Feb 9, 2005

 

Hi all

 

I so much appreciate hearing from you - helps with the little bit of a case of missing you.

 

I have too much to talk about and my fingers cannot even keep up.

 

First, I am feeling good and really love it here - especially the people.  They are so incredibly friendly and kind and open.  They are very patient and amused by feeble attempts at Swahili.

 

I have been at the orphanage 2 days now.  It is called Upendo which means love.  I am working with the toddlers to 3 year olds.  When we first arrived in the van, the kids ran to greet us.  I was wondering if they would be afraid of Mzungu - white people, but no, they wrapped themselves around my leg, and held their arms up to be held.  They do not speak English, but is amazing how you communicate with body language.  I today I was rocking about 8 of them on a little teeter totter and singing Old McDonald - had a few singing "ee i ee i oh!"  very cute.  They smile and laugh if I play peek a boo, or hold them - turn them up side down or jiggle them on my lap.  They react the same as any little one would.  The outdoor playground is mostly dirt, with a little grass.  It has swings and a teeter totter and that  is it.  So, we have to get creative with entertaining them.  I had brought a view master and once they understood how to look in it, they swarmed me saying "mi mi tena" (me again).  This lasted approx an hour.  Also, I had a balloon ball I brought.  Played catch and had a few try to make off with the ball and had to chase them down.  Definitely do not need a Stairmaster to get exercise here.  One little boy named Pascal is very coordinated and we played soccer with the ball. 

 

One goal was to prevent being peed or pooed on, with marginal success.  Fortunately, they call the potty chair a pot.  Easy to remember.  I saw Esto, a cute four year old with an impish personality, holding himself so took him to the pot.  As he did his business, Moodie, a busy little boy who seems to get into a bit of trouble withthe nurses,  kept running his hands through the stream making them both laugh and I didn't' have enough hands to stop it.  Made sure they washed with soap when we went in for morning milk.  The helpers are girls ages 16-20 who are training to be "nurses"  They wear bright pink dresses with a white apron.  very shy and sweet - amused by us.

 

At 10:00 we all hold hands and go in for warm, reconstituted milk.  The nurses sing African nursery songs - even harmonize - it's really beautiful.  They are affectionate with the kids.  A few months ago, when the first volunteers first started, apparently the nurses sometimes hit the kids to discipline, but the volunteer stopped them and I have not seen it.  I will correct it if I do see it.

 

After morning milk, thy kids are placed on plastic pots until they go.  It's kid of sad in a way, but with this many kids, it seems to work to get the potty training accomplished.  then they play indoors in a little room.  They hardly have any toys so resort to turning over the chairs and laughing as they bang them on the floor. I just sit down on the floor and let who ever needs a lap session come on over.  Usually there are at least 2 or 3 at a time. 

 

They eat lunch at 11:00 and it is a maize, milk and bean mixture.  They really gobble it down.

 

I also worked feeding the little 12-18 mo old babies.  Then, took them to change their wet "nappies".  Then the nurses take them and line them up on pots.  Little Noella was crying on the pot, so I was rubbing her back and singing "Twinkle twinkle".  She quieted down and another one across the room started in - so I moved over to her.  Meanwhile, Noella started in again.  I looked over and little Lucy had scooted her pot over next to Noella and was rubbing her shoulder and patting her head.  Another child came over and tried to hit Noella and Licy put her hand out to protect.  Lucy is a twin and has braces on both her feet.  I was saying to Noella "You're ok"  And then Lucy started to say "You're ok".  I really got tears in my eyes over that and said to Lucy "Mimi Kupendo we we"  I love you.  These kids touch my heart - you would love them too.

 

Many of these kids are ones whose mother has died and father cannot care for them.  they drop them off at the orphanage.  Sometimes they have a contract to take them back when they are older but sometimes they never show up and then the kids are adopted.  Most of the kids are under 8 years - the older ones go to school.  There is one little girl who is 12 who has AIDs.  She will never be adopted because no one will want her and she will die within a year or 2.  She does go to school though which is nice...  Others have no parents and are immediately eligible for adoption.  Unfortunately no one but a Tanzanian resident can adopt. 

 

The kid's clothes are kind of interesting.  There was a little one in pink pants and shirt - I asked the nurse what her name was and she told me "HIS name is Moody"  Then I realized that all girls are in dresses and boys are in pants - even if they are girl colors.  And since the clothes are all donated -a many from North America or Eurpoe, you will see little girls wearing a pink satin "Easter" dress - probably worn once by a little American girl for a special occasion and now worn by a little African girl to play in the dirt. 

