Week 7

Happy Monday!!!
I can not believe it is already March and I am starting my 7th week. Time has flown. It seems the days can last forever where the weeks go by like days.

I only have a few moments to write. It has been raining the past few days so electricity on the island is scare. The SHIM building is run by solar panels. So if there is no sun, there is no battery life for lights and charging phones, laptops, etc.

I have started working with the high school students on the island. They are just like American kids. The first activity with them, Experiencing Violence, they were given a scenario and were to come up with a 3 minute skit, drama, or song that let up to the scenerio. Luckily, Shanna was recording with the video camera because wow, these kids took it to the next level. A few times I almost peed my pants!!!
The skits were easily 10 minutes and full of excitement. With my American mind, I was sure that the teachers were going to ask me to leave, or not come back. But the teachers enjoyed them! They said that it helped them get to know their students better. There were over 100 students,so we did not have enough time to finish the groups. This afternoon, I am going done to the school to finish up the lesson, and reconfirm Friday's time.

The practicum is going well. The more information I gain, the more confused I become. Luckily, Gloria, a Ugandan SHIM staff member, is on the island this week. Gloria has been a lifesaver. She understands my exotic accent and my English. So she can translate my English to Ugandan English and Lunganda.

Health wise, everything is going well. Still gaining weight. I figure with my schedule when I return home, I'm just stocking up!
I have this fabulous flip flop tan on the top of my feet. That, my arms, and my face is the only thing that is tan. Fortunately I am hearing that it isn't that warm in Columbia yet.

Well I am off to visit a mother in one of the villages. She has a fabulous story/history that I will share later. But her 3-4 months baby girl, who was born several months early, came down with malaria this week. She is back from the hospital, but still sick.