so this will be my last post from the continent i adore so much. it is really depressing to think that tomorrow, then again on saturday my plane will take off not to land on african soil again for a long time. ugh. My last days have been fabulous. Monday was sports day at school so i spent the day playing with kids, cheering for the class by class running races- those little ones run oh so cute! and having my hair styled... i have pictures... by my students. it was a great day to just hang out with the kids at upendo and to piggyback the wee ones who i adore. tuesday was my last day at school, and also closing day for the school. we hung out for a good long while, then they set the kids up in a box shape with the teachers table one one side. then they let them sit. and sit. and sit. finally each class came up and did a song. then they sat and fought. and cried. and sat. 150 kids trying to entertain themselves while sitting in rows is never a good idea. so i decided to be proactive and taught them songs... including the hokie pokie which they loved. we did it twice. i was standing surrounded by the whole school- that is what it is all about. truely. it was amazing. then we did the singing in the rain song where you dance like and idiot and that was even more fun. The teachers were amazed and how i entertained them and i used the 'if you can hear me clap once, if you can hear me touch your nose...' and got them quiet... apparently not threatening them with the stick can work....
After our dances, they each gave one more song. the most entertaining part of it was watching my favorite pre schooler roll his stomach to the beat. You have to understand this kid is like 4, mayyyyybe 5. i was dying. and so so awfully my camera battery was dead. would have been priceless. Then we had cookies and coke and then lunch, a special lunch of pilau and veggies. it was amazing. then we started the teacher speaches and then the photographer arrived. I assumed he was there to document the closing day, but he didnt take pictures until i was asked to stand and my little goodbye began. kind of embarrassing that they had a photgrapher come, but also amazing because my camera was dead. all the teachers said nice words, the school and the headmistress each gave me gifts.... kitange which they made me put on and model... the kids loved that.. haha. they sang the saddest song about not seeing eachother anymore and one day we will meet again- i bit my tounge so i wouldnt cry. then i had to give a little speech and all was said and done. it was amazing. what a wonderful school.
yesterday i went to the orphanage for hte last time with the girls. it was good, as always. very said to leave and actually i did cry. i held baby lawerence until we had to go. man that baby is too much. i just hope they are all okay. one day i will be back, i told my self as we left. its a promise.
now we are doing last minute things, i am in foul form truely. its cloudy, we had to wait over an hour for the internet bc we got skipped even though i told the lady we were still here, and people are just bothering me. but. that is ok. we are going to get last minute gifts, then to the rwanda trials one last time. tonight we will have our last dinner and then we will spend tomorrow walking around usa, washing all the clothes i am leaving behind for the family, and packing.
i cant really say how i feel, i am pushing it down into the pit of my stomach and trying not to think about it. i hate it. i really do. i will be back. soon. i cant stand it.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
20km. blisters. awesome!
hello again from arusha.
I am in town for the second day in a row, yesterday we needed something to do in the afternoon. Today, we decided it would be a good day to walk from our house to Arusha. I have wanted to do this since we first got here, and so we did. We got up this morning, had a big breakfast- peanut butter bread- and lots of tea- a mistake...- and headed out the door to walk the 20km to arusha. we didnt really plan or think about how far actually 20km is. yes, it takes us 45minutes in a dala dala, but that was okay, we could still walk it. two pees on the side of the road, lots of blisters (stupid chacos!), lots of pictures plus a dead camera, and 4 1/2 hours later, we arrived in arusha, desperate to sit down. What a walk!
We saw lots of cool villages and got to mix with the people in a different way than we have. as we got closer to arusha we got to the shanty towns that lie just outside, a part of tanzania we havent seen too closely, though minimally in usa river. We took pictures of a huge river where people were doing laundry, not in the own spickets like our family does. it was just good.
I am exhausted and am sure i will sleep tonight, after i put some neosporin on my blisters that cover my feet.... 13 miles is too far in some shoes i suppose, even if they are great day in and day out. Tomorrow, we are headed to Moshi for the day. We will meet up with emma, who crazily enough is done done done with her peace corp service... and after two years and 3 months will leave tanzania soon and has spent her last night in her house in katesh. it has been interesting talking to her this week as she spent her last week in site. made me think about my last bit of time in belfast, and how crazy it really is to leave somewhere that has been your home. makes me oh that more excited to get to go back in one week!
Also, when i see emma, i will get my sweet pants that her fundi made for me.... WOO. I wore a kanga, a big piece of fabric as a wrap skirt to school this morning before we left to take back my students report cards, the teachers were like ohhhhhh look how smart you look in your kanga! haha it was too funny. i cant wait to wear them at home and get crazy looks : )
there is my update, more upbeat and more to share than yesterday.
take care of you
nakupenda sana mama na baba na bibi na babu
I am in town for the second day in a row, yesterday we needed something to do in the afternoon. Today, we decided it would be a good day to walk from our house to Arusha. I have wanted to do this since we first got here, and so we did. We got up this morning, had a big breakfast- peanut butter bread- and lots of tea- a mistake...- and headed out the door to walk the 20km to arusha. we didnt really plan or think about how far actually 20km is. yes, it takes us 45minutes in a dala dala, but that was okay, we could still walk it. two pees on the side of the road, lots of blisters (stupid chacos!), lots of pictures plus a dead camera, and 4 1/2 hours later, we arrived in arusha, desperate to sit down. What a walk!
We saw lots of cool villages and got to mix with the people in a different way than we have. as we got closer to arusha we got to the shanty towns that lie just outside, a part of tanzania we havent seen too closely, though minimally in usa river. We took pictures of a huge river where people were doing laundry, not in the own spickets like our family does. it was just good.
I am exhausted and am sure i will sleep tonight, after i put some neosporin on my blisters that cover my feet.... 13 miles is too far in some shoes i suppose, even if they are great day in and day out. Tomorrow, we are headed to Moshi for the day. We will meet up with emma, who crazily enough is done done done with her peace corp service... and after two years and 3 months will leave tanzania soon and has spent her last night in her house in katesh. it has been interesting talking to her this week as she spent her last week in site. made me think about my last bit of time in belfast, and how crazy it really is to leave somewhere that has been your home. makes me oh that more excited to get to go back in one week!
Also, when i see emma, i will get my sweet pants that her fundi made for me.... WOO. I wore a kanga, a big piece of fabric as a wrap skirt to school this morning before we left to take back my students report cards, the teachers were like ohhhhhh look how smart you look in your kanga! haha it was too funny. i cant wait to wear them at home and get crazy looks : )
there is my update, more upbeat and more to share than yesterday.
take care of you
nakupenda sana mama na baba na bibi na babu
Thursday, July 24, 2008
one week. what the crap?
