Life in the village is slow, but good. I've been trying to keep myself busy, but then other days i just laze around and do nothing absolutely nothing, which feels amazing. My puppy, Sangala is good and healthy. The vet came and gave him a vaccine for rabbies and deworming. He'll be the healthiest dog here that’s for sure. Whenever I’m busy out doing work, my new friend Millie watches him for me. She even feeds him! He’s stopped crying so much at night too so that makes me happy. We are making progress in our little life here in Matayos.
Anyway, the other day I ran into a bunch of American missionaries that were about my age so I asked them if I could go out with them for the day. We walked way back into the villages and I heard some really sad stories from families that are struggling. One house we went to had a child with a horrible skin disease. She was only 10 months old and the mother could not even afford soap. I think the disease could be prevented with just basic hygiene, but when there is lack of water and money, families have to make priorities and food is number one. It’s hard to see suffering like that because it makes me just want to do something immediately, like take the child home with me and care for her. Anyway, at another house there was this old man who couldn't walk. He told us that sometimes when it rains he gets stuck outside and rained on because no one will be home to carry him inside. His wife has to predict when to go to the markets based on the rains so she can be there to help him, but predicting the weather is not the easiest thing, so he sometimes gets rained on or else they will starve. Anyway I told them I live here and to come to the clinic if they can and I will talk to a doctor with them. I oddly have a lot of authority here, sadly I think because I'm white. They think I'm like a doctor myself or something. I was telling the nurse the other day that the reason why I'm in health is because of experience I've had with San Francisco Aids Foundation and she couldn't believe I didn't even study medicine in university.
I've been volunteering a little at the VCT too (voluntary counseling and testing) and helping out with the HIV testing. It's intense because you can see the fear in someone’s eyes when they come to get tested and the whole time I'm just praying please don't test positive. I sat in on an HIV support group the other day too. It was really interesting, but also made me concerned because I’m not sure how I can really help. I mean these people already KNOW about HIV etc, so I can’t teach them anything new really. What it seems like they need most is funding for their group so they can expand their farm and make more money for their families. Well money is something I don’t have, and even if I did, I don’t want to just give it out because it’s not sustainable. So I said maybe I could show them some income generating activities or something. It feels like a heavy burden on my shoulders because they expect so much from me. I just hope I can help at least a little.
I've also began work with my primary organization, Pembe Tatu. We go way out into the villages and do talks about malaria and show people the amount of money they will lose getting malaria instead of just spending a little money on a net to sleep under. Then we demonstrate how to tie and hang the net. It's all in Kiswahili and I try, but I can't really help too much due to lack of language skills on my part. People are so shocked to see a white person. Unfortunately when they see me they automatically think I'm rich, have money and will give it to them. It's sad and racist. I wasn't even rich in America! But I mean when I go out to these villages it makes me think how lucky I really am. I complain about the cockroaches and whatnot, but in retrospect, these houses have far worse conditions and the people have little to nothing. They live that way their entire lives, whereas I only have to deal for 2 years. It gives me strength actually.
Anyway, I’m missing home and missing Americans in general now that I’ve been at site for awhile. While it’s nice to have down time, I think I might begin to go a little stir crazy soon haha! I made my neighbor come over and play cards with me today because I was so bored and had no electricity. I guess I’m just feeling like I don’t quite know what to do with myself. It will come though and soon enough I’m sure I’ll get busy once I find my place here. Tomorrow I’m buying a bicycle so hopefully I can start exploring even further!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Getting Settled pole pole (slowly)
This is my new mailing address:
Andrea Flynn-Schneider/PCV
c/o Pembe Tatu CBO
Kisumu Busia Highway
P.O. Box 15-50422
Matayos, Kenya
My phone number is:
+254704569552
you can skype it for I think 15 cents a minute.
I'm loving life so far in Matayos! Today I met the Chief and the Ministers and got their contact information so I can conduct one on one interviews. I have to do a report for the Peace Corps called the Community Needs Assessment that is due in 3 months and it's intense work! I have to do everything from getting to know the local government to home to home interviews. The document will be really beneficial in the end though because it will assess the strengths and weaknesses of Matayos and provide ideas for upcoming projects. So I'm on my way to integration! Just wanted to give a short update! Sangala (my puppy) says Habari zenu? (how are you all?). Miss you! Send packages/letters and call/email often! I updated my wish list to the left as well! Thank you all for your support!
Andrea Flynn-Schneider/PCV
c/o Pembe Tatu CBO
Kisumu Busia Highway
P.O. Box 15-50422
Matayos, Kenya
My phone number is:
+254704569552
you can skype it for I think 15 cents a minute.
I'm loving life so far in Matayos! Today I met the Chief and the Ministers and got their contact information so I can conduct one on one interviews. I have to do a report for the Peace Corps called the Community Needs Assessment that is due in 3 months and it's intense work! I have to do everything from getting to know the local government to home to home interviews. The document will be really beneficial in the end though because it will assess the strengths and weaknesses of Matayos and provide ideas for upcoming projects. So I'm on my way to integration! Just wanted to give a short update! Sangala (my puppy) says Habari zenu? (how are you all?). Miss you! Send packages/letters and call/email often! I updated my wish list to the left as well! Thank you all for your support!
