Things have been crazy here in Arusha!  A couple of weeks ago, our teacher for the now 55 student baby class unexpectedly had a baby.  We had to hire two additional teachers for the middle class and pre-unit, but the baby class was on the loose! Usually Elizabeth would step in and help us, but she has been so ill with Typhoid, Malaria and Tape Worms, that she hasn’t been able to come into school much.  During this time, I was not able to miss a day to go out to the project.  Between the two volunteers and me, we were exhausted every day. 50 babies are hard to control when you don’t speak their language! While I was at the current Hill Crest every day, Isaac was going out to the project.  Also these past couple weeks, Tanesco, the city wide power company, has been changing some things in the power so for about two weeks Arusha has been out of electricity.  Having no phone, computer, camera, etc got pretty stressful but it’s (usually) back now.  Since my last update, the walls have been totally built up!  It’s so exciting to see the progress of the project. The volunteers, Tansa and Julie, came out to the site one day and the three of us lugged concrete around to put the bricks on. I’ve gotten really close with Tansa and Julie and they’ve been amazing volunteers for Hill Crest.  Their time is almost up and I’m already sad to see them go.  We have a great group of workers at the project with a couple of them being from the village we are currently in. I love the support people show here for everyone, especially us Westerners who are here to help. 

I fall more in love with Tanzania every day and I’m so happy with my life here.  How I love, love, love being here. 

Through and Through

During my first trip to Tanzania, one volunteer brought a book that she loved as a kid.  She read it to all of us and I thought it was adorable so when I went home, I went on  hunt for the book ‘I Love You Through and Through‘ which was about loving someone during every aspect of life!

I just got done with a four hour motorcycle ride through rural Musa where I got to see a number of my favorite physical features of Arusha. Brown, dry, barren fields complimented by the vivid colors of a Masai blanket waving in the wind.  The profile of Tanzania’s rolling hills under the warm glow of the sun, and a perfectly clear view of sun kissed Mt. Meru over my shoulder everywhere we went.  Musa is the village my favorite driver, Victor, grew up in.  He mentioned during my last trip that he wanted to take me for a cruise to see more than what I’m exposed to on a regular basis and I only just got around to it. 

There aren’t many people here I would trust to just take me somewhere.  Actually, there are only three other people I’d let just whisk me away without knowing where we’d end up.  Isaac, Elizabeth, and my friend Hans.  And Victor.  I texted him to pick me up and take me for a cruise, so when he showed up I got on the back of his motorcycle and without exchanging any words, we were off.  Where? I had no idea and while I thought about asking, I just couldn’t be bothered.  I didn’t think he’d rob or kill me, so I wasn’t worried.  We started in the direction of Kisongo, the location of the new Hill Crest and where I spend several hours almost every day.  ‘How am I going to pretend I don’t know this area, he’d be so sad to know I am here all the time’ was all I could think on the 20 minute drive.  I took a sigh of relief as we passed both roads to the construction site.  A bit further, we veered to the right and just like that we were out of town and off the paved road.  He stopped several times along the way to let me soak in the beautiful sights of the village that seemed to never end.  To the right was a picturesque view of Mount Meru, Africa’s 5th highest mountain, and a gorgeous one at that.  On my left was a hill with tiered crop plots which yielded only dry maize stalks.  

We approached a huge ditch and that’s when I panicked, ‘oh no this is the end he’s going to kill me and take my bag for sure nobody knows where I am or that I’m with Victor or who Victor is and my phone is dead oh no oh no oh no I’m dead I’m dead this is it he’s going to kill me this was all a lie I knew it bye world xoxo’  He said “this used to be a road but the rains destroyed it.  Now cars can’t get through.” and we made our way up and down this giant ditch and in my head I was rolling my eyes at everyone who is so wary of every local being out to kill them ;) 

