This is the day that changed us forever. It started rainy and chilly. We packed up for the trip to Qaru Lambo - the first school where we funded a rainwater harvesting project. They were expecting us. The roads here are mud, not gravel. The rain had made them very slick, which, when added to the humungous and plentiful potholes (some 18 inches deep) made for a bone-jarring, teeth-rattling ride.
The landscape is gorgeous - tons of wild flowers in rolling green hills with Ngorogoro highlands in the background.
We reach Qaru Lambo at about 10:30. Very hard to describe this day. We first met the head teacher, who had us all crowd in to her teeny tiny office to sign the guest book. We were thanked and welcomed profusely in Swahili with Japhet translating for both sides. We then toured each classroom, The students were shy at first, but quickly warmed up and let their curiousity about the mizungas take over. They were eager to have their picture taken and see themselves in the back of the camera - a game that could go on forever. They were so polite, willing to shake hands and soon even got the hang of the "fist-bump" that our students taught them. The QL students were absolutely adorable and heart-wrenching - beautiful children with huge eyes and big smiles all wearing the school uniform of red sweater and long blue skirt (girls) or short pants (boys). Some sweaters were so tattered you could tell how often they had been handed down.
The classrooms were essentially concrete cells with open windows and a blackboard. Wooden benches that sat 3 students (tightly), no supplies, no teachers desks, no books. 12 teachers for approximately 700 students (no, Peter, this is NOT a way to fix the schedule!).
In the older classes, students would stand and recite a greeting in unison. KEC students were having the time of their lives - you could see how awed they were by the experience. The QL students had never seen this many white people - especially young ones like themselves and they were enormously curious and quite enchanted.
Seeing the 2 drinking stations shining proudly in front of the school yard was very emotional. Many times, students would go up and get a drink. There were new gardens carefully tended that were irrigated with water from the tanks and the handwashing stations.
We toured the girls pit latrine, and many tried it out - a bit difficult to believe that it is an improvement over what the had before!
The rainwater harvesting tanks themselves were carefully managed by the school's water management committee and lovingly surrounded by a fence of small seedling trees.
We were the guests of honour at a feast provided by the entire community. It was an exciting moment for us when we all washed our hands in the hand-washing station that we funded!
Providing this meal was a great sacrifice for this incredibly impoverished community. The students were great at expressing their appreciation - getting very excited and making "mmm" noises as each dish was revealed. Potatoes, goat, chicken, cabbage salad, fried green bananas, oranges, and fresh bananas. One of the classrooms had been transformed into a party room for the feast. After we took our food, the important people from the village also joined us.
Following the meal, the ceremonies began. Slowly over the morning, people from the village and community had been arriving - all decked out in their very best. One of the teachers acted as MC - again with Japhet translating for us. First the school children danced and sang for us (girls are the drummers here). After a few numbers, they invited our students up to dance with them - they all eagerly participated! Then our children demonstrated their expertise at singing and dancing with a rousing rendition of the "Hokey Pokey" followed by the "Chicken Dance". Then adults from the village performed for us. It was very humbling to be treated with such gratitude and appreciation for what we feel was an act of basic human kindness.
We were then all presented with gifts from the community - lengths of cloth wrapped around myself, Jan, and Peter, and sandals handmade from tires for Susan and the students. We presented them with the gift of the sports equipment we had brought for the school - we could hardly hold the crowd of children back as they crowded in to see what was being brought out!
Following this dignified and formal part of the day, there was a soccer match between the KEC students and Qaru Lambo. Everyone eagerly lined the field as our students took their places on the field and looked around to see where their oponents were. They had a disconcerting moment as out from the school jogs the Qaru Lambo soccer team - in matching uniforms and looking very professional! Peter, I'm sad to say, tried to switch his allegiance to the opponent's team! However, with Erin helping out in goal, and Tony on the field, and even Pete joining the fray, we proudly represented Canada! The onlookers all cheered loudly when Mary managed to steal the ball from a QL player. Daniel scored an amazing goal - impressing all with his speed and agility. Mostly, they were surprised to see women playing soccer for the first time ever! 
After the game mercifully ended (3 - 1), everyone dispersed and mingled with the children and the community members. Some of our girls played soccer with the QL girls - first time ever! That really rocked things! Devin and Matt played volleyball (they called it netball), some of the girls played a basketball-like game (also called netball) and others just played with the kids. Our hair was stroked and our skin touched. They pacticed their English (so much better than our Swahili) and generally enjoyed the day. Even the adults liked to have their picture taken and see themselves on our digital cameras.
We left - tired and euphoric - completely overwhelmed with so many mixed emotions. We will return next Wednesday to plant fruit trees for the school.
We had a fun-filled evening at a local establishment called "Happy Days". Great music, good food - we all want to go back!
it's my former school, i liked
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