We all love bubbles...

As I’m sure my parents, and probably a few others, would agree, having little children in the school holidays can be a bit stressful. If you then multiply the number of kids with too much time on their hands by about 24, you get the holidays at the orphanage.

The teachers at the orphanage are amazing, and going to school is huge part of the day for everybody from Zawadi and Neema’s age group upwards. It also works out some of their crazy excess energy so that they are all sleepy for naptime after lunch. One of my favourite memories of our recent trip was watching Kantate (one of the teachers) organise running races across the front of the orphanage grass before school in the morning, seeing Zawadi and Miriam showing off their best running styles, Big Ebenezer risk getting flattened as he wandered aimlessly across the racetrack, Eman winning every race effortlessly, and Tumaini really not being too happy about it!

As a result, when school is not on, everybody is full of beans and raring to go. One of the most fool-proof ways to entertain them, and work off some of that energy, is to get out the bubbles:

….and an hour and a half later….

They are always a hit and the kids really can do this for hours and hours. I hope everyone spotted Frankie trying to eat the bubbles in that last video! (13 seconds in)

(The real joy comes when there is a really big bubble that everyone wants to pop; the real challenge is learning to blow extra-big bubbles on demand as everyone shouts “Kubwa! Kubwa! Mimi kubwa!!” (Big! Big! A big one for me!!) every five seconds. Unfortunately we didn’t get a video of this, but the highlight of my bubble-blowing morning was when I did manage to blow a really big bubble, but if went too high and everyone missed it. After a lot of pointing and shouting and jumping, the kids stood literally open-mouthed, necks craning at the sky, watching this bubble get higher and higher and linger, still intact, right over the top of the orphanage roof. We never did see it pop, it went right up and over to the other side of the building! The only problem was that I couldn’t repeat this miracle on request – and there were a lot of requests!

Here are a few pictures, just to show you how much the kids really do love bubbles:

Pray's gymnastics and high jumps to get there first are always impressive - rivalled occasionally by Baraka 

Neema was determined to get whole clouds of bubbles all by herself.

Zi makes up for not being able to reach by swinging with her cardigan!

I think Ester was just posing really :)

And my personal favourite: Miriam is unable to contain her excitement!

One piece of good news this week is that the Small Things has been able to find sponsors for Daniel's education. Daniel is an orphan who was struggling to raise the money to start secondary school. He had already managed to get a part scholarship thanks to his impressive grades finishing primary school. From the newspaper article, it's clear Daniel has not had the easiest life. We are very happy that thanks to the generosity of Lonnie, Garry, Wendy, Susan and the Somji family, we will be able to pay the remainder of Daniel's school fees and living costs for this year, as well as put a bit away towards next year. It is really great to be able to help someone who will make the most of the support the way Daniel will.

Read more about Daniel at: http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/28862-dreams-in-jeopardy-as-disabled-child-struggles-to-raise-fees.html 

On a final happy note, we are really pleased to be able to tell everyone who may not have seen it on Facebook that Neema Ndogo is much better and back at the orphanage, and is likely to be falling asleep into her food once again.

Marathon for Nkoaranga, fancy a challenge?

Have you been looking for a way of helping out the kids but not sure how? 

Well, this could be for you. 

How about challenging yourself this April by taking part in the Taunton half marathon? There are also options for a full marathon or a fun run.

Shujah says you can do it!

Bethan Crisp, Charlotte Foster, Emily Hayman and Jake Fuller are the first four registered runners, racing on behalf of The Small Things. They are looking for anybody else to join them in what is going to be a very gruelling but also VERY rewarding day!

Date: Sunday 7^th April 2013

Time: 10.30am start with a 4.30pm cut off point. 

Where: Taunton, Somerset, England. 

Click here to find out more

Or if you would like to support this event in a different way, any kind donations will be greatly appreciated to get us to the finishing line!

A big thank you from Charlotte, Emily, Jake, Bethan and all of us at The Small Things, for helping our wonderful children.

Sponsor Bethan

Thank you! From Zawadi, Maureen, Neema, Miriam and Ester 

Update from Kristina - This week at NK

Baby Peace is sitting up and eating solid food - where does the time go? I'm thrilled to say that I'll be out there in just 11 days as another pair of hands - I can't wait! Thanks Kristina for the updates, and thanks to our fabulous incoming Danish volunteers Stine and Peter for funding a significant portion of the new dryer purchase. We appreciate it and can't wait for you to meet the kids this summer!

