"Somebody Spoke and I Went Into a Dream"

7:00am -7:30am - I wake up to the sounds of volunteers trudging through my room to use the bathroom. Having the water closet in your room has its ups and downs, this is one of the downs.

7:31am - POWER CUT (everyday)

7:45am - Eat breakfast which usually consists of; Hard Boiled Eggs (sometimes), Bread (toasted when Quinn remembers or if the power is on), Penut Butter (When we but it), Jam (I buy the strawberry but they supply some mixed fruit concoction that is unsavory at best), Water, Passion Fruit Juice, Coffee, and Tea.

8:00am-8:30am - Witty banter with the other volunteers who are obviously locuacious in the morning something that those of you who know me well, know I am not.

8:45am - Walk down the street to Mama Roses and say "Mambo", "Salaama", and "Shikamoo" to everone I see (Africans seem to wake me up).

9:00am - Arrive at Mama Roses. Every moring when I walk through the door all of the kids in broken unison say "Goooooooo Mooooorniiiiiing Teeeeeeachahhhhhhhh". When 60 beautiful children greet you in the morning like that it's easy to check every negative thing atthe door.

9:15am - 11:30am - Class time. I usually struggle to help for the first hour but then when the kids are doing thier work I have a chance to work with them one on one. I'm not a trained teacher but there is a difference between taching a full class and helping someone to pronounce "ship" (Rukia totally got it yeasterday. I was so proud). I find myself relying on what I learned growing up. Of particular help is that wierd looking guy on Sesame Street that would sound things out and pull them together. "Shhhhhhhhhh...iiiiiiiii......pp, Shhhhh...iii....p, Shhhh...i...p, Sh...i...p, ship, ship, SHIP"!

11:30am - 12:30pm is the recess/porridge time. Porridge tastes like milk and tapioca pudding except bland. Mama Rose always insists that I have some. I insist that I'll eat after every child has some. There is always some left. I run around in the 90+ degree heat with kids who act like it's a cool spring day. After I look like I've taken a dip in the sweat pool I help organize the kids and tie shoes and watch all of these kids, 60 mind you, pile into a dalla-dalla that can fit maybe 14 adults comfortly. I sit around afterwards and talk to Mama Rose, Jennifer, and Mamas 4 sons who help out. I walk back to my house.

12:45pm - 1:45pm - I sit around and wait for lunch to get in. When it does it's usually rice or ugali (a local dish like polenta). There's also beans or lentils and that pretty much sums up the lunch fare. MMMMMMMMMM.

1:45pm - 2:45 or 3:00pm - Nap time. The heat takes over me and I've never been up at 7am consistantly, ever. Maybe in school, but even then, I feel like I worked around it.

3:00pm - Read, play chess, or head to the beach for a dip. This is also the time where I might go to the internet or supermarket if I have to. This is also local travl time to just explore something new. Basically, whatever I want.

6:00pm - 7:30pm - Dinner is served. The best thing about this time is all the volunteers are there and we talk about our day and what we did. One big happy family. Usually a little more appealing than lunch with the apperence of meat sometimes. Beans are popular along with potatos in a gravy. The best thing we get are chipates. They are kind of like torilla wraps but better. They are served warm and when they are with flavored cabbage, it's a little slice of heaven right here in Dar. I also am sure to wash everything down with a Bamboocha (orange Fanta). I never thought a cola could steal my heart like Diet Coke, but low and behold, The Bamboocha.

7:31pm - POWER REGAIN

7:30pm - 9:30pm - More free time. I usually journal for a little while and then maybe read or play some wired game with the Canadian Couple who seem to be ready and competitive to play any and every thing. I have to put on the bug stuff because htis is when those muderous little mosquitos come out. If we have water sometimes I take a bucket shower. FUN!

9:30pm - 10:00pm - Day is done. I climb into bed and tuck in the mosquito netting. I read for a little bit and when I get sleepy I turn in. I've been praying a lot lately. Being on this trip has brought me even closer to God. I pray for Bethany and our baby. I pray for all of you who read this and the ones who don't. I pray for every one I have met on my trip and for those I have not yet met. I pray for Africa. I always pray that God's grace and love be shown to everyone and that I'll have a relitivaly safe journey. Speaking of Journey...

"DON'T STOP BELIEVEIN. HOLD ON TO THAT FEEEEELAIAN'"