Photographs

Just wanted to write a quick blurb on how things aren't always as they seem.
So you know how you always see those National Geographic pictures of the grim staring african person. Or not just national geographic, but you must know the type. Just so you know, its not just that they are grim, in Tanzania it is just a strange quirk that people don't smile for their pictures. I should know because I've been on 2 field trips now and thus been forced to take many (they LOVE it when you take their picture) and you will have these teachers and students who've just been cracking the dumbest jokes, right before the picture go completely straight faced for the picture. Its really wierd. Infact they ask you to take it over again if they are smiling and will be embarrassed about the smile. So I'm not saying don't believe all the dramatic pictures people take, but at least don't believe some of the dramatic pictures. People are poor and life is a little harder, but that doesn't mean 24 hours a day people are obsessed with how tough life is. Not at all. People joke and goof around just like anywhere else. just an interesting observation.
Also things are well here. Not yet the phenomenal teacher you'll see a movie about, but I make my way. Starting to think about other projects I can do to help out, and my thoughts are centered around more classrooms, computers, etc. They could use pretty much everything but its a question of sustainability, and whether or not 2 years after I'm gone its gonna be any good. Thats a huge problem in the past that people didn't think about. Take computers for example. Suppose I manage to find 5 computers to put in the school that are relatively useful and good. Where will I put them? (Especially in a school so cramped for space as is) And who will pay for the electricity that will be used to make them function? (Especially in a school system so cramped for money as is) and what desks will they sit on? (students are known to sit on the floor cause there are no desks) and you'll probably want a fan at the least to keep them cool (zanzibar is hot and that isn't good for computers that need to last) and then even if EVEN if I find these things, who will take care of all this after I leave. And who will take care of the computers themselves? And if they break, who will take the time and money to fix them? And even if EVEN if I find a person to take care of them, who will teach them? There's hardly enough math teachers let alone a computer teacher. And goodness knows the teachers need teaching even as much as the students. My student who I've been trying to help didn't know what a space bar was at first. He tried to type a sentence and everything was running together and I was like "hey you gotta check this out, its called a space bar. Your gonna love it." Anyway, just something I must keep in mind, so that I don't mistakenly hurt people I mean to help.
Hope all is well on your all side of the world family! I shall be thinking and praying for you and appreciating your letters
love much.