Almost like home

21-Jan-2012 

            Today we journeyed from Arusha to Monduli, home of both the MaaSae Girls Secondary School and Moringe Sokonie Secondary School.   We stopped first at Moringe Sokonie.  MSSS is a coed school about twice the size of MGLSS.  The school receives significant support from Operation Boot Strap Africa, and as at all our other all of us, especially Diane Jacoby were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm.  We met with the head master, several teachers, and four students who had been sponsored by OBA, three of whom were preparing to graduate from Form Six (the final year of Secondary School).   They had only exams left.  The girls introduced themselves, and shared their aspirations.  One wanted to by a lawyer, another a doctor or a teacher.  The girls all spoke articulately in excellent, if slightly shy English.

Because the day was unusually warm, the headmaster chose to abbreviate his originally planned tour.  His main concern was that we see the computer lab.  He was quickly directed to me, as the group computer expert.  (For reasons that take too long to explain I’ve gathered a long list of responsibilities within our group including computers, pens, cameras, currency, and most recently plumbing emergencies.)    

            The computer lab contained a broad array of archaic PCs.  Some had 3.5 or 5.25 inch floppy drives.  Many had labels advertising the use of the Window95 operating System (which went out of date in 1998.)  We tried to add a quick blog entry from the lab, but the internet connection was to slow to be effective for our purposes.  Still The work being done in the lab is very important.  Students who come from pastoral villages without electricity need time and help in building up basic keyboard skills.  Students also learn to use common program such as Word and Excel.  I spoke at length with the instructor, a young man named Nure (Noo-ray.)  He explained some of the challenges he faced, but also noted the enthusiasm that the children had for the subject.  Indeed, even though it was a Saturday morning, many students were working, typing and formatting formal letters in MS Word.  Nure also expressed an interest in enhancing his programming skills, so he and I talked shop for a while.  By the time we were done, the rest of the group had moved on.  While Nure guided me across campus to catch up, we encountered a group of boys playing soccer (more properly “football” here, NFL playoffs not withstanding.)  I asked if I could play for a couple of minutes.  Nure said yes, so I asked the boys, who happily consented.  I chose a side, and began playing defense.  Clearly all the opposing players felt that the best thing they could do was challenge me directly and get past me.  After a few attempts one player was able to get a high weak shot around my right.  There was no keeper behind me, so the shot scored.  To be fair, I was burdened by a good pair of sneakers, and he was barefoot.  Nure pulled me away after a quick high five to my nemisis, and brought me back to our group.  

            So just like home, I worked on computers for a while, and then went and played soccer.

            Again at MGLSS I was again identified as the group computer expert, and introduced to Helen, the computer instructor.  She showed me the national curriculum for Secondary Computer classes.  I found it both difficult in Archaic.  for example form two students (7th or 8th grade) are expected to understand local area network topologies, including star networks.  (Anyone who followed that last sentence gets an A+.  I haven’t encountered star network topology since college.)  Helen agreed, and admitted that most teachers can’t really cover network issues with children that young.  That is fairly typical of the Tanzanian educational system.

            Now we are off the Snake Park for dinner.  No worries, I’ve been the before.  It’s a fun place where the snakes are all locked up, and the food is outstanding.

Blessings to all, and thanks for your prayers.

-Bruce.