Fun and Games

Fun and Games Kristen here. The days start early and end late. Today started at 4:15 am for me. I awoke to someone singing hymns. It was nice. The roosters chimed in around 6 am. By 8:10 the kids strolled in laughing and kicking the Kittleson’s balls. I taught school today. We unscrambled words, learned to multiply by 5 and 10, and talked about the earth’s core being hot (it was a surprise as most assumed cold). We then spent about 30 minutes going through the Encyclopedia – they wanted to go page by page. Snakes and geckos and tigers were all known. There was delight about the Earth rotating around the Sun, volcanos and the way the brain looks inside a skull. Donna went with Mama Vestine and Sieba (social worker) and Desami to the physical therapist to check on Desami’s foot. We have a plan: 2 days a week for 3 months of therapy ($2 a day). After that a plaster cast, then a good shoe and maybe a brace. They believe he will walk. The doctor said it was his brain, not his foot, that needs to be retrained. This afternoon was spent skyping with Ian/Matt/Kate, Sue Whitehouse, the Kittleson’s and Tina. It is a high point in their day. It is fun to hear how conversations have evolved during the week. With frequent skypers, they have moved beyond hellos to talk about the soccer game last night between Nigeria and Egypt, and Isaac and Ian even spoke in French. Liles built an airplane out of sticks and paper with Innocent and Nshimye. Kristen started an insanely tough puzzle with Esther, Kayitesi and Betty. After 4 hours we still have a long way to go. Grace beat Esther, Kristen and Marie Rose at back to back games of Memory, while Esther won two games of Go Fish. The Playdoh continues to be a big hit. Donna found that Prince stashed it last night out back with the chickens. Luckily it came back today. Lastly, we helped make dinner by spreading beans out on bags to dry in the sun. We also spread out flour to warm in the sun. Donna, Isaac, Kristen and Claudine ventured to the market in the late afternoon for pineapples and traditional dresses. Donna was a pied piper with her camera. She had a line 5 deep at all times asking to have their photo taken. She indulged each and every one. They loved being photographed and seeing the photo in the display screen. Isaac translated the nice comments and left out the not-so-nice ones. Ever the diplomat. It was a fascinating experience. On the way home Donna and Claudine took taxi bikes for the adventure (20 cents each), while Isaac and Kristen walked. Isaac played with my iPhone and had lots of people smiling as he walked by. He now has the top 3 high scores on Bubblewrap. He wanted Matt to know he bumped him to 4th and 5th.  Off to dinner, English lessons with the mamas/aunties, and dance time with the kids. Whew.