I am sorry I have not been online for awhile, once you read this blog, you will know why.
Last week, I travelled about 7 hours to the West part of Kenya, near the border of Uganda. The closest town is Kisumu, Kenya's third largest city. The town thrives on and around one of the largest lakes in all of Africa: Lake Victoria.
Where I live:
I live in a rural village in the mountains of Kisumu, my surrounding are a mix of tropical rainforest and red soil. The village I live in is ironically called PARADISE. The area has electricity on good days and running water on even better days. The community as a whole are some of the hardest hit as far as HIV/AIDS and pure poverty.
My family:
Dorthy is a spit fire, 60 year old widow. The only things that gives away her old age is her face. You may not consider 60 that old, but this is Kenya, the life expectancy is maybe 50. Dorthy has a milkman named Nelson and a farm help named Joesphat. Communication with these people is a mixture of Lou (mother tongue)which I know none, basic Swahili, and broken English. Dorthy is the president of a widow's support group, runs a feeding center for 30 kids, and knows every single person in the village, church, orphanage I work at, and nearby schools. She has lived in the village her whole life and has never travelled outside of Kisumu city.
My second home and family:
OGADA is the name for a plant in Lou - it is also the name of the Orphanage, primary school, and secondary school I spend most of my time at. The orphanage has about 30 kids. The primary school has about 650 kids. I am not sure about the secondary school. My family there:
Walter - groundskeeper
Pastor Silas - head of the orphange
James - cook and keeper of the boys dorm
Micheal - grew up in the orphange and now works there
Tom - vice principal of primary school
And there are many others, the ladies who sit with me at church, invite me for tea, etc. When I am bored, I just go to the orphanage to talk, listen to music with the kids, help cook meals, and eat!
I can't believe how beautiful this new home is. It is really hard, and sometimes lonely and boring, but I just go sit outside and look at where I am - on the other side of the world - I think about what I am doing, the people I am meeting, I recite Joshua 1:8 (or maybe it's 9) over and over in my head, then I am ok.
The people are so poor, so hungry, but so hopeful. They value religion and education so much because what other choice do they have?
What I do:
I teach class 5 Plant, Animal, and Soil science
I teach class 8 English
I will be teaching in the secondary school - agriculture
I help correct papers
I spend time at the Orphanage
But most importantly, I listen to people and meet people and talk to people. Kenya has some serious problems, but one thing it has going for itself is it's PEOPLE. The people are the kindest people you will ever meet.
The thing that makes me smile most:
Apart from the view around me, one of my the best feelings is that everyone knows my name! I introduced myself to the 650 kids at the primary school, the kids at the home, and most of the secondary school. My host mom knows everyone, and I have meet all of her neighbors. On my walk to school, everyone I pass stops and greets me and introduces themselves. Because of these things, I am always greeted my the children in the area "Teacher Chelsey, Muzungo (white person) - Chelsey, Teacher!!!" A gathering of children runs to shake my hand or hug me. The old ladies yell out to me in Lou greetings, everyone greets me - usually by name. It has spread like wildfire there is a Muzongo living in Paradise. It always makes me smile.
Overall, things are good. However, everyday is a reminder of how harsh life is. Everyday kids come to school with no shoes, everyday I pass kids with severely tattered clothes or no clothes, children's bellies are expanded due to severe malnutrion, people are dying daily. People are so poor. The feeding center my host mom runs can feed one kid lunch everyday for one month for about a dollar. However, most of the parents cannot afford the one dollar a month, so she must turn them away because she herself can barely afford to get by. I know I will break down and give her enough money for the next month - especially after seeing the kids she feeds lunch to. It makes me sick to think about things back home in America.
The program staff warned us we would become frustrated with things back home and I can feel it already.
Anyway, this is also the home of Obama's father (the general area) so people are in love with him and constantly talking about him.
