Here are some fun, interesting pieces of wisdom to tuck away for your future African experience!

Proverbs:

If you truly believe it, it will happen.

If it’s raining and the sun shines a leopard was born next to a lake.

If it rains in a baby’s mouth it will never speak.

If a dog looks at you while you are eating and you do not feed it you will get a swollen eye.

If you stub your toe on a stone, if it’s on your right foot it’s good luck, and bad luck on your left.

If you dream of drowning or falling into a hole you are growing.

If you wake up in the morning and the first person you see is a woman go back to your hut.

A man without a donkey is a donkey..

Marriage is an accident.

Put a piece of wet paper on a baby’s forehead to cure the hiccups.

Fun facts:

Men hold hands with men and girls with girls when they are friends, not the opposite sex.

Africans are patient, unless waiting for food.

Farm animals run free in the villages.

You can arrest a goat for eating your produce.

Bargaining is essential for everyday tasks.

The sky, sunsets, sunrises, clouds, thunder and lightning storms here are amazing.

People share everything no matter how little they have.

Privacy is unheard of here. If you are found being alone everyone thinks something is wrong.

Hand washing your clothes is really hard.

Cooking and washing outside is common and fun.

Traveling consists of bumpy roads, negotiating prices, buying produce out the window, loud preachers and sharing your seat with chickens.

The community brings up children.

Lizards are everywhere in my home. Lizards only live in happy homes.

Lake Victoria is the 2^nd largest fresh water lake in the world. It’s full of hippos, crocodiles, pythons, parasites and people bathing.

Common dialogue: I say: Hello. Africans respond: I am fine.

There is amazing amount of beautiful exotic birds with spectacular nests and noises.

Who needs electricity and running water?

Gospel songs, drumming and Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie!

A retired teacher approached me and has taken the opportunity to work with the children. He will be teaching English, Maths, and Kiswahili three times a week. His interactions with the kids, no matter how challenging they can be, are patient and compassionate. He has proven to already have greatly influenced children. I am very grateful for his time and energy, because it takes an enormous amount of interest and investment to work with these children.

I have also spent the majority of this past week putting donation money (thank you, thank you, thank you!) towards textbooks and exercise books for this project, as well as school fees for seven children whose families need the extra help with finances.