June 18, 2015 - Hello, Again / School's Out Part 1

Oh My!  It would appear that I have abandoned my new year's resolution to blog more often.  Ugh.  I'm so sorry.  I actually really love writing blogs, but the past few months have been tough over here and it's no fun to just write what I feel are constant complaints.  Kristoffer has travelled a lot this year,  and every time he travels the children (all of them) get sick!  When he traveled in May I think I was at the clinic 7 out of 8 days in a row at one point.  And it is peak malaria season so we're a little bit over-sensitive to fevers and headaches, I would say.  In addition to the travel and the sickness, Aya is still pretty miserable at night.  Although last night she slept for 10 hours straight and one time a couple of weeks ago she did 9 hours.  That is a big deal in this house!  And throughout much of this there was a poisonous snake infestation on our compound, and there were broken air conditioners and cars and water pumps. So in summary, I've been exhausted and when I'm really exhausted it also makes me more homesick for America and my family and access to all of the modern/developed-world conveniences that I miss.  We are not roughing it over here, by any means, but I get a little down-in-the-dumps about East Africa when there is a run of things not going well.  So I'm sorry for my absence and would like to say HELLO, again.

These days we are already on summer holiday.  The kids finished up last week.  First, it was Grace's turn.  She had a fantastic class party, which was also a little sad because it was a very "together" group of kindergartners who had a great year under a truly phenomenal teaching team.  We will miss Miss Amanda and Miss Nsia so much next year.  The day after the class party was her last day of school.  So hard to believe our 6-year-old will be in "Grade 1" next year!  

Grace's class "Got Talent" show...she got an award for best smile!

 Our carpool crew!

Party Picnic!

 Hey...this one looks a wee bit young for KG!

Last Day:

Years down the line, when I think of Grace at age 6 having had this wonderful first year of formal school at IST in Dar es Salaam, this is the picture I will always remember. 

LMW

May 22, 2015 - The Giant Pineapple

Grace's class played a big role in a Kindergarten Assembly at her school today.  They collaborated on writing a story called "The Giant Pineapple", which they also illustrated and then performed for half of the school and all parents.  Grace was one of the narrators while other children were actors performing the story.  She did a fantastic job!  She knew all of her lines and did not get stage fright - she spoke clearly and confidently into the microphone, and even tried to help one of the "actors" when he forgot his lines.  Below are some pictures - just of Grace, sorry - I did film the whole performance but it's pretty long. If anyone really wants to watch the 9-minute video, please let me know ;) And for your enjoyment, below is also the text of their wonderful story (highlighted text is what they all said in unison).  The assembly also had some poetry and math demonstrations by another class and some grade-wide songs.  It was a really nice event so close to the end of the school year because it is easy (and amazing!) to see how much Grace and her classmates have developed during their first year of formal education.  Wow!  We are so proud of her!

LMW

The Giant Pineapple

By KGW 

1. Grace: The story starts like this…Once upon a time in a village in Kilimanjaro, there lived aMaasai boy and a Maasai girl.  They lived on a farm.

2. Eli: One day the Maasai boy went out on the farm to grow a pineapple. He wanted to grow a pineapple because he didn’t have much food. 

Maasai Boy: “I love pineapples because they are my favorite food and wanted to share them with my friends.”

3. Sia (Zaynab, Meesha, Fathiya – are rain, sun, air):

 He took a bud from another pineapple and planted it in the ground. The Maasai boy gave it sunlight, rain, air, and he talked to it. He said: “Nanasi ota! Nanasi ota!” two times everyday for almost two year. Because that’s how long it takes for a pineapple to grow.

4. Rodrigo: The Maasai girl thought her brother was silly because he was talking to the plant and he was a weird boy.

Maasai Girl:  “You’re a weird boy.”

  

5. Mara: Then the pineapple grew faster and faster and faster until it was so big it might weigh hundreds of pounds. Super duper, super duper, super duper big!! Bigger than his house.

Maasai Boy: “Now it was time to take it out.”

6.  Grace: So he pulled and he pulled and pulled with all his might.  “Moja, mbili, tatu… vuta!” The pineapple didn’t come out so he asked his friends if they could help. 

7.  Rodrigo: First his sister came and they pulled and pulled with all their might “Moja, mbili, tatu…. vuta!” but the pineapple didn’t move.

8. Mara: Next, his sister asked the elephant to help. They pulled with all their might. “Moja, mbili, tatu… vuta!” but the pineapple did not come out. 

9.  Sia: Then, the giraffe, buffalo and the lion came to help. They pulled and pulled with all their might. “Moja, mbili, tatu… vuta!” but the pineapple still didn’t move.

10. Eli: Next the zebra, swala, cow, and dog came to help. They pulled and pulled with all their might. “Moja, mbili, tatu…. vuta!” the pineapple didn’t budge.

11. Sia: So zebra asked his friend the snowman to help. He met him climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. He pulled the dog and they all said together “Moja, mbili, tatu…. vuta!” but still the pineapple did not come out.

12. Grace: Then the chicken, bat and the butterfly asked “Is it our turn to pull?”. They all said “Yes, Asante”.  

“Moja, mbili, tatu…. vuta!” The pineapple popped out of ground. It jumped in the air “boooo-ahhh”!

13. Mara: First the animals were surprised.  Then they shared the pineapple at their pineapple party.

14. Sia: There was pineapple chocolate cake, pineapple grape soup, pineapple juice, pineapple pie, and pineapple pizza

All:  “That’s called Hawaii pizza!”

The End

September 29, 2014 - Me Box

Grace's first big school assignment this year was to create a "Me Box".  She could put anything in her box that could describe her (what she loves, who she loves, etc.) and decorate it as she liked as well.  She had to present it to her class a few weeks ago, and then last week all the parents came in for smaller presentations as well.  The box will not stay intact too much longer so I want to make sure to document it before we all forget what was in there, and it is interesting to see the things/symbols she treasures so much.  She was extremely proud of her Me Box, as she is about everything she does in Kindergarten.  We're so happy for Grace that she loves school and is thriving there.
LMW

Itemized Me Box (in no particular order):

1. Four flags on the top cover: Tanzania, Kenya, Denmark, USA 

(along with her name "Grace W" and age "5").

2. Swimming certificate.

3. Stuffed elephant from when she was a baby.

4. Small photo book of our extended family that she got for her first Christmas.

5. Family photo after Aya was born.

6. Small photo album of her first year of life.

7. Small photo book of her 5th birthday and birthday party including pictures of all her friends here.

8. A small dragon.

9. A small dinosaur.

10. A small Lego.

11. Her favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

12. Her favorite book about dinosaurs.

13. A small toy airplane.

14. Her Nordic School "medal" from when she graduate from pre-school.