Resiliency in the Peace Corps

As school closes and kids go home, I finally have some time to reflect on this term and I have to admit, it was not my favorite. I found myself encountering more challenges and frustrations then when I first started. Most volunteers find their first term the worse and then find it getting better. However, my site had to do things backwards. I had an amazing first term. The teachers were supportive, the students and I were getting along, and I was loving teaching. But the minute 2nd term started things started to change. I witnessed a teacher beating a student( to this day I still don’t know why) while the other teachers were sitting around actually encouraging the teacher to beat the child harder. I had witnessed teachers beating students before but this was the first time when the teachers almost seemed animalistic. They seemed to find enjoyment, a sense of power when they beat the student and that I couldn’t handle. As I sat there, trying not to cry, I felt my support system I had come to rely upon disintegrate. For two weeks after the incident, I cried myself to sleep. I couldn’t interact with the teachers the same way. I even started thinking of a site change. But Peace Corps is all about resiliency and if I had changed, I would be back at square one, so after a few more days of being depressed and feeling alone, I came out of the funk and decided to change my surroundings. I was here for the students not to get pulled into the teacher drama. For those who work in a school, you’ll be happy to here that gossip, back stabbing and petty issues are not just found in America. Yes, the teachers I was close with were no longer the right teachers for me to follow, but there was a whole school of teachers who loved me and were ready to help. So I created a new support group, allowing myself to be more open to the other teachers. I also made a promise to myself that I would be more honest with the teachers. If there was something I didn’t like, I would tell the truth instead of keeping my mouth shut in fear of how it would be interpreted. Over time, my mood got back to normal. Soon it came time for final exams, a time I usually dread. This is where the truth comes out about my teaching capabilities. I gave out an HIV exam as well as a KSL. The HIV exam was more for my benefit, unlike KSL. Which in 3 months time, my students would be taking the national exam which would decide if they would go on to secondary school or not…so no pressure or anything. I was nervous but tried to remember these exams will tell me what to work on for next term. HIV test result: out of 45 students, three students got a score above 60 and one of them got an 84( last term only 2 students got a score about 60). KSL test results. Out of 15 students, 6 students got a score above 80. I was proud beyond belief. It really helped that the students who have low self esteem were among the few who got a good score. One of them even placed 3rd in her class. So in terms of relationships with the teachers, this was not a good term. However, when I ignore that and focus on the students, I guess this wasn’t such a bad term after all. Just writing this makes me excited for next term. I can’t wait to make it better.

SIDE NOTE.
If any of you have been following the news in Kenya, you will know next week on the 4th is elections for the constitution. People are a little nervous particularly because of past experiences when it comes to elections in this country. But I just wanted people to know that Peace Corps has learned from the past and although they don’t expect it to be as bad as 2007, they are being proactive. I will be in Nairobi for this week. I have been talking to my village and they say they are seeing people learn from their mistakes and are hoping people keep their cool. So by the 10th, I expect to be back in Litein. But non the less, I don’t want to leave so whatever you do, pray, hope, wish, send good thoughts that Kenya will get through its first peaceful election and I will be able to see my students again. I have attached a link to the local paper here in Kenya if you would like to follow whats happening. I will also hopefully have free internet in Nairobi so if anyone wants a chat date, give me a shout. I might be able to even pull a video chat.

weekly highlights

Weekly high lights




I went to Kisumu for a meeting and met up with some friends. We went to a bar with awesome food and continued bar hoping Kenyan style, taking over someone else’s tuk tuk( 3 wheeled motorcycle) and pilling 10 people in this 3 passenger vehicle. If you ever go bar hopping in Kenya, always go to the bathroom. The beauty of Kenya is not all the toilets are the same. Some have a hole in the ground, others a flush toilet and some even have their own version. This bar decided to have the western style toilet but cemented down into the ground….all the way to the seat. So it was a western flush hole in the ground. After taking pictures with the toilet, we ended up at a dutch bar to watch the Germany vs. Urugray match. My friend and I were a little tipsy since we had already gone to 2 other bars before this. Although she was way more tipsy than me. It was fun hanging out with fellow mzungus even if they were making fun of Peace Corps volunteers. My friend and I sat through the match not paying much attention to the playing but to the HOT players on the two teams. Thanks to the Octopus oracle, we already knew who would win. After a few drinks, we needed to relieve ourselves, so we went in search of the bathroom. How many PCV’S does it take to find the restroom? A lot more than 2 I guess. We searched and searched and couldn’t find it. We ended up finding a bathroom only to discover some ass locked the womens room. So what do you do in this situation? Yup go in the mens. Don’t worry we didn’t use the troff, we left that for the men folk.



