Dad's Trip to Kenya

Having my father in Kenya was like a breath of fresh air. It was so nice to share my life with him and for him to be able to experience where I am coming from. It’s hard to put into words on a blog what my life is really like here. The ups and downs I go through on a daily basis usually do not get mentioned. So being able to expose my dad to all of this feels refreshing in that he will finally be able to somewhat relate to what I’m going through and hopefully return back to America to share his experiences with you all. 

I headed to the airport to pick up my dad on June 2^nd and was met with a warm embrace. I couldn’t help but shed a tear after not seeing my dad for over a year (the longest we’ve ever been apart). After a catching up over a few beers, we got to bed early to get some rest for our upcoming journey. It was off to Tanzania the next day to climb Kilimanjaro! We were met by our guide Future and spent our first night with our 8 porters in tents at the trail head. The 4 day hike up to base camp was fairly easy and gradual. Each day after we reached camp, we would unpack and have a fabulous lunch prepared by our private chef. Then Future would take us up about 200 to 300 meters higher to help us get acclimated. Sleeping in a tent with my dad proved somewhat of a struggle because he has a “slight” snoring problem. Haha! We reached base camp on day 4 and that’s when I really started to feel the altitude. The weather wasn’t as cold as I would have thought, but I was still happy I brought hand warmers. Day 5 we attempted summit. We woke up at 2am to make the climb. The altitude was the hardest part for me as well as the weather increasingly got colder as we rose. Once we reached Gilman’s Point, I started to question if my body would let me go on, but with the encouragement of my dad (who did great by the way) we made it to summit at 9:15am! Uhuru Point is the highest point in Africa and by far one of the most special moments of my life was sharing the view with my dad. Hiking down proved to be far harder than I could have imagined. Besides feeling sick because of the altitude, when we reached base camp, we had to pack up and hike another 3 hours to a lower camp. By this time my dad as well wasn’t feeling well. We were ready to get down! Finally, day 6 we reached the ground floor once again in Tanzania. It wasn’t easy, but what an adventure! 

After a night in a cheap motel in Tanzania, we spent one night in Loitokitok (the town in Kenya where I did my training), to visit with my host mama and so I could meet the new Peace Corps Trainees. My dad was able to meet some of my Kenyan friends as well as my host mama and her children which was really special. I had the pleasure of meeting the new Peace Corps Trainees and introducing myself. I’m hoping that I’ll be going back in July to speak more with them. It was a short trip, but the next morning we headed back to Nairobi for some well deserved R&R. We visited the Nairobi National Musuem and the Maasai Craft Market, then met up with some of my Peace Corps friends for Happy Hour at Brew Bistro.

 Hannah joined us with her family and the next day all of us headed out to the Maasai Mara to start our 3 day safari. Before we even entered the park, we saw herds of elephants, zebras, water buffalo and many other animals. In the Mara we stayed in the Sarova, which after roughing it in the village, was a luxury escape for me. They had a buffet that was to die for! I’m sure I ended up gaining all the weight back I lost on Kilimanjaro. The most amazing part of the safari was seeing 14 lions eating a water buffalo surrounded by hyenas and vultures! It was so nice meeting Hannah’s family and having her meet my dad as well. 

We split ways after goodbyes and my dad and I headed out to my site in Singorwet. The first thing he says when he sees my site is, “Man! This is rural!” I told you so!!! My dad was able to see me teach one of my high school classes. I taught about Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood and let my dad stand up and talk about what it was like being a single parent raising a girl. The class really loved him. We had a traditional Kenyan meal and my mama slaughtered a chicken for him. He was polite and tried everything, even though Kenyan food is not really appetizing. My dad also was able to set up solar panels at my dispensary. He seemed so happy to be contributing! The solar panels are connected to a suitcase that has lights in it, a fetal Doppler and batteries. Since my dispensary doesn’t have electricity this will be a huge improvement for our facility and for the maternity ward we are working on building. My dad taught all the nurses how to use the case. You should have seen the smile on his face! 

My dads trip went too quick and he flew out on the 20^th after a tearful goodbye. I’m going to miss him so much, but feel so humbled that he came all this way to see me. I was able to share another world with my dad and I honestly think it will change him for the better. God has blessed us with so much! 

 

Now I’m in Nairobi for a Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) meeting. The camp is in August and I’m bringing two girls from my community to learn about HIV, family planning and health. This will hopefully empower them to teach the other girls in Singorwet what they learn. July I’ll be seeing my friends for the 4^th, then hopefully going to Peace Corps Training in Loitokitok. After, I have a trip planned to the Kenyan Coast. I’ll be going to Mombasa, Diani and then flying to Zanzibar in Tanzania. August is just as crazy. Besides the camp, I have a GAD (Gender and Development) meeting where I’ll officially be taking over as Chair, and then I have Cross-Sector. Cross-Sector is a educational conference for a week on HIV, Males as Partners and other health topics that I will be taking two Kenyan counterparts from my community to attend. So as you can see, I’m busy busy busy. It’s helping me not to be homesick though and I’m feeling good about all the work I’m doing.

