Hello! I must sincerely apologize for not having made it to a computer in order to update my blog...I really didn't think many people were reading it because I rarely get comments- besides my mother of course (thank you Mom!)
The past week has been quite hectic! There have been numerous problems at the boy's orphanage so I have moved in there! There are fifteen different boys attending different schools at varying levels of english capabilities and each have their own emotional needs that are quite complex, so it has been a big adjustment for us all but it is now going wonderfully!! Besides the well-being and safety of the boys, I am in charge of the "store" which is basically a supply room there so I am to order the food, look after all the supplies and distribution so that all the boys have an equal amount of necessities (sheets, toothpaste, pencils etc.). I wake them up at 5:45am for exercises and then i make sure each of them showers, brushes their teeth, washes their clothes and makes their bed. Then we have porridge for breakfast and i check that they have what they need for school and make sure they get there on time. When they get home we sit down to do homework and then we work on english and then we play games. They are very active and now that they are used to me they listen respectively and interact in very interesting ways!! They are so much fun to be around and it's kind of like having fifteen younger brothers!
I am pretty busy with them so I really do not get the chance to make it out much. However, before I moved in I got to have quite a few adventures!! Last weekend I hiked the Usambara Mtns. It was phenomenal!! It was 1,900ft up and it took us a few hours, I kept getting elevation sickness and felt lightheaded...i guess im out of shape- but PT with the boys every morning will fix that! The whole way up, Boris, my friend that runs the lodge in Mambo- where the Mtns are located, kept cutting down sugar cane and we ate sugar cane the whole way up the mountain! It was quite a trip- just cutting something and then eating it right there, it's very sweet (as one can imagine) but it has a celery-like consistency and after you suck all the juice from it it's like eating shards of cardboard...so the trick to eating sugar cane- if ever you find yourself in this position, is to shear off the outer layer, bite down into it and suck all the juice out, then spit out the pulp right away because if you chew on it, you will never get it out of your teeth!! It was fun though! Then we went over a waterfall and the view was amazing! Imagine being on the side of a mountain, overlooking villages as far as the eye can see and knowing you're on top of a waterfall!!
Well, by the time we got to the top I was sweating buckets and could barely imagine getting down the mountain...then i saw our transport down....i really can't tell you what i felt...
It was a wooden plank...suspended in the air on a cable system and it was for transporting logs down the mountain...there were logs stacked into a pyramid shape and all the guy running the machine said was "hold on" yea, i know right!! So, ther I am, looking down this entire Mountain thinking to myself, it'd almost be safer to just tuck and roll and bare with a few broken bones rather than fall to my death and curse my stupidity for what would seem like an eternity until i hit the ground...but then I saw two other local people get on and I figured, if they can do it, i guess i can. Boris said no one has died on it yet...and just to hold on and dont stand on any wood that seems shaky...hahaha...describing it now does not even do it justice!!! There was another lady there taking pictures and she was literally shocked that we were getting on it, she thought for sure we were going to die...i kind of did too...just a little...but here i am! alive and well! Wait till i figure out how to post pictures!!!
I really wish i had more time to write but i need tog et back to the boys! Next time i will tell you all about the sailing i got to do, the snorkeling in the reefs and the swim/walk through the mangroves here...i will most likely make it into town tomoro afternoon to post!
Bye!
A tale of sister cities- my experience volunteering for a year in Tanzania to structure cultural tourism, market professional volunteerism and student projects, and build relationships while finding resources for sustainable development in Tanga, Tanzania, the sister city of Toledo, Ohio.
12 comments:
Hey racheal.. it souds like you are doing well and having alot of fun.. I think what you are doing is so great and i admire you for it. . ..oh i passed boards so now i am trying to find a job .. nate it doing well... well i look foward to reading more.. miss ya
Rachel,
The next time you take part in such as adventure, be sure you know how you are going to get back down. That log thing was extremely dangerous.! It made me nervous just reading about it.
You are in charge of 15 young boys! Better you than me! I am sure it is quite a challenge to keep them all organized.
Tell us about the lives of the boys before they came to the orphanage.
Tell us about the sailing adventure if it wasn't life threatening!
It sounds as if you are doing important work there. Keep your focus!
Have you kept up with what is going on in Kenya and Zimbabwe? It is frightening to me.
Love! Missing you! Mom
rachel
the cats, turtles, snails, fishes, beasts & thin mint miss you. most of all the stink from the basement misses you. I miss you as well. I hear you need something small yellow and flat from me. let me know the best way...everything is smooth here, including the excess amount of cherry picking, eating and juicing that have pre-occupied my days since you've been away.
Hey Rachel,
Sorry we haven't commented before this but Pat and I always look forward to reading your blogs. It sounds like you are having an amazing experience and making a difference. Miss you and be safe!
Pat & Renee (Ty and Pete too :)
Glad to read you are doing well and having fun....you need to get back on a pt program and whip yourself back into shape.
Nothing else new here....love.....dad
I read your blog too, just didn't take the time to comment. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Sally
Hi Rachel,
I've enjoyed reading about your adventures also and look forward to your posts! I am working with a teacher friend of mine to see if she and some of her fellow teachers would be interested in having their classes correspond with your kids. Will let you know as school gets closer- let me know if you have an interest or whether it would even be feasible?
Take care, enjoy and stay safe!
Pats Mom (McComb)
Rae,
I saw Tommy Zimmerman's mom today, Cheryl. She said to tell you hello.
Love.....dad
Ive been reading all your blogs so keep postin them. I really like this one and the passion fruit one. Im glad you like there. Stay in touch and post some pics.
Heeey,
Its been 2 months since you left.
Everybody is waiting for your new Postings... its been a while since your last one.
Hope you're spending good times.
Tc-Omar
RACHEL,
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR BLOG!
LOVE, MOM
Hello Pat's Mom!!
Thank You for reading this blog!! I am sitting with Mr. Ndauka, the headmaster of the Toledo Secondary School, and he has said that he would love to establish a correspondence between his students and the students at the school of which you have spoken about. We have set up a relationship with the Toledo Early College School and his school and any other relationships are very welcome. The students are very eager to start pen pal relationships and this is a great opportunity for the students on both sides to learn about different types of education and different lifestyles in such different parts of the world! Please feel free to start this correspondence and let me know any further details. In addition to the students here, there are also the children at the orphanages who would enjoy pen pal relationships! We look forward to hearing more and are grateful for your interest! Thank You!
Rachel and Samuel
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