Saturday 6-7-14
So I
got to sleep in today, sort of. The kids started to wake up at 5:30 but I still
insisted that they let me stay in bed until it was almost 8am. We got up and
the kids had a nice easy breakfast that I didn’t have to do anything to make.
It is always nice when they do something like that. I talked with Asa a little
and checked emails while the kids were playing. They played with some magnetic
dolls and dressed them up. Ayla had hers say “I am the queen, and so I am going
to stay up all night” I think she may be picking something up from Mamaliz when
she was here. Too funny J
After a
little while of playing with toys inside, they went outside to play on the
swing since no other kids were here. Within seconds, a group of about six
village kids came over also. Normally this would be fine, but about a minute
later Jove starts crying. My kids come up, Ayla helping Jove. Turns out the
kids pushed Jove off the tree when he was trying to climb, ripped his pants
(although this might have been done when falling out of the tree) and hit him.
I went outside right away to chase them away and they were already running. I
yelled after them, but without Swahili I doubt they understood anything I said.
Within five minutes I saw some kids back at the swing. I walked outside and
they started to run. Mamaliz gave me permission to hit a kid with a stick here
if I have to, so I grabbed a stick and chased them for a minute. I don’t think
they expected me to do that. I tripped over a rock and hurt my right leg pretty
bad, but I got back up and continued chasing them. I jumped over a dry creek
bed where they started to slow down thinking they were safe. I didn’t want to
actually hit them, but I wanted them to think I would. So I chased for a few
more moments and hit a few trees for the scary sound effect of being beaten. I
yelled out ‘piga’ which was to beat or I beat or something like that. I hope
they got scared enough and the message spreads that the white lady will chase
you with a stick if you come, because I am done with that. They have been
banished a few times and we just keep giving them more chances because we feel
bad. Well I no longer feel bad, one of them hurt my kid and now they will all
have to pay for it. It sucks, but that is what it is. I will beat a child with
a stick if I must. I even have a nice long fresh stick right by the door in
case I need it. Now if only my leg would stop throbbing and the swelling would
stop. What a pleasant start to a weekend.
The
next while was calmer than first thing this morning. I cleaned the kitchen and
I baked some peanut butter banana bread bars. I was going to take the kids up
to Bismillah for chipati (fried bread) and I was looking forward to this, but
they began not listening, so I let them know that maybe we would try to do it tomorrow.
My banana bread turned out great and the kids inhaled it so fast I had to scold
them. I just wish they would listen. I am glad they liked it so much, but
still, listening and acting properly would be nice. I spent a decent amount of
time looking for an appropriate story to use on the midterm for reading
comprehension, but I find working on the midterm kind of soothing, so I didn’t
mind.
I
walked outside and noticed it was going to rain, and luckily Ayla was right
there and helped me bring laundry in. We had the timing perfect and if she
wasn’t there to help half of the clothes would have gotten wet. I thanked her
for helping, and then she asked me if I could give her money. What a little
stink.
I love
sitting in the living room listening to the church sing. It is so loud and
beautiful, all the voices joining together with so much passion behind them.
Anytime I get stressed I will just sit and listen and it is as if my stress
just melts away.
The
kids got bored with being home and so they decided to walk over to Joan’s house
to see if she wanted to play. Jove came running back to let me know that a boy
in Joan’s house asked him if he was stupid. I am truly getting sick of this
place today. From the older ones basically calling my son stupid (which has
happened before, many times) to the village kids acting like a pack of wild
animals, I am just ready to get home and be around people that know how to
behave (at least more so than many of the people here). Kids and teenagers need
supervision otherwise they turn out like little assholes.
I made
peanut butter banana bread bars for lunch. The kids ate so many of them it was
ridiculous, but I was glad they liked them. While they ate and played, I worked
on writing the midterms almost all day. I finally called it quits around five.
I made up some Italian seasoned beans with hot dogs and steamed butter potatoes
for dinner. The kids have been asking for that since we had lunch over at David
and Anne’s last weekend. I waited until after the kids went to bed before
eating my dinner. Just in case they were going to have one of those nights
where they wanted three helpings of food, I wanted them to be able to have it.
During their dinner time, we watched “hook”. I love that movie so much. I have
really enjoyed watching a movie in the evenings with them. Now it is my quiet
time and I am going to relax and eat my dinner, which my husband insists is
‘stoner food’ because it has hot dogs in it. I disagree, but either way, it is
tasty since I added a bunch of sriracha to the bowl. Time to enjoy my peace and
quiet.
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