Peke yangu!

I arrived back into Lugarawa yesterday afternoon after 5 days out of village (I went to Iringa and changed my flights and searched for my camera..have I already told you this?) and the house was a mess! Spider webs had grown across the room, the floor was covered in the rubble from our crumbling walls and there were bugs EVERYWHERE!!! I moved everything out, swept the floor, walls, windows and doors, sprayed all the corners with toxic bug spray, mopped the floor (involves an old rag and dirty water), then rearranged my room. By this morning the bugs, rubble, crumbs and dust were back. I've never appreciated a clean room as much as I do now! We live lives of such convenience in Australia. Everyday things are so easy, here everything is an effort. Cooking, cleaning and washing all involve a lot of time and lots of elbow grease. I'm never going to take a washing machine, a kettle, or even a sink for granted again!!!

Anyway other than that, I arrived back in Lugarawa alone as Neema is still doing university stuff in Iringa so today I taught 2 lessons by myself, 1 at the secondary school and 1 at the primary school. I hope they understood most of it, it was pretty much all in kiswahili (except when I'd think outloud "oh geez, whats the word for prepare?!" - they'd all give me funny looks). It wasn't scary and they were pretty good, only one person asked a question and i gave it to the rest of the class to answer because I didnt understand haha. But he seemed happy with the answer so I hope it was correct! Tomorrow I'll be teaching 2 primary lessons by myself and then on thursday 1 secondary and 2 primary lessons. Wish me luck!!

Time is going quickly, only 1 month until our June break but the kids are off school for all of June so besides community events we wont have as much work to do. After June it is only 2 months left of teaching and then we are finished. It seems kind of bizarre, it was such a build up for placement - 1 year of fundraising, 3 months of training and then we're here for such a short time and ofcourse nothing ever goes to plan or happens as quickly as we'd like. I have to keep reminding myself to enjoy the small victories.

Oh speaking of that, it turns out that during July and August there is no electricity here anymore because Lugarawa is supplied by hydroelectricity from the local dam and as we are going into the dry season there wont be enough water to power it. This is amusing as I always said "even though I don't have network and im out in the middle of nowhere, atleast I have elec and running water and internet." Now it seems I will just have running water! hahaha, but im not complaining! Our kerosine lamps will finally come in handy, i have romantic thoughts of writing in my diary by the light of a kerosine lamp...it seems so olden dayish (oh dear, HSC english why have you deserted me?!). It just means I'll be in bed even earlier and at the moment I'm in bed by about 9pm every night haha.

BASKETBALL/NETBALL COURT UPDATE

I have spoken to Connor and we have decided to begin the building in July as there is not enough time left in May and the kids and Connor will both be gone during June. He has his half of the money and I have more than half of my half, so it's really going to happen!!

Thankyou to everyone who has already donated. Connor and I have decided to paint some kind of thankyou on the court to all those who donated. We're not sure if it will involve peoples names, or just a collective thankyou but it will be colourful!!

If you are still interested in donating, or you don't know what I'm talking about have a look at my previous entry "CAN YOU HELP?"

Anyway thats all for now,
I'll write again soon (or when there is something interesting to write about).
Love sadha xxx

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