A few weeks ago I made friends with Mr Chas, a teacher at the local school that I walk through to get to the pool. Last week he invited me for breakfast with the other teachers but I was in a rush to meet the other volunteers and kids on our outing - but I told him I'd visit at lunchtime that day.
On arrival he invited me into the office and made a proposal I couldn't refuse. A teacher's assistant position helping with English lessons a few times per week. The school would pay $2 per period taught. I told him I couldn't accept the $2 because I was here as a volunteer - but he insisted. I gave him my phone number and then sent a text message to my boss in Brisbane telling her to watch out because I'd found a job with a VERY competitive salary!!
I also bragged to anyone who'd listen that I was becoming a teacher just like the rest of the McMahon clan, and told my boyfriend that if he joined me in Africa I could provide a lovely mud hut for us to live in, and that 'sugar mama' could support him, now that I'd found paid employment!
Alas, I still haven't heard from Mr Chas!!! I haven't taught a single class, and haven't earned a single shilling. I hope he's just having phone troubles. I hope that one day when I walk past the school he'll call out 'Rebecca!! THERE you are. We've been hoping you would pass by...we REALLY want you to be a teacher here but haven't been able to contact you!!!'. As opposed to his boss saying 'Mr Chas, why on earth would you offer a strange mzungu (with THAT haircut I don't even know if it's a man or woman!) a job at our respectable establishment!! DO NOT CALL HER!!!'.
We'll see... but it'll serve me right for counting my chickens before they hatch.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Swimming with toddlers
There is a little oasis down the road from the baby home - an upmarket safari lodge that allows the volunteers to swim for free. It's totally cheating - being able to duck down to the local pool is not quite as 'roughing it' as I had initially imagined!!
But the best part about the Arumeru lodge is that they also let us bring the children!! This week was the first time we took the babies...they LOVED it. We're taking them back again tomorrow, it's such a happy time, watching them splash about.
Here is a photo of Rahma and I (I'm on a role with my photo uploads today...it's a miracle!!). Rahma is such a little mermaid, she loved going underwater, being swooshed around, and splashing about like a shiny angel (though she wee-ed on my leg while we were swimming, that wasn't QUITE so angelic!). The other photo is of Hope, Maria, Martin and Dorcas. Some of the other children weren't quite as enthusiastic as Rahma...though they really started enjoying themselves towards the end (and they loved the fanta we bought them - such a naughty treat!). Cannot WAIT to take them back tomorrow, as much for my sake as for theirs! :-D
But the best part about the Arumeru lodge is that they also let us bring the children!! This week was the first time we took the babies...they LOVED it. We're taking them back again tomorrow, it's such a happy time, watching them splash about.
Here is a photo of Rahma and I (I'm on a role with my photo uploads today...it's a miracle!!). Rahma is such a little mermaid, she loved going underwater, being swooshed around, and splashing about like a shiny angel (though she wee-ed on my leg while we were swimming, that wasn't QUITE so angelic!). The other photo is of Hope, Maria, Martin and Dorcas. Some of the other children weren't quite as enthusiastic as Rahma...though they really started enjoying themselves towards the end (and they loved the fanta we bought them - such a naughty treat!). Cannot WAIT to take them back tomorrow, as much for my sake as for theirs! :-D
More on the children...
Tomorrow I will have been here for one month. So far my posts re the kids have been fairly scarce, mainly because I have been on the most ridiculous roller coaster of emotions, and the thoughts spinning in my head have been too crazy to publish!!
I'm so insanely besotted with Rosie that I don't even know myself. If the ridiculous adoptions laws here weren't so restrictive, mark my words, I WOULD be welcoming the new year in Brisbane with a toddler on my hip. Unfortunately this is not possible- I was initially told that the adoption laws weren'ts as restrictive as I initially thought but have since heard that that information was incorrect. I'm yet to research the legislative amendments myself - if it takes 2 hours to fail to download a picture I dread to think how long it would take to find and then download a PDF copy of the adoption act.
So now I must come to terms with the fact that I must leave this beautiful, smart, very special girl in November and I may never see her again. Urgh. It breaks my heart, makes me mad and I hate it hate it hate it!!!!!
What makes matters worse is that she loves me too!! She'll appear out of nowhere and start climbing all over me, even when I've made a concerted effort to stay on the opposite side of the room. And when I leave at the end of my shift she throws the biggest wobbly when I prise her little hands off me. I swear it - I am TRYING to keep my distance, but she hunts me down!!!!!! Why must I be so dang loveable!!!!! :-P
Anyway...the above summary of my state of mind doesn't even begin to cover it!!
