Jess-i-ca! Jess-i-ca! Jess-i-ca!

That's right-they were chanting MY name this morning and it couldn't have come at a better time. When we pulled up and saw my kiddies this morning I could have burst into tears but that would have only confused them. What an amazing day at Luthando.

You see, I came down with the flu. Bad. It all began Saturday morning with a horrible sore throat but to be honest, I thought it was just the post-party body blues from Friday. We went to our first professional rugby game that evening (Vodacom Western Province vs. Xerox Lions - both South African teams. We were cheering for W.P. since we live 10 minutes from their stadium). Our team ended up winning but it was a cold windy night so that didn't help with the sickness. On Sunday I went on a day tour down the peninsula and Cherilyn, one of the moms here, didn't even know I was in the car until the first time we got out because I was quiet. Is it possible? Me, not talking? When you're coming down with the flu, it surely is. I went to placement on Monday with a terribly runny nose and cough but just assumed it was the same nasty virus I came down with two weeks ago. Waaaay wrong. Tuesday was the most miserable day of my life. I went to the doctor only to be given a nose and throat spray (no antibiotic again) and my body ached as if I had been in a car accident and I just didn't know about it. My roommate Natalee said she didn't see my eyeballs once that day because I crawled in bed and practically died in there. Woke up at about 3:30 in the morning unable to sleep anymore and I finally looked up the symptoms for the flu. I was so confused when the staff kept saying, 'You look flu-ish' because when I remember the flu growing up it was a lot of puking and other nasty stomach problems. Apparently the adult flu doesn't work this way and of course I had all of the symptoms that WedMD offered for the flu. It was official. I was dying a slow and painful death in Africa-of the flu. DID I REALLY COME HERE FOR THIS?

Wednesday was a bit better because I could walk and talk but my body was in so much pain. My lower back is beginning to hurt just as bad as it did in high school (junior year UCA Nationals? wheelchair?) so I decided it was time for a massage. Abusing the rand as usual I found a beautiful spa in town that did an hour long aromatherapy massage for less than $40. He really focused on my head and sinus and my back. Worked wonders. I definitely feel like the catty (bit*hy?) ladies in the office were judging me for going to spa when I should have been at placement but they have no idea what was going to make me feel better. To be honest, it was the best treatment I had been given since Saturday and I was well enough to go to placement today. Celebrated finally being able to taste food by ordering in from our favorite nearby Mexican restaurant for dinner last night as well. Quesadillas and guac :-)

So today with the kids was quite a treat when I heard them chant my name. I knew they had missed me. A new volunteer, Ryder, has been working with me since last week and the poor thing was on his own the past 2 days. I feel bad because it's quite overwhelming, all of those rugrats crawling all over you and you trying to give directions with this huge language (and sound) barrier. It's good for him though-I was all alone on my second week and it's how I really learned how to handle them. Ryder is quite shy and young (18 or 19) but he's a soccer player so the boys have really enjoyed being able to play outside with him. It's nice being able to separate the girls and the boys for a bit not only to divvy up the number of kids but so we can each bond with the kids of the same sex. They seem to enjoy it.

Back to chanting: remember when I said they always chanted 'Molo Malinga' every time the van pulled up because Malinga was the driver? Well, they don't quite understand that Wonga is now the driver no matter how many times I explain it to them. Today, however, I finally got them all to chant 'Molo Wonga' when they saw the van. They are starting to realize that Malinga is no longer here and that Wonga is the man. Wonga really is the man though. Such a sweetheart, he really cares about us. He's not much with his words (he has the deepest voice!) but his actions speak loud. I even taught him some of my rocking dance moves for the car (fist pumping galore). I loved the day that I was sick a few weeks ago and he had to take me to the doctor and the pharmacy. I was, of course, miserable and barely coherent and the sweet thing took my hand and held it as we walked across the street so I wouldn't get hit by an oncoming mini taxi bus. And to be honest, it wasn't creepy at all. Paternal, really.