At the top of the ditch, Victor stopped.  We could see as far as forever into the hills.  To the left he pointed out the town center.  There were a handful of kids in school uniforms and traditional Maasai women with buckets on their heads coming up this enormous hill directly in front of us.  He told me that the “buildings” there were town center and a well.  In town center was a small market, a school, and Tanzania’s version of a pharmacy.  He told me what we hear all the time in the US, some women are walking three hours for that water.  But seeing it on TV is completely different than watching these women walk by me two feet away.  Where I work, there are a generous number of wells dispersed around the community so women don’t have to walk more than about 30 minutes for water. I like to really look at the Maasai elders here.  Their dark skin is contrasted by the white beads in their earrings and necklaces and their wrinkles display a lifetime of labor.  You can even see the miles they’ve walked when you look at their feet, it’s amazing how much can be gathered just by looking at the people here.  

To the right of us was a dirt path about the width of the motorcycle tires that had previously passed.  He pointed out a rectangular fence made of thorn bushes way off into the distance to the far right.  He said that was his childhood home and I knew we’d be on our way there shortly.  I was looking at everything around me, soaking in the mountains, children, donkeys, and crop fields.  About 20 minutes later we stopped to speak to a woman on her way to fetch water, and Victor introduced me to his “beloved mother.”  She was warm and welcoming and made sure Victor took me to the house for tea.  15 minutes after that, we pulled up to Victor’s childhood home.  It was beautiful, and not traditional Maasai at all.  A brick house with a solar panel and quarters for chickens in the back that his mom sells for basic living expenses. An old friend of his was there tending to the cows, and his sister in law came to greet us as well. I so love the never ending warm welcomes of Tanzanians.  He explained that he left home when he was 12 to continue his education in a secondary school in town.  We talked about the lives of traditional Maasai, much of which I already knew but it’s good to hear other opinions about the lifestyle.  We went through a coffee plantation and stopped at the top of another hill so that I could look at everything.  Shortly after we passed a valley so deep that I couldn’t see the bottom.  What I could see was the changing soil from top to...out of view.  The color changed the deeper it got, it was so beautiful. In a scene like this, it was hard to keep my mind off of anything but my love for Tanzania.  I was thinking about everything I’ve experienced here and how much I’ve grown thanks to Tanzania.  All I could think was that I love Tanzania, through and through.  I love it when it’s sunny and when it’s rainy, I love it when it’s busy during the week and calm on Sundays.  I love it even though I disagree with the culture sometimes.  I love that the waitress at this cafe just asked me to pay for the food I haven’t received yet because she wants to go home. I love that I have had the chance to realize how important education really is. 

I appreciate Hill Crest more each day now that I really understand what the kids are being provided.  Not only an understanding and ability to speak English and add numbers, but my kids are being placed a step ahead of most.  They will eventually be able to choose the life they want to lead whether it be a bus driver, a teacher or tending to sheep and cows.  What’s important is that their home situation won’t dictate their future, they will be the ones doing it, and the new building will provide our neediest students a stable environment to grow and learn. Hill Crest has an amazing future and this boarding campus is essential to the growth of Hill Crest and our students.  We have finally started making upward progress as the foundation has been dug and completed.  Every day we are laying more bricks and the future of Hill Crest is finally something to see.  A year and a drop out of college later is finally giving me some results! But we aren’t done fundraising and have a long way to go before we can complete the project.   I sure do love Tanzania, and I sure do love my kids.  And that is what makes leaving behind my friends, my family, and my degree behind a bit more bearable.  On the way back to town from the cruise through Musa, I had a perfect view of Mt. Meru with Kilimanjaro right behind it, jamani! I love you through and through, Tanzania. And if you’re wondering if I ever found the book, know that I don’t think I need it anymore :)

Feel free to donate at https://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/hope-for-hill-crest/54933  and follow the progress more closely at www.facebook.com/hopeforhillcrest 

Thanks for reading, keep spreading the love <3 

Whoops- Promise to be more efficient with updates!!

Hello friends, I realize it’s been way too long since I’ve done any sort of update and I’m very sorry.  It won’t happen again! I’ll be sure to stay on top of these this time and let you all know what’s going on with the project, with the kids and with me! 