Pairs - Happy Birthday David and Ester!

Baracka (left) and Maureeni

It's a funny thing, but Nkoaranga kids seem to come in age pairs. Frankie and Maureen came in on the same day, as did Vicki and Filipo. Zawadi and Neema are very close in age, although couldn't be more different in temperament! Pray and Simoni are also just a few weeks apart, although I can't imagine too little boys who approach the world more differently. Baracka and Maureen Kubwa have also been in sync for a long time. Nobody knows why this happens - but it sure does make for some odd couples!

Uncharacteristically serious, but so cute!

Bitty Ester 

But the best example of this phenomenon is David Ndogo and Ester - born just a day apart, and turning two! Ester was named for her birthday (yesterday) being so close to Easter - she's turned into such a delicious little girl, so smart and cuddly, but with this teeny tiny high pitched voice that comes out of nowhere. She has a super distinctive little face, and has since she was a newborn, as you can see here!

David with his aunt and grandma

David's devilish look!

Meanwhile, David Ndogo is hysterical, just such a character - you'll frequently catch him on camera with these extremely intense stares, or devilish little faces. He is a sweet and funny little boy, but if you ever cross him... ooh boy! He can scream like nobody's business. His aunt and grandmother are hoping to take him home soon, although there seem to be some logistical holdups - however, even when he does go with them, he will still always be part of the Nkoaranga family and in our hearts.

Here's one of my favorite videos of each of them: David growling like a lion, and Ester being tickled. Captures both their characters pretty well, their respective styles of silliness!

David and Ester also emphasize one more important point, though. They were born a good few months away from anyone else - so when they were babies, they had much more attention from the mamas than, say, the current group of six babies who are all very close in age. As a consequence, they walked and talked much earlier, and these early advantages may well stay with them for the rest of their lives. This is why it's so crucial to hire new staff, so that every child gets the level of attention that allows them to mature healthily. We're hoping to hire a new staff member in June (more on that soon!) and Mama Linda has been an incredible asset since her hiring in December. If you are able, please consider donating towards the cause. Thanks so much for being part of making sure all these kids get the nurturing they deserve!

Hannukah and Piki Pikis

Bethan and Maureeni, cheesing for the camera

Happy Hannukah from Tanzania! Not a phrase that's uttered PARTICULARLY regularly, but I've always been a tad unconventional. To the kids, though, it's Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. Tomorrow we're having a Christmas party, which Baba Christmasi HIMSELF will be attending (in the person of Kelvin from KATZ volunteers). Each kid will also get a full new set of clothes and pair of shoes, plus a present from our grab bag of fun, all donated by you amazing people. They will be so excited!

A very sleepy Ester

This week has been incredibly busy, and made even busier and more fun by the addition of Bethan and her sister Vicky to the mix. The kids took to Vicky like a duck to water, and she's already got most of their names down like a champ - no small feat with nearly thirty children currently home. The kids are all fantastic, although Miriam and Ester currently have malaria, poor little scraps - Ester fell asleep into her dinner yesterday, she was so worn out! Miriam hasn't been much like herself, but with lots of cuddles from Vicky, who is her new best friend, and the aid of antimalarial medication, she should be as good as new in a few days. Still, what a way to spend Christmas!

The highlight of the past week for the kids was a visit from a friend of one of the mamas, who let them all pile onto his piki piki - NOT that I was going to let them go anywhere on it, but they were just as psyched to climb all over it. He then revved the engine, thrilling all of them except Zawadi, who promptly burst into hysterical tears and took half an hour of cuddling before she forgave me my burst of laughter at the look on her face. I'm an awful mother already, clearly.

It's funny seeing how relationships change over time. When we left last time, the babies were too small to have friendships within their little group. Since then, Filipo and Frankie have emerged as a constant pair - but not of best buddies, or not quite. Rather, no matter how often they're plopped on opposite ends of the playroom, they always seem to manage to reunite - almost always fighting over a toy. Which toy changes constantly, the only rule seeming to be that if the other has it, the first wants it, and vice versa. In this particular photo, despite a plethora of fantastic toys, they were fighting over the mop. They're a funny, funny pair!

