Thanks for the Small things...that really aren't so small.

Last night it rained (first time since I've been here) and it was SO MUDDY TODAY. After our muddy trek to school, we realized that our 2nd grade teacher decided not to show up. Just as the kids were beginning to go a bit crazy (running around the classroom, hitting each other, screaming), two angels sent from above (or from Moshi Primary - 7th grade class - Rachel and Lillian) came in for an hour and helped Libby and I to translate our lesson, and control the kids. At one point one of the 7th grade girls who was helping us started to hit the kids with a stick. I explained to her that that was not OK. She understood and stopped, which felt good. It's just so sad... she grew up thinking that it is OK to use this type of punishment, because that is what was done to her. So she continues it... that's how these things continue.

Anyway, I have no idea how these girls knew to show up at our classroom, but they SAVED us today. The kids are really well behaved when the teachers are there, but when it is just the foreigners with the limited Swahili (aka me and Libby), they know they can have a little more fun(I suppose this is payback for the way we behaved whenever we had a substitute teacher!). This class was a bit intense but went well, given the circumstances today.

1st grade was calm compared to 2nd grade. And remember the girl I told you about? The one who was having difficulties and was placed in the rear of the class. Well I've been working with her a lot, and today she actually kept up with the rest of the class!!! This was a big deal. We wrote out our numbers, 1-25 (one, two, three, etc.)... we've done it before, and usually she doesn't get past 10, but today she made it to 25!! She was SO THRILLED and was hugging her book and laughing and smiling endlessly. I know it may not sound like much but if each of you could have seen her face :).

Well, I should get going. One quick note - This morning as I was getting ready for school I noticed a big lizard climbing up the wall next to my bed. As I continued packing my bag, not even flinching, I realized I'm starting to get the hang of this whole Africa thing ;-)