Had a great HIV lesson with my vocational students. We talked about what to do instead of sex, what encourages sex. I was surprised how well it went. They want the same lesson next week.

Got my hair done….well half done. I just couldn’t sit for 4 more hours to get my whole head done and it was PAINFUL!


My best friend who lives next door came visiting for the week. We have been enjoying girl nights all week.

My cat now understands when I yell at him in Swahili, he’s in trouble.

Have been cooking and actually using my veggies in my garden. I made a green gram stew over rice and then vegetable rice the next day. I made the stew backwards and the rice the second day came out a little crunchy but it was still good. Even my cat ate it and he never eats any of the food I cook.


Im getting used to tea. As long as Im freezing, I can now drink a cup and ½ each day.

Got sick on Wednesday but was felt the need to clean so I cleaned my kitchen and living room. This included washing the floor. Now if only I had washed some clothes. Oh well guess Im going to school naked tomorrow.


Term 2 is coming to a close. I have only 4 more days of teaching and then it's exams.

Urban Dictionary definition of Peace Corps

Just something to make you laugh. Granteed if you are not in the Peace corps, some fo these may fly over your head but I enjoyed reading them.

1. an ambiguous government agency designed to quash the idealism of recent American college graduates over a two year process.

2. an international American government organization with continual rotating foreign staff and a fleet of white Landcruisers aimed at catching volunteers out of site.

3. two years of one’s life determined in a brief 20 minute interview after 15+ hour international flight.

4. committees, sub-committees and exploratory committees for both.

5. the automatic and immediate forfeiture of four of the first ten Amendments.

6. a mechanism for those who cannot get laid stateside to remedy their situation and for those who could to forget how.

7. groups, flipcharts and markers.

8. commonly preceded by “Oh shit! I just graduated with a degree in international relations”

9. A whole lot of seriale (often dubbed over)

10. where CD, PTO, AO, PM, LCC, SSC, TM, PCMO, FA, GSM, and GSA speak to PCVs and PCTs about SPA, PCPP, MSs, WWS, ICE, IRC, and RA as well as EAP, ET, MS, and COS in acronyms.

When I joined the Peace Corps, I had no idea.

3 weeks without internet

Week’s highlights( well more like the last 3 weeks)

Im starting to teach sessions about HIV/Aids out in the community to schools and church groups

Had the best cappuccino…although it came out of a packet and was sent from america. Thanks mom keep them coming.

I have lost 35 pounds since coming to Kenya

I have also lost my desire to shave my legs and armpits. I have to force myself to shave at least once a week. You try shaving during a bucket bath, its not easy

Finally posted a letter to the grandparents, friends and family…cost me 380ksh. Best 380 ksh ever spent

I haven’t killed my garden yet. I have beautiful flowers now. Even my carrots, green peppers and coriander are starting to grow although I cant tell which is which.

Spent an hour watching puma try to climb around on my couch...he had just devoured a whole cup of milk so he wasn’t as agile as normal.

I’m trying to get one of the student teachers certified in being an HIV/AIDS councellor( this is how the Kenyans spell it. I SWEAR to god!)

I havent had internet for the past 3 weeks and Ive honestly been ok. I think my face book addiction has finally died. Hey, it made me write 4 letters. So something good came out of it.

I devoured… yes devoured 7 pineapples in 3 days. I need to go to PA( pineapples anonymous)

I have memorized 3 songs so far

Got a standing ovation from my class 6, 7, 8, for me life skills review.

