September...

Some of you may know that I've had wonderfully theoretical plans to go to grad school in the fall once I'm back home. Some of you also may know that I had a horridly frustrating time trying to do scholarship applications, which just didn't work out at all, and then the university applications, involveing every possible difficulty with internet, printers, faxing, not knowing what to write for statements of purpose, forgeting something and needing to bus back home to get it, computer crashes, etc. Mensch was I frustrated! And because of how poorly it was going, it was mostly all stress and discouragement. But in the end the applications to McMaster and Queens both got done, and were received, leaving me relieved and ushering in the months of waiting for responses from the univeristies... waiting that lasted 3 weeks for McMaster and 5 weeks for Queens. I got into both. I almost couldn't believe that this was what I was reading on the acceptance emails. So, after so much frustration, there is finally a good outcome. :) Bwana asifiwe! And both offer a T.A. position and a bit of a scholarship! So now I get to choose where to go- Hamilton or Kingston, and I'm leaning toward Hamilton. So that is my news from this week- hopefully a little more exciting and nice than last week's entry! :) hahah... Anyways, I feel the need to repeat Bwana asifiwe, and that's about it for today.

Worms?

It has been a while since I have had to mention any health-related incident. It is time for another update. Don't panic though, it isn't an emergency or anything. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with worms. You understand? I do not have worms. (well, maybe I do, but this isn't it... who knows! :) What I have is ringworm. It is some kind of fungus that forms a circle, and is easily diagnosed based on this circle. It is quite common among the kids, and given that it is contagious, it is almost a wonder I haven't had it until now given how much the little

ones play with me. I get to put anti-fungal cream on it, and hopefully it will be all gone within a couple of weeks.

Good pain???

Two wonderful (and inherently somewhat violent) games have been somewhat of a tradition or special past-time for some of us from LCF (the Laurier Christian Fellowship group, for those of you not from Laurier). One of them, I have been glad to hear, has carried on, namely Squamish, which I am sad to say is difficult to bring to Tanzania due to lack of snow... the other, however, is well suited to this country as it is to Canada, can be played indoors or outdoors, and only requires a deck of cards and a set of spoons. Yes, that's right, I have managed to introduce the game of spoons to unsuspecting Tanzanian youth. We began a tournament among the older boys, which has now finished, for the 1st 3 players to reach 10 wins assuming 2 winners per round. It was mostly a Christmas holiday tournament, I'm just a little late in reporting about it. For those of you who are not aware of this game, you should be- so go find out. Anyways, you spoons veterans who have seen much spoons-related pain over the years would be proud to hear that a new generation of hardy players has arisen. A good deal of excellent wrestling over the remaining spoon, some very interesting shapes of spoons having been fought over, and spoon marks on hands have been the result of these boys willing to give it their all. :) It has been a lot of fun, and has ruined a few decks of cards- I think I will try to give the younger boys a chance sometime soon. Oh, and I can't wait to join in some spoon-related fun when I get back in the summer...