Day 1 of Work ... by Anika, Kate and Kaitlyn

            Today was another eventful day in Africa! We started off the day with another delicious breakfast. It was our first day of going to our worksites and we were all very excited. Some went to Agano Preschool and some went to Upendo Orphange. The three of us went to Agano Preschool. When we first got to the classroom, the children and teachers were doing a morning chant. When they finished the chant, Kate and I went and taught in the classrooms. In the classrooms, we taught them how to add by using bottle caps. We also taught them some different songs and went through the ABC’s. I bonded with 3 girls named Winfrida, Angel and Breila. Kate bonded with 2 girls named Leila and Erca. Anika, along with Megan, Hallie, Rachel and Makayla, went to the daycare where they played with and fed 3 children. On Sundays there are usually 60 kids, but today there was only 3. There were two girls named Faith and Noella and one boy named Ivan. Ivan was very shy at first, but then he got attached to Jamie and cried when he left. The children were not potty trained and all of us got peed on multiple times! Makayla even had to change Faith and put her on the potty! We also played ring around the rosie with them and spent lots of time getting to know them.  Then we went and had tea and mandazie, which is a type of bread. After this we fed the children their morning porridge. While they were eating we got to hang out with them and get to know them. We all bonded with different children, and then had to say goodbye.

            We then headed to the women’s group to have an orientation. There was a couple from Canada that were also there helping the women. We learned a lot about the women and what they do in their organization. We found out that most of the women live on a dollar to two dollars a day. There is an unequal distribution of wealth in this country. Some of their husband’s come home from a full day of work and they don’t bring back any money to contribute. The women are very talented at gardening and sewing. The make colorful pants, headbands, shirts, bags, bracelets, and decorate shoes. All the money goes back to them to support their families. After the orientation, we came back for lunch.

            After lunch we had some down time and I got even more burnt than everyone here combined. I look like a lobster. Don’t worry mom, I’ll wear sunscreen tomorrow. :) Then we went into town to the ATM for the first time.  It was our first time walking on the road and were learned that cars don’t watch out for pedestrians, you have to watch out for them. Once we got money, we stop at the local supermarket to pick up some snacks. Then we headed to the shops. Anika, Meg and Julia held hands with local girls our age and talked to them as they were on their way to church. Once we got to the shops, there was so much to look at. The artwork was out of this world. It was handmade by the owners of each shop. A lot of people bought paintings and other cool trinkets. When we were done looking around we headed back to the lodge.

            When we arrived at the lodge the girls went up to the roof to make bracelets and journal, while the boys played whiffle ball. While we were up there, we noticed that we were able to see Mount Kilimanjaro. The mountain is usually very shy and likes to hide behind clouds. We came down for dinner and a group discussion around 7. While we were writing this journal, we got sidetracked by a tarantula. David decided that it would be a good idea to kill it with my flip flop. Meanwhile, Kayla lost a game of cards and now has to do laundry for the boy’s the whole trip.

            We were really impressed with the respect shown from student to teacher and even though we are the minority we feel safe and respected. We are having a great trip and are excited for the adventures to come.

P.S. Make sure to check your kids bank account because we all spent at least a 100,000… Shillings.

Love you Mom and Dad, thanks for sending me on this trip I appreciate it. I know you are missing me, but I will all be ok.!  –Kate

Hope it’s not too boring at home without me there. :) See you guys soon! Love you!<3 –Katelyn

Hey Fam! Sorry the life of the party is gone, but I hope you guys are behaving yourselves and trying to live life without me:). – Love Anika