This last week has been crazy, I went to placement all last week, and the kids have been pretty good. My daily walks to and from school with Zainabu and Kalisti are long since they really like to take their sweet time, but they are the cutest kids and I'll miss them. They are starting to understand my swahili/english. I'm a little disappointed that I haven't made the effort to learn lots of new vocab, I just seem to get by on the basic vocab I picked up at our lessons. I wish I knew more. Anyways, Kalisti now answers me in english sometimes, and when I say the swahili equivilant of "tomorrow, you, wait, me here", meaning wait here for me tomorrow (kesho, we we, suburi hapa, kwa mimi). I have no idea if it is in the right grammatical order, but he understands and says "kesho hapa" (tomorrow here) and hugs goodbye.

Lots of the new group has been eating in town this week, but since I am saving my money, I am eating at homebase. The food is good, but I am really craving salad with no dressing, and milk, and meat that isn't fried. Either way, I can't complain too much, since it is pretty good. I am just tired of the meal rotation.

At school I helped my teacher rearrange the classroom from two of desks that face each other, to an arrangement that allows them to see the teacher, and enables the teacher to sit beside all of them to help them. Although Mama Justina usually just sits at her table, or is out of the classroom making porridge. If I had my way, they could hire a local person to make the uji so mama Justina can actually teach.

Nick and I also painted the alphabet on the wall, we painted 2 solid lines with a dotted one in the center and then wrote Aa Bb Cc on the lines, so that they know how the letters should look. It's my pet peeve that teachers here write in all capitals, or just use capitals whenever they feel like it. All you teacher people would be so proud of me. We also have drawn 5 emotions (happy, sad, angry, confused and surprised) on another wall. Since the kids have disabilities we hope they might be able to point to how they're feeling even if they can't express it. Either way, they brighten up the classroom.

On Friday, we went back to visit Laurenti and Prosper. Nick brought a pair of his flip flops to give to prosper, he's 13 but looks like he's about 9. He is the most adorable kid. We walked to their house and they were all home, it was cool, we gave prosper the shoes and had brought sugar and soap as well. Then we wrote in the dirt with them, and played a game of improvised basketball. We used a sock filled with dirt and tied off, and then we hung part of a broken jug off the post in the yard. They loved it, I have a video of it that I can't wait to show you. I've been taking lots of video lately since I have lots of memory left (thanks Shannon!). I hope that will help get my experiences across.

The weekend was quiet, I went into town and went to the carving market. 3 of us went to an english speaking church service on sunday, it was very ecumenical and I enjoyed it. They had the swahili service before ours, but they are combining them in a few weeks so I might go back -it woudl be cool to see the exchange there.

Anyways, this week has been going well so far at placement, I can't believe I only have 8 days left with my watoto. I'm gonna miss them. We had a cultural dinner last night, with african dancing and drumming, I have to say it was a blast, but I am exhausted today.

I should go wash my laundry, since I still want to go to town this afternoon. 4 of us are going to Zanzibar this weekend, so it's very exciting!! Indian ocean here I come. Everyone who's been says it's incredible so I had to splurge and get a plane ticket, it's a short time, we leave fri afternoon and get home sunday late/early monday mroning, so I'll let you know how it goes. I hope this makes you all somewhat jealous to picture me lying on a beach in the indian ocean, with 30+ degrees, while you enjoy the canadian winter. Sorry!!!

I'll update again soon, and as a heads up, I think the people in Tanzania are more excited than most americans that obama was elected. We had a celebration this morning (sorry to be political)!

Today is the first day I really don't feel so hot, so I am chilling at home base, I'm off to find a new book to read.

Lots of love,

Laura (See you soon!!)

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written by  Laura Collins on November 5, 2008 from Moshi, Tanzania
from the travel blog: My Adventure in Tanzania
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I am glad you were able to help Laurenti and Prosper, and spend time with them again. And I am very proud that all capital writing annoys you. :) The election was a big deal here too. Last night when it was announced that Obama had won there were people setting off fireworks on Commercial Drive. Have fun in Zanzibar! I'm already jealous that you will come back so much more tanned than me. Keep taking lots of pictures, can't wait to see them and you!

-Amy

written by  Amy on November 5, 2008

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It sounds a bit crazy, but full of cool stuff. I think its neat that you've figured out how to communicate with the kids (or the kids with you, however it works) this fast. 6ish weeks is not very long to grasp a whole new language, plus a culture, plus surroundings, plus your work, and on top of that (my least favorite) what must be incredible heat.

I think the alphabet/mood mural sounds really cool. I didn't know you disliked the inappropriate use of capital letters so much. But I'm glad your passing it on. Seriously, it is really cool. When I think back to elementary school I remember every classroom I was ever in having the alphabet on the wall. I'm sure it will help a great deal.

I'd really like to see a church service celebrating the same faith as me, but in a different culture (or mix of cultures). You'll have to tell me what it was like. Oh, I also kinda want to know about the food (even the food at your home there).

Zanzibar! Exciting! Have fun lying on the beach. I'm sure it will be great. I'm still not a huge fan of heat or beaches (as you know), but I'll try to appreciate it through your eyes. Enjoy.

In other news, I'm donating blood on Wednesday and going flying on Sunday. Should be a fun week, for sure.

Take care,

Geoff

written by  Geoff Martin on November 6, 2008

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i'm so happy that prosper got shoes!!! your videos will be worth so much to you one day...keep taking videos because when you're back home, the photos will only seem 2D to you...the videos make you feel more like you're back in Tanzania again....

i really miss you around here! we'll have so much to catch on when ur back...enjoy the last couple weeks in africa...try and make it last as long as you can...everything always passes by so fast when it gets near to the finish...

written by  shannon on November 9, 2008

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