Written collectively by Hannah and Ruby:

Today we were back at Birdland! As we pulled into the driveway, we were greeted by a marching line of the youngest Birdland students (ages 2-5). When they saw us they immediately broke rank and could not contain their excitement. It was a very nice welcome back surprise. We got to play with the students during their recess before we got to work around 10:00. Today we split into two groups. Embla and Ruby stayed behind with Melinda to teach a typing class to the 5th graders while Sunny and I went with Alipa to Manda Hill mall. At the mall, we purchased 21 pairs of shoes for the Birdland students that have SAAS buddies. These students are the neediest. On the way home, Alipa wanted to know if the "red fish-like thing thing seen on t.v." was any good to eat. We figured out that she meant crab and told her it was very good. She said that she really wanted to come to Seattle one day and try it. We made it back with all the shoes which will be distributed later this week. Tomorrow we will shop for more clothes and school supplies.

While Hannah and Sunny shopped, Embla and I stayed back at Birdland to help Melinda teach computer lessons to some of the students. We taught four groups of fifth and six graders the basics of typing with all ten fingers. We compared each finger to animals found in the African bush and explained how each finger had different territories for letters to "hunt" similar to how each animal in the bush has a different territory in which it hunts. Today we taught them the home base position for both hands on the keyboard and the territory for the left pointer finger. It was cool to start teaching the kids how to type with all ten fingers, it reminds me of how excited I was to learn to type when I was younger. Most of the kids here type with only their two pointer fingers and it takes quite a while for them to type anything. Melinda and I showed them how fast you could learn to type if you use all your fingers on the keyboard, they were blown away! At the high school too, they were surprised by how fast we could type. Some of the older kids told me I was "faster than a bullet and sharper than a Gillette!" The children's excitement about learning to type is rewarding seeing as we are teaching what to us is such a basic skill.

Until next time!

Hannah and Ruby