Everyone Should Have a Sister Jane!

Learning new dance moves in Botswana, Africa.

During the school's holiday break I had the wonderful opportunity to explore the southern portion of Africa from Zimbabwe to South Africa.  All was made possible due to the generosity of my visiting sister Jane and her husband, my "favorite brother-in-law," Ron Peterson. (only brother-in-law)  Hoping all had a blessed Christmas with your family and friends.

I am looking forward to getting back to Mwanza and moving forward on varied projects.  I equally look forward to returning to "Jersey" to my family and friends.  Wishing you all a wonderful and Happy New Year's!

Enjoy the photos...

My sister Jane and I together in Mwanza.

Bicycles serve many purposes in Mwanza.

One of the many realities and issues that confronts Mwanza.

My brother-in-law Ron and sister Jane seated in a "Night Safari" vehicle in Zimbabwe.

Rhino spotting in Zimbabwe

Peek-a-boo - Water buffalo, along with hippos, giraffe, and zebras were spotted; magical!

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe one of the seven natural wonders - Can you name the other six?

One of many rainbows over the "Falls" - making many wishes!

The pictures do not do its beauty and power justice.

I highly recommend adding the Falls to your "bucket list."

CAPE TOWN! South Africa

Table Mountain, Cape Town - note the "tablecloth" cloud coverage.

Sailing on the Atlantic side of the Cape.

Surfing on the Indian side of the Cape!  Fun - feeling extremely fortunate!

Magnificent coastline/Cape Town

Leaving this to your imagination...more photos to follow on my next blog...keep well.

Visit to Sukuma Cultural Museum

The boarding students that remained on the school's premises during the break, the headmaster, and I escaped the "compound" to visit an open-air cultural museum east of Mwanza in Kisesea.

Open-air apparently meant "open skies" because on this particularly day the heavens opened up, and it rained heavily with hail en route to the museum.  Recorded rainfall this month has made the area of Mwanza and its bordering regions uncharacteristically green and lush for this time of year.  The rain has reeked havoc on the dirt roads which hurts the economy, but has provided well for the shambas/farms and has provided ample water for the cattle.

We bumped, rocked and traveled through flooded areas to finally reach the museum. Upon arrival we  were welcomed by the sun but not for long!

The museum celebrates the rich culture of the Sukuma tribe. It was first established in 1954 by a Canadian Jesuit priest, Father David Clement, whose mission was to teach Catholicism and to combine these teachings with the Sukuma culture.  Clement was nicknamed Fumbuka, meaning unexpected.  Bujora Church located on the crest of the hill overlooking the museum is the church Clement established in 1952.  It remains today as an important religious center of "Adaptation."  It continues to teach the Catholic liturgy through indigenous cultural terms.

Traditionally, the Sukuma culture practiced their faith within the confines of their family compound.  Prayers were directed to the creator of all things with hopes of bountiful rainfall for irrigation and for their "prosperity."  Combining the two religious ideologies has strengthened the culture, and it is noted as the largest tribe in the region.

Pictured above is the altar inside the Bujora Church. The triangles painted on the walls of the church represent the hoe an important symbol of farming which further represents food and life.  The triangles have also been related to the Holy Trinity; the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The color red represents fire and life, black - the people of Africa, and blue - the coveted Lake Victoria of Tanzania.

Tabernacle representing a chief's dwelling

Ambo, Neno La Mungu/Word of God

Traditional Sukuma dwelling

Nfumu/traditional doctor

Replica of a traditional doctor's dwelling.

Valentina modeling chieftain accessories - "future" Tanzanian President!

Thank you Bananagrams Corporation for Your Generosity

It never hurts to ask!  I sent the following letter to the Bananagram Corporation.  They immediately responded by gifting the schools that I serve with 24 games.  I would like to extend my appreciation to Chrissy Blessinger from the corporate office in Providence, Rhode Island USA for generously honoring my request.

Dear Sales and Marketing Coordinators:
I am presently volunteering as a teacher in two very diverse projects in Mwanza, Tanzania.  Recently, I introduced your Bananagrams to my students, and naturally they loved it.  They were encouraged to create English words, but the use of Swahili was permitted.  As part of my volunteer commitment, I am required to maintain a blog.  Please visit my blog and take note of the entry regarding the introduction of Bananagrams to the students.  I believe you'll enjoy and be pleased that the game was a tremendous hit with the students. http://journeytomwanzatanzania.blogspot.com/

To continue to develop their interest further in Bananagrams and to enhance their English, I was curious to know if your agency would donate 2 dozen games to the schools that I am engaged in during my mission.  The school, Morning Star and the Tawawami Project  are in need of tactile stimulation activities.  My blog is read by many individuals and your involvement in both schools would certainly draw additional attention to the fun and educational game of Banangrams.

If you are interested please send the games to:
Mrs. Maryjane Gallo
c/o Sister Yulitha
Morning Star Secondary School
P.O. Box 1293
Mwanza, Tanzania

if you elect to send it DHL and they can deliver it directly to the
school - please note that the roads are not marked.  The school is
towards the Mwanza airport outside of town - down the road from the
open air market on Sundays the "Saba-saba."

my phone # outside of Mwanza: 255784754204
within Mwanza: 0784754204

Thank you for your considerations, and assisting me in developing the
creative minds of the youth that I serve.

I look forward to hearing from you,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Maryjane Gallo

 ...and I did! Thank you!

Looks like the package could tell its own tale regarding its journey to Mwanza.

Bananagrams - and introducing its sister game "Zip-it"

Big Boy Plays Santa!

