11/6 3 Weeks is Perfect

Thursday November 6

I was back on duty for breakfast and it was a PB & J morning. So I got there early but Mama Gracie had already made them all! As usual I also make Fatuma's milk and then sit with Vicenti, who gets annoyed with me for the first 2 minutes when I ask him how he slept but them demands me to sit next him while he finishes his breakfast. Vicenti is just so captivating - I could hang out with him all day long!

Back into preschool with Jack this morning We set up puzzle stations around the room hoping that they would move around the room and do all the puzzles. That didn't really work but at least those that wanted to do the puzzles did them. We ended with water coloring and story time.

Usufu has been sick for a couple days now - meaning he's been in bed. So after Ugi we went and hung out with Usufu keeping him company. They are really good when they are sick - they really do stay in bed all day. If you are not well enough to school  - you stay in bed. No if, ands or buts!

Back to English and computer class in the afternoon. It made a big difference today because we were in the Library with access to a big white board. They started by taking the test (that Lindsay had made, saved on a thumb drive, gave to Sara, who printed it out, who sent it down to Karatu for 10 copies!). They had half an hour to complete the test and some of them still were not finished after that. We then spent the rest of the time reviewing things they have learned so far; greetings, countries, who/what/where/why/how?, numbers, continents, saying telephone numbers, and then a spelling game. Each team sent someone up to the white board and they had to spell the word we gave them as fast as possible! They were really good spellers! Some of them may not know what the words mean - but they can spell them! All of them loosened up a bit and were laughing and really having a fun time. They asked about Molly (who had taught the class before us) and said that they missed her - which was so sweet! 

Most of the volunteers are here for much longer than we are so they have the opportunity to really make a difference. And not to mention how rewarding it must be for them to see progress on all fronts - with the children growing, speaking better and better English, and the lasting memories that the children will have of their stays here. Three weeks allows you to get into the swing of things, get to know all the children in your assigned house pretty well, get a chance to really see how well everything is run and appreciate it!. And to allow you to realize how lucky you are to be able to come here and have these incredible children touch your life..as they are, all of them, truly amazing!

I was back on for dinner at 6:30 - but ended up working out in the rec hall with Ellie and Sara until then so was a little late. I also took a freezing cold shower because the power was off all afternoon as we had no sun. It rained - it poured - and it was so loud on the tin roofs. I took a video clip - you just can't believe how hard it rains here.