6_yEByleVpcoISPbAeNV4VfVX0rmDuj4A41W0Fa5-ljNf28yP6dx3caCiRAJMqCQsL7OzebQ-a9fUC_we1Qek67ej2cxTOdKpJjIuIGx/s1600-h/IMG_8359%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8359" alt="IMG_8359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaKhg9fBjRgdKEmYOGQzH7YXFK9mysz4XR2CyvjXia0glrS6QIe_jZyXTOWjfkL3uXgZ9P_RpKSI_hzi7008jSAyeWqhNx3OymZUUfVkpoo9UjSsH27DZrT8SX2qO8da9GWFH6oSISE1R//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>We started our first batch of homemade wine. This is mango flavored. If it’s a success, we’ll never buy wine again. And I’ll blog the recipe later after 3 weeks when it’s done fermenting if it’s good.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp2h9FTXUPf79txenX10dx2IYMwWP1Op7_943m0h_VxRJNQB3aaPUuSQbUxikoCqgSlrRN6uFuna_OJ1Il46VVzyJldYb54LXVx-DqpckyFDEKgLhOaVO6KwBfdGeoRwtDqBuOaMYGLjk/s1600-h/IMG_8375%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8375" alt="IMG_8375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinr_Equi3aLqThwsCr_Y4YvQw-rIfCPD1D6DXnKWyF72Y3cEA9VnpOoLeICvOfXZJdi8Cun3cMOWIl25anS69mT4-dVsylc0IystZWiwgKak6mjWz4MThbjFMr8GjkhLRi6uCU35VZN5za//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p align="center">Lia brought us a new year’s gift….a chipmunk</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRFYLDJYFkZrpjf7WFrIPMCB6drshm-nVaa1VpX3KMk54BHup4LZEITo3c4aBGd5czI04-0obYGKaMJDL57eWklIhW-4xyTSKUq-PAjblC02PC5Kw74yCLLVxvyRkhrr8GqsYh_2mcRsv/s1600-h/IMG_8376%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8376" alt="IMG_8376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozW8QBli1-4XW4rVDR41vmJWG0DTdlCPScR_I1UD8qkcgFIq9kgAdezkyOkrs_Y1uGob2ZLH7qiZ2kjBdQVYQZI7ofGyY_P-N4ykwvgxyJ8JR2B7zbUp-SrmC5HFsyj1DWhMKkCPKtOws//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>We made saltine crackers to have cheese & crackers later in the day. I already blogged the process on my <a href="http://eggyveggiekitchen.blogspot.com/2013/01/saltine-crackers.html">vegetarian blog here</a> if you’re interested in trying it on your own.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXx1aLeKE5wxiwLRnBtdjKV8DKtCKL3DY_VBXceUUvZfsumd16MxbKj3nDfLsIDUXsFKmIdhtD62_w-FwIkMdQuSj8l7g_-ZsyI46ZmrzxiSF69tLyo3jdlxYnhzeOyPTnjUnzwMcDtNm0/s1600-h/IMG_8383%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8383" alt="IMG_8383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28VSQK99WNJYaDi9zXupHGJvA7JSWu1F1JfNVUt9UIoryFyNG2Kc5kWzOLnEMwOSur4Cg4aE4yCeMzMKhZu3up-AksYcyNfazDwIOz7pMQ4f94YeaznaRo2r_o35JRTRQMluTAu28XHTL//?imgmax=800" width="411" height="312"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtNe6DIwa6eZHAf-XREt1Tg_0GnJhgTkHOksyE9B3S5WPFCKsPSvteYUl8Acu_vcHnehVBoqrrXnCAftGRE8iZpVXvM6uJCaFH34Py-XO86RawghPemhFOg9cGI0S1P6yhWyALyjLZ04-/s1600-h/IMG_8381%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8381" alt="IMG_8381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7U3bkfm6qNpLJdguMKxAq9tEPyracJOujpx6Ru1BH_iqzprBOYaHh1Uzz7NcM8kNZomxWZWuuXx1peRfLFeWnMIJeJeGxSk298xjFfjELAgsDyiH07khZp8_0XHhK3SWbAxl6a3srNdV//?imgmax=800" width="411" height="312"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjseIIopCnGjwb2ungFabGCTMcbihh6AX1JIyCusk2kczsTTZnQc17IQPLb62AY995xlNhvVPCntqnbye1pb_wKX5rpsXXvUJz2Gz57ubp2m3LbQ4Sm4dR_DM9C8t8Le79L5NfyOmwKpHQL/s1600-h/IMG_8394%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8394" alt="IMG_8394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4r0En-KP4DO4ZmM2-l5a61QV1BVWE947lPrJvkvDcoEXxuwAtgt2_c2vZzuuzdgrCDMNNDr0FvxVEzb6050r5mV86ZL22UwCZiv9c81O15hYNy4iHc4fx0Rsmbef8c-9MdU9hK6mEUn0//?imgmax=800" width="411" height="312"></a></p> <p align="center">We made salmon and vegetarian sushi for dinner.