I haven’t written a blog update in awhile because I felt like not much was happening in my life, or at least nothing important enough to share. Until today when I started to reflect on my last few months here and realized how much I really have done in such a short amount of time. Although there is a lot of down time, when I do get out and about I like to think I’m really making a difference.
My health clubs are going great! I’ve got 2 going strong and another 2 in the works so by next week I should have 4 functioning health clubs. So far we’ve talked about assessing our values and how our behavior reflects on those values, we’ve learned about risky behaviors and their consequences and we’ve played a lot of fun games. One day we played “AIDS Attacker” where one person is AIDS and everyone else has a card that says either “has many sexual partners”, “uses condoms every time”, “abstains, says no to sex”, “is faithful to uninfected partner”, “has STD”, or “uses condoms occasionally”. When the “AIDS Attacker” tags someone then everyone has to decide if that person would be vulnerable for HIV depending on what their card read. It was really fun and the kids had a great time running around and tagging each other. I’ve gotten to know the teachers pretty well too and have even had dinner at one of their homes. They are really supportive and it’s nice to be making friends. One of the schools, Emprizza, is a non-profit school that completely supports the children who go there. If you’d like to consider being a donor please contact me and I will give you their information. They are a great organization and not only help vulnerable children attend school, they also have community outreach projects. Another project they are working on is creating a community library so if you would like to donate any books, please send them my way!
I attended World Food Day on October 14th in a village called Nesewa. There were all these different booths set up which were advertising different information to farmers and villagers such as food productivity, livestock keeping and energy efficient cooking methods. They had all this amazing food that I had never tried and some staple Kenyan dishes with twists to make them healthier and tastier. There was dancing from local school children, singing and even acting. The village chief gave a really inspiring speech about how lucky we are here in Matayos to have stable food resources when our neighbors up in the northeast are starving daily. It really makes me feel grateful.
I also attended another event this month for World Hand Washing Day. It was held at a local school in the village of Muyafwa. We taught the children how to properly wash their hands and the importance of using soap. We also showed people how to build affordable hand washing stations out of sticks, a jerry can and some rope. Finally, we treated people who were infected by Jiggers. No, “getting jiggy with it” is not a good thing here in Kenya! In fact, Jiggers affect 10% of the households here in Matayos and only 40% of those infected have been treated due to lack of disinfect chemicals needed to treat them. If you don’t know what Jiggers are, they are tiny bugs about the size of flees that live in dust and lay eggs in your skin. When they grow they are incredibly painful and cause people to loose their limbs. They can easily spread to the hands and other body parts as well. So we went to a few local homes to treat the worst cases and the rest of the people made their way to the school where we had a mass treatment center. I cleaned between the nastiest feet I’ve ever seen.
I went to the Chief’s Baraza about a week ago. A Baraza is a community meeting where people can get together and discuss issues with the leaders. Basically I learned that there are women doing illegal brewing of alcohol in the villages in order to support themselves and the Chief wants to get them away from that by creating some other income generating activities (IGAs). So I’ve come up with an idea to teach the women how to make bracelets with the Kenyan flag on them. I learned how to make them when I did the site shadowing with PCV Louis Vayo. Anyway, the women were really interested so with their help, I’m going to buy the beads this next time I’m in Nairobi, and then I’m going to set up a class to teach them.
Besides that I have been traveling on the weekends when I can. I’ve visited a few other volunteers’ sites and have seen how they live and what they are doing. It always feels good to hang out with Americans because I don’t have to speak slowly or in broken English. My friend Hannah literally lives in a mansion. She has a puppy too so I brought Sangala up to visit and we had a great time pretending we weren’t in Africa in her mansion. I don’t know how Peace Corps set her up with that, but all I know is she’s one lucky volunteer. She even has hot showers! I’ll be back to visit her for sure ;)
Since then, I’ve been trying to stay in site more on the weekends. This coming weekend will be my third straight weekend in site. I’m going a little stir crazy, but staying the weekend really makes a difference. I go to church with local friends and play soccer with some of my students. The weekend is a time when I can really spend quality time with community members and I’m trying to make the most of it. I’ve been running again and that feels good. Oh and I finally bought a full length mirror, which I have to say is an essential item for an only child and I have missed it so. I got a virus on my computer which really freaked me out, although I have to say it is a miracle that the same computer that I’ve had since Freshman year of college is STILL working. Luckily, another computer savvy PCV named Daniel talked me through how to fix in on the phone and it’s working again so I’m soooo relieved. I watch a lot of movies on my computer and also have work related activities, so it would have been a bummer if it could not have been fixed.
