The Second Week: In the Country

After our first, eventful week in Tanzania we ventured out of the city and went to work in the other branch of the orphanage with the older students.

We had put our bags onto a larger truck the day before and so all we had were small day bags so that we could take a bus.
We made a final sweep of the house, locked the doors and hopped onto a bus headed out of the city. When we got to the edge of the city, Caroline found a bus that was headed to the village where we would meet some people from the orphanage.
An hour later, we arrived…. in the wrong place. We were in the right district, but on the wrong side (ie. Not where the final truck was picking us up). In the end we sat and ate lunch and looked around the town for about two hours until the truck arrived, and so all was well.
When the truck arrived we tied down our bags and squished into the back of the pickup truck. We were off! Although I don’t think my tailbone will ever be quite the same due to the extremely bumpy dirt road, it was a gorgeous trip. The African plain stretched as far as the eye could see: palm trees and grass, blue sky and golden sun.

After the dirt road we turned into the grass and drove towards an unseen destination, following invisible roads in the high grass.Eventually buildings rose into view and we drove into the school!
We had made it!
We were shown our rooms and given a small tour of the school.
Then in the evening, during the worship service, we were introduced and welcomed by the students.

The next day we began our work.
Most days we woke up at 6:30 and started our work by 7.
At 10:30 and 2:30 we took breaks for breakfast and lunch and we usually finished around 4 or 5.
After our work we clean up, showered, changed and then had time to do what we wanted. Some of the days we organized various sessions and games for the students during this time. By 6 the sun had set and the rest of the day – a worship session and then dinner at 8 – was carried out in the dark. The school had two small solar panels and so they were usually able to light two classrooms and the teacher’s lounge in the evenings, which enabled the students to study, but not to do much else.

For the first two days we helped make the floor for the new staff housing. This involved carrying buckets of sand, gravel and water and bags of cement to the site, mixing it all together and then pouring buckets of the mix onto the floor and making it flat. It was hard work! The buckets were heavy and the sun was hot. To pass the time we told stories and jokes, talked about our respective schools and sang songs.
The hardest day was when the pump broke and we had to carry the water all the way from the watering hole instead of from the well. We definitely realized the luxury of running water!
Other days we did a fair amount of painting – the inside and outside of the new girls dorm, and some of the classrooms – and then we helped make cement again for the top of the staff housing.
By the time we left, the staff house had been built except for the roof, the girl’s dorm had both layers of paint (except for the front which we couldn’t do due to poisonous caterpillars), and a new classroom has been painted. It was incredible how much they are able to do with so few resources and such little equipment.
It was physically very difficult and we were all pretty exhausted by the end but it felt so good to do something that would remain after we left. To do something tangible.

When we were not working, we spoke to the students as much as possible. The level of English varied quite a bit but almost all of them were at least able to hold a basic conversation with us and many of them were very eager to practice their English. We played football with them and taught them silly games, but we also helped with their homework. In the evening, during the study time some of them would ask questions about their various subjects and we did our best to help.

As well, we ran three more organized sessions with them.
The first one was just to talk a bit about who we were and where we all came from. A few of them were very interested in UWCs and so we explained what they are. But we also talked about other things they can do, and how if they study hard they will have so many more opportunities to continue their education.
Another day we helped with a reading club. We sat in small groups and read through a story. Every paragraph or so we would stop and explain any of the words they didn’t know. Then, at the end we discussed the story and ensured that they had understood what they were reading. I felt like this was really useful and rewarding because they were able to understand most of the story, but we were able to teach just a bit more.
Lastly, we ran a session on studying techniques. We talked about different learning styles and how not everyone learns the same way. Then we gave them ideas on different ways they can learn. We showed them how to make minds maps, flashcards and venn diagrams etc. Additionally we gave them some tips for studying such as: take small breaks, set goals and make summaries. Many of the students want to do well and study hard. But just reading through a textbook doesn’t always work and so the teachers wanted us to share some ideas of how they can improve their study time, which I think they appreciated.

We also got involved in some of their other activities. We went and cheered for the students versus staff football match, we helped make a few of the meals and one night we had a huge bonfire. They danced for hours to the beats of drums and made us dance as well, which was both fun and embarrassing. They have so much joy and laugh so easily. It was amazing how much zest they had for life and I wish I could have stayed for longer just so I could see them smiling.

All too soon, it was time to go (we were there for ten days). It felt like we had just gotten into the rhythm of the school, like we had just begun to get to know them and then we had to leave.
The night before we left the whole school gathered to thank us for our work. They were so grateful, but I think it was really us who should have been doing all the thanking. Everyone on the trip had learned so much about the world, and about the problems and the joys of life, and about themselves.

Then the next day very early in the morning, armed with the names of our new friends, promises of letters to be written, and a newfound appreciation of how ridiculously lucky we are, we set off in the back of the truck again. We bumped along as the brilliant stars gave way to a golden sun deep in thought.

It had been difficult in many ways: physically it had been straining, the food was always the sameand bug bites and dirt covered our bodies. However, in my opinion the hardest thing was the helplessness we felt. It was so nice to be able to build something that will last and that will make their lives a bit better, but we realized just how many challenges they have to overcome everyday. They have so little and so few options in life, and we couldn’t really do anything to help. It was like trying to keep water in a strainer with only one finger.
And yet, we realized, just because we can’t solve all the problems, if we are able to do just one thing, if we are able to help in any small way, then we must! In the end every small bit helps. Every step takes them closer.

We returned to Dar El Salaam, tired dirty and smiling.