Leaving the US this time was a bit more difficult than prior trips.  I’ve finally figured out what can make me happy there and now I know I can be happy there.  I’m glad to have realized this, but it also made saying goodbye very hard. I got back to Arusha on September 30th and my first day at school, I was greeted with big smiles, warm hugs and a few overly excited kids who very well almost lost their heads when they saw me.  Hill Crest has grown so much since my first time here last August and it’s amazing to see the way these kids are also growing as a result.  

While most of my days are full of heartwarming moments, now there are some heartbreaking ones as well.  One student, Njayo, comes from a wealthy family.  She has always been a “contributor” to Hill Crest, meaning her parents have paid for her to be there because they could comfortably afford it. Unfortunately, my Njayo, who used to come to school with smiles and snacks, now comes to school sad and hungry.  Her parents lost work and are struggling just like the others now.  It’s hard to see any child hungry, but there’s something different about seeing a child go from wealth to poverty in the short seven weeks I was home.  She’s still my spunky, brilliant, tender hearted dictating Njayo, just with a little less sparkle in her eye.  She’s joined the chorus of “teacher more!” when we come around with a bit of extra lunch. 

The volunteers we have now are amazing.  We have two girls from Australia, a grandma from the US and another girl from France.  Their contributions to Hill Crest have been amazing.  It’s so nice to walk into the school full of volunteers who trust Isaac and Elizabeth so whole heartedly and want to do as much good as they can.  It reminds me of Lilian and Celia, the girls from Mexico who came for two weeks but managed to set up the entire kitchen and a bank account to provide Isaac and Elizabeth money every month to feed the kids (and anything else they want!) 

Now for Isaac and Elizabeth.  What incredible people they are.  I’m amazed every day by how strong and healthy Elizabeth is.  When I came in August she was pregnant and just out of the hospital with Malaria.  She was skin and bones and couldn’t last the school day without napping.  Losing their second child was incredibly difficult for them (and for me) but they pushed through the pain and continue to live the only way they know how; by helping others. Some burdens that were holding Isaac down during my last trip have been released and he’s back to the cheerful, excited and enthusiastic guy that I so adore.  I’m so lucky to be able to work with and trust Isaac and Elizabeth so much.  They’re the most amazing people.  

Isaac took me out to the building site on Monday and before we even left Hill Crest he was apologizing for making a big decision without me.  After probably 20 minutes of apologizing he finally told me that he’d started the project while I was gone because the rains were coming and he got scared because once the rains started it would be very difficult to dig, transport materials, etc.  Anyways, the digging of the foundation is done! How fun to show up on site and see where the school is going to be and know that it is actually happening. I’m really doing this!  It also gives me the motivation I need to keep fundraising and keep working hard to make this school the best it can be. The kids need it.  I can’t wait until this is real and done and our dreams have come true.  

And if you’re interested in my life here outside of Hill Crest, know that it’s amazing.  While most of my life does revolve around the school, my social life is great. I’ve got amazing friends here and was just interrupted by two of them as they walked into the cafe to eat with me while I wrote this. Again, I’m so lucky.  Saturday was my 22nd birthday and while I was kind of nervous it wouldn’t be fun because I wasn’t home to celebrate with my old friends, rest assured, it was great.  If anything, it gave me confidence in my life here.  I’ve established amazing friendships with great people who make me feel safe and happy and loved.  That’s all I could ever ask for! I’m “alone” in Arusha but not lonely.  Asante sana, rafikis!  

I hope that I’ve provided you all with a solid and fulfilling update on things.  I can’t get over how lucky I am.  I get to live in this incredible country, be loved by 70 amazing kids, and have friendships I will cherish forever.  It doesn’t get much better than that.  

Thanks for reading, check back in a couple days for another update!

Lots of love from Tanzania

PS: Follow the project page on Facebook.. www.facebook.com/hopeforhillcrest (you don't have to be a member to see it!)
And if you'd like to donate.... :)

https://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/hope-for-hill-crest/54933

Here We Go!