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjST_TijLke4AnsAU0hN-O7prHZ8ze7fWVroG2X8kHwbpnmucE0FadfWR3ELRQbBTCUlRBa-l0Uwyh0263pVRhgEoSMku3BOnEiGl4ccrmJznOmdwcnI26xwqI62K8d7u9LPk2GI1hzcu/s1600-h/IMG_8398%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto; display: block; float: none" title="IMG_8398" alt="IMG_8398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCuui6_X7cYx-aIUTa-9JcR1852DqjR9qwM0Wor6-t350bYSBbDx_WYzNDJw_uIK0ATzz7xzJz2fKk3GyRznnQb4s0kfaSFzC4y0eb-HoidZQwysKCfiqdVZtNCS9PMwNnpBEZBhNVcc5//?imgmax=800" width="395" height="296"></a></p> <p>This was our snacks table to get us through until midnight: cheese & crackers, veggies & ranch dip, bread, pineapple & chocolate fondue sauce, and a plethora of various alcohols: wine, amarula, champagne, and scotch.</p> <p>We waited until midnight and I made a ball drop presentation out of a powerpoint presentation. In the last few minutes, we turned the computer on, we waited for the ten second mark and we counted down the powerpoint ball drop. When it struck midnight, our neighbors clanged a bell for about ten minutes celebrating the new year as well. It was a relaxed, delicious and enjoyable new year’s eve. Happy 2013 everyone! May you be happy, healthy, and successful!</p> Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018020412907905285.post-59692518848157119272012-12-30T13:24:00.001-08:002012-12-30T22:26:54.031-08:0012 highlights of 2012 in Tanzania2012 brought me several challenges that I never expected to encounter during my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It tested my commitment, will, and faith to remain in the program. With the support of my husband, family and friends inside and out of Peace Corps, the Peace Corps staff, and even a family who became my family within Tanzania, I was able to push through these trying times and have some really spectacular experiences here. Below are the adventures in 2012 that I find to be my top memories. It’s hard to only select 12, but I tried to choose the 12 that are a once in a lifetime experiences. These are not ranked in any order, simply listed. <br />
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<strong>1. Matema Beach</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0LarlNfhfkPn6ogZWnUN1EB29oY8VVTMWvjYo0vDMuopuse3XWJo0lnOndfZOr_oXnm4ss5Z8vMg6R7xfb2GBv84n85FDJjaL7tJI3_J1RZf34Ka6NXzuref_LAOHYYzmfGzh_7qs_7Q/s1600-h/Matema%252520Beach%2525202011%252520%252528175%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Matema Beach 2011 (175)" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPirVRgCFjXIu3YKOVDbFNeuciUx2oEP5GjDy2EG9av_1DulN7XJ9H9ZXBr_i-B-F-Q-16LzINa0MqVwvAU4xzOZduxBaTb4X5v7AbE4bv-Hd0bb0Rne5tRNSsT57Hu1IYlDI7qzxE3CmK//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="Matema Beach 2011 (175)" width="395" /></a> <br />
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Situated on the northern shore of Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) is a relaxed and minimally developed beach town. The Livingstone mountain range envelops you as you skip into the lake to prevent the sand from burning your feet. To the west, you can see the country of Malawi. I rang in 2012 skinny dipping in Lake Nyasa with about 40 other volunteers. The first minutes of the New Year were spent being thrown a few feet into the air by 3-4 strong men and splashing down into the lake. An action we coined as “launching”. Turn after turn was afforded to daring and adventurous people launching themselves into the New Year. People slowly exited the lake and cozied up alongside a beach camp fire for hours into the night. This beautiful lakeshore was fully explored with beachside walks, snorkeling to find cichlids, and kayaking. <br />
