Days 9/10

Day 9

Another follow up at the local doctor and more medicine but feeling much better. In the afternoon I got to go back to the orphanage which definitely lifted my spirits despite feeling tired and weak from the medicine.

We got there at a good time because the kids were out of class and were playing. We played with what toys they had, games that you use rocks and small holes in the ground similar to mancala, and we also played different variations of football, and soccer. As usual it makes your problems seem so small when hanging out with really fun and happy kids who really don't own anything except a few pairs of clothes, sandals, soap and a tooth brush. We also worked on more English skills and continued building our Swahili knowlege which for the girls in the group has come very quickly. As for the guys it has been a bit more difficult (not sure what that says about us).

In the evening over dinner it was typical deep discussions on Africa, poverty, politics and cultural differences as well as what we missed most about home. Also thrown in were the funny awkward cultural moments we have all had.


Day 10

Today in the morning was strictly business with orphanage. I worked with the director to brainstorm and begin implementing a fundraising/marketing plan and also a grass roots campaign to get the local community and schools involved in building up the orphanage. It is so well run but needs so much more for it to be permanently sustainable. I am working on updating the website, creating a newsletter, putting together voluntourism trips with local tour companies, networking through facebook and twitter and also creating an online donation site. Another big project when I return is to figure out a way to get the orphanage some old computers to teach English, typing skills, math and other basics that are essentially to the work force.

In the afternoon we had some more free time with the kids, did some teaching and watched an old Jackie Chan movie with them which was one of the 5 or so movies they have, they knew almost every line. It was pretty hilarious and by the end they were calling me Jackie Chan and trying to attack me.

This evening the plan is to go out with some other people at our hotel who just got done climbing Mt. Kilimajaro (they looked exhausted and I cant wait to try it myself).