I've spent the last few days with Isaac getting ready to break ground on the new Hill Crest.  Next week we will put in the gate, and then everything will fall into place from there and I couldn't be more thrilled about the progress we are making for Hill Crest.

The school is still incredible, I miss hearing the screaming kids every day and I wish every volunteer that comes through could still have the experience that I did at first, but I know that this is the absolute best for Hill Crest.  It is about the kids, not the volunteers.

Wednesday afternoon I went to see Johnson, my Johnson, and it was as emotional and wonderful as I predicted.  His face when he saw me, it was like he saw a ghost!  He stepped back and shook his head then dove into me and gave me the biggest hug.  Johnson gives the best hugs. We cried a bit, of course, and then he had to go get ready for his Civics exam.  His forehead was bleeding so I wiped it off, gave him a big kiss on his forehead and sent him on his way.  He looked at me like, "are you kidding...you are so embarrassing" and then I realized that I just pulled that "annoying mom" move and humiliated him in front of all his friends.  I felt bad for a second but then I didn't care anymore.  I just love him.

I spend every day falling more and more in love with this amazing place, the incredible people, and especially my community.  I wish every day that people from home could come live this life for a bit and maybe understand why I'm so consumed by Tanzania.  There is nowhere else I could picture myself right now, and I can't imagine doing anything different.  I'm so happy.  I can't wait to build this school.

I'm back.

And an enormous weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  I can't begin to describe the physical feeling of relief as the plane touched the ground at Kilimanjaro Airport last Thursday.  I haven't been bothered to set up my internet yet which is why it has taken me so long to post, and I'm sorry for that.  This has been a week full of ups and downs, but just being back in Tanzania makes even the 'downs' seem like 'ups'. 

I got in last Thursday afternoon and spent the weekend catching up with friends, going out, and just adjusting back to this life I've grown to love so deeply.  Tuesday morning, I got up early and went to Hill Crest.  Now, what I have failed to mention in detail is that Hill Crest, when I got there, was a freaking crazy house! But at a school with no teachers, what do you expect? So I expected to walk back into the same disorganized, crazy, love filled school I left in November and January.  To my surprise, I didn't hear the kids screaming or laughing or anything.  It was quiet...I walk in (well, actually, escorted to the gate by a Masai woman who LOVES me and was so excited to see me back) and Elizabeth sees me come through the gate.  She drops whatever vegetable she was cutting and runs to me, I've never seen someone move so fast.  I'm so excited to see her, and Isaac follows at a sprint right behind her.  We stand there hugging and laughing for a few minutes before they escort me into school together.  By the way, the weak, thin, frail, unnoticeably pregnant woman Elizabeth was in November is gone.  She has put weight on, looks absolutely incredible, and is visibly healthier.  I'm so happy.  Anyways, back to the school.  No children being heard.  What's going on?  I walk in.  There is a teacher at the board, sentences written in chalk, and the kids are writing them down, practicing their writing.  Quietly.  By themselves.  Writing.  What?  I go into the next classroom...same thing...kids are learning.  Teachers have control of the class, the kids are writing like champs, they are learning the sounds of the vowels.  Hill Crest is a real school, and soon it is going to be an even realer school.  I am so excited for the future of Hill Crest, I see such potential and I am SO happy. 

A friend from last summer is back doing his own projects.  He built a house last time he was here and is going to continue doing so.  He is going to be a big help to me, as he has dealt with all the things I'll have to deal with.  It will be so nice to have him to turn to if I need help, and I love seeing how proud he is of what he has done.  It only makes me more excited to start my project so I can feel that sense of pride when Hill Crest is done.  Also, one of my favorite people I've met in Tanzania is coming back on June 14th.  She's also got big plans to build an orphan home, but I'm more excited about seeing her.  I've got a lot to look forward to and I'm so blessed to be back in this amazing country.  I'll update again soon as things get started.  This is a busy week ahead of me! 

xoxo

Back again I go!

