Out Loud

A friend and I wanted to go out for dinner so we walked to a restaurant.

We got inside and looked for a place to sit. On our search for an open table I looked around and could not believe my eyes! I could not hold it back, I did not mean to but it just happened....

I said, 'It is like mazungu Heaven in here.' I was in utter shock! There were so many white people in one place!

After my statement, as I was looking around in awe, half of the people in the restaurant looked up and chuckled. Just then I realized how loud I was.

Still stunned my friend and I walked out and went to the restaurant down the street...

This is called reverse culture shock... it was kind of funny :)

Happy Easter

We colored eggs for Easter

Isabella loved the stickers for the eggs

We frosted cookies for Easter too

My favorite frosted cookie was Prince's. He drew 3 crosses, remembering the reason we celebrate Easter. Jesus died on the cross for us and then came to life again, showing He is God and He loves us.

He is Risen Indeed.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Secondary Workshop

Last week my teacher assistants and I did a workshop with the secondary teachers on how to interact with students with special needs:

1) treat them as any other student

2) greet them

3) praise them

4) discipline them

5) include them

After a 2hr workshop, the teachers has really started to integrate students with special needs. They now say hello to our students and ask them how they are. It is great to see the interaction!

And it is amazing to see the ownership of the program the TAs have taken.

Science Fair

Students worked for weeks on science projects and finally the science fair had come!

They were so excited! Made posters, speeches and was ready for parents to come.

They learned about the water cycle

the Solar System

and recycling

We all learned a lot and had lots of fun.

Reading

My students are reading!

There is a program called Boardmaker. As I type pictures pop above each word. The students learn what each word is by the picture: picture to word correlation.

All students can be taught, you just have to teach them in a way they understand.

Realization...

I was walking down the street the other day, when it dawned on me....

'I am walking in the middle of Africa!'

'I am walking in the middle of Africa and it is no big deal. I know where I am going. It is like normal life.'

How crazy! I have only been talking and dreaming of Africa since I was in 6th grade and now I am living in AFRICA.

I did a little hop, skip and a jump then continued with my day (IN AFRICA).

WOW...It's really Africa.

George's Mom

I have a teacher assistant named George. He is with a student in grade 1. George just finished high school and hopes to attend college this year. He always has a story or song for everything (great with the first graders).

George's mom has been in the hospital for a week. This weekend I was informed that she passed away.

George now has to face many hard decisions as what he does next.

Please keep George in your prayers.

Cubbies!

I now have a cubby for each one of my teacher assistance.

In their cubby is all the materials they need to teach the student for the week. There are 13 teacher assistances and a possibility for 2 more by the end of the school year.

?Work?

I walked into my office this afternoon and here is how the conversation went:

Me: I did not do any work today...

Teacher Assistant: What did you do all day?

Me: (thinking....) Well, I

1. walked students to class

2. raced kids during PE

3. read the 3 little pig story

4. sang the monkey song

5. painted with the color orange

6. played football with a few students

7. made 3D shapes in the math area

8. researched about rabbits

9. read a test to a student

10. played Uno in the choice area

11. drew a picture of the water cycle

12. worked on fractions in grade 4

13. counted to 10 many times

14. matched words with long and short a sound

TA: Isn't that your job....?

Me: Hmmm, I guess you are right.

All that paperwork will be there tomorrow....

Cheese...

Here in Rwanda we have cheese. I love cheese and very glad we have it here.

The cheese companies have been on strike for almost a month now and they are not making cheese!

I have lived without cheese for a month...this is rough!

I sure how they start making cheese again really soon!

Kamari Kids

I got to spend the weekend with the Kamari kids. We played all types of games, went for a walk, took naps, made lots of crafts and watched a movie.

Prince is 14 years old and loves football (soccer). He is growing up his hair to have an afro.

Isabella is 5 years old and loves princesses. She just stared school this year.

Beni is 2 years old and loves to run. He can now go to the bathroom in the toilet!

It was a lot of fun!

A Drawing

A student drew a pictures of me today and it was clear what I am known for at school.

1. Orange

2. Bella (my guinea pig)

3. Gym Shoes

4. White skin and Red hair

5. Teacher

In that order, of course.

I think it sums me up pretty well :)

Apple Sauce

I love Africa and I love living in Rwanda but sometimes you just need a little taste of home.

Apple sauce reminds me of home and after a long day I just needed some good apple sauce :)

Things I would not normally buy in the States suddenly become very tasty. I like the food here but always love when I get a taste of home.

New Trick!

Other than being awesome with each one of my students, being a great roommate, a good friend, comforter and listener....Bella can do a trick!

She now likes to climb on top of her igloo, peek out the door of her cage and look at me. She looks with a face of 'hey, hold me please?' And I cannot help it, I have to pick her up; she is just so cute!

She might be a small, little guinea pig but she is making a big difference!

Hair

Situation: I was riding the bus with my students and the windows were open. My hair was down and as you can imagine it was blowing all over.

Student A: Look at Tr. Maddy's hair!

Student B: It is like a movie.

My thoughts: Like a 50's movies in a Cadillac :)

Student A: Yeah! It's like the lion in Lion King when he roars!

Student B: You're right.

My thoughts: Well, they are right...it is the same color...

Water in Kayonza

For their entire lives they had to walk an hour and a half down hill to a stream, fill water containers and then carry them an hour and a half up hill, two times every day. And it still was not enough water to do all the cooking, cleaning, and drinking (not even thinking about bathing, just not enough water).

Now with a well in the middle of the village people walk no more than 10 minutes to fetch water and can get enough for almost 2 days in one trip. And they have so much more time in their day!
Serge asked why this man was so happy to have water so close. His reply, 'Now maybe my wife can have children.' Because his wife had to walk so far to get the water, she kept loosing her babies but now there is a greater chance they can have a child.
Why is this child happy? Instead spending the day fetching water, he will have the chance to go to school!
Since the water is clean the people will be much healthier.

Water... we use it all the time... brush teeth, wash hands, flush toilet, shower, play games, cook, water the plants, drink, wash the floor, clean veggies, pour on you when you are hot, swim... we take it for granted...

Be thankful you have running water and that you don't need to think twice about taking a 20 minute shower or flushing the toilet every time you go to the bathroom... next time you wash your hands thank God for the water you have.

Field Trip!

I went on a field trip with my student and his homeroom class in grade 1.

We went to the farm to see animals and how crops are grown.

We saw a cow and they named her Alicia :)

We even got to harvest some of the crops!

We got a carrot, cabbage, mango, orange, pepper and suger cane

We all had a lot of fun!

Water Walk

In the village it is the children's responsibility to fetch water. I had a chance to go with them.

It was an hour and fifteen minute walk down hill to the stream.

I fetched my own water.

Then an hour and fifteen minute walk up hill with water.

I walked with about thirty kids. It was an experience I will never forget. I might not have water in the house but I am thankful I have water in my backyard.

Poles!

We have light poles in Kayonza (the village)!

And the wires are up!

Now we just need to wait for the electrician to come and hook it all up. Once that happens we will have water!

New Year Party

In Rwanda there are many kids that live on the street. They are called Street Kids. These kids that we talk about are mostly boys ages 13-25 years old.

We work with a group of them that live in the area. When possible ITeams supports them by finding a family for them to live with and paying for school fees.

To bring in the New Year we had a party with a bunch of the street kids in the area.

Had some fun dancing (and yes I danced too)

We also played lots of games

You might not be able to tell but I am standing in the middle of all these boys running. We had a blast! A great way to bring in the New Year.