Where have I been?

My sincere apologies for my blog absence this last month. The internet connections in Mwanza have been sketchy at best, and when I've had a free hour, it's taken the whole time just to access a few emails. I tried to access the blogspot site several times, and after 20 minutes of waiting for it to load, I gave up.

My other excuse was my health (again!). I fell ill in mid-February, this time with a nasty flu and stomach virus that kept me in the village for the better part of a week. It's been frustrating to deal with these nagging health issues, but I think I'm finally on the mend.

In this last month I've finished my teaching time in Mwanza, and feel very melancholy about things. Tanzania initially proved to be more than I thought I could do; now I feel sad that my time there is down to just a few weeks. Like the children in Romania, these kids quickly fall into your heart, your life, and your hopes - and it is very challenging to walk away.

My last few weeks of teaching were wonderful, especially with my beloved standard 3/4 boys. I taught this group of boys more than any other group, and they have shown themselves to be exceptional children, in spite of all the difficulties of living in an orphanage. My last week of teaching I received many letters from the kids, all thanking me and promising they would never forget me. I had quite a few weepy days my last week; again, I want to just pile all the kids in a plane and take them home with me.

Outside of work, I've very much settled in to the village life in Mwanza. It's not always easy (collecting rainwater to bathe with when the water went out!) but it's so rewarding, and infinitely more calming than life at home. When I walk up the dirt road to teach, almost everyone greets you; little kids yell "mzungu" and come up to hold your hand. How often do we greet our neighbors (or strangers) on the streets at home? We are always too busy - hurry to work, hurry home, hurry to soccer practice, get to the store - it's all just a big rush. The slow pace of life has taken some getting used to, but I think it's done me a world of good.

After finishing teaching, I'm off to Cape Town, South Africa for a week's holiday. I will return to Mwanza for a bit more work at another orphanage, and then will leave for Malawi on March 31st. I can't wait to see the babies, but I dread my final goodbye to my friends in Tanzania.