Let's not pretend to be surprised by my announcement of my return to Tanzania on May 15th.  I'm missing my kids, my friends, and my life there and it's time to go back.  So on May 15th at 6:55am, I'll be taking off and spending 23 hours traveling back to Kilimanjaro Airport, then 45 minutes back to Arusha.  Yippee!!  I'm thrilled and can't wait to get back.

We held a great fundraiser last night that went pretty well.  I'm happy with every cent we raise for the kids.  I'll post again when we know exactly how much money was raised, but in the mean time, I'll be seeing doctors, working and packing for Tanzania!!!

9 days!

Here is a way to donate online.  I am going back at the end of May and need your help to reach the goal!  Thanks!

http://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/hope-for-hill-crest/54933

Interested in donating?

Fundraising will go through local Non Profit, Kids for Catastrophes.  Send a check to Kids for Catastrophes and indicate that it is for Hill Crest, also indicate if you would like a tax refund receipt.

Thank you!

Make check out to Kids for Catastrophes, for Hill Crest, receipt Y/N
Send to:
Katherine Kelly
P.O. Box 1287
Pinehurst, NC
28370

The final, long overdue update.

Alright alright.  I’ve been home for a few weeks, and still have a lot to update on that I didn’t muster up the energy or strength to do in my last days in Arusha.  I can’t pull up my previous post, so some of this might be redundant, my apologies for that.

The second week of January, we took Johnson to take his placement exam into Edmund Rice Secondary School, a very, very good private secondary school in Arusha.  While he was taking the exam, a man that works there came out and was asking us about Johnson.  We explained to him that he went to a government school but I’ve been working with him to get him ready for this exam, that he is going to be sponsored, and just general stuff about Johnson.  When we finished, the man explained to us that government school kids don’t usually pass the entrance exam because the education is not up to par with that of private primary school education.  And because Edmund Rice is such a good establishment, it is difficult for those government primary school kids to get in.  A week later Isaac pulled me aside and told me that Johnson had indeed failed the exam, and he would not be going to Edmund Rice.  Overwhelmed and too upset to explain, I left school and went home to sort out my thoughts and start figuring out a plan B.  I knew there was a chance he wouldn’t get in, but I never imagined he would fail the exam because he is just so, so smart and hard working and motivated and together, we got through long division, fractions, and some basic algebra.  I bought him workbooks and gave him homework every night and did everything I could to make him successful, and everything we did, he picked up on and understood pretty quickly.  But there’s no changing that he failed the exam and we had to figure something else out.  I spent the next two weeks touring what must have been every single private secondary school in Arusha.  I spent 3 days of the week touring schools, 2 days at Hill Crest with the kids.  We got three new Amazing volunteers at Hill Crest so I felt totally comfortable leaving the school in their hands. So I spent a bunch of time touring the schools and talking to directors, and they all said the same thing...government school kids don’t usually pass.  Which made me think...okay so that’s great that there is that opportunity for the kids that can afford to go to a cheap school, but then what...there’s still no future for them either because they either can’t afford or get into the next level of school.  I mean, I knew this, but it hadn’t applied to Johnson before, and now it’s an even harsher reality to accept.  Isaac and I decided to re-enroll him in a better government school than he was in before (we can’t afford to get him into a private primary school and then private secondary school also) and get him tutors every day in english and math.  He has a busy 9 months ahead, but he is excited for it and ready to work, and I hope this will be successful.  If he doesn’t get into school again, I will enroll him in a vocational school about four hours away..which I would hate to do because if I’m going to be in Tanzania, I want him there with me.  But we have to do what’s best for him and we are all prepared for what could happen in the future.  I love Johnson.  