Tricksters: My kids are little devils sometimes. They really crave attention and will do almost anything to get it. I like to walk around with the box of tissues a few times a day to give to the kids with really runny noses. They won't grab one by themselves and they let this green goo just sit there all day long. I'm trying to instill some proper hygiene among them (including how NOT to pick our noses and that hand washing needs to occur at least once during the day) so I find that giving them their own tissue teaches them at least something about cleaning our bodies. The problem is, the kids WITHOUT the runny noses are grabbing for tissues, finding that this is some sort of privilege or game. Once refused a tissue, Ryder and I found today that almost all of these clean kids are purposely blowing snot out of their noses until it's running down their face-all to get a tissue. This is my life?

They also love to repeat after me. Everything that comes out of my mouth is grounds for the repeat game. My favorite is when I ask them to be quiet by using the word 'thulani', all I get back is 'thulani! thulani!' instead of silence. Or if we're playing Simon Says and I just happen to scratch my head or wipe something off my face, they assume that they have to do that too. I laugh when I watch them bend down to scratch an imaginary bed bug bite on their leg (oh YES, I've got bed bugs. All over. Worse than Reber's in Germany for anyone who was there).

Today was a fairly nice day outside so I wore a pair of Nike running shorts. This place is so westernized that the minute I walked in I got shouts of 'Nike!' But of course they pronounced it with a silent 'e' at the end so it made me laugh even harder. They also had a fascination with touching my bare legs. I usually wear crappy old jeans every day since it's been cold out so my skin really hasn't been exposed to them much. I don't know if it's a maternal thing with them but everyone from the the boys to the girls, my biggest kids to my little babies, were rubbing my legs all day today. I don't really see the fascination with the white ladies legs, but maybe that's the mystery of it all. They were also grabbing at my kneecaps-painful. On top of becoming a human jungle gym today was also National Jessica is a Hair Salon Day. Our van was about 45 minutes late today so I eventually was so worn out I plopped down on the concrete floor and immediately was swarmed like flies on a carcass. Someone managed to rip off my headband and hair tie and my disgusting mop of hair (which is in DIRE need of a cut and color) became a breeding ground for whatever is on their stick little hands. At one point me and the baby I was holding were underneath a ring of at least 8 or 10 toddlers. Yet I walked away without one knot or tangle.

What I love about my kids is that even though they don't have a lot they are so happy. When we have to teach a game or a dance it's not always plausible to work with them all at once. Tandeka usually insists that we only take 4 or 5 at a time to do certain things and the other kids seem just fine with sitting there and watching them. And if they don't all get to try something, they don't complain or cry. I am so amazed at how understanding they are at not always getting to do or have something. When they do get something new though, they are sure to show it off to us. I always know when so-and-so has new shoes or such-and-such brought an exciting snack because they are are so so proud to show it off. Even when it's a hand-me-down, they're so excited about their own things. Like their backpacks. I'm sure I've talked about them earlier but I just keel over every time I hand one of my little boys his bright pink Barbie backpack because his eyes just light up when he gets it. Precious.

Speaking of my kids, I thought I would give you some insight into my favorite and most memorable little tots. First and most importantly there is Lisa. Lisa is a big little girl, between 1 and 2. When I first met Lisa she was in the baby room where she belongs and she would just cry BLOODY MURDER the entire day without stop. Eventually someone wised up and put her in the big kid room. She just wanders around all day in there or sits in the corner but is silent as a mouse. Somehow I ended up being the one who feeds her the morning porridge and her yogurt for lunch. And somehow, Tandeka began to call Lisa 'my child'. When she is crying Tandeka will say 'Your child, she is crying. Get her juice.' Lisa and I have a special little bond. I know that in the morning she is super temperamental and doesn't like being touched or picked up. By porridge time she has warmed up to me and by snack time she has latched on. I love to carry her around on my back with the towel tied around me-I've given in that this really is the most efficient and comfortable way to carry around a child. I'd be willing to give a lesson on towel tying for anyone toting around a baby (Tanya....or Kathy....) It's become hard though because she has latched on and I always want to pick her up but she truly too big to carry around all day and I need to quit coddling her every time she cries. It's so hard.

