Friday 5-16-14

Friday 5-16-14

                Today, as is every Friday, was our testing day. It is also a half day, so all the kids were very excited (just as much by the half day as the testing day). We attempted at testing some of the word recognition and they do not have it yet, we will definitely have to practice that some more.

                At lunchtime I came home with the kids. After lunch all the kids go back to the school and play, but I just don’t see a need to force Ayla and Jove into staying for that. One of them found a 200tsh coin and wanted to use it to buy a half cake for each of them. So we went home first so I could drop off a bunch of stuff, then we went down to get them their half cake. We went up the hill into the village to pick up the kids clothes we had Stan make, since they were finally done. I made an attempt at getting a kilo of goat, but either I was not translating correctly or the guy was trying to charge me more because I am a mzungu. Either is a possibility, so no goat in my chili.

                We got back to the house and the clothes line had broken. Bibi Hasani came this morning so it was full of slightly damp clothes that were now all over the freshly cut grass and dirt. I nearly broke into tears. Sometimes I never know what will make me feel defeated here. I went inside though and found a piece of thin rope (it was all I could find), but when trying to tie the ends together to fix the line, that one broke. I went inside and searched some more and found a small piece of worn rope. When I tried to use this one, it just shredded. Finally I found one that would work enough and have it up, although it is much lower than it should be. I asked Mama Mbuli (aka Ruth) if she could text Mamaliz to buy a piece of rope since that one broke.

                I went inside and started getting the chili started so the beans would have enough time to get soft. While dinner was cooking I grabbed a beer that I got up in the village and went out onto the back porch with my book and read while I listened to and watched the kids. It is much nicer today with just our school kids hanging around. As I sat there, I realized Jove had climbed a tree and was hanging out with some of the boys. I listened and discovered they were up there practicing their English. First it was them asking questions like “Am I a boy?” or “Is Jove a boy?” (Having it very clear that a boy is a boy here is important). Then it turned into them practicing their counting up past 100. It was nice because they were all getting something from it. Jove got to practice his numbers and the rest of the boys got to hear some English from a native speaker (even if he does have the little kid lisp).

                We had no power and I was nervous I would forget some of the things that were happening so I had to write my journal down on a small scrap of paper I found (paper is scarce here). I am just glad power came back on so I could add more detail and get everything typed up nicely.

                I had to go back inside to check on my chili on the stove and while I stir I heard this blood curdling scream. I ran outside as fast as I possibly could. As it turns out, Lmuli either saw, or thought she saw a snake. Lmuli is Mbuli’s little sister. She is maybe three or four. Poor thing, she was so very scared. Everyone here, children and adults alike, are terrified of snakes, worms, caterpillars, really anything that looks like a snake. It makes a small amount of sense. Snakes can be venomous, and the healthcare here isn’t that great, so if you get bit, you may die.

                Samweli Stan, Freddy, Ema Alex, and Leonard were all here playing. It wasn’t many of them so I offered to read them a story or two. Little Wendo, Lmuli, and Ian were here also for story time. I read a few different books while they were all crowded around trying to be as close as they could. While I read Samweli held my foot. He is such a cuddly little boy.

                Jove showed me that he is no longer afraid of getting out of trees. He was up in the very same tree from when we first got here and he couldn’t get down, but this time he held the branch, dropped, his body down, hung then fell. I was very proud of him. He is adjusting very well the majority of the time. Ayla is getting better, but is still constantly asking for one thing or another. I just wish the selfishness about her would ease up a little. I was really hoping that seeing so many kids be happy with having so much less than she had would rub off on her. But there is still another month and a half, so I will cross my fingers and toes.

                When he is around, Samweli acts as if Mamaliz’s house is his own. He has been around since the beginning of Mamaliz being here, so he is always welcome, but I still find it amusing. I was on Skype with Asa and next thing I know, he is inside and trying to make a bracelet on Ayla’s rubber band loom. Samweli got very excited because I let him say hi to Teacher Asa on the tablet. After he said hi I told him we can play more tomorrow, but for now he needed to head home for the night since it was getting dark. He just loves it here so much.

                Now it is nearing the end of the night, so the kids will get part of a movie then bedtime for them, and I probably won’t be far behind. It has been a long day.