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<strong>2. Loleza Peak</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2JaB_RiMuT_CXo14xbzv04vLLndmto8mPAP-qz7PmvPxME4UYtbRIv_8EwEskE6L_6JP4Yu8vd499gkfad7loyX8p6hahF1u-8jbO_MjXwQfpq2an7cOAlssELilBYGN-N8Esp-9toWY/s1600-h/Fo%252520hugging%252520Mbeya%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Fo hugging Mbeya" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsno8N10-XT1G_F7jNJihf5EFhE01PJuA1EpZdYZqEsToWUEBMmaVq6jF31xHLIPelqAqxjbcRZPsnD78T_wJ7i8QrAtYtwDmmst-fGPkX0BuL7GYQGy7cr3g6IxvjVnzWAfPbHoxzlrTB//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="Fo hugging Mbeya" width="395" /></a> <br />
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Loleza Peak rises up at 8,714 feet elevation and towers in the distance of the southwestern city of Mbeya. After several false starts, we finally managed to get on the right trail which brings hikers to the towering peak. The day was memorable climbing with so many friends, new and old. We walked through farms, greeting farmers and mamas along the way. We ate wild berries off bushes and relaxed with phenomenal views of Mbeya. The steep route we chose to the summit included a straight vertical climb without any gear in which I thought that I would surely plummet to my death. We rewarded our survival by combining our food and making a trail mix at the summit. <br />
More about this on a previous post: <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/08/mbeya.html" title="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/08/mbeya.html">http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/08/mbeya.html</a> <br />
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<strong>3. Discovering Dar es Salaam</strong> <br />
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<img alt="IMG_6498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfi-2nBvR8f9WTjy9A3fvK-MEwstvR8FCtO5zusb-sG935Kdjp4GuoAMcJTejeXXqrOzogrWZeZ4KVyLPnuOMNoJyLU7b5YWuFAZ0XO2Dw0M74Fj3PT-RTtSsTOf3w4rrCCZ_TXH8okJkx//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /> <br />
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Dar es Salaam is bustling full of crowded mini buses and hidden gems scattered around the city. I spent countless days and trips in the economic capital city of Tanzania discovering the cheapest and tastiest places to eat, the best entertainment to be found, beaches, and more. I learned my way around the city and while it is not one of my favorite cities in the world, it’s nice to feel comfortable while visiting. <br />
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<strong>4. Mbamba Bay </strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvpO0iqLI3VNfw3W1_zeq2Ds9lcKhQvG_p-cDvwgse5NaNWDjcJrRwFsRwvuHLPjgHXhDNHuxyZ_HdogLUQ9IcM465yBnHM7TIaBPytLv3ico5o3A4c6Gw9JkBuy0PN_A88mNtsjCToly/s1600-h/IMG_5806%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5806" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguZ55BxoOqoNe8P2wBUpzTpRCXXr-zfwhbYwWqeezSRX9BwpBDQ_jiR6b_VAm3E0KQdRKvxk6AxBYrry8jx5lSfPFYjdVoT1hVI8i5bNf96qfbC6JlV_BfwFQHSMY_Qriw50mc30eODtn//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_5806" width="395" /></a> <br />
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Mbamba Bay is another quaint town located on the shores of Lake Nyasa. It takes several days from most parts of Tanzania to reach this fishing town. Mbamba Bay takes top 12 because it is a town where life is revolved around the success of the fisherman. As you walk the pebbled shores of Lake Nyasa, you are constantly greeted in Swahili by men repairing their fishing nets, women washing their clothes in the lake, and children sneaking a peak at the white people in town. The few days in Mbamba bay were relaxing with a canoe ride, swimming, and hiking. <br />
