Bibi Amy

After a week in paradise, I'm back. It's been kinda nice being so out of touch with the world. Plenty of time to reflect and relax. It's hot hot hot, and I'm lovin' it! I've been spending lots of time on the beach...swimming laps along the shore at high tide, and wading out thousands of feet in water only up to my knees at low tide. So beautiful. Dhows lining the shore left behind by the tides, crabs scurrying about, coconut trees and bungalows lining the beach. Paje paradise. I can't even do it justice with my words. Unfortunately I don't have time to upload my pics right now, I'm on my way to see some monkeys in the Jozani Forest. Yes, MONKEYS! So excited. It'll just be a quick stop on my way into Stonetown ... read more

Sadly, my time at the Children’s Village is coming to an end. I leave here on Sunday,…it will be so hard to say goodbye to these amazing kids…they are all so precious. I’ve decided to sponsor little six-month old Baby Grace, who lives in Serengeti house with me. Her mother died during childbirth, she was born very premature and when she first arrived here she was still just teeny-tiny. She now has these big pudgy legs, and adorable chubby cheeks, which I just love to muckle onto. She smiles at me every time I see her, and the mommas told me the other day that she only started smiling around the time that I arrived here….she just melts my heart! It’s probably a good thing that none of the kids here are up for adoption (they ... read more

It’s fascinating to see how hype spreads like wildfire through this village. It started with the sound of big trucks in the distance and weeks of anticipation awaiting the arrival of two forty-foot containers filled with donations coming from the states. As the truck came into view with kids jumping up and down, singing and dancing, the spectacle erupted into 70 kids chasing after the enormous flatbed towing these two massive containers, the rest of the way in through the gates of the village. Throw in the excited smiles and giggles of about 30 staff members and all the volunteers crowded around taking pictures and videos of all the hoopla and you can imagine quite a scene. A week later and we are still sorting through and unpacking the boxes, with kids peering through the windows, ... read more

Thirteen of us all packed into the 4x4, driving 45 minutes along winding, bumpy roads, skidding and sliding back and forth in the muddy ruts, the whole way to Karatu. After spending two whole days in bed with stomach pains and achy blah, I finally went to see the doctor yesterday. I brought two other kids from the children's village who were sick as well, and with both of them on my lap, and seven more local villagers packed in for the ride, we set off uncomfortably tight. As the driver stopped to pick up more and more passengers along the way, my achy blah intensified. I wasn't sure if I would make it, I tried my hardest to remember the swahili word for vomit. By the time we made it into Karatu and let the ... read more

One of my favorite sounds in the world...children singing.... read more