In the meantime, as time passes, more and more little children are finding special places in my heart. There is a little boy named Lawassa (top photo)...about the same size and age as Rosie, and just as much of a monkey!!! (bottom photo is Rosie, Lawassa and I in a sea of babies).
He is a master in the art of mimicry - whether I cluck my tongue, blow raspberries, or do other bizarre noises...he copies the lot of them. It's SO CUTE!!!! And boy, does he giggle. I never before realised I could be so hilarious.
My other special little man is Dello.
He's really tiny, only 4 or 5 months old. He's always dirty because he's fed porridge even though he should be still on the breast. So the poor little man always spits up half his dinner. But he is SO sweet. He's got the gentlest little smile, and when you walk past him he starts flapping his arms like a little bird. OH I LOVE HIM!!!!!!! Unfortunately he loooooooooooooves being 'supermanned'. And I say unfortunate because I can't resist his smile so I do it often...but when I superman Dello I inevitably wind up with his dribble or porridge all over my face. MMM MMMM.
So there you have it - friendships that centre around kisses, cuddles, tickles, and raspberries. Pure joy!
I'm so insanely besotted with Rosie that I don't even know myself. If the ridiculous adoptions laws here weren't so restrictive, mark my words, I WOULD be welcoming the new year in Brisbane with a toddler on my hip. Unfortunately this is not possible- I was initially told that the adoption laws weren'ts as restrictive as I initially thought but have since heard that that information was incorrect. I'm yet to research the legislative amendments myself - if it takes 2 hours to fail to download a picture I dread to think how long it would take to find and then download a PDF copy of the adoption act.
So now I must come to terms with the fact that I must leave this beautiful, smart, very special girl in November and I may never see her again. Urgh. It breaks my heart, makes me mad and I hate it hate it hate it!!!!!
What makes matters worse is that she loves me too!! She'll appear out of nowhere and start climbing all over me, even when I've made a concerted effort to stay on the opposite side of the room. And when I leave at the end of my shift she throws the biggest wobbly when I prise her little hands off me. I swear it - I am TRYING to keep my distance, but she hunts me down!!!!!! Why must I be so dang loveable!!!!! :-P
Anyway...the above summary of my state of mind doesn't even begin to cover it!!
In the meantime, as time passes, more and more little children are finding special places in my heart. There is a little boy named Lawassa (top photo)...about the same size and age as Rosie, and just as much of a monkey!!! (bottom photo is Rosie, Lawassa and I in a sea of babies).
He is a master in the art of mimicry - whether I cluck my tongue, blow raspberries, or do other bizarre noises...he copies the lot of them. It's SO CUTE!!!! And boy, does he giggle. I never before realised I could be so hilarious.
My other special little man is Dello.
He's really tiny, only 4 or 5 months old. He's always dirty because he's fed porridge even though he should be still on the breast. So the poor little man always spits up half his dinner. But he is SO sweet. He's got the gentlest little smile, and when you walk past him he starts flapping his arms like a little bird. OH I LOVE HIM!!!!!!! Unfortunately he loooooooooooooves being 'supermanned'. And I say unfortunate because I can't resist his smile so I do it often...but when I superman Dello I inevitably wind up with his dribble or porridge all over my face. MMM MMMM. So there you have it - friendships that centre around kisses, cuddles, tickles, and raspberries. Pure joy!
Mama Ju's bad day
Julie had Wednesday off work because she had a really bad cold. We were mildly sympathetic - but didn't think too much of it because we all had a bad bout of the lurgy at some point during our first few weeks here (possibly due to the stress).
By yesterday, she was violently ill. Julie told me sheepishly that the symptoms sounded very similar to those for malaria, set out in the Lonely Planet (sheepish because every time a child is sick everyone says 'I think it's malaria!). I told her she should speak to the on-site nurse, Batilda, because the symptoms ARE very similar to the flu. Batilda immediately took her to a local clinic where blood tests confirmed she really had malaria.
This morning she was wondering whether she should continue to take the anti-malaria medication she had from home, while taking the course of meds prescribed by the local clinic. I told her to ring her doctor at home to check. Again, sheepishly, she said 'I can't call them - they will ask what medication I'm now taking and I don't know that because they're unlabelled tablets - they'll think I'm insane!!'.
