Last night, the 5 volunteers working with GVN in Bagamoyo came to the volunteer house here in Bahari Beach for a little get together. We also invited Zinyeto and Juma. We had a wonderful time hanging out and sharing experiences with the other volunteers. We also loved having Zinyeto and Juma as part of our group and will continue inviting them to future get-togethers to build up our team.
Everyone ended up outside after Rob, a British volunteer (and personal trainer back home) decided to climb up the coconut tree barefooted in our backyard. Joe (a volunteer with us) threw him a machete, and Rob tried to cut down one of the coconuts, but it was much harder than it seemed...so Bruce gave it a go. Bruce has some mad climbing "skillz", and shot right up the tree. He was also thrown the machete, but once again, the coconuts won. I have much more respect for those guys who climb up coconut trees with ease AND are able to pull off a coconut.
I then put on my PE teacher hat and taught/reminded everyone how to play Kickball. We used trees as bases and a big yellow ball that I brought (who doesn't love those big yellow balls from gym class?). Most Valuable Player went to Juma, who displayed a "body for team" move by jumping right into a bush to catch a ball in the air--all that we could see were his two feet sticking out of the bush, but we knew he had caught the ball, getting the kicker out! Hilarious! I was surprised at such a display of athleticism from shy, timid Juma.
For dinner we ate Ugali, cooked vegetables, and chicken. Ugali, a staple in Tanzania, is a very starchy, bland food that resembles non-runny grits...we southerners liked it. For desert we ate fruit salad. It included fresh mangos, banana, pineapples, guavas, and even avacados--they add avacados to their fruit salads here...not bad.
In just a few minutes, we'll head off to school...some of us have started riding bikes to school, which has been a lot of fun.
More writing to come....
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4 comments:
When you said you put on your PE teachers hat I was sure that you were going to climb the tree and cut down a coconut. The guy's would have died!!!
The game was a much better idea. I am sure Lauren was the star, well maybe not the star but I know she tried hard and hopefully didn't get hurt!!
Glad all you kids are getting together and having fun.
ok, they climbed the tree and someone THRU A MACHETE to them????????????? glad you girls stayed on the ground!no coconut is worth that! can you believe it is two weeks today that you left for africa? glad to hear you were able to have some nutrition---no 4*s but nutrition! oh, the adventures you have had, thank you so much for sharing and with such humor!! love, aunt elizabeth
If you any of you end up having any success cutting down one of those prized coconuts, please make some mean pina coladas or "Purple Parrots" out of it...and drink one for me!
-Court
avocado's in fruit salad! how brilliant!
Jenny, I'm so proud of you.
love you
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