Next Step...Iron Man Competition?

Well, I'm back in Tanzania now. Right now I'm hanging out in Dar and I'll head back to my village tomorrow. I pretty much beasted the physical therapy. I was like, pulling cars and throwing tires around like they were pillows. Yeah, I got pretty freakin strong so they sent me home. In all honesty they gave me one of those giant inflatable exercise balls with a print out and sent me on my merry way. I can't even imagine what people are going to think in my village because I'll have to take it to the bike repair man and have him inflate it...and then carry it through my village back home. This could create a number of stares (on top of the fact that people stare at me constantly anyway).

It's good to be back, but I can't deny the fact that KFC and CHEESECAKE was pretty amazing. I watched movies, ate at amazing places, went to the mallS (please note the capital 'S'...there were a couple) and I also spent a day at a cheetah park. Don't hate.

I'm not really sure what the plans are for Christmas but I think I might be a bit too late to plant, grow, then harvest my own Christmas tree, so that tradition might be out.

Happy holidays everyone and I hope to hear from you guys!

Love,

Cat

Celebrity Rehab

I like to think of myself as an athlete. Someone who really puts in long hours of intense training to increase maximum performance on the field. In reality I have no athletic prowess whatsoever...yet I still manage to inflict bodily harm on myself. I'm currently in South Africa because I can't seem to walk or function correctly, and now I'm here to learn. What did you always tell me Dad? Shoulders back? Stand up straight? Walk like a 'woman'? I don't know...anyway! No worries, I just need some physical therapy and then I'll be back on my way to TZ. I had my first session today where I struggled to keep myself up on a small inflated ball. It probably didn't help that I laughed through the session. It was good though and I definitely think it's going to help.

I think they should do a show about me though. I mean, I basically have Rock Star status in my village...and I AM in rehab now. It could be a hit. It'd be no 'Breaking Bonaduce' but I think I'd at least have a bigger audience than 'Hogan Knows Best'.

South Africa is pretty amazing; a mini-America really. Malls, movies, coffee shops....A KFC!!! WHAT?!?! I'm not suggesting that anyone intentionally harm his or herself...but one should not be too disappointed if they need to come down here for some reason.

So I've been hanging out, eating amazing food, checking facebook way too much and developing a habit of bathing here that is borderline OCD. Things are great!

I hear there's a lion park and a cheetah park where you can pet baby animals, so I think I'll look into that. Don't worry mom, I won't get my arm eaten off. I mean, at least not intentionally.

Well, if anyone is looking for a little vacation right now you are more than welcome to come to South Africa and hang out with me! We'll feed baby lions, swim in the pool, and maybe scalp some tickets to the World Cup. Just think about it...

So You Think You Can Dance?

There's pretty much nothing more amazing than Tanzanian dancing. I don't think I can accurately describe in words what witnessing this is really like. It's more than a show, or mere entertainment...it's an...experience. One I feel I should share with the world. This is my gift to you!

The Circle of Life

It's been awhile since I've posted BUT the greatest news is that my best friend in the village just had her baby! He's about 3 weeks old now and we're still deciding on a name. My friend likes either Matthew or Steve. Awkward? A bit. I'm trying to extend her options to other strong American names like Gunther and Norbert, but she doesn't seem too into it. Anyway, I'm really excited and considering not returning to the States in a year to stay here and be her housegirl. Just kidding mom....sort of.

-Cat

If You're Happy and You Know It....Stare at the Foreigner

I realize I'm not very reliable on updating this often but I'll try to recap the last couple months.

**Highlight Number 1: Attempting to teach "If You're Happy and You Know It" to a classroom of around 80 primary school students. I think you can imagine how this went. I thought it bombed but it turned out they loved it.

**Highlight Number 2: Attending a community theater workshop to learn how to teach about HIV/AIDS and other issues through theater, music, dancing, etc. After giving an academy award winning performance I decided I'll leave the acting up to the kids in my village....along with the singing and dancing.

**Highlight Number 3: Take Your Daughter to Work Day---or so I'm calling it. I went to my best friend's village to meet her parents and the rest of her family. Her dad slaughters animals everyday so I asked if I could go with him to watch. Despite the grotesqueness of the job I'm still not going vegetarian.

