On Saturday I hosted all of my Form IV physics students at my house for a send-off party. Tomorrow (Monday) they will begin their national exams and I won't really be able to talk with them for fear of being accused of helping them cheat. Before that though, I wanted to say a few words and have a chance to see them one more time before they take the test and leave Itandula for good.
To help break down some gender stereotypes I told them that only boys were allowed in the kitchen. The boys started the fire, cooked and cleaned dishes at the end of the day and the girls were only allowed to instruct them.
These guys got in at 9:15 to get the fire started and sort peas.
I went to town the day before to buy the food but the students brought big pots, firewood, plates, spoons and water.
Boys cooking peas and heating water for rice.
Prepping fresh veggies.
As some were working on the food others were playing games.
Checkers (or "drefti" as they call it)
Some played cards (an Uno-like game), and some played a version of mancala that I had not played before.
Cooking took the whole morning and we didn't eat til around 1:30 or so but it was worth the wait. We had rice, beef, peas in a tomato sauce, and soda!
Serving up the food!
Everyone with their food.
Eating... It was so fun to hear them making nerdy physics jokes just like I used to in high school and college (something would fall over and one would say "unstable equilibrium!")
After the food, I said a few words about how proud I was of all of the students and how much I had enjoyed being with them this past year. They are among a minority of Tanzanians who finish secondary school and a very small minority who study physics through Form IV. So I congratulated them on that and challenged them to continue on that track.
The students then wanted to say something so one of them (the one best at English) got up and thanked me for helping them. It was simple but very gratifying. Then they surprised me with a gift! They had me close my eyes as they brought it out and put it in front of me. It was a big plate/basket thing an a clay pot!
After that, we took a few more group pictures.
The whole group
Physics lady-nerds
Physics man-nerds
And a few with various students...
This party was good closure for me. After the next week and a half of tests I don't know if I'll ever see some of these kids again. So it was a good way to end a great year and hopefully to energize them going into this testing period.
I have been teaching this group of students physics since day one at Itandula, and it has been amazing getting to know them and letting them get to know me. For better or for worse, I am as far from many Tanzanian teachers as I can get as far as discipline, teaching style, out-of-class availability, and in-class presence. Whether good or bad (probably a mix), my experience in Tanzania so far has certainly shown me how important new perspectives are. With creativity and new ideas often being so suppressed here, I hope that these students can see that they should not be limited by norms, learning doesn't have to be boring, and change isn't a bad thing.
I have learned so much about teaching, Tanzania, relationships and myself from these students and it's hard to see that my time with them is done. I know, though, that they are on a good path to a better life as doctors, teachers, nurses, and maybe even engineers! I have done all I can for them as a physics teacher and I only hope that some of them will stay in touch so I know where they all end up.
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