Grammy & Grandpa Come to Zimbabwe, Part 1: Around Harare

David's surprise birthday gift for me (a trip to Muscat) had us arriving in Harare just a few hours before his mom and Mike, but all went well. Tracy and Zavion arrived two days later - just in time for Tarisai Day at the school. While HIS upper grades went on week-long trips for Explore Zimbabwe, Early Childhood up to Grade 4 spent the day at school on a circuit of presentations, learning about important issues, places and cultures of Zim.

Signing a pledge (on a smart board) to protect rhinos 

Sheryl and M's classmates Vaughn, Bukhosi and Deeksha at the Tarisai Day family picnic

We had planned on going to Lake Kariba immediately since the kids had a long weekend, but we ended rescheduling for the next weekend due to a conflict at the resort where we wanted to stay. That allowed us to enjoy a jam packed weekend: the Hoggerty Hill Fair, Eliza's friend Emma's birthday party and ultimate frisbee on Saturday, a picnic at the nearby Lake Chivero National Park on Sunday, and a morning hike to Domboshawa (ancient rock paintings & granite dome) on Monday.

the dads of the British Embassy vs. dads of kids at the Greek Orthodox school

I was really pleased with the Lake Chivero picnic. Some families in Harare buy a boat and go up to the lake just about every weekend. We had only been out there a few times - it's where the Lion & Cheetah Park and Snake World are located, just 45 minutes or so away from home. But there's another entrance that takes you into the game park that is fenced off and allows you to drive your own car through the forest and grasses along the lake. From our minivan, we saw wildebeest, antelope, giraffe, zebra, ostriches, guinea fowl, baboons and a mother rhino and her baby. We set up a picnic in near total isolation...a boat came by once and some people drove by once...but other than that, it was just us and the baboons, zebra and ostriches - just hanging out, having some wine and lunch.

great picnic spot

 It was great for bird watching, too, which Grammy and Grandpa were up to most days, whether in our garden or out on excursion.

Cecilia and Eliza

Bird-watcher Gayle Weiss

Caroline - she and Domonik, as always giving us the insider information on all the best places to go.
You don't have to spend a gazillion dollars on a safari resort to enjoy the natural beauty of Zim.

fish eagle - the national symbol

Miles was at the end of his first unit, so his second grade class did a presentation at the end of week school assembly: Fabulous Friday. Their unit was on  the School Community. They did interviews with various people at the school, made maps of the campus and surveys. They visited a local school and came up with a project to help the students there. They learned about HIS's history and made recommendations for improving the school. For the presentation, Miles and a few other students were news anchors, reporting on the class's accomplishments. Highlights: when the teacher explained that the reason for a pregnant pause in the performance was that we were waiting for the music to cue up since Miles insisted that he have a news jingle intro. Also, his handing over to "roving report Vaughn Stumbras" - his best friend. Miles did very well. He was well prepared by his teachers to expect for things not to go perfectly and to just roll with it...which he did. We were very proud of him, and he was proud of himself. And the special audience of all his visiting relatives made it all the more exciting.

Miles with classmates Doma (Bhutanese/Danish), Eleanor (British/American) and Bukhosi (Zimbabwean)

friends after the show: Bukhosi, Vaughn (Kenyan/American) and Miles + cousin Zavion

Yes, Miles's teacher asked that I get Miles's haircut for the show, as well as ensure he was dressed "smartly." I ended up going all boys-school-uniform on him, as it was the cheapest local option for tie, trousers and shoes.