What else? I am homesick! Mainly for a hot shower and grilled cheese with cold milk - none of these things I have. My shower is a bucket of cold water next to a toilet that gets flushed maybe once a day...ahhh it is so gross but I have found little ways to get over it. My home is one of the fanciest in the village - most of the homes are made from mud and cow dung - mine is similair to a metal polebarn. There is no cieling, just a roof. So all of the rooms are seperated by a concrete like slab. The food is ok. Luckily meat is too expensive so is rare. Fish is plenty but it is prepared differently. I went to the market with my mom to get some and ...the fish is just lying in the grass or dirt with flies everywhere and the organs and insides intact. She just grabs a chunk, wraps it in newspaper and throws it in her purse. It is cooked with the head and eyes and all, and served that way. It takes some getting used to.
We have two cows and two calves, so I told the milkman I would help him milk, he is my age but he just smiles at me and nods. I think he actually does know English but is too shy or nervous to speak it. Last night I had a late meeting at the school and it was dark. My mom (being exactly like a super nervous grandmother) sent the Nelson, the milkman, along with her farmhand to come walk me home. Also, she called the principal I was meeting with to have the school guards walk me home as well. The school guards are Maasia men - the Maasia are warriors and dress in robes and carry sticks and are often barefoot. So, I had a whole army of men (none of whom would speak in English) walking me home and probably talking/laughing at me, especially when it started raining and they made me run! They were so funny.
You just have to laugh at things here. For example, I am laughing right now because my mom took me to town here (civilization is about an hour away)and now it is up to me to get back to the village and I just know that is going to be a challenge to find the right Matatu (van). But luckily people are nice and helpful - for the most part.
Teaching here is so nice, the students stand when you enter the room, greet you together, then sit quietly and respond to you by raising their hand and standing. They are so well behaved it is crazy. The education system is very different here.
This is a long one, and I could probably write for hours more because I have so much I could say. I am not sure when I will be in town next and when I will see a computer with internet next, but maybe this weekend or the next.
It is so nice to hear from everyone, it makes me feel so great to know people care enough to read about how I am doing. Everyday is an experience.
I love you all and hope things are well in America! Can't wait to see everyone!
Chelsey
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Uganda
I just got back this morning from Jinja, Uganda, after spending 13 hours on a bus and all day in class and downtown, I'm exhausted - but it was so so soooooooo worth it! The trip to Uganda was def. one of the best experiences of my life - something I will never forget.
We left on Friday night, arrived on Saturday morning and were picked up by a pick up truck. All 11 of us jumped in the back and we were on our way to backpackers - the hostel that operates the white water rafting.
The country side was beautiful, so lush, green, kids everywhere, very rural, mud huts, goats and cows alongside the road. It was really nice to get out of the dirty city that is Nairobi.
We were taken right from our bus stop to the hostel where a huge breakfast was waiting for us...this was so nice after the crazy bus ride. You should know that when I say bus ride, it is nothing like the U.S. because the road system here is almost non existent in parts. So imagine going a million miles an hour down a washed out dirt path...whew.
After our big breakfast we got suited up in helmets and life jackets and hopped on a bus. Then we were off to the Nile River which runs all the way up to Egypt. Down at the riverside were the most beautiful children running around - some naked. They were helping put in the rafts and seemed to be close with the raft guides. They were too shy to swarm us and instead just stared and smiled.
Okay, the actual rafting part: CRAZZZZZZZZZZZY! Looking back, I cannot believe I put my body in a rubber raft and bounced down rapids and waterfalls and holes and gorges and rocks...it was so amazing. The river is rated level 5 which is the highest level anyone can go down commercially. The only higher level is 6. Luckily we had the sweetest guides and natives with us who knew the water like the back of their hands. The guides went beside us in kayaks and made sure to assist if any of us fell out or dropped a paddle or needed anything at all. All of these things happened. We had extensive training which consisted of our guide pushing us off the raft and showing us how to climb back in, as well as making us swim through a little rapid to feel comfortable.
When we were done rafting for the day, after snacking on fresh pineapple, getting some sun, being in the most beautiful place in the world with the most interesting people, and barreling down crazy rapids, we stopped on shore at a campsite with gazebos and a bar.
The guides set up a massive bbq with the best food ever. We set up tents and were given sleeping bags and mats. We also ending up being in a group with a bunch of British students who were also really nice. We drank and laughed and went to bed super early, ready for day 2.
