This and That
Hello again... A special welcome to all those who would normally be reading MaryBeth's blog but, due to the fact she has not updated it in months, have turned to me to know what is going on here in Namibia.
Sunday was my "day off" but MB and I went to the BNC for soccer. She apologized to me for making me go on Sunday, as if it was some sort of punishment. Everyday I go there is a chance to see the kids.
The idea for the day was for MB to take the boys team across town to play another boys team and for the girls team to wait at the BNC with me and play another girls team. The girls game never developed so with MB gone for 4 hours, I was left in charge at the BNC with 20 of the girls.
They chewed me up and spit me out. I think there is a sixth sense in children that senses weakness and some one who has a soft heart because they were relentless in asking me for permission to do things. Playing Bingo for sweets is popular anytime but Sunday they insisted we play, and play, and play. Two hours of mindnumbing picture bingo. I pulled out a word (pajama, shorts, airplane, etc.) and they had to find the picture on their board. It was tedious but for them the chance to win sweets was too enticing.
We then moved on to soccer in the back of the BNC on the pavement. I was happy to let the girls spend all their energy running around in the rain kicking the ball but they ended bickering with themselves so much that after repeated warnings I carried through on my threat to end the soccer game if they kept fighting. Needless to say, they tried to make me feel guilty by making me look like a tyrant for not allowing them to play soccer. The next day a few of them tried to stay mad... it didn't work. The secret seems to be if I don't stand my ground the first few times then they will walk all over me the rest of the time I am here.
The four hours we were together was exhausting because I had to keep order,usually that is MB's job and I just go from person to person giving attention and doing activities. I cannot imagine the chaos MB must have had to deal with when she showed up with 150 rug rats running around with no discipline!
Monday was fairly easy. Just the BNC in the afternoon. The highlight of the day was staying late with Salome (I mispelled it Salomi earlier) MB was waiting to meet a guy at the BNC for a meeting and I walked around with Salome on my shoulders. She is absolutely adorable and helpful. We are working on her reading... I am confident that progress will be made in the next 6 weeks.
Last night was Michael's birthday. (The canadian) We ordered some pizza and had some drinks but because it was Monday night we decided to just stay in and relax. He played some of his music off his iPod... he is into jazz and it was quite relaxing.
Today I finished my law school applications online. Fordham, Villanova, Pace, and Hofstra. We will see what happens. Fordham and Villanova will be tough to get into but it is worth a shot. I probably won't here back before I get home, but the application process is finally over.
Hope all is well in the states... love those emails!
Sunday was my "day off" but MB and I went to the BNC for soccer. She apologized to me for making me go on Sunday, as if it was some sort of punishment. Everyday I go there is a chance to see the kids.
The idea for the day was for MB to take the boys team across town to play another boys team and for the girls team to wait at the BNC with me and play another girls team. The girls game never developed so with MB gone for 4 hours, I was left in charge at the BNC with 20 of the girls.
They chewed me up and spit me out. I think there is a sixth sense in children that senses weakness and some one who has a soft heart because they were relentless in asking me for permission to do things. Playing Bingo for sweets is popular anytime but Sunday they insisted we play, and play, and play. Two hours of mindnumbing picture bingo. I pulled out a word (pajama, shorts, airplane, etc.) and they had to find the picture on their board. It was tedious but for them the chance to win sweets was too enticing.
We then moved on to soccer in the back of the BNC on the pavement. I was happy to let the girls spend all their energy running around in the rain kicking the ball but they ended bickering with themselves so much that after repeated warnings I carried through on my threat to end the soccer game if they kept fighting. Needless to say, they tried to make me feel guilty by making me look like a tyrant for not allowing them to play soccer. The next day a few of them tried to stay mad... it didn't work. The secret seems to be if I don't stand my ground the first few times then they will walk all over me the rest of the time I am here.
The four hours we were together was exhausting because I had to keep order,usually that is MB's job and I just go from person to person giving attention and doing activities. I cannot imagine the chaos MB must have had to deal with when she showed up with 150 rug rats running around with no discipline!
Monday was fairly easy. Just the BNC in the afternoon. The highlight of the day was staying late with Salome (I mispelled it Salomi earlier) MB was waiting to meet a guy at the BNC for a meeting and I walked around with Salome on my shoulders. She is absolutely adorable and helpful. We are working on her reading... I am confident that progress will be made in the next 6 weeks.
Last night was Michael's birthday. (The canadian) We ordered some pizza and had some drinks but because it was Monday night we decided to just stay in and relax. He played some of his music off his iPod... he is into jazz and it was quite relaxing.
Today I finished my law school applications online. Fordham, Villanova, Pace, and Hofstra. We will see what happens. Fordham and Villanova will be tough to get into but it is worth a shot. I probably won't here back before I get home, but the application process is finally over.
Hope all is well in the states... love those emails!
posted by Jim | 10:39 AM
2 Comments:
Hey Scooter,
It's Emily this is the first time on the site. It is wonderful, i love it. One day I walked in to Main Street and Bill or Rich (I still can't tell the diff) told me about your adventure. Now I am hooked I will keep reading as long as you keep writing.
Talk to you soon
Emily
I have read and LOVED everything that has come up on this site - comments, too -- and want to let "the public" know that Jim McKenney is a gift to us all. An experience such as this is a gift to Jim -- and through him, a gift to us.
AND IT WILL PROVE A GIFT TO OTHERS AS HE LIVES HIS LIFE!!
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