_r1_30_1.JPG)
First pic is the outhouse. Then you see the stages of building a mud hut. The next pic with the rooster is an outdoor shower and the last one is the idyllic countryside that takes your breath away.Friday, May 25, 2007
More pics of shamba
That is the kitchen in the huts. The boy Calvin is showing me how they the sisal rope and the grand lady there is repairing her mud hut.My day in the shamba (farm)
Here are some pics from my day out in the countryside. I hope to go again there this weekend. I still need to transfer my pics from Parents Day to my flash. I am hopping busy right now. Since I am leaving in a week, people are coming out of the woodwork asking me to spend time with them. I am putting in VERY long days. Yesterday after work, I went to the slum area to have dinner with one of my teaching colleagues... unbelievable - she lives in a house smaller then my master bedroom at home with four children. And yet, she has an impeccable house and served me a delicious dinner of ugali, kale and eggs. The hospitality here is staggering for people who have so little.
So - here are some nice pics from the countryside. These are mud huts.... outdoor toilets and showers... The old lass is around 90 years old - oldest lady in the village. The cactus plant - they use to make rope... I have some pics of how they do that.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Puppet day at the orphanage
Ran a sock puppet event at the orphanage on Saturday that went very well. You can see some of the pics. Bought 20 pairs of socks at the local market here and then picked up some craft supplies where I could find them. We made a makeshift puppet theatre and the kids had a lot of fun!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Mini - update...
Hi everyone,
Hope all is well .Slowing down in the pic department for awhile. Need to just concentrate on the work. Settling into a routine at the school, getting to know the kids better and better. Of course, I"ll just get really into the swing of things when it will be time to go! Oh well..
Very tired ... not sleeping well. I seem to be suffering a bit from allergies - I think I am allergic to something in my hut - it is VERY damp there and I suspect a bit mouldy. And the chalkdust at the school has been affecting me. So... I've had to use my inhaler a lot - which I have not used in about three years, taking antihistamines and coughing a ton. Plus - those twenty dogs I told you about.... they bark incessantly during the night, sometimes right outside my hut's door. They usually really get going at around 2am and don't stop for a couple of hours... it is pretty tiresome. I love dogs, but this is starting to be really frustrating for me. I hope to get a better night's sleep tonight.
I started up a new malaria medication - Larium - so cross your fingers that that works. But so far so good. Thanks Charles for all the advice.
Found a great pool to swim in which is making me very happy! A 25 metre at a local club - outdoors which is kind of nice. It is great to get some decent exercise.
One thing I have not mentioned that much about is the food. It is a mixture of African and Indian - lots of Indian influence. Tons of stuff which is deep fried which I am finding a bit much... I am missing my salads! And french fries in abundance - the real mccoy, but they come with EVERYTHING. In fact, in the slums, you will find people frying them up over little fires on the curbside. They hit the spot, but when they are with every meal, you start - at least I do - to get a bit sick of them. Not to mention it increases that need to exercise! But ugali is one of the staples... it is a corn dish, sort of looks like mash potatoes and you often use it instead of utensils to scoop up the food. In Mombasa we ate a lot of barbequed items. But there is quite a huge Indian population here and it has heavily influenced the food.
My work last Saturday with the orphanage was fun. They loved the soccer ball and madly got into a game. The girls and I (girls play soccer, but on this occasion it was only the boys) so the girls and I played rounders with a made up ball comprised of a plastic bag stuffed with garbage wrapped around itself several times.
After we went back to the Day Aid Centre and sang songs. I taught them the hokey pokey which they rather liked! Of course the sillier I get the better :> One little girl was not feeling well so she sat out... she is one of the kids suffering from HIV. They got their treat of pop and bread at the end of the visit. I am trying to think of a better and more nutritious snack for them this Saturday. A lady at the school who makes snacks for the kids at break time may help me out on that. She makes little bags of popcorn and she said she could make up some juice for me. Not that popcorn is terribly nutritious, but since for some of these kids - this is a major part of the food they are getting that day.. I am thinking that perhaps something a bit better than pop might do the trick - though they probably will disagree with me.. :> as of course they love their pop! :>
I have found myself a consistent Tuk Tuk driver who I call now when I need a lift. It is good to create relationships here - cuts down on all the haggling you need to do over price. OH yeah, I have a cell phone now if anyone would like to say hello in person. Email me and I will give you the number. But I realize it may be a bit much to call Kenya :>
Thanks again for your messages. Take care!Jen
Hope all is well .Slowing down in the pic department for awhile. Need to just concentrate on the work. Settling into a routine at the school, getting to know the kids better and better. Of course, I"ll just get really into the swing of things when it will be time to go! Oh well..
