I have to say the 2nd week was less tiring than the first week. At least this past week we felt like we knew a little more about what we were doing. We still stay about a day ahead of the students, at most, but they probably can't tell. They were a little behind what we'd hoped they'd done, but when they said, "To be honest, by 3:00 we're tired, so we go home," our answer was, "Thank you for your honesty, but you have to stay longer than that or you won't get everything done!" Then we showed that by keeping them until 5! We discussed the word "perseverance" many times last week!
Another funny house story (actually 2) happened at Angaza, where we stay. In the beginning, you may remember we were promised the smaller of the 2 guest houses because it was just the right size for the 2 of us. We were so happy to see that it had a refrigerator, and we were looking forward to that. The first week, there were some people there who had stayed longer than expected so we moved into Jocelyn's house, the director of Angaza. They brought over a large fridge for us, and we were in business! Last Monday, when we arrived to drop off our things, we were in the larger (3 bedroom) guest house, and the girls who were showing us to our house knocked on the door until someone came and opened the door. When we walked in, there were 2 suitcases in the living room (not ours, needless to say). Turns out, we were sharing that house (and its one bathroom) with a German couple for a couple of nights! No refrigerator, but we went off to Karanse, knowing that This Is Africa, once again! By the time we got home that afternoon, our large fridge from the previous house had been delivered, and we met our new housemates! That is NOT the end of the story. That couple left on Wednesday morning (not quietly and about 3:30 a.m.), so we had the house to ourselves for a night. However, Jocelyn had a problem that we "helped" with: her bishop and a pastor (both Tanzanian men, needless to say) were coming and needed to stay at our house, so Joelle moved into my bedroom, and the 2 of them got the other 2 bedrooms! So, we figure, we really never will know what to expect!
My birthday had many happy surprises, thanks largely to Joelle's planning. I had found Reese's Peanut Butter Cups here a couple of weeks ago, and declared that that's what I wanted for my birthday! Joelle gave me a pack first thing Thursday morning as my birthday present! She had also told the student-teachers and Godfrey that it was my birthday, so the students made drawings for me, and Godfrey and the staff signed a card and sang to me at morning tea! I also learned how to say "Today is my birthday" in Swahili! That afternoon she told me she had to go into Sanya Juu (The town just down the road from us) to pick up a package, so I gave her my car keys, and off she went. I knew it must have something to do with my birthday, but I couldn't figure out what. However, she came back a few minutes later with Janet and Corinne, our fellow mentors who are mentoring at St. Dorcas, about 30 minutes away! They took a dala-dala (minibus) to Sanya to join us for dinner as a surprise! That was lots of fun! They also brought birthday brownies, and we were just starting on those when Jocelyn came over with a bouquet of flowers for me! After dinner, I took them back to St. Dorcas, came "home", and was able to call my parents and Russ so they could wish me a happy birthday! Very nice day!
My birthday extended to coming back to Arusha and going right out to eat Chinese food with another couple of friends (and getting not 1 but 2 new pairs of earrings), then another pair of earrings on Sunday at church, and lots of birthday wishes on facebook!
Then, yesterday, several of us went back to Cradle of Love orphanage and held babies and toddlers for a couple of hours, then helped feed them dinner. Stil one of my favorite things to do.
The plan this week is to help in the preschool here at Joshua, have a new couple over for dinner tonight, work on materials for next week, do laundry, etc. The big excitement is Joanna's engagement party this coming Saturday night! Sarah, Vicky, and I are doing the chickens for that: cutting them up and marinating them for barbecuing. It should be a great party, as we're all so excited for Joanna and Simon, a pastor here at the college. Then, before I know it, it will be time to head back to Karanse!
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