7/30/2010

I cannot believe that I have already been in Tanzania for over three weeks. I really don't know where the time has gone.

Here are some highlights from the past couple weeks:

We got to shave the kids heads. Last time I showed pictures everyone thought they were all little boys, but they all have shaved heads, its less maintenance and kids spread this weird infection on their heads to each other so shaving their head makes it easier to see if a child is infected. Shaving their heads was fun, for a few of them I would shave it into a mo-hawk just to see how it looked, it was cute!

A lot of volunteer left this past week. It is not only hard for the kids to say goodbye but, its hard to the volunteers who are staying to say goodbye too :( There is an immediate bond with most volunteers, you get close real quick. You spend most of your days with them and nights too and you get used to having them around. Two of the girls that left will be coming back at the end of August so I am happy I will see them again. Anna, one volunteer from England who I share a room with will be leaving on Tuesday, we've pretty much shared a room the whole time I've been here so it will be weird to have my own room.

Last week was examination week for the kids. This is one of my least favorite weeks, there is not much to do because the kids take tests all day for4-5 days. After school they have a lot of energy and they enjoy playing games to get that energy out! This week was the last week before the kids go on holiday in August. Yesterday was closing day at Yakini school, we had an awards show, and the kids sang many beautiful songs. During holiday, the boarding students will go home, with the exception of class 4, and 7 who will stay at school the whole month to prepare for their national examinations that are in exactly 37 days according to the teachers! The students, and teachers take national examinations very seriously. Last year the students did very well which put Yakini on the map for a good school to attend, the students this year are feeling the pressure, and are expected to do very well. I look forward to helping the students prepare for their exams during August.

This weekend is a busy weekend. On Saturday I am going to visit a school that is in the process of being built by a teacher(teacher Peter) that I have been working with at Yakini school. Peter is really excited about showing all the volunteers, and we are excited for him. He is the only teacher that I think would be able to teach in America, he understand the importance of hands-on learning, something that unfortunately, many teachers here don't practice.

After visiting Peter's school, I am going to a meeting with various volunteers from around Arusha. It is a group that meets once a month, as a network among all the volunteers around the area. It will be great to meet more volunteers and talk about the work they are doing. It is just a casual meeting that is at a restaurant, and all the volunteers bring a book to exchange. I am excited because I just finished the book I brought, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I need to start a new book asap. After the meeting we are celebrating a my roommates 18th birthday, she is from England and their 18th birthdays are like American's 21st birthdays so I am sure it will be an interesting night!

Sunday morning I will be up early to go with my friend Diane to visit her husbands village. Diane is originally from Canada and as been working for the Kimaro family for about a 1 1/2. She lives in Tanzania and has been married to a Tanzanian named Malik for about 7 months now. I am excited to meet Malik and to see his village, I will let you know how it goes!!