Friday, August 26, 2011
First Week at Site
My first week at site has been interesting to say the least. Leaving my Peace Corps friends behind in Nairobi was really hard. We bonded over our 10 weeks together in training. No one else will understand what it is like to go through hours of language classes, cultural lessons, technical training and little to no alone time like my Peace Corps friends. I feel lucky to have met such strong, smart and inspiring people. It is wonderful to be surrounded by people who share my same interest in humanitarianism and want to make a difference in this world. Anyway, our last few days in Nairobi were some of the most fun I’ve had here. Swearing in as an official volunteer was so special. We went to the American Ambassador’s residence which was amazing! It was huge and I was defiantly in reverse culture shock. He gave us a tour of the grounds and offered us some great advice for going to site. My fellow Peace Corps colleagues gave speeches along with some of the staff. We had incredible food! I’ve never ate so much! I had 2 hamburgers and a hotdog, potato salad, cupcakes, fruit and cake! I missed American food soooo much! There was even a coffee bar and I had an actual latte! Afterwards we went back to the hotel and popped some champagne to celebrate. We had dinner at the best Italian place and once again I stuffed my face. I guess my mindset was that I wouldn’t be having food like that for a long time haha. After gorging myself, we went out and danced off the pounds at a club. I had my first tequila shot in Kenya…to say the least, it settled just as bad as tequila in the States does for me…yuck! Ha!
The next morning, bright and early, we were off to our sites. Luckily I had a group of 4 other volunteers going my direction so we were able to take the same ride together. However, it was quite the adventure. First, our bus was almost 3 hours late, which sucked considering we had to wake up at 6am. Then, our bus almost tipped over and rolled down a hill. The bus driver parked on the side of a hill so everyone could use the “bathroom”/just a bush on the side of the road haha. When we got back on and were ready to go, the bus started tipping down the hill. It was so scary. All the Africans were just acting as if this was another normal day, but us 4 wazungu tailgated out of that bus as fast as we could! Soon everyone evacuated and then began our 3 hour wait on the side of the road well they tried to pull the bus up. This whole time we were taking bets on 1. when the bus would roll down the hill and 2. how it would flip. It took 3 different trucks to pull the bus out, but surprisingly they actually did (a little disappointing, we all kinda wanted to see it flip). So it was on with the journey. In total it took me almost 13 hours to get to site from Nairobi because of the little mishap of the bus tipping over. I arrived right when the sun was going down, had dinner at my supervisor’s house and then went to my house…
This is where God’s real test started. My house was/is infected with cockroaches. And I don’t mean like one or two, I mean like an unimaginable number of them everywhere! All over the walls, floor, they even some how got into my bed. It was terrifying because if you know me, the one thing I’m most afraid of besides blood, bats, snakes, and the dark, is bugs! I really think I was put here for a reason by God: to face my fears and grow the F up! I’ve been facing these bugs head on (not really by choice), but I’m quite proud of myself on being able to even function with them. I never would have even killed a cockroach in America (that was my dad’s job), but now I’m going Laura Croft on them!
Other than the cockroaches though, my house is huge! It has a kitchen with a sink and a fireplace, a huge living room, a western toilet (although it doesn’t flush), a western shower (although it doesn’t work as well), a pantry, and two bedrooms with built in closets! They provided a queen bed for me and I bought a mattress. This is my safe haven with my mosquito net up and me curled up inside keeping safe from the roaches, it’s actually quite peaceful. It’s hard to get any alone time though. Kenyans don’t understand the concept of space I’ve realized. Every two seconds there are kids knocking on my door wanting to play or just loiter. It’s kinda bothersome, but I’m trying to be polite about it. I’ve been playing soccer with the neighbor kids a lot too so that’s fun.
I went to church last Sunday which was a fun experience. Afterwards I went around and introduced myself to people. Later, in town, I saw someone who works with my organization (Mbu nje! Sisi Ndani!...translates into Mosquito Out, We in) and I told her I went to church and she was like “oh I already know”. “You know?” I asked. “Yes, it is going around that a mazungu was in church”. Great. So I think it will be hard to stay low profile here at all ha! But at the same time, my job isn’t about being low profile at all. I want to set a good example and show people that as an American I want to be apart of everything they do too. I make sure to actually have myself BE seen doing things the Kenyan way. I wash my clothes in the yard where everyone can see me, light and fan my jiko outside (what I use to cook on) and eat the same food they do. I also am trying to use my Kiswahili as much as I can, which always surprises them so much. Most people don’t know that I had 10 weeks of training before coming to site so they are shocked when I speak the language. Even when I tell them I’ve only been here for almost 3 months, they are surprised at how much I know. They think I’m fluent, but I know the truth, because as soon as they start speaking to me in Kiswahili, I freeze up and just give a blank “what the hell are you saying” stare! Haha! But I’m trying and I think they appreciate that. Most people here actually speak KiLuhya so I’m going to try to learn some of that language too if I can. My counterpart is a teacher so hopefully she’ll be able to do some tutoring for me.