Although malaria can be deadly if left untreated - the locals have access to good medication, so I'm confident in the drugs that Julie was prescribed (apparently if she'd left it one day later before attending the clinic she would have been seriously ill). I trust that the African medication she's been prescribed will be good- one of the little boys at the baby home had malaria last week, and was well within a day or two of taking the meds. So if a skinny little toddler can bounce back, I have faith in Mama Ju!!!! I'll be keeping a close eye on her in the meantime though.
Anyway...what REALLLLLY made it a bad day for her, was that on the way home from the clinic, someone pick-pocketed her in the dala dala and stole $7!!!
A few lessons for us all:
- Even using anti-malaria pills, super-strength insect repellant and mosquito nets does not mean you are safe
- Any sign of flu-like symptoms...pay the $1 fee to have a test to make sure!
- When on the Dala Dala...be acutely aware of where you've hidden your valuables...or you could lose more than $7!
Poor Mama Ju!!
By yesterday, she was violently ill. Julie told me sheepishly that the symptoms sounded very similar to those for malaria, set out in the Lonely Planet (sheepish because every time a child is sick everyone says 'I think it's malaria!). I told her she should speak to the on-site nurse, Batilda, because the symptoms ARE very similar to the flu. Batilda immediately took her to a local clinic where blood tests confirmed she really had malaria.
This morning she was wondering whether she should continue to take the anti-malaria medication she had from home, while taking the course of meds prescribed by the local clinic. I told her to ring her doctor at home to check. Again, sheepishly, she said 'I can't call them - they will ask what medication I'm now taking and I don't know that because they're unlabelled tablets - they'll think I'm insane!!'.
Although malaria can be deadly if left untreated - the locals have access to good medication, so I'm confident in the drugs that Julie was prescribed (apparently if she'd left it one day later before attending the clinic she would have been seriously ill). I trust that the African medication she's been prescribed will be good- one of the little boys at the baby home had malaria last week, and was well within a day or two of taking the meds. So if a skinny little toddler can bounce back, I have faith in Mama Ju!!!! I'll be keeping a close eye on her in the meantime though.
Anyway...what REALLLLLY made it a bad day for her, was that on the way home from the clinic, someone pick-pocketed her in the dala dala and stole $7!!!
A few lessons for us all:
- Even using anti-malaria pills, super-strength insect repellant and mosquito nets does not mean you are safe
- Any sign of flu-like symptoms...pay the $1 fee to have a test to make sure!
- When on the Dala Dala...be acutely aware of where you've hidden your valuables...or you could lose more than $7!
Poor Mama Ju!!
Self-made safari
On Tuesday the director of the baby home and her husband offered to take us to a safari lodge to view some animals. 13 of us crammed into a 4wd and set off on our adventure. On the way to the lodge, just on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere we spotted zebras, wilderbeest, giraffes, impala, and dik diks!!
On arrival at the lodge 2 hours later we were told that we needed to pay an exhorbitant fee to drive through their land to see the animals, and that in any event they were likely seeking respite in the shade somewhere so we wouldn't see anything particularly exciting. Even to stay at the lodge to eat our packed lunches would have cost $5 so we departed in search of a nice shady tree to have our picnic and head home.
On the way back, Davona (the director) spotted broken trees and piles of not-quite-dry elephant dung, and was insistent that if we just drove over 'there' ('there' being off the dirt road and through the bush) we would surely spot them! Her husband reluctantly agreed, and for the following 2 hours we got sore bottoms, saw lots of elephant dung, a few giraffes, but no elephants.
By this time we were lost because we'd been intent on finding the elephants - searching in vain for a landmark to show us the way back to the road, out of nowhere we at last spotted the elephants hiding under some trees!!!! It was so exciting, because we'd almost given up hope!
Mama Ju (my nickname for my american roommate, Julie) was terrified that we wouldn't find our way out of the bush by dark...and was suddenly not so impressed at the prospect of finding more elephants. Eventually we made it back to the main road, and arrived home weary, but extremely satisfied, just in time for dinner.
Such a lovely outing - and our adventure offered so much more fun and excitement than had the lodge allowed us to view their game.
On arrival at the lodge 2 hours later we were told that we needed to pay an exhorbitant fee to drive through their land to see the animals, and that in any event they were likely seeking respite in the shade somewhere so we wouldn't see anything particularly exciting. Even to stay at the lodge to eat our packed lunches would have cost $5 so we departed in search of a nice shady tree to have our picnic and head home.