Very tired ... not sleeping well. I seem to be suffering a bit from allergies - I think I am allergic to something in my hut - it is VERY damp there and I suspect a bit mouldy. And the chalkdust at the school has been affecting me. So... I've had to use my inhaler a lot - which I have not used in about three years, taking antihistamines and coughing a ton. Plus - those twenty dogs I told you about.... they bark incessantly during the night, sometimes right outside my hut's door. They usually really get going at around 2am and don't stop for a couple of hours... it is pretty tiresome. I love dogs, but this is starting to be really frustrating for me. I hope to get a better night's sleep tonight.
I started up a new malaria medication - Larium - so cross your fingers that that works. But so far so good. Thanks Charles for all the advice.
Found a great pool to swim in which is making me very happy! A 25 metre at a local club - outdoors which is kind of nice. It is great to get some decent exercise.
One thing I have not mentioned that much about is the food. It is a mixture of African and Indian - lots of Indian influence. Tons of stuff which is deep fried which I am finding a bit much... I am missing my salads! And french fries in abundance - the real mccoy, but they come with EVERYTHING. In fact, in the slums, you will find people frying them up over little fires on the curbside. They hit the spot, but when they are with every meal, you start - at least I do - to get a bit sick of them. Not to mention it increases that need to exercise! But ugali is one of the staples... it is a corn dish, sort of looks like mash potatoes and you often use it instead of utensils to scoop up the food. In Mombasa we ate a lot of barbequed items. But there is quite a huge Indian population here and it has heavily influenced the food.
My work last Saturday with the orphanage was fun. They loved the soccer ball and madly got into a game. The girls and I (girls play soccer, but on this occasion it was only the boys) so the girls and I played rounders with a made up ball comprised of a plastic bag stuffed with garbage wrapped around itself several times.
After we went back to the Day Aid Centre and sang songs. I taught them the hokey pokey which they rather liked! Of course the sillier I get the better :> One little girl was not feeling well so she sat out... she is one of the kids suffering from HIV. They got their treat of pop and bread at the end of the visit. I am trying to think of a better and more nutritious snack for them this Saturday. A lady at the school who makes snacks for the kids at break time may help me out on that. She makes little bags of popcorn and she said she could make up some juice for me. Not that popcorn is terribly nutritious, but since for some of these kids - this is a major part of the food they are getting that day.. I am thinking that perhaps something a bit better than pop might do the trick - though they probably will disagree with me.. :> as of course they love their pop! :>
I have found myself a consistent Tuk Tuk driver who I call now when I need a lift. It is good to create relationships here - cuts down on all the haggling you need to do over price. OH yeah, I have a cell phone now if anyone would like to say hello in person. Email me and I will give you the number. But I realize it may be a bit much to call Kenya :>
Thanks again for your messages. Take care!Jen
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Summary of my latest gmail emails
Hello everyone,
Quick update - things are busy here now and I am squeezing in some internet time at the end of the day. I will try to update with more pics either later on tonight or later on in the week.
In short - some people have been emailing me with requests for the blog site again. So here it is http://jennafrica.blogspot.com/
Quick update - had a trip to the coast - Mombasa - BEAUTIFUL - unbelievably nice. But hot, hot, hot.... stinking hot.. managed to get myself a nasty burn even though I have been being so careful. So a bit pissed at myself for that.
The trip down there started off on a rocky start... I had been feeling unwell for a few days and really felt crappy on the trip down. I was thinking it was a reaction to the Malaria pills I have been taking and I think I am right. Met a fellow Canadian on the plane down who is taking the same medication and she had had the same symptoms. Basically, malaria like symptoms - headache, aches, severe cramps, loss of appetite. Not fun... So, I decided to stop taking the medication and have only just started to feel good again. It is risky, so I plan to see a doctor here and see if there is an alternative medicine I can take... but it was ridiculous that the preventative medicine was making me so ill - there was no way I was going to be able to teach properly. So cross you fingers that those pesky mosquitoes stay away from me!
Mombasa was so beautiful - exotic looking and beaches to die for.
First day of real teaching today... well more observation... many emotions. They have no resources here... but the teachers are bright, intelligent and so giving. And the kids - well kids... full of promise and enthusiasm. But at times you just feel like crying when you see young, young children lining up for a simple plate of rice and beans in a feeding program that they (the kids) pay for and that for some of them that is the only meal they get during the day. And yet, they smile and act like nothing is wrong.
\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Anyway - have my first classes to teach tomorrow. Creative Arts and English - so must prepare tonight. Will be working at a local orphanage on Saturdays ... I have pics of that which I willl be posting, but maybe not tonight.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Thank you for your replies... I can't return them all personally because my internet time is preciously short. But please know I do appreciate them VERY much and stay in touch. Connie - I got your email about changing your address - I'm pressed for time tonight, but will get to it shortly.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Big hugs to you all.... this is an incredible journey. Though - I must admit... I miss MY BED!\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Jen xo\u003c/div\>\n",0]
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Anyway - have my first classes to teach tomorrow. Creative Arts and English - so must prepare tonight. Will be working at a local orphanage on Saturdays ... I have pics of that which I willl be posting, but maybe not tonight.
