I’m back in Nairobi. I took the 9 hour bus journey (that includes stops and traveling to and from the bus stations). It’s hard for me to travel long distances on public transportation here, because I always fall asleep if I‘m in a moving vehicle for more than 20 minutes (except if I'm the one driving of course) However with the conditions of roads in Kenya, every time I fall asleep I’m jolted awake by a huge speed bump that we took at 40 mph or sudden breaking and/or laying on of the horn. So I sat awake yesterday and admired the beautiful country side and thought about my time here in Kenya.
The truth is, nothing went as planned. When I got to Kenya everything fell apart and I fell into a depression of sorts, not having a family to live with or a place to work. Then I found an internship and homestay, but either went or ended the way I hoped or thought they would (full story available in person). I went back to live with Nkita and worked on my research project which hasn’t played out how I planned. I was going to travel but things didn’t work out. I went to the village and did my community project but it proved extremely challenging and frustrating (my family in the village was amazing btw). I knew things wouldn’t be easy in Africa, but I never thought they would be this difficult. I know this is vague and I’m sorry. I’m not ready to share all of mishaps with the cyber world just yet.
I know this is turning into a bummer post and that’s not the point. The point is a lot has happened in Kenya. I’ve really loved my time here, mishaps and all. I had a lot of expectations coming to Kenya and ideas about how things would work, but nothing went as planned. But I think that’s Africa. Kenya had it’s own plan of how things should go and what it wanted to teach and show me. Although things played out in a unexpected manner, I wouldn’t change anything. Each and every mishap taught me about myself and the world of Kenyans.
I thought when I was coming to Africa that I would leave with a sense of accomplishment. I don’t have a lot of concrete “accomplishments” here. I didn’t master Kiswahili, I didn’t change Sidai, I didn‘t empower the people of Kenya to solve all their problems. I did, however, learn about the importance of language learning, I now understand the complex orphan situation in Kenya, I now understand complicated the relationship between the aid agencies and people they attempt to help, ect. I knew that I couldn’t change the world, but I thought I would at least do something, but mostly I learned. That’s hard because I never wanted this to be about me. I wanted to give and serve. I wanted my time to benefit the people here. I think it did, maybe not in the way I first thought, but I’ve made great friendships here and I have many “families” throughout Kenya. I tried to give what little I could, a willing mind, friendship, genuine interest. I take with me numerous lessons and experiences.
“Often I feel I go to some distant region of the world to be reminded of who I really am stripped of your ordinary surroundings, your friends, your daily routines, your refrigerator full of food, your closet full of clothes, you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who is having the experience. That’s not always comfortable, but it is always invigorating” Michael Crichton Travels
I love this quote. I think it’s true. I’ve come in contact with a “self” that I don’t see very often. A vulnerable, emotional, and exposed self. A self who constantly has to admit that she doesn’t understand or get what is going on. I think that meeting my true self in Kenya has been valuable and frightening in so many ways. Uncomfortable doesn’t even describe it.
I was sad to leave the village. I’m still writing up my report from there. I’m not sure how that’s going to go. I returned to Nairobi and hit the ground running. My goal to finish all my interviews this week and then havetwo my last weeks to write write write and spend time with friends.
I'll write soon about all my wonderful times in the village.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Recap!
I know it’s been forever and I apologize!
Your probably wondering what I’ve been up too the past three weeks so here’s a recap:
I set out with Steve, an American from Alaska who lives and works in Kenya six months out of the year. He is good friends with Ruth. Ruth is one of my good friends here and I’m staying with her family in the Village. Anyway we made the 7 hour journey to Kisumu. We arrived at Ruth’s house and I met her family. I knew right away that I was going to love staying there. Plus the village is incredibly beautiful. I love watching the sun set through the tall trees and sitting outside and seeing SO MANY stars. Seriously I want to build myself a mud hunt and stay forever.
I went with Ruth and Steve to his village where he stays in Umoya about an hour from Masogo. He has built himself a concrete house directly in the village. The place was beautiful and only a km away from the lake. We hung out with the people from his village, ate fish, and relaxed. His place us super remote no electricity, I have no idea where the closest “stores” were. You really feel like your out in the middle of nowhere. It was a little too much isolation for me, but the people were so kind and the place was beautiful.
