The morning we brought the juice boxes for all the kids, and decided it was halloween for heaven's sake and we were bringing candy too! When we arrived at the school everyone was in their play clothes from the teachers to the students. It was fun to see everyone wear soccer jerseys and little girls in cute dresses many of them. They were there for the field trip and the biggest turn out of the 2 weeks we volunteered there- nearly 60 kids. The teachers were doing these fun singings interactive songs - party songs really. We hadn't heard them sing most of them and we took tons of videos since I really wanted to record them to do with little kids at home- from "La Touche" to "Come on Teach Me How to Dance" and "Shake Shake the Mango Tree". It was so fun. We all danced and sang and laughed. Once all the kids were there we put a juice box in each of their backpacks and headed out as a group about a 20 minute walk. It was so fun to see all the kids so excited. We entered into a huge walled field area- looked like what you would imagine in Thunderdome. Like their could be some big Thunderdome Olympics there or something- huge dirt filed over the size of a football field. The kids all piled their stuff up in a corner. We played some of their games and then we taught them Red Light Green Light and had two big groups playing the width of the field. It was fun until kids started dropping like flies falling over each other trying to tag us. We quickly then moved into games and songs I hadn't seen before. One of the games we also taught them was Duck Duck Goose to BINGO song. It went really well and the kids liked it and liked chasing each other around the circle especially trying to tag teachers. It was so fun. We did jump ropes, soccer, and just free play too. We then had Hussein explain to them what Halloween is, what we do in America and how we dress up and knock on doors and people give us candy!! It just seems so crazy to explain this holiday to others and when they ask why? I really don't know why, maybe we tried to Americanize a Mexican Day of the Dead or something- but how did pumpkins get into it and why do we dress up ...? I just said it is like a holiday made for kids-- no good answer but the kids LOVED the lollypops that we gave them. Yvette, Sam and I would have each of the kids walk up and pre tent to knock on a door and then we would say hello and they would say Trick or Treat and we would give them a lollypop and then they would have to say thank you. It was so darn cute and they thought it was hilarious and loved the lollypop which honestly kept them content for the next 30 mins as we packed up and walked back. Never had I had a sucker that lasted so long.
We walked back and at one point one of the boys mom's came to meet us on the walk back. He began balling that he had to leave, it was the funnest day of the month for sure for these kids. We then walked back with the rest. Sang a few more songs and then the kids left. It was sad to know that we may not see them again. After 6 or 7 they leave the school and don't know if we will be back there again while they are there. Teachers were so sad to see us leave. We may not see them again either since they are just there for a few weeks doing their teacher training, since they are still in school and will be going back to finish school and then find a job elsewhere. It's been like they were daughters of ours and the ages of Yvette and my daughters. They hugged us and said they would miss us and were so grateful for what they felt we had taught them, but we were so grateful for what they are doing as good role models, for the fun things they taught us today. Hussein is so amazing and that community is lucky to have him at that school- these kids are smart because of him.
After school we said goodbye to our friends at home base. But first a shower. NEVER have I been this dirty. So dirty that even after a twenty minute shower I had dirt on me. Said by to Sammi and Jenna who have been so awesome! They have been the cutest girls and we have all had a blast together. They are funny and game for anything. We have played tons of cards and sang tons of kid songs and had lots of laughs and good talks. They are there for 4 more weeks. Sarah another girl there we said by to. She was great and so positive. I am sure she made a great impact at her school. They all headed out to the hot springs. The girls are also hiking Kili tomorrow and so we wished them luck and gave them hugs. Told Yvette how grateful we were that she had rallied and come to TZ with us and we felt so lucky to have her there and how it wouldn't have been nearly as fun or as meaningful without her. I have never asked her to come on a trip but once that she hasn't shown up without any real idea of what I have signed her up for. She is the gamest person I know and always available. Thanks Donnie for supporting her and letting her takeoff and roam the world with me. I felt that she was meant to be here too so that we as mom's could really be moms at our school and to these new kids at the other school we will be sponsoring. Also so grateful for all the fun that Yvette and Sam had together. She is as close to having a best kid friend on the trip for Sam- again she was game for all the card games and for tucking his mosquito net at night around him. Vetty- as the girls started calling Yvette- was the bomb.com. #whiteandnerdy #whiteanddirty #fruitsaredelicious #doyourblog #yougottodowhatyougottodo #rubberducky #seeyouontheotherside #ifyousingthatsongagainIwillpost #Samdoyourblog #sandlewood #dudeyoucan'tbuyhisfriendshipwithanicecream #shutup #fruitsfruitsfruitsaredelicous #therewassomethinginthejuice #jambo #anyonewanttoplaycards
