Ngoma, batiking, and a goodbye to Mlangarini

Mambo!

We write to you from the United African Alliance Cultural Center in Imbaseni, a village about 45 minutes from Mlangarini. Today we learned a traditional dance, Ngoma, and performed it, along with three American songs, for the community.

Since we last wrote, we continue to remain busy and productive! We returned from our weekend in Lushoto to continue with our work on the teacher housing and the classroom painting. By the end of the week we had completed painting two classrooms, painted murals, finished the roof on the teacher's house, and plastered almost the entirety of the inside of the house!

On Tuesday we had a batik workshop, on Wednesday we celebrated another birthday (happy birthday David!) with a night on the town (pizza and cake), and on Friday we were decorated with henna and shared a dinner with the school's principal and his family.

We are all looking forward to the start of our safari adventure; however, the group is very sad to leave Mlangarini.

Best,
Jessie and John

Jambo from Lushoto

Dear Families,

 

Right now everyone is standing around, yelling "jambo's" and "habari's" (hello's and how-are-you's) and sending their love!  We write from Lushoto, a small mountain town in the Usambara mountain range in northern Tanzania.  It's been a fantastic journey so far...including a spectacular lookout point, a waterfall hike, and delicious lunch at Irente Farms where they served local bread, cheeses, jam and fruits.

 

Since our last update we've been very busy working on our project, celebrating a birthday (happy 17th Chelsie!), learning local crafts, doing home stays in the village, and hiking to waterfalls and lookout points that everyone agrees are "the best hikes ever!" 

 

Last Sunday afternoon we joined the Il'Kidinga Cultural Tourism Project to explore the beautiful slopes of Mt. Meru and visit a nearby waterfall.  We surprised the students with dinner out at our favorite Indian restaurant in Arusha.  It was delicious.  

Then on Monday, it was back to work, and a busy and productive week it was.  We completed painting one classroom and began work on another.  We continue to plaster the new teacher housing and are making steady progress on the roof.  

On Thursday, the students had a very unique opportunity to live and learn from village families during a daylong home stay.  We handed off groups of three to their families after breakfast and welcomed back smiling faces for late night pizza back at our home.  The students milked cows, worked on the farms, helped prepare chai and chapati, and made wonderful friends throughout the day.  

Friday morning we had an early start and worked hard at the worksite before loading up on the bus and heading out of town for our weekend in Lushoto. 

 

We look forward to another week in Mlangarini!

 

Best,

 

Jessie and John

As we're writing this post, the students are exploring Arusha town together, sampling local flavors and getting an opportunity to use the Internet. We have had a wonderful first week! The students spent the days plastering and painting. They have also been playing soccer with the local youth and making some nice friends in the village.

On Thursday we had a unique opportunity to visit the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and to observe delivery of a judgement on a case. The previous evening the students were able to learn more about the history of Rwanda and the doings of the Tribunal from a UN staff member who shared dinner with us. After our visit to the Tribunal we enjoyed lunch in Arusha and worked on our service projects for the whole of the afternoon. It was an exhausting but exciting day.

We spent much of Friday working on our projects, but ended an hour early to explore the countryside surrounding the village. We were met with some fabulous views, including of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Following our walk, we were treated with a history lesson from a teacher at the local secondary school.

We are looking forward to an exciting weekend and to the talent show we have planned for this evening. Jessie and John will be the judges (rumor has it we are tough!).

Baadaye for now.

Best,
John & Jessie

Hamjambo!

Hamjambo! ("Hello everyone" in Swahili),

Following a full day of flying the group arrived safely in Arusha on Sunday evening. We have settled nicely into village life. On Monday we were welcomed with a ceremony at the Mlangarini primary school. Many were in attendance, including teachers and students from the school. The festivities included dancing, drumming, and an afternoon feast prepared by a local women's group (freshly roasted goat was a popular menu item!).

On Tuesday we began our primary service project. The students learned how to mix cement and how to use it for constructing walls on two teacher houses which we are readying for an August move-in. For the rest of this week we will continue with work on the teacher houses and will begin painting the interior and exterior of two classrooms. Everyone in the group is very excited for the days of work ahead. And, the students are using Swahili greetings to communicate with their new friends in the village.

Stay tuned for more news!

- John & Jessie

Below are some quick messages from each of the students. Enjoy!

Hey Mom & Dad, Miss you so much, but know that I'm having a great time! Tanzania's amazing! Give my love to Emma and Dylan. It's all good here! Love, Sarah

Jambo Mommy & Daddy, Mimi mzima ndani ya Mlangarini. Kukosa nyie! Kupenda nyie! - Sarah (belle)

Mum & Dad, Having fun here. The village kids are all so cute! See you in four weeks. Love you, Maddy C.

