Placement

Placement was very interesting. It is called the Nursing College and it has a day care for children ages 2-5, a hospital, and a College. The first day, the people that we needed weren’t there, but Emma, Jessica, Corey and I went to the Day Care. When we get there, they are normally eating their first of two meals, which is something along the lines of dim-sum, but we are going to go earlier, because we are told that they sing the King’s Anthem in the morning. After that, they play games and sing songs. One of the classrooms has a TV, where they all sing and dance with karaoke. After games and dancing, they go and have another meal, which is some kind of soup, rice, and fish. When they are all done with their meals, they get undressed. The first day really surprised me, because they took their clothes off and handed them to me. I was very confused. Once they are naked, they go into the bathroom and brush their teeth. Then, they shower and we put baby powder all over them. After that we helped them get into their pajamas and find their mattresses, which we set up while they are eating. Once they are all settled down, we take out our lunchboxes and eat. Sometimes we go back in and help the few kids that refuse to take naps. Soon after that, Cha, the driver at CCS, pick us up.
Everyday I look forward to going to the day cares (except for the fact that I have to wake up early) and I love to see the kids, who are extremely cute, each day. I always feel like the kids are very privileged to be able to brush their teeth and shower each day. When I think back to the kids at Matumaini and Kigangagoni, it shocks me even more, of how little those kids have. I love the kids in both places, but at times I feel like I am not needed here, due to the fact that there are only 40 kids with four trained teachers and 10 nurses that come in everyday to help. They say that they like having me, but I feel like I was making more of a difference in Moshi, then I am here. I am really enjoying it, but I miss Rau a lot. It is definitely not the same, but I know that I will grow into it and I will become more attached to it as we are here longer.