Anyway, thank you for those of you who have written or sent me a package here in Matayos! Note to everyone, if you send smaller items in padded envelopes they come quicker. Also, on the customs form where it asks how much the items you are sending cost, lie! The more they cost, the more I have to spend to pick them up. Either way though, keep them coming. Special thanks to Sharron and Sarah for the toys, candy, roach trap, magazines, etc. I practically cried when I opened it! If you are thinking of things to send me, any magazines, old or new, would be great because I want to teach the women headed households how to make paper beads and sell them for profit. Oh and since Thanksgiving is coming up, if you want to send a dried gravy mix, that would be awesome too!
Love and miss you all and hope everything is going well back in the States.
<3, Nekesa
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Introducing Nekesa!
That’s me! My new KiLuyah name is Nekesa. It means the harvest. They gave me the name Nekesa because I came to Kenya around the time of the harvest. Most children are named after the season or time of day they are born. I was born in January and that name means “hunger” or something so I told them I’d prefer to be named after the time I was born a Kenyan. So here I am, Nekesa, just a typical village girl who baths in a bucket, hand washes her clothes and catches her water from the rain. Yup, that’s me now haha. I’m getting use to it and life is very calming here. I have so much time to reflect on myself and who I am, what my values are, who I want to be, what demons I need to face…it really has been a personal journey more than anything else. It’s not always easy being in my mind, but when there’s not much else to do I might as well take the time to reflect I suppose.
The last week has been overall good. Besides the usual malaria sessions I perform with Pembe Tatu, I was able to go see the World Food Program hand out food to those most vulnerable in a local village. The community members vote on the people in their village who are most in need of the food and then those people get to come once a month and collect corn, beans and cooking oil. WFP has sponsors from all over the world and each bag of food is printed with the country donor that sponsored it. It’s good to see America’s flag on a number of the bags. It shows people we really do care. I’m not necessarily for handouts, but I think it’s better than going to bed hungry.
I got in a pretty bad bicycle accident the other day. Don’t worry, I’m ok, but it defiantly gave me a reality shock and I may not be riding my bike for awhile. I live on a main highway, but people bike on it all the time too. So I was following another biker when out of no where a huge bus came by, hit me on the side and I went flying off the side of the road! They didn’t even stop to see if I was ok! Luckily some of the villagers ran to my rescue. I got the wind knocked out of me so I couldn’t even speak. They threw me into their car and rushed me to the Health Center (the same one I work at, which was a little embarrassing). By the time I got there, I was fine except my hand was really messed up. It’s been swollen for about a week now and badly bruised, but honestly I was lucky I just wasn’t more hurt. I really feel like God is watching over me here.
Life is hard here, much more difficult than the typical Americans. I went to a house the other day to pass my condolences on to some parents who had lost their 3 day old baby. I saw the baby’s lifeless little body. It was so hard not to cry right there and then. The parents didn’t know why she had even died. I couldn’t help but think that if this was America, this might not have happened. People don’t have access to the same medical luxuries here. When I got in my accident all they did was put iodine on my scratches and feel my hand to make sure it wasn’t broken. They don’t even have access to x-ray. Anyway, the father said to me, “Everybody says this is all a part of God’s plan, but I don’t understand why God would take my child from me. She didn’t even get to know I exist.” It was truly tragic.
Speaking of the medical system, I went to help deliver a baby the other day and was so excited, but the mother was having trouble dilating (they don’t have drugs to induce that here or even pain medication), so she had to be referred to the nearest city. They didn’t have a personal vehicle so they had to take the local transport! The matatu is the local transport and it’s so crowded there are people sitting on top of one another, the drivers drive like they are high on glue and it always smells like armpit and fish in there…I can’t imagine being in labor on one. Anyway, I don’t want to hear any complaining out of American mothers in labor ever again…just imagine giving birth in Africa. There’s one labor room and a bunk room for the new mothers. The babies don’t even have cribs!