Miss you all back home and keep them emails comin!

Love

Andrea

Guest Blog By My Dad!

So here I am spending my last night in Africa with my daughter. I have had an amazing time and here are a few of the highlights.     

                                                       

We both succeeded in climbing Kilimanjaro, to the top.  5 days to the summit and one day down, we had a great time.

We then went on Safari in the Maasai Mara which is in southeast Kenya. We saw 20 lions feeding on a fresh kill of water buffalo, full grown.  About 100 Hyena’s were off in about a 100 yard perimeter waiting for the lion’s to finish.  Vultures were waiting the trees for the final feeding.  The accommodations we had were also first class.

 

We then went to Andrea’s site where we hung out.  We hiked every day to other villages or towns.  It is so rural out in the middle of Africa it is hard to describe.  I then had the privilege to be a participant in bringing Andrea a solar suitcase for her maternity ward (her project).  It will offer lighting during operations as there is no electricity.  I was also privileged to use my electrical skills in setting it up and giving a class in its operation and maintenance.

I learned a lot of stuff and I hope to tell you all about it more later.   

 Love you all,  Jay

10 Reasons to Hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

Found this on the National Peace Corps Association website: http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/2012/05/10-reasons-to-hire-an-rpcv/

10 Reasons to Hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

By Molly Mattessich on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

From 2009-11, Thomas Lang served as a Business Volunteer in the country of Georgia. Photo: Peace Corps.

In this economy, businesses want to hire the most qualified, creative, intelligent, passionate candidate they can for a new position. We at the National Peace Corps Association think that people who have served in the Peace Corps – in a developing country with countless chances to develop cross-cultural skills and resourcefulness – make some of the best colleagues around. Here’s a short (slightly cheeky) list of why we think you should hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV).

1. We enjoy problem-solving. Need to put together a desk from IKEA, hang paintings, fix the copier, figure out that weird spreadsheet thing? There’s nothing a little duct tape won’t fix.
2. We can talk to anyone and are comfortable anywhere. Whether it’s the village chief, a market woman, a ministry official, or a cranky vendor … we have experience interacting with all kinds of people, in all kinds of settings. And often in a foreign language. Whether your business operates in Niger, Nicaragua, or Niagara Falls, we quickly get the lay of the land and get things done.
3. Save money on the staff retreat. No need to put us up in a fancy hotel on the Vegas strip. We’ll pass on the $16 muffins. Thanks to our modest Peace Corps living allowances, we’ve learned our way around a budget – and will respect yours.
4. Our contributions to the office potluck. Peanut stew, pupusas, Pad Thai, vodka … Congratulations!  Your office gathering just got more interesting.
5. We know our way around flipcharts. In fact, “brainstorming” and “creativity” are our middle names. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers know how to think outside of the box.
6. Overcoming uncertainty is second nature. If there’s one thing that unites Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, it’s this: We got on the plane. Despite the naysayers, we left all that was safe and familiar and departed for an unknown country for 27 months. That takes passion. That takes chutzpah. Teaching a class of unruly teens? Handling clients who keep changing their minds? Piece of cake.
7. We’re goal-oriented. If we can’t figure out how to get it done or who can get it done, we’ll find the kid who will.
8. Patience comes with the territory. After sitting through two years of day-long, under-the-tree meetings, drinking endless cups of tea to see our projects through, even the longest department meetings won’t faze us.
9. We’re pretty healthy. Because we’ve toughed our way through malaria, giardia, boils, schistosomiasis, scary fevers, and weird rashes in places we can’t discuss, we won’t call in sick for a “cold.”
10. We can take casual Friday to a whole new level. We have a certain … confidence.

With less than 200,000 of us in the workforce, we suggest that you hire a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer – before someone else does.
The National Peace Corps Association’s mission is to support RPCVs as they take their next step in changing the world.

Making Progress

I've officially been in site almost a month straight now which is good because I was traveling a lot and will be again when my dad comes in a few weeks. It's important for me to "show face" in my community in order to integrate. I thought I was fully integrated, but then the other day I went on a walk and 3 different people asked me for money! That doesn't usually happen with people I know because they understand that I don't make anything as a Peace Corps Volunteer. So I've been working really hard to be seen in the community these last few weeks by attending church, going to the dispensary every day and just talking with local people around the village.

