Taught the kids about love and kindness. They now come to me pointing to their check wanting a kiss and a hug in the morning.
Taught them to stand in line for food and taking turns( still not perfect but working on it)
Showed the teachers, teaching KSL does not have to be scary.
Brought Life skills and HIV education to my school.
Got my Headmaster to agree, teaching condoms in school is a good thing.
Unlike previous years, we were able to send 7 out of 15 kids to secondary school. (If not for the high score in KSL, most would not have made it.)
Opened the community’s eyes to our students. Now people come up to my kids and greet them.
Got some community members interested in KSL.
Worked with the VCT in interpreting and Teaching KSL.
Taught my girls about self defense and saying no to boys
Brought 3 students and 1 deaf teacher to Camp Glow to learn and experience life outside school.
Changed some teacher’s view on beating and gave alternatives to beating
Taught my best friend florence about standards when dating
Taught the grounds keeper how to properly take care of a dog( again still working on it)
Friday, July 22, 2011
Rough Day, Better Night
I love my students. I mean I really love my students. If I could bring them all with me to America I would. Although not sure if my mom would like 250 grandkids. They make even the worst day better. I know that whatever crap I go through with my teachers, they are always there to support me and comfort me and today I needed the comfort. It all started with taking 53 of my student on a field trip to the local tea factory…alone! I guess no other teacher could be bothered to show up on time. But they are my kids and so they tried really hard to make it stress free for me. We had fun and it was a great learning experience for them. Upon returning, I purchased oranges and sweets for them. I handed it out and felt ready to pass out I was so tired. Although they were on their best behavior, Im like a mother hen when it comes to them and so just watching after them is tiring. Haha. As I was headed home, I stopped by my class to make sure all was well. I noticed 3 of the teachers all in class 7. I call them the 3 musketeers for Satan. They don’t really like me much. From the 1st yr, I’ve had problems with Satan’s musketeers. They are rude to me, disrespectful and undermine me in front of students and teachers. They treat me like a student and if they could get away with it, they wouldn’t think twice to taking a cane to me. One teacher was handing one of my oranges to a student who didn’t go on the field trip. I took it from her and asked what was up? Another teacher had an orange in her hand and was refusing to give it to the student. She said it was exam time, not eating time. I said ok, give the orange back to the student and tell them to put it in their desks. Problem solved…..nope. The teacher refused to talk with me and to give the student back the orange. Ok maybe Im more like a mama lion then a mama hen when it comes to my kids. I have to be since Satan’s musketeers beat the kids any chance they get and treat them like they are sub human. So I followed her trying to talk with her. No luck. She decided it would be better to act like a child then an adult. I knew I wasn’t getting anywhere with her and I was getting upset, I probably used some unlady like language. Good thing my students are deaf. So I left to cool off. Did the problem get resolved? Nope not even close.
I know my stay here may not change anything right now. But how can I leave knowing my babies have to stay with Satan’s musketeers? It breaks my heart knowing Im leaving and they are staying here. These teachers don’t ever show these students any kindness. Their relationship I could probably liken to slave and master. With 4 months left and leaning towards not extending, Im thinking back on my experience and wondering if I did enough for my students. Did I make enough of an impact that they will remember me and not the bad teachers who oppress them? Will they try to go for secondary school or even university? Or will they give up and listen to the musketeers and just think primary school is enough?
Later that night I went up to the school and take some of the young ones back to the dorms. The minute I got to the dinning hall, I was surrounded by my students, giving me hugs and kisses. My kids always know what makes me feel better. I played with them a bit and then took the babies to bed. I was in the girls dorm and the older girls took me to a corner and asked what are Satan’s musketeers fighting with me about? I didn’t want to cause problems so I said I don’t know and just because I have problems with them, doesn’t mean they should. The girls then went one by one telling me how they want the 3 musketeers out and me to stay, how they quarrel with them and beat them and the students don’t know why. I know I was getting into dangerous waters and didn’t want to bad mouth the teachers in front of the children. So I told them, I understood their issues and I’ll try to be there for them but that I was leaving in Dec. I also told them they can all be stronger and prove to the musketeers they are smart and can go to college. That this too shall pass. If they were patient and continued their studies and not let the musketeers get to them, they had a chance of going to secondary school. I encouraged them to prove to themselves and the other teachers that children who are deaf CAN go to secondary school and university. I told them I loved them and then wished them sweet dreams.
