Busy Busy Week!!!

Lots has happened the past weeks. We did a lot of trips and outings, and visited a lot of different projects and I had a few projects going...


The first project we visited was the Kuleanas Street Children Project. Kuleanas is an amazing project that gets the boys off of the street in Mwanza. Vicky, the manager of the place gave us a nice tour around, and her volunteers had organized a big painting and drawing table, since we took 3 of our toddlers there. We painted and drew for a while and then the street boys showed us their self-made jewelry, which they sell for a very cheap and good price, and are really nicely made. The project itself was great, and so were the grounds it was on. It was quiet a big building with a kitchen, several bathrooms, a big sleeping hall and a class room. The class room was really lovely, with nice wall painting and even though simply furnished it had a lot of character. The project also had a little restaurant attached to it, where you can sit and have local food and very cheap sodas. That’s when the fun started happening. Yusuphu, one of the toddlers we brought a long with us, met the love of his life there Lulu. Lulu was also an 18 month old toddler who was the daughter of one of the workers there. Yusuphu and Lulu were very cute together and Yusuphu couldn’t stop showing off, eventually knocking over a few sodas, and pulling the table cloth almost off the table. The volunteer girls were also in love with Yusuphu because he is such a little character. He has the biggest smile and the chubbiest arms and legs and is just the biggest charmer ever. Anyways, enough about him, back to the project. The other two toddlers that came were Liwida and Neema, but they soon were scarred for life after having their first encounter with a cat... god, they really need to get out more! The kids had a really wonderful time and after all that excitement it was time to go home and make an end of this fun fun fun day.

Yusuphu and me Painting at Street kids project + Street kid selling his self made jewelery.
This week, Dorothy and I also visited the local school. The local school of the neighborhood is a big tin shed that is used as a school during the week, and serves as the church on Sundays. I had been there a few times before, and had met the teacher Ernest several times, but this time was different though. Dorothy had bought a few things in Canada to give away to local projects. So, equipped with learning books and other fun stuff Dorothy and me (and of course two of our toddlers) went off to meet Ernest at the school. He was very pleased to see us, as always, and looked like the happiest man in the world when he saw all the stuff we had for them. We stayed there for a little while and chatted to Ernest for a while and left having to promise to come back one day, and help with a class, so that will be my next little project on my list before leaving.. I ONLY HAVE 2 MORE WEEKS LEFT!!!!

Teacher Ernest with his students.



We also went to the hospital again this week to get the final HIV tests and results on some of the kids in the orphanage. We had a big group going, so it was funny to see 5 Mzungus and 2 African Mamas walking into the hospital again with 6 kids. The tests were done quickly, and luckily we had enough cookies and sweets on us to entertain the kids for the 3 hours we were there. So that was another nice little outing...

The last few days I finally had my own project running at the baby home and finally did something I can really be proud off. The big toddler bedroom had been painted before, but stupidly enough with poster paint, which the kids loved smudging when it was wet, so... they painted the bedroom all white again, which for kids, and compared to the rest of the colourfull babyhome is very very boring. So, I took the project of painting the room on me, and am very happy I did. I took me quite a while to figure out what I was going to paint, because of course it had to look nice and not take too much time, because the toddler’s beds are now in the big baby area, which is a bit of a hassle. Anyways after debating about picking Mr. Men or a jungle theme, I finally went with the Mr. Men idea. It took me 3 days to complete it and am still covered in paint, which doesn’t really go off when you shower.. But oh well.. It was worth it. I’m really happy the kids like it as well. I was a bit scared they were going to find it terrifying, because the Mr. Men characters are quiet bold, and who would want to wake up staring in the face of Mr. Happy?? But they liked it a lot. So I finally left my mark and something I can be proud off at the Baby Home.

The wall paintings which the kids luckily love!

So that was basically what has been going on the past few weeks. My mom is finally coming next week. So that will be nice. Were staying in Mwanza for about 5 days, and then going to Zanzibar for 5 days before flying back to Holland together.. Time flies...!!

 A nice last picture of a true African mama with her kanga baby!!





KWA HERI!!

Sunset Cruise

Last Night (09/03) we took 5 of the bigger toddlers on a Sunset cruise on Lake Victoria, and they absolutely loved it! Pili was a bit nervous at first.. especially because as soon as we walked into Tilapia she was confronted with a big Hippo statue, which convinced her that there must have been hippos in the lake, and were out to get us... the crocodile statue  5 meters further did'nt really help after that. Once we were on the boat though, all was good. The kids had such a good time, and really enjoyed being out. The funniest was on the way back, because they are not used to being outside when its dark. So they enjoyed it a lot..

