Jambo!

It is about 4:30 PM here which is about 8:30 AM your time. I am sitting in the large gathering hut area in the middle of our quarters (I promise pictures soon but right now my iPad only has 8% battery left so I will charge tonight and maybe try then).

School has been very interesting. I've spent most of my time in the level 2 and level 3 classes which are 4 and 5 year olds. I only observed on Monday and then they wanted me to start teaching right away on Tuesday. That would be fine except for the fact that the teacher said, "You teach." "OK, what should I teach?" "Whatever you want, teach." So I was confused. I kept questioning and asking what the lesson was supposed to be and she eventually told me math. I had seen a bit of math so I just did what the teacher had done the day before: plus and take away problems, as they call them. The students usually just draw tallies or circles to figure out the problems so I decided to try and teach them how to use a number line. The thing is that everything written on the board and in their notebooks is in English, but the teachers and students speak Swahili whenever it is possible. It is not only hard for them to understand my "accent" but simply hard for them to understand English. One or two of them grasped the concept of a number line but most didn't. I thought it was a complete fail until this morning when one of the junior teachers (they have student teachers here, too) asked me about my lesson and I saw the number line on the chalk board as I assume the students had been practicing it earlier in the morning when they arrived before the teachers. It was nice to know that they were practicing a new thing I had taught.

At breakfast this morning I talked to Mama Betty about my troubles the previous day and she explained that the teachers were supposed to show me the lesson plans but maybe they didn't understand. They are also supposed to be translating when there might be a language barrier. Betty talked to them and today was a little bit better. I think as I get used to the schedule and figure out the way these students learn, I will be able to teach them effectively. They do a LOT of singing. The teachers have asked me to teach them new songs but I could not think of any (I will take advice!) They already sing many American songs which were taught to them by other student teachers: the hokey pokey, twinkle twinkle, head shoulders knees and toes. They even sing when they are not in class! I joined some of the older kids in a game this afternoon where they sing a song about tapping on shoulders and walking through a bamboo field. It was interesting and the kids were so excited that I was playing with them. We also played a game where you throw a ball (actually rolled up socks, they also use rolled up plastic bags) to the person next to you while in a circle. Whoever drops the ball is out. They would laugh and yell every time the ball was dropped. They also say "yes" each time a person catches the ball. The thing about these children is that occasionally I will see them sad or crying because they are not feeling well, many of them are sick. But, a minute later they are smiling and laughing loudly with the rest of the children who are either playing or learning. They also sing songs at the end of the day about how thankful they are for everything they have (many of the songs are religious based, this also reminds me of another American song they sing: if you're happy and you know it). I have only been here for a few days and it is already so amazing how inspiring it is to see children with next to nothing so thankful for the small things they do have.

So, I had my first interesting adventure in Kabula. There are two other Mzungas (white people) on the farm right now, they are volunteers. Svetlana is an Australian who is participating in money management groups of people who have small businesses. Rob is a graduate of Ohio State and he is participating in mobile medical clinics. Rob was at a church and had finished for the day, and he needed a ride home. One of the drivers had accidentally taken the keys to one of the vans... I'm not exactly sure what happened but it ended up that Maurice (Reuben's son) had to go pick him up and Svetlana also had to go along because she knew the way to the church, at least she thought. I hadn't seen much of town at all so I decided to go along for the ride. It had just rained so the red dirt roads were slippery. If you can imagine the condition of the roads I mentioned in my last post and add some rain into the mix, you will understand why once we arrived back home after two hours, I was sore from being so tense. Also add in a very small bridge, a few instances when I thought the van might tip over, and multiple times we were stuck in large puddles where I was sure we'd have to get out and push. A storm was on the way as well, lots of lightning. But, we eventually found Rob and got home safely :).

Food has been fine. Breakfast is always just bananas and bread. This morning we actually had eggs because Svetlana bought them from some of the people she is working with. Lunch is usually beans and maize... Today we had spaghetti! Ugali is served often which I know is made of maize but I'm not sure what else. It is basically just a very thick dough, a little sandy, that the people here use somewhat Iike a utensil to eat their food. There are a few green, spinach looking dishes we have had, I don't remember exactly what they are called. We've eaten pineapple, more avacados, and potatoes. They put out a chili sauce to add to any of the food if you choose. I'm excited to try cooking the ugali and the tortilla type food I described before. I will ask Betty soon if I can help.

