Africa Journal August 29

8/29/2013

I studied pretty much all day today...well, I took a break to do my laundry, but that was about it. It was so awesome! Okay, you know how I've always had a hard time with math. I've been studying methods of teaching math and they talk a lot about having a firm foundation of basics to build on. Honestly, my foundation is less firm and more...well...cracked. I never actually memorized all the times tables. I've always had a calculator to do them for me. I figure it's about time I put some effort into getting better at math instead of just whining about it being hard. I sat down and memorized all the times tables today. Hurray! Now I'm as accomplished as the average third grader. x_x
I also painted a little bit today. It's was just a little, though. I touched up some parts of my tree painting that needed it. Unfortunately, right after I finished, sweet little Gordon put his hand in the fresh paint and smeared it all down the wall. He's so cute, but some days I would like very much to strangle him. I helped him wash it off with the kerosene oil. Tomorrow, I suppose, I'll have to touch it up again. Maybe I'll paint a flower or something over that smeared spot.

Yesterday, I discovered a little hot plate in a box on the shelf in my room. I used it to make some Ramen noodles. It was exciting. Then I was thinking....I have bread...and jam...and they sell eggs at the market...I could totally make French toast!!!! I'm so excited now! I wanted to get some eggs today, but it rained a lot so I couldn't take the motorcycle to the market. Hopefully tomorrow will be dry long enough for me to go. I suppose I could probably ask Rufus to get some for me, too. Yay French toast!

I just have to add, our neighbor kids are super cute. I don't know any of their names except the youngest. Her name is Blessing and she's two. She's freaking adorable! She has learned my name. I often hear her calling me from outside the fence. When I answer, she grins and waves. It's so great. Maybe her mom won't mind if I kidnap her and take her home with me. She could grow up and marry Jax and they could have sweet, adorable caramel babies.

I was scared to death by a spider today. It was in the toilet. I didn't realize it was there until after I was finished doing my business. Ewww!!!!! Still, spiders in the toilet are a lot easier to kill. They can't get away so fast and you can just flush them down. Ugh, but they're so creepy!

The kids like to help me with my laundry. They think it's funny that I can't do it as fast as they can. I don't mind, though. I think it makes them feel important to show me how to do it, even though I do know how it's done by now. Today, it started raining half way through doing my laundry. We just left it out. I mean, it's not like the rain is going to hurt it. If anything, it helped rinse the soap off the clean clothes. After the rain stopped, Bintu, Princess, and the girls from next door came to help me. Even blessing helped squeeze the water out of the clean clothes. She was so cute! I think she mostly just got really wet, but it was fun to watch her try to be helpful.