Madam Libby

So, it’s been about a month since my last blog and I apologize. I’m certain all of you eagerly await my latest update and I would hate for any of you to loose sleep. :) Well, I’ve finally started teaching… talk about a 24/7 job. In addition to teaching 40 classes a week (English, Math, Science, Social Studies and P.E), I also am in charge of the library & computer lab, I’m supposed to start a computer club and an art club, I interpret for the kids in church on Sundays (sometimes) and I tutor in between all of that. I am pretty much always exhausted and have been given the Kikuyu name “Nyakio”, which supposedly means “person who is always busy”, but I suspect it really means “person who doesn’t know Kikuyu and never will.” But, enough complaining… I seriously LOVE my kids. If I’m not teaching or doing some kind of work, I am with them. I teach classes 7 & 8 (7th and 8th grade), but their ages range from about 14 to 20. The only problem is that I really just want to be their friend and not so much their teacher. I just want to play with them and tell stories with them and learn everything there is to know about them. It’s funny, because in class they are “all business” and very quiet, but as soon as class is finished they become these amazingly unique and expressive people. On Friday nights they hold their own church service in the dining hall and it is incredible. As most of you know, I’m not really one for church, but to see these kids sign stories with such emotion is just beautiful. I guess another problem is that I find myself not wanting to leave my school compound to go out and meet people in my community. Being with my kids is where I feel the most comfortable and have the most fun. Unfortunately, I have to leave for an entire week at the beginning of February for some Peace Corps training thing. Although I don’t mind the break, I don’t really want to leave. Plus, traveling in Kenya isn’t always the most relaxing of activities. Sometimes just finding a vehicle takes hours and then as soon as you find one you can’t wait to get off of it because the person next to you is mostly in your lap and there’s a live chicken under your seat. Oh crap, I’m complaining again. Sorry. Well, I need to get back home to get ready for school on Monday and to try and evict my new roommate (a.k.a. a bat). Wish me luck. Oh, and if anyone sees any books on teaching deaf children how to read, send them my way! Take care. Miss & love. Libby