Tarantula

The other night I found a Tarantula in the dorm and just about crawled out of my skin. But pretty soon I warmed up to it and maybe even got a little attached.

We began by putting him in a garbage bin; only after we tried squirting it with water. Notice the water droplets on its back.

Before I knew it I was letting it crawl around on my hands.

This is actually quite strange considering I am terrified of spiders. hmm...

Track and Field Day

Last week we had Track and Field Day here at Maxwell Adventist Academy. I helped in organizing the day by setting up the events and working with the sports committee. After a bunch of hard work in preparing for the big day, the challenges really began: getting all the kids from one event to another and making sure everyone is participating in their alloted events, trying to fit all the planned events into the day and having to shorten things here and cut things there. It was a hectic day but well worth it in the end. We were even able to get the award ribbons to the winners at the end of the day. I guess in years past they haven't been able to get out the awards until much later. So I felt pretty good about that. 

We did everything from a 5K to Shot Put to Tug-of-War. Track and Field day was a great success and I am glad it is over. However, I know that when I was in Academy I looked forward to Track and Field day for so long. I loved to do all the events and compete against the other classes. I'm pretty sure all the kids enjoyed it this year as well.

 Brianna coming in first in the 4X100 Relay. (I measured out these lines and chalked them as well. That was lots of work.)

The High Jump was great fun for all. These kids can really jump.

A group of runners making another lap for the 5K race.

Shaina get ready to kick for the Soccer Shoot-out.

He's CLEAR!

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have now reached cruising altitude."

The Raymond's and Germeen looking on as classes compete in the Soccer Shoot-out.

We even had a small roller-blading race. It was fun to watch.

The Softball Throw was a big hit too.

Magadi Hot Springs

On Sabbath afternoon the school visited Magadi Hot Springs. It's a place where you can visit and bathe in HOT water. The estimated temperature of the pool where we bathed was 112 degrees F.  The water is also highly saturated with salt. They actually mine salt from the lake.

The lake had hundreds of flamingos that feed in the shallow waters of Lake Magadi.

I finally got my turn to sit in and soak in the hot mineral water. Afterward your skin feels so soft and smooth; until it dries then you turn a chalky white.

Some of the Maxwell students inching their way into the almost scalding water.

Our entire group wading in the hot alkaline water.

Visiting the Karen Blixen House

On Tuesday, the SM town day, we went to the Karen Blixen House/Museum. If you have ever watched the movie Out of Africa, you would recognize the house and grounds. For a mere 100Ksh we were given a tour of the inside of the house and then we were able to wander the grounds on our own and visit the original coffee machine that was used to process the coffee crop. It was a fascinating and fun-filled experience for all of us.

Left to right: Jessica, Cassie, Thomas, Germeen

An old plow next to the coffee machine.

Superman Thomas!

The old tractor used on the original coffee plantation.

The back of the Karen Blixen House.

Sitting on the back porch of the Karen Blixen House.

"I kissed a girl and I liked it!"

Sabbath afternoon I went with the Germeen, Jessica, and the Crutchers to the Giraffe Center. We were able to get up-close and personal with Giraffes there. I got especially attached to Iddi...

We first went to feed the giraffes, then we went on a hike on the nature trail where we saw a few birds and a giraffe out in the open.

This is Iddi eating...

This is me feeding Iddi...

This is Iddi thanking me for feeding her...