I love my students and I think they know that. Im just going to have to think positive that it’s enough.
I know my stay here may not change anything right now. But how can I leave knowing my babies have to stay with Satan’s musketeers? It breaks my heart knowing Im leaving and they are staying here. These teachers don’t ever show these students any kindness. Their relationship I could probably liken to slave and master. With 4 months left and leaning towards not extending, Im thinking back on my experience and wondering if I did enough for my students. Did I make enough of an impact that they will remember me and not the bad teachers who oppress them? Will they try to go for secondary school or even university? Or will they give up and listen to the musketeers and just think primary school is enough?
Later that night I went up to the school and take some of the young ones back to the dorms. The minute I got to the dinning hall, I was surrounded by my students, giving me hugs and kisses. My kids always know what makes me feel better. I played with them a bit and then took the babies to bed. I was in the girls dorm and the older girls took me to a corner and asked what are Satan’s musketeers fighting with me about? I didn’t want to cause problems so I said I don’t know and just because I have problems with them, doesn’t mean they should. The girls then went one by one telling me how they want the 3 musketeers out and me to stay, how they quarrel with them and beat them and the students don’t know why. I know I was getting into dangerous waters and didn’t want to bad mouth the teachers in front of the children. So I told them, I understood their issues and I’ll try to be there for them but that I was leaving in Dec. I also told them they can all be stronger and prove to the musketeers they are smart and can go to college. That this too shall pass. If they were patient and continued their studies and not let the musketeers get to them, they had a chance of going to secondary school. I encouraged them to prove to themselves and the other teachers that children who are deaf CAN go to secondary school and university. I told them I loved them and then wished them sweet dreams.
I love my students and I think they know that. Im just going to have to think positive that it’s enough.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
What I love about Kenya
Working in a 3rd world country where corruption, abuse and tribalism is common, can wear a person down. In order to survive, one has to keep looking for the positive. Well here’s my list of my positives.
What I love about Kenya
• Mama Rono and her hour long stories
• Florence, my Kenyan sister and best friend
• The beautiful landscape. Sometimes I still can’t believe Im in Kenya
• My neighbors and the fact that they really will give me a cup of sugar or an egg when I ask.
• The market mamas and how they have taken me in as a daughter
• My students and the bond I have formed with them
• The struggles and frustrations I have faced here and how they have changed me, for the better and some for the worse
• My Paka…even when he’s a jackass eating all of my butter and destroying my milk cartons
• The time spent with my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and the family we have made
• My garden
• The amazing places I have been able to explore
• The Kenyan women and the power and strength they have
• The price of everything, except for customs and Kenya power everything is super cheap, Passion fruit, pineapples, cloth.
• Picking out material and making my own clothes
• Wearing sandals year round
• Baking on the Jeko oven and making spaghetti from scratch
• Simplicity of life here
What I love about Kenya
• Mama Rono and her hour long stories
• Florence, my Kenyan sister and best friend
• The beautiful landscape. Sometimes I still can’t believe Im in Kenya
• My neighbors and the fact that they really will give me a cup of sugar or an egg when I ask.
• The market mamas and how they have taken me in as a daughter
• My students and the bond I have formed with them
• The struggles and frustrations I have faced here and how they have changed me, for the better and some for the worse
• My Paka…even when he’s a jackass eating all of my butter and destroying my milk cartons
• The time spent with my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and the family we have made
• My garden
• The amazing places I have been able to explore
• The Kenyan women and the power and strength they have
• The price of everything, except for customs and Kenya power everything is super cheap, Passion fruit, pineapples, cloth.
• Picking out material and making my own clothes
• Wearing sandals year round
• Baking on the Jeko oven and making spaghetti from scratch
• Simplicity of life here
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