#idoubtit #really? ##
Once at the airport it looked like all was ok. We were flying on Ethiopian Airways and were in behind security 2 hours before and then our names are called. We are pulled off the flight since it is delayed and we won't make our connection in Ethiopia and will be stuck there likely. So she tells us she is putting us up in a hotel and giving us dinner and tonight at 11:30 p.m. we will catch a flight on Turkish Airways. It will be better she tells me. I ask is it direct. She says 'Wait and I will print it out and you can see it." So I wait for an hour in her office. She then prints me the ticket and shows me that she has us flying at midnight to Istanbul and then to Cairo!!! Are you kidding me?! The flight gets in at 3:30 p.m into Cairo- 24 hours from then and on a plane for like 10 hours. NO WAY! That is not an option. She then puts us on Precision Airways- even worse from my experience than Ethiopian and then says it will get us in at 8 a.m. Not happy but she says that is all she can do and go through Nairobi. She books us and then we go to the gate to check bags and it is oversold and we can't fly on it!! She then books us on another through Dar Salam and there is a 1 hour layover and we have to get off, claim our bags, go to Intl terminal and check our bags in, get our tickets printed, go through customs and maybe you will make your flight. What?!! Then stuck in Dar Salam and if miss try and catch tomorrow night. I finally just went and bought 2 tickets on a flight I saw was leaving in 45 mins, after I heard it called, since the woman didn't suggest that. Heavens, we had to pay cash had to run to an ATM and then get cash and then get our bags out of where they had checked them on Precision and recheck and then barely made it to the flight. Got to Dar Salam with plenty of time- good news! Bad news- power out, just some lights in the stores that had generators but the airport was honestly 95 degrees and so humid. I was just dripping as we waited for 2.5 hours. I almost bought some diamonds since that was the store with the best air-conditioning and went in to just stay cool but had to pretend I was interested and then I started to become interested ....hahaha. But made the flight and got to Cairo. Felt like a miracle. So thankful!!
One last thing, since it feels like the same day since I haven't slept at all but maybe 2 hours on and off last night on the plane ride. But the driver that picked us up at the airport is going to to take us to our flight to Luxor on Monday. He asks for confirmations. I had the info of the flights but some reason from the agent I booked them with didn't get the etickets I realized. Well come to find out, long story since I know this is already the longest story... longest day ever... for some reason our flights had been canceled and here all my family is flying to Egypt and we don't have flights to get on our cruise or get back from our cruise! Seriously!!!! I just gave her my credit card, since I can't get in touch with the agency #fightmares and she booked us all in the last seats on the plane going down and back!!! Probably our seats that for some reason had been canceled. So, after all this, I am doing my blog and now going to pass out after 34 hours without proper sleep. Good night and grateful to be in Cairo and can't wait to see my family!!!! Sam and I have missed Nate, Kendall and Syd and glad we will be all set when they get here!
Made it to Cairo!
I think I am going to die of every kind of exhaustion but mostly heat!!
Happy and dirty!
Maggie's bestie
Gloria!
Ebenezer
Maggie
Gabriel turned superstar all with a pair of glasses
Gabriel who we just loved took a lot of the playground home with him today
This picture doesn't do justice to how totally filthy we were after our day field trip
Sophia- sweet as the lollypop she is savoring
Gloria totally dehydrated clinging to Yvette the whole way back and Yvette all perky and dirty
Sam with two of his buddies
Sam giving this head carrying a whirl. Not one of us could do it and all the ladies and likely all the little girls could do it
Happy Halloween!
Trick or Treat!
Jump Jump...Roca Roca
Sitting on the cleanest spot at the playground
Dance song... getting down on the playground
This girl could seriously dance... loved watching and playing with her today
Today we were given our bracelets from the EE Fund in thanks for supporting this group of 10 kids at the local school we went to yesterday so they continue going to school- proud to rock our bands
#Samdoyourblog
Two new sisters: Mama Fatuma and Mama Sarah. These women are amazing. Much love and respect goes out to them
Sam and his other mother this week- thanks for all the mosquito netting tuckins and card games and all the laughs
Loved our family at CCS- gamers for it all. Will miss you Sammi and Jenna
Sam wins dirtiest feet award.
"Shake Shake the Mango Tree!!!"
We will miss you kids!
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