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<strong>5. Serengeti </strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE7wUeFr3CEfJQlM58Nt7BJcYUtlUKyRv7DCPuH73OercxwGK9LuFC3ffqKBb5t39RyhLRlLB7lyxyhqevy6zz4nLdlSK76IxUPIaqQ2ALcDSdIBzTJ81TLRGmdfzG_GB6anCewTgwf0D/s1600-h/IMG_5159%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5159" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aCto_yeim9EiOtElzfpJNlN8QlZsD_aSodf5C8SfSQGOFdtAO1V2IYC0yaudjvOazhhCd8hIr-WZKPZ_z8lWT8BCBP5G4lFUzj7i3zVMT-NcPZhLGkVBjuaEENqSfaNsHteOCIotyXXZ//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_5159" width="395" /></a> <br />
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I visited the Serengeti in time to witness the great migration of the wildebeest. Over a million wildebeest migrate north to Kenya. I was awed by the harmony that the zebra and hundreds upon hundreds of wildebeest find with each other. They traveled in single file lines parading across the vast plains of the Serengeti. Their calls to each other were loud, so loud. Let’s not forget the elusive leopard we saw up close, nor the herds of elephants, babies and all. The hippopotamus out of water is an entertaining site – like a huge pig gracefully moving overland. From the dikdiks to the impalas, to the hyenas, lions, and water buffalo. The Serengeti is like having a front row seat to the best zoo in the world. <br />
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<strong>6. Pride Rock (Gangilonga Rock)</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEcdIdmYpAHxeCUm0UEzukCao7zqSCjh338MGrrZ3EfXfdRvbyv7rxepDZ2QhrpmnIKjkXGv38ixy0K4GMOtaFSsecNm4KQ1DBfRAQv-NvTALkRyYiYHgoB6PykKi7MGaQ1__OKdmwrgA/s1600-h/Iringa%252520%2525287%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Iringa (7)" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NdTOwxqKFGte4TLruBlaAb4B9f3Y3eLCA5bt84Ms5czhAHxN7BuUPSfIsMsOjgZP4rD7Wkk1o7M-4xD-Y7kZUTc8mhG1qiti6Fr5FSBCDfNCKq_6xUpFjdhn0xJ1Bovxtf-ymrUgSYZ-//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="Iringa (7)" width="395" /></a> <br />
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This beautiful bit of rock is known by Peace Corps volunteers as Pride Rock, like that out of the Lion King. It is locally known as Gangilonga Rock and it is a peaceful place to walk to and get a view of Iringa town and the surrounding hills covered in large boulders and rocks. When you reach the top after a simple climb up, you don’t question why the chief of the local tribe used to come here to meditate. It’s difficult to locate the trailhead if you do not speak any Swahili and as such there are only ever a few other Tanzanians sharing the view with you. <br />
An old post about Iringa: <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2011/12/iringa.html" title="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2011/12/iringa.html">http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2011/12/iringa.html</a> <br />
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<strong>7. Cross-culture project of letter writing</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC3WCXWsrdXPNVR8i6ytP1-KBVeSmqDE5upf058qvMWBzhaf9an7vb_tZ5V5cE9eAiNNOz-1rrmXzYb7yxgPAZRofoL0-dE_dsjx7uU6lDjumZIebA-KYAmnZCkyWrW2BBR19Nbo7F1Ch/s1600-h/IMG_7161%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7161" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiAMKSl0ZubIqo9Ok79qFp3XtMywu9BKIsHQ_ZQlDmkclrcpLl8xU9u296JR2QJmWLqfep1jgXW_3XBYcw1_TIV1UPxI1wrMn7cugMurBkGxHhxcJ4IKKR32_NO2iHMK_7stunDVN4sYf//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_7161" width="395" /></a> <br />