On the way back, Davona (the director) spotted broken trees and piles of not-quite-dry elephant dung, and was insistent that if we just drove over 'there' ('there' being off the dirt road and through the bush) we would surely spot them! Her husband reluctantly agreed, and for the following 2 hours we got sore bottoms, saw lots of elephant dung, a few giraffes, but no elephants.
By this time we were lost because we'd been intent on finding the elephants - searching in vain for a landmark to show us the way back to the road, out of nowhere we at last spotted the elephants hiding under some trees!!!! It was so exciting, because we'd almost given up hope!
Mama Ju (my nickname for my american roommate, Julie) was terrified that we wouldn't find our way out of the bush by dark...and was suddenly not so impressed at the prospect of finding more elephants. Eventually we made it back to the main road, and arrived home weary, but extremely satisfied, just in time for dinner.
Such a lovely outing - and our adventure offered so much more fun and excitement than had the lodge allowed us to view their game.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
I am WOMAN, hear me roar
About 2 weeks ago a little Tanzanian girl approached me at a local restaurant and asked if I was a boy or a girl. When I replied that I was a girl, she said 'but you look like a boy!'. I thought 'kids say the darndest things!' and thought nothing further of it.
Yesterday when I was working in the newborn nursery, Nanny Grace told me that I should stop cutting my hair because I look like a boy. She said when she first saw me she did not know if I was a man or a woman.
Nothing like being told you look like a man first thing in the morning!
I already hated my haircut...now i am DESPERATE for it to grow back!!!! haha. Oh, the vanity. Vanity aside, I was very impressed with her honesty though. Although many Tanzanian women wear their hair very short, now I know that for mzungu women, it's just not the done thing!
Yesterday when I was working in the newborn nursery, Nanny Grace told me that I should stop cutting my hair because I look like a boy. She said when she first saw me she did not know if I was a man or a woman.
Nothing like being told you look like a man first thing in the morning!
I already hated my haircut...now i am DESPERATE for it to grow back!!!! haha. Oh, the vanity. Vanity aside, I was very impressed with her honesty though. Although many Tanzanian women wear their hair very short, now I know that for mzungu women, it's just not the done thing!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
McMania
In the words of PeeKay (Power of One), 'The loneliness birds have laid eggs in my heart'.
Not really, I just said that for dramatic effect- but this morning was tough. I woke to see a text message from mum, advising that next year my sister is transferring to a tiny town, too far from Brisbane for me to walk to visit her (I guess that's one motivation to get my driver's licence!!).
Anyway, news of the transfer came as quite a shock to Jess - and I felt SO SO bad that I couldn't be at home to talk her through it. With mum in China, and me in Africa - all I could think was how lonely and stressed Jess must be. Thankfully I managed to speak briefly to her, but I was feeling a little lost and lonely after our chat and just wanted to be at home with her. I eventually composed myself, but when I went to turn on the stove to re-heat my leftover burnt pumpkin/potato/tomato mush for breakfast, I remembered that the [INSERT AS MANY EXPLETIVES AS YOU CAN THINK OF HERE!!] power was out again!!!!!
Unfortunately, my new housemates heard my colourful language, as did everyone else in Africa. After forcing down some COLD mush and stale bread, I tried to wash the dishes. But then I dropped the [EXPLETIVES!] crockery and caused a terrible mess of broken ceramics in the kitchen. Anyone who slept through the first tantrum certainly copped the second one.
I was conscious mid-tantrum of how ridiculous it was to throw a tantum about power and broken dishes when I am surrounded by 30 beautiful children that have such a difficult life ahead of them, who are so happy and delightful.
Unfortunately, however, sometimes the beast that is 'McMania' must rear its ugly head.
Not really, I just said that for dramatic effect- but this morning was tough. I woke to see a text message from mum, advising that next year my sister is transferring to a tiny town, too far from Brisbane for me to walk to visit her (I guess that's one motivation to get my driver's licence!!).
Anyway, news of the transfer came as quite a shock to Jess - and I felt SO SO bad that I couldn't be at home to talk her through it. With mum in China, and me in Africa - all I could think was how lonely and stressed Jess must be. Thankfully I managed to speak briefly to her, but I was feeling a little lost and lonely after our chat and just wanted to be at home with her. I eventually composed myself, but when I went to turn on the stove to re-heat my leftover burnt pumpkin/potato/tomato mush for breakfast, I remembered that the [INSERT AS MANY EXPLETIVES AS YOU CAN THINK OF HERE!!] power was out again!!!!!