 

As far as other activities in our off time, CCS has kept us busy with Swahili lessons, cultural lessons and tours.  We went by van to tour Moshi - the larger neighboring village.  We went into a grocery store and bought a few treats.  The ladies at the counter were so sweet and patient with us with our lack of understanding of the Schilling and our poor Swahili.  most speak some English which helps.

 

There is a young woman named Jesca - age 19 who has been oming over and helping translate for some of us at her placement.  She is a beautiful sweetheart.  she has her hair very close cropped, a lovely, heart shaped face and a gentle spirit.  She has finished through Form 4 secondary school and has taken national exams to move into Form 5 which is higher secondary school.  She is very bright. She and I have bonded - she is my Tanzanian daughter.  She told me that she will be my Valentine this year.  She has invited me to go with her and her family to the little Catholic church in Rau.  She took us all shopping yesterday in the market.  This is an area I would not be comfortable going alone.  Some of us women wanted to buy cloth to have a kanga (a wrap skirt which has a saying on the bottom to send a message for the day -  mine says "All you need will be provided") Anyway, she negotiated a good price with us.  It kind of makes me feel badly that we rich Americans are trying to get a low price, but I was told by a Tanzanian that is an insult if you do no try to bargain.  So, I got cloth for a conga and a skirt for $6.50.  Then we will take it to Mama Nelson, a tailor who lives across the road who will sew them for us.  Jesca told us to watch our purses because "There are cruel people and they will steal your money".

 

Mama is the title to give a woman who is older than ones self.  I get called mama a lot - nice.  Mama Nelson lives across the road in a small stucco home.  We visited her last Sun.  she said "Karibou"  - you are always welcome here".  Her 2 daughters Irene and Hosseanna showed us the baby goats and their cow.  They are very amused with us that we were holding and fussing over an animal.  Animals are just food to them.  I also found out that the culprit rooster who thinks that 2 AM is a Godly hour to awaken the neighborhood lives there.  There are chickens and roosters walking all over the yards and roads - as well as goats.

 

Rau, where we are staying is a quiet, rural village.  There are always people out walking and very few cars.  The roads are narrow paths of bumpy, red dirt.  They are lined with houses which are enclosed with stucco fences covered with Mimosa - beautiful pink flowering plants covered with thorns.  To keep out the thieves.  In the morning and at noon there are many children walking to school with their uniforms, back packs and large water jugs.  They either carry them or put them on their heads.  Each school has a different uniform and it is really fun to see the different ones.  My favorite is the red dresses with the yellow collar and red stripped socks.  The older kids in secondary school have started learning English.  They love so greet us and show off their English.  They will say "What is your name?"  Or in the afternoon, they may say "Good morning".  I hhave given up on correcting them on their afternoon, versus morning versus evening.  They are having fun greeting us and their teachers will eventually teach them these greetings.  They love us Mzungu.  The other day I went running with two other volunteers.  the kids were running along side us - holding our hands.  Very cute.

 

Moshi, the bigger village is a whole different scene.  It is crawling with cars and Dahla-dahals.  They are crazy drivers and as a pedestrian you need to make sure you are out of their way.  There also crowds of people walking the streets.  The women do dress just as you would imagine - conga wraps or colorful shirts and blouses and head wraps.  Some also wear western clothing.  The outdoor market is loud and they come out with their products in hand saying Mama, mama or Mzungu.  it is almost overwhelming.   

 

Today we asked to be dropped off in Moshi to eat and check e-mail and look around town.  After being at the orphanage, I am pee soaked and my hair is wild.  The kids pulled on my bangs and my barrette and rubbed baby food in it.  And the best thing is - I really don't care and neither does anyone else.

 

I have made a few Tanzanian friends - the staff for CCS is great.  Mama Grace - our house mom, Mama Judith who is in charge of the grounds - she looks like Maya Angelou.  she has a kindness about her.  Mama Grace is spunky and very funny.

 

We are going to try to go on safari this weekend.  We may pay for Jessica to come with us as a translator, but mainly because she has never been and it would be a huge thrill for her.

 

We may also run in the Mt Kili marathon - they have a 5 and 10 K.  Think it would be an experience and also want the t-shirt.  costs $3.00 to enter.

 

There is a little outdoor bar in our neighborhood called Deos.  We go almost every night and have one 70 Cent Kilimanjaro beer.  We have to be in at 11:00 and are usually ready for bed anyway. 

 

Well, this is probably enough for now.  I hope you are all well and having a good time in life.

 

Kwaheri - good bye and Mi mi Kupendo We We - I love you!

Kristy

 

 Entertaining the kids during potty time.