The last week I was there, I realized for myself how at risk our student Richi is.  I hadn’t been aware of it before, but after I left the volunteers that were there in November and December noticed how neglected and abused he is at home.  They took care of him, made sure he was getting protein and nutrients every day and told me everything, and how he needed to get out of his home situation and be Anywhere else.  I watched him at school for a few weeks and realized how important it is that he is removed.  Isaac got his dad to sign him over to foster care, but I don’t really know what actually went on with all of that as it was happening when I was looking for schools for Johnson.  But in my last week, I decided to look at some schools for Richi.  A volunteer I was here with my first time is sponsoring one of her kids at Haradali, so I went there with a friend, Katrinah, on my last Wednesday and toured it and absolutely fell in love with it.  It is so amazing, the director is young and cares for the kids so much.  I felt so so comfortable with the school and as I was talking to him about Richi, he said they didn’t have a bed for him to take.  Then he called in one of the matrons and told her to switch these kids around, put this one in that room and then there would be a bed for Richi.  There are 109 kids boarding at Haradali and he knew off the top of his head who was in which room and where they could go and who was in the other rooms that students would move into.  Amazing.  I was so impressed and told him to be expecting Richi to come there in the next few weeks.  The former volunteers and one current volunteer all wanted to sponsor him, so they are doing it and Richi is at Haradali with his brother and sister Lembris and Chire (to make it easier for him to adjust).  As much as Isaac and I hate that kids are leaving Hill Crest, we both know it is for the absolute best.  We are here to help these kids and if that means taking them out of Hill Crest, that’s what needs to happen.  He seems to be our only student that is severely at risk in the ways of neglect and abuse, but I told Isaac that he needs to pay very close attention and investigate further into the families if any of the kids seem to have any similar characteristics as Richi.  I can’t wait to get an update on how Richi, Chire and Lembris are doing, and I know the volunteers that are sponsoring him are happy that something is being done.  

After touring Haradali, Katrinah and I went to a rehabilitation and vocational training center.  At Hill Crest, we have one girl, Rosie, who is 5 years old with spina bifida and club foot.  Not even any special needs school has taken her, so Isaac accepted her at Hill Crest so her mom could go work.  When we first got her in October, she was just dragging herself around on the floor.  Playtime was hard for her because she was too heavy for us to carry around all day, but since she just pulled herself around on the floor, we didn’t want her out in the dirt.  A lot of days we just colored with her, because we could also see in her face that it was hard for her to be “playing” with the other kids when she couldn’t do anything.  Since we took her, her mom was able to get a job and the first thing she did was buy Rosie a wheel chair.  Rosie is so much happier and better now, as she can participate and the kids can wheel her around during play time and it is so much fun.  I wished there was something more we could do, but had no idea this Rehab center existed otherwise we would have done this a lot sooner.  Anyways, Katrinah and I went along to the Rehab center and got a tour of the facilities.  Our first stop was the physiotherapy room.  We got a brief of the tools and techniques and the doctor that does the therapy.  She told us it’s free for kids!!  Right away, Katrinah and I made an appointment for the following Wednesday to bring in Rosie.  Katrinah decided to take on the project because she was very interested in what they would do for her.  (Katrinah is the volunteer that came in to Hill Crest for Christmas with me, and she loved Rosie since then, so so nice of Katrinah to step in and do this, as I was leaving in four days).  

Katrinah and another Hill Crest volunteer, Sharla, have taken Rosie to therapy every week and have gotten very good news every time.  A German specialist came in and saw Rosie and gave them hope that she will one day be able to walk.  Amazing.  There is a group of surgeons coming in soon (I think) and they are trying to get Rosie in for surgery.  She now has casts on her legs for her feet and Sharla does the exercises with Rosie at school every day.  I am so happy with how this is going, it’s just amazing.  And Katrinah and Sharla are so excited about doing it also.  I’m so happy and confident in the people that are taking care of the kids in my absence. It makes being home much easier.  

While my dad was in town, we were able to do a lot of business, which was his primary reason for coming.  He wanted to see the land, make sure my estimates were right, that everything was going to be okay.  We paid off the land and he really liked the plot we bought.  Talking to Isaac, we realized that my one mistake in the plan was not accounting for a wall around the property.  But considering that was really the only thing I didn’t calculate for, he was pretty happy.  As was I.  It was a very successful trip with him there.