Unfortunately, my new housemates heard my colourful language, as did everyone else in Africa. After forcing down some COLD mush and stale bread, I tried to wash the dishes. But then I dropped the [EXPLETIVES!] crockery and caused a terrible mess of broken ceramics in the kitchen. Anyone who slept through the first tantrum certainly copped the second one.
I was conscious mid-tantrum of how ridiculous it was to throw a tantum about power and broken dishes when I am surrounded by 30 beautiful children that have such a difficult life ahead of them, who are so happy and delightful.
Unfortunately, however, sometimes the beast that is 'McMania' must rear its ugly head.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Meeting the locals
The last few days have been lots of fun. On Sunday morning I came to Arusha with Julie and Annemart (volunteers living in the apartment with me) to use the internet and visit the masai markets. That was a bit disappointing, as the only customers we saw were other mzungus (europeans) and the prices were exhorbitant!!!! they tried to charge me $20 for a cloth bag. I wouldn't pay that at home! I managed to get one for $6. ;-)
In the afternoon Julie and I visited the home of Mama Musa, a nanny who works for Cradle of Love. She was so sweet. She is a muslim, so was unable to eat, drink or prepare food for us as it is Ramadan at the moment. But she had arranged for her son Frank (a christian, so he was not fasting) to cook us a traditional Tanzanian meal of cooked green banana, goat and spinach in a coconut cream at his restaurant down the road from Mama Musa's house. MMMM MMMMMMM!!!! The food and company were delightful (though i felt terribly guilty eating in front of Mama Musa during ramadan- but it would have been impolite to refuse her hospitality).
Following our visit to Mama Musa, we met Edson, the driver who collected me from the airport when I arrived. He had previously invited me to visit his plot of land and the house he was building. Being a skeptic, my first thought was 'he SEEMS a lovely fellow, but what if he kills me?' so I asked if I could bring Julie along (best not to die alone! haha). Of course, I was way off base.
Edy took us to see his lovely brick cottage under construction, with spectacular views of Mt Meru (the second highest mountain in Tanzania) and a gorgeous plot of land on which to plant vegetables when his home is eventually completed. Apparently the land cost $4000. The house will cost about $3000 by the time it's completed - is has 3 bedrooms, a communal bathroom, and ensuite and kitchen/dining area. The area where he was building is extremely dusty and quite rural (at present, there is one well that everyone in the development must collect their water from), but it has a lovely community feel. He then took us to his rental flat and was so hospitible - with donuts and Tanzanian juice - which was brewed from a flower and was bitter but tasty.
This morning was another adventure. Annemart wanted african braids, so we went down the road to a tiny shack called 'Mama Asia's Hair Saloon' with one chair and one mirror, for Annemart's makeover. Annemart wanted zigzag braids like R Kelly - but her hair was too thin so they were a little less sharp at the corners than she wanted them...it was hilarious watching her try to explain to Mama Asia (who could speak very little english) that she wanted the braids sharper and closer together, and watching Mama Asia responding in Swahili that it was very difficult to make zigzags for a mzungu because her hair is too fine!
We took pictures of Mama Asia and her family - they were so excited, and asked if we could bring back a developed copy of the photos for her to put in her salon. We're going to do that this afternoon and take the photos to her tomorrow. I'm in Arusha now, waiting for annemart - so i haven't seen the finished product yet. Fingers crossed she is happy with it!
I'm off now to buy supplies and continue researching my safari trip. Apologies for the epic post!
In the afternoon Julie and I visited the home of Mama Musa, a nanny who works for Cradle of Love. She was so sweet. She is a muslim, so was unable to eat, drink or prepare food for us as it is Ramadan at the moment. But she had arranged for her son Frank (a christian, so he was not fasting) to cook us a traditional Tanzanian meal of cooked green banana, goat and spinach in a coconut cream at his restaurant down the road from Mama Musa's house. MMMM MMMMMMM!!!! The food and company were delightful (though i felt terribly guilty eating in front of Mama Musa during ramadan- but it would have been impolite to refuse her hospitality).
Following our visit to Mama Musa, we met Edson, the driver who collected me from the airport when I arrived. He had previously invited me to visit his plot of land and the house he was building. Being a skeptic, my first thought was 'he SEEMS a lovely fellow, but what if he kills me?' so I asked if I could bring Julie along (best not to die alone! haha). Of course, I was way off base.