Here are my most recent updates:

I HAVE ELECTRICITY NOW!!!!! It's truly amazing! You never know how much you miss something until you don't have it. It's not about the actual light, because truthfully I found candle light and my lamp soothing, but just being able to charge is a miracle in itself. I use to have to walk 2 hour round trip to go charge anything and the walk was almost entirely uphill. In the rainy season it's near impossible and keeps me out of my community more than I'd like. We are only the second home in the entire village to get electricity (even the health clinic doesn't have it). It is very much a luxury here and all the credit goes to my mama for pulling it together. Hopefully in the next few years, Singorwet will have full power!

I've finished my proposal for the Singorwet Dispensary Maternity Ward Development Plan! I have one more meeting with the chief tomorrow to go over the proposal, then we will turn it into Peace Corps who will hopefully approve it and put it up on the Peace Corps website so all you back home can donate funds! I'll let you know how to once it's up, but all donations are tax deductible and 100% goes directly to my project. Watch for updates!

Another project I've began working on is starting a scholarship fund for kids in the village. Everyday I walk through the village and see tons of kids out of school! When I ask them why they aren't in school they say because of fees. Primary education (k-8) is free, but there are still PTA fees and the uniform is about 500ksh ($6.25US). Secondary education (9-12) is 8400ksh a term ($105US) and the uniform is about 1500ksh
($18.75US). It's so saddening for me to see. I've decided to sponsor one secondary student with my own money because i work with her mother at the health clinic, but even that is a lot for me when I only make
$180 a month for a living stipend here. Obviously, not everyone can be helped, but I'd really like to start a
scholarship fund here for deserving students. My plan is to have a meeting with the parents of the students that qualify. The parents must contribute at least 200ksh ($2.50) a month to a savings account that can only be used for the students education. They must provide receipts for fees paid, grade marks per term and students must provide register attendance to show that they attended 95% of classes. I'm trying to reach out to teachers in America that might want to do a fundraising for these children with their class. I think it would be a great way for kids in America to connect with children in Africa to gain mutual understanding of one another's cultures. My students in return will send thank you cards to each class, talking about what school
is like here etc and I will provide pictures. Education in a 3rd world country is so important where uneducated children remain a part of the poverty cycle. If you know of any teachers that might want to participate please let me know: aflynnschneider@gmail.com

I have received about 30 solar cookers from Peace Corps and am planning to do a nutrition day in July. I'm going to sell the cookers for 300ksh ($3.75US) each and the money will go toward the maternity ward. I'll be writing a blog update about this when the time comes!

Finally, I've been chosen to be a part of the National Peace Corps Association's Serving Volunteer Advisory Council! The NPCA (http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/) was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in DC. It's a nonprofit organization that supports Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community through networking and mentoring to help guide former volunteers through their continued service back home. Over 50,000 members serve on NPCA. The Serving Volunteer Advisory Council connects NPCA to volunteers that are currently serving all over the world. My responsibilities are as follows:

• Communicate with NPCA staff via Skype at least four times per year
• Suggest topics to address in WorldView magazine and provide general feedback to the NPCA about issues and concerns of currently serving Peace Corps Volunteers
• Answer questions from NPCA staff as they arise
• Share information about the NPCA with the serving Peace Corps Volunteer community

I'm excited to be representing Kenya because I see very little mentioned about our country in WorldView magazine and other social networking sites. I'm hoping by Kenya being involved in the SVAC of NPCA, we will be able to showcase our accomplishments and promote ongoing projects. I'm the first volunteer from Kenya ever to serve on the council and look forward to the work!

 Last update: My dad comes in t-minus 10 days!!!!! Hopefully I can convince him to write an update with me when he gets here!

Cheers from Kenya!

Andrea Chepkosgei 

Rain Rain Go Away

 

Rain in Africa is usually a gift from God. It helps crops grow providing food for villages and fills up local water sources for people and cattle. However, lately in Kenya, the rain has been destructive instead of a blessing. 

We are fortunate in my village of Singorwet, because we are situated on a hill and the water simply flows down into rivers, yet other villages in Kenya have been suffering from the rainfall this year. In Konoin District, Kericho County, three Chemogo primary school pupils died when they were swept away by floods this last Tuesday as they walked home after school. In Bumula District, three family members, among them a six-month-old baby, were killed after the wall of their house collapsed at Myanga! In Homa Bay, traders at Soko Mjinga Market suffered heavy losses after floods swept away their merchandise. Over 40 people were swept away in flash floods in Hells Gate National Park near Navisha as well! The heavy rains in the higher areas has increased the volume of water flowing to the lower areas, causing rivers to burst their banks.

