so first things first... fran is having a GIRL. i found out a few days ago. Mary is so pumped. she wanted a sister so bad she could taste it. I think they have decided on the name Grace. I'm a big fan.
Africa continues to be amazing. WE are in Hanga now, staying at the Abbey here. Monday i am to be teaching an english to kids in form 7 (equivalent of 7th grade). I have no idea what i am going to do. My friend Sarah, is elem. ed. so hopefully she can help me out.
Today we walked a total of 5 miles to go see the trade school that the monks here run. It was a really pretty place, full of bananas, ducks, and such.
Sorry this is so short, but i don't have much time.
Know that i continue to enjoy myself immensely. I will hopefully get a chance to write again soon. we leave for mamba bay on wedneday.
Love always,
MaryAlice
ps. you would be amazed at the amount of goats here....
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
oh what a week!
It is been a week since i have last written. And for a week i have been in Imiliwaha. We traveled the long journey from Dar el salam to Imiliwaha with numerous complications. We left DAR at 4 am with an eta of 6 pm. We didn't get to Imili until 1230am! Our van ended up getting a flat and we had to replace it on the side of the road. And then a few hours later the same tire blew out entirely. We had to go to a gas station and get a replacement. This would have been an easy enough task if any of the workers knew how to change a tire. We sat at that gas station for 4 hours while the workers tried to replace, and finally some of us (not me!) took over and did it ourselves.
But we are here in Imiliwaha now and it has truly been a life changing few weeks. There are over 200 nuns who live in this compound. The nuns here run everything, cook all thier own food, run their own shops etc. There is a jewelry maker, a candle maker, there is a health clinic, a flour machine.
My first day here i worked at the orphange. There are 47 children ranging in age from 6weeks to 13 years. It was quite overwhelming as the children have no toys besides some crayons and blocks. When i first arrived with my friend Grace there were a dozen toddlers just wandering around the building unwatched. We started to play with them. There were so bright and happy. I found myself throughout the day in awe of their quick wit, hardy laughs, and beautiful hearts. I have visited the orphange once more (today) and got to interact with some of the older kids (7-9) as well. There were just as sweet. Because none of them can speak english and my swahili is nil, there is a huge language barrier. But a shoulder ride, a hug, a smile has a language we both can understand. One of the ladies, Barbara, is a volunteer nurse at the orphange and is staying in the room next to me. she is from Switzerland and the love and care that i see her give to these children is amazing. She is wonderful lady; a ray of sunshine to a rather dark place.
WHen i am not working at the orphange i can be found at the corn mill. Where i grind corn in a machine and it comes out as flour. It is quite a boring job, especially after 3 days, but Nick (our instructor) is hilarious and keeps it fun. There are four workers at the mill- 2 boys and 2 girls. One's name is John and Nick has set us up to be married! the ceremony was yesterday at 2pm at the corn mill factory and there were many in attendance. I wore capris and a smelly tshirt, and i don't think John had/has showered in weeks! But it was all in good fun, and we took pictures of the magical moment.
the nuns here are great! they sing and dance with us at dinner every night and usually stay up afterwards and play cards or talk with us. One in particular, Sr. Varellia (sp?) is hilarious and reminds me of a rapper. Before we knew her name, my friend Beth and i referred to her as "G-unit." Even now, although i know her name i find myself calling her that in my head.
Tomorrow there is a big celebration. Everyone in the town has been decorating the streets. There is a huge festival with lots of singing and dancing. I look forward to seeing everyone outside having a good time. It will truly be an experience.
We leave for Hanga on Wednesday and will be staying in the Abbey there. Hopefully i will get to write again. But there is only one computer for over 300 people so i don't know if that will fly.
Know i am having a great time and trying to absorb as much as i can so i can tell you everything when i return.
Love always,
MaryAlice
But we are here in Imiliwaha now and it has truly been a life changing few weeks. There are over 200 nuns who live in this compound. The nuns here run everything, cook all thier own food, run their own shops etc. There is a jewelry maker, a candle maker, there is a health clinic, a flour machine.
My first day here i worked at the orphange. There are 47 children ranging in age from 6weeks to 13 years. It was quite overwhelming as the children have no toys besides some crayons and blocks. When i first arrived with my friend Grace there were a dozen toddlers just wandering around the building unwatched. We started to play with them. There were so bright and happy. I found myself throughout the day in awe of their quick wit, hardy laughs, and beautiful hearts. I have visited the orphange once more (today) and got to interact with some of the older kids (7-9) as well. There were just as sweet. Because none of them can speak english and my swahili is nil, there is a huge language barrier. But a shoulder ride, a hug, a smile has a language we both can understand. One of the ladies, Barbara, is a volunteer nurse at the orphange and is staying in the room next to me. she is from Switzerland and the love and care that i see her give to these children is amazing. She is wonderful lady; a ray of sunshine to a rather dark place.
