Reconnecting at shamba

One of my favorite parts of being back in Tanzania and back at Hananasif was reconnecting with children, students and staff that I had met two years ago. I want to share about some of the people I was able to reconnect with during this recent visit.  I will start in this post by sharing about reconnections at shamba, Hananasif’s school location.

With Msekwa (left) and Jansa (right) in their dorm.

Msekwa, Aziza, Neema and Jansa live in the same room of the girls dormitory. They share this room with about 8 other girls. I shared so many jokes and laughs with Aziza and Msekwa during my time at Hananasif in 2008. I remembered them often over the past two years. They greeted me warmly upon my arrival back at shamba and their greeting include smiles, hugs and of course laughter! We did more than just laugh. I challenged Msekwa on the soccer field, although I must admit we share some laughs on the field as well. I also got to spend some quality time with them in the afternoons in their dorm. I got to sit with Msekwa and Aziza and look at their exams and report cards and talk about how they have been doing in school. I was proud to see Aziza’s high marks and that she was first in her class last year. She has been studying hard! I also got to sit and have some serious conversations with Msekwa and Neema another afternoon in the dorms. We talked about struggles they have faced and difficulties some of the newer students face upon arrival at the school. I was able to encourage and support them.

Neema cutting Bahati’s hair. Neema, I am told, is better than all the other girls at cutting hair. Razor blade and a comb.

Another highlight from my trip was getting to visit Aziza’a mom. I had met Aziza’s mom two years ago when Aziza’s brohters: Kassim and Karim took me to their home. She had invited me into her home and shared with me some of the struggles she faced. This time Aziza took me to see her mom. Her mom warmly welcomed me back and was so excited to see me. I was surprised by the warmness of her welcome. She welcomed me back even more warmly than the welcome she extended the first time I met her. I also noticed a significant difference in my ability to communicate with her. She does not speak English and two years ago I was able to have some basic conversation, but Kassim had to translate part of our conversation. This time there was no translation involved at all. We sat and talked. I met her neighbor, who is from Malawi and talked about how she had to learn Swahili when she came to Tanzania. It was a really wonderful time and I look forward to further visits with Mama Aziza.

Karim (left) and Kassim (right). from 2008

Yose and Gustaf are brothers. I met Yose two years ago. I got to have lots of good conversations with Yose and got to hear about his younger brother, Gustaf, who was studying in the US at the time. Yose told me how he was really close with Gustaf, closer to Gustaf than any of his other siblings. They are close in age and were in the same grade at school, at least for a while. Yose shared with me some about their family and their lives. I was even able to visit the home where they had grown up and got to meet their eldest brother, his wife and their baby girl. I also met Yose and Gustaf’s nephew, Onesmo, their older sister’s son. I met Gustaf after I returned to the US in 2008. He was living with a host family here and attending a Christian high school here in town. As I got to know Gustaf he reminded me a lot of Yose. They have similar mannerisms and act a lot alike in many ways. I very much enjoyed spending time with Gustaf while he was here in the US. We talked about Tanzania and our friends at HOCET. I also got to practice my Swahili with him. He left the US to go back to Tanzania in June 2009. It was fun to see him again after a year, even more fun to see him and Yose together. I got to see them laugh and joke around together. It was great. I am glad they are able to be together again.

Yose on the left and Gustaf on the right.

The welcome I may remember the most from my first time back at shamba was from Sunday and Omary. Sunday and Omary were in primary school two years. They were in the city with the rest of the younger kids. I specifically remember lots of good times with Sunday. I remember him teacher my the swhaili words for parts of the body. I also remember him quizzing me on the names of all the kids….and the way he would remind of his name when I would forget it at first. He would say Jumapili, which is the swahili word for Sunday. I also remember talking with him about the fact that he would be in secondary school in less than two years. It made me really happy that they remembered me fondly and welcomed me so warmly. I was also happy to see them in secondary school. I am proud of them. They have grown up and entered a new stage in life. I am also glad they get to grow up together. I see the love the have for one another. I think I also see how they still have a strong bond with the other younger boys. I think in many ways they are really like brothers. I think it is beautiful.

Omary on the left and Sunday on the right. It was a sunny day.