Sometimes, you just have to laugh...

A few favorite lines I’ve overheard of late:

“In music, it means sharp; in math, it means number.” (overheard coming from one of my student’s violin lessons today.)

“Here’s the kitty we found” (as the two girls in my class held up a flour sack by the handles).
Me: where is it?
Students: In the bag!
Everyone surrounding… “ahhhhhh!!! Can we keep it as a class pet?!”

Over the next few days: "Miss Lucas, the fifth graders are trying to sell the kitty!" "We rescued her." "The principal said we should name her Noodles, since she lives by the pool... but we called her Mittens instead." "I wish we could keep it as a class pet. I want to keep it forever!"

Students: “It’s raining!” “Yay, that means our power will come back on!” (we later decided that a little bit of rain + a drizzle + more rain + a good downpour = maybe enough to make the power stay on a few hours one day for Dar es Salaam!)

Sitting at the dinner table with friends from out of town:
Guest: “Is that your neighbor?”
Us: “No, that’s the mosque.”
Guest: “Hmm... He sure likes to sing….”
We thought so, too.

“Miss Lucas, yesterday when you explained this (mm, cm, m, km…) I didn’t get it, but today, I GOT IT!!!” (Music to any teacher’s ears...)

"THE POWER'S BACK ON!!!" "Quick, take a shower" or "Let's make dinner!" Cheering comes from all directions of the compound where I live. It's kind of a big deal, these days...

Student: “Miss Lucas, yesterday I didn’t want to leave school.”
Me: “Why?”
Student: “I love learning about centimeters, meters, and millimeters! It’s really cool!”
(This from a student who has been home-schooled the last two years by mom, as they were raising support to come to Tanzania, and then while there was no space for him in the class last year at HOPAC. He joined my class on Monday after returning from language school in Iringa. It's obvious He's enjoying being back in school!)