On the first day here, I was told that the Lubangas do not have any refrigeration system so everything they serve should be finished. I am trying not to eat too much so that I can adjust to the food without getting sick, but I also don't want to leave any food and be rude. Most of you know I am not shy when it comes to eating anyway. Like I mentioned before, they serve chai tea regularly, I even get some at school and it is always ready in the house around 5. I was hanging around the house and someone said to me that they were milking the cows soon for milk for tea. It never registered with me that every time we have tea, we are getting fresh milk from a cow. I am excited to milk my first cow soon!

I cleaned my room today. It sounds like a funny concept to clean my hut but it was quite a mess since I hadn't really organized yet. The other Indiana girls will arrive this weekend so I thought I'd get a few things in place. It was nice to feel organized and to have something to do. I also have quite a bit of free time. The students have 2 hours for lunch. Some of them go home and some stay and eat school lunch which they are supposed to pay for. Then I am done with school around 3. It seems I will get a lot of reading done. I am also looking forward to the Indiana students to get here so we can start brainstorming a project to start while we are here. I know that I want to paint a few of the classrooms and fix some of the windows. But I'd also like to think of something else. For example, some of the previous student teachers (including Anna, whom I've spoken with and has given me much great advice) put together a chicken coop and bought all of the chickens to bring in some money for the teachers since many of the students do not pay so the teachers do not receive their money. They should be laying their eggs soon to sell.

I've also found out through a great lunch conversation with Mama Betty today that packages do indeed get delivered here without problem. So, Mrs. Diemer, we can email about possibly putting something together. I've asked a few of the teachers what they feel they need the most and it includes construction paper, crayons, stickers, wall posters, duct tape and pencils. I'm glad I brought pencils and sharpeners because I broke the last good sharpener in level 2 today. I was also thinking about getting them some magnet paint as a better way to display students work so they don't need so much duct tape. I need a picture of my 4th grade class to show the Kenyan students what my previous American students look like since I sadly forgot to take one before i left. Collin has booked his flight so I am hoping to put him to work when he gets here, building desks, shelves, tables, and whatever else they need. I've seen the lumber in town so with a hammer and some nails he should have no problem ;). I am thinking as well to put together a few easels and maybe get them some paint and brushes as we've discussed how some more creative activities would be good for these students. One more thing I've learned is that many of the student teachers will sponsor private education for a child from the orphanage. The first orphan student who attended the school is in class 8 now and hoping to pass the test into the secondary school which is a huge accomplishment. The orphans who aren't sponsored go to public school which is not as great because it is run by the government which is quite corrupt so the teachers don't get paid and it is just not a great learning environment.

During my lunch discussion with Betty, she mentioned to me how she understands how some of us might feel like we are only helping one school become really great while the others stay the same. She said that she would definitely support it if we found other projects to do, but it is common to go into town and be told by various people that they need your help for a great cause. They realize that if there is a white person in this town, they are not a tourist and are here to help, so some of the town people will basically try to scam us. It has happened to a few previous student teachers where a man said he was trying to build this great school. The teachers asked Betty and Betty warned them that she knew this man and he wasn't telling the truth, but the students tried to help him anyway. They did follow Betty's advice of only giving materials rather than money, but the man was furious that the students were buying things without his consent and it really turned out badly. Betty was very genuine about understanding that we are students and we don't have as much money as people think we do. She knows what we had to do and what we spent to come here and she is very grateful for all of our help. She definitely does not want to see our time and money go to waste.

Creatures have decided to show themselves to me starting today. I saw a few lizards, a frog in the house, a huge huge spider and web, crazy yellow nesting birds, ant nests like I've never seen which got onto my feet and up my legs quite quickly, and I am just in general starting to notice and feel the many types of bugs a lot more. (Jen and Matt, let Graham know that I am trying to take pictures of all of this so he can see, he would have loved the giant spider I saw today!) I guess there are just so many new things to discover that I can only find so many in one day.

The last thing I'll tell you is that tonight was the first clear night and the stars are absolutely outrageous. I've never seen so many before. I could even see the Milky Way.

This was another long one! And for those of you wondering, I did not write this all in one sitting :).

Tune in next time!

PS, 4th graders... I hope you are doing great on your tests this week! You are almost done :) miss you all!