One year Anniversary!

Today is November 4th. For most of you this is a day just like any other day, nothing special about it or important, but for me it marks my one year I have been in Kenya. This year has given me ups and downs…. Ok more downs than ups but it was still a year of learning, trying new things( I can now eat ugali and sukuma wiki and actually enjoy it) and making a difference. However, for most of us PCV’s actually witnessing the change we have set in motion does not happen till 10 sometimes 15 yrs later. But something happened today. Something I couldn’t believe ,something that helped make this one year anniversary memorable. I GOT MARRIED!

Just kidding. Haha But something did happen. I don’t remember if I wrote about it but in the beginning of the year, I went to a town called Kapkatet to visit a school my counter part recommended. The head mistress found out some of her students were recently diagnosed with HIV and asked me if I could do a presentation on it for the teachers. The stigma surrounding HIV is so bad, people fear touching someone who is positive. So I agreed and felt totally out of my element. I mean I had dropped out of my HIV class in college because it was to much science and here I was going to teach a class on it. I don’t know if the words coming out of my mouth were total bullshit or just plain luck but we ended up having a great presentation. I was able to correct some of the myths they had regarding people who are HIV +. However, after the presentation, I got busy with school and the teacher drama and never went back…until today. I went to greet the headmistress again and as we sat down for tea she told me what that simple presentation had done for her school. She had a boy who was positive and he’s always been a fighter. I guess the teachers were too scared to deal with him so he got no discipline. Now because of my presentation, the teachers are no longer scared of him and he has stopped fighting with the other kids. I can’t even describe the joy I felt as she was telling me the story. This whole year has been one full of stress, frustration and anger and at times I was actually asking myself why am I here? But on the one year anniversary I learn I am actually making a difference. Now if only I can get my students to pass KSL. Haha. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ending to a crappy year. I am looking forward now with excitement and impatient longing .