I write this blog to enlist your prayers for those displaced by the floods. Over 60,000 people have had to flee their homes and have been displaced from the floods. Although rain is usually a good thing in Kenya, we could use less of it. Please pray for Kenya!

Mama Africa

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOTHERS AROUND THE WORLD!

I am blessed to have many mothers in my life:

To my Host Country Mama: She took me in as a foreigner and taught me the ways of Kenyan life. She taught me to bucket bath, wash my clothes, cook Kenyan food and light the fire jiko. She helped me study Kiswahili and taught me her local Maasi traditions. She raised her 4 kids basically on her own and adopted me as her eldest daughter. I wouldn't be functioning in Kenyan society without her guidance.

To my Mama Elizabeth (the mother I live with now): Mama Elizabeth is my rock here. She cares for me and has showed me nothing but love. Every morning she brings me hot chai tea in a thermos and listens to me when I have a hard day. She always gives me charcoal for my jiko and alvacados to keep me full and gives me rides to town whenever she goes. I've been so blessed to be placed with such a strong woman who is so fully accepting of me.

To my Grandma, Anna Lee: It wasn't always easy growing up living with my grandmother, but as I've gotten older I've found that much of the cause of the strife we had was because I'm simply a projection of her. I wouldn't be the spiritually driven, compassionate person I am today without her influence. She cared for me since I was a baby, bathing me and feeding me, and when I got older she always had a say in something or another I did , although I wasn't always receptive haha! We spent every summer sleeping in the backyard in a tent together looking up at the stars, telling stories and dreaming of our day swimming in Meadow pool. I'll always cherish the memories of us painting flower pots and me helping in the garden, snapping string beans on the back porch. I've been so lucky to have such an involved grandmother in my life.

 And Finally to my very special Mother, Suzanne: I value our relationship so much because we know how lucky we are to have each other. Growing up my mom wasn't always around and we saw each other less than ideally. I know it was hard for her to not always be apart of my life, but over these last years we've really made up for it. My mom is my best friend and I'm so blessed to have a mom I can talk to about anything.

I'm very sad I wasn't able to spend Mother's Day with my mom this year, but very blessed to have my Mama Elizabeth and many other African mothers surrounding me. So Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers in the world. You are all heros!



 

Rusinga Island Girls Camp

About a week ago I attend my friend Elizabeth's Girl Camp on her island of Rusinga which is in the middle of Lake Victoria. It was a huge success. Over 100 girls showed up and we taught them all how to make reusable sanitary pads, clean their water and general hygiene. After a lunch of rice and beans, we had a huge dance party, which of course was my favorite part! The girls were all such good dancers and had a blast!

The next day all of us volunteers rented the boat and went out to another island, like we have before, to bask in the sun and swim a little. It was really relaxing. That night I headed to Kisumu to hang with some friends that will be leaving Kenya soon. I'm so sad because a lot of my friends are in the class above me and will be leaving for America soon. It will be hard to adjust to them not being here.

This last week has been really boring. I had a problem with my computer so someone took it into Nairobi for me, which means I've not been able to watch movies or shows all week. Luckily I had some books I wanted to read and I've read 3 books in one week! I've also made a TON of jewelery. I get my computer back today thank goodness. The best surprise of this week though was a package from Susan Poor! She put together a picture book of all the places that mean something to me in California like Santa Barbara, Mt. Shasta, San Francisco, and of course Orinda. She even put quotes and lyrics all over it, such as Tony Bennett's I left my Heart in San Francisco. She included 3 new skirts that everyone has been complimenting me on all week! It was so thoughtful and really made me miss home. I think I'm actually homesick for the first time since I got here, almost a year in!

My dad comes June 2nd and it's all I can think about. I can't wait for him to see my village and hear me speak the language. I can't wait for him to experience what it is like to be crammed into the public transportation here. I just really miss my family so much right now, seeing my dad will be exactly what I need. He's always been my rock. I look at pictures of my baby niece Annemarie and can't believe how much she is growing up without me, my cousin Logan is getting married and I just feel like I'm really missing out on my family. So I'm so blessed to have my dad come all this way to see me. I'm so thankful for the support my family gives me and my friends, who are simply extended family. I don't think anyone who hasn't done this can understand what I go through on a daily basis. I went on a walk in my village yesterday and literally 3 people asked me for money...it gets old. Yes, I'm white, but I'm not rich! I make less than the average teacher here and if you think teachers get paid bad in America, move to Africa...

Anyway, enough complaining. I'm obviously so lucky to be having this experience and remind myself everyday that God has blessed me with so much. Thank you again to those of you who continue to support me and keep in touch with me through email. I love and miss you all!