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Hello,
So think it’s been a week since my last post. At first I was trying to stop from writing too much too frequently and then I was a bit home sick and didn’t feel like writing. So there’s a lot to report now!
Last weekend was fun with our first time off. I still taught for an hour on Saturday as the kids still have school until 11 so I had the high school kids for an hour to start teaching with them. We’re learning Joyful from sister act2. Weird choice but mainly because its god friendly and I know the nuns that run the high school need to approve-so figured it was a safe bet! I was worried that the children wouldn’t be keen to do a song based on religion but everyone is very Christian here so they all seem fairly receptive. As I thought before since they don’t know hip hop from ballet they don’t have the same preconceptions or stereotypes as kids back home which is really interesting. I taught a smaller high school group this week too and did a power point on my laptop about ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, salsa, pop and musical theatre. They we’re really interested (partly because laptops are a real novelty and they’re all fascinated even by the desktop!) but seemed to take in everything. Then we got up and learnt some really basic hip-hop steps. I feel whiter than ever here pretty uncoil doing hip hop!
Defiantly out of my teaching and dancing comfort zone at the moment because everything I demonstrate is really scrutinized when they try and copy. Very self-conscious! Probs cuz I’m still a bit chub chubs still and it’s not going down any with all the carbs here I feel even more lacking in my dance confidence but hopefully will come back!
Food on the whole is fine just really carb heavy and we all are craving fruit and veg. had the best avocado of my life at the weekend though that we bought from kwa vonza the nearest town. Considering only been here a week my food cravings are pretty bad. We talk about food constantly and have a really bad game of working out how much we’d pay for certain meals. The highest bid so far is for my ultimate fantasy – a cheese burger, a swim in a pool and then a cocktail- went for 7,000 shillings which is about £50.
Kwa vonza is the nearest place to get a cold beer for 100 shillings. On Friday we caught the weekly village car that goes via there. Seeing 25 people trying to fit into a 5 seater pick up truck was defiantly a top 5 Kenya moments. We jumped in the bed of the truck but that many people climbed on we popped the tire! So they brought round the bigger one, which had more room but is higher so when we were driving along me and Nicole got absolutely whacked by tree branches and cut my neck up a little! Hilarious though. Only topped by the next car journey when we were just driving away from the village when this old shu shu comes hobbling after us to ‘jump’ in, but not before she passes us her chicken to hold onto which I swiftly thrust at tommy the Italian guy that’s been here this week and is coming back at the end of the month. The chicken was going off to market to be sold and killed, it looked pretty unhappy in the truck.
Lots of volunteers here which is really nice, so a big group of muzungas! Two German ladies from London are doing a film project and they’re really cool. And two new Americans arrived this week. Hopefully we won’t get too full and have to share our rooms cut we have bunk beds! It’s more my eco-toilet I don’t want to share! (Still the only part of Africa I don’t like and will not like any more any time soon!)
So over all teachings going well I do a class 6 days a week (I bought the primary kids sweets and it turns I teach 200 at a time-had no idea it was that many defiantly thought it was like 40-50!)
Getting on well everyone but really going to miss Nicole when she leaves next week.
Still getting used to African time but learning to chill out slowly but surely.
Still hate the toilets.
Could murder a roast dinner right now.
Lots of love to everyone, keep me posted with your goings on please!
- comments
Kathryn OMG this was such a good ides loving reading whats going on so far away! Im on the Isle of Wight atm with May and grandparents (Grandad is driving me insane!) Got a busy few weeks when I get back going to newscastle with Rach and all of Aircraft for a festival which should be cool! I dont have long on the internet while im here but dont feal self conscience you have loads to offer anyone and stay safe lOve xxxxx
Anne-Marie Won't tell you what we are just going to eat Charlotte! Been Sally's birthday weekend and we have had a fun night at Ricos in Poulton. Alex is home now for good and looking for a job - not easy! Raining and miserable here today - enjoy the African sunshine! Sister Act is coming to Manchester in Sept and we have just booked tickets. Hope you don't have to share your room and, more importantly, the compost toilet!! Love from us all. Anne-Marie xx
Anna Hi Charlotte, it sounds like you've got lots going on and Simon says you're off on a break so have a great time! I noticed you've been posting photos and was wondering if you could take one for me when you get a chance? I was presenting at a school earlier in the week who want to pay for the salary of two nursery school teachers in the village and i was hoping to send them a photo of some of the nursery kids with two of their teachers - no hurry at all as if you weren't able to do it I was planning to ask Jeremy to take one when he is out there in August. Keep enjoying it and keep posting updates, it's great to hear all about it. Anna x