6. Most students speak two languages fluently: Portuguese and Emacua (the language of the Makonde, the majority ethnic group of Northern Mozambique). Some students also speak Emaconde, Kimuani, and Kiswahili (these are other local languages, mostly from ethnic groups to the North of Chiúre). What languages do you speak?
7. Largest ethnic group in Northern Mozambique and Tanzania - almost 1,500,000 people Did not make contact with Europeans until the 1920’s Economy – slash and burn agriculture/hunting Matrilineal society – children and inheritances belong to women, men move into their wife’s village once married The Mackonde People
8. The Makonde People (continued) Known for their sculptures of tribal spirits and ancestors made out of ebony wood Sculptures depict “little devils” who take on many forms with exaggerated features Other sculptures depict the “mother” of the Makonde people who was sculpted out of wood and protects them
9. What type of music do you like to listen to? Nearly all students listen to “Romanticas,” which are pop love songs from Mozambique or Brazil. Local Mozambican music that students enjoy: Marrabenta, Passada, and Kuduro American pop music is very popular here, with the most listened-to artists being Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, and Michael Jackson. Mabula – Marrabenta/Rap Group
10. What dances do you know? Traditional dances that students know are Tufo, Soqueia, Kuajala, Espada, Massuigu, and Mapiko Mapiko – initiation dance for men and women in which unmarried men and women symbolically face their fear of the “Mapiko”, a masked dancer who represents evil
11. The most common meal by is xima (cooked meal or grain paste typically from pounded corn, cassava, or millet) with matapa (cooked green leaves) Beans and dried fish are other common foods. Meat, rice, and pasta are luxury foods only accessible to families with more money. What type of food do you eat at home?
12. Describe the style of dress of your culture. Men wear long pants (always a dark, neutral color) and a shirt (button-down or t-shirt). Women wear a blouse or shirt with a capulana around their waist and lenço (head wrap/scarf made from a cut capulana). Nearly everyone wears sandals or flip-flops, unless they are required at work to wear shoes. Students are technically required to wear shoes, but many do not. Not everyone has the money to buy shoes. All students do wear school uniforms to school.
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14. With what frequency do you see your extended family? Are they important in your life? Many families live in clusters of several houses (for example 3 or 4 rectangular huts in a circle), with all the extended family members living together. Many students mention that relatives are especially important because they often are the ones that fund the students’ education (when your uncle is the only person in your family who has a salaried job, his income supports everyone else in the extended family.
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16. The most important ceremonies are boy and girl initiation rites (when children, after puberty, receive the oral traditions and wisdom from their elders and are officially recognized by the community as adults). Birthdays, funerals, national holidays, and the Town-Day of Chiúre (celebrating the anniversary of when Chiúre was incorporated as a town 21 years ago). Family Day – April 26th Women’s Day – April 7th Heroes Day – February 3rd Worker’s Day – May 1st What holidays and ceremonies are important to your family?
17. Describe common greetings between people in your culture. When two people meet, the common greetings are (said in Portuguese): “Good morning. Did you wake up well today?” or “Good afternoon. How is your health? How is your family?” Two men meeting each other for the first time will shake each other’s hand, while the initial greeting between a man and a woman or between two women is to kiss each other once on each cheek (first right, then left) and say “Prazer” (“It’s a pleasure”).
18. What do you want to be when you grow up? Common responses are: doctor, nurse, engineer, and teacher.
19. Mention something very important in your life. Some of the students’ responses: Family – my parents – my teachers – education – patience – “love and respect: love myself, respect myself, and love and respect others.”
20. What are the opinions and perspectives that you have of Americans or American culture? “There are great differences.” “Americans live well.” “Americans help the Mozambican people by sending us teachers and developing our country.” “In America cars are public. You drive somewhere and get out. Then anyone else can get in and drive off. When you are ready to go somewhere else, you get into the first car you see and drive off.” “Hip-Hop and Rap.”
21. Is there anything else you would like American students to know about your life and culture? “American students should know that my country is poor. In the case of our studies, we do not have the proper systems for [practical, hands-on] learning, and we do not have books for secondary education. For this reason, at times we are weak.” “Well, I say that it is very important just to study . . . If you know to make the most of education, you can achieve your dreams.”
22. These two 11th grade students, Luis and Vicente, are not originally from Chiúre. They are from Macomia, a town 5 hours to the North. But they study here in Chiúre and rent this house in the village by the school, where they live during the school year. A Typical Student’s House
23. This is the charcoal stove where they cook their meals and the yellow water jugs they use to transport water every day from the nearby well. They go to bed early every night just after sunset, because they have no electricity and cannot study or do their homework once it gets dark. Every morning they get up early at sunrise and do chores around the house, such as sweeping, washing dishes, fetching water, and cooking the daily meal. It is a lot of work living on their own and going to school every day, but, being hard-working, good-humored people, they enjoy life and value the education they are getting.
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31. Ben has just started teaching 8th grade English, at a new school in a town called Nametil. Ben lives in town rather than in an outside village and now has the luxuries of electricity and an outdoor water pump. He says that his school has been built recently. It has electricity and blackboards in every classroom. But there is still a shortage of desks. Once he gets settled, we hope to have a Skype chat with his “homeroom” students. Where is Ben now?
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34. Collect money to buy textbooks for a technical (agriculture and carpentry) high school in Ocua Project organized by Lisa, a Peace Corp Volunteer, who teaches 8th grade English and is Ben’s closest PCV neighbor. Used book sale - “Books for Books” campaign Volunteers needed – make flyers, posters, morning and afternoon announcements, to collect books in the morning, to sell the books, and to donate books After school meeting, this Thursday, for all those who are interested in helping out Community Service Project
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