On safari in Botswana!

Chobe National Park in Botswana...river cruise and open jeep safari...

Digesting lunch...

Family of hippos

No stroller needed here... 

Victoria Falls

Went sightseeing today...to Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe.  Pictures speak a thousand words!!!

View of the Falls from the hotel

Bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe as seen from the hotel

The majesty of the falls is very hard to appreciate through pictures...it is immense!  The mist rises high into the sky and some parts around the falls have non-stop rainy weather!

A few animals along the way...

And finally, dinner and traditional Zimbabwean dancing!

Yes, that is face paint!

Pretty intense, huh?

Day 3 - Back to Chanyanya

Today we went back to Chanyanya, this time visiting the kids of the Community School, who had gathered at MCW's community center to meet us.  When our cars pulled in they all rushed out to greet us!  What a welcome!  There were drums playing, singing, dancing, speeches and poems!

The teachers quietened the kids down, they all went into the classrooms, and we got to work...reading.  It's hard to find the words to express today's feelings...the children were more excited, yet so well behaved.  So much in need of help, yet so grateful.  I will let these pictures tell the story...

Day 2 - Trip to Chanyanya Basic School

Today was a big day for us.  We made it to our ultimate destination...Chanyanya!  We met up with the other volunteers at the KPMG office...and then headed out.

We drove about 30 minutes through the city and out to the country...then veered off the highway towards the village.  And then it was nothing but country dirt road for the next 45 minutes...

At the school we had a warm welcome awaiting us from the headmaster, the head of the PTA and teachers...

We paired up to read to grades 1 through 5, the teachers in the lower grades had to help translate the stories to the kids in the lower grades, who are still learning English and speak only the local language.  Oh the excitement on their faces as we walked into the classes and read to them!  And the sheer joy the all expressed as we gave them each a book to read!  Believe me, we were equally excited and simply overjoyed to have been able to do this for them.  You can see what I mean from these pictures.  Enjoy!

Do you see what I mean by the excitement on their faces!

That's all for now...more to come tomorrow!