The most amazing sky just after sunset!!!

                                                                     Lynn n Zawadi!

Sorry about being so Inspirationless today.. but I'm not feeling on my best today!!

Kwa Heri <3!

Back fom Zanzibar.. and lots of fun!!!

I’ve been back from Zanzibar for almost a week now and already so much has happened.


Zanzibar was the most incredible place I had ever seen. The beaches are the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen and the incredible blueblueblueblue sea is amazing. Too much has happened, so I will post some pictures... it’s a bit easier, and I’m feeling kind of lazy today.




Feeding thes sea turtles at a natural Lagoon. We went swimming with them aswell which was hillarious..

Snorkeling/ Boattrip to one of the nearby islands. It was one of the most incredible things I've done in Zanzibar. It was sooooooooo beautiful!!

Sophie turned 22 while we were in Zanzibar. So we had a nice posh dinner out, and I finally got the chance to dress up nicely, after 2 months of wearing nothing but boring stuff!!

 Beach party @ Bwana Willies!! Two of the local beach boys that I met on Zanzibar, Musa and Charlie!

 Our last night in Nungwi. With a beautiful sunset!!







As I was saying, I’ve only been back for a week and the hectic baby home life has started. I was very excited to be back. After a nice relaxing holiday and missing the kids, it’s nice to be called "Mommaaaaa" again, and get cuddled by all the babies. However, I was sad to see that when I came back Charlie, one of my favorite little boys in the orphanage had been adopted, and had left already. Charlie was the most amazing little boy in the orphanage. He was so smart and really funny. I couldn’t be happier for him that he got adopted, even though now it’s too calm at the baby home!!! But we still have Michael to be the peace-breaker at the baby home so it’s all good.


Last Saturday Nathalie and I took Michael and Bianca, two of the biggest toddlers, out to the International School in Mwanza, Isamilo, for a charity fair. It was quiet funny being at that charity event, because the school looks very similar to my old school in Curacao, and the fundraiser was a lot like the ones we used to have. Anyways, enough about me... The kids loved it, but it was a first not seeing them hyper and running around, cause they were really really shy of everything. Bianca livened up a bit first, because she wanted to get her face painted. Michael was still hugging my leg at that time... SO after she got her face painted as a beautiful butterfly and we were about to walk off, Michael came to life screaming "I WANT TO BE A BUTTERFLY TOO MAMAA!" So... from that point on, there was no stopping them... We had wayyy too much to eat, and after eating fries cake and somosas, it was finally the lollies that did it, and they were literally not able to stand still anymore. It was a lot of fun though, and the kids had a really good time!! So the hyperness and physical exercise was all worth it!!

PARADISE!

My trip to Zanzibar started at Mwanza Airport at 7 am. I had to fly from Mwanza to Dar-e-Salam and from Dar I would take a coastal flight to Zanzibarrr! Still tired from the night before, I was not really in the mood for the long trip ahead of me, but it all went really smoothly, and I wasn’t the only one in a bad mood, because the airhostesses were even worse. They didn’t seem to like Mzungus, and treated me like I wasn’t there... even giving me the smallest sandwich, and i was hungry!!! Anyways... The flight went really fast and all the excitement started once I arrived in Dar, a lot earlier than I thought I would have arrived, so I spend a good two hours waiting at the airport and being offered taxi rides by about 20 drivers.. The coastal flight was on a different airport in Dar, but it was all really well organized since the company I flew with provided the transportation to the other Airport.

Arriving at the other airport, which was very basic and funny... i could see the airplanes i was flying with, and it was soon clear that i was going to go with one of those really small airplanes that only hold 5 people!!! It was the best flight in my life though. It was a lot of fun, and very cool to experience. Later, I found out, because I was literally sitting in the cockpit, that the pilot had done his pilot course on the NLS, and therefore spoke quite a bit of Dutch. He was originally from Africa, and was the only African pilot in the whole airline company, which was kind of impressive! The flight only took about 20 minutes but was really cool to experience!