When it came time for me to leave, went and got Johnson from the field and told him I had to leave.  We had another impossible goodbye, probably worse than last time because he has since started to call me mom and runs and jumps on me every time he sees me.  It took about twenty minutes for me of crying together and me telling him “I’m coming back, I told you last time I would be back and here I am.  Trust me, I will be back, I love you” to pull myself away from him, and I hated leaving him sitting in the classroom, sobbing, holding onto the beanie babie I gave him for Christmas.  I said goodbye to the other kids which they, again, didn’t really understand, and I wished Njayo was at school that day, but also glad she wasn’t.  Isaac and I said our goodbyes just like we did last time...by not saying goodbye.  We shook hands and he said “thank you sister” and I said “talk to you soon Isaac” and we both turned around and walked away.  

I got home on the 29th, anxious to hear from Isaac regarding Elizabeth having the baby.  The 31st I woke up to a message from Isaac informing me that Elizabeth had a baby boy but he passed three hours later.  Such a shame, and I wished I could be there for them- still do.  That was hard for me to accept because they are the least deserving people for that to happen to, but if anyone knows it, Isaac knows that God has a plan for everything and that will be what gets them through.  I still haven’t been able to get a hold of him, so they are obviously still getting over it, but I haven’t gotten any messages like last time from him or the other volunteers so I try to think they are coping alright.  

That’s the last of the final Hill Crest news, thanks so much to everyone for the support through this second trip.  I miss my babies every day, but being home this time is much easier than last.  I still can’t wait to see my kiddies again...and of course, my Johnson. 

Umbeni, a student in the most need, sitting on his "bed" 

Rosie

 We feed starving dogs that live outside school the lunch scraps.

Two contributing students and their mom.  Prisca and Engo- so sweet.

Isaac and me in front of future Hill Crest!

11 days

Here goes an “all about me” post. 

I’m leaving again in 11 days.  A few days ago I thought I would be ready and prepared for my venture back to the US, but I just realized I will never be ready to leave this place.  I feel like I fit in here more than at home, especially now because I’ve realized what amazing friends I have here in both the locals and the volunteers.  I’ve really got the life here.  I’m not ready to say goodbye to them again, go back home and not know when I’m going to see any of them.  Let alone leave the kids again.  How do I face Njayo and tell her goodbye again, make her go through that last day again.  I feel selfish for coming back for such a short time.  In class, Njayo still doesn’t let me two feet away from her and in 11 days we have to have another day full of miserable goodbyes.  It used to be comforting to know she will probably recognize that I’ll be back again, but it isn’t comforting anymore.  

Today was amazing.  My dad just got here yesterday and we had a great day hanging out for the afternoon, and this morning I met him bright and early at the hotel to take him to Hill Crest.  We got there and surprised Isaac.  Isaac dropped a couple tears upon seeing my dad because he knows that my dad has been such a big part of my being in Africa; mom being the other big part.  Isaac took dad around the village and showed him the area while I got the older class together to start learning shapes and how to spell their names.  It feels so amazing to be with the kids.  I drew the shapes on the chalk board with their names above.  The kids had to learn what each shape was, then I quizzed them all individually on what they were and made them draw the shape on the board by themselves.  It was such a successful day, and then we went out to play during break and did the Macarena, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, and the Cha Cha Slide.  It was so much fun.  We have almost 50 kids now, and no space to hold them but even though they’re all crammed into three tiny rooms with no space to write on a table, they are still so good.  They still listen and respond and participate, it’s just kind of hectic in the classroom.  On the “playground,” it is Amazing.  All their energy gets condensed into the smallest square they can make because they all want to be right in front of us following our every Macarena move.  It’s so much fun, and I love it so much.  It always amazes me that we come from different worlds, different cultures, different languages and yet we can still have this incredible connection, respect and love for each other.  I feel so close to my kids because we pretty much have the same common goal; do what makes us happy.  Dancing to the Macarena and answering questions in class makes them happy, and improving their quality of life (in such a small way) is what makes me happy.  And I never want to stop doing it. 

