Friday, July 24

Hi everyone. We are all exhausted from a draining day and some hard goodbyes to our friends here in Babati and especially at the Sinai school. The classroom we did is said to be the best in all Babati and even Arusha. Officials and parents came out to view the work. Today was basically a holiday for the several hundred kids.

The group, including our students from Woodland Hill visited the secondary school today. I was finishing up the survey of first graders - but Nieves told me that they stood in a line in a bit of shock watching dirt water being scooped out of puddles for drinking. It was fitting for this last day and made all of us remember where and why we started with water.

When the kids returned to the Sinai school, they took a walk to the old well and carried up a bucket - each one. To the delight and with the encouragement of over a hundred new friends, Anna and Ali managed to carry on their heads.

I can't tell you how many games and songs, Swahili lessons and sharing went on today. Each one of us has shook a thousand hands today and shared more smiles and good wishes. The teachers cooked us a special lunch, a feast all by fire, and there we're gifts and speeches all around with assurances that we would be welcome gain and again. I would encourage it for anyone - a trip is planned for November Thanksgiving break and July 2010 will be the installation of play power system.

After formal gifts, we sang songs to the gathering of students and teachers. I have to say we were pretty bad. We need better singers next time. We did a bit better being dragged into the traditional African dances, or at least seemed to be better entertainment. And very fun - the baseball. We were not sure how that would work out and it was great. Plus, these kids can hit!

We are packed in an overnight bag because we leave at five in the morning for safari. We sleep in tents tomorrow ( but cheating because I hear they are very nice tents!) And then safari again Sunday before heading to the airport.

Looking forward to home - Karen