Hi Everyone!
Sorry I haven't written in a while. I guess I've been kind of busy/preoccupied. Lo Siento.
First off, all the boys (and girls) are back at Agape for the school term. There are... something like a BAJILLION kids there. It's ridiculously difficult to remember everyone's names. They all look alike to me, haha. It's funny because all the kids just call me "Mzungu" (I think that's how you spell it) which means "white person." I'm not sure if it's a racist comment or not, but, whatever the case, I prefer to be called by my name. People have trouble saying my name here, so I go by "Moresa." I think that's funny as heck.
Yesterday there was a devotional/chapel thing for the boys. Apparently, they expect the missionaries to talk about stuff. I ran away screaming. (It wasn't actually screaming, it was kind of this grunt-y noise that I make sometimes. You might have heard it before.) I was NOT prepared, and I get nervous enough when I have to speak in front of people, it was terrible to stand up there with NOTHING TO SAY. Exhibit A for "How Marissa cracks under pressure." I'm sure it was hilarious.
But I sat in on one of the classes yesterday, which was fun. The kids were learning English and it was a vocab lesson. The teacher asked the kids to define the word "bins." One of the kids said, "the food that gives you gas." The word "bins" and "beans" sound alike here. Funny? Yes.
I'm also working in the office. My job at home is a secretary, so I'm around computers all the time. I'm not the fastest/best. But I know enough that I can take care of my business. I come here and they think I'm amazing or something because I can type more than 30 words a minute and because I can upload pictures from a camera. There are some days when I am really busy, and other days where I don't have anything to do. I'm learning to go with the flow.
I will also say that I'm learning Mike-language. If Mike says "just a moment" it really means anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. If he says "okay, we are leaving" it means, "we MIGHT be leaving sometime TODAY." If Mike says, "We need to be at Agape by 9" it might mean "We will be at Agape at 9." It also might mean, "We will be at Agape at 11." We kind of give him a hard time about that. But deep down, he's teaching me how to be patient.. haha. (Sorry, Mike. It's all love.)
One of the most difficult things here is that the kids don't really have a concept of personal space. I can't let it bug me, but when you have kids constantly pulling at your hair and trying to steal your rings and taking off your glasses, it's hard because you kind of have to put your foot down and be mean a little bit. That's the worst part, for me. I have trouble doing that back home. But you have to do that here. That's where I get stuck, for the most part. I have to walk my walk and talk my talk and live by faith and truth and love every second of every step of everyday. These kids need that. I guess maybe I need it to.
We also took a drive today to the Equator. It's literally this statue of a ball thing that says "Equator" on it. It's on the side of the road and you could miss it if you weren't paying attention. You get out of the car, take your pictures, and that's that. Kind of a bummer, but it was funny to see the locals kind of making fun of us about it. Some of the roads are not paved here. It's like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland except without a seatbelt and Harrison Ford isn't there to make it worth my while. But I guess the roads have come a long way (paving-wise), so I'm grateful.
Lastly, I would like to say that the ice cream is really good here. And there are no toilet seat covers. It seems kind of silly to worry about toilet seat covers back home now.
Also, if you could say some prayers for me, I'd appreciate it. I was on Mefloquine, the anti-malarial medication and it's having some really bad effects. I am starting a new medication next week, but I am still having trouble sleeping and I feel anxious and depressed. It's debilitating. I'm just hoping it doesn't have any permanent effects.
Anyway, I love you all. I miss you all. I am consuming a fair share of Ugali, Sukuma and Stoneys for all of you! On Wednesday I will have officially been here for a month! Hey-o! Only four months left...
Be well, Riss
P.S. I would be completely okay if all the mosquitos fell of the face of the planet and DIED. I am SICK OF BEING BITTEN. Haha.
No comments:
Post a Comment