so

SFS is going great but I'm starting to find a few flaws that are really getting to me..

One, the teaching is pretty disorganized and doesn't foster a good learning environment. I found out that this semester is the first time that they're doing a program in both Kenya and Tanzania (prior to this year they had only ONE program that started in Kenya and ended in Tanzania.) So this semester is the first time that my teachers are teaching for the program or teaching at all. It gets really frustrating because the lectures are scattered and there seems to be no connection between each lesson.

Swahili is especially frustrating. The teacher is trying to teach us the 8 noun classes of swahili, all of which have their own subject prefixes, without even teaching us the basics of verb conjugation or basic conversational phrases. So basically I know how to say the singular or plural form of random nouns but can't even make use of the word. It would have been much better the lessons were based on practical phrases that will help us get around and converse with the local children.

The other classes are not nearly as bad, but are still hard to follow. If there was more cohesion between each course and the reading assignments, it would be so much more enjoyable.

The work load is really disorganized also. Today we got an assignment at 7:30pm on a flash drive from our swahili teacher. This may not seem that bad but since we have dinner at 7:00, presentations at 7:30 which usually last till 8:30, readings to do for other classes, and then breakfast at 7:30am the next morning, it makes it really inconvenient.

A few students spoke with the Student Coordinators and they said that it's just hard right now because this is a very new program and that the semester just started. Hopefully things will start getting better soon.


...there are a few downers in the group too and I do not do well with downers. But I'm stuck with them for 3 more months so I'll just make the best of things.. aka stay as far away from them as possible.

For lunch today we had a tasty tasty mango cobbler! It's really nice to get these occasional new dishes because the food is starting to get a bit monotonous.. But at least it tastes good!

For someone's presentation yesterday we voted on practical items to ask our cook to make us.
Top choices were:

-Fresh veggies
-Passion Fruit Juice
-Corn Bread
-Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
-Chips and Guacamole
-Burgers (typical)
-Sausage

I was really surprised about the corn bread.. I guess a lot of people like their corn bread.