Big Boy was started in 1936 by Bob Wian in partnership with Arnold Peterson in Glendale, California

The Peterson Foundation under the guidance of Ron and Jane Peterson have generously offer to have the additional school supplies shipped to Mwanza, so that the students will be greeted with the tools that will enhance and develop their learning. 

Believe

On behalf of the students of Morning Star Secondary School, the Tawawami Project of Ilemela, administrators, and myself -  thank you for your infinite kindness and generosity. 

"May the Merry Bells Keep Ringing, May Your Every Wish Come True..."

Merry Christmas and good will to all...

Due to the generosity of the faith community of Holy Cross, friends, and family my mission was made possible through their donations. Additional funds outside of my CMMB fund raising and the tribute page have given me the opportunity to provide essential classroom supplies for the students. In addition, I have been able to introduce recreational skills and interests for the individuals I serve.

To date, those additional funds paid for a printer for the Tawawami project, entrance and transportation for swimming excursions for the Morning Star students, $900 was gifted to Morning Star for their building project of the boys' dorm – which was only a blemish to its demanding costs.  An electric saw was purchased to speed the process of the building itself.  Unfortunately, due to the varied blackouts, the carpenter has to periodically return to the traditional hand held saw.  Trust me, we are all smiling when the lights come on! 

The purchases of rulers, protractors, color pencils, classroom erasers, pens, hand held pencil sharpeners that have replaced students razor blades have all enhanced my teaching and the individual classrooms. 

Grade 7 at Holy Cross just recently donated $400 that will go to the purchase of crayons, which has been non-existent at this time in the classroom.  The crayons will be distributed to the children upon their return in January. 

My sister, Jane and her husband Ron, recently held a holiday party and guests generously brought a myriad of school supplies that Jane and Ron will be bringing upon their visit to me December 15^th…10 more days – but whose counting?  Their friends were extremely enthused, and Jane and Ron can only bring a fraction of the donations.  Evidently three large containers will remain in the states until a route to get them here safely is determined.  Any ideas?

My husband and friends have sent packages in and around Halloween, and I haven’t received them to date.  I am somewhat tentative now about sending packages directly because it may take three to four months if not longer.   However, I am still hopeful…even though I continuously check the outside post office box in town, and then I go inside and inquire.  Let’s just say, the postmaster knows me now, and I’m not going to get the vote for Miss Popularity! 

                                 As you can see the list of needs is endless. 

The other day, I extended my classroom studies with the students that remained during the break and traveled into town for a restaurant visit.  We had a wonderful time, but I must say the highlight of our trip was their first time in an elevator.  Their faces and giggles were memorable.  Tonight, they will be attending their first play performed by a local private school.  I am looking forward to seeing their faces light up more so than the play, The Sound of Music, itself.

Friends and family continue to ask me, “How can they contribute."  I’ve found tremendous success with donations that go directly to my Jersey home and my husband has placed those funds directly into my personal account, and then I draw it from an ATM machine in town and do the purchasing accordingly.  I may be missing Christmas with my loved ones, but I suddenly feel like Santa Claus due to the generosity of donors.

Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas!

Enjoy the photos of the students at work and at play - the play has been sponsored by the generosity of donors' gifts.

Morning studies

Learning restaurant dialogue

Lots of thank you's!

Holiday craft - rolling recycled paper beads for necklaces.

Heavy rains makes travel to town a bit challenging.

Scavenger birds enroute to town.

Restaurant visit with bananagrams!

Post lunch exercise in the pool.

Traveling companion after the pool.

Early birds getting the front round to the student play, The Sound of Music.

 The Sound of Music performed by students of Isamilo International School.  Morning Star students were thrilled with the production and wanted to return the following evening to see it again!

Black and Blue!

The human tsetse fly flag!

Black and blue flag found in the Serengeti to ward off the tsetse fly.

Yes, black and blue, but the only thing bruised was my ignorance!  Evidently, it was discovered that the colors black and blue attract the tsetse fly, and flags are placed throughout the Serengeti to protect both animals and visitors. This blood sucking fly is confined to very few belts of the northeastern Serengeti.  

Note the colors that I chose to wear from my limited wardrobe that I packed for my mission.  In truth, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have the opportunity to travel to the beautiful Serengeti plains.  Evidently, this is why the color khaki is a popular choice for safari and wilderness clothes.  Luckily, I wasn't bugged by the bug! (okay - insect)

Hey, you learn something new everyday!

Tawawami Celebrates its One Year Anniversay

The Tawawami Education Project, a non-governmental organization, where I teach math and provide assistance in writing grant proposals, celebrated its one year anniversary at its location in Ilemela.  The celebration also recognized the efforts of the students who participated in this year's program.  Each student was awarded with a new writing tablet and pencil.  Additional gifts were added by parents of the students.  All enjoyed the music, the food prepared by parents and the project's board members, and the speeches from invited honored guests.

Honored guests included the following:

Counselor of the Ilemela District, Ilemela Street Chairman, The Director of Addilisha Organization, Ilemela Educational Officer, Coordinator of FAO Tanzania, Coordinator of EMEDO Mkuyuni MwanzaCoordinator of ACCORD Mwanza, Tanzania, and Ilemmela Street Chairman Bukengula

Board members pre-preparing the meat for the following day's celebration.

The celebration was haunted by torrential rain in the morning, yet by noon the sun pierced through the clouds and provided a great afternoon of rejoice.

Honored guests

Added awards included bars of soap and hair gel. (essentials)

 Richard Sulumet, coordinator and founder of the Tawawami Project, and myself.