I had a good day today. The teacher still isn’t talking to me but at least I am making some head way with my KSL class. For the last week I have been trying to teach them SOV sentence structure. For those of you who don’t know it’s “ Subject, Object Verb” So an English sentence would be 'the boy played with the ball.' But in KSL its BOY BALL PLAY//. This has been a difficult concept for the students. So for the past week I have been making them write 10 sentences every day in SOV format. When I get the books back its BANANA MOTHER SISTER// or GIRL RUN JUMP// So its been tedious but today I had a breakthrough! About half of the students are writing perfect SOV sentences. So, I have assigned them to their classmates who aren't getting to help them. I guess I don’t totally fail as a teacher. After the class however, things started to go downhill. I have been fighting a cold and it just got worse as the day went on so I went home an slept, missing my PE and art class. But in the end I would still consider it a good day.
P.S. I think my cold has finally gotten to me. I actually forgot how old I was just now. I had to take out a calculator and do the math. This sucks. Im going to bed.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Homesick and just plain sick..not a good combination
I started out on this dreary rainy Monday, feeling sick. I had an elephant size migraine and my throat was scratchy and sore. I definitely didn’t want to teach today. But then I got a surprise call from a friend seeing if I was feeling ok and my mood changed to deliriously happy. I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. I met up with some of the other teachers in our close knit heaping club and even their weird mood couldn’t change mine. While hanging out in the art room I made a comment about getting 4 pineapples for 50ksh instead of the normal price of 100ksh for 4. And one of my friends literally jumps down my throat about how I always think Kenyans are conning me, which was not my intent at all. I tried to explain to her, that was not what my comment was about but yes, I have had some situations where the tout in the matatu or the mama in the market sees a mzungu and immediately bumps the price up 3x the regular amount. So, do I always think someone is conning me? No, but I have had to become weary of certain people. She is one of the teacher who when in a mood, is difficult to talk with so I told her polity, I was in a good mood today and I didn’t want to ruin it so I was going to leave. Well, as hard as I tried, I had lost my good mood and couldn’t find it after that. It would tease me and return when I was with the kids but then it would disappear again. I did not talk with my friend for the rest of the day. After school it started to rain, so I went home and decided maybe watching a movie would improve my mood. I should have chosen something with hot guys, or things that transformed, or blood and guts. But no, what did I choose? Love Actually! I was literally in tears by the end missing my friends and family. Now on top of not feeling so hot, I am homesick. This Monday blows. I have given up on movies and now I am listening to my music, eating top roman( or at least Kenya’s version of it) chicken flavor, imagining it is my moms chicken noodle soup. The one that comes in a can, but she mixes like 3 versions of it so you get three types of noodles and different textures of chicken. Ahh home. LOL. So I am going to get back to my music and my wanna be chicken soup and hope that tomorrow is a better day.
In need of a guy
Yesterday I went to Kericho where I had to deal with the dreaded Kenya Power company. They wanted me to pay 1,100ksh for one month of electricity. Except that one month? I was only living in my house for 1 week, So Off I went try to haggle with them. When we got to pineapple Road( this road that is in-between kericho and Litien. Many mamas sell pineapple there. No it’s really not called pineapple road but I don’t know how to say the real name) we picked up another passenger who sat in the front with me. We started talking about what I thought of Kenya, what did I do there, How long I was there for etc. Nice conversation, nice guy. He was another teacher at one of the local schools in the area. When we get to Kericho, we got off at the same spot and he walked me to where my friend was going to pick me up. He then started asking me questions like was I dating, did I have a boyfriend. I answered his questions and said goodbye. When I told my friend, she asked if I had gotten his number since he seemed interested in me. I said no which then led her to call me a stupid mzungu. Maybe I was stupid for not getting his number but the whole incident made me miss the simplicity of my friendships with guys back home more than it made me want a Kenyan boyfriend. Everytime I tell my friends I met someone, they immediately ask was he cute? Did I get a number? When will I see him again? Here in Kenya, it’s difficult to have a friend who is a male. It's even difficult to have a guy in your house since the 1st thought that comes to the communities mind is sex. My good friend was friends with her boyfriend for 3 days before it turned into something more. I have friends aplenty here in Kenya, but they are all female friends. I am in desperate need of a friendship where half of it is testosterone. There are times when I just want a guys perspective on things. But lately I have found it difficult since the minute I find a guy who has the potential to be friends, he switches on me and tells me he has feelings for me. I just want a a plain and simple friendship with a guy. Is that too much to ask for? Apparently it is in Kenya.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Happy Mothers Day!