I haven’t mentioned the rain. There has been so MUCH rain. El nino came about three months late. I remember they said the rains would come in September. I’m from the Pacific Northwest so rain is usually no big deal for me but rain here has been a HUGE deal. Large parts of the country are suffering from floods and a lot of the crops have been ruined due to the heavy unexpected rains. It’s a mess. It’s so frustrating because rain is so needed here, but then it comes in such a harsh and destructive way,people are worse off. Since so many of roads around here are mud movement is next to impossible. We couldn’t leave Steve’s place because his car was unable to get out of the mud.
We finally made it out with lots of help and back to Ruth’s village. I’ve been hanging out in her village doing my community life course in which I’m learning about what gives life to the community of Kadibo. It's been really interesting and I'm learning a lot.
I took a break from the mud and went to Nakuru for a week to visit friends. It's so great to have so many "homes" here in Kenya. I met Margaret in Nairobi through Atara. Margaret is my Kiswahili teacher and has become one of my dearest friends here. She’s actually heading off to the states next week! She’s going to Texas to live. It’s been fun explaining the airport procedures to her and a little bit of what to expect. I’m so excited for her and I know she’s going to do great. I’m hoping to visit Texas this summer. Anyway I’ve been hanging out with her family. Anne, her daughter is my age and we’ve become good friends. We went to the Thomson falls which was beautiful, but we couldn’t hike, because thugs hid and rob people. You have to hire security if you want to actually explore the falls. Such a bummer.
So now I’m back in the village finishing up interviews and enjoying quiet, peaceful ,beautiful village life. I wish I had more time here. I’m going back to the 28th. I still need to finish my research project about children’s homes and I need to spend about a week just writing all these papers. I’ve done a lot but I still have A TON to do. I can’t believe that I go next month. Where did the last five months go? I remember getting to Kenya and thinking, six months is so long and now it feels incredibly short.
So I know my blog isn’t always very insightful nor poetic. I apologize. I assure you I’ve gained a lot of insight and I’ve learned so much and I’ve had some really challenging dark times here in Kenya. But it’s hard for me to know how to share that in this setting. But if you care to know the “deeper” stuff I’d love to share with you in person next month!
On a lighter note here’s some cultural insight I’ve gained in the last five months. I composed this list with Anne.
1. “I’m pressed” translates into “I really need to use the bathroom”
2. If you have diarrhea , you are “driving.” Luckily, I haven’t done too much driving in Kenya.
3. If you want to tell someone they look nice, you say “wow, you look smart”
4. Talking behind someone’s back is referred to as back-biting. Don’t be a back bitter!
5. Since all cell phones operate on pre-paid credit, people often don’t have credit so they will “flash you” to let you know they want you to call them. You also flash people so they can know your number. I’ve been “flashed” many times and I’ve “flashed” people on many occasions.
6. There is always room for one more or five more in a matatu (mini bus).
7. If you are annoyed, frustrated, worried, or anxious, the best way to communicate this is to say “I’m disturbed” or whatever is causing the annoyance, worry, or frustration is “disturbing you” I’ve started saying this.
8. If you yawn, you will be asked if your hungry. Yawning during the day means you’re starving.
9. If you’re a little overweight you will be told so. “Wow your so fat!” “You’ve gotten so big” “Maybe you shouldn’t eat so much” “I didn’t realize you were so big” “You’ve loss weight, you were soooo big when you came” These are all complements I’ve been given.
10. If the temperature is on the cooler side and you don’t have a sweater of some sort on, you will be asked if your feeling cold. Again and Again. But really it’s out of concern, because they don’t want you to get sick. It’s very sweet that so many take such an interest in my well being.
11. If you say you might do something, or you’ll maybe do something, people will say you “promised” and that you have to do it.
I’m writing this with my good friend Anne sitting next to me. She thinks I’m back-biting Kenyan culture and making fun. I’m trying to ensure her that I love all of these things and they have become apart of me while I’ve been here, but at the same time I find some humor in them as well. I love Kenya.
Your probably wondering what I’ve been up too the past three weeks so here’s a recap:
I set out with Steve, an American from Alaska who lives and works in Kenya six months out of the year. He is good friends with Ruth. Ruth is one of my good friends here and I’m staying with her family in the Village. Anyway we made the 7 hour journey to Kisumu. We arrived at Ruth’s house and I met her family. I knew right away that I was going to love staying there. Plus the village is incredibly beautiful. I love watching the sun set through the tall trees and sitting outside and seeing SO MANY stars. Seriously I want to build myself a mud hunt and stay forever.
