The second semester is now fully underway. It has been wonderfully easy to return to the routine of life at KEMPS. Teachers, students and matrons are all busy and I feel more a part of the community here than ever before. Since returning from the United States for the June holiday, relationships with teachers and matrons have grown and blossomed, and living with the students is as engaging and busy as ever. Not an evening goes by without knocks on my door as pupils ask "Please, Teacher, may I have a tennis (ball)?" or "May I have a rope?" I have spent evenings jump roping with the kids, teaching Standard 7 girls how to make cakes, and evenings sitting on mats with teachers and matrons practicing my Kiswahili and enjoying the view of the Lake.
In the classroom Standard 5 has been observing water samples from around Bukoba under the microscope and applying their knowledge of the carbon cycle to the current debate about global warming and the greenhouse effect.
Standard 4 has moved on from one point perspective and is now learning about George Seurat and the patience required to do a drawing entirely in dots - I hope to get some of their work up as soon as they finish the project.
Standard 1 and 2 continue to be curious in French class. We have been working on several simple phrases of which the most popular is "Je suis fatigé" because pupils get to stretch and do very exaggerated yawns.
It is unbelievable that a year has come and gone since I first arrived at KEMPS to be greeted by these seemingly shy children. This past year has truly been a most challenging and rewarding experience, and I have the pupils and the staff at KEMPS to thank. I am looking forward to my next year here.
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