Mzungu...how are you??

Hey guys!!

We've been all around since Thursday. and I've eaten a lot of interesting food! (But I feel fine, so thats reassuring).

Thursday we brought the computers to the Bukoba Secondary School. This was hands down the most heartwarming experience I've had thus far. The school made our donation a huge ceremony and all the kids were outside waiting for us. and by all the kids, I mean literally like 400. They announced us all and we all got a change to talk to everyone and introduce ourselves. They told us that the computers we brought would cost them half their annual budget so it would have taken them many years to buy them as a school. There was music and so much thanks. It was definitely my happiest moment here. We also got to see the kids rap and dance to the music (on this huge sound system, which was really cool). Turns out free-style swahili rap is pretty impressive. We also all danced a little for them, to many laughs from the crowd.

Thursday for lunch I tried a lot of new things. Kitambua, which was good, is a fried and doughy pancake. I also had kibabu, which was basically like a fried meatloaf stick (literally everything is fried here unless its rice, or fruit). I also had the 'hamburger' which was definitely not an American burger--much more sweet with some really good spices! We've also been having chips maiai, which is basically potatoes and eggs fried up together. Its delicious and definitely a favorite of mine. Between the new food and the delicious fresh fruit, I'm enjoying my dining experiences.

Yesterday we went to Mr. Raza's mosque to visit the kids, many of which are orphans whose parents have died from HIV. All our girls wore head scarves and love sleeves when we observed the prayers. We also had lunch with the kids and ate pilau (comparable to fried rice) on huge platters from which we ate with our hands. A new experience all around, to say the least.

Everyday we've been to the market to pick up fruit or chippatti. Today we had the fabric we bought previously made into skirts that will be done tomorrow! Mom--you made out well on the fabric deal :) This week was like a grasshopper festival in town. Honestly. It was like the African version of the great locust. There are huge bags of live grasshoppers that people sell to make sinainai (fried grasshopper). The past couple days the streets have been filled with people carrying around bags of living grasshoppers. Yes, people, I did have fried grasshopper. It wouldn't have been all that bad had I not been able to feel myself chewing its head. Not an favorite of mine.

Africa lifestyle is good for me. I've been sleeping, a lot, drinking a lot of water and reading a lot. Supplementing 10 hours of sleep and 3 liters of water a day for the 4 hours of sleep I got with a coffee diet has been really great (you're welcome Mom!!). I've also been running whenever I can recruit someone to go with me (Kristen..where ARE you??). Its quite the run though--basically a mile straight uphill. and people look at us like we're crazy when we run..and I don't totally disagree with them.

I'm thinking of you all like crazy and wish I had more time to email you all back!!

xoxo
Carly 

P.s. Ashley Mcdonough, we need a serious reunion celebration when I get back!