Today, I think, marks the day that I really saw Africa in it's true form. I finally realized that I am HERE, and not just viewing it from the outside in. I'll tell you why later though. 

First I want to tell you about my significantly better school day! I've mentioned this before, but another volunteer, Andrea, teaches at the same school I do. We each take one of the two classes. Andrea is 32 and has done 3 other CCS programs in different areas of Africa, so she is not foreign to this system. I asked Andrea if she would mind being in the classroom I was in yesterday to see if she could break through the teacher in allowing volunteers to participate in the teaching. She has so much experience I thought she might be better than me at it. Plus, I didn't want another day like yesterday. We did that, and I tried out the second class with the other teacher. It was great! This teacher is much more...humble...in that she does not have strong English skills, so greatly relies on us to teach it. Today I was able to have the classroom to myself and teach them numbers. It was really great trying something out by myself. The teacher wasn't even in the classroom - she was making lunch in another building. I really enjoyed today. I'm excited to plan more lessons and see how much I can teach these kids in the time that I'm here. 

As far as how Andrea dealt with my classroom from yesterday, apparently the teacher was much more dependent on her than she was with me. She would have Andrea joint teach with the teacher, ask Andrea if she was pronouncing an English word correctly, allow Andrea her own time for teaching kids a song, etc. We were discussing it later, and we believe the reason for this is that the teacher respects Andrea's opinion more because she is an older woman. I mean, not old, but you can tell she's 32 by her face & body. They do not see her as so inferior as they might see me - and let's face it - without makeup I look 16. Age is a very big deal in their culture. The older you get the more respect you deserve, and respect is given. Whatever the reason, it's working out great this way and we are just going to stick with these classrooms now. 

As for the life-changing event. After school a group of us (volunteers) gathered together and traveled to an orphanage. This wasn't an orphanage in the sense that the kids are up for adoption, but they are about 45 in number and living in the care of the most amazing couple I've known. The couple just takes in kids with no homes or parents, so orphans in essence, and gives them a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and sends them to school to get an education. The father figure does not have a well-payed job, so money is basically nonexistent. They get donations from some organizations and help from the surrounding community, but they live in poverty. In each twin sized bed three kids sleep in each one, the bathroom consists of a hole in the ground and a room the size of a small closet, the kitchen is outside with tarp walls and one pot over firewood. Let me add that most of these kids are not tiny little tikes running around. The majority are teenagers now or older kids. How they all fit in that tiny house I hate to imagine. 

This little girl was standing confused in front of me as the rest of the kids were doing an introduction for us (a thank you song as we had brought them food & a soccer ball), so I motioned for her to come over and I picked her up to sit in my lap. After that moment she immediately attached to me. She is about 2 years old and does not talk, or would not talk, the entire time I was there. What she did do though, was never let go of my hand as we were walking, and eventually got comfortable to want to be held. While I held her she would rest her head against mine, lay into my shoulder, and look at me for reassurance on certain things that were going on in which I smiled and she smiled back, satisfied. We helped this family pick plants for the cows to eat, and the whole time she was helping me by pulling the dirt off the roots. When we walked back with all our plants she immediately wanted to be held again. 

On top of the terrible living conditions, the fact that each of these kids have a horrible history, and the selfless charity this husband and wife give the children, it was all so overwhelming. The love that this little girl desperately needed was so sad. Who knows if she's ever known her mother. According to a volunteer who has been at that orphanage recently, she'd never seen this girl, so she is probably right off the streets. The most heartbreaking part of this story is that as I was leaving to go back to CCS, this little girl continued following me even after I had said goodbye. I climbed into the van, looked behind me and she was trying to climb into the van after me to come with me. The other kids had to pull her back so that she didn't get all the way in. It was almost more than I could take. I was holding back tears nearly the whole ride home and it took everything I could not to cry in my room afterwards. I've never seen this much poverty, or never let it effect me if I have, and I feel like this connection I felt with the little girl forced me to see life the way she, or all those other kids, have to live it. It makes me angry that I can't do much. I will try to see if there is any way I can help while I am here, and maybe even after I get home. But their lives would not drastically change and it kills me that I can't do anything about that. 

On a lighter note, tomorrow I am going on my weekend safari trip starting tomorrow so I will not be updating till Sunday night (Saturday day your time)! It is a 3 day 2 night safari with a really reliable company (through CCS), we will be camping at night and in the jeep during the day! I will see how many animals I see and try to take great pictures for you all! I am so excited to see the animals!! I've been waiting for an experience like this since I was 9 years old and decorated my room in a jungle theme! I will be safe, promise =) I love you all and I'll talk to you soon!!! 

Girls from the "cultural night" from yesterday. I know, I'm glowing. Hopefully this weekend will take care of that.

This is her. The little girl that didn't leave my side. I love her so much and I don't even know her.  All I know is she is the sweetest little girl who needs more love than she gets.

You wanted more pictures with me in them! Here's one! Big leaves in the forest! This comes from a banana tree.

Sean, how'd you like to work out with this?? This is literally what our tour guide from yesterday at the waterfall hike uses. Moral of the story - don't take the gym for granted.