WHen i am not working at the orphange i can be found at the corn mill. Where i grind corn in a machine and it comes out as flour. It is quite a boring job, especially after 3 days, but Nick (our instructor) is hilarious and keeps it fun. There are four workers at the mill- 2 boys and 2 girls. One's name is John and Nick has set us up to be married! the ceremony was yesterday at 2pm at the corn mill factory and there were many in attendance. I wore capris and a smelly tshirt, and i don't think John had/has showered in weeks! But it was all in good fun, and we took pictures of the magical moment.
the nuns here are great! they sing and dance with us at dinner every night and usually stay up afterwards and play cards or talk with us. One in particular, Sr. Varellia (sp?) is hilarious and reminds me of a rapper. Before we knew her name, my friend Beth and i referred to her as "G-unit." Even now, although i know her name i find myself calling her that in my head.
Tomorrow there is a big celebration. Everyone in the town has been decorating the streets. There is a huge festival with lots of singing and dancing. I look forward to seeing everyone outside having a good time. It will truly be an experience.
We leave for Hanga on Wednesday and will be staying in the Abbey there. Hopefully i will get to write again. But there is only one computer for over 300 people so i don't know if that will fly.
Know i am having a great time and trying to absorb as much as i can so i can tell you everything when i return.
Love always,
MaryAlice
Sunday, May 18, 2008
GO FISH!
Good evening from Tanzania!
today we woke up bright and early- ate breakfast at 7am (eggs, bread, coffee) and went to church at 8. The mass was in english, although they also have it in swahili and german. the music was really nice- the people were so enthusiastic you couldn't help but sing along.
when we got home from mass i went up to the patio to hang out. the only people there were brother credin and brother randon (sp?). br. credin came up to me and was curious about my deck of cards (they aren't mine dad, i borrowed them from my friend Maddie :)... I tried to explain them to him. "teach me a game" he said in his quiet, broken english. i thought the easiest game for someone who didn't even know what a deck of cards were would be GO FISH. br. credin and i played a few games by ourselves, but after br. randin saw how much fun we were having, he couldn't help but join in! there was a lot of laughter at that patio table. after a handful of games, other CSBSJU kids came. Mannie, Grace and another brother ended up joining us as well.
During lunch it started downpouring. the people say it does that here alot, but it never lasts very long. which was made evident by the fact that not five minutes after it started raining, Ben and i went out there to run in the rain it had already stopped. We decided to walk around. we ended up in a neighborhood. There were no roads in the village, only dirt. people were cooking outside their houses on stoves. there was trash everywhere, and tons of chickens roaming around. the people there greeted us kindly. the kids waved and gave us thumbs up! Ben is en route back as i type to give the kids some toys.
tomorrow, if the weather is nice we are suppose to go to the beach. nice and relaxing (as if i haven't been doing enough of that since i got here:)
i don't know what we have planned for the rest of the day- but i am sure it will be eventful!
i have not found a phone to call home yet, so this might be my only means of communication for awhile.
today we woke up bright and early- ate breakfast at 7am (eggs, bread, coffee) and went to church at 8. The mass was in english, although they also have it in swahili and german. the music was really nice- the people were so enthusiastic you couldn't help but sing along.
when we got home from mass i went up to the patio to hang out. the only people there were brother credin and brother randon (sp?). br. credin came up to me and was curious about my deck of cards (they aren't mine dad, i borrowed them from my friend Maddie :)... I tried to explain them to him. "teach me a game" he said in his quiet, broken english. i thought the easiest game for someone who didn't even know what a deck of cards were would be GO FISH. br. credin and i played a few games by ourselves, but after br. randin saw how much fun we were having, he couldn't help but join in! there was a lot of laughter at that patio table. after a handful of games, other CSBSJU kids came. Mannie, Grace and another brother ended up joining us as well.
During lunch it started downpouring. the people say it does that here alot, but it never lasts very long. which was made evident by the fact that not five minutes after it started raining, Ben and i went out there to run in the rain it had already stopped. We decided to walk around. we ended up in a neighborhood. There were no roads in the village, only dirt. people were cooking outside their houses on stoves. there was trash everywhere, and tons of chickens roaming around. the people there greeted us kindly. the kids waved and gave us thumbs up! Ben is en route back as i type to give the kids some toys.
tomorrow, if the weather is nice we are suppose to go to the beach. nice and relaxing (as if i haven't been doing enough of that since i got here:)
i don't know what we have planned for the rest of the day- but i am sure it will be eventful!
i have not found a phone to call home yet, so this might be my only means of communication for awhile.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
finally
Well after many hours i am finally in Tanzania! \i have spent over 20 hours on a plane in the last 48 hours. i am beat! but really excited to finally be in AFrica.
i met my group thursday in minneapolis. we caught a plane to D.C. and slept there for the night. not really slept, maybe just rested my eyes. it was hard to sleep while sitting upright in a chair. friday we woke up headed for Ethopia. The plane ride was uneventful, especially since i slept for the first 6 hours. So was only awake for 4. We then took a plane for tanzania.
