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I had this long blog I wrote in the South African or Sydney Airport all typed up and prepared and it erased. Here I am to start a new one.

I went to New Zealand and stopped in Sydney on the way. It was an adventure. New Zealand is definitely on the other side of the world. My rump felt that on the way back. It was good to be with family and adventure. About a week in Mom said, "Megan, I think you are homesick and ready to go back." It was true. I am happy to be back in my hut.

Since I have been home I haven't done much. I have organized all the stuff I got from NZ, weeded my garden, planted some seeds and checked up with the government to see if they will bring water to my village. Okay, It might sound like a lot but I was pretty lazy and could have done a lot more.

The biggest thing I have done since I got back is Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). Each volunteer gets the option to invite 2 girls and one mentor from their village to this girl's empowerment camp. It is an excellent opportunity for the girls to learn about things they don't cover in school and really understand their individual worth. It is a week long camp and we have sessions about sex-ed things, gender roles, a career panel, games, dancing, pad sewing, etc. Camp is jam packed and at the end the girls did not want to leave. The idea of the camp is that the girls take what they learned and bring it back to the community. My girls have planned 6 club meetings and the topics we will have when school starts up again. They really want to teach the other girls in the village how to sew their own pads for menstrual hygiene purposes. I am stoked they are so excited to take back what they have learned.

In December with the village boys we are going to have the same type of camp and it will be great. I am one of the people in charge of helping plan it with 2 other people who flew in the same time as me.

As for what is going to happen these next few weeks, months, days. The chief is coming. That will be something. I start teaching again tomorrow. The term is about to start. I miss my pupils so so much. I can't wait to see them all. It takes them about 3 weeks to all trickle back into school.

I am preparing a HIV/AIDS day with the 4 neighboring villages. I am painting a mural on the clinic about malaria. I will start doing Grassroots Soccer on Fridays and GLOW on Wednesdays. Grassroots teaches the kids about HIV/AIDS in a fun educational setting.

 I want to help get this water project really up and running. I think because the government is taking full reins on the water project that I might need to redirect my energy. My school really wants to be upgraded into a high school. This will directly benefit the community because then the kids do not need to travel as far to make it to school. The parents can save money sending their kids to boarding school and the likelihood that the kids will actually continue school will increase.

I guess that is all that is happening. I like to stay busy. I think having a field is awesome and sucks too. It is taking a lot of work. I was out there for 5 hours and barely made a dent cleaning up the weeds. I love my animals. I missed them so much when I was gone. They have both grown so much especially the dog.

I am very happy here. I am so grateful I am here.