Here he is, Michael Ian Horne
December 28, 2011
Christmas Joy
November 17, 2011
Kanga Fever
My last week at St Judes was marked by a number of occasions including a kanga night with my "flat mates" at Usa. Dinner and lots of laughing and singing as well as sporting our St Jude's kanga outfits.
November 05, 2011
Second Hand Clothes
Buying and selling second hand clothes is a very big part of life here. Many of the clothes are surplus from those that have been donated to charity in Europe. Vendors buy from the importers and sell in two markets here in Arusha. One is in the open air where sellers have their goods on the back of carts and the other is in a series of covered sheds.
I prefer the open air market because the prices are fixed. Shirts and tops 1000 shillings (60c), dresses 2000 shillings and scarves and accessories 500 shillings. There is also underwear but I have never inquired the price!
You just dig through the piles to see if you can find anything you like.
The undercover markets require you to bargain but they do have a bigger range. This afternoon a group of us went to these markets. Tonight one of the volunteers is having a birthday party and it is fancy dress. All of us need to dress as a rock or pop star. Should make for some interesting photos!
It is very competitive but it's always a slow process to get a fair price. I paid 10,000 in total for the three pieces I needed but I did get it down from 25,000.
Perhaps Laura is considering going as Dolly Parton!
I prefer the open air market because the prices are fixed. Shirts and tops 1000 shillings (60c), dresses 2000 shillings and scarves and accessories 500 shillings. There is also underwear but I have never inquired the price!
You just dig through the piles to see if you can find anything you like.
Michelle and (new) Helen explore the tee shirts
The Class of 2012
Unfortunately, St Judes never has enough places for all the children who would like to study here. From September to November each year there is a process in place to ensure that the most deserving children receive the places there are in Class One for the following year.There is no discrimination on the basis of race, tribe, religion or physical disability.
On Friday a group of children were at the school to undergo a final aptitude test. I understand that each of these children's ages and identities had been checked and two members of staff have visited their homes to see first hand the circumstances in which they live.
One by one they are interviewed and given a series of matching and sequencing tasks.
It is an anxious wait for the parents outside the gate I'm sure
November 03, 2011
Sunday in Arusha
Sunday is a fairly quiet day in Tanzania. Shops are closed and most people go to church and spend time with their family.
Last Sunday Laura and I went to the English speaking service in the Anglican Cathedral in Arusha and then went for a bit of a walk. The rain, if it comes, seems to be in the form of a late afternoon storm. Mostly the weather is very pleasant but between 3-6pm is quite hot and it's best just to find a shady spot to sit in at that time.
Jacaranda time in Arusha
Last Sunday Laura and I went to the English speaking service in the Anglican Cathedral in Arusha and then went for a bit of a walk. The rain, if it comes, seems to be in the form of a late afternoon storm. Mostly the weather is very pleasant but between 3-6pm is quite hot and it's best just to find a shady spot to sit in at that time.
The English choir
The Kiswahili choir
Jacaranda time in Arusha
October 29, 2011
Arusha Snake Park
Today, Saturday October 29th Laura and Helen invited me to come along with them to the Snake Park.Well, not just them, they were taking Razia (Laura's sponsored student) and Alex (Helen's step-mother's sponsored student for the day). I was very pleased to come along.
Razia is in Year 7 and Alex in Year 9. They had no doubt been up since the crack of dawn as these kids have very little opportunity to go out anywhere. A St Jude's bus brought them and Miss Helen from Smith campus into Arusha at 10am where Miss Laura and I were waiting with the dula dula that we had hired for the day.
It was about a half hour drive out of town and this included going past the airport (which Razia was seeing for the first time) and a Maasai boma.
At the Snake Park (which is a bit as Australia Zoo was before Steve Irwin took over) we had a guide who enlightened us on just how many snakes there were in Africa and the many different ways they could kill you. For example there is one that rears up and bites you on the top of the head! Another can simple swallow you whole whilst another spits in your eyes first to blind you before biting you!
Well it's a good thing that the park's main purpose is to collect venom for antivenins.
Here are Laura and Razia (and yes that's a snake around Laura's neck!)
Once through the snake section we moved on to other reptiles.
Did you guess camels? Now that was something I don't think they'll forget too quickly.
I left the happy foursome back in Arusha to do some shopping while they went on to lunch and a movie. Yes, first time in a cinema for both of them. Fortunately or otherwise the only suitable movie showing was Planet of the Apes. Would have made for an interesting conversation on the way home I'm sure.
Razia is in Year 7 and Alex in Year 9. They had no doubt been up since the crack of dawn as these kids have very little opportunity to go out anywhere. A St Jude's bus brought them and Miss Helen from Smith campus into Arusha at 10am where Miss Laura and I were waiting with the dula dula that we had hired for the day.
It was about a half hour drive out of town and this included going past the airport (which Razia was seeing for the first time) and a Maasai boma.
At the Snake Park (which is a bit as Australia Zoo was before Steve Irwin took over) we had a guide who enlightened us on just how many snakes there were in Africa and the many different ways they could kill you. For example there is one that rears up and bites you on the top of the head! Another can simple swallow you whole whilst another spits in your eyes first to blind you before biting you!
Well it's a good thing that the park's main purpose is to collect venom for antivenins.
Once through the snake section we moved on to other reptiles.
Here is Alex petting a 3 year old crocodile our guide is holding.
So what could be the final delight...............................?
