Time here in Arusha is quickly drawing to a close. It is hard to believe that I have been here for nearly a month. The orphanage has been amazing - I am definitely thankful to be placed where I was! These kids have become my kids, and the workers have become my Tanzanian family - so I am sad to leave them in a couple days time. I will be back at the orphanage for Wednesday thru Friday, and Saturday morning I will be picked up at the orphanage and brought to Arusha, where I will catch a shuttle back to Kilimanjaro International Airport for my 11 o'clock flight back to Dar. I should be met at the airport in Dar by a member of the eye camp team, and at that point will be on to the third and final leg of my African journey. I am very excited about this part of the trip as well. I don't really have any idea what to expect - but I am sure that I will be just as blessed by this part as I have been by my time in Zambia, and here in Arusha.
My kids are REALLY, REALLY cute - and I wish that you could all meet them. Believe me, if I could bring every single one of them home with me, I would. They call me "Sister Jeely". I've picked up some Swahili since being here - and attempt to try and communicate with them sometimes. It's cute when they just jabber away at me in Swahili, and I have NO idea what they are saying. I sometimes reply with a 'Sielewi' (I don't understand), at which point they just tell me it again, only louder. I don't think that they understand that we speak different languages. I like that about kids! I just wish that I knew what they were saying sometimes, as they converse back and forth with each other. It would be great if life just came complete with subtitles! Most of the time we don't need to speak the same language though - as smiles, winks and hugs are understood in any language. Oh my goodness - my heart is hurting thinking about leaving them soon. I guess I just have to trust that they will continue to be taken care of and loved.
Sunday was an interesting day, as I was able to attend not one, but two, kitchen parties (aka. bridal showers). They were slightly different than the ones in Canada though - way more dancing. Anyways, at the first one, I was enjoying watching the dancing, when the mom of the house (who was hosting the kitchen party for her daughter) came over to me, and invited me
to get up and dance. I was already standing out like a sore thumb as it was, being the only white person at the party. Anyways, this drew the attention to me even more. So, picture this: white Jill, who can't really dance, pulled into the middle of a circle of about 50 dancing ladies, and about 50 more ladies seated and watching. One lady has a mike and is speaking in Swahili - so I have no idea what is being said - but I feel fairly certain that something is being said about me. Anyways, I'm told to look off to the side, where the entire circle of women has parted, so that a photographer (who is taking pictures of the whole kitchen party) proceeds to snap a picture of my poor attempt at dancing. Oh gosh. What an experience! At one point in my life, I probably would have been embarrassed beyond words about this happening - but I don't really mind now. It's all just part of the experience - and it gives me stories to tell. Plus, I think I gave all those ladies a good laugh as well!
Well, I'm down to less than five minutes left, so I need to wrap this up before time runs out. Next time you hear from me, I will most likely be in Dar for the eye camp. Know that you are all thought of often from Tanzania!
Love,Jilly
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