Anyway, my life is slowly coming together. Now that I’m at site, I’ve had a lot more time to think about home and all the things I left behind. I’m starting to realize how much I sacrificed to be here and actually I still have no regrets whatsoever. I think I can really make a difference here and have already had some great cross-cultural conversations with the locals. I’m looking forward to getting closer with my community and actually getting some work done. But one thing at a time. Life is much slower here and I think if I just take the time to get to know people and the culture first, I will get a lot more done in the end.
I miss and love you all. You are in my prayers.
The next morning, bright and early, we were off to our sites. Luckily I had a group of 4 other volunteers going my direction so we were able to take the same ride together. However, it was quite the adventure. First, our bus was almost 3 hours late, which sucked considering we had to wake up at 6am. Then, our bus almost tipped over and rolled down a hill. The bus driver parked on the side of a hill so everyone could use the “bathroom”/just a bush on the side of the road haha. When we got back on and were ready to go, the bus started tipping down the hill. It was so scary. All the Africans were just acting as if this was another normal day, but us 4 wazungu tailgated out of that bus as fast as we could! Soon everyone evacuated and then began our 3 hour wait on the side of the road well they tried to pull the bus up. This whole time we were taking bets on 1. when the bus would roll down the hill and 2. how it would flip. It took 3 different trucks to pull the bus out, but surprisingly they actually did (a little disappointing, we all kinda wanted to see it flip). So it was on with the journey. In total it took me almost 13 hours to get to site from Nairobi because of the little mishap of the bus tipping over. I arrived right when the sun was going down, had dinner at my supervisor’s house and then went to my house…
This is where God’s real test started. My house was/is infected with cockroaches. And I don’t mean like one or two, I mean like an unimaginable number of them everywhere! All over the walls, floor, they even some how got into my bed. It was terrifying because if you know me, the one thing I’m most afraid of besides blood, bats, snakes, and the dark, is bugs! I really think I was put here for a reason by God: to face my fears and grow the F up! I’ve been facing these bugs head on (not really by choice), but I’m quite proud of myself on being able to even function with them. I never would have even killed a cockroach in America (that was my dad’s job), but now I’m going Laura Croft on them!
Other than the cockroaches though, my house is huge! It has a kitchen with a sink and a fireplace, a huge living room, a western toilet (although it doesn’t flush), a western shower (although it doesn’t work as well), a pantry, and two bedrooms with built in closets! They provided a queen bed for me and I bought a mattress. This is my safe haven with my mosquito net up and me curled up inside keeping safe from the roaches, it’s actually quite peaceful. It’s hard to get any alone time though. Kenyans don’t understand the concept of space I’ve realized. Every two seconds there are kids knocking on my door wanting to play or just loiter. It’s kinda bothersome, but I’m trying to be polite about it. I’ve been playing soccer with the neighbor kids a lot too so that’s fun.
I went to church last Sunday which was a fun experience. Afterwards I went around and introduced myself to people. Later, in town, I saw someone who works with my organization (Mbu nje! Sisi Ndani!...translates into Mosquito Out, We in) and I told her I went to church and she was like “oh I already know”. “You know?” I asked. “Yes, it is going around that a mazungu was in church”. Great. So I think it will be hard to stay low profile here at all ha! But at the same time, my job isn’t about being low profile at all. I want to set a good example and show people that as an American I want to be apart of everything they do too. I make sure to actually have myself BE seen doing things the Kenyan way. I wash my clothes in the yard where everyone can see me, light and fan my jiko outside (what I use to cook on) and eat the same food they do. I also am trying to use my Kiswahili as much as I can, which always surprises them so much. Most people don’t know that I had 10 weeks of training before coming to site so they are shocked when I speak the language. Even when I tell them I’ve only been here for almost 3 months, they are surprised at how much I know. They think I’m fluent, but I know the truth, because as soon as they start speaking to me in Kiswahili, I freeze up and just give a blank “what the hell are you saying” stare! Haha! But I’m trying and I think they appreciate that. Most people here actually speak KiLuhya so I’m going to try to learn some of that language too if I can. My counterpart is a teacher so hopefully she’ll be able to do some tutoring for me.
Anyway, my life is slowly coming together. Now that I’m at site, I’ve had a lot more time to think about home and all the things I left behind. I’m starting to realize how much I sacrificed to be here and actually I still have no regrets whatsoever. I think I can really make a difference here and have already had some great cross-cultural conversations with the locals. I’m looking forward to getting closer with my community and actually getting some work done. But one thing at a time. Life is much slower here and I think if I just take the time to get to know people and the culture first, I will get a lot more done in the end.