Try to guess before scrolling down
I left the happy foursome back in Arusha to do some shopping while they went on to lunch and a movie. Yes, first time in a cinema for both of them. Fortunately or otherwise the only suitable movie showing was Planet of the Apes. Would have made for an interesting conversation on the way home I'm sure.
St Jude's Day 2011
Friday October 28th was St Jude's Day and the school celebrated in style. Around 2,000 students, staff, volunteers and visitors came together to thank God for this school and the changes it has brought and will bring to so many lives.
The day began with a mass with the school choir in full gospel mode. After lunch (yes they somehow managed to feed all those people! ) there was a concert on the magnificently decorated lower primary stage.
Each class from Prep to Year 9 had had to prepare an item and over the last few weeks the best in each grade had been chosen for the big day. Each performance was excellent but in the end Year 9 took out the St Jude's Day Cup with their joyful and colourful item of dance and praise.
There were also a couple of items by the teachers and volunteers. Laura and Jane were in the drumming and as it is Ian's last St Jude's Day he had made the most incredible masks and hands which were worn in a performance by the art and music teachers. It was reminiscent of Indonesian puppets in a way with an African twist. Of course, it was accompanied by drums.
All staff and volunteers were asked to dress in the St Jude's kanga which left everyone to their own devices. My outfit was a simple shift which was made from two kangas sewn up the side and a round neck cut into it which Mary got organised for me - bless her. As you can see below, mine was way down the pecking order.(Don't worry if you can't imagine it......it's coming home with me)
The day began with a mass with the school choir in full gospel mode. After lunch (yes they somehow managed to feed all those people! ) there was a concert on the magnificently decorated lower primary stage.
Each class from Prep to Year 9 had had to prepare an item and over the last few weeks the best in each grade had been chosen for the big day. Each performance was excellent but in the end Year 9 took out the St Jude's Day Cup with their joyful and colourful item of dance and praise.
There were also a couple of items by the teachers and volunteers. Laura and Jane were in the drumming and as it is Ian's last St Jude's Day he had made the most incredible masks and hands which were worn in a performance by the art and music teachers. It was reminiscent of Indonesian puppets in a way with an African twist. Of course, it was accompanied by drums.
All staff and volunteers were asked to dress in the St Jude's kanga which left everyone to their own devices. My outfit was a simple shift which was made from two kangas sewn up the side and a round neck cut into it which Mary got organised for me - bless her. As you can see below, mine was way down the pecking order.(Don't worry if you can't imagine it......it's coming home with me)
The super heroes
The IT department
Angels from admin
Accounts staff
Mary with the "D" from Happy St Jude's Day
The maintenance team stuck together
Our sponsored teacher Anna
Laura with Chambi (secondary English teacher)
Those super heroes again
Head of the team of bus drivers
October 23, 2011
Meru East Community School
As you may recall, Ian (the art teacher here) and his wife Mary (the Administration Manager) have been working at building a school in Mary's village of Meru for some years now.
Yesterday October 22nd was the most wonderful culmination of so much hard work when the first 24 students were presented with their uniforms.
Most of the uniform and the school furniture have been made at the local leprosy mission. I was privileged to bring 24 pairs of green socks from Australia which they could not source locally.
The smaller block of land belongs to Mary's family and a house and stables have been refurbished to provide two classrooms and a residence.
The residence and office
Classrooms under the shade of a jacaranda tree
Through donations, their NGO - Tikundane- (which means love in Meru) purchased the adjoining block and they have had a multifunction structure built with an adjoining kitchen.
This was the first time they had been inside their classrooms or formally met their new teacher Elly-Woo (in the orange dress).
Just sitting at their new desks was a new experience as some of their homes literally have no furniture.
Then it was time to collect their uniform. Uniforms are very important in Tanzania and a source of great pride.
The children had all been measured a couple of months ago for their uniforms and shoes however the jumpers only came in small, medium and large so the children were lined up in height order.
.
What a transformation..........................
Yesterday October 22nd was the most wonderful culmination of so much hard work when the first 24 students were presented with their uniforms.
Most of the uniform and the school furniture have been made at the local leprosy mission. I was privileged to bring 24 pairs of green socks from Australia which they could not source locally.
The smaller block of land belongs to Mary's family and a house and stables have been refurbished to provide two classrooms and a residence.
The residence and office
Classrooms under the shade of a jacaranda treeThrough donations, their NGO - Tikundane- (which means love in Meru) purchased the adjoining block and they have had a multifunction structure built with an adjoining kitchen.
The children have been selected from the poorest and most needy families of the area. In Tanzania 50% of the population is under 25 years old and their simply aren't enough schools. Poor children have basically no opportunities.
At the appointed hour (give or take half an hour or so) the children arrived with their mothers, grandmothers or aunties.
Just sitting at their new desks was a new experience as some of their homes literally have no furniture.
Then it was time to collect their uniform. Uniforms are very important in Tanzania and a source of great pride.
The children had all been measured a couple of months ago for their uniforms and shoes however the jumpers only came in small, medium and large so the children were lined up in height order.
What a transformation..........................
The children's names include Glory, Happiness, Advent, Viola, Jackson, Nickson and Godrester. Aren't those green socks something special!!
This is Advent. He doesn't know it but he is the only child still needing a sponsor. He is a really bright lovable kid .The cost is $25 per month.
If you would like to read more about the project the website is http://www.tikundane.com/
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