Hi Mom, Dad, & Jack, Having an amazing time! Love you. Peace. Ky

Mom & Gary, Hi fam. I miss you all, but I am having the best time and seeing things I've never dreamed of. Thanks for sending me here. Give Dylan a kiss. Love, Hills

Mom, Dad, & Sami, JAMBO! I'm having the most amazing time and love everyone in the group. Kwaheri, Chelsie.

Jambo Family! I love it here in Tanzania and love everyone in the group. Don't worry! (smile). Love, Emily

Jambo Mommy, Papa, & Anna! Tanzania is amazing so far and I'm having so much fun. Miss you! Love, Zoe. p.s. Happy early birthday!

Hi Mom & Dad, Tanzania is a lot of fun and is an amazing place. Love, Ben

Habari Diane & Laurence, Everything is great! Kwaheri, Jess. p.s. Happy belated anniversary.

Jambo Mom & Dad, I miss you so much, but I'm having an amazing time. Tell everyone hi and give Molly a kiss for me. Love, Elizabeth

Hi Mama & Papa, Tanzania is beautiful and I'm having a great time so far. Everyone in the group is really friendly. I hope that all is well at home. Love, Mary Katherine

Dear Mom, Leah, & Stormy, Hey! I'm having a great time! Love you so much! Miss you, Sophie

Dear Familia, Africa is super awesome and a lot of fun! - Alex

Dear Family, Africa is amazing and I'm having such a great time. I love playing and talking with all the village kids. Miss you, David.

The group has arrived

We've received word from the leaders that the group has arrived in Arusha.

Meet the trip leaders

2009 Tanzania B leaders: John Linsley and Jessie Davie

JESSIE DAVIE: St. Lawrence University, B.A., cum laude, English and Environmental Studies. During her junior year, Jessie spent a semester abroad in Kenya participating in a cross-cultural experiential learning program. She considered this experience so valuable that after graduating from college, she traveled back to Africa and lived and volunteered in a small rural village in Ghana for nine months. She worked for the Kopeyia Ghana School Fund and was responsible for administering activities at the local school as well as teaching English classes to Junior Secondary students. Jessie has traveled to southern Africa, where she explored Mozambique, Swaziland, and South Africa; she has also travelled extensively throughout East Africa, including Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. She worked for Clean Air-Cool Planet as a coordinator for a global warming campaign in New Hampshire. Currently, Jessie lives in Missoula, Montana, where she is pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana, while also serving as the University’s Sustainability Coordinator. This will be Jessie’s third summer leading a Putney Community Service program in Tanzania. She is proficient in Kiswahili.

JOHN LINSLEY: St. Lawrence University, B.A., cum laude, Government, History, and African Studies; Maxwell School of Syracuse University, M.A., International Relations. At St. Lawrence John studied on the Kenya Semester Program and was president of the Outing Club. Following college John studied Swahili in Tanzania as a Fulbright Hays scholar and then returned to the U.S. to teach high school social studies in Colorado and Vermont. As part of his graduate studies, John developed educational programming for rescued trafficked youth in Ghana with the International Organization for Migration and held an assistantship on the East Africa desk at the National Democratic Institute. He also served as a teaching assistant and was president of the Maxwell Africa Caucus. An EMT for ten years, John has volunteered both on his campus rescue squad and in the local emergency room. He is trained in wilderness emergency medicine and has instructed for the Red Cross. This will be John’s fourth summer leading a Putney Community Service program in Tanzania. John is fluent in Swahili.

Welcome!

In order to keep parents updated on the progress of their child's Putney program, from time to time over the course of the program, the trip leaders will post an update on this blog. We hope that the occasional updates will keep you informed about the activities, projects and successes of the summer, as well as comfort the usual worries in sending a son or daughter to a far-away place.

You should expect leaders to post blogs no more than once per week during the program. We feel strongly that the leaders' first priority is the students and the program. The reasons for infrequent updates will be the very busy schedules of our program leaders as well as inconsistent internet access at Putney's various destinations throughout the world. Please know that any important issues on the program will be discussed and resolved with leaders and parents by phone, not through the blog.

We suggest that you subscribe to the blog during your first visit so that you will receive e-mail notifications at the end of the day whenever a new update is posted. To subscribe, enter your email address under 'Subscribe via e-mail' on the right-hand column of the blog.

Have a fantastic summer!