I’m here trying to get my head around having one more week in
with the desire to stay forever tugging oh so hard on my heart. I
really like it here, the slow pace, the friendliness, the ease at
which each day i learn something whether it is a new swahili word- my
vocab is steadily growing- or the desperation with which women ask for
money for a picture, or the simple way of life. I have mastered
washing clothes by hand and really enjoy doing it. I have thought that
i might continue the process in my bathtub when i move home, though i
will use proper detergent rather than the dove bar soap that i use
here for lack of anything proper. I will miss the children who run
after me, and not miss the struggle of being asked to pay school fees
and lunch fees just because i am white. I will miss the timid hand of
a student in my school that sneakily reaches out to touch my hair,
different from theirs and unlike anything they have ever touched. (I
have pretty soft hair if i say so myself.... at least when it is
clean) I will miss the thrill of hot water when i take the time to
boil a kettle to use only to rinse the soap off my body and nothing
more... and the feel of hanging my freezing head under freezing water
of a tiny spicket to wash it. I will miss Fanta passion sodas.... with
great passion. I am learning that while I enjoy teaching, I may not be
the best at it... or I just take it very personally when i teach
something 5 times and still the majority of my students get it
incorrect on the exam. I am motivated by those who want to learn. I
cherish the throws of kids who run at me in the school yard when i
take my camera out and the crazy songs i have learned. I have been
reminded yet again about how fortunate I am, and again disgusted at my
way of life and those around me. Our family got a new dvd player last
night. not because they ever use the one they already have or that the
one they already have is broken, but just because this one just came
in straight from the
often this happens in the states, and in my own life. my stomach
turns.
I know I will be back to
an extended period of time. and though i have always said that, now
that i have lived here for 2 months, the desire is even stronger, the
fears are somewhat quelled (is that even the right word.. or use of
the word? ), and i just want to do it. So. there we go. i dont want to
leave.
and this computer is hating me, so there you go
nakupenda sana.
nitakuona soon.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
what to say? PICTURES
an upendo student
feeding stacey cake!
my birthday cake, yes written in kiswahili!
the food market in zanzibar... meat fest anyone?
a typical day in zanzibar
jambo, habari za mchana?
i guess i owe you the birthday update, though it feels like so long ago and truthfully i feel like i cant be bothered to recount it. but here you go. first they sing and present the cake, even though i bought it. then you cut a piece into bite size pieces and the whole group holds one fork and feeds the birthday girl a bite of cake. then the birthday person feeds each person there a bite, starting from the youngest to the oldest. our mama's niece was there with her little boy,who was too freaking adorable, and so i started with james. A picture is taken of each person recieving their cake. the cake was good and well worth the $20.
The rest of the week went by fast, spending it at school writing and typing exams. on thursday and friday i spent all the day typing all the other teacher's exams on the school computer. by friday, yesterday, i wanted to throw the computer out the window. but, it will be nice for the students to all have typed exams. I also had a sit down with the head mistress and she asked me to pay for a girls school fees. It is really hard to be put on the spot like that. she told me about the girl and how her parents are both really sick with AIDS and cant pay her school fees. They school fees for the year are $250. If they were $100 i would most likely do it. but i dont have $250 to spend like that. Then she asked me to see if i can help her pay the kids lunch fees. There are 42 kids that havent paid them yet and she said it is giving her a headache. The lunch fees are $100 a kid. It is hard to deal with her thinking that im made of money, that $4,000 is pocket change. There really is no understanding of middle class, or young and unemployed traveler. I explained to one of the teachers that it took alllll my money to get here, that my flight alone was a huge huge chunk of all the money i had. but he didnt believe me and told me my pockets are full of money. So, i told madam regina that i would see what i could do after i get home about raising some money. So i dont know whats going to happen with that, but it was an interesting experience.
Last night we came into town to go out and have dinner and some kili beers, or tusker is my fav. We had a good time jsut sitting around hanging out. today we are back in arusha and today is shopping day. i have bought very little, tryiing to see everything and decide what i wanted to get me and other people. so, today i am shopping and im excited about it, im getting my bartering skills ready. haha.
so. i dont have mucht o say. truthfully. so there you go. two weeks and then i go to BELFAST! and get to see a special pregnant someone! yep, Pamela McCormick is having another wonderful little one and im sure he or she will be just as wonderful as all her others. So woo, maybe ill have to make another trip to belfast in February so that baby mccormick knows his american sister.
until then, tutaonana
nakupenda
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
birthday. bus. home!
Hello all
I am finally back from my trip to Zanzibar and recovering. Our journey back was horrible, basically, but it is so so nice to get home. Our last few days at Kendwa on the beach were great, it was so nice to do nothing but lie on the beach and relax. Last Thursday we headed to Stonetown, the biggest town in Zanzibar to see the sights…. Aka to walk the streets and wander. We arrived and had a wee walk around late in the afternoon on Thursday, then grabbed some dinner from the little restaurant across from our hotel. The owner, randomly, is married to a man from Greenville north Carolina. So, he gave us all free dessert and told me to tell Dean Smith hello haha. The next morning, after a horrible nights sleep, we left for a spice tour just outside of stonetown. We went to a spice plantation, where we saw all kinds of fruits growing and then the plants that spices come from. It is amazing how disconnected we are from that in the US. The coolest two we saw were a cinnamon tree, he peeled off the bark and it was like holding a handful of cinnamon. And then the chocolate tree…. Cocoa really- he cracked open the fruit and we got to smell the cocoa beans… pretty awesome to see where they came from. We also go our mouth numbed by cloves and used lemon grass for bug spray. There was one random tree whose leaves are used to kill fungus… and needless to say the girls rubbed it on my arm. Don’t know if it was those leaves, or the sun, or my cream finally working, but it looks amazingly better haha. Pretty sweet. My goal is to not bring any fungus home with me....
From the spice plantation we went to have lunch and then to a beach and slave caves along the east shore of Zanzibar. The cave was massive and had been used to hold slaves taken off ships on their way to the slave market in stonetown. Once slave markets and slave trading was made illegal, the cave was used to hide slaves. The tunnel from the cave to the beach made it easy to bring slaves in and out to ships to sell them. Pretty crazy. Then we went to the beach for a bit, which was okay but I was pretty done with the beach by that point. We got back to stonetown and spent the afternoon wandering around and bargaining in the shops. It was ridiculous how big the rip offs were, and frustrating to know how much they were trying to rip us off. I guess most tourists don’t know what things should cost… so they just pay it. But for them to try to sell me a kanga (piece of fabric) for 12,000tsh when I got one last week in Arusha for 4,000tsh is pretty funny and frustrating at the same time. But we did some shopping and got a few things, nothing major though. Gifts for people, I have realized how dang stingy I am with my money haha. Plus, I just refused to get ripped off. I did however get a new bag, which I am obsessed with. It is a patchwork type deal from all different kitange. (yes, emma, I copied yours….) It was more than it should be, but the only one I saw and I have never seen one in Arusha, so im glad I got it.