**Highlight Number 4: After the slaying I found myself eating lunch at a member of Parliament's house. Don't ask me how it happened...it just did. They also had electricity...and a tv....and cable! It was a great day.

**Highlight Number 5: WE'RE GETTING A SCHOOL KITCHEN!!!!! I'm pumped. Enough said.

First We Hit the Streets....Then We Take It to the Recording Studio

Well I guess a lot has probably happened since the last time I posted...but I can't really remember everything right now.

The biggest event recently was AIDS testing in my village. It went really well! Doctors from town came and we were able to test over 100 people that day. We worked continuously from 9:30 until 6 o'clock. Unfortunately we weren't able to test everyone that came because there were so many people, but we're looking to test again in the next month. The week before I had the students make up songs and raps to sing at the event. It was pretty much the funniest thing. I was really excited for them to sing and told everyone they were in for a treat! Well, I guess they all got a case of stage fright when it came time for performance because they refused to come and kept running around and hiding behind the building. Luckily, I heard them in class and even took some videos for them...so I can vouch for their talent. They promised next time they would sing. I'm holding them to that.

Life

Things are well right now. I'm teaching English, working at the clinic in our village, and I just recently started a health club at the secondary school. Also, once a week at the primary school we are cooking and feeding the entire school using the crops harvested from the school's farm. This is great for the students because once a week they receive free food from the school, which also helps promote attendance. Unfortuntately I'm coming to find out that many of these students only eat one meal a day (usually late at night when they come home from school and after working long hours in the farm). I also found out some of the students are only eating two or so meals a week! Providing meals for the students at school is vital, but once the crops run out we are no longer able to do this. Right now I'm not sure how to help with this problem. Any suggestions?

Love,

Cat

I Am Billy Maddison

I may not be the smartest kid in class, but I’m definitely the biggest… So I’ve been in my village for about 7 months now and I finally decided that I really want to work on improving my Swahili. My best friend in the village just happens to be a primary school teacher for second grade here. We decided a good way for me to practice would be to sit in on her classes. I then realized I’m Billy Maddison. I’m taller, bigger, and I read louder than any of the other students. I hope I pass second grade…but the work load seems a little intense. It’s a lot of fun and I think it’s helping…at least I’m learning some new songs in there.

I also just got back from running the Kili (half) Marathon in Kilimanjaro. Please note the inserted *half* in there. I think people who run 26 miles are ridiculous. Anyway, I actually jogged most of it and didn’t pass out after the first 3 miles. I really want to do it again next year and maybe I’ll actually train a little harder for it next time.

I’m also working on setting up a time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a couple other volunteers and groups of students. We’re looking to go around November to give us plenty of time for planning and fundraising. Our plan is for each volunteer to take 4 girl orphans and pay for all the fees. Luckily the Tanzanian Government has set up programs and reduced fees for TZ residents to climb, so we’re able to take our groups of girls for a discounted price. Despite the reduced rate the total cost is still going to be quite significant so we’re looking for anyone interested in donating to help these girls climb Kili.

I know people back home have been asking about ways you can help. Any donation would be incredible and we would be so thankful here. I'm investing a lot of my time in the schools here and working on improving health standards through a dispensary building project as well as building another well in the village. We're always looking for school supplies, ways to generate income to pay school fees and for uniforms, soccer balls for after school activities, etc. If you're interested please email me at catduthie@gmail.com.

Thank you for your love and support!

-Cat

Step Lightly! Thanks!

So it's been awhile since my last post....but things have been going really well! Right now is rain season...which is...interesting? As I was making my way to the main road today I realized the bridge is out now. Everyone just told me to use the boards but I told them I would fall into the river...and they laughed. Then the guy in the water helped me across, thus making him my hero. I told him that...then he asked me for money. I tried to tell him as a 'hero' he shouldn't ask for cash, but that didn't really translate. Anyway! I made it across safe the 'treacherous waters' (which was really like maybe a foot of water) and all is well.

Right now I'm teaching English at the secondary school again and I love it. The students are hilarious and we have a lot of fun. Soon I'll start teaching math and I'll have a health club on Fridays. We're working on getting water pumps built and also a dispensary! I'm really excited about everything that's going on and I think the village is as well.

Anyway, things are going really well! Hope things are going well in the States!

-Cat