What can I say about Project 640? 
They have been some of our biggest supporters and they turned out last week to kick off PHS with a bang. 
The group first came in February, 2006, just at the time we showed up, so admittedly, my mind is a bit fuzzy from that time! When they showed up Tanzania was at the end of a long drought--the site was nothing but a bare patch of dirt. No buildings, nothing but sun and dust! 
Thanks to them, we have a great banda to keep us cool when we take a break from work.
On the way, they managed to have some fun hiking and dancing. They played competetive Uno. They dug into glitter and stickers and markers and beads and showed off their artistic sides. 
They played frisbee in the wind. They played that great game, baseball. And all the way, the expectation that the students would join in and have fun was exceeded a hundredfold. The students have had almost a month of visitors doing things they've never had a chance to do. I think school will be seem a little dull this week when they finally settle into a "normal" routine.
They have been some of our biggest supporters and they turned out last week to kick off PHS with a bang. The group first came in February, 2006, just at the time we showed up, so admittedly, my mind is a bit fuzzy from that time! When they showed up Tanzania was at the end of a long drought--the site was nothing but a bare patch of dirt. No buildings, nothing but sun and dust! 
Thanks to them, we have a great banda to keep us cool when we take a break from work.They showed up again February, 2007. This time there were buildings started and trees planted. The sun was still hot and the dust still flew, but when they left we had a beautiful herb garden and firepit.
Well, they keep coming back! And for some strange reason, they just didn't seem to be so interested in building. Maybe that's because they were just having too much fun meeting the students! 
The volunteers got their first taste of what PHS will have to offer the students. The students (and staff) got their very first glimpse of some of what Americans do best--give, love, and have a great time! 
They came toting ENORMOUS bags full of art supplies, games, and sports equipment. They came to experience what we've all waited for for so long--to meet the 120 reasons Peace House Foundation exists!
The volunteers got their first taste of what PHS will have to offer the students. The students (and staff) got their very first glimpse of some of what Americans do best--give, love, and have a great time! 
They came toting ENORMOUS bags full of art supplies, games, and sports equipment. They came to experience what we've all waited for for so long--to meet the 120 reasons Peace House Foundation exists!
On the way, they managed to have some fun hiking and dancing. They played competetive Uno. They dug into glitter and stickers and markers and beads and showed off their artistic sides. 
They played frisbee in the wind. They played that great game, baseball. And all the way, the expectation that the students would join in and have fun was exceeded a hundredfold. The students have had almost a month of visitors doing things they've never had a chance to do. I think school will be seem a little dull this week when they finally settle into a "normal" routine.
Learning to work with volunteers and interacting with Americans will be a very new experience for students and staff. Most of them have never really had any contact with "us" and most of their experiences have been watching tourists roll through town in their safari wagons. I would imagine they have formed a whole host of impressions and ideas based on what they see and hear. Now they have the same opportunities (and, I suppose, challenges) in learning about us in a direct and personal way. I can speak from experience saying that learning about a new culture isn't always easy. It challenges your assumptions about what's "right" or "polite" or "acceptable". 
It forces to examine your own beliefs and attitudes about life and decide how these new ways and ideas fit in. For us, the end result has been overwhelmingly positive. Life is much richer interacting with people that experience life differently. The blessing of PHS is that we are brought together as a family for a united cause.
It forces to examine your own beliefs and attitudes about life and decide how these new ways and ideas fit in. For us, the end result has been overwhelmingly positive. Life is much richer interacting with people that experience life differently. The blessing of PHS is that we are brought together as a family for a united cause.
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