Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Monday, July 21, 2008

On Our Way!!

WELCOME TO NTULYA!!!!
July 30: Jill, Digger, Benjamin, Clare
August 3: Bettina, Emmett, Finn
August 5: Carol, Moise, Annabella, Luca, Nico
August 7: Nina, Matt, Julia, Megan; Jane and Dan
August 13: Eleanor, Sam and Jo

Money:
If you bring $100s to change, make sure they are 2000 or newer—the newest bills are the best. Some Bureau de Change will not accept bills older than 2000.
Bring some $1 bills (also new bills) for tips needed before you change money—for airport and hotel porters.
For those of you coming into Dar or Nairobi airports, there are ATMs at both airports. The one in Dar is just outside of the baggage claim—to the right of the door as you walk out.

Dar:
Getting into town: a taxi or minibus into town from the airport is 20,000 Tshillings. (This is the amount to the Movenpick).
Smoker is a great driver to take you around town for the day. His day rate is 70,000 TSH. (He doesn't smoke, by the way). Bettina's friend Becky recommended him and he is extremely reliable and trustworthy. His number is: 07

Mwanza Airport:
Baggage claim is a bit crazy. They unload into a small area and everyone clamors for their bags.

Supplies for Families Travelling to Ntulya:
Sleep sacks (you can make from a double sheet sewn in half)
Pillows
Water containers
Headlamps
Blanket (or buy one here)
Flipflops that can get wet in shower
Closed-toe shoes for work site
Anti-malarial
Food for kids (comfort foods for kids)

Life in Ntulya Village:
Village Etiquette--
--Greetings are a very important part of life in East Africa and Usukuma (the Sukuma area in Tanzania). It is very important to take time to respectfully go through all the greetings.
--Women kneel down (more like sitting on your heels) to all men who are older.

Morning Greetings:
Mwangaluka baba: good morning father (said to all men/boys)
Mwangaluke mayu: good morning mother (said to all women/girls)
Inkwimba: Respectful greeting for those older than you (used by both men and
women)—the response is: Wa Baba—or Wa Guku—or Wa Mayu (you come
from our father or grandfather or mother)
Mwamishagamhola: How did you wake up?
Mhola: Peace (the answer to basically all greeting questions)
Kukaya mhola? How is the household?
Mhola: Peace
Bana bako balimhola? How are your children?

Afternoon Greetings:
Mwa dila gawiza, baba/mayu: good afternoon father/mother
Gawiza baba: shortened version

List of village elders names:
Namhala (this means elder/Mzee) Makongote (village chief)
Namhala Nkuba (2nd in command): often wears a sweater with broad pink, white and navy stripes)
Namhala Pita: the oldest man in the village—very dapper—usually wears hats
Namhala Salasala: cares for visitor area—4th in comman in the village hierarchy
Namhala Joji: secretary for the village
Bagi: village healer—he also brings the visitors water
Busu: village worker: head of the brickmaking operation

Other names:
Jefta Kishosha (Kishosha): translator and everything man
Pius Msongazila: contractor overseeing 1st 4 foundations
Irisha: Pius' assistant

Dress while in village:
While things are quickly changing in the cities (like Dar and Mwanza), village dress is still very modest. You will see women wearing pants and shoulder-bearing tops in the city—but this is quite shocking in the villages. The Sukuma (as well as may other cultures in Tanzania) are very modest.
Men can wear pretty much anything.
Women: dresses and skirts only. No pants in the village. The skirts and dresses should cover the knees. Make sure knees remain covered even when sitting.

Other things to bring:
leggings to put on at night when mosquitos come out (the mosquitoes have not been bad so far)
socks for at night to cover ankles
long-sleeved shirts for night
sweater(s)
shoes that can get wet in the shower/bath area (like flip flops)
hats for the hot sun

Things to bring to the village:
Each family will need to pay about $150 for food while in the village in addition to a recommended $100 to pay for extra for the village to eat.

