Long weekend trip to Arusha

Trips to Arusha are all about food really.  Arusha is a city 2 hours away and has about double the population of Moshi, meaning really nice places for yummy food.  Last weekend we had Friday off for Nyerere Day (a commemoration of the death of Tanzania's first president) so all piled into the big van for a day out.  It was super exciting because I got to drive!  Last year I drove Bessie (RIP) to school each day but this year we have to be picked up each day and taken to school because there is no spare van at the moment.  So driving to the "big city" was a bit fun :)

First stop: Mt Meru Game Lodge

Pretty grounds...

Hot chocolate!

Random Zebra

Friends :)

Next stop: Blue Heron restaurant

Lasagne!

Next stop: Ice-cream shop

Peanut butter and chocolate...soo nice!

There it is again, just in case you didn't catch the detail..

So those are the sights of Arusha according to me.  This time last year it was all about the Cultural Heritage Museum and scenery, but now it's just about food.  I find it rather funny that I really didn't take pics of much else!

Have a great week!

Moshi Happenings

It has been a ridiculously long time since I've posted anything!  Being here now seems so much like normal life that it is a challenge to remember what might seem interesting to write about.  Also, life is quite full at the moment, with teaching, studying Masters, Swahili lessons, after school tutoring, Bible study, planning for three grades and just normal life stuff.  

I'm loving my bigger class but have to be super organised to make sure each grade is getting what they need.  We have time for fun too, including painting the outside wall of the new school!  The plan was for a pale purple but it ended up a bit more vibrant than expected!  Kids climbing up ladders and balancing on drums - the lack of OH&S here is quite freeing.  We still have half the outside wall to go, then the inside wall.  The kids were so exhausted from their efforts it might take some convincing!

Before: dusting the wall in preparation for painting

I love these kids!  Notice the cool plastic bag shoe covers :)

Making good progress.....no one will have trouble finding the school now....

Chillaxing on the ladder

And we're done...for now!  I think it's a big improvement :)

This year is really special too in that we have heaps of new science equipment.  Last year we had to skip so many experiments because we didn't have the supplies and couldn't get them.  It helps too that I'm more aware of what we can get, and dragging a gas tank to school for an experiment is no big deal!

Looking at cells....hooray for the power being on!

The safety glasses are quite a hit...even when not needed!

An expression of scientific discovery?!

Teachers doing book character day.  I'm a Dalmatian from 101 Dalmatians in case my very pro costume isn't obvious.

I don't think I mentioned last time, but I have a house to myself this year!  There are just five expat teachers (so some more grades are combined) which means four are living in the big front house and I have the little back house all to myself.  At first it was a bit strange after living (and camping) with people for the last year, but now I'm loving it.  I feel so much more relaxed and at home which is really a blessing from God.  I love finding simple ways to make it homely and nice.

Jigsaw puzzle + music on a super windy night

Homely corner

And when the power goes out, I get to light a ridiculous number of candles :)

That's all for now.  God bless!

First weeks back in Moshi

Kili came out to say hi on the ride home from the airport

From the minute I arrived back in Tanzania, it has been super busy - unpacking and washing, meeting new teachers, a new school building and classroom to set up from scratch, an assignment for Masters due in less than a week, as well as all the normal preparation needed to start a new school year.

Up until now, Hope has been renting a building but have now purchased land and built a brand new school!  It is all super exciting but stress levels were pretty high as there was so much to finish before school started.  Here is how it looked just over two weeks ago:

The upper grades block (3rd to 9th grade) + staff room and library

Another two classrooms (this won't be finished until next year)

Looking across to the lower grades block (Nursery- 2nd grade)

My huge massive amazing classroom in need of decorating

It's about triple the size of the room I had last year!

 It's amazing how much can be achieved when the pressure is on.  Some classrooms started without windows and still don't have ceiling boards, doors or electricity, but somehow when the kids arrive it just becomes a beautiful place to be.  I'm so happy to be teaching the same amazing students I had last year, with a few extras as well.  We are still waiting on some desks but are making do for now :)  Here are some pics after all the decorating and preparations:

Door into my classroom......

Ta da!  Check out the huge chalkboard!  

I have more students this year....there is no way they would have fitted in last year's classroom!

Walkway in upper grades block

View of the classroom buildings from the eating area

Huge new soccer field!

Admin block + Essie the van (Bessie has died...RIP Bessie)

Front gate + preschool playground

I haven't taken any student pics yet, but I'm sure my blog will be full of school photos for the next few months!  I could write so much about school related stuff but will leave that for another time.
God bless!

Cape Town fun

I'm back in Moshi now, and straight back into school stuff!  Before I get on to that though, here are some highlights from my time in Cape Town.  It was hard to leave the comfort of a tour group and transition back to my normal Africa life, but a few days in Cape Town turned out to be the perfect way to wind down from an intense and amazing tour and look towards another year of teaching.

Whilst my travel mates were all out and about looking at the sights I was getting my hair cut, shopping for clothing I can't get here, buying a crazy amount of school supplies, and spending a whole day in my hotel room studying as I have an assignment due for my Masters very soon!  So here are the sights of Cape Town according to me....

So much stationary!  Teacher heaven!

Chocolate!  Yes, I have tried every variety...several times each.

Sitting in my hotel room eating sushi = Leesa bliss

Final fish and chips....for now

The one sightseeing thing I wanted to do was go up Table Mountain, but after three days of fog and rain, it didn't look like happening.  Then, the day I was leaving (an evening flight thankfully!) I woke up to this view out my window:

So, off to the mountain I went....along with half the tourists in South Africa.  After a two hour wait (totally should have walked up!) I finally got a cable car to the top.  Here are some pretty cool pics of the view.  It was freezing cold but just beautiful.  The greenery and mountains really reminded me of Tassie!

Walking up to the cable car station

Going up....

This looks just like the Tasman Peninsula!

The big hill is Lion's Head

Coming back down :)

So after an epic adventure I'm back in Moshi, feeling like I never left and just had a really amazing adventurous dream or something!  What an absolute blessing it was.  I feel refreshed and ready to embrace whatever this year has to offer :)