Hello!!! First off, thanks for all your lovely comments on my last blog. They made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside So it's been 2 weeks since my last post and we're once again back in Tanga for a weekend of electricity (however dodgy), topping up on meat (none in Yamba) and exposing our peely-wally knees by the poolside. Habari za Shule? School has been good these past 2 weeks. My Standard 2 class are a bit calmer (for the most part) and so lessons are more enjoyable. Miraculously, I seem to have grasped almost all of their names (no easy task...there's 40+ kids!) which makes things easier. I bravely decided to take them outside the other day to play a numbers game (one of the local teachers was watching me as if I was completely barking!) and they totally loved it. Granted, they did go a bit nuts at first at the thought of a lesson outside and I did have to do a bit of crowd control but the lesson seemed to sink in which was a relief as I think I'm running out of ways to make counting 50-100 fun. Suggestions welcome! My Standard 5 classes are really good and the kids are beginning to come out of their shells and are revealing their cheeky selves. There are usually only about 15 in that class and there are some very clever cookies (granted a few donuts too) but they're a lovely bunch to teach. I'm going to have to watch out when doing class competitions though-they're a competitive bunch (especially if pi-pi's (sweets) are at stake!). It's the simple things... As Andy (the volunteer coordinator) told us, when you're living so remotely it's the simple things that become a big deal. Like the day we got the combination of teacakes and bananas for breakfast (woop!) because it meant we could incorporate nutella and have thee best breakfast EVER! Or slightly more profound, I played a game of dominoes with one wee boy for an hour the other day and it was the highlight of my day. The fact a simple game of dominoes was so exciting (probably more so for him because he won against his teacher, 10-5 no less!) was quite humbling. Anyway, my point being is that it's very easy to be happy here when the little things are the big things. I can't believe I forgot to mention the knees Little things become a big deal (see above ) but nothing is a bigger deal than if you were to expose your knees. I'm not entirely sure of the reasons behind it but in many parts of Tanzania it is seen as offensive if a woman shows her knees. Yes, offensive. Even if the shape of your knee can be seen through your trousers...you could be insulting someone! It was hard to get my head around it at first but it's now firmly ingrained in my mind as the law and so you can imagine our disbelief when we saw another Mzungo (white person) in Tanga last week flashing her knee flesh. (Did I just hear you gasp!?!) We were so shocked, so much so that only Emily could muster a response when she spoke to us and as soon as she was gone we were animatedly discussing her knees. The knee rule however, does not apply by the poolside in the hotel complex...even so, I now feel quite odd about baring my knees. How brazen! If it was 40, you'd be dead On a less exciting note, I've been a bit under the weather this week. Indeed a faulty thermometer gave the village healthpost a bit of a scare when it read 40 degree! In spite of its remoteness, the healthpost nurses in Yamba were amazing and I'm all doped up and on the mend (especially with the incentive of meat for dinner). Hm...these blogs are making me sound quite carniverous.... Do a good thing today... The charity I'm volunteering with out here is pretty tiny and doing the best it can with few resources. They're on a huge push at the moment to raise awareness and spread the word and I'm fully behind it. I'd love it if you could all take a teeny second, next time you're on Facebook and 'Like' their snazzy new page. (http://www.facebook.com/#!/villageafrica) Anyways, I think that's all for another few weeks, Keep me posted with all your news from home, All my love, Linsey xxx ps-I've had to use a provided photo (sad face)...but I forgot to bring my camera (or 'camelaaa' as the kiddies say)