I miss and love you all. You are in my prayers.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
End of training, Start of maisha (life)
So I tried blog updating a few Sundays ago, but there was no electricity in Loitokitok. Then the next day I went and wrote and entire blog update just to have it deleted! So I felt at that point it wasn’t meant to be and I’d just wait to have free internet here in Nairobi so that’s why it’s taken so long to update. A lot sure has happened though!
I had to say goodbye to my sister Abby, brothers Elle and Taqueen and cousin Naomi sooner than I expected because their father took them on a holiday to go see their grandmother. So these last few weeks it’s just been mama yangu (my mother) and me! It was so sad to say goodbye to them. We had a big celebration and I cooked a traditional American meal of spaghetti and home made tomato sauce. I also made garlic bread which was a huge hit! Then I gave them their presents, mostly toys my Aunt Kathe sent. They loved the animal masks and sunglasses. They were also very impressed by these water flutes she sent. I couldn’t get over how grateful they all were and it really touched my heart. They said I was a blessing from God. My mama told me how she had prayed for a good volunteer and how God blessed her with me and now I am like her own daughter. Well, if you know me then you know that I become an emotional ball of mess pretty easily and quickly. Yup, this was one of those moments. I balled my eyes out that night saying goodbye to the children. It felt like an end of a chapter. They were really the first people who truly cared about me here in Kenya. I walk down the street everyday and children run up to me and straight out ask for money or sweets, they call me “mazungu” (white person), and chant “how are you how are you how are you” in a horrible American accent. But at home…my children saw me as just one of them. They didn’t look at me as different and clearly cared about me, which was especially evident at our going away. They told their own father they didn’t want to go see their grandmother because they wanted to spend time with me. Selfishly I wish they would have stayed too, but all chapters must end and as I kissed them goodbye I knew that good things lay ahead for the both of us.
The few weeks after this were very quite at home. Instead of the hectic noise of 4 kids and a hustle and bustle family, it was just mama and me. Which actually came as quite a blessing considering I needed to study for my LPI (Kiswahili language exam). It was a good chance to start speaking more Kiswahili at home with my mama and get some one on one bonding time with her. She is truly an amazing woman and I can’t emphasize enough how much I admire her. We got the chance to have a lot of cultural exchange moments, me telling her what it is like in America and her explaining Kenyan culture. She told me she really admires me for making my own money. Her idea was that all Americans are rich, but I explained to her my situation with my own mother and how sometimes we even ate our food over a fire in the park when I was younger. I told her how I try to appreciate everything because I really think we are lucky and she agrees, especially when we watch the news and see all the Somali refugees starving here in Kenya. My mama is a Maasi, a culture that fully retains it’s traditions, and she also taught me a lot about what it was like growing up in that tribe. How the women do pretty much everything from building the houses to taking care of the family. She said that when they slaughter animals, depending on your gender and age you will get a different part of the animal to eat. She also told me that I shouldn’t shake hands with everyone because some people are witches and can put a spell on me…Also, I shouldn’t trust all cats because some are humans in disguise…I’m like how the hell will I be able to tell which cat is actually just a cat and which one is a human?! I’ll just have to risk it I suppose ha!
Well I think my alone time with my mama really paid off because I passed my LPI! Which means I will be getting sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer! Yay! After the test, all the volunteers went and had a party in the middle of the forest! We played football and just reflected on our time here. Everyone seems sad to leave their home stays, but excited about moving to site. My mama wanted to be a part of the celebration too so she bought a chicken and we slaughtered it for lunch. I showed my mama the American way to make fried chicken and I also made her guacamole, which she loved. She kept saying “tamu sana!” (very sweet!) and probably had at least 4 helpings of the gauc!
My last two weeks went really fast though. We had a family appreciation party just yesterday with cultural dancing and skits. I wore the dress my mama made for me. She also made me jewelry which is beautiful! I defiantly cried saying goodbye to her. But now I’m off to site. I have a few days here in Nairobi and then I’m off to Matayos! Note: I will have a new mailing address I will post on the blog as soon as I know it. I also have a new wish list! Keep the packages coming! Anyway, in a few days I have my official swearing in ceremony at the Ambassador’s home. After that I will be off on my own to do work as a health volunteer. I’m not going to lie, I’m def nervous about moving away from my family and friends and living all on my own. It’s not going to be easy being the only mazungu, but I’m also looking forward to fully emerging myself into Kenyan culture and using my kiSwahili full time!
I will write next when I’m at site and settled in! Miss you all back home! Thank you for your support and love during training!
