Kilimahewa and Lake Manyara
Kilimahewa is the nursery school where I am working. It is in 2 small rooms in a man's home. Mr. Massawe started the school so that his daughters, Jubee and Dollar (Jubilant and U.S. Dollar) wouldn't have to walk 5 kilometers to school everyday. There are over 70 children who attend school. I teach them for one hour, and then we have an hour break for porridge, then one more hour of teaching. Mostly we work on addition and writing. Many of the kids are not able to write well. There is a little girl named Sweetie who writes every thing upside down and backwards. The kids are awesome though, I am sad that I only have two more weeks with them (Then I move to another placement). The kids do the cutest dances. I video taped them on friday, so you can see when I get home! Friday I found out that two of my kids, Irene and Agnes, might have HIV/AIDS. Irene's parents both have it, and she has never been tested. Agnes' mom has it, and her dad died from it, and she has never been tested either. Agnes often doesn't feel well and just cries the entire first period, and then Mr. Massawe walks her home at porridge time.
On a happier note, I went on a day trip to Lake Manyara National Park. It was really cool. We saw all kids of baboons, a lot of blue and vervet monkeys, tons of elephants (right next to the car!), giraffe, zebra, impala, hippos, flamingos (far away), a dead water buffalo, 2 dead hyenas and lots of cool birds. We also saw three little Dik Dik's....they were so tiny and cute. It was amazing to see the animals so close, but it's hard to believe you aren't in a zoo or a busch gardens or something. The scenery is just amazing. It's unbelieveable and the pictures don't do it justice. There is so much green vegetation and there is so much depth when you look into the forest areas, that cameras just can't capture it.
We have 5 of the new volunteers already, and 12 more coming tonight (AH!). It's going to be a full house. It should be good though, most of the people here are so cool. I love it here.
Hakuna Matata
Maggie
posted by Maggie @ 4:15 AM
7 Comments:
Ahhhhh i'm jealous!!! That is so cool, i love safari animals. I'm going to see Rob on Friday, I'm not sure if you'll see this before then but if so is there anything you want me to tell him and if you don't see this i'll just tell him congrats for graduating from you.
-megan c
It sounds like you are having fun. =-) I know what you mean about the pictures; when you see something really cool so you take a picture, but when the picture comes out it just looks like a bunch of ordinary trees, or something!
I think that smells and sounds play a large part in our experience too. Pictures can not capture them, which means dimensions of our experience are lost.
Joe and the lovely Barbara Mahan stopped by and read part of your blog. They plan to update the generous people who contributed to your trip with an excerpt.
The renovation gets in full swing on June 12. Our lives will be turned upside down.
I miss you and love you. -- Mom
Hujambo, 31 May
How touching and meaningful are the experiences among you and the children. We were very moved by your descriptions of the little ones, with their individual life challenges. We hope you will feel good about every moment you spend with them. They must feel blessed "getting to know you" (King and I).
Ninakupenda
Aunt Daisy and Uncle Al
Sound's like you are having the time of your life! Thanks for sharing it with us. We are so happy for you. Love, Aunt Pat and Aunt Marianne
Hi Mags
I love hearing about your experiences. I'm trying to imagine myself in your shoes. Thanks for colorful images and I hope your having the time of your life. Miss you. Vin and I are thinking of you often.
Love you
Kelly
Ahh, i want to see the views and the animals. One day...
When you come back you have to have a picture party! I'm not doing much besides work, but i think that sooner or later all us girls are going to have a 'girls night'. Kind of like the one we had at hannahs, i imagine. Oh and joes graduation party is tomorrow (6/10) and the hombreys and ska-blam are playing at it, so that should be fun. Ohhh and the aquabats concert...but i don't know if you're in to them-haha. I'll keep you posted.
Stacy
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