Our other goal in the next week is to get the climbing frame up, or at least started. That said, they are so thrilled with their current playground, I'm not in such a rush! The toddlers are now able to use the slide, for the first time, and they absolutely adore it. No more death slide, hip hip hooray!

Lots of love from the three of us, all the mamas, and the kids - and come back Saturday or Sunday for Christmas updates.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah from Pray, who really needs a new shirt since he's destroyed this one!

Blessings

An example of the unwrapping phenomenon at work -
I feel sorry for whoever will change Miriam's diaper! This picture
was taken today at the orphanage - thanks Amy!

Maureeni cuddling with
Emily in her nappy

Today I arrived home to a HUGE package in the hall - and I opened it up to find it stuffed to the brim with incredible, super high quality nappy wraps (their great Snug Wraps line) and organic baby wash, all donated Liz, John, and the team at Real Nappies! Real Nappies is a fantastic New Zealand company that encourages modern, responsible cloth diapering. At the orphanage, we are constantly struggling with nappies that have simply fallen apart - they are generally not particularly high quality to start with, and then they are used and washed and re-used to within an inch of their lives! The outer wraps are constantly falling open and leaving the nappies to unravel... leading to predictable unpleasantness, and even more work for the mamas washing more clothes. These nappies will make a huge difference in the day to day lives of the kids AND the mamas, which is what we're all about!

We might hold off on
this advanced Kozy
technique for a few
weeks!

We also have two Kozy Carrier slings and fantastic Kiddy Kozies in the mail from Kristi at Kozy Carriers - these high quality slings will make it easier for mamas and volunteers to wear the babies while they go about their chores. Babywearing is widely acknowledged to be one of the best ways to stimulate development, which is crucial given how big of a problem developmental delays always are in an orphanage setting. As you can see from Andrea's photo below, the kids already LOVE to tie their "babies" onto their backs and pretend to be mamas - they will be incredibly excited to have mini versions of the mamas' slings to practice with! A huge thank you also goes out to Anna Black for helping to connect us with Kozy Carriers - and for her amazing work helping us to analyze the kids' progress and develop low budget developmentally stimulating activities for the babies. We are profoundly grateful.

Little daddy Andrea with his "baby"

Another thank you goes out to Rebecca Woolf of Girls Gone Child (AGAIN!) for her care package including some preemie formula that she (thankfully) didn't need for her own gorgeous twins. As you can see from the photo of Daoudi taken today, he will still need some extra TLC by the time we get there in December - and this type of donation can make the difference between life and death for another child like him. Rebecca, Molly, and Tracey are also helping us out with some Christmas gifts for the kids - because we're passionate about giving our kids not just enough to survive, but a full, happy, and healthy childhood.

One more way to be a part of that is to buy a holiday gift through Elemental Threads, a gorgeous handmade design-your-own handbag company. Just enter code "TheSmallThings" at checkout to have 25% of your purchase sent to the Nkoaranga kids as a charitable donation. It's a great way to take a gift that's already fantastic and make it that much more special. Orders must be in by 11/15 to guarantee delivery for the holidays! Alternatively, please also keep the option of gift donations in mind as you plan your gifts. Your loved one will receive a beautiful card letting them know that you were thinking of them.

Little Daoudi this morning

As you know, we're a small organization, run completely by volunteers. Seeing people from all over the world come together to help our kids confirms my faith in humanity daily. Thank you for being part of that, and, as always, for caring about our kids.

Board Bios - Emily Butler

My name is Emily Butler. I live in Leeds, England and have my whole life. I’m 19 years old and finished my A levels last year. In September I will be going to Manchester University to study Adult Nursing. I always knew I wanted to take a gap year because I wanted to have the chance to experience another culture and knew I would never get the chance to after university. I have always loved volunteering, and have been taking part in a variety of placements since I was in my mid-teens. I have been a member of the British Red Cross for 4 years now, and have taken part in various first aid duties. I have also done quite a bit of volunteering in a care home, as well as tutoring a young boy with Asperger's syndrome.

My classroom at Nkoaranga primary school

I have done a variety of volunteer work, but never in my life have I ever experienced anything like the work I did in those 6 months at Nkoaranga. Not only was I working in the orphanage, but I also taught a class of 75 children, aged between 10 and 14 years old, for 4 and a half months- this was such an incredible experience, terrifying at first, but so rewarding. Watching the children learn and improve was amazing, and it was so nice to know that this was due to my teaching.