I had to say goodbye to my sister Abby, brothers Elle and Taqueen and cousin Naomi sooner than I expected because their father took them on a holiday to go see their grandmother. So these last few weeks it’s just been mama yangu (my mother) and me! It was so sad to say goodbye to them. We had a big celebration and I cooked a traditional American meal of spaghetti and home made tomato sauce. I also made garlic bread which was a huge hit! Then I gave them their presents, mostly toys my Aunt Kathe sent. They loved the animal masks and sunglasses. They were also very impressed by these water flutes she sent. I couldn’t get over how grateful they all were and it really touched my heart. They said I was a blessing from God. My mama told me how she had prayed for a good volunteer and how God blessed her with me and now I am like her own daughter. Well, if you know me then you know that I become an emotional ball of mess pretty easily and quickly. Yup, this was one of those moments. I balled my eyes out that night saying goodbye to the children. It felt like an end of a chapter. They were really the first people who truly cared about me here in Kenya. I walk down the street everyday and children run up to me and straight out ask for money or sweets, they call me “mazungu” (white person), and chant “how are you how are you how are you” in a horrible American accent. But at home…my children saw me as just one of them. They didn’t look at me as different and clearly cared about me, which was especially evident at our going away. They told their own father they didn’t want to go see their grandmother because they wanted to spend time with me. Selfishly I wish they would have stayed too, but all chapters must end and as I kissed them goodbye I knew that good things lay ahead for the both of us.
The few weeks after this were very quite at home. Instead of the hectic noise of 4 kids and a hustle and bustle family, it was just mama and me. Which actually came as quite a blessing considering I needed to study for my LPI (Kiswahili language exam). It was a good chance to start speaking more Kiswahili at home with my mama and get some one on one bonding time with her. She is truly an amazing woman and I can’t emphasize enough how much I admire her. We got the chance to have a lot of cultural exchange moments, me telling her what it is like in America and her explaining Kenyan culture. She told me she really admires me for making my own money. Her idea was that all Americans are rich, but I explained to her my situation with my own mother and how sometimes we even ate our food over a fire in the park when I was younger. I told her how I try to appreciate everything because I really think we are lucky and she agrees, especially when we watch the news and see all the Somali refugees starving here in Kenya. My mama is a Maasi, a culture that fully retains it’s traditions, and she also taught me a lot about what it was like growing up in that tribe. How the women do pretty much everything from building the houses to taking care of the family. She said that when they slaughter animals, depending on your gender and age you will get a different part of the animal to eat. She also told me that I shouldn’t shake hands with everyone because some people are witches and can put a spell on me…Also, I shouldn’t trust all cats because some are humans in disguise…I’m like how the hell will I be able to tell which cat is actually just a cat and which one is a human?! I’ll just have to risk it I suppose ha!
Well I think my alone time with my mama really paid off because I passed my LPI! Which means I will be getting sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer! Yay! After the test, all the volunteers went and had a party in the middle of the forest! We played football and just reflected on our time here. Everyone seems sad to leave their home stays, but excited about moving to site. My mama wanted to be a part of the celebration too so she bought a chicken and we slaughtered it for lunch. I showed my mama the American way to make fried chicken and I also made her guacamole, which she loved. She kept saying “tamu sana!” (very sweet!) and probably had at least 4 helpings of the gauc!
My last two weeks went really fast though. We had a family appreciation party just yesterday with cultural dancing and skits. I wore the dress my mama made for me. She also made me jewelry which is beautiful! I defiantly cried saying goodbye to her. But now I’m off to site. I have a few days here in Nairobi and then I’m off to Matayos! Note: I will have a new mailing address I will post on the blog as soon as I know it. I also have a new wish list! Keep the packages coming! Anyway, in a few days I have my official swearing in ceremony at the Ambassador’s home. After that I will be off on my own to do work as a health volunteer. I’m not going to lie, I’m def nervous about moving away from my family and friends and living all on my own. It’s not going to be easy being the only mazungu, but I’m also looking forward to fully emerging myself into Kenyan culture and using my kiSwahili full time!
I will write next when I’m at site and settled in! Miss you all back home! Thank you for your support and love during training!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Teveta to Mombasa and back!
I'm back in Loitokitok after 2 weeks away and although I had a great time, I really missed my family and waking up to Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was an awesome trip though and I learned a lot!
First we went to Teveta, about 2 hours towards the coast from Loitokitok. We stayed in a super nice hotel and everyone got fat all over again off of the amazing food they fed us. There was even a bar/dance club attached to the hotel, so every night I danced my booty off! It was the first time Peace Corps actually somewhat spoiled us and it felt great! The workshop was suppose to be about HIV/AIDs although we didn't really learn much at all about that. We did learn other important lessons however.
A guy came and talked to us about his life struggle with drugs. He said that sometimes up to 12 people will share a drug needle in the slums and many addicts die of HIV because of this. It was such an intense and emotional story. He went from stealing from his own mother, to being clean and sober for 10 years now and having 4 beautiful healthy children. One story he told us that I found particularly touching was about an addict he knew named Susie. Susie was addicted to heroine and she smoked while she was pregnant. So when Susie has her child, the baby was born addicted as well. Susie would hold the baby in her arms and smoke heroine at the same time and then fall asleep and burn the baby's face. The baby only lived a year. When they raised the money for the funeral, Susie took off with it. A few years later she also died of HIV. Shows you what drugs can do, all motherly instincts out the door. So sad.