Having my dad here has made me so happy.  I want him to see everything and meet everyone so that he can understand why I love it here so much.  It also makes me excited to go home and talk about it because there will be at least one person who can understand what my life is like here.  I wish I could get the rest of what I’m feeling and thinking out onto this page, but I’m having a really hard time right now.  So this is the end for tonight...but I’ll be sure to update about the rest of my dad’s trip soon.  We have a lot of work to do and I’m looking forward to this week with him.

18 days left

Mambo rafikis! We’ve been out of power so I haven’t been able to do a significant update.  So here ya go!

We’ve received two absolutely amazing volunteers at Hill Crest.  They are from London and have done just great things for the school.  Because they are friends at home, they work really well together in the classroom.  Gabby and Juan also saw things they could do to improve the school, and since they fundraised before coming here, they’ve really helped us a lot.  They bought more plates and spoons so we have enough for all the kids (because of new ones).  Also, we now have a CD player, so we can listen to the Macarena, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, Lion King songs, etc in the playground during break.  The kids love it! They also bought 80kgs of rice, beans and pasta.  Amazing.  In addition to all they’ve done for the school, they’ve also chosen to sponsor Casto to go to a better school to meet his academic needs.  Casto is one of our brightest kids and one in the most need, so I think it’s just great they’ve chosen to place him in a better established school.  Something we hope Hill Crest to be in the future!! I have to admit, coming back I was nervous that our dream of future Hill Crest would be near impossible.  When I was here last time, I was just high on life the entire time and thought the school could be just what I have pictured in my head.  But coming back, I got nervous that I would be the only one who cared enough about the school to make it great, and alone, I can’t make Hill Crest everything it deserves to be.  These past few days at Hill Crest since my return have completely restored my faith in the dream.  Every day I see improvements in Hill Crest that will ultimately help us be an even more desired school than we are now.  I see our kids thriving in the classroom, being taught by certified teachers, the playground being used all the time, the garden helping the kids learn how to sustain themselves, painted walls, an amazing boarding room where the kids feel like they are home.  I just cannot wait for future Hill Crest, I know that the dreams are not just dreams, they are absolutely attainable. 

Something else I’m excited about is DAD COMING!!! YAYYYY KEV!! He comes in five days.  I can’t wait, it’s going to be so nice to be able to talk about what it’s like here to someone who will understand.  We have so many things to do, places to see, people to meet.  I can’t wait. I CAN’T WAIT. HURRY DADDY HURRY!!! 

Okay.  Another thing I’m excited for, is meeting some man that went to a clinic yesterday.  You’re probably confused, so I’ll explain.  I’ve got two friends here in a medical placement and a really, really nice clinic in town.  They got home yesterday and told me this story about an amazing man from South Africa who has devoted his life to helping people.  He started a school in Uzbekistan, speaks 11 different languages, adopted his daughter, and spent six years in a handful of other places in the middle east. He’s lived all over the world though.  The only places he hasn’t been are Canada and the US! Ha! The girls said he would be in the clinic again the next day, so I told them to give him my email because I would absolutely Love to talk to him.  Soak of some of his life stories and wisdom, and get some guidance on what he did to be so successful.  Everything they told me about him just gave me the chills and I can’t wait to hear everything first hand.  Since I’m kind of leaning toward the life path of travel and helping communities around Africa and potentially the world, it will be great to hear all about this man’s life.  I’m hoping to see him this weekend, and will keep you all updated on how our talk goes.  

I’ve got about 18 days left and I feel good about going home.  I know what to expect, I know it’s going to hurt my kids as much as it will hurt me to leave again, but now they all understand that I’m coming back. I came back once, I’ll be back again.  I’m really excited to start fundraising also, so I have a lot to look forward to at home.  

Thanks to everyone who has kept up with my blog and my journey, it means a lot to know that I’ve got such an amazing support group at home.  Love to you all!