Life is such a beautiful thing.

Don't have much time so I will just highlight the events from the past two days or so.

1. Class was such a success yesterday, alhamdulillah! I realized that all this adverb and adjective confusion could be easily solved by some outdoor interactive business. I took the kids on a walk and had them describe their surroundings (out loud) using a noun and an adjective in each phrase / sentence. Then, we stopped at a grassy clearing and all sat down together. I stood up and gave the definitions of adverbs and adjectives again. I knew the kids were still confused so I asked for a volunteer. As always, Mohammed Ally's hand was the first in the air. I asked him to stand up in front of the rest of his peers and asked them to describe him. Of course, they used words that are classified as adjectives (I did not point this out). Then, I asked them to pick a verb. They chose "to dance." Mohammed started doing an old school Maasai dance that made the whole class laugh. When he was finished, I asked them to describe how he had been dancing. Of course, they used adverbs. That was all it took for them to understand the difference!! I felt so good. By the end, they didn't even need people to act out different verbs; they just knew the difference and started shouting out words. At the end of class, they told me that they had had a lot of fun. I told them I would miss them and they were surprised. I don't think they realized that I am leaving in a week. It was sad. When they told me not to go, my eyes watered and I was grateful that Sarah (another volunteer) and her brother Hussein pulled up to distract everyone. I am so sad every time I think about leaving. These children have become my life. Parting from them seems so wrong, so hard, so cruel.

2. Last night, we went for a walk at about eleven to the football ground near the boys' dormitory. We always go there to star gaze. I think we were really tired, however, because we ended up spending the whole night there! At about four thirty, we dozed off and were woken by the adhaan at five. We prayed and then head over to the kitchen to make breakfast for all the kids in the school. Now THAT was fantastic. I was in charge of the eggs and had a team of four (Sarah, Faud, Wajiha, and Insiya). I measured our EPM (eggs per minute). At the end of the batch, our EPM was NINETY FOUR. Tell me that is not insane? I think that's pretty insane. We cracked over 400 eggs and made almost 1500 sandwiches. I have never felt so accomplished in my life. It was great fun.

3. I just spent an hour and a half talking to one of the askaris (guards / watchmen). His name is Musa. I have made friends with just about all of them considering I see them all the time. I love how happy these people are when expats speak their language / make an effort to talk to them. We talked about everything from Indian-African relations to sports to tourism in Tanzania to the habits of Westerners .. I can't even remember everything that we discussed. We even talked about whether or not taming animals was a good thing. All in Kiswahili! The acceptance I feel here really allows me to speak more. They make me feel so comfortable. I will miss them horribly. I also saw Naima today and rescheduled our "weed-whacking" date for Monday morning since the boys are in Dar for the day and it would have been impossible to get it done with today's schedule as it is.

4. I am not going to Dar. I finalized the decision today. I will return next weekend, a day and a half before my departure. I would regret leaving if I went before then. I think it is a good decision.

I will miss this place. Thinking that the journey is ending hits me harder every time. Last night, they wanted to see my pictures from Madrid so I went through them with the other volunteers. I really am grateful to everyone (and the Big Man Upstairs) for supporting me through my travels this summer. It has been such a beautiful experience. I don't think I will ever be the same.

Okay. Nana Bashir is waiting for me at home to do some admin work so I need to run but I just feel so overwhelmed with contentment all the time that I feel the need to share the little beauties that make my world go 'round when I am here.

Oh, last three things before I go. Firstly, Nana Bashir is fantastic. He has made me feel so at home and really allows me to explore any avenue I am interested in. The locals here love and respect him because he does not understand differences in color. To him, everyone truly is the same, and I admire that about him. We all say that we believe in equality but he practices it without preaching and I love him for it.

Secondly, I cannot find my cricket. I had named him Ja'far. I hope he is okay. I would be horribly sad if something happened to him. There is another dead roach in my living room. Funny how these things stop bothering me. I wonder if it's just because I'm here. I hope the roach-a-phobia doesn't return when I'm back in AngloLand. We shall find out.

Thirdly, we have started work on the sandpit! So exciting. It's hard work. I'm used to digging for Habitat but man the soil here is basically rock! It's a whole different breed of digging.

Never mind. There is a fourth thing. I spoke to Nani Banu (Nana Bashir's wife and my mum's aunt) yesterday about Kibaha and it was refreshing to share ideas with her. It's funny how, despite the fact that we had not discussed WIPAHS before, we share many of the same ideas. I am considering deferring law school for a year and coming here to do some non-triage, permanent work. We shall see how that turns out.

Okay, my uncle awaits so I must really run now. More soon, I hope. With lots of love ..