Catherine's last day at Tumaini school

Today was my last day at our placement (Tumaini English Medium School). After trying to capture so many memories during my last week, it was hard to believe that this part of our adventure has come to an end. The two other volunteers that have been working with us all month at Tumaini (Valerie and Stephen, brother and sister) also will be leaving the placement. We have gotten along with them so well and it seems that everything has worked out so perfectly for us since we arrived...the children are incredible, we had a wonderful teacher at the school to help us and I just know that we will stay in touch with Valerie and Stephen long after we leave here!

Today was really special as we said all of our goodbyes, the school had prepared a little ceremony for us including cookies, muffins, and punch. They even gave us gifts (wood carvings and a kanga-colored and patterned cloth that women wear around their waist as an apron). All of the teachers told us it was "our day" with the children, so we play games, sang and colored all day long. Lauren, Valerie and I all started crying because seeing the poverty around this area makes you realize how much work and sacrafice was put into this celebration. The teachers at our school support their families on a salary of $80 a month. I am so grateful for this experience and for becoming humbled, welcomed, and loved by the people at the school. All of the children gave us lots of hugs as we left, but many of the small ones seemed to not understand what was going on.

I wanted to use this post to reflect on some of my very favorite memories from Tumaini and all of the children there:
#1) The Elephant song-
The kids burst out in song every time we see, draw, or mention elephants...truly precious. "Elephant, elephant go to the bus. No No No...Why Why Why?..Because I'm too big!...Because I'm too big!"
#2) The entire school chanting and jumping as we arrived everyday "TEACHA! TEACHA! TEACHA!"
#3) Beatrice (my favorite little 7 year old)
We lovingly called her "Beatay" and she has the biggest case of ADD (super sneaky and knows she is cute). She dances around the room ALL the time, recently lost a front tooth, and has huge, mischievous eyes. One day I decided to have a dance circle with them and Beatay created a new dance move to the tune of the Limbo song...she basically rubs her stomach around and around while she swings her hips. She knows it makes me smile, so now she does it ALL the time. I wish I could take her home with me.
#4) Porridge time
At 10:00 each morning, all of the children take a break to eat "porridge" before they have play time. They all scramble outside and grab different colored plastic cups and bowls (many are bigger than their faces) and gulp down what looks like flavorless, watered down grits.
#5) Clara (/Corrola/ Crala/Krala)
While it took an entire month to find out what her name actually was...Clara is one of the most beautiful children I have ever seen! She is 3 1/2 with a tiny little voice and she wonders from classroom to classroom to say "hello", ask for a pencil, or get picked up. I wish I could put her in my pocket.
#6) Awkward questions from the teacher David
Every day since our arrival, we have gotten a variety of questions about culture, traditions, and beliefs in the US. David (the head teacher at Tumaini) has offered a wide variety of strange ones including: "Do you have a different tribal language in the United States so that you can't understand eachother?", "Why don't you have children yet (at age 24)?", "How is your mother no longer having children? (my reply "ummm she is 56") and a variety of others.
#7) The recited morning greeting from the children each day
"Good morning teacha!"- good morning class, how are you today?
"I'm fine teacha, thank you. How are you too?"
#8) All of the children yelling "me goose, me goose" during Duck, Duck, Goose
#9) Valerie and Stephen
We just have way too many funny stories about everything from upset stomachs to language barriers to making up random things to teach when we had NO idea what we were doing.
#10) The girls playing "beauty shop" with my hair everyday
Many of the girls at Tumaini were totally fascinated by the way that my silky hair felt different than their hair. Almost everyday, my ponytail was down as they tried to smooth out the curls and make it stay (they way their's does). I always left Tumaini with a new (usually not very attractive) hairstyle.
#11) The smiles
This trip (and especially Tumaini) has helped me gain a greater appreciation for the power of a smile when nothing else seems to make sense. The crooked teeth, the bright white ones, the newly missing front teeth in contrast with the dark skin of all of this children will probably be the picture that I always keep in my head.