CRADLE OF LOVE

CRADLE OF LOVE
I really wanted to write our first ‘blog’ about the hiking trip we took through the remote villages in the Usambara Mountains. We have not seen Kilimanjaro yet or been on a safari, but I am pretty sure this 3 day trek with a hired guide will be top on our list of tourist things to do while in Tanzania. But, now that we are settled in at the baby home that is foremost on the mind!

We have been working now for 4 days and I am already at home sick. Partly because I spent too many hours in the baby home and became exhausted too quickly, but mostly because there are a lot of coughs, colds, and runny noses. I am actually a little thankful for being ‘out’ today because it has given me a chance to sit down and write a letter. The other perk is that Ned cut up a bowl of fruit and served it to me in bed this morning! (He was not able to actually climb the tree as you will see in the photo, so he had to resort to buying a pineapple from a lady on the street corner- probably with 20 of them in a basket on her head.)

OUR LIVING ARRANGEMENTS:
The baby home facility is really very nice. It is just 3 years old and probably one of the nicest place we have been in Africa. There is a volunteer apartment above the home for up to 8 people with a large living room and kitchen (we have a stove- most people and restaurants still cook over an open fire.) We are VERY lucky to have such a comfortable place to spend the next 3 months. Another couple and their 14 year old daughter are also here, but leaving soon. The director is Seventh Day Adventist and the compound is shared with an Adventist international relief program that her husband directs. The compound is fully fenced in and there are full time guards and grounds keepers so we feel very safe. We are preparing all of our own food; the out door market is about a 20 min. walk away, it is also possible to flag down one of the many Dalla Dallas (small mini van that usually packs in about 18 people) for a lift down the road for about $0.10 each way. They will go out of their way to stop and pick us up because we are wazungu (white people), and therefore are probably loaded with money; it will be ok for them to charge us $0.20 before we even understand what is going on.

THE BABY HOME:
This is such a wonderful place for all these children to be, but at the same time it is very different from the traditional American family system that we are so used too. It can be tough to see a couple of them struggle for their share of the love and affection. There are about 30 children; 10 toddlers + 20 babies can sometimes equal chaos. There are 3 full time nanny groups, so there are always 6 paid workers in the home (paid- as in $70/month wich is above average), as well as the director and any volunteers that might be around. Most of the nannies are very nice, but we definitely have a different way of pampering our babies! I will save the specifics of the day to day routine for later. Ned and I spend our time running back and forth between those who are the least attended to at the moment (i.e. the loudest). It is really pretty easy b/c it seems that there is one thing that makes them cry, they just want to be held:)It is very unusual to hold just one baby as I usually have one in each arm and one in the lap, propping his bottle up with an elbow.

TODDLERS:
The toddlers love Ned. When he arrives in the morning there will be four or five of them tugging on his arms yelling, “Daddy Daddy!” They are old enough for some sort of routine and group training, but the nannies usually have their hands full getting food made and keeping diapers washed…yes, cloth diapers that hang out on the line to dry. They have two washing machines and would love a third. Anyway, Ned and I are going to try and help come up with some additional preschool routines for the morning. We might have to get creative with supplies/materials because there are not too many and it is not like you can go to a 'Teachers-R-Us' and buy them. I am going to ask my family to send some teaching supplies, but the cost of shipping is so high that it is hardly worth it.

We are also thinking about different ways to help the big kids with dinner. Right now they sit at a nice little set of table and chairs, but all of us adults are feeing babies so there is no one to sit at the head of the table and ‘model’ what you are supposed to do with a cup, a bowl, and a spoon. Last night they all poured their water into their porridge bowls and then the watery mixture back into the cups, and then on to the table, over their neighbor's head, and on and on. I immediately took all of their cups and most of the food away, which caused a good 5 minutes of screaming. It was later that night I realized instead of just taking it away from them in a frenzy, I should have sat down at the table and helped them practice how to take a drink water and then a bite of food, but not both at the same time. Sippy Cups- that would be a miracle! (Porridge is served every night for dinner- they also get really good snacks like banana, avocado, bread, cookies, etc.)

That's probably enough for today. We will have more stories and photos to share in upcoming weeks. Hope all is well with everyone at home!

Ned & Emily