Debra & Peter Martyn:

This is an important year in Tanzania. It is the 50^th anniversary of independence from British colonial rule. A charismatic mwalimu (teacher) named Julius Nyerere was instrumental in the drive for independence and was elected as their first president. I don't know much about Tanzanian history yet except what I have picked up in the 'Lonely Planet' but I do know that Nyerere is a highly respected person here. You can see the picture of his kindly face in just about every government and school office.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend a huge celebration in Kibaya. Fifty years ago a torch symbolizing Tanzania's freedom and independence was lit atop Mt Kilimanjaro. This year the torch is being taken all over the country with celebrations at every stop.

The freedom torch was scheduled to arrive at Bwakalo Secondary School and so we walked for about 45 minutes up a dusty road, past very modest clay brick houses, to watch the ceremony. People came outdoors to greet us with habaris (hellos) and shikamoos (hellos to an older person).

On arrival at the school we were swarmed by students. All of them wanted to shake our hands, to practice their English greetings and to have us take pictures of them. I am constantly amazed at how friendly and happy people are here given that they are unbelievably poor materially by Canadian standards. School uniforms are often full of holes and those students requiring glasses often have old frames from the 1960s that were donated by aid organizations. It is not uncommon to see girls wearing over sized men's aviator frames.

We were also very impressed by the behavior of the students as they were waiting in the school yard for the torch. There was no shouting, running, screaming or fighting. No one was whining. attention seeking or bullying. There were three staff members in charge of about 500 students and if there were behavior issues they were certainly invisible to us.

A form one boy (grade 7) was digging a hole in the centre of the school yard to erect a sign. He was using a two foot long razor sharp machete for the job. I kept thinking that in Canadian schools a student would be suspended for carrying a dull Swiss Army Knife and here was this 13 year old Tanzanian kid digging, entirely appropriately, with a machete. In many Canadian schools nearly every activity requires a special helmet and safety gear and students his age are not given sharp scissors for fear that they will stab someone or cut themselves.

I kept thinking that the Tanzanians have a lot to teach Canadians about school.

Finally the big moment arrived. We could see the dust rising on the road as Toyota 4X4s raced up the hill. The dignitaries, wearing matching Adidas track suits and the soldiers, sporting red berets, were escorting the torch. They set up an honour guard. Speeches were made, ribbons were cut and a meal of rice and bananas was eaten. There was African Drumming, singing and skits put on by the students.

It was a perfect day here in east Africa.