I went with Ruth and Steve to his village where he stays in Umoya about an hour from Masogo. He has built himself a concrete house directly in the village. The place was beautiful and only a km away from the lake. We hung out with the people from his village, ate fish, and relaxed. His place us super remote no electricity, I have no idea where the closest “stores” were. You really feel like your out in the middle of nowhere. It was a little too much isolation for me, but the people were so kind and the place was beautiful.
I haven’t mentioned the rain. There has been so MUCH rain. El nino came about three months late. I remember they said the rains would come in September. I’m from the Pacific Northwest so rain is usually no big deal for me but rain here has been a HUGE deal. Large parts of the country are suffering from floods and a lot of the crops have been ruined due to the heavy unexpected rains. It’s a mess. It’s so frustrating because rain is so needed here, but then it comes in such a harsh and destructive way,people are worse off. Since so many of roads around here are mud movement is next to impossible. We couldn’t leave Steve’s place because his car was unable to get out of the mud.
We finally made it out with lots of help and back to Ruth’s village. I’ve been hanging out in her village doing my community life course in which I’m learning about what gives life to the community of Kadibo. It's been really interesting and I'm learning a lot.
I took a break from the mud and went to Nakuru for a week to visit friends. It's so great to have so many "homes" here in Kenya. I met Margaret in Nairobi through Atara. Margaret is my Kiswahili teacher and has become one of my dearest friends here. She’s actually heading off to the states next week! She’s going to Texas to live. It’s been fun explaining the airport procedures to her and a little bit of what to expect. I’m so excited for her and I know she’s going to do great. I’m hoping to visit Texas this summer. Anyway I’ve been hanging out with her family. Anne, her daughter is my age and we’ve become good friends. We went to the Thomson falls which was beautiful, but we couldn’t hike, because thugs hid and rob people. You have to hire security if you want to actually explore the falls. Such a bummer.
So now I’m back in the village finishing up interviews and enjoying quiet, peaceful ,beautiful village life. I wish I had more time here. I’m going back to the 28th. I still need to finish my research project about children’s homes and I need to spend about a week just writing all these papers. I’ve done a lot but I still have A TON to do. I can’t believe that I go next month. Where did the last five months go? I remember getting to Kenya and thinking, six months is so long and now it feels incredibly short.
So I know my blog isn’t always very insightful nor poetic. I apologize. I assure you I’ve gained a lot of insight and I’ve learned so much and I’ve had some really challenging dark times here in Kenya. But it’s hard for me to know how to share that in this setting. But if you care to know the “deeper” stuff I’d love to share with you in person next month!
On a lighter note here’s some cultural insight I’ve gained in the last five months. I composed this list with Anne.
1. “I’m pressed” translates into “I really need to use the bathroom”
2. If you have diarrhea , you are “driving.” Luckily, I haven’t done too much driving in Kenya.
3. If you want to tell someone they look nice, you say “wow, you look smart”
4. Talking behind someone’s back is referred to as back-biting. Don’t be a back bitter!
5. Since all cell phones operate on pre-paid credit, people often don’t have credit so they will “flash you” to let you know they want you to call them. You also flash people so they can know your number. I’ve been “flashed” many times and I’ve “flashed” people on many occasions.
6. There is always room for one more or five more in a matatu (mini bus).
7. If you are annoyed, frustrated, worried, or anxious, the best way to communicate this is to say “I’m disturbed” or whatever is causing the annoyance, worry, or frustration is “disturbing you” I’ve started saying this.
8. If you yawn, you will be asked if your hungry. Yawning during the day means you’re starving.
9. If you’re a little overweight you will be told so. “Wow your so fat!” “You’ve gotten so big” “Maybe you shouldn’t eat so much” “I didn’t realize you were so big” “You’ve loss weight, you were soooo big when you came” These are all complements I’ve been given.
10. If the temperature is on the cooler side and you don’t have a sweater of some sort on, you will be asked if your feeling cold. Again and Again. But really it’s out of concern, because they don’t want you to get sick. It’s very sweet that so many take such an interest in my well being.
11. If you say you might do something, or you’ll maybe do something, people will say you “promised” and that you have to do it.
I’m writing this with my good friend Anne sitting next to me. She thinks I’m back-biting Kenyan culture and making fun. I’m trying to ensure her that I love all of these things and they have become apart of me while I’ve been here, but at the same time I find some humor in them as well. I love Kenya.
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