Lessons so Far

So for the next 2 months, its lessons, lessons, lessons. I’m now in a village called Machakos. It’s right outside Nairobi. I will spend 2 weeks here. 2 weeks of intense training for the deaf education trainees. We spend one week interacting with students at a deaf school here and another week of technical training. So far I have had language lessons and culture lessons, lessons on Peace Corps and lessons on health and safety. And its only been 2 ½ weeks since I have been in country. Here are some lessons I have learned so far…

The people here are indirect so you will never know what they are really thinking
They do not talk about sex, pregnancy, or relationships with the opposite sex. The children learn they have a sibling when they go to the hospital where mama is staying because she is “sick” and they are introduced to a baby.
The locals really do believe on communal sharing. So what’s your is theirs.
It’s not rude to bargain and if you want to leave the market with some money, you have to.
Sellers will boost the price way up just because you are a mzungu.
The mamas are in charge. Everyone is scared of the mamas. You have a problem? Go find a mama.
You have to be firm when saying NO to street kids and anyone else who is asking for things because saying si leo- not today- does not work.
To lie is to survive. It is ok to lie when you don’t have an answer for someone who wants to barrow something, marry you for a visa or any other strange request.

And the most important lesson of all….
You will eventually have to use the choo. There is no getting around it so suck it up and squat.