Time is flying and I have to say it is wonderful. After Margaret and I have been inducted into the Kenyan Scouts as Rovers, it has been all up hill from here!
Yesterday it was nice to have David Dinda with us for the morning as we went to the text book centre, the school supply store for Nairobi for more supplies. Then Franco suggested we see the old Norfolk Hotel interior. This is a hotel from 1904 that has been refurbished. It was great. The coffee was amazing, the gift shop high end and the Fairmont has taken over the Norfolk and redone it. A lovely colonial hotel in all the British/Kenyan Style--Then Lunch at Nairobi Java and off to school for yet a speedy and wonderful day.
Although we seem to only be teaching two hours, we actually are teaching two distinct classes at the same time. Yesterday was more studio time and student reading biographies of artists. It was great to hear them read so nicely and when they all asked for copies you just smile because they want to all learn.
Margaret has them doing timed drawings and I am having them complete their color drawings. They do not like black pencil compared to color. It is great to see how well they are doing. They are all amazing humans with this capacity that outweighs most.
The Head Master Kiambi came by and talked with us and demonstrated how happy he was with the program and we are planning dates for 2009. I could not be more excited to know that they have invited us back.
The end of our day was special and engaging. We handed out cameras to a number of leads, to take pictures of their lives and their groups they were assigned; 5 cameras went out and there is one person responsible for returning them. I cannot wait to see what we get. They children are engaged and they respond well in class, ask questions and take true responsibility. They are protective of this art immersion in a way that I would not have imagined. We wanted to leave the art posters that we brought and were going to put them up in the class and they said, "no", we want them to stay safe, clean and cared for, put them in the library.
Although we are giving our skill and selves through our knowledge of art and desire to help, we are really receiving gifts from these beautiful and smart students. They are all so great and so wonderful to be around and so engaged. One student whom was assigned Socrates for research came to me some what upset because all she could find about Socrates was that he was a greek philosopher. She was able to find this with limited access and resources. They are equally engaged on all fronts.
Well, believe it or not, after today, we only have one week of teaching left, we are shocked that it has gone so quickly, and we have so much to do.....
Much love and we miss you all,
Charles and Margaret
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