We ate dinner that night at a huge food market. Normally the stalls are set up in a garden area right on the shore, but it is under construction. So it was just a street with stands down both sides. The tables were amazing… full of meats and breads and veggies. There was lobster, crab, shark, barracuda, all kinds of fish, squid, octopus, shrimp, chicken, beef, liver, tounge! It was amazing. I had barracuda, which was amazing actually. For dessert, I had a chocolate banana crepe which was amazzzzzing. And oddly enough we ended up sharing our table with two UNC grads, both of whom still ive in chapel hill, man what a small world huh? They knew people I knew from high school too, so that was crazy. One is in med school at UNC, so I am going to have to set bryce up…We were all pretty sure we would get sick, but we didn’t really care. We figured we had to do it…. Which we did. You cant go to stonetown and not… luckily none of us got sick, though I popped some pepto just in case. The next day we spent the day exploring and shopping some more, there really is not much to do in stonetown. Stacey and I went out early and stumbled upon the morning market. There was fish everywhere, like 6 feet long sharks, and crabs still crawling around. We went through the beef isles, and almost lost our breakfast when we saw a cow head in the process of getting its brains, literally, cut out. We wandered through the veggie and fruit markets and got hassled to buy all kinds of spices. It was pretty impressive. I found a few specific gifts I was looking for for people, so that was good, and found the painting that I would have killed for. My friend Teresa in Belfast, whom I worked in the nursing home with, has this painting from Zanzibar of a man walking down a flooded rainy street. This painting is what made me decide to start buying art in every country I went to. And while in Zanzibar, what did I see? This same painting. Only in one single shop. And though I bargained the guy down from 180k shillings to 100k, I still just couldn’t make myself do it. I wish I had. Next time. And, in truth, I would have had to go to the benki and get some pesa, then try to find my way back to his shop- which in stonetown can be so hard. So. Oh well. Whats done is done eh?
We spent the rest of my birthday piddling around, had a cute little lunch and the girls surprised me with cake, then later had the BEST freaking ice cream- truth, it prob wasn’t that great I just hadn’t had ice cream since leaving the states…., but it was mango… and very creamy which ice cream doesn’t tend to be here…. And we ate it at an expensive place on the ocean. Then Stacey and I found a little conspicuous seat on some steps and took some pictures of people walking past. It is hard to get pictures of people here, you have to ask and most of them say no. but, the people make the culture, I think, and its hard to see a town through pictures without some people… so we were rude… and did it, though no one seemed to notice or mind if they did. We got lost wandering and ended up with some kids, playing soccer and watching some little girls play cards. They let us take pictures, so I have some cool ones.
We spent the afternoon trying to book a hotel for Saturday night in Dar, only to find that everywhere was booked. I was stressed and pissed that the girls had left me alone to call every single hotel and deal with it. They came back and we just decided we would do the whole trip in one day, take the early ferry, then the bus. For my birthday dinner, we headed back to the food market, and this time I went real exotic- ok not really- and had shark, which I had never had. It wasn’t as good as I though. And I drank so much water that I was too full to have the chocolate banana crepe that I had the night before which was AMAZING. We headed back home, since we had to catch the ferry at 6am the next morning. I really wish we had had more time in stonetown, and had stayed less days at the beach, but that’s ok, you live and learn no?
Saturday morning we got the ferry bright and early…. And I got sick. I was sitting outside, alone because inside made me seasick. And I thought I was going to be sick… I was really hungry actually, not really seasick. I tried to eat the crackers I had with me, but couldn’t make myself choke them down. Katie had been outside with me but had gone in to change her pants because she had gotten soaked by a wave. I had spent the last 30 minutes feeling like death having some random man teaching me Swahili words. I had told him twice I was tired and didn’t feel good- even in Swahili, but he failed to get the message to shut up. When he finally asked me for my phone number in the states I told him no and he got made and shut up. But thank god he was there, because after my peaceful 10 minutes, I started gagging over the edge and asked him to take me to the choo. As soon as I turned and started to walk, everything went black. I didn’t faint, but I couldn’t see anything. This is a fairly familiar feeling for me, but not on a rocking ferry, holding the hand of a random zanzibarian that I don’t know… somehow he got me inside, down the stairs and to the bathroom door. I knew I was just outside the bathroom but I couldn’t see enough to get inside, so I just sat down on the floor. Finally I could see and I went in, dripping with sweat and in my broken Swahili asked him to go find Katie, whom he had been talking to, for me. Basically I said, where is my friend from Scotland… haha, and hoped that he understood I was asking him to go get her for me. He kept coming back to check on me, but Katie never came. I finally pulled it together enough to go to where Stacey and Sharon were sitting… and I managed not to get sick again. Turns out he did find Katie and tell her I was sick, but she thought he was just trying to talk to her again because he had talked her ear off too. Opps.
So. Im sick on the ferry, then we have to go straight to the bus park to try to catch a bus. Our desk friend at our hotel in stonetown had given us the number of a friend of his who would take us and help us find a hotel if we couldn’t get a bus, so we called him and he rushed us, me still feeling a bit out of it, to the bus park. Only to find out that there were no more buses. So, its 9am, we are in dar and cant get a bus til the next morning. And we are all sick. Awesome. We got our tickets for the next morning, and decided to stay at the terminal hotel in the bus park, we thought it would make our 5.45am departure on Sunday easier. The bus park in dark is terrifying, with tons of people and everyone asking you if you are going here or there and trying to sell you tickets and put you on a bus, not to mention selling you all kinds of food. So, basically, we spent the day in the hotel room, which was actually a little known gem, we had a clean room with ac and a tv- we even watched some mtv for awhile. But the day dragged and it took a lot for me to feel better- esp with a 9 hour bus ride the next day to look forward to.
