Kisumu 2

Greetings from sunny and warm Kisumu again!
This week we have started up with our different activities, after looking around last week Rahel decided that she would help in Baby Class and I am helping out in the Final Class. Rahel loves to do crafts so can really help Susan and Lydia (the teachers in that class) with ideas and I am working alongside Susan in the Final class, she is doing most of the teaching but it is after, when they write things down in the books and need help that really, you almost need one teacher per student to help them, I can see why she wanted help. They have their interview to get into school in November so our aim is to get them all ready for it, there are some especially that are having difficulties and if they don’t make the interview it will mean they have another year of nursery before they can try again. We are both enjoying it, and also preparing lessons for CRE (Christian Religious Education) that we will be doing each morning starting next week.

Ruth is another Kenyan lady living with us and she is also teaching in the nursery (Middle Class). At first she was really shy but now we are having a great time with her, she is teaching us some Luo as well J. We have been playing with the kids after school some afternoons (siesta’s are no longer necessary… only sometimes) and I found myself a child at heart as I tore through the bush chasing boys with little fruits to smear it on their feet – last night we played hide and seek in the rain and it was really is amazing. In the mornings when Rahel and I walk to the nursery I feel like Anne Shirley (from Green Gables) – with the long skirt, swishing through the grass, going to teach the kids =). There are other days when we take the guitar up (if we have been using it) and then I feel like Frauline Maria from the Sound of Music with the big case… the hills truly are alive with the sound of music. As for my cold, it has now left me, it went to Rahel, left Rahel and went to Annie and now Vitilus is getting it… Sorry!! =/. But it is not too terrible, after resting about a week it goes…

Right now I am feeling a bit tired… late nights (we talk a lot), early mornings and the heat is most likely the issue but the weekend is soon so we will get some rest. It is hard in the classroom (when I am alone) to get the kids to be disciplined and be quiet and sit down – they are definitely testing us, and because we run about with them at break they don’t see us as official teachers (intimidating ones) but we don’t want to be that really – we have to find the balance between loving them and also teaching them and show them we are higher up the pecking order than they are.

Anyway, that is all for now… in short: We are settling in now, have more responsibilities and are getting used to everything – it is still a challenge with the kids but they are very lovable! I am tired at the moment and probably missing people but Rahel is really great so I am sharing with her and it helps us both! Keep up the prayers and encouragement and thanks for them already.

Until next week!
Kat