Though, not necessarily in that order :)
I arrived back in Hanga one week ago today. Charlie, Anne, and Lennart were still up north doing some traveling, so I was alone back in the guest house. It turned out to be a pretty relaxing 4 days alone, though. Since classes at my school ended at the end of November, and all of the students have since returned home, I didn't have much structure built into my day. Instead, I was able to find work to do if I wanted, or to simply relax a bit and enjoy my vacation. It was hard to find work since the headmaster of my school was still out of town, as were some of my other contacts in Hanga. But I was able to get a lot of good work done on my computer (now that it is fixed!) and to watch some good movies :)
I found this picture again and realized I had never posted it. This is in downtown Dar Es Salaam. It is one of the public buses or "daladalas" as they are known here. I would frequently smile as I would pass the buses and read the english phrases painted on them. Some phrases have included "Glory to God" and "I am sorry" though i am not sure what the bus was sorry for...
This Barack Obama - mobile takes the cake! I had already seen his picture painted outside of a few different barber shops, but i still had to take a picture of this bus. Maybe his name will attract more customers?
Anyway, back to the village. I dont know if i have talked about our little friend Carolina, but here she is! Her mom lives and works in the guest house complex, and so she often spends time around the guest house. I know she is around when I am walking outside and I hear a little girl's voice yell, "Uncle Ben!!!" She is too cute.
Here she is playing with her hoop and stick. It is a popular game around the village. They see how long they can keep the hoop rolling while running along side and giving it pushes with the stick. Pretty ingenious.
Here is Carolina in the make-shift "hat" that she made out of a plastic bucket she found on the ground. Like I said, too cute.
Yesterday i was trying to talk with her (which was a bit difficult both because she is only about 4 years old, and she only speaks Swahili!) but i did manage to teach her a few English phrases. She asked me "yes please" then she said "thank you" and finally "i love you baby." I taught her please, and thank you. but i have no idea where she learned the third phrase! When she recognized that i was teaching her English, this final phrase just came out! it made me laugh...and then of course she kept saying it.
Finally, today as i was cleaning my room listening to my ipod, i turned around and there was Carolina standing in the middle of my room causing mischief. She then proceeded to take all of the cushions off of the chairs in our sitting room and make a "fort" out of them where she hid from me and called my name "uncle ben!" to come and look for her. Does this game sound familiar? too cute
Finally, here are some goats. not really any reason other than they were grazing outside of my bedroom window and the little baby sounded really annoying calling its mother. dont worry, they found each other.
Charlie, Anne, and Lennart arrived back in Hanga on Monday night. I went to Songea yesterday with Br. Kastor to buy all of the interior paint we will need for the school (with the money from home that so many have been so gracious to give! thank you for your continued support!). Today we began work at the school by doing another walk around and surveying what needed to be done. The important thing is, the ball is rolling!
oh, i was also got to watch some of the Monday night football game rerun of the Eagles vs. the Browns on ESPN at one of the hotels that we ate dinner at in Songea last night. It was great to see at least one football game this season!
so, all for now. I will continue work cleaning and painting the rooms at St. Laurent's the rest of this week. I have also been working with Brother Kastor on putting together a 2009 calendar with pictures of the school. If anyone would like one, just let me know!
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