We woke up to another great meal, and we got on the river. We stopped and went body surfing near a fun little rapid, it was really hard but I jumped right in and tried a few times. The waves were huge.
After rafting all day, we got back to another camp with a beautiful lookout, there we met tons of other rafters and had another big bbq. We went downtown and bought some cool souveniers.
FUNNY STORY: We needed to get back to our camp from downtown so decided to take some bodaboda's ..bodaboda's are motorcycles that can fit 2-3 passengers. Transportation in Africa is a whole other thing. Well, it was muddy out and starting to drizzle so my friend Kristen and I hopped on a bodaboda and headed out. He was going pretty fast, and before we knew it he had jumped a curb and we were on the ground. Luckily we were not hurt so all we could do was lay in the mud and laugh with this old man who didn't speak a word of English. He was laughing to. We got back on he sure sped away. We told him we shouldn't have to pay since he tipped us over, but we were so muddy, laughing so hard, we gave him some money for the story anyway.
We were tired that night and found a bed next to some more British people and talked together as we fell asleep. I woke up laughing, thinking about how scared we were going over the rapids that day, how big they were, our bodaboda ride.
It was fun to accomplish such big things as a team and it was really a great experience. The guides arranged for a bus to bring us to the bus station and we were off.
We got back today and went downtown and bought some stuff in Nairobi. It was really fun to bargain and as a white person you really get some funny comments. Overall people could not be nicer.
I'm off already on Thursday morning to Kisumu and will miss my family here. BUt i'm so excited!
TIll later,
love, Chelsey
We left on Friday night, arrived on Saturday morning and were picked up by a pick up truck. All 11 of us jumped in the back and we were on our way to backpackers - the hostel that operates the white water rafting.
The country side was beautiful, so lush, green, kids everywhere, very rural, mud huts, goats and cows alongside the road. It was really nice to get out of the dirty city that is Nairobi.
We were taken right from our bus stop to the hostel where a huge breakfast was waiting for us...this was so nice after the crazy bus ride. You should know that when I say bus ride, it is nothing like the U.S. because the road system here is almost non existent in parts. So imagine going a million miles an hour down a washed out dirt path...whew.
After our big breakfast we got suited up in helmets and life jackets and hopped on a bus. Then we were off to the Nile River which runs all the way up to Egypt. Down at the riverside were the most beautiful children running around - some naked. They were helping put in the rafts and seemed to be close with the raft guides. They were too shy to swarm us and instead just stared and smiled.
Okay, the actual rafting part: CRAZZZZZZZZZZZY! Looking back, I cannot believe I put my body in a rubber raft and bounced down rapids and waterfalls and holes and gorges and rocks...it was so amazing. The river is rated level 5 which is the highest level anyone can go down commercially. The only higher level is 6. Luckily we had the sweetest guides and natives with us who knew the water like the back of their hands. The guides went beside us in kayaks and made sure to assist if any of us fell out or dropped a paddle or needed anything at all. All of these things happened. We had extensive training which consisted of our guide pushing us off the raft and showing us how to climb back in, as well as making us swim through a little rapid to feel comfortable.
When we were done rafting for the day, after snacking on fresh pineapple, getting some sun, being in the most beautiful place in the world with the most interesting people, and barreling down crazy rapids, we stopped on shore at a campsite with gazebos and a bar.
The guides set up a massive bbq with the best food ever. We set up tents and were given sleeping bags and mats. We also ending up being in a group with a bunch of British students who were also really nice. We drank and laughed and went to bed super early, ready for day 2.
We woke up to another great meal, and we got on the river. We stopped and went body surfing near a fun little rapid, it was really hard but I jumped right in and tried a few times. The waves were huge.
After rafting all day, we got back to another camp with a beautiful lookout, there we met tons of other rafters and had another big bbq. We went downtown and bought some cool souveniers.
