Week 2

Valentines Day 2010 was hands down the best Valentines Day ever! I spent the day in a beautiful country, lounging by a pool, in good company and was even given flowers. I am infatuated with Tanzania, I cannot find words to describe how beautiful it is here. I was joking with Brittany (my roommate) today about the line in America the Beautiful “Four purple mountains majesty”, the purple mountains here are breathtaking, I don’t know if there is a song about them but there should be. I cannot believe I am entering my 3rd week here, maybe six weeks wasn’t enough…

I have learned the names of at least half of the 69 kids. Its an important thing to know since you need to know there name when you are yelling at them to stop hitting each other. I am full of empty threats, I told a group of kids the other day if I saw them hit or touch each other one more time “I am taking all the fun away”. What the hell that even means I am not sure, all I know is the looks of okay crazy lady made it pretty clear I didn’t scare anyone.

I have adjusted well to the daily routine. We wake up every morning at approximately
6:15 and help prepare breakfast, get everyone dressed and walk the older kids to school. From 8:30-10:30 I have a group of 4 girls (ages 6-9) who don’t go to school until the afternoon. The idea of these two hours is to do something fun and educational or challenging. Most of the time all they want to do is color and on days I am not up to fighting it we color for two hours. Other days, we play games such as hangman, math bingo and other games. At 10:30 all the kids still in the village go home for ugi and the kids who go to afternoon classes get dressed and ready. After walking them to school I come back to the village for supervised free time for the preschoolers and toddlers. We usually hang out on the library steps doing sidewalk chalk, playing with balls and singing songs. This week they completed a swing set for the kids. This caused absolute mayhem! Punching, kicking, pinching and crying fighting over the swings, they went nuts. At 12:30 the kids go home for lunch and naptime, allowing for us to eat lunch and have some down time. 2:30 the kids are awake and school kids start coming home. Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays I teach the English Confidence Class from 2:30 to 4. Thank you for your prayers; Friday’s class was a success. We played jeopardy reviewing what we had learned over the week (congegating words into present, present continuous, past and future tense) they all got into it and participated. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I join the older kids in their free time, playing soccer or doing flips and spend time getting to know them. 4:30 everyone goes home for bath time and a snack of a hardboiled egg, and bread. After chores are completed the relax and watch a movie before dinner at 7. Tanzanian food is so good. I asked one of my mamas to teach me to make some Chapati so I can make it at home. Volunteer dinner is at 7:30, after dinner I choose to go house read bedtime stories give kisses goodnight and go to bed. Saturdays are pretty much a free day I spend my mornings in the rec. hall playing indoor soccer and the afternoons out on the big field playing soccer with the older boys. By Saturday evening I have mentally checked out, anticipating my day off. Last Saturday night I laid out under the stars, I saw 3 shooting stars and some heat lightening, even the sky is amazing here.
I have become absolutely smitten with Micha and Gabriella 3 year old twins. Most people find them difficult, they have selective hearing, do what they want most of the time, and are super defensive of one another. For example, the other day one of the other kids threw a ball that hit Gabriella in the face. Micha hears her crying runs over, bites the kid and pushes him down. I swear their ears perk up when they hear the other cry, twin radar! Gabriella can be needy and whinny but she has the sweetest little voice, cutest giggle and is so affectionate always giving me kisses, hugs and telling me she loves me. Micha is by far my favorite. He always tells me “you’re my baby I want to hold you” When I tucked him into bed the other night and told him I love him his response was, “and I love you. I going on the airplane with you to America?” If I could I would!

I am picking up more and more Swahili but now where near enough! Even in the frustrating moments it is easy to see the blessings. I know my time will continue to fly by. For those of you keeping me in your prayers please pray for sweet little Jacquelina, she’s a little girl (age 7) who has been struggling with her health. As for me please be praying for direction. I have a desire to make a difference here and in any future endeavors and I am not quite sure what that entails. I know there is a plan and I see God working. Life’s path takes us in different directions, the events of my past prepared me for this adventure and my experiences here are preparing me for adventures to come.

Hamina shida

Week 1

So much has already happend I guess I will just start at the beginning. My flights were long but painless, I slept most of the time. I arrived in Amsterdam at 730AM it was still dark and covered in snow. The airport was freezing but soon I was on my next flight to Kilamajaro I arrived in Africa at about 930PM, the air was heavy and warm. The airport was very small and hectic. After going through customs I was greeted at luggage claim by Susan, it was nice to see a familiar face! The hotel we stayed at was very cool and every thing seemed a bit surreal that first night. The following day we traveled to Karatu (about a 3 hour drive) and after visiting the FAME Medical Clinic I was picked up by the RVCV driver. We picked up 3 other new volunteers, it was nice to not be the only new kid in town. I think in total there are about 10 volunteers.

I live in a house with 12 kids all under the age of 10. Learning the names was a bit overwhelming but I'm happy to say I know all their names and can even tell them apart! There are 6 girls, Faraja (9) Hadija (8) Maria (7) Neema (4) Gabriella (3) and Lucia (3). And 6 Boys Baraka (9) Eriki (8) Alley (6) Ali Baraka (3) Micha (3) and Ema (1 1/2). There are two Tanzanian house mothers who only speak Swahili and seem to always be yelling and two men (student teachers), Brittney my roommate and myself all sharing a 4 bedroom house.

I am woken up every morning between 530-6AM everyone knows I am not a morning person but I do love waking up to the sounds of the kids singing and laughing. Most of my days are spent with the younger kids, its fun and at times challenging but I find myself falling more in love with these kids every day. My biggest challenging thus far has been teaching an English Confidence Class 3 times a week. Its a class for kids who want to further their education (highschool you have to test into and then pay to be accepted) the people in the class range in ages 15-21 they live in surrounding villages and some travel up to 3 hours both ways to be here. The language barrier and trying to get participation is maddening! I am not a teacher so anyone with advice on games or assignments to get these teens and young adults to speak more english would be appreciated.

Sunday is our one day off a week, unlike most of you I didn't spend this Sunday at a Super Bowl party (the game was on at 2AM monday morning here.... Congradulatioins Reggie and the rest of the Saints!!) instead we went into the town of Karatu for their monthly market. It was nice to experience a bit of their culture but definetly won't be going back, it was chaotic! Then we spent the rest of the day at a local lodge by the pool. That was nice.

My body is sore, I am a jungle gym, a chair and a way of transportation for these kids all day long. I have had no problem with the time change but at the end of the day find myself completely exhausted and in bed by 830 every night. That being said I have no complaints, I am surrounded by laughing, covered in kisses (not to mention dirt! I have never been so dirty in all my life!) and being wiped out after a day filled of playing is alright with me.