Wow I have been in Kenya for just under three weeks!
I have had a very eventful week (it is hard not to as a foreigner emerged in a strange culture). I have learned so much. I will start off by relaying to you this really exciting and encouraging story. Last weekend we (the AVs) went to Eldoret, and unfortunately, my roommate, Libby, lost her ipod on the journey. This was so sad, as so many memories hve already been made surrounding that ipod and the handy speakers that allow us all to enjoy. On Teusday Sophie and I walked into Lessos in order to buy more supplies. As I have visited multiple cities of varying sizes and demographics, I have observed that the Kenyan people, no matter where they're from, are friendly. This has been a bit of a shock to me, because the people in Lessos, while friendly and open compared to western standards, are cold in light of the greater Kenyan community. As Sophie and I made our way back to the school, my observation turned to frustration, and I decided to test the town by saying "Jambo" to everyone I saw (you may be surprised to note that the most petulent-looking people most often had the warmest responses). As I stocked out of town, aggressivly saying Jambo to everyone, a lady beckoned me into her shop. Taken aback, I was reluctant, not in the mood, but Sophie and I followed. We made casual conversation for seconds before she slyly asked if we had lost anything. She wasn't familiar with the ipod, but recognised MP3 player, and my descriptions of stars suck on it. She faltered long enough for Sophie and I to ask her whether she had it in her possetion at least five times. She went on smiling (I couldn't figure out if she was gong to demand some sort of compensation). Finally she went around her counter and pulled it out. Sophie and I were electric. She said she didn't want anything in return, but finally accepted our money (we plan to opt for her shop in the future). It just so happened that when we got out of the taxi to Eldoret, and chose a matatu instead, the ipod had slipped out of Libby's pocket in front of her store. Boy was I grounded, thrown off my high-jambo saying horse.
A similar situation happened yesterday. We are in Kisumu (city of Obama and they know it) this weekend and in order to get here, we hopped a matatu with three boys stationed at a school near us. The matatu needed to be looked at, so we were tranfered to another at a town, about an hour into our (uncomfortable, but very attractive) journey. I got out first, as I had been sitting in the front (stratyegically choen by me... far higher level of comfort than those in back), I was the first out and the first to choose the front of the next matatu. There was comotoin behind me, and since my colleagues hadn't joined me, I went to investigate. Apparently, Immy had her phone stolen, and a taxi driver among other towns people claimed that they saw the woman that had done it. The taxi driver (not a car taxi, but motorcycle) offered to go after her, so James (an AV) jumped on back with him. A couple minutes later, Jack went down the road to try and spot James, and another taxi/motorcycle driver offered to give him a lift. I couldn't help but laughing despite the circumstances when I learned all this. It was so funny and bizarre. James returned about 10 minutes later, and made his way through the crowd that had gathered to stare for their friday afternoon entertainment. He had several scratches on his arm. During the intensity of the race, the taxi driver had taken a turn too quickly and both he and James flew off. Neither was hurt badly, but the taxi driver was worse off. On top of everything, the taxi driver didn't demand to be paid, and said he had just wanted to help. Thankfully, James did pay him. Jack returned a bit later and the driver wasn't as generous. It goes both ways.
Yet again, I have so much to say, but money and time confine me. Until next week.
Nora
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Nine Days in Kenya
Hey Everyone!!!
I have finally managed internet access. I am in the town of Lessos, a 5 minute walk from my school: Lessos Educations Center. It is a private bording school, and today is my second day teaching. Yes, teaching, not sitting on the sidelines. I have a total of 17 classes, 4 secondary (high school) and 13 primary. Today I had 2 early P.E. classes with standards (grades) 1 and 4. It has been amazing how much young kids love mzungos (whites). They are always touching us and chasing us down the road. The other day my roommates (Immy, Libby, and Sophie) and I were walking back after having shopped for some food supplies, and a group of small kids chirped in chorus from about 50 yards away: ''How are you?''. I yelled back ''Fine. How are you?'', to which they screamed and ran away. Very funny. So far the attention has not gottan old and I doubt it will.