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One of my success stories of living, working, and traveling in Tanzania is certainly the pen pal system I created at the end of the Tanzanian school year. Over 40 letters from Tanzanian students went out to 5 different countries. It was a most memorable moment to watch my students light up and write their letters. I am looking forward to see their joy return again when they receive a response from a faraway land. <br />
More on writing letters: <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/12/writing-letters.html" title="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/12/writing-letters.html">http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/12/writing-letters.html</a> <br />
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<strong>8. Ngozi Crater</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTFGKOncr_6Zk5UeZqdmURuXw0OWiAjBoPpRop5pBwoRwQCp6wE5Q8CKXoSbxsQ25gSD_NgK6KTDXNkCTACFUcPIyKbnQfVS5LpMbSj5jR-VCo7JzkGAfdqb9W8swCY8f9vj1T-D2SuoP/s1600-h/Ngozi%252520Crater%252520Hike%2525202012%252520%25252814%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ngozi Crater Hike 2012 (14)" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBp2pCz9_vLno-aFXiLEHAY-SVwayUTVgtgBR5OmN3xPJpwoIs2pbQAqbqAtRVkWFwUNmpFvUzSffwBRIKEkBcRYZ6t45BENQ2__iddIgJwsOtXLpAlEucHi6-HiY0ijodnwGxNNcMiU4//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="Ngozi Crater Hike 2012 (14)" width="395" /></a> <br />
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As the name suggests, Ngozi crater was formed by a volcano that collapsed over a million and a half years ago<b>.</b> Right after the new year, we hiked up this beautiful mountain and saw chameleons, monkeys, and butterflies along the way. Once you summit, you are rewarded with spectacular views of a lake that is about 650 feet below the summit. <br />
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<strong>9. Ngorongoro Crater</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vMR03ThC5sE-ymx6Yg4vA5KW79yl7ez9Nxxie5FeVmJjlnqtd2kY2YuXEp-iHxa-paKKCZJUmvjW6mhH7cDW3ElXjRQ1azIuCLY5j24uk_odE-tXn5WZIf_0zBAzX8BZy4VTKKXI33n7/s1600-h/IMG_5559%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5559" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDsxElYz8tS4cft63TxmL5OvU401tJgyUKfl9gneq_l4yiIalcKVbd6z-C8X_OMJ_4h4u1lhRy0rMG-X5S-4z4iK7JDZlN0HWcrAynfh3pMFITNm6mzzmHU2wud7vzeuH4GjhQXwHTqnI//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_5559" width="395" /></a> <br />
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The view of Ngorongoro crater from our campsite was breathtaking (not to mention cold and windy!). Ngorongoro was spectacular and the highlights included seeing male lions up close and seeing “The Big 5”<b>.</b> We saw one of the rare rhinoceroses in the park that cool morning. The water buffalo herds were abundant! <br />
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<strong>10. Motogoro</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNvaLZciieYlbkPt_8R4knTDyTGnYdlKQPbKAtcEMk5QL5zmxZYTMYI2Rhmgt1K0NHDY-rnmNCxG1_tyOrURrkvmeRekc-VAeq4lPy5UvGsngCiAPDV_M3ytj1NBq9rgpERDjaCu5dEeo/s1600-h/IMG_5717%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5717" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDix95utPpLoswcsvU5ae7BCfu3xGktPzGHnOQoDn1Z4jU_3AmG0jMWcP4jw7kyYBajVi9439M_Wq4Sfsb2TsK4IrpdYZtkwNAlvPAi8brdv6PZMT85hCMT8Ou8h-aKRyKPoTOWf7Sr-6Y//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_5717" width="395" /></a> <br />
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This small hike out of Songea town gives views as far as the eye can see! There was no wildlife along the way, but sitting at the top was so peaceful. <br />
