Nana and Bapa Return to Africa

They arrived back to Africa after a few days in the United Kingdom. After arriving from the airport, we spend the afternnoon at the Whitesands Hotel. It was an opportunity to share some family stories/experiences, have a swim and toast to a couple of Tuskers.

Water Park Opens

Exciting news in the Mombasa area! A water slide parked called Wild Waters opened up just before the end of the school term. The Mclean children were very excited as it was being built from last year. We went the first opening day – but were disappointed as the power was out most of the day as the park only had a small transformer. However, they invited back the following week and it was ‘fun in the African sun!’

Ty's Teacher - Mrs. Carol yne Msengeti

Apology to None by Mrs.Carolyn Msengeti - Year 1A

When I am introduced as a teacher, I am usually asked what I teach.When I say, “first grade,” I generally hear a flat “ooh.”I have never been certain whether it is an expression of pity, sympathy, disgust, or perhaps disinterst.

Always, I wish I had time to explain to them like this:

“YES, I teach first grade.” WHERE ELSE would a handsome young man put his arms around me and ask, “Do you know that I’ll always remember and love you?” WHERE ELSE could I tie so many hair ribbons, shoe laces, belts daily and get to see a style show of pretty dresses and shirts? WHERE ELSE could I walk up and down the aisles and have little warm hands reach out to me? WHERE ELSE could I have the privilege of wiggling loose teeth and receive the promise that I may pull them when they are loose enough and sometimes do. WHERE ELSE would I eat a spoiled piece of candy from a grimy little hand and not become ill? (I have to eat it because he watches me to see that I do!).

WHERE ELSE would the future look so bright as it does amid an energetic group to whom nothing is impossible? WHERE ELSE could I guide the first letter formations of a chubby little hand that may some day write a book or an important document? WHERE ELSE could I forget my own aches and pains because so many cut fingers, scratched knees, bumped heads and broken hearts that need care? WHERE ELSE could I forget cares and even ‘the state of the nation” because a student isn’t grasping reading as he should and other methods must be tried? WHERE ELSE would my mind have to stay so young as with a group whose attention span is so short that I must always keep a “bag of tricks” up my sleeve?

WHERSE ELSE could I feel so close to my MAKER as I do each year when, because of something I have done, little children learn to read?

YES, I teach first grade.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenya,
Mr. and Mrs. America,
Mr. and Mrs. India,
Mr. and Mrs. World, and I LOVE IT!