Tree of Life

So let me tell you about my bathroom. There has been this long, winding trail of a dirt like substance on the wall for some time now. One of my roommates, Tanya, asked me if I had noticed that it had grown. After taking a second look, I realized that yes, it had grown quite a bit since Monday. Upon further inspection, we noticed that this lovely trail of dirt was made by termites. We proceeded to make a mark on the wall at the top of this trail before teaching yesterday. When we came home, the trail was well past the line. They were very busy. Obviously, this has become quite an attraction with the rest of our group. Everyone knows that any good attraction must have a name. Because of the pattern of the trail and the many branch like side trips the bugs took, I decided to call it the Tree Of Life. The Tree of Life has had many visitors.

Anyway, today during one of our sessions, we were talking about teaching writing. As a partner activity, we had to write down a noun that describes something we have experienced in Namibia. Once we wrote it down, we switched with other partners and were told a writing assignment we were to complete about the noun. Well as fate had it, my partner Bret and I received the noun “Tree of Life”. As a writing activity, we were asked to write an acrostic poem. I would like to share it with you here:

Termites

Reaching the ceiling

Everday growing

Exponentially

Out of control

Freaking me out

Living art

Inspiring

Focused

Eating and regurgitating

Needless to say, we were cracking up as we read this to the class. Oh Africa and your wall bugs.

Other than that, I have just been enjoying teaching and hanging out with the other volunteers. We take turns cooking and the other night my group and I cooked out some burgers. It was our first time using a wood grill, but we succeeded. The kids have been great and being in the classroom just reminds me why I am really here.

One of our students came around our hostel this evening and a couple people and I played frisbee, soccer, and four square with him. I forgot how fun four square is.

Sunday is safari day. I will write more after that!

~h