Project Update

          It occurred to me that I have been posting on the fun and crazy daily events of life here in the Kingdom, but I have never really told you guys what I am up to. So here is a brief update. I figure you could use a nice short blog with lots of pictures. So, projects as of late include: making and putting library cards in all of the books in my "library" at school and organizing a color-coded book system (TIME CONSUMING), drawing up blue-prints for a pubic flush toilet we are going to build in my village (I drew them up using empty glass bottles to save us from having to buy bricks or windows and as a way to start cleaning up the village), organizing meetings with people in the village and setting up a series of lessons to teach basic food preservation and handicraft skills, and (now that Peace Corps has given me a large, black, rubber male genitalia) giving condom demonstrations all over town and talking with people about their sexual practices and how to make them safer. My most fun project lately (just a little one for myself) has been building an Adirondack chair with some neighbor kids. 

I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout-out to all of the wonderful people who have sent me books for the library (the first library... hopefully a MUCH bigger public one will be in the cards for us). Thank you SO much for your support! The kids LOVE them!!!

Nandipa is the biggest help in building this chair! She is SO interested in learning to build, and after working hard on tutoring her in math, I am finding that measuring, and counting (and now we are playing solitaire together to start recognizing counting both up and down and patterns) are ways to really get her excited about math! 

Andi brought over some snacks while he watched us build.
 (I was not privy to a taste, but to be honest, I was ok being left out of that one!)

Andi and Zwakele are absolutely the sweetest little boys!

And of course building with "Zodwa" (the name I have been given here) always turns into a photo fun-fest (which is why after over a week, my chair is still not finished).

The most horrible creature on Earth
My arch nemisis
The Rooster

Gogo's beautiful smile- posing in front of her house

Goofing around 

A group of girls who love to visit me at home and have me "shoot" them
(When people see a camera, they ask you to shoot them... that took a little bit for me to get used to!)

Sam and Melanie helping me glue library cards into books