Hello Avid readers- LOL.
Don' know who is actually reading this, although I am sure Anne is and will soon yell at me for pictures! (don't worry, they are coming).
HOWEVER, If you are reading and want to help me, heres your first chance!
Gulu will officially have a new Kickball League!
Yes, thats right the crazy muzungu (white girl) is going to teach these kids to play kickball!
Our program is based around a new league that will teach kids manners and sportsmanship, include HIV and health seminars, tutoring and education workshops, and Role Model days with memebers of the community presenting about their careers and the value of education.
Now here is where you come in! We need balls! I will purchase one or two, but we need a decent lot for practices and to make this program sustainable- which is my biggest hope!
A ball here is about $5 give or take. SO if you can skip your morning starbucks for a morning and help me buy some balls that would be AWESOME!! you can send cash money or a check to my parents who can put it into my account and then I can head to town and make the purchase!
Truely, one ball will make a huge difference.
The address is:
317 Brandywine Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
We allllll loved kickball on our playgrounds growing up, and shoot, there are adult leagues all over NC.... can you imagine a village of Ugandan kids, whove lived through 20 years of war running the bases and laughing hysterically at me? Cuz I can!
More to come on the program soon as it fully comes together, but with your help, it will last not only through the summer while I am here to fund it (kinda... as best I can...) but will continue once I leave.
Afoyo(Thank You) from the children of Gulu
Libby
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
riots that never rioted
so today we went in to town despite the riots... or threat of riots. I have never seen so many police and miliary police in my life, much less that many ak47s or whatnot and strings of bullets. wowzers this town is going crazy. The opposition leader, or the real president, was suppose to come back today but the ugandan gov kept him from getting on the plane, telling kenyan airways that the flight would not be allowed to land if the leader was on it. There were people all over the streets waiting to welcome him back as he is the popular president. Basically museveni rigged the election so he can stay in office and thus the riots about the swearing in tomorrow. Cops with tear gas bottles everywhere- Hope laughed when I said I wouldnt mind getting tear gased.... bahaha, hey its an experience no? mom dont freak out, it didnt happen.
We also went to samaritans purse offices today and I got to see the other end of the operation christmas child. Hope has not recieved the gifts for this year and apparently was left off the list for those shoe boxes we pack in the US and store in the warehouse in boone. apparently a lot of people apply to receive boxes then sell them in the markets though, so the office was talking a lot about adjusting the system and how they have recently completely excluded the jinja district because of corruption. apparently, children are only suppose to get one bx in their lifetime and thats not happening. I also learned that only 40 kids per application go through the discipleship course, unlike my thought that all the kids must profess their belief in jesus before receiving a box, which i had a problem with. So it was good to hear that isnt the case. we will go back tomorrow to meet with them to ensure that gulu is on the list for next year and see about getting boxes this year since it was their error. would be very fun to give out boxes, not quite a toms shoe drop, but still cool, since ive seen the other side in boone.
I used my first pit toilet today! Now I feel like I am in Africa! there is something about peeing in a hole in thw ground that is just so different its wonderful. I also turned my cell on today to look at the calendar and noticed that somehow my google running calendar was imported to my phone! WORD! Blue Ridge runners... i have the schedule now too and will do my best... the 14 mile run my last weekened will not happen though! i did see a white guy running with a jogging stroller today and had to explain to hope and julius that they are common, tey thought he wsa crazy for running with it lol. got the go ahead to run in shorts though- DARN it should have brought some.
alright, distracted by the soap!
take luck
We also went to samaritans purse offices today and I got to see the other end of the operation christmas child. Hope has not recieved the gifts for this year and apparently was left off the list for those shoe boxes we pack in the US and store in the warehouse in boone. apparently a lot of people apply to receive boxes then sell them in the markets though, so the office was talking a lot about adjusting the system and how they have recently completely excluded the jinja district because of corruption. apparently, children are only suppose to get one bx in their lifetime and thats not happening. I also learned that only 40 kids per application go through the discipleship course, unlike my thought that all the kids must profess their belief in jesus before receiving a box, which i had a problem with. So it was good to hear that isnt the case. we will go back tomorrow to meet with them to ensure that gulu is on the list for next year and see about getting boxes this year since it was their error. would be very fun to give out boxes, not quite a toms shoe drop, but still cool, since ive seen the other side in boone.