Dear mom,
It’s mothers day today and this mothers day, I am separated by an ocean from you. I can’t make a surprise visit home or help you in your garden( although this is the first time in 8 years that I finally have a legitimate excuse to get out of it). So the least I can do is tell you how much you mean to me…as well as update my blog which you have been bugging me to do for the last month. So mom, this is for you. :-) I may be a whole continent away but every time I work in my garden, I picture you doing the same in yours and I feel closer somehow. How funny is it that I used to hate working in your garden and now living in Kenya, Im in love with mine. Must be some weird mom magic. You are my inspiration, my hero, and my best friend. You have single handedly raised 3 beautiful girls and that alone is an accomplishment because I know we haven’t been the easiest kids to raise( I swear you deserve a medal for some of the stuff we have put you through).But we are who we are today because of you. Stubborn, passionate, smart, creative, independent women who are ready to make a mark on this world and for that I am grateful. I love you and wish you the best mothers day ever.
It’s mothers day today and this mothers day, I am separated by an ocean from you. I can’t make a surprise visit home or help you in your garden( although this is the first time in 8 years that I finally have a legitimate excuse to get out of it). So the least I can do is tell you how much you mean to me…as well as update my blog which you have been bugging me to do for the last month. So mom, this is for you. :-) I may be a whole continent away but every time I work in my garden, I picture you doing the same in yours and I feel closer somehow. How funny is it that I used to hate working in your garden and now living in Kenya, Im in love with mine. Must be some weird mom magic. You are my inspiration, my hero, and my best friend. You have single handedly raised 3 beautiful girls and that alone is an accomplishment because I know we haven’t been the easiest kids to raise( I swear you deserve a medal for some of the stuff we have put you through).But we are who we are today because of you. Stubborn, passionate, smart, creative, independent women who are ready to make a mark on this world and for that I am grateful. I love you and wish you the best mothers day ever.
Why can't money grow on trees?
So I have reached the 6 month mark. People tell me this is the hardest hurdle during my service. My first 6 months have been filled with adventure and excitement but I also have my fair share of challenges and adjustments. Adjusting to Kenyan cuisine. Im highly doubtful, I will start to like ugali but you never know. Adjusting to being away from the familiar and adjusting to the school and Kenyans ways of teaching as well as the culture. Don’t get me wrong, I have loved every minute of it and have tried to stay open minded, but there are just some things that are harder to adjust to. Now that I have started to settle into my life in my community, I am slowly making my way into the community. One challenge I face is Kenyans perceptions of Americans. This has been the hardest to deal with during my stay so far. In my experiences in the community, many Kenyans see white people as walking wallets. Maybe it’s partly our fault. We tend to believe that the only way to help the third world is to throw money at them. This has made my job so much harder. A volunteers jobs is to help show the community that they can do things on their own. However, some think it would just be easier for the muzungu to do it for them or just hand them money. If it was just this, I could find a way to deal with it. But it’s how it affects my relationships that has been difficult to deal with. I find myself on my guard with my community. I have tried to make friends in my village and I will say I have been successful. But give it 1 week or even 3 days and those “friends” start asking for things. Help with a sponsor, taking them to America, or flat out asking for money from me. I am starting to question who is a genuine friend. Sometimes it’s even a complete stranger. I walk down to the market and get stopped by 3 people( this is a lot when the market is 2 seconds from my school gate) asking for money. Some days I can laugh it off while other days it seems to wear me down more than usual.
Monday, April 26, 2010
so sorry
So sorry for the delay in posts everyone. I have been traveling and in Niarobi for training with no chance to breath. I promise 2 posts once I get some free time. Hope everyone is well.
Monday, April 5, 2010
to tired to write a title
So here are some questions that have been asked already.
What is muzungo time?