But, we made it home and oh what a good feeling that is!! To be back in my bed, with a good pillow and my own sleeping bag. Priceless. We have a new roomie now, from the Netherlands, her name is janneka… or something like that. She is pretty cool, but I had a good (silent) laugh this morning as she spent 10 minutes putting on her make up and doing her hair. Oh TIA. She will be working with Stacey at cradle of love for the next month, so one week after we leave. She is nice and its cool to have another person to talk to and get to know. Plus, she lives in Amsterdam and I love that city…. So that is fun. Sharon left this morning at 6am, and it is weird that she is gone before us. It also is pretty awful that we only have 3 more weeks… school weeks, not even 3 full weeks. Where the hell did it go?? Don’t get me wrong, I am so so excited to go to Belfast, but really…. It has flown. And I really like it here.
I had classes this morning, my kids have exams starting again next Monday, which is crazy… they just had exams. The math exam was already made by another teacher, which is kinda silly since I have taught them and nothing we did since exams is on there, but okay. And I have to make the English exam. We will spend this week reviewing and catching up on what they did last week while I was away, I don’t know why I even left lesson plans, they weren’t even close to followed… but, pretty crazy, now I have something specific to teach to at least because I know what they will be tested on. The students asked me today if I will go with them to Arusha National Park on the 30th, which I have heard nothing about, but I hope that I do get to go. We have exams next week then the final week of class, so im not too sure what to, or if I even teach them the few days after the exam- it will be fun to just hang out with them. They laugh at me a lot. Today I had chalk on my bum because it just gets everywhere and every time I turned to write on the chalk board they died laughing. Luckily im a good sport, it was funny.
So. Im really looking forward to being here, teaching, the next three weeks. I have to go get a birthday cake because everyone in my fam has asked me when we will have cake, plus I am pretty anxious to take part in the Tanzania birthday tradition of feeding each person a bite. I am also headed to the tailor this week to get my clothes made, which is super exciting!! I am also going to be spending some more time at cradle of love in my down time from school, so that will be good. So all in all things are good. Still a wee bit sick, but you know, im just getting used to it.
Today i went back to the orphanage... always a good time. And Stacey and Yanneka came to my classes this morning, pretty funny to have someone watch you teach. now we are in town, getting my late birthday cake! woo hoo! so tonight i will get to do the tanzania birthday celebration. Will tell you more about it after the fact...
okay, Eat some cold stone for me, im craving it.
Xoxo
Nakupenda sana
I am finally back from my trip to Zanzibar and recovering. Our journey back was horrible, basically, but it is so so nice to get home. Our last few days at Kendwa on the beach were great, it was so nice to do nothing but lie on the beach and relax. Last Thursday we headed to Stonetown, the biggest town in Zanzibar to see the sights…. Aka to walk the streets and wander. We arrived and had a wee walk around late in the afternoon on Thursday, then grabbed some dinner from the little restaurant across from our hotel. The owner, randomly, is married to a man from Greenville north Carolina. So, he gave us all free dessert and told me to tell Dean Smith hello haha. The next morning, after a horrible nights sleep, we left for a spice tour just outside of stonetown. We went to a spice plantation, where we saw all kinds of fruits growing and then the plants that spices come from. It is amazing how disconnected we are from that in the US. The coolest two we saw were a cinnamon tree, he peeled off the bark and it was like holding a handful of cinnamon. And then the chocolate tree…. Cocoa really- he cracked open the fruit and we got to smell the cocoa beans… pretty awesome to see where they came from. We also go our mouth numbed by cloves and used lemon grass for bug spray. There was one random tree whose leaves are used to kill fungus… and needless to say the girls rubbed it on my arm. Don’t know if it was those leaves, or the sun, or my cream finally working, but it looks amazingly better haha. Pretty sweet. My goal is to not bring any fungus home with me....
From the spice plantation we went to have lunch and then to a beach and slave caves along the east shore of Zanzibar. The cave was massive and had been used to hold slaves taken off ships on their way to the slave market in stonetown. Once slave markets and slave trading was made illegal, the cave was used to hide slaves. The tunnel from the cave to the beach made it easy to bring slaves in and out to ships to sell them. Pretty crazy. Then we went to the beach for a bit, which was okay but I was pretty done with the beach by that point. We got back to stonetown and spent the afternoon wandering around and bargaining in the shops. It was ridiculous how big the rip offs were, and frustrating to know how much they were trying to rip us off. I guess most tourists don’t know what things should cost… so they just pay it. But for them to try to sell me a kanga (piece of fabric) for 12,000tsh when I got one last week in Arusha for 4,000tsh is pretty funny and frustrating at the same time. But we did some shopping and got a few things, nothing major though. Gifts for people, I have realized how dang stingy I am with my money haha. Plus, I just refused to get ripped off. I did however get a new bag, which I am obsessed with. It is a patchwork type deal from all different kitange. (yes, emma, I copied yours….) It was more than it should be, but the only one I saw and I have never seen one in Arusha, so im glad I got it.
We ate dinner that night at a huge food market. Normally the stalls are set up in a garden area right on the shore, but it is under construction. So it was just a street with stands down both sides. The tables were amazing… full of meats and breads and veggies. There was lobster, crab, shark, barracuda, all kinds of fish, squid, octopus, shrimp, chicken, beef, liver, tounge! It was amazing. I had barracuda, which was amazing actually. For dessert, I had a chocolate banana crepe which was amazzzzzing. And oddly enough we ended up sharing our table with two UNC grads, both of whom still ive in chapel hill, man what a small world huh? They knew people I knew from high school too, so that was crazy. One is in med school at UNC, so I am going to have to set bryce up…We were all pretty sure we would get sick, but we didn’t really care. We figured we had to do it…. Which we did. You cant go to stonetown and not… luckily none of us got sick, though I popped some pepto just in case. The next day we spent the day exploring and shopping some more, there really is not much to do in stonetown. Stacey and I went out early and stumbled upon the morning market. There was fish everywhere, like 6 feet long sharks, and crabs still crawling around. We went through the beef isles, and almost lost our breakfast when we saw a cow head in the process of getting its brains, literally, cut out. We wandered through the veggie and fruit markets and got hassled to buy all kinds of spices. It was pretty impressive. I found a few specific gifts I was looking for for people, so that was good, and found the painting that I would have killed for. My friend Teresa in Belfast, whom I worked in the nursing home with, has this painting from Zanzibar of a man walking down a flooded rainy street. This painting is what made me decide to start buying art in every country I went to. And while in Zanzibar, what did I see? This same painting. Only in one single shop. And though I bargained the guy down from 180k shillings to 100k, I still just couldn’t make myself do it. I wish I had. Next time. And, in truth, I would have had to go to the benki and get some pesa, then try to find my way back to his shop- which in stonetown can be so hard. So. Oh well. Whats done is done eh?