For the Kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grades:
pens for 100 children
crayons and art supplies
paper
pencils for 100 children
picture books for the kids—all kinds
Kindergarten activities and puzzles.

For the village children:
shoes
children's clothes

For women:
dresses
shirts that cover shoulder
skirts that cover knees
shoes

For families who lost their houses (there was a village fire):
clothes
shoes
$50 per family visiting will pay for all 5 houses to be rebuilt. (each house will cost about 100,000 to rebuild—or around $80)

For elders:
hats
clothes
shoes

For John Timba (Ntulya artist):
paints
brushes
paper

Jake and Valerie need:
-Absolute needs:
Large bottle Ibuprofen (for them and for village)
Large castile soap (or more!—for biodegradable clothes and dish washing)
Bandages
Big box bandaids—assorted sizes
Large box of Bic pens
Africa Schoolhouse letterhead
2 bottles of 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol (not available here)
2 Large boxes of rubber gloves (preferably latex free)—1 box size x-large; 1 box 1 size fits all
Non-stick gauze pads
Cloth medical tape (easy to get at sports stores)—athletic tape
Neosporin—several large ones (J and V need for workers—and Bagi also has been using for village injuries)
Handiwipes (or diaper wipes) large package
Syringes
Sponges (a couple)
Silver Sigg bottle (Jake's was stolen)
Pocket-sized jackknife—Buck brand or if not available—then Kershaw (Jake can reimburse you)
Size 7 ½ womens workboot with steel toe; size 13 wide mens work boot with steel toe

Other needs:
Apple Cinnamon instant oatmeal packages (Quaker)
Macaroni and cheese boxes
AAA batteries
Keychain
Ramen soups
Coffee maker (press or Italian percolator)
Dishtowels
Can anyone download the Michael Jackson Thriller CD and Thriller video (a long story—but this is to share with the village)

For all of us:
Ingredients to make S'mores
Ingredients for large Barbeque
Baskets to put paper plates in (enough for 25 people)
Comfort foods for your kids and snacks!!
Emergen-C or other energy drink mix for electrolytes

Kisukuma Phrases and Words:
Ng'wangaluka Mayu/Baba: Good morning mother/father
Inkwimba: Respectful greetings from Kwimba Chiefdom (Women say this to those older than them)
Ng'wa Baba: Of our father (Respectful reply to Inkwimba)
Ng'wa misha gamhola? How did you wake up?
Ng'wa misha kinehe? How did you wake up?
Mhola: Good
Ng'wa dila gawiza: Good afternoon
Ng'wa dila: Afternoon
Ulimhola? How are you?
Mhola du: Just fine/good.
Nalimhola. I am fine
Alimhola? How is he? Alimhola. He is fine.
Bana bako, balimhola? How are your children? Balimhola. They are fine.
Nalimhola I am fine
Alimhola He is fine
Ulimhola (Are you fine?)
Mlimhola (How are all of you?)
Tulimhola (We are fine)
Balimhola (They are fine)
Kukaya mhola? How is the household?
Kaya: house/compound
Ulihaya kinehe? What's up?
Kinehe? What's up?
Mamilimo: How is work?
Hagene: Work is fine.
Wabeja; Thank you
Wabeja geete: Thank you very much.
Wabeja kolomba: Thank you for thanking
Wabeja shilewa shinonu: Thank you for the delicious food
Geete: very
Tujaage: Let's go. Nahene: Ok
Tujaage luulu: Let's really go. Nahene: Ok
Nahene: Ok
Tukwibona: We will see each other again.
Tukwibona ntondo: We will see each other tomorrow.
Bujiku ng'waka: Good night.
Yaya: no
Eeeh: yes

A note on Pronunciation:
Kisukuma Pronounced
A ah
E ay
I ee
O oh
U ooh
Ng'wa: a nasal "mwa" sound

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Are you guys on?

We've finally got a blog.  Let's hope Valerie and Jake can sign on soon! xEl
 

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Blog Created