I used my first pit toilet today! Now I feel like I am in Africa! there is something about peeing in a hole in thw ground that is just so different its wonderful. I also turned my cell on today to look at the calendar and noticed that somehow my google running calendar was imported to my phone! WORD! Blue Ridge runners... i have the schedule now too and will do my best... the 14 mile run my last weekened will not happen though! i did see a white guy running with a jogging stroller today and had to explain to hope and julius that they are common, tey thought he wsa crazy for running with it lol. got the go ahead to run in shorts though- DARN it should have brought some.
alright, distracted by the soap!
take luck
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
busy busy bees
woah, a crazy two days. Still not really sleeping well, so that makes it even more crazy. I hear the roosters from about 2.30 to 4.30 or 5 every morning. grrrr.
Yesterday Hope and I met to go over things and start really looking into what I will be doing. Ive learned a lot about Gulu and am anxious to get up there. Invisible Children and my interest has given me a good background but there is still so much to learn and understand. The children are decades behind in school, with 20 year olds just now finishing primary school. Those over the age of 25 will never get the opportunity for traditional schooling, which is a big part of the problem in Gulu. When they are on holidays there is nothing for the kids and they have three terms a year and three breaks of around one month each and then two months at christmas. I am charged with creating a kids club of sorts that ill entertain them on the weekends and in the breaks.
OHHH overwhelming! Basically she wants me to plan and run a program this summer for the kids, but also design it to be sustainable after I leave... uh and im suppose to plan it this week and begin running it next week when I get to Gulu... Sowos.. think IP final assignment in one week minus the background info. insane. feel pretty overwhelmed with it all, particularly never seeing the place, kids, or "facilities" I am suppose to function within. Budget is err zero, and I will be writing to Unicef and the other international organizations in the area to get donations and support. WOAH. No way is this going to happen by next week, so I dont know how that conversation will go. Ive drawn up a plan... yes, kickball is coming to Gulu, but havent had a chance to run it by Hope. The program is supposed to be HIV education and lifeskills oriented, with a sport aspect... but i say you cant get kids to come without sport as the highlight. so we will see. Amazing experience, i suppose, if i can pull it off. Not what I thought I would be doing, but thats ok... thank God ive had Integrated practice last semester so i have a concept of program planning.... Gina Chowa would be oh so proud- or well, lets hope this falls together.
I got a cell phone yesterday and changed money. woah downtown kampala is overwhelmingly big and crowded as hell. my cell phone has two sim cards, so two phone numbers, which i think is pretty spiffy! One has a network that calls the US cheaply- they have told me 20 min for a dollar! but last night, i talked for 30 and it said over 7,000 shillings, so $3. the other calls cheaply in Uganda. I will need it a lot as Hope will be in Kampala 50% of the time and i will be in Gulu leading the program alone. oh ya, suppose I should mention the whole language barrier with leading a program. planning is one thing but I am to lead this program with a target of 45 kids who dont speak english! AWESOME! and the only acholi word I learned isnt even a word and now all i know is afoyo- hello and thank you! Bahaha. that will be a good program!
Today we spent the day in town again, still big and crowded but not as overwhelming. went to buy a flashlight and for a meeting with two board members for the NGO. The flashlight is pretty cool, you plug it in to recharge it. then we went to the market and bought all kinds of veggies and things. dried fish! it was crazy and I got asked to buy all kinds of things. ah the joys of hearing muzungu (white person) again... and the kiddos either waved or cried, which is always fun, lol. Traffic is crazy and we actually ran out of gas twice in the city, lol. i am learning to be patient! gas is about $6 a gallon here which is out of control. in the four days ive been here i think ive been to a gas station about 15 times bc you can only afford a few liters at a time!
I am dirty and sweaty, but all in all its been a good day. Seriously thinking about my ability to happily live in Nairobi for a semester... big African cities are not for me! ahh leave that for another time. havent touched any program planning today and still havent even run the ideas by Hope, yeaaaa not gonna happen by the end of the week.
Am ready to get to Gulu and be settled. Am going to have a bike to ride the 6k to work each day. She bought a boda (motorcycle) but I tried to get away from that... apparently thats how people die the most when they travel. I am sure I will have to ride one at some point, but no way am i tryin to drive one every day! leg power on the bike please, and even that makes me nervous seeing how people drive here! it is hotter in Gulu, which I am not looking forward to- should have brought my big straw floppy hat! oh well, getting used to sweating and working on the water consumption.
all in all, things are good. miss home and people a lot- have had some crazy dreams...
So whether you are SHACing, working crazy 13 hour Mondays, or relaxing- know that you are thought about in Uganda!
Yesterday Hope and I met to go over things and start really looking into what I will be doing. Ive learned a lot about Gulu and am anxious to get up there. Invisible Children and my interest has given me a good background but there is still so much to learn and understand. The children are decades behind in school, with 20 year olds just now finishing primary school. Those over the age of 25 will never get the opportunity for traditional schooling, which is a big part of the problem in Gulu. When they are on holidays there is nothing for the kids and they have three terms a year and three breaks of around one month each and then two months at christmas. I am charged with creating a kids club of sorts that ill entertain them on the weekends and in the breaks.