We spent the rest of my birthday piddling around, had a cute little lunch and the girls surprised me with cake, then later had the BEST freaking ice cream- truth, it prob wasn’t that great I just hadn’t had ice cream since leaving the states…., but it was mango… and very creamy which ice cream doesn’t tend to be here…. And we ate it at an expensive place on the ocean. Then Stacey and I found a little conspicuous seat on some steps and took some pictures of people walking past. It is hard to get pictures of people here, you have to ask and most of them say no. but, the people make the culture, I think, and its hard to see a town through pictures without some people… so we were rude… and did it, though no one seemed to notice or mind if they did. We got lost wandering and ended up with some kids, playing soccer and watching some little girls play cards. They let us take pictures, so I have some cool ones.
We spent the afternoon trying to book a hotel for Saturday night in Dar, only to find that everywhere was booked. I was stressed and pissed that the girls had left me alone to call every single hotel and deal with it. They came back and we just decided we would do the whole trip in one day, take the early ferry, then the bus. For my birthday dinner, we headed back to the food market, and this time I went real exotic- ok not really- and had shark, which I had never had. It wasn’t as good as I though. And I drank so much water that I was too full to have the chocolate banana crepe that I had the night before which was AMAZING. We headed back home, since we had to catch the ferry at 6am the next morning. I really wish we had had more time in stonetown, and had stayed less days at the beach, but that’s ok, you live and learn no?
Saturday morning we got the ferry bright and early…. And I got sick. I was sitting outside, alone because inside made me seasick. And I thought I was going to be sick… I was really hungry actually, not really seasick. I tried to eat the crackers I had with me, but couldn’t make myself choke them down. Katie had been outside with me but had gone in to change her pants because she had gotten soaked by a wave. I had spent the last 30 minutes feeling like death having some random man teaching me Swahili words. I had told him twice I was tired and didn’t feel good- even in Swahili, but he failed to get the message to shut up. When he finally asked me for my phone number in the states I told him no and he got made and shut up. But thank god he was there, because after my peaceful 10 minutes, I started gagging over the edge and asked him to take me to the choo. As soon as I turned and started to walk, everything went black. I didn’t faint, but I couldn’t see anything. This is a fairly familiar feeling for me, but not on a rocking ferry, holding the hand of a random zanzibarian that I don’t know… somehow he got me inside, down the stairs and to the bathroom door. I knew I was just outside the bathroom but I couldn’t see enough to get inside, so I just sat down on the floor. Finally I could see and I went in, dripping with sweat and in my broken Swahili asked him to go find Katie, whom he had been talking to, for me. Basically I said, where is my friend from Scotland… haha, and hoped that he understood I was asking him to go get her for me. He kept coming back to check on me, but Katie never came. I finally pulled it together enough to go to where Stacey and Sharon were sitting… and I managed not to get sick again. Turns out he did find Katie and tell her I was sick, but she thought he was just trying to talk to her again because he had talked her ear off too. Opps.
So. Im sick on the ferry, then we have to go straight to the bus park to try to catch a bus. Our desk friend at our hotel in stonetown had given us the number of a friend of his who would take us and help us find a hotel if we couldn’t get a bus, so we called him and he rushed us, me still feeling a bit out of it, to the bus park. Only to find out that there were no more buses. So, its 9am, we are in dar and cant get a bus til the next morning. And we are all sick. Awesome. We got our tickets for the next morning, and decided to stay at the terminal hotel in the bus park, we thought it would make our 5.45am departure on Sunday easier. The bus park in dark is terrifying, with tons of people and everyone asking you if you are going here or there and trying to sell you tickets and put you on a bus, not to mention selling you all kinds of food. So, basically, we spent the day in the hotel room, which was actually a little known gem, we had a clean room with ac and a tv- we even watched some mtv for awhile. But the day dragged and it took a lot for me to feel better- esp with a 9 hour bus ride the next day to look forward to.
But, we made it home and oh what a good feeling that is!! To be back in my bed, with a good pillow and my own sleeping bag. Priceless. We have a new roomie now, from the Netherlands, her name is janneka… or something like that. She is pretty cool, but I had a good (silent) laugh this morning as she spent 10 minutes putting on her make up and doing her hair. Oh TIA. She will be working with Stacey at cradle of love for the next month, so one week after we leave. She is nice and its cool to have another person to talk to and get to know. Plus, she lives in Amsterdam and I love that city…. So that is fun. Sharon left this morning at 6am, and it is weird that she is gone before us. It also is pretty awful that we only have 3 more weeks… school weeks, not even 3 full weeks. Where the hell did it go?? Don’t get me wrong, I am so so excited to go to Belfast, but really…. It has flown. And I really like it here.
I had classes this morning, my kids have exams starting again next Monday, which is crazy… they just had exams. The math exam was already made by another teacher, which is kinda silly since I have taught them and nothing we did since exams is on there, but okay. And I have to make the English exam. We will spend this week reviewing and catching up on what they did last week while I was away, I don’t know why I even left lesson plans, they weren’t even close to followed… but, pretty crazy, now I have something specific to teach to at least because I know what they will be tested on. The students asked me today if I will go with them to Arusha National Park on the 30th, which I have heard nothing about, but I hope that I do get to go. We have exams next week then the final week of class, so im not too sure what to, or if I even teach them the few days after the exam- it will be fun to just hang out with them. They laugh at me a lot. Today I had chalk on my bum because it just gets everywhere and every time I turned to write on the chalk board they died laughing. Luckily im a good sport, it was funny.
So. Im really looking forward to being here, teaching, the next three weeks. I have to go get a birthday cake because everyone in my fam has asked me when we will have cake, plus I am pretty anxious to take part in the Tanzania birthday tradition of feeding each person a bite. I am also headed to the tailor this week to get my clothes made, which is super exciting!! I am also going to be spending some more time at cradle of love in my down time from school, so that will be good. So all in all things are good. Still a wee bit sick, but you know, im just getting used to it.
Today i went back to the orphanage... always a good time. And Stacey and Yanneka came to my classes this morning, pretty funny to have someone watch you teach. now we are in town, getting my late birthday cake! woo hoo! so tonight i will get to do the tanzania birthday celebration. Will tell you more about it after the fact...
okay, Eat some cold stone for me, im craving it.
Xoxo
Nakupenda sana
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
sand. chillax. palllllllllllllllllm trees!
Jambo from a sweet beach in zanzibar!
Habari yako?