We also went to a domestic violence clinic. It was started by some women who found that there were no resources for women suffering from violence in the home. In Kenyan culture, it is still somewhat acceptable to beat your wife. A wife/woman is a commodity here and is the property of their husbands/fathers so gender roles are still very much in tact. This clinic offered post violence treatment as well as counseling for these women.
Next, we went to an HIV/AIDS garden run by people living with the virus. A healthy diet is very important for people living with HIV because their immune systems are so weak. They showed us how to plant various herbs in sacks and also how to plant banana trees. We also saw a fish farm where they raise fish to sell in the local markets. They showed us how they were fed and fished and even gave us some! Fish is a luxury food here.
My favorite thing we did was watch cultural dancing, singing and acting. I sat in the front row so they pulled me up to dance at least 5 times which was really fun! I don't think any of them were wearing deodorant, but none the less I had a great time. The singing was so beautiful too and they sang about issues such as HIV and Malaria. The acting group did a play about early marriages and although it was entirely in Kiswahili, I understood most of it I think.
Well Teveta finally came to an end and we split up into groups of 5 to go visit a current PCV at their site and see what life will be like after training. I went to visit "super volunteer" Louis Vayo in Maungu, a small truck stop town about 3 hours west of Mombasa. I say "super volunteer" because he has done so much in his community and is so integrated! He's like fluent in Kiswahili! He taught a woman's group a beading class entirely in the local language! He's started a ping pong club at the local high school and we went to visit and played the kids. Well...they kicked out butts big time! ha! We visited the NGO in his town that is one of the first organizations to sell carbon credits internationally. They are called Wildlife Works if you want to look them up and are doing some amazing things. They showed us how they are producing more sustainable coal for cooking and have a tree farm too! They also have a garment factory that employs a large percentage of the area. Michelle Obama was recently seen in one of their shirts. I believe they are called lalaso if you want to look them up too. Our last day there, Louis showed us how to make reusable sanitary pads. This is very important because most girls don't have the money to buy sanitary products so they will miss school when they are on their periods. But these reuseable pads make it possible for them to make the napkins themselves and still remain in school. It's defiantly something I'd like to take up in my site.
Finally, we went to Mombasa for one night. I got to swim in the Indian Ocean for the first time since South Africa and it was amazing! We shopped around and I ate pizza!!! But here comes the bad part...I got sick. Like bad sick. I couldn't fully enjoy Mombasa because I was throwing up all night in my hotel. The next day we made the 7 hour bus ride back to Loitokitok and I was still sick. I missed school the next day to recover, but it was nice to be home at least. My mama was so worried about me she made another volunteer come check on me. It's nice to know I'm cared about so much when I'm so far from home. Today I'm all better though and finally got to the internet cafe to update you all. My mama is taking me to the tailor today to get a dress made because I bought some really beautiful fabric in Taveta.
That's all for now! Keep emailing me! I will get back to you as soon as I can, but I love reading them. Thank you for all the support and I miss you all more than you can imagine!
First we went to Teveta, about 2 hours towards the coast from Loitokitok. We stayed in a super nice hotel and everyone got fat all over again off of the amazing food they fed us. There was even a bar/dance club attached to the hotel, so every night I danced my booty off! It was the first time Peace Corps actually somewhat spoiled us and it felt great! The workshop was suppose to be about HIV/AIDs although we didn't really learn much at all about that. We did learn other important lessons however.
A guy came and talked to us about his life struggle with drugs. He said that sometimes up to 12 people will share a drug needle in the slums and many addicts die of HIV because of this. It was such an intense and emotional story. He went from stealing from his own mother, to being clean and sober for 10 years now and having 4 beautiful healthy children. One story he told us that I found particularly touching was about an addict he knew named Susie. Susie was addicted to heroine and she smoked while she was pregnant. So when Susie has her child, the baby was born addicted as well. Susie would hold the baby in her arms and smoke heroine at the same time and then fall asleep and burn the baby's face. The baby only lived a year. When they raised the money for the funeral, Susie took off with it. A few years later she also died of HIV. Shows you what drugs can do, all motherly instincts out the door. So sad.
We also went to a domestic violence clinic. It was started by some women who found that there were no resources for women suffering from violence in the home. In Kenyan culture, it is still somewhat acceptable to beat your wife. A wife/woman is a commodity here and is the property of their husbands/fathers so gender roles are still very much in tact. This clinic offered post violence treatment as well as counseling for these women.
Next, we went to an HIV/AIDS garden run by people living with the virus. A healthy diet is very important for people living with HIV because their immune systems are so weak. They showed us how to plant various herbs in sacks and also how to plant banana trees. We also saw a fish farm where they raise fish to sell in the local markets. They showed us how they were fed and fished and even gave us some! Fish is a luxury food here.
