Recent Excitements!

Tuesday I went and heard Her Excellency Mama Salma Kikwete, the first lady of the United Republic of Tanzania, speak here at AU. She spoke, in her native language, about her efforts to educate the children of Tanzania, especially girls, and

Wednesday was Campus Beautification Day and I helped plant one of the trees at the playground of where I work (Child Develpment Center - CDC). I then went to work and we took the children to the site to help by putting mulch around the trees (we are currently relocated to another building due to reconstruction). When I went to work on Thursday, one of the teachers told me that they had done a short segment on the whole project on TV! So, here is the address: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=70552. I hope you can see it! I'm at the very end, helping two of the kids put mulch at the base of one of the trees.

Also, after the planting, there was a picnic for all the Beautification Day volunteers and so I got to go and ate my lunch with Professor Tudge, my UC Bio professor from last semester! He's so great. His daughter goes to CDC so I get to see her a lot but not Tudgie! He's fun. So anyway, there was a raffle for all the volunteers and Tudgie won (after three years of patience) a big pot of flowers and I won a $50 gift certificate to the local florist which I will use to buy a plant for my room in the fall.

Thursday night we had two prospective AU students in our room for the night and took them to the Mall to get icecream.  It was fun and they were really nice.  

Friday Abdul and I went to the Celebration of Africa which was put on by the African Student Organization.  They had a fashion show, food, and live music.  Here is a picture of the fashion show.  

Saturday was my Gospel Choir's Spring Concert which went well.  I'll publish a clip from the concert later - doesn't seem to be working now.

My roommate, Shirin's, sister is going to be staying with us on Thursday and possibly Friday night so that should be fun.  Then next week is the last week of classes, and then there's finals, my last of which is May 5th and then I go to San Fransisco for a week on the 9th!  Yay!

But until then I have a lot to do, so I'd better go.  

~ Kaia

Nigel!!!

On the left is a picture of Nigel, Abdul, and I that we took by climbing (with MUCH difficulty, into a tree, hanging the camera on a branch with MUCH MORE difficulty, and somehow managing to get it to twist in the right direction to get us. It was goofy fun. =P
On the right is the beautiful Supreme Court.

From March 23rd to March 29th, Nigel came and stayed with Shirin and I! During the day, while I was in class, he went to the Smithsonians, toured the monuments, went to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of DC. When I didn't have class we went and saw a movie, went out to eat, goofed off in my room, ate dinner at TDR (Terrace Dining Room - the campus cafeteria), and went to the Supreme Court!

Shirin was extremely kind in allowing him to habitate here for such a long time, and everyone enjoyed meeting my younger brother. (^_^)

I loved having him here and really enjoyed my time with him and hear that he had fun, as well!

I love you, Nigel!

Georgetown Gospel Fest 2008!

This is a video of "My Help," one of the songs we sang at the Georgetown Gospel Fest that Nigel was able to come to (he recorded it for me). Sorry if it doesn't sound so great, the acoustics plus my recorder and their sound system made things a bit difficult. We had a lot of fun singing, and enjoyed sitting in the beautiful castle-like hall. I'm pretty sure that where the concert took place used to be a chapel, but you can see for yourself.

Enjoy!

Calculate your ecological footprint!

Here's a cool game that calculates how many earths it would take if everyone lived like you! I thought I was pretty green, but playing this game showed me the ways I'm not, and gave me pointers on how to become more green. Lots of fun, and you'll learn some surprising things!

Have fun!

http://www.sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences

~ Kaia

I'm on the website!

Here's the webpage of the University College program website that I am on! It's a picture of me and a quote I wrote about what I got out of the University College Program (UC). In UC, you live with and next to all your classmates for one class (mine was biology), have a sophmore mentor that took the class last year, are taught by the heads of the department, and go on feildtrips each week related to your subject. It was really fun!

http://www.american.edu/learningcommunities/go/testimonials/