The first few days

We got to Zimbabwe after slightly entangled connections at the airports with baggage and scheduling, but made it here at last, a little worse for wear and very grateful for a good nights sleep. I was pleased to find many familiar plants at the house here, although some are much larger and growing outdoors as part of the landscape instead of being houseplants indoors. We got to play with the kids yesterday and then were invited to eat with a family for dinner. I had cottage #5, where12 children -all boys ages 17 to 6 except the baby girl who is a little over a year old -live with two houseparents. Beds for the children are upstairs. One bathroom, a living room and small kitchen and parents bedroom are downstairs.  The cottages are stucco with cottage type thatch roofs. Jerry brought his guitar along and played a few songs on one of the porches, which had been scrubbed that morning (and probably every morning) It made a great icebreaker. We ate a very typical meal of sudza which is a corn- based staple cooked over the fire outdoors in a large pot until it is quite thick, so it is able to be scooped up and eaten with  hands. A side dish of greens and some chicken rounded out the meal and was very good. Then we visited afterward around the table an played a couple of simple games which animated the children and opened up a closer connection with them. I look forward to more interaction with the kids this week. Some have Shona (native)names and some have American names. One little girl told us her name was Cherrrrrrite- rolling the r very much. The accent is some Shona and some British. We got home and found her name is actually Charity. There is also a Proud, Blessed, and  Talent-who is well-named, as well as Stanley, Dennis, Bryan and Beverly. Tatenda means thank you and is one of the boy's names. I fear I will not be able to remember the few Shona words I learn hear but it is good to try. I'll write more later this week, the kids need the computers.
Joy