I am writing on a friends laptop on my bed in a sweet thatch hut. The walls are straw and then have a canvas striped inside lining. The roof is all thatch and it is amazing. The beach is the whitest sand and the water is even clearer than the florida keys… the best water I have ever seen! Our hotel is basic, but nice… the restaurant is over priced like woah, but the food is good and best of all, western! No more rice and stew for this week, thank god. We also have hot water- I really had forgotten how amazing a hot water shower, actual shower head and all can be! We have done a whole lot of nothing, just sitting on the beach for the last 3 days and it has been fabulous.
Getting here was quite a trip, we left Usa at 6am on the bus to Dar, 9 hours away. We got to Dar and were lucky to have made friends with the woman sitting in front of us. We shared a taxi with her to the ferry, where we had a time of it trying to get tickets for the ferry. After a 9 hour bus ride, dealing with frustrating people was the last thing I wanted. Every book and every person we had talked to told us our tickets should be $40, so we were livid when they tried to make us pay more. I argued til I was blue in the face, even busted out some Swahili so they would know I wasn’t some stupid tourist they could just cheat. I gave them the right amount, telling them finally it was all the cash I had. They yelled at me and told me they were losing mony because of me, and I said whatever, and we left with our tickets. Worst. Really. But truthfully, that was one of the first times ive stuck up for myself travelling. So that was cool. Usually im just a pushover and pay and don’t argue.
We got on the ferry and after only a few minutes, I knew it was going to be a long hour and a half or so. We ended up eating and snack and talking a lot, trying to distract me from the rocking that was turning my stomach. But soon after we left the port, I had to head outside. I didn’t get sick, thankfully, but I knew just being in the wind and somewhere I could see the horizon would make a huge difference. It did, and I felt a lot better, but still not to best. The fact that I had been awake since 5 and sat on a bus for 8 and a half hours, and it was now late afternoon didn’t help. BUT, we made it, and Stacey and I celebrated our forth of july…. Sadly yet again without fireworks, second year in a row, boo…. Watching the sunset on the Indian Ocean. Pretty sweet really, I cant complain. We got into port on Zanzibar island at about 6.30 or so, went through immigration (another stamp in the passport! Woooooooo) and then argued again about a taxi price up to the north coast. Finally we settled, though it was still more than we wanted to pay. But by this time it was getting dark and just wasn’t worth it anymore. We did exactly what Baba had told us not to do, got in a taxi with two drivers. But, we made it up to the north coast, to Kendwa beach and since then things have been great.
We have had a lot of fun, met cool people, and enjoyed the heat and sunshine. I did really well with using sunscreen and rationing my time in the sun…. until today. So im a little red now, but have some colour now at least for the first time since college really… Ireland was oh so dreary! Yesterday was a national holiday, saba saba or seven seven, though I still maintain that 7/11 is still the best day in july… We had a great time at the huge party our resort threw, dancing and watching others dance. The locals came out like crazy for it. Watching a bunch of Tanzanian… or are they Zanzibarian?... boys dance is pretty ridiculously entertaining. We were amazed at how close they dance together, like up on each other. Guys in the states would never even dare. Also, we were intrigued, and pretty disgusted at the number of mzungu (foreign) girls who were grinding up on locals and even kissing them on the dance floor. Now we know why they offer marriage proposals and other inappropriate offers…. Some mzungu must take them up on it. Worst. I mean, not that there is anything wrong with the locals… but I don’t think I need to offer a huge explanation opinion on this one. If I offend for whatever reason, pole sana…. (im sorry for you…. Meaning, im sorry you fail to see what im intending, not im sorry I offended…)
**since we are on the note of pole, I have to tell you I think it is my favourite Swahili word. I love that there is a word that does actually mean im sorry for you…. Like when someone is sick…. In english, im sorry implies a fault of the person saying it, like im sorry I bumped into you. And when someone is sick and we say, im sorry, the often response is ‘its not your fault’ but in Swahili, you only use pole in those cases… when its not anything you have done… when it is not an apology. So good. So good. pole you had to read such a long description.. haha**
Tomorrow we leave here and head down to stonetown, where we will wander the windy, tiny streets and eat some street food… along with major doses of pepto. I am excited to see the markets and just how different it is from Arusha. Stonetown is 90% muslim, so the environment will be a little different. We have loved seeing the little girls here in their beautifully coloured dresses and scarves wade into the water. What a contrast to us in our itty bikinis. Speaking of bikinis, my bikini bottoms got stolen one night from our porch. Pretty livid. Katie said she heard American voices really close and so I interrogated the groups of American boys, telling them the prank was over, I wanted them back. After breakfast I came back to find them on the roof of our cabana. Haha. Still don’t know who took them, or why, but glad I got them back. Katie, wasn’t as lucky- hers are still missing. She has been wearing her knickers on the beach the past 2 days haha.
Overall, it has been a good break. I am slightly worried about what my students have been learning while I was away, last time I missed school and went to Emma’s they were given crazy homework that was nothing like the lesson I had left. Oh well. On Friday we will leave stonetown and head back to Dar, celebrate my birthday, then take the bus back to Usa Saturday. Will be good to be back.
OHHHHHHHHHHH. And I realized as soon as I posted the last post that I put teeth in the title but didn’t put the teeth story… haha. Opps. So for those avid readers who are a bit confused, here you go:
On Thursday of last week one of my students lost a tooth in the middle of school. He left the room and didn’t tell me where he was going and came back and just showed me the place where his tooth had been. At this point we had finised the lesson and were just kind of hanging out. I asked him where the tooth was and he told me he had thrown it on to the roof of our classroom! Why? I asked. The class collectively proceeded to explain to me the tooth tradition of Tanzania, or atleast of usa. Apparently every lost tooth must be thrown up into the air and into a high place so that a bird can come a take it away. Then the bird will bring you back your new tooth that grows in. I then explained to them about the tooth fairy and how we get money left under our pillow in exchange for our teeth. They were amazed and excited! They asked if the tooth fairy came to Tanzania and I said I didn’t know but I didn’t think so, that the birds had the tooth fairys job. It was a great conversation haha. And had I been a reallz awesome teacher, I would have told them this before he threw his tooth and then I could have told him to put it in his desk and maybe the tooth fairy would come to school. And then I could have played tooth fairy… but at the same time, I didn’t want kids pulling their teeth out intentionally so the tooth fairy could come, nor the disappointment when I left and the tooth fairy stopped coming. And I really just didn’t have the heart to tell them to truth about mamas and babas in America being the tooth fairy…. Its not like I could equate it to santa clause and they would understand…. So… maybe they think America has a fairy that flies around and takes teeth- it wont kill them to think that…. Haha.
Alright, too long. Sorry to keep you.
Life is good. where the hell has it gone though?
