Mzungu Mukubwa - Big White Guy

It's been a long time since I've blogged! I've actually had a lot of trouble loading this website... it's gonna be tough adjusting back to US Internet! But Mzungu mukubwa is quite frequently how American men appear to the nationals here. I was talking about it with Tim, one of our science teachers. He's been called that, and he's really not what I would consider big.

Ashley and I are finally out of the dorm. No more dorm-mom-ing. I miss it already! We're back in the Fasses' house, which is real quiet, down by the lower gate... Luckily, tonight was the first Caring Community, which means there were 8 thirteen-year-old girls in our house. They were a lot of fun! I made... soppapias? I'm not sure how to spell it. Anyway. they were quite tasty! The girls were really excited, too... I think probably more about the ice cream. We played signs... they were so funny! They were giggling at everything! They've informed us that we're going to have to do a sleep-over. Hahaha!

We also now have a house worker. Her name is Dorcas, and she is wonderful! She made us the most DELICIOUS jepatis (juh-PAH-tees) and stew! Anyway, most everyone here has a house and yard worker to help them keep up with everything. Life is busy... and everything takes a bit longer than it does in the US. I was uncomfortable at first with the idea, but it really was awful trying to teach and be involved in all the activities and students' lives and cook and clean and dorm-mom. AND! It gives more job opportunities to Kenyans.

One of the nationals who works on campus is named Zeb, and he makes the most beautiful pottery! I went into his pottery studio to see his work, and I was completely blown away! And he's only been doing it for a couple of years. The art teacher here trained him. So now he makes dishes and things for anyone around campus who wants one. There are lots of students around who use mugs that he's made for chai time.

My private lesson "studio" has finally stopped growing. I think I'm pretty full... I even let a couple of students talk me into giving them lessons first period... which is kinda rough. And I'm getting used to giving private lessons... although the saxophone and clarinet lessons REALLY scared me at first. I still am not very much help with clarinet fingerings. But I'm able to play along with my sax student now (I think I only have one sax student...). The only problem is sometimes I'm not sure how to say what I want to say. But I'm enjoying it a lot because it gives me so much opportunity to get to know students.

The students here are amazing. They can be trusted, they stay on task (85% of the time), they WANT to learn, they are kind to younger students... in fact, the administration gives all the high school students a "little brother" or "little sister," and then they go on coke dates together or to the "drive-in movie" together or hang out... and the titchies LOVE it and get sooooOOOO excited, and the high school students love doing special things for their lil brother/sister. It's really sweet to see! And I think that one of my flutie girls, Jennie, has sort of adopted me as a big sister... she's SO sweet! But she asked me to come to her basketball game today, and I couldn't go cuz of the move! I was really bummed... but I told her to be sure to tell me when the next one is, and I'd be there.

Anyway, I think that's about all the news I have. Life is pretty good here... but it still gets overwhelming and quite difficult sometimes. Every once in awhile, I just really want to be around something that's familiar to me. And sometimes I get really weird cravings -- like today, I really wanted to go to Lowe's. But, my friends and my students and my fellow staff members are all wonderful and supportive, and I know I have a lot of people at home praying for me.