Hey...been quite busy the last few weeks...also gotten to a place where everything in this country is starting to feel much more commonplace. Not the everyday humorous chuckles anymore...now more a depth of understanding of the culture. Tom Derdak ,the executive director of Global Alliance, has been here this week and will be here for a few more days. We have had meetings defining the Travel Initiative of which I am the director. We are crunching numbers to present to the Board and hiring staff so that when I return to the States....the momentum can continue. As of now, we have 30 people climbing between Dec. and Feb. With each of these brave folks raising 5000 dollars that really enables GAA to do some serious work here...a hospitality program is in the works which continues to reflect the growing tourism rate. It's all very exciting and my mind is going constantly with the possibilities of it all....
Shawna and I took the girls to Arusha this weekend and stayed at the hotel where my climbing group is staying in Feb. The girls had fun....chasing cows,cats,dogs,lizards,frogs,monkeys.....and swimming...Tanzania is an animal loving child's paradise. Today is elle's last day at ISM....she and Shawna are doing a little jaunt to Zanzibar....then Elena and her boys arrive on Thurs. Once they get settled we will take them on a brief Masaai tour and safari...think those boys and girls would enjoy some spear throwing! we will camp in tents which will be a first for me and the girls...they have only done it with their Dad right next to a house. This will prove a bit different. The way they play and sleep here it should be great!!!
The following week is the porter's first training trip up the mountain....i am watching Setty's 3 kids....time is FLYING!!!! We'll be into Dec. by then and soon home for xmas....shawna and I and the girls did a bit of Xmas shopping at the Masaai Market in Arusha....funny to try to teach Nell and Pearl the art of negotiation...Nell was dying for a spear and shield...i gave her a price and told her if she could negotiate it she could get it....she proudly came back with her puchases....that's the Maltby gene. Then of course Pearl wanted one too....so off they went...and back Pearl came with hers....pretty funny watching them running around our garden threatening the gardener. Can't really believe I bought them a weapon....but...when in Africa I guess.
Love to you all!!!
Peace,
Sarah
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Hi Sarah,
I loved the church story. I think of all of you very often and hope to see you when you're home. The girls look so great in Shawna's photos (seriously, she did a blog smackdown on you by having photos), really happy, and it was nice to see you sneak into a few. xo carla
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