quick post

just a short update before my computer time runs out.

thanks for the packages, aunt cindy and ayn! they're both wonderful!

things are good in the village. my school programs (mali hai and girl's group) have wound down as the schools closed this week for the end of term vacation. when we get back, the girls get to learn about the biology of menstruation and pregnancy, and the mali hai kids get to go to mikumi. I'm more excited about one of these than about the other.

yes, the mikumi trip is on! we finally got an answer about the price of the mini bus, got them to lower it a bit, and talked to the kids. some said the price was too high, but they don't realize how far mikumi is. i think we got a fair price, 800k for a two day trip. the teachers brought it up at the school's end of term parents meeting, and the parents said that they can pay it, but not until closer to the trip, as they haven't harvested nd sold their crops yet. plus, we're trying to finagle some money from the district government. woohoo!

THE SOAP PROJECT MUST END!!! after i finish the training this week in tanga, I am going to dar to buy the lye to make the soap and get this project out of my hair once and for all!

my plwha group started, and the people with hiv/aids want to raise chickens and sell fabric at the village market to increase their incomes. so, it's to the grant applications for me. wish me luck.

i seem to have purchased the harry houdinis of the duck world. i put them in their new home, and within a day 2 escaped and tried to blend in with my neighbors' flocks. the string still tied to their legs gave them away. a few hours later one of them re-escaped. the kid i got to take care of them while i'm gone should have his hands full. :)

that's all for now! off to the training of trainers in tanga! (i'm going to help the new pcvs during training, and peace corps being what it is, they require me, in turn, to be get additional training first. whatever.)