Diary - Saturday, October 31, 2009

I'm just coming off a shift as “bartender” in the “Well” and to use a very old cliché, I'm experiencing a very warm and fuzzy feeling all over. It's not because we're heading into summer and it's 32C or because I haven't shaved for a few days, it's because of all the tremendous team work and co-operation that is evolving here at the JTTI. We've had a very busy afternoon today and it was such a pleasure to see the students, Mama Pat, Jane and Val all come together with a real combined sense of commitment to serve our guests with respect and to give them an experience that they will fondly remember for some time to come. We're frequently getting comments now that reflect the energy being nurtured here.

“This is the best food we've had since we came to Africa”, said one woman from the UK and her daughter went on to say she just loved the atmosphere that we have here. They then asked us if we could do a special dinner for their entire family of eight as they would be leaving tomorrow and just wanted one more “for the road”, knowing that we only do Sunday dinner specials. What a compliment and I have to say I'm so proud of the team here and to see the wonderful results of a lot of very hard work and determination on the part of many unique individuals.

Speaking of unique individuals, we are so fortunate to have Ms Jane and Ms Val here with us. Of course we have all had an opportunity to get to know one another over this past month or so and these two are real gems. Selfless in their desire to contribute and just willing to jump in and do whatever needs to be done. “How can we help”, forms a huge part of their communication with us and they do so much to make life a tad easier for all of us. Volunteer work by its very nature seeks out no rewards but because of that mentality the rewards just pour in as life experiences that broaden our perspective and help us to engage a bigger picture of humanity. This helps to temper the fatigue and often reduces the potential stress associated with some of the very significant challenges that come our way at times. Anyhow, Jane and Val individually are true human beings and together they represent just about the perfect combination of attributes, skills and personality characteristics that typifies the ideal volunteer. Here are a few words from the dynamic duo themselves:

It has been one month now since we have arrived at this beautiful place called Jambiani, Zanzibar and more specifically, The Jambiani Tourism Training Institute. There has not been one day go by that we haven't totally enjoyed the experience and gift of teaching the young men and women in our courses. They are bright and motivated and a pleasure to instruct. We do believe however, that for every one thing they learn, we learn tenfold. We have been continually surprised by the grasp of the English language and the level of understanding that the students possess particularly around many global issues. Classroom discussions and debates are always lively and leave everyone involved with food for thought. In Jane's Food Safe course, students are learning not only basic safety practices related to the food industry, but basic microbiology which at times can be complicated. They work very hard to remember words like Salmonella and Hepatitis A and then work even harder to understand why it is important to know them. Today the students used drama to illustrate what not to do in the service of food. We are sure some are destined for the big stage. They are doing amazing.

In Val's English class, she teaches sentence structure and basic word placement. They are making great strides in their English skills and becoming more confident. It is a usual thing to hear peals of laughter coming from her classroom as they illustrate much of what they are learning through games and debate. Val has a real sense of humor and mixed with her genuine warmth and caring, the classroom becomes an ideal learning ground. We both teach computers. It's been a bit of a challenge, but we do manage to keep one step ahead of the students.

We have learned above all that respect is the key to higher level learning, not so much what we teach, but how the students feel while they are learning. These things are never forgotten and make the information stick. The students have modeled this to us over and over making this a wonderful place to study.

Our afternoons are spent working with the second year students at Alibi's Well, the café inside the school where students learn and practice their culinary art. Under the instruction and supervision of Pat, the students serve lunch to tourists who are repeatedly pleased at the quality of food and service.

It has been and continues to be a challenge to wrap our heads around the poverty that surrounds this place. The students come to school from very different lifestyles than the ones they see their customers living. We wonder about how they see this, and how much we take for granted.

We continue to appreciate the graciousness of our hosts, Pat and Alastair. Their dedication to the dream of this Institute is rather staggering. They give wholeheartedly every day. They have made every effort to make us feel accepted and comfortable, however even Pat and Alastair could not prevent the odd creature from visiting our accommodation…we are in Africa and loving it!

Thank you Jane and Val and although you did have a visit from the mouse (rat) you can be rest assured that if your home did not feel so warm and inviting, that mouse (rat) would never have come in the first place. :-) Try to be a bit crankier would you?

There's a lot happening here and I can honestly say that this project has become a dynamic and living entity fuelled by the decisions of others to try to make a difference in some small way which in fact usually turns out to be much bigger than the some total of its components.

The Wellness Centre is still keeping me occupied in another way. Lots of good stuff going on there and lots of folks getting better and of course always the usual challenges and heartbreaking stories to keep things from becoming too routine. It is so good and I am humbled by it all at times. We've had a couple of cancellations from practitioners of late so I'll be holding down the fort for a bit longer until our next volunteer arrives in December.

I will continue to try to get Pat to add some of her own comments to these updates perhaps just to give you all an overview of how rapidly the JTTI is evolving and the quality of attention it is receiving not only locally but abroad as well. She's a very busy lady, always giving 110%, totally dedicated to her students and her work and most of the time putting everyone else ahead of herself.

Well, I hope you like the pictures and as all-ways, we appreciate those of you who continue to follow our activities here and to offer your support in so many ways. It is certain that without you, HABS in its present form would not exist. This is a testament to what can be achieved when a few people decide they can make a difference in this world.

Take care everyone, and much love and good intent from all of us in Jambiani.