At the airport, literally as soon as you land, you get ambushed by 20 taxi drivers screaming, "Mzungu MZUNGU MZUNGUUUUUU". My plan however, was to take the Dallah Dallah. Very brave of me, as the Dallah Dallah ride would have taken 3 hours to get to Nungwi. However, as a proud 'almost-local' of Africa I managed to bargain 20.000 off my taxi price, and figured this is my holiday, and might as well go all out and act like a true Mzungu by taking a taxi... :D


The taxi ride took about an hour and a half, which was the longest hour in my life. I was very tired from traveling, and it is not easy sitting in a taxi by yourself with 2 other taxi drivers (YES TWO!) and not get ambushed by questions, talking in Kiswahili while pointing out every single palm tree on the island. It was all worth it though once I arrived in Nungwi. Because I can honestly say, this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life!!

We spend the whole afternoon swimming in a sea that is clearer than my pool at home, and had a really nice dinner along the sea, so it was a nice little welcome!!

Sunset views from the room,..

Zanzibarian cows

Zanzibaaaaaar!

Being sick in Africa isn’t always the best thing to be.. However... being sick in Africa, with a cold and having to organise a trip to Zanzibar while taking care of 51 kids is the worst thing possible. This weekend has been such a hectic weekend for me. I had about 5 hours of sleep total in the whole weekend, and did nothing but run around and organize...(I cant even hear that word anymore!!!) organizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganizeorganize!!!!! Anyways... I’m glad to say that from today onwards (23rd of Feb) I will be chillaxing on the white white white white white beaches of Zanzibar for a nice 8 days of nothing but chilling, relaxing and partying. This isn’t the ideal view of Africa, I know... but it’s good to know that there is some sort of relaxation in Africa. I’m going there with a girl I met here, Sophie. She is already on Zanzibar, and I will meet her there for a very fun week!



Zanzibar is an island right on the East Coast of Africa. "Zanzibar's Climate is shaped by the monsoon, with tropical, sultry conditions all year round, moderated by sea breezes" YES!!! (Mr. Musson must be so proud of me finally using quotes on something...) the region on the island I’m staying at is called Nungwi, Kendwa: "This large village, nestled among the palm groves at Zanzibar's nothermost tip, with lovely, quiet patches of sand and beaches. About 3 km southwest of Nungwi along the coast is Kendwa, a long, wide and wonderful stretch of sand know for its laid-back atmosphere and its full-moon parties" YES YES YES. Thank you, Lonely Planet travelers guide!! IM NEVER LEAVING THE PLACE


Getting there is a whole different story though, which I will talk about in my next blog!!


KWA HERII!!!

Big swimming time!!

Last Thursday (18/03) we took 12 of the bigger toddlers swimming for the day. 6 volunteers and 3 mammas tagged along on this great adventure, which turned out to be such a big success!!! The excitement all started as soon as the kids saw their shoes, hats and swimsuits lined up on the closet, and there was no more calm after that. As soon as the shoes and hats were on, it was go time, and the car division started. Dividing 12 kids into 3 cars sounds easy, but it is a lot harder than you would think. Some of them wanted to be in the car with Mama Amy, and the others with Mama Zoe or Meghan. Once divided equally we had the most excited ride over, and the kids were even excited about seeing the goats and cows along the road, and I swear, if we would have turned back straight away, they wouldn’t have mind, cause the excitement of seeing goats and cows is far greater that going swimming!!! At the swimming pool, they couldn’t wait to jump right in, not thinking about the consequences of drowning... or getting your clothes wet...



I was in charge of Michael, I had taken him swimming before and knew that he was calm and a bit scared in the water, so I had nothing to fear... however... children tend to get over excited once they're with 12 of them and they experience the excitement of chlorine water.. This hurt my eyes for the rest of the night! Michael was a lot of fun though, the idea of not being able to breathe underneath the water hadn’t come to mind, but he soon found out that that is literally impossible. We swam for about an hour and then we all went out to eat snacks and drink something. Water makes kids hungry I guess, because they all demolished about 4 packages of cookies each!! But they had a very good time, and that was the whole point of the day!!


It was also nice to see that the African Mamas enjoyed themselves. All 3 of them had never been in the water before, and they seemed to enjoy it more than the kids did, staying in a lot longer than the rest of us.. missing their amazing snack of cookies, fruit and popcorn.. and just relaxed and sat in the pool.


Back home all the kids were very very well behaved and extremely tired (swimming does miracles) and we had a nice relaxing afternoon afterwards.

Lynn is cold in Africa.. HAHA