Going on a gap year, everyone tells you that you will fall in love with the country you visit and make friends that you will know for the rest of your life, and I thought, ‘Yeah, I’m sure it will be lovely, but I seriously doubt that will happen’. I could not have been more wrong.

Living in Tanzania was, hands down, the greatest experience of my life. I met such incredible and inspiring friends in Africa, and I know I will know them for the rest of my life. The children at the orphanage were the most beautiful, little individuals I had ever met and it was impossible for me not to fall in love with every single one of them. Watching the children grow and knowing that I was one of the first people to see Gracie sit up, Ester's first steps and Zawadi overcoming rickets and walking without any assistance was so special and I count myself as the luckiest person alive to have been given the chance to experience that and encourage the children along the way.

Simoni giggling, as usual!

Working at the orphanage was incredibly challenging; I never knew it was possible to experience such a range of emotions in one day. Joy when the kids ran up to me and hugged me as I first walked into the orphanage each morning, annoyance when the kids were being a little bit too cheeky, fear when a child was crying, happiness when I saw their beautiful smiles and finally, love, always love. No matter how hard the day was, there was always an unbelievable amount of love.

Me and our beautiful big helper, Farajah

The only way I was able to leave Nkoaranga Orphanage was knowing that I would be back to visit as soon and as often as possible. Being part of The Small Things gives me a way of helping the children, even when I’m such a long distance from them. It gives me a connection that I am so grateful for. I love knowing that any work I do over here can help those incredible balls of energy that are so far away.

I am currently spending every day working towards earning enough money to go back and visit the children, but, until then, I will continue to work with The Small Things to help to look after our wonderful children from an entirely different continent. You don’t understand how grateful I am for the work everyone is doing to protect and care for these beautiful children. I want to thank all of you for supporting and helping the The Small Things- you, the volunteers, the mamas and the board members of The Small Things are the reason our children are safe. The reason they are still smiling and making us laugh in so many different ways. So, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Everything we do is for the people at Nkoaranga and, though we can do no great things, everything we do is done with an amazing amount of love.

Best friends - Farajah (left) and Dainess

Board Bios - Emma Shaw

This is the first of a series of introductions to our fabulous board members - meet the lovely and talented Emma Shaw! 

My name is Emma Shaw and I came to Tanzania through the organisation "Oyster Worldwide" as part of my gap year between school and university. After considering many other countries including Patagonia, Nepal and Zambia I chose Tanzania because of how much the placement had to offer: teaching English to both primary and secondary school children, voluntary work at the local hospital and, of course, care work at Nkoaranga Orphanage.

What I didn’t expect was that I’d become so involved at the orphanage - that I would be the one trekking across the hospital grounds at night, carrying a small, unwell child huddled in blankets. It made me realise that, when it’s a child in your care that needs treatment, the hospital is no longer an ‘interesting place to gain medical experience’. When you’re scared for a child and in need of help you don’t care about any of that. You just want them to make your child better.

It was moments like these that made me realise that volunteering at Nkoaranga Orphanage wasn’t going to be something I could just drop and move on from once home. I really didn’t expect this, and I have no idea why! I didn’t realise how important making sure that the children have a safe, happy future would become, which is why I’m so glad to be a part of The Small Things, and so determined to do all I can to give them as bright a future as every single one of them deserves.

Although my hardest moment physically at Nkoaranga orphanage was the morning after my first night shift when we were helping to wash all of the big kids – I remember feeling almost sick with tiredness (a first for me) - it gave me a whole new appreciation of the incredible work the mamas do every day. However, my hardest moments overall were definitely when I was scared for a child. I was scared when Gracie (normally so placid and sweet tempered) was crying so unstoppably, hysterically and harshly and we had no idea why, and I was constantly scared about losing Ebenezer. He was so sick, tiny and premature when he came in - then months later, after he had come so far, he got profoundly ill again and reignited all that fear. I found changing him very hard as there was no escaping how much weight he’d lost and how tiny he’d become. I was scared I’d break him. 