Muzungu time is really American time. Here in Kenya, they go really slowly. If they have a meeting at 11am, they think its ok to be there at 11:30, sometimes even 1pm. Americans are used to being on time. They follow their watches. For American, it’s a race to see how much stuff you can accomplish in a day. For Kenyans, it’s “there’s always tomorrow.” So if there is a meeting we ask is this meeting on Kenyan time or muzungu time that way we know if we should be on time or late. During sports this past week, a lot of time was spent wasted sue to poor organizing. But it was ok, because there was always tomorrow. If you were to take the same situation in America, organization would be key and it would be done weeks before the actual event was to take place. The locals here even laugh at how fast I walk. I may think I am walking at a normal speed but to them, it’s like I am jogging.
Do you have cows and horses?
Besides chickens and goats, Kenya also has cows and donkeys. But no horses. I don’t know why. I would rather have a horse than a cow. I have a new hatred of cows.
Do you live by yourself or with a friend?
I live by myself in a house but I have some great neighbors. My house has 2 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 living room and a bathroom with a real flush toilet. It’s nice to have my own space but it’s a pain in the butt to clean. My neighbors are all very understanding my lack of domestic skills that we have started once a month having a communal cleaning day where all of them come over and we have a cleaning party. We play music and dance while we clean my house. It also gets lonely sometimes so I find myself more and more joining my neighbors for dinner every night. Kenya is very close knit. When a neighbor needs something, the others are always there to help. When they don’t see me for a day, they get worried and call and stop by unannounced many time throughout the day.
Is the sign language universal?
Sign language itself is universal. However, each country has their own signs for everything. When I come back fluent in Kenyan Sign Language( fingers crossed), it will be very difficult for me to communicate with someone who is fluent in ASL. Sure there will be some signs that are similar and the alphabet is almost the same( except ASL sign for “t” means clitoris in Kenya) but KSL is a totally different language. KSL has had a rough start here in Kenya. Most of the cases of hearing loss is caused by curable illnesses and most of these illnesses have been wiped out in America or have a cure. The first form of Sign Language Kenya saw was gestures and then ASL was brought in, but over time, they have started to desire their own language. Most of the teachers here are trained in SEE or an altered form of ASL. It has not been till recently, the government has started integrating true KSL into the system. I am teaching KSL to a class 8 this term. It will be the first time it will actually be tested on the national exam. There are a lot of words in KSL that have no signs still. That’s how new it is. They have a KSL research program at the university in Nairobi that is developing this language. When they come up with a new sign, they call Peace Corps( one of the researchers is connected with us) and other organizations to help spread the sign. They do not even have a full dictionary yet.
Are there pet dogs in Kenya?
Dogs yes, pets? No. Dogs here are not treated the same as they are in America. Dogs are seen as workers, not members of the family. They are either guard dogs or help herd the livestock. If they have a caring owner, they are fed scrapes from the table if not, they are forced to wander around looking for trash. Dogs are also seen as dirty, full of fleas and sometimes rabies. So in some communities, dogs will be chased away. I have seen my fair share of pregnant dogs and dogs that look like they have just given birth. I try not to think about what happened to the puppies. I have a really cute dog who lives on the school compound with us. She is one of the lucky ones. The cook found her and brought her home. He takes care of her and in return she is one of the guard dogs. When I came, I made friends with her and now we have a morning ritual of greeting each other on my way to work. I am the only one who pets her and shows her any love. The rest of the staff laughs at me.
Are there ATM’s in Kenya?
I think this is the biggest misconception about Kenya. Not sure about the rest of the continent, but at least in Kenya, it’s pretty westernized. Granted there are still some places and some tribes that have been untouched by western life but most of Kenya is pretty developed. Tourism is one of the large attractions here so it has to be a little developed. I have seen masaai warriors, armed to the gills, dressed traditionally carrying a cell phone. If a house doest have electricity, there are always shops throughout the towns that are only for recharging cells. My family was poor, living in a small house with no running water, but we had electricity, cable, and a dvd player. ATM’S are many. But the new thing is cell phones. You are able to pay bills, transfer money all on your cell. Everyone I have met has a cell and they LOVE their cells. They also love trading numbers and will call you for no reason, say hi and then disconnect before you can ask them if they need something.
What is muzungo time?
