Jumanne. Tuesday.

Morogoro Bus Station (courtesy Elena's Dad)

Elena, Camilla and Babu Jona

So our first day teaching we were supposed to only teach three classes (we say only, but it’s actually quite a lot). We ended up with five.  We arrived in time for tea break and managed to wolf down a peanut butter roll, and a mug of deliciously sweetened chai before settling down to meet with a new member of the staff, Naomi. We are lucky to have two new staff with us at SEGA this year – a guidance counsellor, Pauline, and a communications and library teacher, Naomi. We were supposed to help set up the new sponsorship program and library with Naomi, but were called in at last minute to sub for one of the classes as the teacher was caught up in a meeting. We were subbing as Kiswahili teachers. If standing in front of the class trying to jumble a few Swahili words together while they’re all fluent isn’t nerve-wracking, then we’re not sure what is! Somehow we managed to come up with an impromptu lesson plan, though, and got them to write about New Year’s Promises (we didn’t know the word for Resolution in Kiswahili). It seemed to work out, and pretty soon the girls were busy crafting sentences about how much they want to learn English, or help the new girls at SEGA, or study all the way to graduation without any interruption. We then asked them to come up with three mwisho or goals, that could help them build up to their eventual ‘promise’. This is where things got a little mixed up. Some of the girls knew exactly what to do, and some of them ended up with sentences like Nakupenda Helen na Camel – I love you Helen (Elena) and Camel (Camilla) and Baadaye nitaenda kula ugali – later I will go and eat ugali. Well, at least some of them got it! After a quick lunch of ugali and sauce in the brand new cafeteria, we got back to work on creating a library sign-out book and organised the craft supplies. Later we had a double block with the Form Twos and made postcards about our holidays to remind them of their English. Tomorrow is a public holiday, which is very welcomed in this household – Fran has been working non-stop and is tired and Elena and I have a lot to organise as well. We will, however, still make a special visit to the school to make friendship bracelets with them as we know how much they love doing it and we just got new supplies!           

Sokoni - the Morogoro Market

Our lil puppy Kahawa

Road to the tailors