Ebenezer shortly after his hospital stay -
still back and forth twice a day for IV medication

On the other hand, another thing I found really hard was refusing the children water because there wasn’t any that had been purified and I’m so excited that, thanks to the success of Project MAJI, that will never have to happen again!!!

I had SO many amazing moments with the children – all of them hilarious, touching and unforgettable. For me, it was so rewarding to see Pendo settle in, and this sometimes cheeky, sometimes serious but always beautiful, kind and sweet girl emerge from her shell – and give everyone lots of kisses on the cheek! I always found putting the big kids to bed really special. They’d call my name and I’d go over and crouch down under their mosquito net to have a whispered talk with them, before kissing them goodnight, wishing them sweet dreams and telling them I loved them. It meant so much to be able to do that for them. 

Pendo cuddling with her buddies Farajah and David

And then I have tons of hilarious memories, such as the time one of the schoolchildren, Tumaini, and I were searching for socks in the pile of laundry in the sink and, being the adorable but clumsy girl she is, she switched on the tap, soaking everything! Her eyes went wide and her “Ohhh…pole! (sorry)” couldn’t have sounded more shocked (or amused)! Being there for Ester’s first steps; Frankie’s inevitable bawling at my lack of speed whilst feeding him; hanging out the washing and realising that the two little boys helping me were helpfully “rinsing” everything in a muddy puddle before passing it to me…the list is endless!

I think the thing which concerns me most at the moment is ensuring that not just the children ready to go to school this year, but that all those in the coming years will be able to go to school and have a good education, hopefully through our partnership with The Foundation for Tomorrow. While the children are at Nkoaranga orphanage I feel happy knowing that, between Mama Pendo, all the other Mamas, and volunteers looking after them, the children have people who care about and want the best for them. What worries me is when they leave and have to fend for themselves, and the life that awaits them. As we grow and develop as an organization, it is a challenge we will have to face. 

However, I think it’s impossible to say what the most important work to be done is in the long term, because everything that contributes to a healthy, happy childhood for the children matters: it’s important to have the filtration system fitted so that the children don’t have to be denied water, or risk sickness from drinking it straight from the tap; it’s important that mosquito nets are correctly used to avoid malaria; it's important that formula is available to keep babies healthy, and to aid recovery if they do fall ill; it's important that the hospital is also supported because all children need healthcare at some point; it's important that any psychological issues that a child has are addressed, and it's important that when they do go on to school, they are happy, healthy and fully ready to do so. Our job now is to try to balance those many important jobs to be done, and we hope you'll come along with us for the ride! 

Yes, I'm up at 4 am making videos of the kids.

Just a little something I thought you guys might enjoy - I was looking through the photo albums of some volunteers who have gone back to the orphanage several times over the years, and found some gorgeous baby photos of the kids. I thought you might like to see how beautifully they have grown!

Updates soon with our new project, the school situation, a reorganized site, more details on the board, and much more!

Incredible little individuals!

Hey Everyone! Like Bekka I have just returned from volunteering at Nkoaranga Orphanage and I definitely seem to be missing the kids there more every day! When I first arrived in Nkoaranga I never imagined that I would grow to feel as close to the children as my friends did, but the more I visited the orphanage and the more I got to know the children there as the incredible individuals that they are I realised that, without me realising it, I'd already fallen in love with them all. It's impossible not to: they are all so full of life - so exuberant, loving and with such big personalities! Each and every one of them is just perfect (soggy nappies, snot and all!). The Mamas there are inspiring woman and it was a privilege to work with and make friends with them. I'm so glad that the children have such caring and loving people to take care of them as they grow up, and I'm so happy to have to opportunity to continue to support them as they do it!

Also, I hope you like the picture! It was taken soon after I arrived and looking back I can't believe how much Ester has grown!!! We were all so proud of her when she took her first steps...and she was so excited too!

P minus 9 hours!

So I am currently just kind of running around in the manner of a headless chicken trying to make sure everything is set for the arrival of the 'rents - we have quite a lot lined up already so I hope it's not too hectic. I really want them to see the Tanzania I've fallen in love with, not to mention my babies. It feels almost like having set up a blind date and waiting anxiously to see if they even like each other - except this blind date cost, erm, significant money for the tickets alone, and is two weeks long, so they better damn like each other. Says I. Not much I can do now but wait! In the meantime, here are some snapshots of the past week.