Then I have my Princess. I don't even know why I call her Princess. She has this big head, a little fro, and these two huge buck teeth she developed because she ALWAYS has her thumb in her mouth. But her little pierced ears and sweet girly outfits make her very Princess-like and she has become the light of my life when I walk in the baby room.

Oh Dumbo. This little one is probably just barely two and has the ears of a 20 year old elephant. I could fly back home to Chicago on these things. But he always has a grin on his face and some sort of old man sweater. I probably have 100 pictures of the little thing.

My twins remind of what Mary and Nicholas Arzer were NOT LIKE AT ALL. They are the exact opposite of what my favorite twins would have been like. They are little brats but they know that their beautiful faces will melt my heart and let them out of anything. They literally have the same face, just different hairstyles. The girl is a HUGE diva. She walks around dancing all day, shaking those hips in a way no 4 year old should ever shake her hips. She does the best imitations of people in the classroom and I can just tell she is going to be very sarcastic and snooty when she grows up. The boy is much sweeter but he has a lot of energy that often gets tied up in accidental violence. I love to watch him put his arm around his sister's shoulder or grab her hand. I bet they drive their mother NUTS.

The little boy who I thought had burnt fingers? Turns out it's eczema. He hasn't been wrapped in gauze lately so that's a good sign. What a relief that it wasn't something dangerous or abusive. It is a bit gruesome to look at, especially since he sucks on his thumbs all the time but I'm sure it's soothing for him. He's my boy with the Barbie backpack-maybe that's what makes him so gentle.

I'm still worried about my 'autistic' boy. He was in my classroom for a while but got moved in with the babies. He looks between 3 or 4 but he has no social or speaking skills. He has NEVER spoken when I have been around and I have only caught any sign of emotion once or twice (one smirk, one cry). Other than that, he stands there blankly all day with the saddest look on his face. I pick him up all the time to try and show him some affection, to coax SOMETHING out of him but I get nothing. He doesn't really follow directions or participate in anything because he just stands there all day. I have finally gotten him to hold my hand while we march around the room. Even when I hold out my arms to ask him to come to me he doesn't move. Any other kid would maul me and tackle me, so excited to be the one who is getting picked up but this little boy just stands there. I know he's not deaf but I can't even begin to think what exactly is wrong with him. I love the kid so much, I just want to reach out to his parents and get this kid some help.

And then there's Sino and Snazo. Sino is the daughter of Tandeka and Snazo is her niece (therefor Sino and Snazo are cousins). Out of anyone, these two are hands down the littlest most harmless looking 3 year olds you have ever seen but they are my absolute biggest brats. They follow no directions from me and have such ADD I have never seen them sit for longer than 30 seconds. Tandeka really doesn't do much to help me. I've seen her really whack them on her own when they're being naughty to her but they don't really get in trouble when I ask them to quit running around the classroom shaking their bare butts in the air. Yes, this has happened. Snazo rarely wears underwear. I've seen her butt more often than I've seen my own. She's the younger of the two by about 6 months and follows everything her older cousin does. But Snazo, wow, she's a firecracker. I think my favorite thing to do at Luthando is mock her and laugh at her. She knows when I'm doing this is and finds it HILARIOUS, only inciting her to act more ridiculous. She thinks she's queen of the classroom and will stand up in front of everyone during storytime just because she wants to be close to me. She'll just jabber on while I'm talking and start giggling and shaking her butt and I love to just stop story time and stand behind her and repeat everything she's doing. Once she figures it out the whole class has had a good laugh and I've managed to laugh along too (which is hard at the end of a long day). Those two will be the death of me at Luthando. They're quite the dynamic duo, I can only imagine them growing up and going out together.

I'm going to end it here but there are so many more great things I have to tell you about my placement. Until next time...drink lots of fluids and stay under the covers (because Denise says so).