My favorite thing we did was watch cultural dancing, singing and acting. I sat in the front row so they pulled me up to dance at least 5 times which was really fun! I don't think any of them were wearing deodorant, but none the less I had a great time. The singing was so beautiful too and they sang about issues such as HIV and Malaria. The acting group did a play about early marriages and although it was entirely in Kiswahili, I understood most of it I think.
Well Teveta finally came to an end and we split up into groups of 5 to go visit a current PCV at their site and see what life will be like after training. I went to visit "super volunteer" Louis Vayo in Maungu, a small truck stop town about 3 hours west of Mombasa. I say "super volunteer" because he has done so much in his community and is so integrated! He's like fluent in Kiswahili! He taught a woman's group a beading class entirely in the local language! He's started a ping pong club at the local high school and we went to visit and played the kids. Well...they kicked out butts big time! ha! We visited the NGO in his town that is one of the first organizations to sell carbon credits internationally. They are called Wildlife Works if you want to look them up and are doing some amazing things. They showed us how they are producing more sustainable coal for cooking and have a tree farm too! They also have a garment factory that employs a large percentage of the area. Michelle Obama was recently seen in one of their shirts. I believe they are called lalaso if you want to look them up too. Our last day there, Louis showed us how to make reusable sanitary pads. This is very important because most girls don't have the money to buy sanitary products so they will miss school when they are on their periods. But these reuseable pads make it possible for them to make the napkins themselves and still remain in school. It's defiantly something I'd like to take up in my site.
Finally, we went to Mombasa for one night. I got to swim in the Indian Ocean for the first time since South Africa and it was amazing! We shopped around and I ate pizza!!! But here comes the bad part...I got sick. Like bad sick. I couldn't fully enjoy Mombasa because I was throwing up all night in my hotel. The next day we made the 7 hour bus ride back to Loitokitok and I was still sick. I missed school the next day to recover, but it was nice to be home at least. My mama was so worried about me she made another volunteer come check on me. It's nice to know I'm cared about so much when I'm so far from home. Today I'm all better though and finally got to the internet cafe to update you all. My mama is taking me to the tailor today to get a dress made because I bought some really beautiful fabric in Taveta.
That's all for now! Keep emailing me! I will get back to you as soon as I can, but I love reading them. Thank you for all the support and I miss you all more than you can imagine!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Eat your vitamins kids!
I’m sitting here after taking my practice LPI. That is the test I have to pass in order to be sworn in as a PCV. I’m actually feeling pretty confident about it. So confident in fact that I went to lunch today and ordered in Kiswahili! I can even go to the post office and mail a letter in the local language too! I can’t believe I’ve only been learning for 4 weeks. It feels really good to feel like I can at least somewhat communicate with the people here. I mean, they wall want to speak English with me anyway, but I think I gain a little more respect when I show I can speak their language. Plus, they don’t rip me off as much haha!
Friday we went to a “mobile clinic”. It is an event in a town where community health volunteers come together to do massive nutrition clinics. There were the cutest kids there. We weighed the babies, took their arm circumference and provided them with deworming pills and vitamin A supplements. It was really great to do something so hands on.
Another awesome thing that has happened is that we found a really fun hike in Loitokitok. Well it’s nothing too strenuous, but at the end there is a waterfall! There are all these vines that climb up the wall so we’ve been doing a little climbing ourselves. There is a cave half way up that you can climb up to and sit in. Makes me think of my Uncle Steve and our Schneider Family Climb Nights back in Berkeley.
Other than that, not much is new. I’ll be leaving Loitokitok tomorrow for 9 days. For three days we are on a retreat with all of the volunteers to learn about HIV/AIDs and then the rest of the time we all split off into groups and go visit current PCVs in the field. I am not traveling too far from Loitokitok, but it will feel good to get out and do something different either way.
That’s all for now! Thanks for the emails! Keep em coming! Oh and special thanks to Sean for the package! It made my day! Now I can play with a real soccer ball and not a crumbled up piece of paper! Haha!
Friday we went to a “mobile clinic”. It is an event in a town where community health volunteers come together to do massive nutrition clinics. There were the cutest kids there. We weighed the babies, took their arm circumference and provided them with deworming pills and vitamin A supplements. It was really great to do something so hands on.
Another awesome thing that has happened is that we found a really fun hike in Loitokitok. Well it’s nothing too strenuous, but at the end there is a waterfall! There are all these vines that climb up the wall so we’ve been doing a little climbing ourselves. There is a cave half way up that you can climb up to and sit in. Makes me think of my Uncle Steve and our Schneider Family Climb Nights back in Berkeley.
Other than that, not much is new. I’ll be leaving Loitokitok tomorrow for 9 days. For three days we are on a retreat with all of the volunteers to learn about HIV/AIDs and then the rest of the time we all split off into groups and go visit current PCVs in the field. I am not traveling too far from Loitokitok, but it will feel good to get out and do something different either way.
