Jammin'

These past few days have been a little frustrating. A little of miscommunication has left us a little unproductive. On Tuesday we were able to do advertising in the morning, for the testing day we are holding tomorrow in Ngorodotu (pronounced in-grow-doe-toe). We all thought that it was fairly close by....instead we went on a four hour walk there and back putting up posters. The clinic is a little run down...meaning no electricity, lighting, or clean rooms. Hopefully Angaza can bring some tents to do the testing outside, and we'll have to find a place to put counseling so that it's confidential. We got back too late to do education on Tuesday, and were hoping to make it up yesterday, but the students didn't seem to know they were supposed to be coming. So yesterday morning we spent planning the testing days (I'm in charge of tomorrow's), and practicing our skits which are most definitely Tony award level material. In the afternoon we got a very jumbled Swahili lessons where we learned a lot of useful phrases for the testing day.

Hopefully today we'll be able to catch up on what we were supposed to be doing for the past two days. Mainly we need to work on helping the students come up with their own programming. Next Monday they'll get to go to a secondary school and do the education. Before then, we have two testing days. Saturday night, in order to celebrate (hopefully there will be reason to celebrate), we're going into the city to go out to dinner and to go to some club. It should be an interesting experience. Sunday, half the group will be going on a safari. I've opted out of that, and hopefully the rest of us will figure out something fun to do.

Even with our lower levels of productivity, we've managed to do some cool things. I went back to the orphanage for a little bit yesterday. We've also begun morning yoga sessions with some of the women at the UAACC and last night we all had a jam session with the band that is playing at the testing day here on Saturday. My Swahili has improved greatly, and I'm hoping that I won't lose it all before I go to Kenya. It's a really easy language though, very much appreciated after my failed attempts at Arabic. We also celebrated one of the girl's birthdays Tuesday night with cake, dancing, and some Swahili singing. They all laugh at our dancing abilities, as they are quite different styles from dancing here.

I really can't wait for peanut butter, milk, and ice cream. The other night I gave in and ate some chicken, as I haven't eaten any protein on this trip, and was desperately craving something other than carbs. I think all of us are getting a little tired, sore, and grumpy, and we've been working extra hard not to get on each other's nerves. Last night a few of us had to bust out of ipods and just dance around the compound to let out a little pent up frustration (or at least that's why I did it). So far it's been working...hopefully it will continue to work for another five days plus a plane ride.

Love you all and miss you.