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On Thursday night a group of us from the hostel went out (kinda like at home Thursday night here is also a going out night). I went to a bar first with some people, where I met a very friendly local who spent the next hour telling me how she was going to show me all around Tanzania (I think she was quite drunk) and then me and Immy moved on to Veea Veea (no idea how to spell it) which is a Tanzanian club. Not really like clubs at home at all - it was outside and we got there just after the power had been turned on - but it was really fun. We all danced the night away to a mix of Tanzanian and American music and got back pretty late. When we got back we did discover a mouse in the cupboard, which I will admit, was a bit of a shock! I also found mouse droppings in my drawer under the bed this morning - further reason that I'm grateful to be on the top bunk. T.I.A (This Is Africa) has become a resident phrase for accepting the creepy crawlies and the crazy things.
Luckily for me on Friday I didn't have a volunteer project to go to so was able to lie in until around 11. Most of the others weren't so lucky and had to leave the hostel around half 8! Me and Lauren went to the pool for today to chill out and recover which was loovely - although sadly it didn't help my sunburn situation at all and I am beginning to look like someones gone crazy with a can of red paint.
Saturday a couple of girls from the hostel and I went to a market in Tengera. It was interesting to see but very hot, very busy and more of a locals market selling second hand clothes and food than a visitors market. Everyone shouts Mzungo at you which literally means traveller but is Swahili for white person. When we got back we went to a Mzungo cafe for a drink and headed back to the hostel. The weekend nights we have not been so hardcore - I think I went to bed around half 9.
Sunday a group of us from the hostel went to the Cradle of Love which is an orphanage. We went on a verry crowded dala dala - it's great it was pretty much full with only one seat left or something and there was a group of 8 of us and they managed to get all of us on plus a few others! When some people got off some people from a market got on, one with a bunch of drowsy chickens right next to my feet, it wasn't the best, I'm not a big fan of birds especially not chickens who might want to make a final bid for freedom. But luckily I remained unpecked. The Cradle of Love was amazing but is also kinda heartbreaking. When we walked in all the toddlers ran at us with their arms outstretched wanting to be picked up and cuddled and read to. It's a very well run facility and they cater to as many of their needs as possible, and although it's lovely to give them a cuddle it's pretty sad to see how desperate they are for affection even from total strangers. We took the toddlers on a little outing to the edge of the dirt road and they all waved and shouted when the cars drove past. Then we took them to the playground for a bit before heading back in to feed the babies. We went to play with the babies after their lunch before their sleep. I did slightly fall in love with all of them but there was one I was holding and she was cuddled up to me and so quiet and content. It was amazing. Irene (another lady from the hostel) saw us and told me I wasn't allowed to take her with me, which has become a bit of a running joke, but I was really quite tempted. After this we went over to the unit where the babies with aids are, they're so small, one is only 10 days old. Vanessa - another girl from the hostel - told me that the 10 day old baby was found just left outside the hospital still covered in blood. We helped to feed them and play with them and put them down for a nap. They're so adorable but you do have to be careful with them, it's so easy to forget that they're potentially dangerous to you when they're so little and innocent. I do now at least understand where Brangelina are coming from, I want to bring them all home with me! (But I won't mumma not to worry)
Today I've been at MeruView primary school helping out. I started off in a class learning the ABCs - people keep getting moved into the class so aparrantely it's a bit frustrating as they'll get up to Q with some of the kids then have to start all over again. One of the newer ones was insisting on doing his C's backwards but I finally won him round which felt pretty good. He'll probably forget all over again pretty soon but in the meantime I got him into writing C properly so I'm happy. I then went into class A which is the class just up from baby class where we did some singing - if you're happy and you know it and a song about an elephant which is Tanzanian so I'll write it out so you can experience the wonder. Elephant elephant, yes yes yes, Come to the bus, no no no, why why why, because I am too big, because I am too big, because I am too big (this bit carries on for a while and you have to clap and do a dancy thing when you say it) but it's pretty fun. There's also a song about a baby which I haven't quite got yet but it's kinda rhythmic and you can tell which ones are going to be able to dance when they're older (unlike me!)
So that's pretty much my adventures up until now, lots of love to everyone and missing you all xxxxxxxxxxx
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