20-Something

Seems to be getting more and more difficult to access the internet these days, so I apologize. I usually have too much work to do after school to make it into town on the weekdays, so now I only go on weekends. One of the teachers recently suggested that classes 7 & 8 should stay in class until 4:00. Guess who teaches classes 7 & 8? I'll give you a hint... it's not him. Also, I've started "teaching" computer classes 3 days a week. Most of the kids have never touched a computer before, so right now I just let them play around with Word and the games programs. Still loving my job though. Ups and downs just like anything else. One day a few weeks ago, I was teaching my class 8 about weather forecasting. I had bought a thermometer in Nairobi and explained that a long time ago people didn't have equipment to help them predict the weather so they would observe their surroundings. One thing people noticed was that when there were lots of butterflies it meant that there was going to be a hot, dry spell. The next morning when I went to class, someone must have forgotten to close the window because the room was filled with different colored butterflies. Then one of my students asked if that meant it was going to be hot and dry. (Up) I also discovered that the thermometer had been broken. (Down)

This term is definitely flying by though. Less than a month left and so much to do... 1. I want to put something together for the parents to take home that might help them communicate better with their children (haven't even started it yet)... 2. Lots of plans in March like visiting a nature park, dinner plans, etc. and 3. I'm getting ready for Kyle to visit! If there's one thing Kenyan's know how to do best it's making a guest feel welcome and they definitely want Kyle to feel welcome. In fact, one of the other teachers even has plans to "steal" him from me... that might be taking it a bit too far. I told her "good luck", but I didn't mean it.

So as many of you know I am now officially in my late-20s, as I just "celebrated" my 27th birthday. First I would like to thank everyone that sent me birthday wishes by mail, text message, phone and by attending the "1st Memorial Libby Poker Championship". It's definitely the first time a party has been held in my honor and I wasn't able to attend. On my actual birth-day (a Wednesday) I hung out with a fellow PCV, had a few celebratory drinks, ate some cake and went to bed before 11pm... which was more than I had expected so I was pretty happy. And again, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of cards and phone calls I received. It really meant a lot to me to be reminded that I am loved even from so far away. Well, I don't want to make you guys get all misty-eyed at work... as I'm sure that's where most of you are reading this!

So, last weekend the Deaf VCT visited the school and there was all sorts of drama. One of the boys got up and told one of the counsellors that a group of kids had told him that he wasn't allowed to join in their church service because they thought he had AIDS. The counsellor got so upset that she started crying, went outside to get a stick and threated to beat them all. Then the headmaster got involved and told them that God was very angry with them and that gossip was the work of Satan. Fun day. Well, sorry to leave you with that story, but I need to go. If there's anything specific that you guys want to know, just post a comment and I'll do my best to keep you informed. This blog is as much for you as it is for me, so I want to know if there's something I'm leaving out... bathroom details, my diet, popular rap stars, how my hair looks after 6 months (not great)... just let me know! Take care! Love, Lib