The carpentry class made me a pointer for my class since Im so short I cant reach the board.

Made a Ideal man list

My gift for cooking rice has been taken away. No matter what I do it always turns out with a little crunch.

Got a new phone that holds the charge for 1 whole week!!!!! My old phone held charge for ½ of a day.

Took class 7,8 to the tea factory in Kapkatet. I interpreted the whole thing. Learned that they don’t waste anything and will send the waste either back to the farm to replant or send it to make shoe polish. While we were in town waiting for the other teachers to finish their sodas in the restaurant, a weird man came up to where the students and I were sitting outside and tried to approach me. Before I could even say or do anything 3 of my students came up to me, blocking the man from me and made him go away. I love my students.

Its winter here in Kenya and even though Im freezing my ass off and theres no snow on the ground, I feel closer to home. I even started to sing Christmas carols.

Was teacher on duty this past weeks which means for one whole week I’m in charge. I have to supervise meal times as well as deal with anything that happens during the day. The primary students thought nothing of it since they were used to my discipline methods but the Vocational students decided to revolt. After I got mad at them for pushing past the primary students, they decided to ignore me for assembly when I asked for someone to do the raising of the flag. It was tough going for the first part, making the kids line up and take turns for meals, not acting like animals fighting over the watering hole, but in the end the students thanked me for doing such a good job, apologized for their mini revolt earlier in the week and begged me to continue with duty. I feel like I now have a stronger relationship with my students.

The boy who kept saying I was his wife to his friends AND family finally go the message. He texted back apologizing and repeatedly stated we were only friends.

Good thing about not having internet, it forced my mom to call. It was short but it was nice surprise
to talk to her before classes.

I think I need to change pumas name. Its gotten into his head that he really is a puma and is now attacking and pouncing on everything that moves. His favorite toy, my arm when Im typing

Highlights from the week

So from my last post, I guess you can tell I have been having a hard few weeks. So after talking with my mom( why does talking with your mom ALWAYS help) I have started a gratitude book. it’s a book where I mark the highlights of my week. So I would like to share some with you.


I went to mumias for the weekend and had a run in with a very stubborn tout( someone who works on the matatus taking money and hustling people in). Well my friend and I were traveling from mumias to Kakamega where the fare should only be 80. So we both gave the tout 100ksh. Then the tire blew out. As we are waiting for another matatu, we are asking for our change. The tout refuses. We try to argue with him for a good 10 min. A second matatu arrives and tries to push us on, however, we still havint gotten our change. So I have had enough. One of the teachers at my school told me of a method to use incase of a problem on a matatu. So I separate from the group and take my phone out ready to take down a certain number where I can then give it to the police who will then deal with it. Well my plan worked, the driver got scared, called the tough and made him give me our change. Funny thing was, I had no idea what number to take down. So my bluff worked! DANIELLE vs. TOUT. Winner? DANIELLE!!!!!


Sitting outside of the local supermarket eating 500ml of ice cream…alone. I mean by myself. I was with a friend. I wasnt depressed and sitting outside eating ice cream.  Now before you judge, kindly remember my site has NO ice cream, it’s a hot day and sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.


I brought my new kitty puma home.


While playing, Puma jumped into a large tub of water. So now I have a rat instead of a cat.


Puma f*%@ked up my computer when he decided to play with the reflection cat he saw in my screen. Now I have a pink screen, no internet and no movies.

Had a great night class with my class 6, 7, and 8. They asked for a review before their life skills exam the next morning. So I had all 55 students in one class. Half way through the deputy head teacher asks to join. This is the same teacher who thinks my teaching about condoms is bad. He stayed the entire time and even participated in the game with the students. The next morning, he told me it was a good class and that I was a good teacher! GO ME!!!!!

For 3 hours I was squished between 2 mamas with their little ones. It wasn’t till we reached the matatu stage that one of the little ones decide to throw up all over everything…ECEPT ME!!!!!