OHHH overwhelming! Basically she wants me to plan and run a program this summer for the kids, but also design it to be sustainable after I leave... uh and im suppose to plan it this week and begin running it next week when I get to Gulu... Sowos.. think IP final assignment in one week minus the background info. insane. feel pretty overwhelmed with it all, particularly never seeing the place, kids, or "facilities" I am suppose to function within. Budget is err zero, and I will be writing to Unicef and the other international organizations in the area to get donations and support. WOAH. No way is this going to happen by next week, so I dont know how that conversation will go. Ive drawn up a plan... yes, kickball is coming to Gulu, but havent had a chance to run it by Hope. The program is supposed to be HIV education and lifeskills oriented, with a sport aspect... but i say you cant get kids to come without sport as the highlight. so we will see. Amazing experience, i suppose, if i can pull it off. Not what I thought I would be doing, but thats ok... thank God ive had Integrated practice last semester so i have a concept of program planning.... Gina Chowa would be oh so proud- or well, lets hope this falls together.
I got a cell phone yesterday and changed money. woah downtown kampala is overwhelmingly big and crowded as hell. my cell phone has two sim cards, so two phone numbers, which i think is pretty spiffy! One has a network that calls the US cheaply- they have told me 20 min for a dollar! but last night, i talked for 30 and it said over 7,000 shillings, so $3. the other calls cheaply in Uganda. I will need it a lot as Hope will be in Kampala 50% of the time and i will be in Gulu leading the program alone. oh ya, suppose I should mention the whole language barrier with leading a program. planning is one thing but I am to lead this program with a target of 45 kids who dont speak english! AWESOME! and the only acholi word I learned isnt even a word and now all i know is afoyo- hello and thank you! Bahaha. that will be a good program!
Today we spent the day in town again, still big and crowded but not as overwhelming. went to buy a flashlight and for a meeting with two board members for the NGO. The flashlight is pretty cool, you plug it in to recharge it. then we went to the market and bought all kinds of veggies and things. dried fish! it was crazy and I got asked to buy all kinds of things. ah the joys of hearing muzungu (white person) again... and the kiddos either waved or cried, which is always fun, lol. Traffic is crazy and we actually ran out of gas twice in the city, lol. i am learning to be patient! gas is about $6 a gallon here which is out of control. in the four days ive been here i think ive been to a gas station about 15 times bc you can only afford a few liters at a time!
I am dirty and sweaty, but all in all its been a good day. Seriously thinking about my ability to happily live in Nairobi for a semester... big African cities are not for me! ahh leave that for another time. havent touched any program planning today and still havent even run the ideas by Hope, yeaaaa not gonna happen by the end of the week.
Am ready to get to Gulu and be settled. Am going to have a bike to ride the 6k to work each day. She bought a boda (motorcycle) but I tried to get away from that... apparently thats how people die the most when they travel. I am sure I will have to ride one at some point, but no way am i tryin to drive one every day! leg power on the bike please, and even that makes me nervous seeing how people drive here! it is hotter in Gulu, which I am not looking forward to- should have brought my big straw floppy hat! oh well, getting used to sweating and working on the water consumption.
all in all, things are good. miss home and people a lot- have had some crazy dreams...
So whether you are SHACing, working crazy 13 hour Mondays, or relaxing- know that you are thought about in Uganda!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
ahh Uganda!
Hello All,
arrived all fine and well, but exhausted, on saturday morning. Flights were decent, long but not miserable. The Ethiopian behind me hated me for leaning my seat back and periodically poked my seat over and over, suppose eventually she figured out I didnt care. and crap movies, sadly. but guess that made me sleep more. So far, Kampala looks a lot like Tanzania. Just more frustrating that I don't know any of the langauge and I havent been able to find a fanta passion yet! grrr.
I will be staying in Kampala until thursday or friday, so that is a change of plans. MOM stop reading and skip to the next paragraph.... The recent election has sparked riots in the area and the swearing in is this thursday. Hope, the director of the NGO I am working for is having asthma flare ups from the tear gas used to break up the riots and so we will lay low and work in the office here for the week and travel late in the week.
MOM you can start reading again, I am safe and well, so all is good. yesterday I spent the day chatting with Hope and getting to see how her mother's placement agency for housegirls, drivers, and hotel staff works. One girl came in for a placement and was 22. She had recently lost her only child to malaria. The baby was 7 months old. She spoke so matter of factly about it, accepting it as a way of life I suppose. Um, if my baby had died, I would be a hot mess, not out looking to work with someone elses children! I was not sure really how to take all this.