FUNNY STORY: We needed to get back to our camp from downtown so decided to take some bodaboda's ..bodaboda's are motorcycles that can fit 2-3 passengers. Transportation in Africa is a whole other thing. Well, it was muddy out and starting to drizzle so my friend Kristen and I hopped on a bodaboda and headed out. He was going pretty fast, and before we knew it he had jumped a curb and we were on the ground. Luckily we were not hurt so all we could do was lay in the mud and laugh with this old man who didn't speak a word of English. He was laughing to. We got back on he sure sped away. We told him we shouldn't have to pay since he tipped us over, but we were so muddy, laughing so hard, we gave him some money for the story anyway.
We were tired that night and found a bed next to some more British people and talked together as we fell asleep. I woke up laughing, thinking about how scared we were going over the rapids that day, how big they were, our bodaboda ride.
It was fun to accomplish such big things as a team and it was really a great experience. The guides arranged for a bus to bring us to the bus station and we were off.
We got back today and went downtown and bought some stuff in Nairobi. It was really fun to bargain and as a white person you really get some funny comments. Overall people could not be nicer.
I'm off already on Thursday morning to Kisumu and will miss my family here. BUt i'm so excited!
TIll later,
love, Chelsey
Monday, October 13, 2008
Walking a mile in Lucy's shoes...and other news
Hey everyone, sorry I haven't been online for awhile...the internet cafe near my house hasn't been open and I've been really busy with school and family.
It's been about two weeks since I last posted and I can't believe how fast time is flying by.
Last week, a group of my friends and I decided to go to the Nairobi Show - basically it is like a state fair. Once we got there, we ran into my friend Megan at the gate. Megan works with an orphanage in the slum and decided to take 50 kids - ages 2-18 to the fair. 50 kids! We decided these were too many kids for her to keep track of so we spent the day with them. I carried a little boy who must have weighed ten pounds, he didn't speak a word of english but was the most precious human being I have ever seen. He clung onto me with all of his might, I didn't ever want to let him go. I spent time holding this 13year old girl's hand, her name was Lucy. She asked me where my parents were, when I said America, she said, "My parents are dead." I looked down at her shoes and noticed they were women's high heels. A few sizes to big and heels so high I didn't know how she could walk in them. As we were leaving, I traded shoes with here. I could barely walk in those shoes! I asked her why she was wearing them, I guess that was a stupid question because they were her only shoes. I told her before I leave Nairobi I will come back and give her my old sandals. They fit her perfectly.
Last week I also went to a cousin's graduation party. She graduated from College and will be going to law school. The family was huge and so so so nice.
That is one thing I love: the people and their extreme kindness, even in times of what I see as extreme poverty, challenge, unfairness, oppression, hopelessness, etc. The people just get you everytime...their so amazing.
I also spent this past weekend with my cousin's Freddy and Linda. I had a blast. I stayed at their house and it was the hugest relief to spend time with Kenyans who are my age. They were so fun...we laughed so much I though I was going to die. They taught me some African card games and some dance moves...they made me three huge meals a day, took me around town, and paid for everything. They gave me their guest bedroom, the little hot water they had, and brought me home. They promised to visit me in my internship and made sure to give me their phone numbers in case I ever needed someone my age to talk to. When anyone at the bars looked at my weird or said something rude or annoying (believe me, when there are 100 black people and one white person, it is bound to happen) I thought Linda was going to beat them up...she would yell at them, "This is my cousin, leave her alone, she is white, but she is Kenyan!" After attempting to show my how to dance, her biggest compliment was that I was learning how to feel the beat like an African and that I was a lovely girl. I wish I could fly Freddy and Linda back to the USA just for a week or two.
I came home on Sunday to 5 little girls. After explaining to them that I was a part of the family, and that my freckles are not goosebumps and that yes - my hair is real, we had some girl time. We took a million pictures with my camera, and then they picked out some clothes for me and took turns braiding and brushing my hair until it was time for church.
I love church - the singing and dancing always puts me in a good mood. This time at church, the worship team was made up of 50 kids from the rift valley. Many of them lost their homes and families during the post election violence. A little boy came up to the microphone and thanked the church for helping them during the violence. Then they sang and danced. Church here goes at least 3 hours.
After church - we went to a place called Ngong Hills where my mom's parents live. We visited with them and the Grandma showed me around their farm. It was beautiful.
