Trip to Tanzania

July 17
We are here, in Arusha - had a real meal and have real beds to sleep in tonight. Everyone is happy and doing well. The kids are planning to swim in this hotel pool before breakfast - then we have the 4 hour ride to Babati and things will be more interesting, challenging from there. It was late when we landed and one in morning now so no one has yet seen the country here. The kids are getting along so well - Cindy led them in group talk about their journal work, and we adults are so far, so proud of them all.
Good night! Karen

July 18
We are all here and happy and eating the biggest breakfast we are able to fit. The kids are talkative with each other and getting along well - the no electronics rule is no problem, although Felix is catching some flak for skyping at the table!
We now have a four hour drive into Babati - no bathrooms from this point and lots to marvel at, we are all very excited to begin this adventure

July 19
Well, what a welcome we had yesterday at the Sinai school. First, we had visited the model school and the gardens, crops and newest fish ponds. We toured the school and met with the year sevens who are studying for their exams. Our students got up in front of the whole class and answered questions, leading to a rather lengthy explanation of "capture the flag" and the difference between football and football.
We then went to our sister school, Sinai school. We thought to meet the head teacher; it was Saturday and they had no school. You can not imagine our surprise to see over 200 kids racing toward our car singing in welcome, cheering and chanting. They surrounded us with handshakes and smiles - the parents had come too and played music and had traditional dancing. The teachers were here and then had all the kids line up and sing the Tanzania national anthem and song - then a welcome song of friendship. The whole thing was overwhelming and wonderful. So great it was to see the expressions of our kids standing amongst all of the Sinai school kids. We saw the new well - the pump is not on it yet. They come tomorrow to meet with us. Probably too much to wish that we will see the actual water well flow this week but maybe. The new well is 80 meters down and will do 15000 liters per hour.
As I sit her today and write, I am outside the classrooms we have been working on today. Daniel has been working and pounding cement floor for hours, Ali Anna and Haylie all hammered away as well, and sanded walls, then painstakenly sanded the window panes and grids. Lucas has done all that and leads now the soccer game with the local kids. Bill Pete and John have plans that involve tools, and lumber. School is out today but we have about forty visitors here ranging from age 2 to 12 and are now quite attached to everyone. There is a group of girls surrounding Anna braiding her hair. This activity has been going on for some time.
We are a bit worn out now - trying to figure out the plan to cement and paint and waiting for lunch. It is pretty hot and VERY dusty.
Oh lunch is ready - will report in later

July 20

We are here at the Kahembe guest house after our third full day in Babati - all well and feeling so welcome. Tired too, we worked all day again at the school. Today we continued working on the classroom renovations, building fames, shelves, walls, painting and fixing windows.

A group of us took all the kindergarten kids and interviewed one at a time for the friendship program we want to start in the primary. With the help of a translator when required, Haylie and Anna asked in Swahili, "what is your name" about their families and what they want to be when they grow up. We had two lawyers in the group, one doctor and lots of teachers. Interesting to our kids that the kids did not know their ages. They do not celebrate birthdays and do not keep track the way we do. Ali helped to take a picture of every child to bring back to match with a Woodland Hill young student. They will have a chance to write back and forth and hopefully make this journey when they finish seventh grade.

All through the day we had crowds of kids. Remember there are over 600 kids at the school. I tried to teach red light green light to over one hundred in the line - it generated lots of laughter, as do my efforts at Swahili. To the great delight of the kids, we have mastered counting and the kids helped me with heads, shoulders, knees and toes in both languages.

Haylie, Ali and Anna are painting a giant mural in classroom 1 - Ali's original design. All of us have painted, alot. The kids are amazed at the sounds of power tools coming from the room - John has somehow hooked up an inverter to a car?? And keeps a charge on all sorts of tools that buzz.

Another great accomplishment today was the start of the new design for the kitchen

I have to pause a moment because as I am writing this, the kids are throwing the football around, finishing up their journal writing and laughing very hard. I have honestly never seen them enjoying each other and life so much. I have never seen my own son (can't speak for the others!) work so hard.

Tonight we were honored guests in Mr. Kahembe's home. All of them sat formally and listened well. They tried the avocado juice, the chipoltes, the beans and the ginger tea. I promised them chocolate upon our return to the guest house. They did great. We have been eating really well - lots of rice.

I have to go now - everyone is gathered telling stories, like camping. It is cool out, perfect weather. Tomorrow morning we are visiting some artisan and woodworking shops. We will work at the school and the Felix and the kids, with out guide Dayo, are going to visit some kids' homes in the community. It should be something very different, maybe a bit difficult to see. Felix will go along and film and take photos.

More then tomorrow, Karen


July 21
Hi everyone - its late here now and quiet. We had another great day with a lot of work at the school. We finished our kindergarten survey and will begin the first years tomorrow.

The new classroom is coming together now - shelves are done, painting almost done, and the mural is incredible. We will all pitch in to cement the floor Friday. The projects around the school that we supported began last week. The seven classrooms are all being renovated but the year one classroom we are doing additional work on ourselves. We decided today on a design for classroom 8 - the kindergarten and future library - to incorporate some Montessori into the plan. Its a future goal.

Pete Bill and John inspected and measured the well (I observed and have the photos). The well is 90 meters deep and has 120 feet of standing water - clean and ready for the pumps. We laid out where the water tower and play power system will go next year, and planned for gardens and trees this year. The well should be operational within days and everyone here is very happy, not only with the well and all the work going on at the school, but our visit.

By the way - it was not the kids but the adults who began the conversation "what I want to eat first when we go back" and I can tell you that rice is not on that list. Food has been very good actually but there is not variety we are used to - all the kids have done great. They do not complain here at all about things like that.

I can tell you we are all dirty and dusty to an extreme. So much so we actually took pictures of Lucas' feet this evening - there is very little water to wash or shower with the way we are used to. We manage to clean up once a day but are definitely closer to not caring.

The kids (including Felix!) went on their home visits with a guide and came back with stories and memories. They want to do more and we will have them go out tomorrow or Thursday again. The kids will also be walking with a friend to the old water well and carrying water to the school for the last time. A kind of celebration is planned for the community around this Friday. I will keep you posted.

We have year 6 kids at the Sinai school (12 and 13 year olds) breaking into groups tomorrow. The girls will have a one and a half hour discussion group with 2 teachers and a guide and same with boys. the kids are feeling pretty comfortable here in their roles so that should be a great experience for all of them.

Finally - th new cook stove setup is really amazing. Ask to see the pictures because too hard to describe with words. While Nieves and Sherrie were digging the foundation today the kids gathered around and she had them singing for the food that will be cooked there - for those of you who know Nieves and her cooking, now we know the secret!

I have more but can't type more and need sleep, will try to finish tomorrow.

Karen


July 22

I am trying to attach a picture of our students playing with the Sinai school kids. They are going again to their homes this afternoon. Today is wash day and kids are dismissed a bit early so that they can do the washing for week. Our kids are going to help.

I have to run to a meeting with local community representatives and head teachers, Nieves and Cindy are at Mrs Kahembe house learning to cool some African specialties nd they will do that for those that got the dinners at the auction! The school is looking transformed.

The water company was here and we laid plans for the play power system. Very exciting for all. Karen