Peace House Africa!: Braza Braza Braza! (Brother Brother Brother)

The past two weeks have been very fun with all of the students. I have been spending more time with the students after classes, in clubs, and during free time. Once the students feel comfortable with you they have millions of questions to ask about you. They will run up to me saying “braza braza braza!” or “Mr. Chase, Mr. Chase!” When they say braza they mean to say brother, but it just comes out as braza. It is fun to hear because it shows that they have a respect for me, and also that they have an interest in me. When I hear them say it, it is hard not to put a smile on my face.

My Form 1 class

In computer class the students often struggle understanding my English. It is tough for them because of the different terminology of the computer, and probably because I end up talking too fast. So to help the students understand I like to write on the white board first, then I show how to do it on the computer projector. After I show the class how to do a task on the computer projector the students then have many questions. I have found it very useful to individually teach a student in each row the material after I have explained it. Once the student understands I then have that student teach the person next to them what they just learned. My belief is that once you can teach what you have learned is when you really understand it and are able to remember it. I have seen more improvement from the students with this method, and they feel an accomplishment once they teach their classmates too. It keeps everyone involved, and the students brighten up once they get it.

Joseph, Form 1 Student

For clubs I have been doing rugby on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I help with commerce club on Mondays. In commerce club we just started talking about the stock market. We have the kids playing a simulator stock exchange where the kids get to virtually trade stock. At first the students did not know what companies to put their money into not understanding how many companies are out there. First they could only think of Coke and Toyota, but once we helped show them different companies just with products in the room it began to click. They all started to say many companies that they know about from watching soccer on T.V., clothes they know, shoes, cars, and electronics. They are beginning to understand the idea of stocks and how to buy and sell them.

Rugby this past couple of weeks has turned into American Football training for the kids. This is because next month Tanzania is having the first American Football game it has ever had. It will be played here in Arusha. It is going to be played between two Universities and it is supposed to have a very big turn out of people and television stations like ESPN and Discovery Channel. Our Peace House students have been asked to put on a little simulation during the half time of the game. So, Chris and I have been trying teaching the students the game of American Football by practicing throwing, catching, and scrimmaging. They are starting to learn and they seem to really enjoy playing with us. We also have showed them some NFL highlights and they were so amazed by it. It seemed like they could have watched those videos for hours and hours. The game will be played a couple of days after I leave so I will not be able to see the students perform, but if the ESPN thing is true I may be able to see it at home depending on when they air it.

Other than that not many new things have occurred. I could continue writing about lots of other stuff but I will save that for next time. The students are all have government testing in two weeks so I will be going to the island of Zanzibar for those days. From what I have seen on Google images it is supposed to be beautiful. I will take lots of pictures of it. I have also failed to show you guys pictures of where I am so here they are!!!