24 on Friday. Im old. : )
Xoxo. Nakupenda.
Habari yako?
I am writing on a friends laptop on my bed in a sweet thatch hut. The walls are straw and then have a canvas striped inside lining. The roof is all thatch and it is amazing. The beach is the whitest sand and the water is even clearer than the florida keys… the best water I have ever seen! Our hotel is basic, but nice… the restaurant is over priced like woah, but the food is good and best of all, western! No more rice and stew for this week, thank god. We also have hot water- I really had forgotten how amazing a hot water shower, actual shower head and all can be! We have done a whole lot of nothing, just sitting on the beach for the last 3 days and it has been fabulous.
Getting here was quite a trip, we left Usa at 6am on the bus to Dar, 9 hours away. We got to Dar and were lucky to have made friends with the woman sitting in front of us. We shared a taxi with her to the ferry, where we had a time of it trying to get tickets for the ferry. After a 9 hour bus ride, dealing with frustrating people was the last thing I wanted. Every book and every person we had talked to told us our tickets should be $40, so we were livid when they tried to make us pay more. I argued til I was blue in the face, even busted out some Swahili so they would know I wasn’t some stupid tourist they could just cheat. I gave them the right amount, telling them finally it was all the cash I had. They yelled at me and told me they were losing mony because of me, and I said whatever, and we left with our tickets. Worst. Really. But truthfully, that was one of the first times ive stuck up for myself travelling. So that was cool. Usually im just a pushover and pay and don’t argue.
We got on the ferry and after only a few minutes, I knew it was going to be a long hour and a half or so. We ended up eating and snack and talking a lot, trying to distract me from the rocking that was turning my stomach. But soon after we left the port, I had to head outside. I didn’t get sick, thankfully, but I knew just being in the wind and somewhere I could see the horizon would make a huge difference. It did, and I felt a lot better, but still not to best. The fact that I had been awake since 5 and sat on a bus for 8 and a half hours, and it was now late afternoon didn’t help. BUT, we made it, and Stacey and I celebrated our forth of july…. Sadly yet again without fireworks, second year in a row, boo…. Watching the sunset on the Indian Ocean. Pretty sweet really, I cant complain. We got into port on Zanzibar island at about 6.30 or so, went through immigration (another stamp in the passport! Woooooooo) and then argued again about a taxi price up to the north coast. Finally we settled, though it was still more than we wanted to pay. But by this time it was getting dark and just wasn’t worth it anymore. We did exactly what Baba had told us not to do, got in a taxi with two drivers. But, we made it up to the north coast, to Kendwa beach and since then things have been great.
We have had a lot of fun, met cool people, and enjoyed the heat and sunshine. I did really well with using sunscreen and rationing my time in the sun…. until today. So im a little red now, but have some colour now at least for the first time since college really… Ireland was oh so dreary! Yesterday was a national holiday, saba saba or seven seven, though I still maintain that 7/11 is still the best day in july… We had a great time at the huge party our resort threw, dancing and watching others dance. The locals came out like crazy for it. Watching a bunch of Tanzanian… or are they Zanzibarian?... boys dance is pretty ridiculously entertaining. We were amazed at how close they dance together, like up on each other. Guys in the states would never even dare. Also, we were intrigued, and pretty disgusted at the number of mzungu (foreign) girls who were grinding up on locals and even kissing them on the dance floor. Now we know why they offer marriage proposals and other inappropriate offers…. Some mzungu must take them up on it. Worst. I mean, not that there is anything wrong with the locals… but I don’t think I need to offer a huge explanation opinion on this one. If I offend for whatever reason, pole sana…. (im sorry for you…. Meaning, im sorry you fail to see what im intending, not im sorry I offended…)
**since we are on the note of pole, I have to tell you I think it is my favourite Swahili word. I love that there is a word that does actually mean im sorry for you…. Like when someone is sick…. In english, im sorry implies a fault of the person saying it, like im sorry I bumped into you. And when someone is sick and we say, im sorry, the often response is ‘its not your fault’ but in Swahili, you only use pole in those cases… when its not anything you have done… when it is not an apology. So good. So good. pole you had to read such a long description.. haha**
Tomorrow we leave here and head down to stonetown, where we will wander the windy, tiny streets and eat some street food… along with major doses of pepto. I am excited to see the markets and just how different it is from Arusha. Stonetown is 90% muslim, so the environment will be a little different. We have loved seeing the little girls here in their beautifully coloured dresses and scarves wade into the water. What a contrast to us in our itty bikinis. Speaking of bikinis, my bikini bottoms got stolen one night from our porch. Pretty livid. Katie said she heard American voices really close and so I interrogated the groups of American boys, telling them the prank was over, I wanted them back. After breakfast I came back to find them on the roof of our cabana. Haha. Still don’t know who took them, or why, but glad I got them back. Katie, wasn’t as lucky- hers are still missing. She has been wearing her knickers on the beach the past 2 days haha.
Overall, it has been a good break. I am slightly worried about what my students have been learning while I was away, last time I missed school and went to Emma’s they were given crazy homework that was nothing like the lesson I had left. Oh well. On Friday we will leave stonetown and head back to Dar, celebrate my birthday, then take the bus back to Usa Saturday. Will be good to be back.
OHHHHHHHHHHH. And I realized as soon as I posted the last post that I put teeth in the title but didn’t put the teeth story… haha. Opps. So for those avid readers who are a bit confused, here you go:
On Thursday of last week one of my students lost a tooth in the middle of school. He left the room and didn’t tell me where he was going and came back and just showed me the place where his tooth had been. At this point we had finised the lesson and were just kind of hanging out. I asked him where the tooth was and he told me he had thrown it on to the roof of our classroom! Why? I asked. The class collectively proceeded to explain to me the tooth tradition of Tanzania, or atleast of usa. Apparently every lost tooth must be thrown up into the air and into a high place so that a bird can come a take it away. Then the bird will bring you back your new tooth that grows in. I then explained to them about the tooth fairy and how we get money left under our pillow in exchange for our teeth. They were amazed and excited! They asked if the tooth fairy came to Tanzania and I said I didn’t know but I didn’t think so, that the birds had the tooth fairys job. It was a great conversation haha. And had I been a reallz awesome teacher, I would have told them this before he threw his tooth and then I could have told him to put it in his desk and maybe the tooth fairy would come to school. And then I could have played tooth fairy… but at the same time, I didn’t want kids pulling their teeth out intentionally so the tooth fairy could come, nor the disappointment when I left and the tooth fairy stopped coming. And I really just didn’t have the heart to tell them to truth about mamas and babas in America being the tooth fairy…. Its not like I could equate it to santa clause and they would understand…. So… maybe they think America has a fairy that flies around and takes teeth- it wont kill them to think that…. Haha.