In the secondary school, I have a math, english, and history class. I say this in the singular form, because I will only be teaching each subject once a week, and the full time teacher eill be covering it the rest of the time. This means that I have to come to each class prepared to ask them where they left off, and then progress form there. So far I have only taught primary Creative Arts and P.E. I started to plan my history lesson yesterday, which I was excited about, feeling that I could assist the most in this arena. The chapter is ''The History of Communication and Transport''. Alright. I started to read through it, and I felt my confidence falter. It listed each animal that has been used for transport and where. It then expanded upon the develpoment of wheels... Very straightforward. Hard to compare. What is the relevance for this information today? It will be much harder than I thought to encourage the students to question the ideas presented, as they are not ideas, but simply fact. Very challenging, but I am up to it and I have until monday afternoon to expand upon my initial ideas.
The Head Teacher is very enthusiastic about having AV's (people in our program). It seems that they have had excelent AV's in the past, so we have a high standard to breach. The other teachers do not show their enthusiasm so readily, although most have been nice and welcoming. I have been trying to attend the daily tea in the ''teachers lounge'' in order to strike up conversations with the teachers, but I have found my inquires most often lead to a dead end. However, they find me very funny. I'm not sure I'm laughing with them.
Our house is in the middle of the school, and I've been woken up around 6 every day by children running about (they wake up at 4). I have no running water or shelves in my room, but I have found the house to be comfortable. Perhaps this is because I have avoided the shower... but in any case. Dishes have become a routine for us, although laundry is still a bit of a struggle.
I have so much to say, but I will wait to expand for this weekend. All AV's are going to the city Eldoret for a nice shower, food, etc. There I will have fast and easy internet access.
I am reminded of you all constantly. Little things. Especially Bobbi...
I love it here, but I am being safe and forward thinking. I miss you all, but not too much stay in touch. My mailing address is:
Nora Ryan
Lessos Education Center
Box 335
Lessos 30302
Kenya
Cheers.
Nora
I have finally managed internet access. I am in the town of Lessos, a 5 minute walk from my school: Lessos Educations Center. It is a private bording school, and today is my second day teaching. Yes, teaching, not sitting on the sidelines. I have a total of 17 classes, 4 secondary (high school) and 13 primary. Today I had 2 early P.E. classes with standards (grades) 1 and 4. It has been amazing how much young kids love mzungos (whites). They are always touching us and chasing us down the road. The other day my roommates (Immy, Libby, and Sophie) and I were walking back after having shopped for some food supplies, and a group of small kids chirped in chorus from about 50 yards away: ''How are you?''. I yelled back ''Fine. How are you?'', to which they screamed and ran away. Very funny. So far the attention has not gottan old and I doubt it will.
In the secondary school, I have a math, english, and history class. I say this in the singular form, because I will only be teaching each subject once a week, and the full time teacher eill be covering it the rest of the time. This means that I have to come to each class prepared to ask them where they left off, and then progress form there. So far I have only taught primary Creative Arts and P.E. I started to plan my history lesson yesterday, which I was excited about, feeling that I could assist the most in this arena. The chapter is ''The History of Communication and Transport''. Alright. I started to read through it, and I felt my confidence falter. It listed each animal that has been used for transport and where. It then expanded upon the develpoment of wheels... Very straightforward. Hard to compare. What is the relevance for this information today? It will be much harder than I thought to encourage the students to question the ideas presented, as they are not ideas, but simply fact. Very challenging, but I am up to it and I have until monday afternoon to expand upon my initial ideas.
The Head Teacher is very enthusiastic about having AV's (people in our program). It seems that they have had excelent AV's in the past, so we have a high standard to breach. The other teachers do not show their enthusiasm so readily, although most have been nice and welcoming. I have been trying to attend the daily tea in the ''teachers lounge'' in order to strike up conversations with the teachers, but I have found my inquires most often lead to a dead end. However, they find me very funny. I'm not sure I'm laughing with them.
Our house is in the middle of the school, and I've been woken up around 6 every day by children running about (they wake up at 4). I have no running water or shelves in my room, but I have found the house to be comfortable. Perhaps this is because I have avoided the shower... but in any case. Dishes have become a routine for us, although laundry is still a bit of a struggle.
I have so much to say, but I will wait to expand for this weekend. All AV's are going to the city Eldoret for a nice shower, food, etc. There I will have fast and easy internet access.
I am reminded of you all constantly. Little things. Especially Bobbi...
I love it here, but I am being safe and forward thinking. I miss you all, but not too much stay in touch. My mailing address is:
Nora Ryan
Lessos Education Center
Box 335
Lessos 30302
Kenya
Cheers.
Nora
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