The first few days (Sat-Monday)

So after 24 hours of flying and three days of traveling I finally made it to Tanzania.  I feel like the whole trip was a lot of going through the motions and when I finally arrived I was overflowing with emotions.  I got picked up my the volunteer coordinator and Peace Matunda's driver Kilane.  We drove back in an open jeep/truck.  It was dark out so I couldnt really get an idea of where I was and my surroundings but I have never seen so many stars in my life.  The sky was so beautiful.  I got to the school and met the other volunteers.  There are three other girls here now.  Kaylee from Canada, Allison from Iowa, and Kate from New Zealand.  Kimundo is the town Peace Matunda is located.  The compound is nice.   There is the school area with a few different classroom buildings, the orphanage house, the volunteers house, and then Kayaa's (the director) house. The compound  It was a Sat night so the kids in the orphanage were hanging out watching a movie on a little TV.  There are 23 orphans at Peace Matunda and about 130 kids that go to The school.  The kids instantly love you and want to know how long you are staying and when your birthday is.  It is going to be a challenge to remember all of their names.  This upcoming week is their last week before holiday so they have exams.  I'm kind of bummed I wont be able to teach as much as I thought... After this week the kids are on holiday for a few weeks so we will be organizing and hanging out with the orphans.   All in all my first night was great.  We sat around a bonfire and chatted for a while.  Still a bit of a shock that I am actually here but I am settling in.

Sunday-

It poured so hard last night!  It is the rainy season and of course I heard it because I couldn't sleep... I was so excited, anxious, jet lagged blah blah.  But waking up to the sunshine totally lifted my spirits.  In the morning we played soccer and jump rope with the kids.   I gave them a soccer ball that I had brought and they loved it!!!  They are quite good at soccer but clearly I am better :)  I am trying so hard to remember their names and I have a few down but some are so difficult to say.   These children are so beautiful and love any attention they can get.  So many of them just come up and hug me and sit on my lap.  I love it!   Hanging out with them and getting to know them reminds me of why I came here.  Their English is very good as well.  The orphans speak better English than the students who come to the school, but I can hold a conversation with them.  I am trying to learn Swahili.  I know a few phrases but I'm sure I am butchering it.  All in all the kids are great and so much fun to be around.  One of the girls was teaching me how to dance,  it should have been illegal the way she was moving her hips.  I'm going to teach her how to bounce around and Zumba to Pitbull haha. Oh, and I saw a monkey in a tree!! Woohoo first African Monkey!

Monday-
This morning I got to see all the children in their uniforms. They all line up in lines according to their class and sing the school song.  Then the older kids check all of the students fingernails and knees to make sure they are clean.  I think this is a great idea and we should implement this into schools in CT.  They all had exams this morning so I didnt get to hang out with them too long.

All of the volunteers went to Arusha today.  That is the closest town and it has the best internet.  The power at Peace Matunda has been on and off the past few weeks and is very inconsistent so Arusha is the place to be when writing to everyone and blogging it up!  We are going to go to a local market later and I am probably going to go nuts buying fabric.  The fabric the ladies wear here is so beautiful, I want it all.

Well hopefully I will be able to blog again soon.  This is my first blogging experience and since I write like I talk  please don't judge.  Love you all and Miss you ALL!!! I will be in touch soon!!  :)

Kwaheri (BYE)