Alright, too long. Sorry to keep you.
Life is good. where the hell has it gone though?
24 on Friday. Im old. : )
Xoxo. Nakupenda.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
baby. cake. teeth
jambo! things have been crazy since i got home from katesh and the week has flown by. teaching has been good, though my kids have really struggled. i am taking my time with them though because i really want them to learn this, as it is the basic for the rest of their math careers... algebra and finding perimeter and area when you dont know everything but one side. tuesday after teaching in the morning i went out to the orphanage, which was awesome. it has been way to long since ive been there!! i helped feed the babies lunch then got to feed jackson his bottle. I didnt even recognize him! he is the baby that had two ivs in his arm, the one we werent sure was going ot make it while we were on safari.... now he his big cheeks, no more discoloured spots on his head and he smiles and laughs and interacts. He is amazing! it was so great to see him now and how far he has come in 3 weeks.... stacey and sharon failed to give me a report on his amazing recovery. it is hopeful for the rest of the babies, knowing that they can recover from the point which jackson was at. After feeding Jackson, i went to find my baby who had been put to bed. so, i got him up so i could hold him. obsessed. really. he is the cutest thing ever. dont worry, i got the best picture of him.... you will all fall in love i promise! also our host sister, esther, has come home from univeristy, she is all graduated and looking for a job with her new degree. she is 23 and im really looking forward to havin gher home and getting to know her!
Tuesday night we cooked dinner, pasta, tomato sauce, and garlic bread for our family. it was cool to be able to cook for them. half way through the power went out, cooking in a tiny kitchen on a kerosene can stove top in the dark is pretty funny. we desperately overcooked the pasta, but it was still good. salome was so excited to have a night off of cooking... stacey and i are talking about making them hamburgers in a few weeks, which should be fun...
Wednesday was good, full of lots of teaching and hanging out with my kids. they are too fun. i love that they are serious and behave in class, but then will joke around with me between classes and at lunch. Wednesday night was agape's birthday. our youngest host sibling turned 11. we got agape a cake as our present. We had three neighbors come over for dinner, three little girls. after dinner we got out the cake and we learned the tanzania tradition. first they start with a prayer he birthday girl, all about another year for their life. then the birthday girl or boy feeds a bit of the cake to each person in the family, starting with baba then mama then the oldest down. what a cool tradition. Then we enjoyed more cake and taking crazy silly pictures with the family. what a great night, really it was one of my favorite.
Today i had a great great day at school with my students. we are still working hard on perimeter before we move on to area. During break i got to take pictures of them jumping rope -lyn they are no where near as good as you! but they make me look pretty sweet! I got some great pictures. also during lunch two of my girls refused to go sit with their friends because they didnt want to leave me sitting alone. i tried to convince them it was okay but they were having none of it. so cute. we talked about american food and they were shocked that we ate mushrooms... i had told them on pizza. pretty fun. then we spent the rest of lunch with them reading me the little red hen story from our textbooks. yes we do actually have text books- with stories. After lunch we had an extra long english period because the art teacher wasnt there, i wasnt prepared for the extra time so we read more stories and then i taught them to hokie pokie and im a little tea pot. they are older, but they love it. haha. we even did hokie pokie with put your eyes in... watching them shake their eyes all about was pretty funny.
now, im in town getting some things done for zanzibar. our bus leaves at 6am tomrorow morning and we will be there until the 12th, when we take the bus home. awesome. i am still debating about the diving course, will keep you in suspense til i get back... but am excited about seein gsome where else and getting out and traveling again. and i bought a sweet kanga... a piece of fabric you wear as a wrap skirt that has a message across the bottom, like a t-shirt. mine says dont worry about me, worry about yourself. or something along those lines. sweet.
alright, time is getting low.
know that i really couldnt be happier, that i hate that i only have four more weeks and every day ask where the hell the past 5 have gone. next time... make me take longer trips!! (and come with me! DUH!)
nakupenda sana
Tuesday night we cooked dinner, pasta, tomato sauce, and garlic bread for our family. it was cool to be able to cook for them. half way through the power went out, cooking in a tiny kitchen on a kerosene can stove top in the dark is pretty funny. we desperately overcooked the pasta, but it was still good. salome was so excited to have a night off of cooking... stacey and i are talking about making them hamburgers in a few weeks, which should be fun...
Wednesday was good, full of lots of teaching and hanging out with my kids. they are too fun. i love that they are serious and behave in class, but then will joke around with me between classes and at lunch. Wednesday night was agape's birthday. our youngest host sibling turned 11. we got agape a cake as our present. We had three neighbors come over for dinner, three little girls. after dinner we got out the cake and we learned the tanzania tradition. first they start with a prayer he birthday girl, all about another year for their life. then the birthday girl or boy feeds a bit of the cake to each person in the family, starting with baba then mama then the oldest down. what a cool tradition. Then we enjoyed more cake and taking crazy silly pictures with the family. what a great night, really it was one of my favorite.
Today i had a great great day at school with my students. we are still working hard on perimeter before we move on to area. During break i got to take pictures of them jumping rope -lyn they are no where near as good as you! but they make me look pretty sweet! I got some great pictures. also during lunch two of my girls refused to go sit with their friends because they didnt want to leave me sitting alone. i tried to convince them it was okay but they were having none of it. so cute. we talked about american food and they were shocked that we ate mushrooms... i had told them on pizza. pretty fun. then we spent the rest of lunch with them reading me the little red hen story from our textbooks. yes we do actually have text books- with stories. After lunch we had an extra long english period because the art teacher wasnt there, i wasnt prepared for the extra time so we read more stories and then i taught them to hokie pokie and im a little tea pot. they are older, but they love it. haha. we even did hokie pokie with put your eyes in... watching them shake their eyes all about was pretty funny.
now, im in town getting some things done for zanzibar. our bus leaves at 6am tomrorow morning and we will be there until the 12th, when we take the bus home. awesome. i am still debating about the diving course, will keep you in suspense til i get back... but am excited about seein gsome where else and getting out and traveling again. and i bought a sweet kanga... a piece of fabric you wear as a wrap skirt that has a message across the bottom, like a t-shirt. mine says dont worry about me, worry about yourself. or something along those lines. sweet.
alright, time is getting low.
know that i really couldnt be happier, that i hate that i only have four more weeks and every day ask where the hell the past 5 have gone. next time... make me take longer trips!! (and come with me! DUH!)
nakupenda sana
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