Amanda Corwin writes...

...about her experience while volunteering in Tanzania.

Dogs versus Chickens

Interesting title, yes? Yesterday, the three small, yet hungry dogs ganged up on all of the chickens for a chase. After much chicken and rooster screeching and dog barking, the ladies yelled at the dogs and eventually everything settled down, all feathers intact. Lexie (my daughter) and I met some of the guys we'll be working with starting on Monday, and they are a very friendly lot. Kingston, the man who owns the gallery is the only guy we've seen with a beard. He was wearing a pair of overalls with one strap attached, and no shirt. He works mostly with paint, but has a variety of work including mixed media, jewelry, and crochet items. The gallery is an abandoned building from the 1800s when the Germans were in charge here. The floor is dirt, there are no doors, the walls are crumbling, and his bed is on the second story. Although the building is old and decrepit, it is actually quite full of character. Today, we will be renting two bikes for the month so that we have wheels to tool about town.

Teaching English

Lexie and I have been having fun teaching English and art at the gallery where we are working. We have been teaching basic art words such as shapes, parts of the body, names of different types of paints, and painting styles. With all of this information, we played a type of Pictionary, as well as role playing what to do when an English speaker comes into the gallery. Since their English speaking is quite low, we have to review often and keep things simple, always keeping in mind what English they will actually need. They are taking notes in the notebooks and pencils that we have supplied. Lexie taught watercolour over oil pastel, and is in the process of teaching triptych. We are learning as much as the students!

Teaching Computers

Alex, a former volunteer with Zukri, just finished creating an amazing website for the Baobab Studio where we work. Check it out at www.baobabstudio.net. This week we have been teaching the artists and students how to access the site, all of whom have never sat in front of a computer. Now they know the English computerised words for a cursor, double click, scroll down, etc. We also set up an email account for each of them, so that we can continue to teach them English by sending emails back and forth from home. The only problem is that they will have to check their mail at the internet cafe in town which charges 1,000 shillings for a half hour. This in American dollars is about 90 cents, which these guys don't have to spare, so we'll just have to wait and see. Kingston, the artist who owns the studio, wants to have a big website party on Saturday night to celebrate. With the donation money that my supporters have generously given, we will be buying the 20 studio members a warm meal, which many struggle to find on a daily basis. Thank you!