I came here with an old 80gb iPod, lost that one on a daladala, I don't think it was stolen, I think I just missed my bag when I went to put it away. So, my family mailed me an old 4gb that was lying around. Not the greatest, the screen light was broken, but it worked, and that's all I need. So then that one was stolen right out of my bedroom at the hostel. I've just received iPod #3 in a package from home. Now to a 2gb shuffle. It is kind of annoying that you can't choose what to listen to, but it is forcing me to listen to something other than Bongo Flava (Tanzanian pop) and Ray Lamontagne, so I'm actually liking it. I changed my schedule at Amani so that I teach Tues/Weds/Thurs (Monday is meeting day) and now on Friday I have designated time to listen to music with the kids. They were so happy to have an iPod back, more were dancing last Friday than I've ever seen. There are some crazy dancers at Amani, it's always hilarious.
Next week I'm taking a couple kids on a field trip into town! They're being rewarded for specific things in music club like recorder, dancing, and reading rhythm. We're going to a local church where they'll be able to try out an electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drum set. Then I think we're going to a park in town to have lunch and play on the playground, I'm thinking of getting ice cream as well. So this is where some of the donation money is going to (the rest went to buying instruments).
We had some kids return to Amani this week! Michael, who was here for two weeks about a month ago then ran away. He's very smart and speaks a bit of English. I hope he stays because he's friends with a little guy at Amani who has HIV, who gets teased and beat up a lot. He told me last Monday that he wants to run away because the other kids hit him, but then his friend Michael came back so hopefully that helps him. He's become very clingy towards me and is always by my side when he's not in class. His new medicine has had some side effects lately and he's been sick and feverish, sad to see.
Next Saturday is the Amani picnic! We're all going to a lake near Arusha. I was put on the committee to plan the day, so that part is a bit stressful. It also happens that we're having a big party at the Hostel the night before, really bad timing. I'm just hoping to get through the picnic, with the help of red bull, and lots of water.
This weekend I went to Lake Chala, I've been there many times but this was the first time I used public transportation to get there...it was interesting, to say the least. The way there wasn't bad, I got in a minivan at the bus stand, packed full, non-stop to where I needed to go, which was an intersection about 15km from Chala. There I was supposed to meet my friend Tulo. I tried to call him but my phone for some reason wouldn't call and wouldn't allow me to answer calls. Eventually I was able to answer, but I was waiting there for a little bit. And it was super awkward. I was probably the only white person around for miles. I went to stand in the shade, someone brought me a stool over. So I'm sat there, and about 10ft away, too afraid to come any closer, were at least 20 kids, staring and giggling. One of them knew a little English and kept asking me for money. There was also a drunk guy, who was either mad at me or attempting to keep watch over me, I'm not really sure. Every single other person was staring at me from afar. Every once in awhile someone would come over and ask if I needed a ride, I at least know enough Swahili to say that my friend is coming. The way back to Moshi was even more interesting. I couldn't get a ride from Tulo this time, so we called a bodaboda (motorcycle taxi), who took a "short cut" on a foot path through a forest of thorn trees. They're not bushes here, they're trees. So that was terrifying, the whole time spent trying to see around his head so I knew when to dodge the thorns, did not like that at all. It was insane, I felt like I was in a movie. Once we got through the trees though we were on a wider path (a car with 4 wheel drive could take) going through fields, it's a very beautiful area of hills, and there were whole fields of sunflowers in bloom. Next was a really bad dirt road with everyone we drove past staring at me and/or yelling. This all took at least a half hour, until we got to the junction and the bus was right there, no wait at all. Unfortunately the bus was also packed, so I had to stand up for most of the ride, at least a half an hour. And by stand up I mean leaning awkwardly over a person in the seat beside me, standing more diagonally than perpendicular, leaning on a chair and holding on to the luggage rack, hoping not to fall on the child beside me. They pack more people in one bus than would ever be legal back home, and more than I would have thought physically possible, it's actually quite impressive. But I did get back just fine, with a couple scratches on my legs to show for it, but with enough daylight to walk back to the hostel, where a delicious dinner of makande (maize and beans) awaited me.
Next week I'm taking a couple kids on a field trip into town! They're being rewarded for specific things in music club like recorder, dancing, and reading rhythm. We're going to a local church where they'll be able to try out an electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drum set. Then I think we're going to a park in town to have lunch and play on the playground, I'm thinking of getting ice cream as well. So this is where some of the donation money is going to (the rest went to buying instruments).
We had some kids return to Amani this week! Michael, who was here for two weeks about a month ago then ran away. He's very smart and speaks a bit of English. I hope he stays because he's friends with a little guy at Amani who has HIV, who gets teased and beat up a lot. He told me last Monday that he wants to run away because the other kids hit him, but then his friend Michael came back so hopefully that helps him. He's become very clingy towards me and is always by my side when he's not in class. His new medicine has had some side effects lately and he's been sick and feverish, sad to see.
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| This is Michael on a study tour in Arusha, before he ran away. |
Next Saturday is the Amani picnic! We're all going to a lake near Arusha. I was put on the committee to plan the day, so that part is a bit stressful. It also happens that we're having a big party at the Hostel the night before, really bad timing. I'm just hoping to get through the picnic, with the help of red bull, and lots of water.
This weekend I went to Lake Chala, I've been there many times but this was the first time I used public transportation to get there...it was interesting, to say the least. The way there wasn't bad, I got in a minivan at the bus stand, packed full, non-stop to where I needed to go, which was an intersection about 15km from Chala. There I was supposed to meet my friend Tulo. I tried to call him but my phone for some reason wouldn't call and wouldn't allow me to answer calls. Eventually I was able to answer, but I was waiting there for a little bit. And it was super awkward. I was probably the only white person around for miles. I went to stand in the shade, someone brought me a stool over. So I'm sat there, and about 10ft away, too afraid to come any closer, were at least 20 kids, staring and giggling. One of them knew a little English and kept asking me for money. There was also a drunk guy, who was either mad at me or attempting to keep watch over me, I'm not really sure. Every single other person was staring at me from afar. Every once in awhile someone would come over and ask if I needed a ride, I at least know enough Swahili to say that my friend is coming. The way back to Moshi was even more interesting. I couldn't get a ride from Tulo this time, so we called a bodaboda (motorcycle taxi), who took a "short cut" on a foot path through a forest of thorn trees. They're not bushes here, they're trees. So that was terrifying, the whole time spent trying to see around his head so I knew when to dodge the thorns, did not like that at all. It was insane, I felt like I was in a movie. Once we got through the trees though we were on a wider path (a car with 4 wheel drive could take) going through fields, it's a very beautiful area of hills, and there were whole fields of sunflowers in bloom. Next was a really bad dirt road with everyone we drove past staring at me and/or yelling. This all took at least a half hour, until we got to the junction and the bus was right there, no wait at all. Unfortunately the bus was also packed, so I had to stand up for most of the ride, at least a half an hour. And by stand up I mean leaning awkwardly over a person in the seat beside me, standing more diagonally than perpendicular, leaning on a chair and holding on to the luggage rack, hoping not to fall on the child beside me. They pack more people in one bus than would ever be legal back home, and more than I would have thought physically possible, it's actually quite impressive. But I did get back just fine, with a couple scratches on my legs to show for it, but with enough daylight to walk back to the hostel, where a delicious dinner of makande (maize and beans) awaited me.
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