Library Requests

So...I have a request if anyone is interest in donating to my library. I would still like to have:

• a few chess board/checker sets (cheap ones are fine)
• puzzles (not more than 150 pieces, the kids here have never done puzzles before and really struggle)
• flash cards (reading, alphabet, and definitely math- addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc)
• Posters, maps, or other educational tools to decorate the library and to use to increase the children's world view

If you're interested my address is:

Cait Makobo Burkholder

P.O. Box 1237

Ga-Kgapane

0838

South Africa

If you decide to send a few things and are worried about postage then check out using M-Bags at the post office. They take a while to get here so would need to be sent immediately but are much cheaper than other methods of sending.

End of Term

My library is finally finished and it feels amazing to have it done. Now onto building the playground....

I think this term at school has been the best one I've had. The library is up and running. We held a geography contest for the sixth graders and it was amazing the progress they made. I think they finally understand why I didn't drive here from America. In addition, I've been having a great time with my teachers. We had a sport's day recently and had fun traveling and watching the children play netball and soccer. Overall, I'm looking forward to next term (and slight stressed as it will be my last term here as a Peace Corps Volunteer).

But first it's time for vacation and after almost 2 years I'm finally off to Cape Town...

The joys of African Wildlife...

So....I was staying at Seth and Ivy's one weekend and we had another visitor. Imagine finding that lovely critter, almost 3 inches long, crawling around your house. All a part of being a Peace Corps Volunteer I suppose.

Pictures from Library....not in any particular chronological order obviously :)

It's been a while...

The last few weeks of attempting to get things accomplished has been quite frustrating as the internet has been down at the cafe I regularly frequent and my zip drive has been full of viruses. Hence, my lack of updating. So let me give a quick run down of what's going on...

My library is almost complete. The last of my shelves were delivered this week, and I'm just waiting for 3 tables now. The children have started visiting before and after school and we've been having an absolute blast. They keep commenting on how beautiful it is. It's been really exciting to see kids read books for the first time that aren't text books. They love things like the snake books. They can't believe how large the reptiles can get. It's been really fun for me to sneak up behind them and scare them while their completely engrossed in studying the pictures.

It's also been exceptionally entertaining as they have discovered different kinds of books. One of the children found a pop-up book on the shelf and it had him giggling uncontrollably for about half an hour.

I also have a bunch of puzzles that Seth and Ivy gave me for the library. The kids love them and will spend forever working on one (it's interesting to watch how long it takes a sixth grader to complete a 25 piece puzzle since they've never seen one before; they don't yet understand the strategy of them). Each time a child finishes a puzzle he or she comes to me beaming and waits to get a high five.

Overall, I'm loving every minute I spend in the library and so are the children. It's great after all this time to finally have a product.