On the hippo tour:
Tour Guide: “hippos shit in water.”
Me: Did he just say shit?
Tour Guide: “Hippos shit in water. You know toilet? They use their tails to swish it around.”
Me: Yup. He said shit.
Tour guide: “ male hippos have sex with the female hippos for 45 min. The water makes them light.”

I bought Ritz crackers.

 I think I got married. However, I dont remember ever agreeing to it. But supposedly his family agrees. Thats a plus...right?

Rough Day

Had a rough day today. Pictures were found on the vocational school camera of primary girls in inappropriate positions. Frustrated with the deputy ‘s take no action stance, the heaping club brought the girls in to talk with them. We started with 3 and learned who their boyfriends were, where they have sex, and how many times they have sex. Little did we know how bad it was. 3 girls turned into 6 and 6 turned into 10 and 10 turned into 16. We were shocked by who the girls were and who their boyfriends were. Some had only had sex 1 time while others had sex 9 times. Some had only one guy while others had multiple guys and some even shared guys. Most of the guys who were named were from vocational While the girls ranged from class 8 all the way down to class 2. This has all been happening since I have really focused on my life skills class. I guess the only good thing is all of the boys used condoms except 1. I understand abstinence should be enforced but I feel like the teachers are going about this wrong. They still look at these kids as children in primary school and vocational students as big bad men in their 30’s. They see the girls as the victims and the boys as the predators. But the truth is these girls are really having sex with their peers. All of the girls from the 1 in class 2 - class 8 are around 14-17 yrs of age. While the vocational boys are around 18-21.By the way, there’s no age limit for sexual consent. So, what do we do? These children are no longer children. They are sexual adults. They may be in primary school just like their hearing peers but you can’t compare the two. Take for example a hearing student in class 8 to a student who is deaf in the same class. The student who is hearing is usually around 13/14 yrs of age while the student who is deaf can be anywhere from 14-17 yrs of age. I find it frustrating when the only time the teachers get in an uproar about it is when the kids have gotten caught, otherwise the teachers lips are zipped, its just a problem for another day. Where as I have been trying to teach them life skills, HIV/Aids, how a condom works, how its used properly and I get criticized for it. I go up at night to work with the students and then there’s talk that I am only doing it for my own personal gain. I don’t care anymore if the teachers want to blame me for their students having sex and using condoms, Im going to do what I came here for, to teach my students how to make smart choices regarding sex and HIV.
P.S. Any ideas that might help this situation would be greatly appreciated.

Project Library

Since being for 8 months, I have noticed 2 problems at my school. Granted there are more than 2 problems, but at least these 2, I have the chance to fix. The 1st problem is nocturnal activities among the students. Now Im trying to teach HIV and sex education but its not enough. The students are primarily alone at night, after school and on the weekends. They have no organized activities to keep them out of trouble. So a teacher and I had 2 ideas that might be the answer to our problems. We have a library that is never used and we have books that are never read. So we thought to open it back up but as a recreation room where students could come in, read, play games, and do arts and crafts. Our 2nd idea was to have 1 or 2 nights a week when teachers would stay late and play games or lead projects with the students instead of them watching T.V all night till bedtime. We would rotate teachers to supervise it and the students will hopefully be kept busy and maybe even form a better relationship with the teachers. So, even though I came here with the intention of NOT asking fro help from the US, I guess Im asking for help. I know times are tough but to make this work we need games, coloring book, arts and craft ideas and any children’s books you have lying around. I know it’s past spring cleaning but if you happen to see a garage sale sign, maybe head over and see what’s available. Im not asking for you to go out and buy all new games and books although if you want to, I wouldn’t refuse them. Again, I know times are tough with the job cutbacks still happening but any little thing you could donate would be much appreciated. Thank you. Danielle


Wish list
Coloring books
Puzzles ( for older and younger kids)
*Games( checkers, shoots and ladders, candy land, pictionary etc)
Cards
Jacks
Children’s books( again for younger and older kids)
Posters to hang on the wall
Arts and craft ideas
Magazines( doesn’t have to new. Highlight, national geographic, Newsweek etc)
Markers( big and little)
stickers
stencils

* Even if it’s just the boards, we can improvise the pieces