After teaching the guys a short bit of Hip-hop choreography, I went outside to wait for the CCS van to pick me up and head back to the main house. Sidaz was hanging out with me for a bit, shooting-the-shit, filling each other in on our home lives. An older woman came towards Sidaz and I, carrying about a 2 year old baby. I greeted her with “Shikamoo!” (A greeting given to elders (refer back to Swahili Lesson Blog) meaning, “I respect you!”) Her response was “Marahaba!” (I accept your greeting!) Sidaz, in his broken English, introduced me. She was his mother. The baby she was carrying is his son. This was interesting for a couple of reasons: 1) I didn’t figure Sidaz to be a father yet. He’s a pretty young guy seemingly unbothered by major responsibilities: 2)His son (whose name is escaping me now) was hanging with Sidaz’s mother as though he were her own child. Also, Sidaz didn’t really treat the child as his son, but more as his younger brother. The funny thing about the whole interaction was that Sidaz’s son is terrified of mzungus. I tried to make him comfortable with me and gain his trust, but it wasn’t working.
Forty-five minutes passed and I was still waiting for the CCS van. I decided to wait a few more minutes and if the van didn’t show, Sidaz offered to walk me back to CCS for I didn’t know where it was from where I was. Fifteen minutes later I was walking back to CCS. Later on Didase, Mama Clementine, and Zik apologies for forgetting to pick me up.
I met an older man on our walk. He had to be in his eighties. He just noticed that tall mzungu and stopped me to greet me. I said Shikamoo! He replied Marahaba! He was the sweetest old man asking me about my stay in Bagamoyo and my home life in America. He told me that I was very welcome by saying Karibu Sana! (You are very welcomed!) He also assured me that I was in good hands with Sidaz. He asked where he could find me. I told him at the Baobab Studio or at Cross-Cultural Solutions. Immediately, he knew what I was talking about. Apparently, CCS is very well known in Bagamoyo.
Just before getting back to CCS, I bought Sidaz and me a soda. Kind of like a thank you for going out of your way gesture. We both got orange Fanta. (Yes, that’s right, there’s Fanta here!) The soda’s were only 800 shillings each (about 75 cents) for a big bottle. We sat and drank up for a bit. After about a half-an-hour walk back to CCS, it was already lunch time. I thanked Sidaz for walking me back.
After lunch we had our second Swahili lesson with Mwalimu Mwalubawa (Teacher Mwalubawa). Our first lesson was on Sunday, the day before. Bwana (Mr.) Mwalubawa is the sweetest old man. A retired teacher. He taught for over 35 years. Now he teaches English for extra cash, although he doesn’t seem to be hurting for money. The lesson was on basics such as family members, pronouns, greetings, and days of the week. I really do enjoy learning Swahili.
After the language lesson we had a lecture on the school system. Many of the volunteers here are assistant teaching at pre-, primary, and secondary schools. Tanzania has 3 kinds of schools. Parents can pick between a Non-Formal education with no certificate; an Informal education which is somewhat structured and ending with a certificate; or a Formal education that is the most structured. The Formal education starts with nursery or pre-school (ages 3 to 5 and sometimes 6 if the student isn’t ready to proceed) where the students learn Kiswahili, community sharing, numbers, and the vowels a, e, i, o, and u. Primary school is standard (grades) 1 – 7 and culminates with a test at the end of standard 7 that determines if you can make it into secondary school. For those who don’t get selected go to either vocational school or a private secondary school. The mwalimu was a woman teacher. At the end of the lecture, she got into gender and the school system. She seemed to be very passionate about this subject. She is currently working towards women’s empowerment through education. It was super interesting to listen to he speak about the issues that she relates to the most. I was so happy that CCS chose her to lecture us.
Friday, August 8, 2008
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