And that is where i am now. In the first few minutes from getting out of the airport, we had beggers asking for money. It is so sad, and all you want to do is give it to them... There was a boy standing by our car while we were loading up. He was in ragged clothes and was walking around with no shoes on. It broke my heart. He wasn't asking for money, I think he was mesmorized by 10 white kids! from the airport we went to the monastary. while driving there we tons of people just standing in the streets, not going anywhere, just hanging out. it was the oddest thing. many of them were alone, just standing in the streets. i asked nick, our guide, what they were doing and he replied #they don't have jobs, or are off of work, what else are they going to do#
as soon as i got to the monastery i took a shower, and flooded the entire room. in the bathroom the water falls right on the toliet. i stood and took a shower. and when i was done i saw that the bathroom floor was flooded. no big deal i thought, as i saw it was draining, at a slow pace, but draining. when i opened the door to go to my room, keep in mind the bathroom is connected to our room, much to my surprise i saw that they entire flood was covered in water!!!!! lesson= take quicker showers!
we are staying in the monastery for 2 days. tomorrow we are going to church, and then the beach. i am hoping to go to bed early, hopefully.
so this is a long one, i don't know how often i am going to be able to write. these computers are extremely slow.
write again soon...
love always,
MaryAlice
i met my group thursday in minneapolis. we caught a plane to D.C. and slept there for the night. not really slept, maybe just rested my eyes. it was hard to sleep while sitting upright in a chair. friday we woke up headed for Ethopia. The plane ride was uneventful, especially since i slept for the first 6 hours. So was only awake for 4. We then took a plane for tanzania.
And that is where i am now. In the first few minutes from getting out of the airport, we had beggers asking for money. It is so sad, and all you want to do is give it to them... There was a boy standing by our car while we were loading up. He was in ragged clothes and was walking around with no shoes on. It broke my heart. He wasn't asking for money, I think he was mesmorized by 10 white kids! from the airport we went to the monastary. while driving there we tons of people just standing in the streets, not going anywhere, just hanging out. it was the oddest thing. many of them were alone, just standing in the streets. i asked nick, our guide, what they were doing and he replied #they don't have jobs, or are off of work, what else are they going to do#
as soon as i got to the monastery i took a shower, and flooded the entire room. in the bathroom the water falls right on the toliet. i stood and took a shower. and when i was done i saw that the bathroom floor was flooded. no big deal i thought, as i saw it was draining, at a slow pace, but draining. when i opened the door to go to my room, keep in mind the bathroom is connected to our room, much to my surprise i saw that they entire flood was covered in water!!!!! lesson= take quicker showers!
we are staying in the monastery for 2 days. tomorrow we are going to church, and then the beach. i am hoping to go to bed early, hopefully.
so this is a long one, i don't know how often i am going to be able to write. these computers are extremely slow.
write again soon...
love always,
MaryAlice
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
And So It Begins!
And so I am off... Well that's not exactly true. I leave Houston tomorrow at 7am and will be spending the night with a group of 10 people who I would barely call acquaintances, in the Washington airport. Friday I will wake up and fly to JFK and then will embark on my 14 hour long journey, final destination- Tanzania.
It is getting late and I am not packed, much to my dad's surprise :) So I will be up late doing that. But even if i was all done packing, I probably wouldn't get much sleep. I am so nervous. About the things I will see, the people I will meet, the friends I will make. "Nervous" sounds negative, I am also excited. I just want Friday to come already so I can start this crazy experience!
I will try to keep updates as often as possible. It will be hard to call. Email will be hard to. I am not sure if they will have internet at the orphanage we are staying in. I would bet not, but Nick (our guide) says they might. And if they do, I will try and give updates.
And so it begins.
Love always,
MaryAlice
It is getting late and I am not packed, much to my dad's surprise :) So I will be up late doing that. But even if i was all done packing, I probably wouldn't get much sleep. I am so nervous. About the things I will see, the people I will meet, the friends I will make. "Nervous" sounds negative, I am also excited. I just want Friday to come already so I can start this crazy experience!
I will try to keep updates as often as possible. It will be hard to call. Email will be hard to. I am not sure if they will have internet at the orphanage we are staying in. I would bet not, but Nick (our guide) says they might. And if they do, I will try and give updates.
And so it begins.
Love always,
MaryAlice
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