Edy took us to see his lovely brick cottage under construction, with spectacular views of Mt Meru (the second highest mountain in Tanzania) and a gorgeous plot of land on which to plant vegetables when his home is eventually completed. Apparently the land cost $4000. The house will cost about $3000 by the time it's completed - is has 3 bedrooms, a communal bathroom, and ensuite and kitchen/dining area. The area where he was building is extremely dusty and quite rural (at present, there is one well that everyone in the development must collect their water from), but it has a lovely community feel. He then took us to his rental flat and was so hospitible - with donuts and Tanzanian juice - which was brewed from a flower and was bitter but tasty.
This morning was another adventure. Annemart wanted african braids, so we went down the road to a tiny shack called 'Mama Asia's Hair Saloon' with one chair and one mirror, for Annemart's makeover. Annemart wanted zigzag braids like R Kelly - but her hair was too thin so they were a little less sharp at the corners than she wanted them...it was hilarious watching her try to explain to Mama Asia (who could speak very little english) that she wanted the braids sharper and closer together, and watching Mama Asia responding in Swahili that it was very difficult to make zigzags for a mzungu because her hair is too fine!
We took pictures of Mama Asia and her family - they were so excited, and asked if we could bring back a developed copy of the photos for her to put in her salon. We're going to do that this afternoon and take the photos to her tomorrow. I'm in Arusha now, waiting for annemart - so i haven't seen the finished product yet. Fingers crossed she is happy with it!
I'm off now to buy supplies and continue researching my safari trip. Apologies for the epic post!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
My monkey!
Finally - I'm at a fast internet cafe where I can upload pictures!!! The little monkey climbing all over me is Rosie. Isn't she beautiful?! :-D
Saturday, September 12, 2009
A lonely burial
One of our babies passed away this week. Sadly I didn't have the chance to meet him, as he went to hospital the day before my first shift in the newborn nursery. Baby Bahati was just over a week old. His mother and twin died in childbirth. Bahati's lungs were not drained of amniotic fluid when he was born, so he developed pneumonia.
Nurse Batilda took him to hospital on Tuesday, and he passed away that night. Batilda told us that she waited all night at the hospital until Bahati's aunt came to visit at 5am the following morning, so that she could break the sad news. Bahati's aunt did not have enough money to hire a car to take him to his burial site - so Batilda and Bahati's aunt were forced to take him on the dala dala (the public transport mini buses I have previously spoken about). The dala dala ride cost 2,500 shillings (about $AUD2.50) - that is a VERY long way on the dala dala. To put things in perspective - we pay TS500 (60 cents) to get to Arusha from the baby home, which is about a 45minute trip. So nurse Batilda's journey would have taken hours.
Batilda said she was very scared to take the baby on the dala dala, because she feared she would get in a lot of trouble if people discovered that she held a dead body - so her and the aunty had to stay strong and calm for the duration of the ride while Batilda hid the baby under their shawls. Several hours later they were dropped on the side of the road in the middle of the bush. Bahati's uncle was not there to meet them. When they called him on their mobile phones, he said that he would be there soon with 'transportation'. 3 hours later, Bahati's family had still not arrived. Nurse Batilda was concerned that she had a long return journey ahead of her, and she needed to prepare the other babies for their immunisation shots, and she had to go back.
Batilda found a soap box and placed the baby in it. She said some prayers, and christened the baby 'Peter'. As she was about to leave, his uncle arrived with the 'transportation' - a tractor and trailor, and took the baby into the desert for his burial.
Later that evening, Batilda was laughing and playing with the other children at the home. One of the younger volunteers asked her how she could be so happy after such a long, sad day. She simply said that if she allowed herself to feel sad for the babies who passed away she would be overcome with grief, and would be unable to properly care for those that were still with us. She said that she trusted that the baby's journey in this world was always destined to be brief, and God has higher plans for him.
In happier news, the toddlers start preschool tomorrow. Julie, my roommate (43 year old woman from the US - I love her!) is in charge of school. We took them to see the new classroom yesterday and they were SO excited.
I'm off now to find a safari to do at the end of November. Fingers crossed I can find something affordable!!