That’s all for now! Thanks for the emails! Keep em coming! Oh and special thanks to Sean for the package! It made my day! Now I can play with a real soccer ball and not a crumbled up piece of paper! Haha!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Site Announcement
It’s been awhile since I’ve had the time to sit down and write a blog. I have to go to the cyber café and pay to get on the internet so after a long week of classes, it’s the last thing I really feel like doing. I have a lot to update on though so I finally kicked myself in the ass and got to updating this blog thingy of mine. But I don't think I'll be able to load pictures for quite sometime just due to lack of technology.
I’m really into the flow of things here. Everything is basically a routine. I get up, take my bucket bath, go to language for 4 hours, then classes for the rest of the day on health, or I meet with my project partner. I have partnered with a theater and drama youth group that does plays in secondary schools about the importance of abstinence (they call it to “chill”), and HIV/AIDs awareness. It’s defiantly different to say the least to work with people here. Dance and theater is conducted very different than I am use to and at times it can be frustrating to try to explain things to one another. But all in all, it’s really nice to work with people around my age on an issue that I am so passionate about.
Our last few weeks we have been doing a lot of nutrition training as well. I was able to go to a nearby village called Rombos where we hiked through the farmland and picked food straight from the crop. It was so beautiful and really awesome to be eating something that was completely organic. Everything I eat here is so fresh, I don’t think I’ll ever use a freezer again when I get back to America. Even the milk I drink is delivered by a milkman every night! I mean it’s no Fat Free, but at least I’m getting my calcium intake haha!
My biggest announcement is that I have been assigned my site. In about 6 weeks I’ll leave Loitokitok for a village called Matayos near the town of Busia. It is in the Western providence right on the boarder with Uganda. From what I know so far I will be living on a hospital compound working mainly in the malaria sector. I don’t have much experience about Malaria except that I take medication everyday that makes me have crazy dreams haha! But I will learn and I’m excited to do a lot of secondary projects. I’m hoping that I can get involved in girls sports, especially soccer. Anyway, I encourage you to all look it up on a map and think of me ha!
This last weekend was 4th of July and all of the volunteers got together and had a retreat just a walk out of the main village here. It was good to go somewhere and be able to wear tank tops and not be thought of as a prostitute haha! We drank beer and had a bond fire too! I brought pop-its from America and we all threw them around which was fun. It was a pretty crazy party since most of us don’t drink whatsoever here and finally had some of our first African beers. Plus the elevation really got us drunk fast too! I’ll be recovering all week.
Anyway, that’s about it! I miss you all so much and think of you often! Thank you to all of those who have emailed me, it really means a lot. To those of you who haven’t responded to my email…what the f**k?! Don’t you know I’m in Africa, yo?! Haha! Hope all is well back home and looking forward to more updates from the states!
I’m really into the flow of things here. Everything is basically a routine. I get up, take my bucket bath, go to language for 4 hours, then classes for the rest of the day on health, or I meet with my project partner. I have partnered with a theater and drama youth group that does plays in secondary schools about the importance of abstinence (they call it to “chill”), and HIV/AIDs awareness. It’s defiantly different to say the least to work with people here. Dance and theater is conducted very different than I am use to and at times it can be frustrating to try to explain things to one another. But all in all, it’s really nice to work with people around my age on an issue that I am so passionate about.
Our last few weeks we have been doing a lot of nutrition training as well. I was able to go to a nearby village called Rombos where we hiked through the farmland and picked food straight from the crop. It was so beautiful and really awesome to be eating something that was completely organic. Everything I eat here is so fresh, I don’t think I’ll ever use a freezer again when I get back to America. Even the milk I drink is delivered by a milkman every night! I mean it’s no Fat Free, but at least I’m getting my calcium intake haha!
My biggest announcement is that I have been assigned my site. In about 6 weeks I’ll leave Loitokitok for a village called Matayos near the town of Busia. It is in the Western providence right on the boarder with Uganda. From what I know so far I will be living on a hospital compound working mainly in the malaria sector. I don’t have much experience about Malaria except that I take medication everyday that makes me have crazy dreams haha! But I will learn and I’m excited to do a lot of secondary projects. I’m hoping that I can get involved in girls sports, especially soccer. Anyway, I encourage you to all look it up on a map and think of me ha!
This last weekend was 4th of July and all of the volunteers got together and had a retreat just a walk out of the main village here. It was good to go somewhere and be able to wear tank tops and not be thought of as a prostitute haha! We drank beer and had a bond fire too! I brought pop-its from America and we all threw them around which was fun. It was a pretty crazy party since most of us don’t drink whatsoever here and finally had some of our first African beers. Plus the elevation really got us drunk fast too! I’ll be recovering all week.
Anyway, that’s about it! I miss you all so much and think of you often! Thank you to all of those who have emailed me, it really means a lot. To those of you who haven’t responded to my email…what the f**k?! Don’t you know I’m in Africa, yo?! Haha! Hope all is well back home and looking forward to more updates from the states!
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