Knew that good health streak wouldn't last... malarial Baracka FAAST asleep in the hospital

Our little fashion plate, Loveness

Don't mess with the chick with the bear. Even Ester looks scared.

Gracie got bored waiting for her turn to be changed and decided to take matters into her own hands

 

 Neema is WALKING! Thrilling, although it's probably a good thing Zawadi doesn't understand any of the things I say to her to encourage, erm, healthy competition to get her walking without help too! 

Dianess and Gracie in perfect audience/performer symbiosis

And then a carnivorous monkey leapt through my window and attacked my cat

Ok, before I get into all kinds of medical supply information and updates on the kids, breaking news: at ten o'clock last night, what I assume to be a monkey because there are no other reasonable candidates LEAPT through the bars in the window (4 inches by one and half feet, maybe?), aggressively attacked Paka and ripped out large patches of fur, leaving no scratches but huge dirty streaks through her fur like really dirty hands had been, well, ripping it out. I heard horrible yowling from the next room, opened the door expecting to see another cat, instead saw a flash of white as Paka STREAKED past me into my room and a flash of brown/black fur as something else leapt out the window. Poor Paka took me ten minutes to find, in my own room while I was calling her name, because she was so freaked out she was cowering behind a curtain. Obviously I spent most of last night comforting her and/or rolling over on her in my sleep. Poor Paka. She seems a little better today but still pretty jumpy, and I can't say I blame her. The moral of the story is, a carnivorous monkey leapt through my window and attacked my cat. At one point last night I suspected accidental LSD ingestion, but the fur tufts remained in the morning as evidence that I didn't hallucinate the whole episode. Just when I think I can handle whatever this country wants to throw at me, THIS happens. What the hell, Africa?

Ok, onward and upward.Good news on the medical supplies front: A huge shipment that had been held in Tanga for about six months finally arrived from Global Health Ministries in the US, which included quite a few items on the list. So the updated list looks like this:

Medical Supplies

Used laptops of any description or vintage (Thanks to those who have already offered, we can still use more!)

Stethoscopes, preferably Litmanns 

Forehead or ear infrared thermometers that take AA or AAA batteries

Children's vitamins with iron and Vitamin D (Taken care of!)

Medications - particularly diabetes, hypertension, and antibiotics

Braces, particularly ankle and knee (thanks Dory and others!)

Microscope (thank you!)

Colorimeter

Glucometer and other diabetic testing supplies

Field stain

Water bath machine

D/C kit

Lab tiles for blood typing and Widal tests (glass tiles with six circles)

Urine test containers (pref plastic)

The reason it is crucial for the hospital to have good facilities was brought home hard this past week, as literally over 50% of the orphanage has had fevers, coughs, and others symptoms that have primarily turned out to be malaria. Poor baby Frankie was so bad he was in the hospital for two days - he is out now, but still has to go to the hospital every 6 hours for injections of antimalarials, since the oral medication apparently wasn't strong enough with his bitty immune system. It was really tough for me to visit him without thinking constantly of Reziki, who was the last kid I saw in the hospital - three hours before he passed away. Thankfully, Frankie is doing much better, and hopefully he will be back to his normal smiley self in a few days.

IV pole to the right

Meanwhile we've had a rash of an even more serious medical condition - spontaneous male child pregnancy. Yes, a whole flock of our babies have decided that the time is right to become fathers, despite our pleading with them to wait until they hit puberty. Alas, all for naught.

The proud father

Andrea and his daughter, Mama Jacob. A grandparent already!

Meanwhile, Zawadi has taken a leap in the direction of healthy toddlerhood, and I couldn't be prouder. Ladies and gentlemen, presenting.... drumroll please... Z's first thigh roll!

Thunder thighs ahead!

I know it sounds silly, but she was so incredibly tiny when I arrived - look at some of the videos here - and I'm thrilled.

Ok, that's it for the important stuff - now here's your daily dose of obscenely adorable.

Baracka the Cirque du Soleil clown

Aaaand my favorite picture of all time. PS: Maureen, you're a girl. Sorry.

Potty training olympics

Taking advice from his coach. His head wound is dressed, but not much else.

And... BOLT! They can't dress you if they can't catch you!

The judges give it... one encouraging smile, one indulgent smirk, and one serious eye roll.