Nurse Batilda took him to hospital on Tuesday, and he passed away that night. Batilda told us that she waited all night at the hospital until Bahati's aunt came to visit at 5am the following morning, so that she could break the sad news. Bahati's aunt did not have enough money to hire a car to take him to his burial site - so Batilda and Bahati's aunt were forced to take him on the dala dala (the public transport mini buses I have previously spoken about). The dala dala ride cost 2,500 shillings (about $AUD2.50) - that is a VERY long way on the dala dala. To put things in perspective - we pay TS500 (60 cents) to get to Arusha from the baby home, which is about a 45minute trip. So nurse Batilda's journey would have taken hours.
Batilda said she was very scared to take the baby on the dala dala, because she feared she would get in a lot of trouble if people discovered that she held a dead body - so her and the aunty had to stay strong and calm for the duration of the ride while Batilda hid the baby under their shawls. Several hours later they were dropped on the side of the road in the middle of the bush. Bahati's uncle was not there to meet them. When they called him on their mobile phones, he said that he would be there soon with 'transportation'. 3 hours later, Bahati's family had still not arrived. Nurse Batilda was concerned that she had a long return journey ahead of her, and she needed to prepare the other babies for their immunisation shots, and she had to go back.
Batilda found a soap box and placed the baby in it. She said some prayers, and christened the baby 'Peter'. As she was about to leave, his uncle arrived with the 'transportation' - a tractor and trailor, and took the baby into the desert for his burial.
Later that evening, Batilda was laughing and playing with the other children at the home. One of the younger volunteers asked her how she could be so happy after such a long, sad day. She simply said that if she allowed herself to feel sad for the babies who passed away she would be overcome with grief, and would be unable to properly care for those that were still with us. She said that she trusted that the baby's journey in this world was always destined to be brief, and God has higher plans for him.
In happier news, the toddlers start preschool tomorrow. Julie, my roommate (43 year old woman from the US - I love her!) is in charge of school. We took them to see the new classroom yesterday and they were SO excited.
I'm off now to find a safari to do at the end of November. Fingers crossed I can find something affordable!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Can I keep her?
I'm in trouble. I was here for less than a week before i felt the first flush of new love.
Her name is Rosie, and she is 10 months old. She will turn 1 on 14 November. I don't know why i am so drawn to her - the other volunteers think i'm mad, she's a ratbag. she won't sit still for more than 30 seconds and she terrorises all the other children! i call her my little monkey because she looooves to climb. i think she really wants to walk. i have started to teach her. fingers crossed we will get her there by her 1st birthday!!! i taught her how to high-five too. when she does the high five she has the CUTEST little grin.
i've got the love bug bad though. i have dreams about her...in my sleep i can feel her little hands (claws!!) grabbing my arms and legs, and i can hear her blowing raspberries!! i get pangs of jealousy when someone else is holding her - and i even recognise her crying from another room!! what is the matter with me?!?!
in other news, jacob (the new little man who was so world-weary just last week) is doing really well. he's smiling heaps now, and eating really well. he gets on with the other children and even musters up a little chuckle when he gets zoomed around like superman :-D
today is my day off so i'm back in town to check email and buy some supplies (we had no power or water for 2 days - so i need a gas cooker and bottled water!). i'll attempt to load a photo of my little monkey, but who knows if this technophobe will be able to work it out... 1.5 hours later- still waiting for the photo to upload- i think i must resign myself to failure :-(
Her name is Rosie, and she is 10 months old. She will turn 1 on 14 November. I don't know why i am so drawn to her - the other volunteers think i'm mad, she's a ratbag. she won't sit still for more than 30 seconds and she terrorises all the other children! i call her my little monkey because she looooves to climb. i think she really wants to walk. i have started to teach her. fingers crossed we will get her there by her 1st birthday!!! i taught her how to high-five too. when she does the high five she has the CUTEST little grin.
i've got the love bug bad though. i have dreams about her...in my sleep i can feel her little hands (claws!!) grabbing my arms and legs, and i can hear her blowing raspberries!! i get pangs of jealousy when someone else is holding her - and i even recognise her crying from another room!! what is the matter with me?!?!
in other news, jacob (the new little man who was so world-weary just last week) is doing really well. he's smiling heaps now, and eating really well. he gets on with the other children and even musters up a little chuckle when he gets zoomed around like superman :-D
today is my day off so i'm back in town to check email and buy some supplies (we had no power or water for 2 days - so i need a gas cooker and bottled water!). i'll attempt to load a photo of my little monkey, but who knows if this technophobe will be able to work it out... 1.5 hours later- still waiting for the photo to upload- i think i must resign myself to failure :-(
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Babies are MESSY!!!
