here are a few pictures of some of the kids i teach. they're adorable
and absolutely LOVE to take photos. they always say "mwalimu, mimi,
mimi" and then laugh hysterically when they see the photo i've just
taken of them. it's the cutest thing. there are 2 classes at this school, which is just one large cement structure with 3 rooms and open windows, one of about 20 3-4 year olds, the other about 30 5-6 year olds.
what i've really enjoyed the most about these kids though is just how happy they are ALL the time; well, except for today - the kids all seemed to have a serious case of the mondays. i don't think I've said "acha!" (enough/stop) or "hapana!" (no) so many times in one day. no matter the country or school, it seems most children have similar ideas and behaviors (some of the boys were hitting each other constantly with sticks). though despite the fact that these kids really have nothing, most of the time they are so happy - delightful, fun, loving, excited, the list goes on. they all usually come to school in dirty, ripped or ill-fitting uniforms and carry tiny backpacks, that are also ripped or have broken zippers, with a small pencil and maybe a piece of dirty paper. my class sits on the dusty cement floor and the room has only a small chalkboard. i've been able to take in construction paper and crayons as well as some childrens books and they get so excited to see this stuff.
the kids get porridge at 1030 every morning, which we help cook in a large metal pot over a fire, stirring the porridge with a large wooden spoon which resembles a canoe ore. they drink the porridge out of plastic cups which we attempt to wash (with the bad water) in buckets outside. i'm never sure if the kids ever have anything else to eat besides the porridge before coming to school.
during recess, we play outside under a tree in the dirt and sand and the kids love to sing songs, play games, draw pictures in the dirt and sand with sticks, and play tag.
public schooling in tanzania is so very different than in the states. one of the strangest things is that the classes for public primary school are all taught in swahili (except for english class), but there are no real books available in swahili. also, once you get to certain levels of secondary school (which is not compulsory), the classes are then all taught in english and the tests are given in english. it's very difficult for those who grew up in public schooling to do well with this.
but anyway, there really is nothing better than when i walk up to the school house in the morning and at least 10 children come running toward me and grab my hands to walk with me the rest of the way. i usually have about 8 of them walk with me home too. definitely makes my day every day!
(some of my kids in their classroom)
(group shot outside the schoolhouse)
(friday fun at the beach!)
(beach day)
(the view walking back to school from the beach)
(best friends)
what i've really enjoyed the most about these kids though is just how happy they are ALL the time; well, except for today - the kids all seemed to have a serious case of the mondays. i don't think I've said "acha!" (enough/stop) or "hapana!" (no) so many times in one day. no matter the country or school, it seems most children have similar ideas and behaviors (some of the boys were hitting each other constantly with sticks). though despite the fact that these kids really have nothing, most of the time they are so happy - delightful, fun, loving, excited, the list goes on. they all usually come to school in dirty, ripped or ill-fitting uniforms and carry tiny backpacks, that are also ripped or have broken zippers, with a small pencil and maybe a piece of dirty paper. my class sits on the dusty cement floor and the room has only a small chalkboard. i've been able to take in construction paper and crayons as well as some childrens books and they get so excited to see this stuff.
the kids get porridge at 1030 every morning, which we help cook in a large metal pot over a fire, stirring the porridge with a large wooden spoon which resembles a canoe ore. they drink the porridge out of plastic cups which we attempt to wash (with the bad water) in buckets outside. i'm never sure if the kids ever have anything else to eat besides the porridge before coming to school.
during recess, we play outside under a tree in the dirt and sand and the kids love to sing songs, play games, draw pictures in the dirt and sand with sticks, and play tag.
public schooling in tanzania is so very different than in the states. one of the strangest things is that the classes for public primary school are all taught in swahili (except for english class), but there are no real books available in swahili. also, once you get to certain levels of secondary school (which is not compulsory), the classes are then all taught in english and the tests are given in english. it's very difficult for those who grew up in public schooling to do well with this.
but anyway, there really is nothing better than when i walk up to the school house in the morning and at least 10 children come running toward me and grab my hands to walk with me the rest of the way. i usually have about 8 of them walk with me home too. definitely makes my day every day!
(posing)
(making kites out of the trash in front of the school)
(waving to the cows passing through)
(loved her almost as much as she loved books)
(will miss these kids so much!)
no pictures of kids came through on my end. sounds like your having fun.
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