Monday 2.9.09

Today things became official. Following the same routine, Living met us with a taxi around noon and we scooted off to Jiendeleze to meet with the three children and their grandmother. Ramadani had an emergency and wouldn’t be back until Wednesday, but the kids had most of their uniforms at this point. We are just waiting on a shirt and new shoes for the kids.
We stepped around back to the house to find that Fatuma (the grandmother) had cleaned the place immensely, most likely in anticipation of our visit. She was dressed in her best shiny shirt and gave us a very warm welcome. The kids stripped down to change into their uniforms for the walk over to the school and they were so cute. Their little bellies stuck out so far in comparison to their skinny little legs and arms. I just wanted to scoop them up and wished I could make their life a thousand times easier.

While they were changing we handed over a few pairs of shoes and some clothes for Abeidi and Saumu that went over with big smiles. It was just a few outfits each, but they were happy. One pair of shoes had the lights on the side, and Abeidi stuffed his little feet into them. I know they were tight, I could feel his toes hitting the ends, but he swore up and down that they fit. I couldn’t take them away. He still had another pair of shoes and some sandals we brought, he would be ok. For the rest of the afternoon he stomped as often as he could to see them light up. He was so happy.
They showed off their uniforms for us, and looked so proud. We took a few family photos and took off for Ngoro Primary. It’s only a quick jaunt down the street, but in that time the three of us (Chelsea, Jennifer, and I) found a drunk friend who wanted to marry at least one of us. We just chuckled and kept on walking.
At Ngoro we were invited into the office of the headmistress, Lenonia Mkurie. She seated us all, and the talking began. I’m really beginning to wish I knew more Swahili, and intend to buy myself the Rosetta Stone set as soon as I am home. First there was a discussion about Zubeda(the older sister). Apparently she didn’t actually attend Njoro, but Chem Chem, the school next door. We decided we would head over there later, but first try to get Abeidi and Saumu into classes. I think there was a discussion about admitting the students so late. The school year started January 14th. After a few moments the tension in the room broke and everyone was happy. Living looked over at me and said “She said she will let them come to school.” I couldn’t help but smile myself. It meant this was really happening. We paid the school fees (14,200 tsh per child, which is less than $14) and wrote down a list of supplies and books the kids will need this year. We have decided that Abeidi and Saumu will be able to share books, as they will be in the same class. Most of the kids at the school don’t have their own books, but this will allow them to study after school and on the weekends. Fatuma also mentioned to us then that Abeidi missed a lot of school because of a rash on his head, that it causes him a lot of discomfort. After closer inspection I think it’s most likely ringworm or something similar. I told her we would find something to take care of him. After all of this we headed over to Chem Chem to meet with the headmaster there.
Zubeda was sent home from school today for not paying the fees. She also had said that her backpack of books and supplies was taken and she would not get them back until she paid. We were again warmly welcomed into the office of the headmaster, and the discussion began. Luckily he spoke a bit of English and was able to talk to us on his own. We were told that Zubeda owed school fees of 10,000 tsh from last year, as well as the 20,000 for this year. For her to be admitted she would owe 30,000. I mentioned something about her bag being taken away, and was given the story that she “left it at school.” That story I don’t believe, as her bag was tucked away in the headmaster’s closet. Things that make you go “hmmmm…..”
Again we paid the fees at Chem Chem and everyone was happy. For what little bit of Swahili I understand, the discussion between the grandmother and the headmaster was that of many thanks. Thanks to god for sending us to her and it was a miracle that we were there. Maybe I’m not the most religious person all the time, but the gratitude and happiness in the room was almost overwhelming for me. I felt a part of something that I would never fully understand. From my point of view I know I am changing lives, but I don’t think I will ever grasp the enormity of it all.
We walked the family back home and said our goodbyes. I couldn’t repeat the words from Fatuma even if I thought until my brain burst, but I know she thanked me from the bottom of her heart. In a culture where I am the one who is supposed to be paying her the highest respects, it is very humbling for her to be thanking me the way she did.
We took living out to lunch afterwards, because when he gives us his time, he ends up missing the free lunch at CCS and I feel guilty. At lunch I told him that we would like to be paying him for all the work that he has done for us, and would continue to pay him if he keeps track of the work he will be doing over the next year. He said that we didn’t have to pay him. He would be happy to do it for free. I told him that it didn’t matter, we were going to pay him, and I could see the little sparkle in his eyes. Though he wouldn’t admit it, probably even under torture, he will be glad that he is getting paid…even if he would be content to do it for free.
After lunch he walked us over to the bookstore where we bought most of the school books we needed for the kids. We also sent Living off with some money, and he said he would pick up a belt for Abeidi and backpacks for Abeidi and Saumu. He has to go to the market for those, and if any of us wazungu were to try and do it ourselves we would be charged outrageous prices. We would be drowning without his help.
We sent living on his way and ran over to the pharmacy to see what we could do for Abeidi. My experience in the hospitals over the last 4 years have come in handy. Well, that and the ability to buy nearly everything over the counter here. We grabbed a few bars of antibacterial soap, and three tubes of antifungal/antibiotic/steroid cream for Abeidi’s head. Who knows what he has going on there, and maybe hitting it from all directions will help him out. I’m thinking about taking a much more personal approach to this project and making sure that the family has everything they need. Hopefully in the next couple of days I can hit up the market to buy a load of beans, rice, flour, and sugar to make sure that the kids all have the food that they need for the next while. Maybe when they’re done with school they will be able to pay it back, if not to their own family, but to the community in general.

Tonight, I am happy. Again.