Well, i have arrived safe. I've been here less than 4 days and already it feels like weeks!!
the babies are beautiful, and very well loved. but one thing i wasn't prepared for was how much noise, and how much mess they make!! because the 30 or so children all eat at the same time, they also POO at the same time. which means the baby change room is full and there are so many crying babies after meals waiting to be changed. it breaks my heart- you want to cuddle them - but you pick up one baby and you get wet nappy all over your pants and then baby vomit all over your shirt (i can't believe i'm blogging about baby vom. what a charmer.) and then the 5 babies you didn't pick up to cuddle then start screaming because they need to be held also. MAYHEM. i need a strategy to deal with this issue because at the moment, meal times are traumatic!! other than the 3 meals per day, life is pretty laid back. the tiny babies nap between meals for the most part, so we spend a lot of time playing with the toddlers - maria, martin, dorcas, and prince.
the toddlers are SO smart. they are up to 3 years old, and they're bilingual, they know every baby's name (even the triplets and twins they can tell apart!)- they are the cutest little munchkins. and they LOOOOOOOOOVE cuddles :-D
yesterday a new baby came in. he had no name, and no mother, and he has big scars on his face, poor little man. he was so dirty too. he has now been named jacob. he's 8 months old and is the size of a 3 month old baby. he looked so sad, and weary - like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. i hope he settles in soon.
last night 2 volunteers and i went to the big town (Arusha) for an african bbq (motor mechanics by day, bbq by night). the journey was TERRIFYING though that may just be culture shock. we caught the dala dala at night as we got caught up with feeding the babies dinner (dala dala at night time is a big no-no as it's quite dangerous. sorry mum!! dala dalas are the local transport - they cram as many people as possible into the minivans and just drop you off along the road where you need to go). the destination was fantastic though. we had a HUUUUUGE feast of lamb, chicken, beef, african salads. basically just a few tables with a giant bbq raosting meat on sticks. had a very good atmosphere.
okay that's enough for today- i'm a bit all over the shop as i have so much to write in my first african post but am conscious that baby mess is not the most interesting topic of conversation. i promise next time i will keep it short and sweet. i will also try and work out how to post a picture on each post. internet in the village is BAD. so i'm just going to try to access it in arusha once every one or two weeks.
the babies are beautiful, and very well loved. but one thing i wasn't prepared for was how much noise, and how much mess they make!! because the 30 or so children all eat at the same time, they also POO at the same time. which means the baby change room is full and there are so many crying babies after meals waiting to be changed. it breaks my heart- you want to cuddle them - but you pick up one baby and you get wet nappy all over your pants and then baby vomit all over your shirt (i can't believe i'm blogging about baby vom. what a charmer.) and then the 5 babies you didn't pick up to cuddle then start screaming because they need to be held also. MAYHEM. i need a strategy to deal with this issue because at the moment, meal times are traumatic!! other than the 3 meals per day, life is pretty laid back. the tiny babies nap between meals for the most part, so we spend a lot of time playing with the toddlers - maria, martin, dorcas, and prince.
the toddlers are SO smart. they are up to 3 years old, and they're bilingual, they know every baby's name (even the triplets and twins they can tell apart!)- they are the cutest little munchkins. and they LOOOOOOOOOVE cuddles :-D
yesterday a new baby came in. he had no name, and no mother, and he has big scars on his face, poor little man. he was so dirty too. he has now been named jacob. he's 8 months old and is the size of a 3 month old baby. he looked so sad, and weary - like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. i hope he settles in soon.
last night 2 volunteers and i went to the big town (Arusha) for an african bbq (motor mechanics by day, bbq by night). the journey was TERRIFYING though that may just be culture shock. we caught the dala dala at night as we got caught up with feeding the babies dinner (dala dala at night time is a big no-no as it's quite dangerous. sorry mum!! dala dalas are the local transport - they cram as many people as possible into the minivans and just drop you off along the road where you need to go). the destination was fantastic though. we had a HUUUUUGE feast of lamb, chicken, beef, african salads. basically just a few tables with a giant bbq raosting meat on sticks. had a very good atmosphere.
okay that's enough for today- i'm a bit all over the shop as i have so much to write in my first african post but am conscious that baby mess is not the most interesting topic of conversation. i promise next time i will keep it short and sweet. i will also try and work out how to post a picture on each post. internet in the village is BAD. so i'm just going to try to access it in arusha once every one or two weeks.
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