Muzungu time is really American time. Here in Kenya, they go really slowly. If they have a meeting at 11am, they think its ok to be there at 11:30, sometimes even 1pm. Americans are used to being on time. They follow their watches. For American, it’s a race to see how much stuff you can accomplish in a day. For Kenyans, it’s “there’s always tomorrow.” So if there is a meeting we ask is this meeting on Kenyan time or muzungu time that way we know if we should be on time or late. During sports this past week, a lot of time was spent wasted sue to poor organizing. But it was ok, because there was always tomorrow. If you were to take the same situation in America, organization would be key and it would be done weeks before the actual event was to take place. The locals here even laugh at how fast I walk. I may think I am walking at a normal speed but to them, it’s like I am jogging.
Do you have cows and horses?
Besides chickens and goats, Kenya also has cows and donkeys. But no horses. I don’t know why. I would rather have a horse than a cow. I have a new hatred of cows.
Do you live by yourself or with a friend?
I live by myself in a house but I have some great neighbors. My house has 2 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 living room and a bathroom with a real flush toilet. It’s nice to have my own space but it’s a pain in the butt to clean. My neighbors are all very understanding my lack of domestic skills that we have started once a month having a communal cleaning day where all of them come over and we have a cleaning party. We play music and dance while we clean my house. It also gets lonely sometimes so I find myself more and more joining my neighbors for dinner every night. Kenya is very close knit. When a neighbor needs something, the others are always there to help. When they don’t see me for a day, they get worried and call and stop by unannounced many time throughout the day.
Is the sign language universal?
Sign language itself is universal. However, each country has their own signs for everything. When I come back fluent in Kenyan Sign Language( fingers crossed), it will be very difficult for me to communicate with someone who is fluent in ASL. Sure there will be some signs that are similar and the alphabet is almost the same( except ASL sign for “t” means clitoris in Kenya) but KSL is a totally different language. KSL has had a rough start here in Kenya. Most of the cases of hearing loss is caused by curable illnesses and most of these illnesses have been wiped out in America or have a cure. The first form of Sign Language Kenya saw was gestures and then ASL was brought in, but over time, they have started to desire their own language. Most of the teachers here are trained in SEE or an altered form of ASL. It has not been till recently, the government has started integrating true KSL into the system. I am teaching KSL to a class 8 this term. It will be the first time it will actually be tested on the national exam. There are a lot of words in KSL that have no signs still. That’s how new it is. They have a KSL research program at the university in Nairobi that is developing this language. When they come up with a new sign, they call Peace Corps( one of the researchers is connected with us) and other organizations to help spread the sign. They do not even have a full dictionary yet.
Are there pet dogs in Kenya?
Dogs yes, pets? No. Dogs here are not treated the same as they are in America. Dogs are seen as workers, not members of the family. They are either guard dogs or help herd the livestock. If they have a caring owner, they are fed scrapes from the table if not, they are forced to wander around looking for trash. Dogs are also seen as dirty, full of fleas and sometimes rabies. So in some communities, dogs will be chased away. I have seen my fair share of pregnant dogs and dogs that look like they have just given birth. I try not to think about what happened to the puppies. I have a really cute dog who lives on the school compound with us. She is one of the lucky ones. The cook found her and brought her home. He takes care of her and in return she is one of the guard dogs. When I came, I made friends with her and now we have a morning ritual of greeting each other on my way to work. I am the only one who pets her and shows her any love. The rest of the staff laughs at me.
Are there ATM’s in Kenya?
I think this is the biggest misconception about Kenya. Not sure about the rest of the continent, but at least in Kenya, it’s pretty westernized. Granted there are still some places and some tribes that have been untouched by western life but most of Kenya is pretty developed. Tourism is one of the large attractions here so it has to be a little developed. I have seen masaai warriors, armed to the gills, dressed traditionally carrying a cell phone. If a house doest have electricity, there are always shops throughout the towns that are only for recharging cells. My family was poor, living in a small house with no running water, but we had electricity, cable, and a dvd player. ATM’S are many. But the new thing is cell phones. You are able to pay bills, transfer money all on your cell. Everyone I have met has a cell and they LOVE their cells. They also love trading numbers and will call you for no reason, say hi and then disconnect before you can ask them if they need something.
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