Since last...

This time I won't tell about being 'busy' or rather 'occupied' by the JF, no. 

First of all, it seems one not so well trained and not well-behaving too, journo decided to use one of the pictures I have posted in this blog for her newspaper article. I don' get angry when people use my resources, but giving prior info and seeking for approval is as important. But dumbass didn't do that and it irks me! The worst part is where she has used the photo of some of the very important siblings of my Grandfather, Late T. Nderumaki, which as expected included my very own papa enjoying his hard earned pot of mbege. The articles was about the issue of haphazard killing of the pensioners esp. in the Shinyanga region.  Basi, I just got angry and then became more wary of posting anything that will benefit this sick journo. Next time sis, call!

Then it happened. A phone call early in the morning of 25th Aug. Bro. Dee was no more. 

I wanted, and I will write an obit for him, but let me save it for later, actually it is goin' to be this very week.

Then there was my trip to Nai-robbery, sight-seeing kind  of thing and relaxation. I also went for college business, prospects are good. Hopefully I might be there for my undergraduate degree coming January. save that too!

But there were buts, just as it should be. But?

Term ended and I am a failure or failed?

It has been months since I last posted.

I don't what is happening with me this days regarding my log! May I put blame on the social sites I am registered to and attending? I am, of late, a bit addicted to JamiiForums (I am a very active member here, I spend more than 4hrs each day and sometimes even more, browsing) and Facebook. You it ain't easy for me to access my blog with a mobile phone I am having, I can not post on the move, you know. But for these two, thats what you call on-on-the-go. I also had posted earlier that I have failed to give my blog an 'aim'. What should I post? For which audience and the like. Stranded just like many other bloggers who started the same way I did.

Now back to serious business that made me write this piece today.

Some people tend to liken teaching and farming; there is input, some kind of processing and then expecting  output of some kind. Just as the first term in this 2011 ended I reviewed my work. Especially this year. I think I have failed, or did my students fail me? My ICT students failed to the rate that is alarming and they seem not to really care! My Geography students in 2nd year did an external exam (I did not prepare this) and did just bad, same as the Form IVs.

Did this make me feel bad? Did it made me mad? YES to both answers.

I asked them. Eti, my exams are very tough. I am very stingy when giving credit. I don't use Kiswahili in class. I don't give direct answers to the questions they ask.  I don't encourage cramming thats why, I think. Why giving only low level of knowledge questions? Because those type of questions are given also in their National Exams? Of all these points I agree to only one, about stinginess. work hard and the fruits will be seen. Not just a reproduction of the material and then expecting a 100%.

But I need to work on my strategy, if I am to continue teaching!

Emmanuel and Maria's send-off & harusi

send/off for maria was on 23rd feb at hale social hall in hale-tanga, emmanuel, mama, shangazi aloisia, valence and mama babu and me of  course represented the moshi people

harusi was on 26th of the same month at karanga catholic parish and followed by a reception at rose garden hall in mosh town, the Holy Mass was said by Fr. Nderumaki with assistance of the parish priest. 'twas super!!

Lost, and money took it...

Last Sunday I had an 'opportunity' to become a tour guide for a day.

There was this group of friends from Italy, driving thru Southern Africa, they started  in Namibia, drove thru Zim, Zambia and wound up in TZA, they had gone places and still were going places. It wasn't their first, it seems, they have done it for years. They have a doctor friend in Arusha told them about Mang'ola, they wanted to see. It happened that the doctor knew my headmistress and the headmistress knew me and the latter had me get them around.

Of the places that any tourist coming these parts wants to see is the Hadzabe, mistakenly also referred to as 'Bushmen'. Mistakenly because they aren't that 'bushmen' you see in South Africa or Namibia; they are blacker and genetically not linked to the San but Bantu pygmies of the Congo. So you see how un-bushmen they are.

Well, they are thought that way and I'll lave it that way, Bushmen way. They are the primitive, they still live the same way their ancestors lived. Hunters and gatherers by trade. Even for their fellow Africans they are 'way wrong'. They don't farm, rear goats or cattle, build a 'proper' (definitions can vary here) house and a lot more. Even their fellow Africans get a 'tourist' taste on seeing them. They are an 'object' of tourist interest to both Westerners (tourists from places rather than TZA) and those from within.

So, the tour companies that organise packages for L. Eyasi would like their guests to see the 'primitive' people remaining. But, you see there is always a but. They are not 'primitive' in the way that primitive mean. They were primitive and then came the Iraqw and Datoga and bunch lot of other 'Waswahili' to Mang'ola Valley, and the primitiveness just remained in the fact that they don't want to mix. And above all, there came MONEY.

Back to the tourists. Most of them are disappointed, they are coming thinking of some very primitive 'things, objects' to see and wonder. The problem is that these primitive people got the taste of money and they all went wasted. Alcohol, just like any other 'indigenous' peoples in the world. All what they see is a Hollywood-type show, they take photos and these guys know how to pose, really good poses you'd not want not to believe. They are primitive remember?

End of Part I

It rained at last

Joto lilikuwa kali kupita kiasi. Lilizidi, watu tukaanza kulalama. Labda 'Mungu' ametusahau, eeh, dhambi zimezidi mno. Kama kawaida ya wanadamu, tulisema....

Then it came down, in 'potfuls'! But there is always a 'but'. It came when it wasn't supposed to, it shouldn't come at this time of the year though we wanted it cool down the place, but this wasn't when we expected it. It was a relief that we could breathe again, the plants could get back the life in them but, well, not at this time. Is He testing us again, after a long dry spell? Someone has to do something, or rather someone did something!

So we spoke again, the old said things weren't the way they were, the way they were supposed to be. This type of things never happened during their days and that they have not seen anything like this, in their life time of course. It was a sign, staunch believers, told. It didn't look good, we have to consult the Oracle. Unfortunately there was't any. After all the Prophet (don't get startled, there are so many nowadays in case you had the thought that they only existed in the OT) had predicted it and He does not want you to speak about your old filthy 'oracle' thing, He is the One now. Sent. Period. You don't question these type of 'things' otherwise you'd find yourself in a very awkward position, unless you question yourself in 'your self'.

So the buts continued because there has to be a but someplace, no?

But...