I have spent the day in Hope's home with her and her family, chatting, eating chipati and pilau (a rice and goat dish) and lying in the yard helping her children with their school work.
My life here in Kampala will be swanky for the week, im staying in Hope's families guesti, and have my own bathroom with an actual shower and toilet! she asked me if it was ok, and i told her it was beyond any expectation. She laughed telling me that the last volunteer refused it and was taken to the hilton, LOL. She is excited to work with someone so unfussy!
It is HOT here, forget the 64 degree nights I expected in Gulu. Last night I slept just under my net and sill struggled after waking up from my 5pm bedtime (jet lag sucks)
Today as cooler, so hopefully tonight will be better.
Bugbite count: 2.
will post more soon.
take luck my loves!
arrived all fine and well, but exhausted, on saturday morning. Flights were decent, long but not miserable. The Ethiopian behind me hated me for leaning my seat back and periodically poked my seat over and over, suppose eventually she figured out I didnt care. and crap movies, sadly. but guess that made me sleep more. So far, Kampala looks a lot like Tanzania. Just more frustrating that I don't know any of the langauge and I havent been able to find a fanta passion yet! grrr.
I will be staying in Kampala until thursday or friday, so that is a change of plans. MOM stop reading and skip to the next paragraph.... The recent election has sparked riots in the area and the swearing in is this thursday. Hope, the director of the NGO I am working for is having asthma flare ups from the tear gas used to break up the riots and so we will lay low and work in the office here for the week and travel late in the week.
MOM you can start reading again, I am safe and well, so all is good. yesterday I spent the day chatting with Hope and getting to see how her mother's placement agency for housegirls, drivers, and hotel staff works. One girl came in for a placement and was 22. She had recently lost her only child to malaria. The baby was 7 months old. She spoke so matter of factly about it, accepting it as a way of life I suppose. Um, if my baby had died, I would be a hot mess, not out looking to work with someone elses children! I was not sure really how to take all this.
I have spent the day in Hope's home with her and her family, chatting, eating chipati and pilau (a rice and goat dish) and lying in the yard helping her children with their school work.
My life here in Kampala will be swanky for the week, im staying in Hope's families guesti, and have my own bathroom with an actual shower and toilet! she asked me if it was ok, and i told her it was beyond any expectation. She laughed telling me that the last volunteer refused it and was taken to the hilton, LOL. She is excited to work with someone so unfussy!
It is HOT here, forget the 64 degree nights I expected in Gulu. Last night I slept just under my net and sill struggled after waking up from my 5pm bedtime (jet lag sucks)
Today as cooler, so hopefully tonight will be better.
Bugbite count: 2.
will post more soon.
take luck my loves!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Welcome Back!
Welcome friends, old and new!
I've given the old Tanzania blog a new face (think its highly appropriate so you can see what I see!) and updated it for Uganda! Feel free to scroll way down and read about TZ!
This is the space where I will post about my time in Uganda since I loathe group emails!
You can subscribe at the bottom and it should email you each new post.
Or you can just bookmark and check as often as you'd like!
I do not really know what my internet access will look like, though the NGO director seems to get back to me pretty quickly. Fingers crossed, she will let me nip into her office every now and again : )
Internet, as available as it may be, will be slow... You all know I am crazy about grammer and a horrible speller... I won't be editing much with the slow speeds and limited time online, so please forgive me! (KB, especially you, crazy journalist!)
I love you all and am so excited you get to share in this trip with me.
After almost ten years of dreaming of Gulu.... I can't believe I am really going!
Take Luck,
Libby
I've given the old Tanzania blog a new face (think its highly appropriate so you can see what I see!) and updated it for Uganda! Feel free to scroll way down and read about TZ!
This is the space where I will post about my time in Uganda since I loathe group emails!
You can subscribe at the bottom and it should email you each new post.
Or you can just bookmark and check as often as you'd like!
I do not really know what my internet access will look like, though the NGO director seems to get back to me pretty quickly. Fingers crossed, she will let me nip into her office every now and again : )
Internet, as available as it may be, will be slow... You all know I am crazy about grammer and a horrible speller... I won't be editing much with the slow speeds and limited time online, so please forgive me! (KB, especially you, crazy journalist!)
I love you all and am so excited you get to share in this trip with me.
After almost ten years of dreaming of Gulu.... I can't believe I am really going!
Take Luck,
Libby
Thursday, July 31, 2008
last one. siiiiigh
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.
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.
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
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