All the kids are having their final exams this week so I have been helping the teachers correct and do report cards. It takes forever because everything is hand written and copied with carbon paper. Interesting huh. The kids are great though. As soon as you walk into the classroom they all stand. I address them, "Good Morning" and they said "Good Morning Teacher" I say, " How are you doing?" They all reply " We are fine teacher!" It is great. Then you have to tell them to sit down or they won't. The teachers here are really nice. There is a baby classroom, a kindergarten, Standard 1 (1st grade), Standard 2 (second grade) Standard 3, and Standard 4. They are building new classrooms for up to Standard 7.
I rode the mini bus to pick up the kids the other morning. The van is supposed to only fit 7 people and we crammed 48 kids in it. I had 5 in the front seat with me. It was insane. Every time i thought we had hit maximum capacity a few more kids showed up on the road and somehow they fit in. It must have looked like a clown car when they all came out. Another volunteer went the next day and they fit 52 kids in and she had 6 kids in the front. I also should mention that the roads are terrible here and at some points the car is on a huge slant or going up an insanely steep hill. It is really amazing that the van makes it back up the hill to Peace Matunda.
We have been playing a lot of soccer after school. We had a Michael Jackson dance party. The kids love to sing and dance. I have never seen girl dance like this before. All the little ones are moving their hips and making me feel like I suck at dancing.
I'm making hte kids do planks and pushup with me because I am going to get fat eating all this heavy food here. They don't eat a lot of meat but their diet is interesting. We have rice and pasta twice a week with vegetable and a red sauce. Once this week I had flour and water with veggies...it was nasty and is still sitting in my stomach. I had banana stew, which sounds gross but it doesnt actually taste like bananas, more like potatoes. Delicious. My favorite is this dish called Chipsimi. It is an omelette with french fries. Soooo good but sooo bad for you. Another dish is Chipati. They are like thick burritos. We put lentils or beans and fresh made guacamole on them. There is an avocado tree here so it is quite convenient. Oh yes, there is also beans and maize mixed together to make a delightful filling dinner as well. Talk about food comas.
Random thoughts because the internet will probably die on me....
I thought they all really liked the Lion King Here becasuse they say Hakuna Matata all the time but is actually means No Worries in Swahili. Go figure! I am doing my best to learn. The watchmen test me every time I walk by them, I avoid them on purpose sometimes haa.
I have my first taste of Tanzania liquor on Friday night....very interesting. Konacke tasted like gin, not too bad. Bokri was pretty good it is kind of like grain alcohol. It leaves you feeling very warm inside. Bella and Kayaa joined us and we had a nice fire while we chatted the night away.
I know these are a lot of random thoughts but I want to get as much written as I can before the internet dies or we loose power. TIA...This is Africa!
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