On The Move Again....Morocco

Greetings,
I haven't used this since the E. African experience in the Fall of 2011!! Over the last 2.5 years, I've been to Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand & Cambodia with OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel).   Since I'm going back to Africa (land of my birth),  I thought I'd try posting some pictures & thoughts over the next 3 weeks.  Hopefully someone in my group of 15 will know how to tutor me since I'm going to have to relearn it all!:)

"A fool thinks he's wise and a wise man knows he is a fool."  Moroccan saying.

try again

this is really frustrating......

Strollers, Spaghetti, and Salvatorians

Well, our bags are packed and need to post before we head to Zanzibar tomorrow.  I purchased 2 stroller/walker combos for the infants and 2 of the 3 able to sit enjoyed their rides with toddlers on all sides  There are 2 Danish women now here to volunteer for 4 and 6 week stints  They stay with host families and are within walking distance to Mgolole "campus"; orphanage, schools, clinic, house for older students, nuns' quarters, carpentry shop, gardens, etc.  Lisbeth & Britta were most appreciative of Cora's knowledge & history of this operation!  And we are grateful they will carry on where we left off.  They now know of our routine and will even continue some of kids' favorite stories, songs, and games.  (For you elem. folks--Chicka Chicka Boom Boom caught on instantly & gets them to march to lunch! haha)

The spaghetti lunch brought back visions of Muir's gym filled with families eating & visiting.  We made two huge hot pots and transported by car.  Many toddlers wanted seconds--enough for nuns, staff, and dinner for school age kids.  Huge hit!

Our hosts, the Salvatorian fathers, have been most welcoming.  There are 6 we hold dear: 5 Poles & 1 Colombian ranging in age from 32-70 and each a character.  We've prayed, danced, and laughed together these last 6 weeks.  Here is posed picture in their small chapel

Also included is a picture of my room, the view out my back screen, and the sidewalk adjacent to our building.  It's a beautiful spot!  Have to mention the rooms are also home to the lecturers and professors.  Those on salary are expected to work 11 months.  Some fortunates can travel home to families on weekends, but others like the people from India, only go home for one month during the academic year.

After our farewell dinner tonight with cake and ice cream for dessert, we'll be on to Zanzibar early tomorrow morning for R&R.

A few pics to go with "Kids"

Derrick and Devan are the darling twins with the towel wrapped heads....and every day there seems to be another.  This afternoon was spent at the primary school library/staff room (4 bookcases) dusting and sorting the books they already have:  mostly paperback texts--math, Kiswahili, English, Science, Info & Communication Technology, and Vocational Skills (civics or social studies).  Have I mentioned the red earth???  There is red dust everywhere and bottoms of our feet and orange!!  bye for now.

Kids

There are 7 infants in the nursery, which is a dismal place;  dark, little air circulating, urine smell overwhelming (Cora gets a headache; good thing I can't smell).  The cribs are made of sturdy wood with mosquito netting & a little crib toy hanging across.  Foam mattresses.  I went in the other day to peek and 3 were very unhappy--so I took turns holding each one.  Daniel who was found in a plastic bag is actually the healthiest looking one--a real chubo at 7 mos.  Jackson's turn was next--he's a one month old preemie and has a twin brother!  I stayed an hour and sister came in for maybe 5 min!  There's no music and the cribs can't be rocked, no rocking chair, paint peeling off walls, one window is open.  We suggested  a ceiling fan but they thought it was cause kids to get sick.  I plan to buy a stoller and take the older ones outside for walks!

There were 12 toddlers this week.  One day we met them on a "field trip" with sister.  Walking around the grounds looking at the goats, cows, pigs, and chickens.  Showed us some of their buildings:  host making workshop, printing press.  Lunch is eaten at picnic style tables and everyday that we've been here the menu is same:  ugali (maize powder, cassava meal, water mixture) with beans, and a little broth. Most of kids don't want it.  We plan to make spaghetti for lunch one day this week.  Cloth on heads doesn't mean it's a girl (like I thought)...head fungus which we got ointment for yesterday at pharmacy.  I'm glad I brought along a box of plastic gloves!!

sorry about no pics...modem stick won't allow insertion of memory card...maybe next time we really have internet, huh?

A day in the Life

A quick update so you know I'm still here!  7:00am Usually go to Mass in the chapel with up to 7 priests, followed by breakfast.  This week with the opening of classes, Fr Bernard is very busy--he is our transport to the school and orphanage, so we've only been once so far.  He picks us up between 12 & 12:30 for lunch back here.  Cora and I usually exhausted (not to mention sweaty & dirty) so shower and maybe a short nap.  Some afternoons we do go back but not till 2:30 or 3:00 when the kids are dismissed from school--this gives us time to interact at their "house".

Today I took over an English class of 2nd graders--read Where the Wild Things Are and taught a few Mother Goose rhymes plus song "open shut them"  (Laurie will get a kick out of that).  The teacher just left me there alone and I thought she'd come back in 30 min. when it was time to switch, but she NEVER came back!!  I went an hour before I gave up--geez!  She was in the "library/staff room"!!  I've learned my lesson.  Things will go differently tomorrow! haha
No pics for now--dinner time 6:30.  At 8pm we're invited every night for a little social with the Polish priests--snacks, beer, juice.

Success!

As I said Mt. Kilimanjaro was cloud-covered on our way north to Nairobi, so we were praying for a sighting on way home with the overnight in Moshi, which is closer and has hotels with views.  A young woman at a gas station suggested a YMCA -- take a left at the 2nd roundabout, so we headed in that direction with the mountain in sight but still some clouds covered the peak.  Never found the Y but followed a hotel sign down a dirt road and then down an even smaller dirt road to the gate and barbed wire fence of the loveliest piece of paradise!  Cottage style rooms around a small lawn area with beautiful plantings--flowers, trees, shrubs--AND the mountain.
  After unloading and getting settled in air-conditioning (as soon as there was power) we relaxed in their open air "restaurant" with samosas and beverages.  Within the hour the clouds disappeared and there it was in all its majesty!  What a sight....and to think I actually contemplated a climb--silly me.  I am in awe of the Hanson siblings who did make the climb--what an accomplishment!

Finally, pictures of the toddlers at the orphanage....quite the rowdy group of 10 (7 boys!!).  And I already have a few favs.  Balloons were quite popular and got them to sit for 30 seconds.  Cora demonstrated how to look pregnant at 2.....do you think sister approved? haha!