Welcome! Karibu!

This blog ("web log") is compiled by Sister Patrice Colletti, SDS to share the stories of our four Sisters who sojourn in Tanzania this summer, June- July 2011. The information below is from their emails; we've edited it for clarity.

Blogs typically go in "reverse chronological order", with the most RECENT posting at the top. So, as you read along, you're reading "backwards" in time, with the most recently received and posted information first.

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Questions on how this works? Please, contact S. Patrice Colletti at patricecolletti@sbcglobal.net.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

6/18/11 S. Virginia Writes

As I wrote earlier, after three days of travel and very little sleep, we made it to our destination!  We were greeted very warmly by everyone.

Since this is my third time being here, I feel very much at home.  It is fun watching Sister Barbara experience everything for the first time.

I really had to chuckle when I got to my room.  For the natives here, it is winter.  I have flannel sheets on my bed with pictures of houses and trees on them covered with snow.  I think that the weather is gorgeous.  At night it goes down to about 65 degrees and I use a light blanket.  In the morning it gets to be about 70 and by 3:00 p.m., it is 80 degrees. However, since it is "winter" here, most of my students are wearing jackets or sweaters most of the day!

I have eight students in my class.  All of them except one has been in my class before, so it is easy to get right to work with the "Test Prep Class."  They have all moved up a level, so I am using new materials, but basically the same strategies.  Teaching this class is very similar to what the Advanced Placements teachers do with their students in the US. My class runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon with a break somewhere near mid day.  We stop for lunch and a rest and begin again at 2:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. Sister Barbara is helping individual sisters with help in English.

There have been many improvements made here since last year.  It is a joy to see what has been done.  One big thing is that the power source has been improved and therefore, we have had electricity on a more consistent basis.

That's all for now!

Love,

 Virginia