Now, I'm just concentrating on my last two weeks of school before I head over to Kisumu, near Lake Victoria and Uganda for my internship.
This coming weekend - a group of 15 of us are going rafting down the Nile and camping in Uganda...I'm so excited.
Not much else to report, I know this is a long one.
Ps - Thanks to everyone who emails me, sends me things, calls, comments, etc...I really do miss everyone at home and the luxuries of living in a developed country, whenever I get homesick I read over emails/comments/letters and it always makes me feel better - so thanks so much for being so thoughtful.
Love you all!
Chelsey
It's been about two weeks since I last posted and I can't believe how fast time is flying by.
Last week, a group of my friends and I decided to go to the Nairobi Show - basically it is like a state fair. Once we got there, we ran into my friend Megan at the gate. Megan works with an orphanage in the slum and decided to take 50 kids - ages 2-18 to the fair. 50 kids! We decided these were too many kids for her to keep track of so we spent the day with them. I carried a little boy who must have weighed ten pounds, he didn't speak a word of english but was the most precious human being I have ever seen. He clung onto me with all of his might, I didn't ever want to let him go. I spent time holding this 13year old girl's hand, her name was Lucy. She asked me where my parents were, when I said America, she said, "My parents are dead." I looked down at her shoes and noticed they were women's high heels. A few sizes to big and heels so high I didn't know how she could walk in them. As we were leaving, I traded shoes with here. I could barely walk in those shoes! I asked her why she was wearing them, I guess that was a stupid question because they were her only shoes. I told her before I leave Nairobi I will come back and give her my old sandals. They fit her perfectly.
Last week I also went to a cousin's graduation party. She graduated from College and will be going to law school. The family was huge and so so so nice.
That is one thing I love: the people and their extreme kindness, even in times of what I see as extreme poverty, challenge, unfairness, oppression, hopelessness, etc. The people just get you everytime...their so amazing.
I also spent this past weekend with my cousin's Freddy and Linda. I had a blast. I stayed at their house and it was the hugest relief to spend time with Kenyans who are my age. They were so fun...we laughed so much I though I was going to die. They taught me some African card games and some dance moves...they made me three huge meals a day, took me around town, and paid for everything. They gave me their guest bedroom, the little hot water they had, and brought me home. They promised to visit me in my internship and made sure to give me their phone numbers in case I ever needed someone my age to talk to. When anyone at the bars looked at my weird or said something rude or annoying (believe me, when there are 100 black people and one white person, it is bound to happen) I thought Linda was going to beat them up...she would yell at them, "This is my cousin, leave her alone, she is white, but she is Kenyan!" After attempting to show my how to dance, her biggest compliment was that I was learning how to feel the beat like an African and that I was a lovely girl. I wish I could fly Freddy and Linda back to the USA just for a week or two.
I came home on Sunday to 5 little girls. After explaining to them that I was a part of the family, and that my freckles are not goosebumps and that yes - my hair is real, we had some girl time. We took a million pictures with my camera, and then they picked out some clothes for me and took turns braiding and brushing my hair until it was time for church.
I love church - the singing and dancing always puts me in a good mood. This time at church, the worship team was made up of 50 kids from the rift valley. Many of them lost their homes and families during the post election violence. A little boy came up to the microphone and thanked the church for helping them during the violence. Then they sang and danced. Church here goes at least 3 hours.
After church - we went to a place called Ngong Hills where my mom's parents live. We visited with them and the Grandma showed me around their farm. It was beautiful.
Now, I'm just concentrating on my last two weeks of school before I head over to Kisumu, near Lake Victoria and Uganda for my internship.
This coming weekend - a group of 15 of us are going rafting down the Nile and camping in Uganda...I'm so excited.
Not much else to report, I know this is a long one.
Ps - Thanks to everyone who emails me, sends me things, calls, comments, etc...I really do miss everyone at home and the luxuries of living in a developed country, whenever I get homesick I read over emails/comments/letters and it always makes me feel better - so thanks so much for being so thoughtful.
Love you all!
Chelsey
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