Chums Blog

Key School teachers George and Wendy Waymouth are traveling this summer to Key's partner school in Tanzania!

Read their trip blog below.

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Travel With The Waymouths!

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  • Safari

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted August 10, 2011

    A crowd gathered Saturday morning, members of Victoria and Godfrey’s extended family along with teachers from various schools and a group of students from Chumbageni, to say goodbye and wish us a safe journey. Over the past eight days, each had gone above and beyond to make us feel at home while educating us about their community and culture. We know we will stay in touch with these wonderful friends. We agreed not to say goodbye as we left, but tutaonana, Kiswahili for we shall meet again.

    The drive to Arusha took most of the day. We have learned that traveling anywhere by car in Tanzania takes at least twice as long as expected. Although the road was paved all of the way, it was just one lane in each direction and there were speed bumps to slow down for at each town, as well as random police check points along the way. We finally settled into our hotel a little before dinner, met with the safari operator, and prepared for the following day’s safari to Tarangire National Park.

    It was cool and drizzly as we climbed into the Land Rover Sunday morning.

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    Comments: 1
  • Last Day at Chumbageni

    George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted August 5, 2011

    This morning we visited six other primary school in Tanga, all of which have links with schools in the Worcester and Hereford regions of England. They all gave us a wonderful welcome and eagerly told us about their schools. Many expressed an interest in finding schools in the U.S. that would be interested in establishing a triangular link such as our Chums partnership. We will be having dinner with many of these teachers this evening.

    It was very difficult to say goodbye to the students and teachers at Chumbageni today.

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    Comments: 4
  • Drip Irrigation

    George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted August 5, 2011

    When we woke up this morning, we looked out the window and saw something we hadn’t seen since leaving Annapolis, rain. Wouldn’t you know that on the day we’re planning to work on the drip irrigation project, nature is taking over! As they say in East Africa, “Hukuna matata,” no worries. When we arrived at Chumbageni and saw that a crowd had gathered, colorful kanga cloths pulled over many heads in an effort to stay dry, we knew that a little rain was not going to interfere with our plans. In fact, the drip irrigation project had become an event!

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    Comments: 1
  • Gathering Information

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted August 4, 2011

    Today we visited three hostels to gather information for Key’s Outdoor Education department regarding potential options for housing a group of Upper School students next summer. The hope is to provide an opportunity to travel to Tanzania that combines service learning and outdoor education experiences.

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    Comments: 3
  • Rafiki

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted August 3, 2011

    Today we spent more time at Chumbageni. A highlight was the introduction of Rafiki Bear, a Key School Kindergarten teddy bear, to the Chumbageni Kindergartners. Although the Kindergarten children here speak very little English, teddy bears know no language barrier, and broad smiles lit up the children’s faces as they each had a chance to shake Rafiki Bear’s paw. Rafiki (which means friend in Kiswahili) then shared his journal containing photos and messages from all of the Kindergartners at Key.

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    Comments: 2
  • Our First Day at Chumbageni

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted August 2, 2011

    We could hear a quiet rumble of activity as we arrived at Chumbageni Primary School this morning. The children were gathering in the assembly area, and as soon as we joined them, they began clapping and, in unison, welcomed us using perfect English, “Good morning! Welcome teachers!”

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    Comments: 2
  • Whirlwind Weekend

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted August 1, 2011

    This weekend has been a very enjoyable whirlwind!

    Saturday morning George was invited to accompany Godfrey and two of his colleagues from the local Lions club to provide supplies for a local orphanage. Though the number of orphans was relatively small, the experience was moving. The children had been anticipating the group’s regularly scheduled contribution. They gathered as a group to show their appreciation through song. After the session, pictures were taken, and each of the volunteers signed the guest book.



    While George visited the orphanage, Victoria gave Wendy cooking lessons.

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    Comments: 5
  • Karibu! Welcome!

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted July 30, 2011

    Our first glimpse of Tanzania was a magnificent view of Mount Kilimanjaro at dawn from 35,000 feet! Looking down from our plane to the top of the mountain, which these days has only patches of snow scattered across it, we knew we would soon arrive in Dar es Salaam.

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    Comments: 6
  • We're on our way!

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted July 28, 2011

    After four days of gorgeous weather on the “English Riviera” (southwest coast of the U.K.) filled with long walks and interesting family history research, we’re now on a train headed for London where we’ll catch our flight to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania this evening.

    Our stay in England had the added bonus of giving us a head start on adjusting to the seven hours time difference between Annapolis and Tanzania. We’re hoping the additional two hours adjustment between here and Tanzania won’t’ be too bad, especially if we’re able to catch a little sleep on the plane!

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    Comments: 0
  • Chumbageni Dancers

    By George and Wendy Waymouth
    Posted July 24, 2011

    Whenever visitors from Key or Somers Park visit Chumbageni, the students perform traditional Tanzanian songs and dances for their guests. Here is a clip of a performance that Pilar Wyman filmed during her visit in March 2009.

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    Comments: 3

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