So on the bright side I have began plans to start my Health Club at the local girls boarding high school and I’m really excited! The Guidance Counselor there is going to help me. Next week I’m going in to promote the club and hopefully girls will sign up. I’ll be teaching them everything from HIV/AIDS and STI awareness to the importance of having self-esteem, goal setting, time management, relationships, reproductive health and many more important topics. I’m planning on doing a lot of creative learning through art and theater because they don’t get a lot of that in school. Schools here are very exam centered and they don’t get anytime to do any fun activities. This is also where I’m hoping to start my soccer team. I think it will be a good way to have fun and also incorporate health. I’m really looking forward to this because I think it will give me something to do that will hopefully really make a difference in these girls lives.
Anywhoooo, miss you all back home! Thank you to all of you who have been reading my blog. I also want to say to my Cousin Logan, congratulations again! Love and miss you!
Sincerely,
Nekesa
xo
The last week has been overall good. Besides the usual malaria sessions I perform with Pembe Tatu, I was able to go see the World Food Program hand out food to those most vulnerable in a local village. The community members vote on the people in their village who are most in need of the food and then those people get to come once a month and collect corn, beans and cooking oil. WFP has sponsors from all over the world and each bag of food is printed with the country donor that sponsored it. It’s good to see America’s flag on a number of the bags. It shows people we really do care. I’m not necessarily for handouts, but I think it’s better than going to bed hungry.
I got in a pretty bad bicycle accident the other day. Don’t worry, I’m ok, but it defiantly gave me a reality shock and I may not be riding my bike for awhile. I live on a main highway, but people bike on it all the time too. So I was following another biker when out of no where a huge bus came by, hit me on the side and I went flying off the side of the road! They didn’t even stop to see if I was ok! Luckily some of the villagers ran to my rescue. I got the wind knocked out of me so I couldn’t even speak. They threw me into their car and rushed me to the Health Center (the same one I work at, which was a little embarrassing). By the time I got there, I was fine except my hand was really messed up. It’s been swollen for about a week now and badly bruised, but honestly I was lucky I just wasn’t more hurt. I really feel like God is watching over me here.
Life is hard here, much more difficult than the typical Americans. I went to a house the other day to pass my condolences on to some parents who had lost their 3 day old baby. I saw the baby’s lifeless little body. It was so hard not to cry right there and then. The parents didn’t know why she had even died. I couldn’t help but think that if this was America, this might not have happened. People don’t have access to the same medical luxuries here. When I got in my accident all they did was put iodine on my scratches and feel my hand to make sure it wasn’t broken. They don’t even have access to x-ray. Anyway, the father said to me, “Everybody says this is all a part of God’s plan, but I don’t understand why God would take my child from me. She didn’t even get to know I exist.” It was truly tragic.
Speaking of the medical system, I went to help deliver a baby the other day and was so excited, but the mother was having trouble dilating (they don’t have drugs to induce that here or even pain medication), so she had to be referred to the nearest city. They didn’t have a personal vehicle so they had to take the local transport! The matatu is the local transport and it’s so crowded there are people sitting on top of one another, the drivers drive like they are high on glue and it always smells like armpit and fish in there…I can’t imagine being in labor on one. Anyway, I don’t want to hear any complaining out of American mothers in labor ever again…just imagine giving birth in Africa. There’s one labor room and a bunk room for the new mothers. The babies don’t even have cribs!
So on the bright side I have began plans to start my Health Club at the local girls boarding high school and I’m really excited! The Guidance Counselor there is going to help me. Next week I’m going in to promote the club and hopefully girls will sign up. I’ll be teaching them everything from HIV/AIDS and STI awareness to the importance of having self-esteem, goal setting, time management, relationships, reproductive health and many more important topics. I’m planning on doing a lot of creative learning through art and theater because they don’t get a lot of that in school. Schools here are very exam centered and they don’t get anytime to do any fun activities. This is also where I’m hoping to start my soccer team. I think it will be a good way to have fun and also incorporate health. I’m really looking forward to this because I think it will give me something to do that will hopefully really make a difference in these girls lives.
Anywhoooo, miss you all back home! Thank you to all of you who have been reading my blog. I also want to say to my Cousin Logan, congratulations again! Love and miss you!
Sincerely,
Nekesa
xo
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Village Life
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!
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, 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!
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