PHOTOS of my visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, the Giraffe Center, and Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
PHOTOS of my school excursion to Maasai Mara Reserve, Kenya.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Things I'm starting to miss
Going to the movie theater
Mac and Cheese
CHEESE! (I now go to the grocery store pretending to contemplate which cheese to buy so I can sample them all, then I hastily leave with an excuse. Cheese is expensive here.)
Taco Bell
Post paid cell phones
Driving a car
Not getting stolen from. My phone was most likely stolen a few weeks ago. I have a new security device which is a string attached to my new phone so that I can secure it to my body. Also, a few days ago, my matatu got stuck in traffic so I had to walk into town in the rain. It was crowded and someone managed to unzip my backpack. Luckily, nothing was stolen, but I resorted to walking with my backpack on my front, like a tourist, and it was traumatizing.
There is a huge amount of cutting. In the grand United States, there is a rule called “First come, first served.” And it means, wait your turn in line or else you’re a jerk. Here, the rule is: “Everyman for himself.” Example: I am directly in front of the window of a small shop, buying airtime, holding out my money. A man walks up, squeezes his hand between myself and the window and orders something. AND THE WORKER ASSISTS HIM! I worked in retail and always kept an eye on who deserved to be served next. And if there was a discrepancy, I would not allow the selfish person the luxury of being served out of turn. Even at the hospital, a man walked past everyone in a queue, and I, being the next in line, took up as much space as possible to ward him off. When it came to be my turn, I ran to the counter, but he nudged his way in and was served. I, of course, protested, and was actually turned down.
Mac and Cheese
CHEESE! (I now go to the grocery store pretending to contemplate which cheese to buy so I can sample them all, then I hastily leave with an excuse. Cheese is expensive here.)
Taco Bell
Post paid cell phones
Driving a car
Not getting stolen from. My phone was most likely stolen a few weeks ago. I have a new security device which is a string attached to my new phone so that I can secure it to my body. Also, a few days ago, my matatu got stuck in traffic so I had to walk into town in the rain. It was crowded and someone managed to unzip my backpack. Luckily, nothing was stolen, but I resorted to walking with my backpack on my front, like a tourist, and it was traumatizing.
There is a huge amount of cutting. In the grand United States, there is a rule called “First come, first served.” And it means, wait your turn in line or else you’re a jerk. Here, the rule is: “Everyman for himself.” Example: I am directly in front of the window of a small shop, buying airtime, holding out my money. A man walks up, squeezes his hand between myself and the window and orders something. AND THE WORKER ASSISTS HIM! I worked in retail and always kept an eye on who deserved to be served next. And if there was a discrepancy, I would not allow the selfish person the luxury of being served out of turn. Even at the hospital, a man walked past everyone in a queue, and I, being the next in line, took up as much space as possible to ward him off. When it came to be my turn, I ran to the counter, but he nudged his way in and was served. I, of course, protested, and was actually turned down.
October… oops.
Kisumu
In October, our class went on a excursion to Kisumu, Kenya, to study rural development. Kisumu is on Lake Victoria (one of the largest lakes in the world behind the great lakes) in western Kenya. Kisumu is Kenya’s second largest city, although you wouldn’t believe it.
We went to the YWCA in Kisumu and talked about development. Then we went to St. Anne's Orphanage, a community of old women that take care of young children who have lost parents due to HIV/AIDS. The children were adorable. They had a lot of fun touching my skin. We met with a woman with AIDS and TB. She was so weak. Her husband had kicked her out of her house and then she was chased out of her community. She is now living with her mother and daughter. Her food is from USAID.
Then next day we went to a fishing community. But I wasn’t really into that because I don’t like fish of the smell and the huge dead fish was getting to me.
We went to Mama Sarah’s house (Barack Obama’s grandmother), but unfortunately she was at a funeral. But we were able to talk to her daughter. We saw pictures of young Barack and his father’s grave.
Also on the trip, I met a wonderful woman named Zeryn who invited me back to work on pots with her. I hope I am going to return to Kisumu the last week I am in Kenya to make traditional Luo pots!
Zeryn asked me if I sell my pots in the U.S. I said no, it was just a hobby. In fact, usually give my pots away. Then I realized that her life had no room for hobbies. It was her livelihood. I am fortunate to have hobbies. Hobbies are a privilege.
Finally, we went to a Bondo district school to help build a floor in a classroom. It was a long day in the sun, digging up rocks, placing them as the base of the floor, and filling in the cracks with dirt. We didn't finish, but it was an accomplishment.
Nairobi
On Halloween, I went to the Basket of Hope orphanage with Paloma to make masks with the eight children and “carve pumpkins” (coloring the paper pumpkins that I had cut out). The children were so excited. Afterward, Tegan and I bought our own pumpkin and carved it into the most wonderful jack-o-lantern on the continent.
In October, our class went on a excursion to Kisumu, Kenya, to study rural development. Kisumu is on Lake Victoria (one of the largest lakes in the world behind the great lakes) in western Kenya. Kisumu is Kenya’s second largest city, although you wouldn’t believe it.
We went to the YWCA in Kisumu and talked about development. Then we went to St. Anne's Orphanage, a community of old women that take care of young children who have lost parents due to HIV/AIDS. The children were adorable. They had a lot of fun touching my skin. We met with a woman with AIDS and TB. She was so weak. Her husband had kicked her out of her house and then she was chased out of her community. She is now living with her mother and daughter. Her food is from USAID.
Then next day we went to a fishing community. But I wasn’t really into that because I don’t like fish of the smell and the huge dead fish was getting to me.
We went to Mama Sarah’s house (Barack Obama’s grandmother), but unfortunately she was at a funeral. But we were able to talk to her daughter. We saw pictures of young Barack and his father’s grave.
Also on the trip, I met a wonderful woman named Zeryn who invited me back to work on pots with her. I hope I am going to return to Kisumu the last week I am in Kenya to make traditional Luo pots!
Zeryn asked me if I sell my pots in the U.S. I said no, it was just a hobby. In fact, usually give my pots away. Then I realized that her life had no room for hobbies. It was her livelihood. I am fortunate to have hobbies. Hobbies are a privilege.
Finally, we went to a Bondo district school to help build a floor in a classroom. It was a long day in the sun, digging up rocks, placing them as the base of the floor, and filling in the cracks with dirt. We didn't finish, but it was an accomplishment.
Nairobi
On Halloween, I went to the Basket of Hope orphanage with Paloma to make masks with the eight children and “carve pumpkins” (coloring the paper pumpkins that I had cut out). The children were so excited. Afterward, Tegan and I bought our own pumpkin and carved it into the most wonderful jack-o-lantern on the continent.
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