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<strong>11. Time well spent with friends</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7_QIIiQ7zEbW9lm8ktKdHMguj35epSMIECKN1nd55gGrijkTsLNsIe7BYDGxMO-VNQfPrfhftqr7OCQbkPNqR9bxF_yttck976CK2HwZbhqT8ZzIcZRKfNLJ-l1LC5KoC8t3Ionpo9kI/s1600-h/IMG_7100%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_7100" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdowYg7N5qpHTcK-6LfjMi4FpmcM_gIuFVzw9xCDoRtTZx7jXoDRNo7xtOOQplIDF3-1QNA3QPOx3T7KrKJ64HfECpsqrUqzRiMKc1oS3jywjMnf0yCQz_r-pjAPDoORQJKZ6YymC0HZ3//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_7100" width="395" /></a> <br />
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One of the rewards of living in Tanzania is finding similar minded people to hang out with. These people who also travel Tanzania and live all over the huge country are <i>the</i> best sources of travel advice and information you can receive. We shared several holidays and parties hanging out with these fine people. Many a memory was shared and support received! <br />
More about this during the month of December here: <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html" title="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html">http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html</a> <br />
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<strong>12. Gombe Stream National Park</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EnmaUupaITqlY9iRK64o-KVjNcj-nPo26Ly-aMW-OqQOMv6nsI_6sp1NO3E_fVWwANXxSXUTtwB4eRMWUcALSrkrzA6Ux7a6dqMNXfhL-ipz9yDLs3wPTNwuyBWNMGGlzs_JP0DAQFF_/s1600-h/IMG_6111%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6111" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7FP8GYEQblWxBWmkGk-wWRFlBUFNAbGO0JBAahyGGHDgl6bPPNaNtpt48C4CVn7OpIgCmzWNwhH5nngXIDHs6zJB-Dxmwx0E-c84AqIN0fg-VVTKLudXtnTDNWAeXLnvjjhsuFQMBRqq//?imgmax=800" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto;" title="IMG_6111" width="395" /></a> <br />
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Okay, so I said I wasn’t ranking these in any order. Which is true. Until now. Gombe Stream National Park was by far, the best trip I have taken not only in 2012, but in all of Tanzania, and possibly for wildlife viewing, in the entire world. We spent only two nights in this park and got a sneak preview of baboon-viewing. The next day, we were guided and observed chimpanzees only a few feet away from us. We watched them for a long time – they groomed, they played, they masterbated (yes, they really did), they mated, they ate, they chased each other, they made calls. It was fantastic. Their calls will echo in my mind forever. In addition to viewing the chimpanzees, being in a place of such scientific significance where few visitors to Tanzania will ever make the journey is a once in a lifetime experience. It was a long, treacherous journey to the wild wild west of Tanzania, but one that was well worth the 4 days of buses. <br />
More on Gombe here: <a href="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/07/gombe-stream-national-park-ii.html" title="http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/07/gombe-stream-national-park-ii.html">http://tanzanianology.blogspot.com/2012/07/gombe-stream-national-park-ii.html</a> <br />
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<em>Thank you 2012 for a memorable year. In 2013, we are planning snorkeling off the island of Pemba and a safari to Ruaha National park, and flower viewing at Kitulo National Park!</em>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12133837492783724985noreply@blogger.com0