Happy Halloween

This week has been fairly uneventful. I’m done with my Form 2 classes because they begin NECTA next week. I did accidentally walk into the wrong classroom yesterday. No problem, I just had the other form come join our class (so it was about the size of my Form 1 class). Maybe I can spend extra time with the Form 1’s until I leave for IST. It’s crazy I only have 3 more weeks of teaching for the school year! I feel like I just got here. Still trying to fix the SMILE problems. Just made dinner with Tetsuko as usual. And I still go to Juice Man whenever I’m in town-he had avocado juice this week. It is Halloween but no one here celebrates, so we are having a volunteer costume party this weekend. I guess this is my first holiday that I am spending alone. I’m certain there will be more to come.

My eventful day was yesterday when I went to the market. I went to pick up my Japanese style pants, which are so billowy they look like a skirt. They are awesome! I got a few good laughs with my fundi as I explained that I wanted a headband with the scrap fabric…then I stepped down onto a wobbling stone and almost ate it in front of everyone. I trip a lot here. Actually, almost everyday I somehow injure myself. Then these two little kids came up to me as I was walking home and handed me mangoes and then ran away. Another little girl asked me what my name was. I want to talk to both of these families at some point when I’m not on a mission.

When I was Skyping with my parents I realized I should write something in Swahili. I’m trying to teach them a few key words for when they visit. So for those of you are wondering what Swahili looks like, here it is. Pronounce it just the way it looks!

Habari gani? Hamjambo? Ninaitwa Aly. Nina miaka ishirini na moja. Mimi ni voluntia wa Peace Corps. Mimi ni mwalimu wa Shule ya Sekondari ya Newala Day. Ninaishi Newala, Mtwara na ninafundisha Kiingereza. Ninajifunza Kiswahili bado pia. Kila siku mimi hupika vyakula vtamu sana. Nilijifunza kupika mwezi nne iliyopita tu. Ninapenda kuwatembelea rafiki zangu. Ninawapenda marafiki zangu wa Tanzania. Familia wangu wanakuja hapa hapa mwezi wa kwanza! Tunafurahi sana! Nina baba anaitwa Jeff, mama anaitwa Patsy na kaka yangu anaitwa Jackson.

So basically that is just introducing myself and my family and telling you that I’m a teacher here. Also that I cook every day and like to visit my friends.

Happy Halloween!