Thank you for your replies... I can't return them all personally because my internet time is preciously short. But please know I do appreciate them VERY much and stay in touch. Connie - I got your email about changing your address - I'm pressed for time tonight, but will get to it shortly.
Big hugs to you all.... this is an incredible journey. Though - I must admit... I miss MY BED!
Jen xo
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Hi everyone,
I am at a brutally slow internet connection tonight so cannot post pics on the blog. Sorry - I have an abundance of neat shots to share with you.
So, I thought I would give a more detailed update instead.
Mombasa is a coastal town - quite exotic - much more of a mix of Islam and Muslim with Christian then Kisumu. There is an old fort built by the Portuguese around 1560 which is the main attraction in Old Town. It has a Spanish feeling. Narrow, windy streets - gorgeous views of the coast. the coast is spotted with resorts which I had the fortune to frequent due to connections of my hosts. What i needed as i battled the side effects of my malaria medication. I swam in the Indian ocean - WARM and gorgeous, went snorkelling along the coral reef, sampled Kswahili food - my name in Luo would be Ajenni - with an emphasis on the Je syllable. So I have been introducing myself to the kids like that and they laugh and laugh. I am a Mazunge - which is a white person. And they say Jambo Mazunge, jambo! Anyway - saw some other attractions, crocodlile centre (very sticky key board so i am giving up on typos) Went to an outdoor disco and danced to about 5am.. ugh... very tired, but this is what my hosts do - it actually was a lot of fun. Went shopping in the old market.
Before going i visited a slum here in town where I will be working at an orphanage on Saturdays. The conditions here are by our standards deplorable. Shack like housing, rancid, toxic water running in ditches, animals roaming the streets, kids all over the place. But again, life abounds and the people seem to just accept it all. The Day Aid Centre is home to children who have lost both or one parent to Aids. They range from mere months to about 14 years of age. They sat and chatted with me, recited poems, sang - I captured some of the singing on video and if I can will email it to you. the two women who run the program are amazing. One of them sews uniforms for the kids - they absolutely cannot go to school without a uniform. They have a feeding program but at the moment they have no funds for this so some of these kids get no food at all. Hopefully they get a meal at school. Mary - one of the leaders - told me that she usually buys them a treat for coming. So - of course i offered to buy it - and for a mere six bucks I bought them all sodas and some bread - Mary picked up the bread, I did not know she was going to do that. So - it one respect i was happy to do this - a soda is a real treat for these kids - on the other hand it was utterly pathetic for me to see them sipping pop and eating two slices of white, fluffy wonderbread thinking this is all they were getting. I asked the kids to take me for a tour of the slum and they battled for who would hold me hand! :> The tour was an eye opener. the other leader - Mara - who sews sells material from Uganda to make some money for the food program. I ordered two outfits which will I get on Saturday! I will be able to where these to schools. Beautiful material full of colour. I go back this saturday and plan to bring one of the soccer balls.
\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>I haev pics of all of this and will post.\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>They have changed my school once again so I am now officially working at Jakamenda Primary school teaching English and Creative Arts. The school rooms are made of tin, wood, banboo and concrete floors. Wood benches and chairs. Blackboard. The kids do everything in copy books. they are very bright. And so far from what i see well behaved! Though I have been told to expect teh same classroom management problems as at home.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>For all us slackers at home - get this.... from grade 4 to grade 8 these kids go to school from 6:30am to 5:30pm - YEP! - with breaks and lunch. There is a prep time in the morning and after school - with formal lessons inbetween... isn't that a LONG day? Wow... amazing. THey cover everything. For music teachers out there... you will be happy to know that the curriculum is vERy strong - these kids know scales, and lots of theory by grade eight. Music is very important here.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>there are extremely limited resources. A feeding program for kids with no food.\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Those are my first impressions. Must run and get food for myself and prepare lessons for tomorrow. will post pics on blog when i have a better connection and a less sticky keyboard!\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Jen xo\u003c/div\>\n",0]
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I haev pics of all of this and will post.
They have changed my school once again so I am now officially working at Jakamenda Primary school teaching English and Creative Arts. The school rooms are made of tin, wood, banboo and concrete floors. Wood benches and chairs. Blackboard. The kids do everything in copy books. they are very bright. And so far from what i see well behaved! Though I have been told to expect teh same classroom management problems as at home.
For all us slackers at home - get this.... from grade 4 to grade 8 these kids go to school from 6:30am to 5:30pm - YEP! - with breaks and lunch. There is a prep time in the morning and after school - with formal lessons inbetween... isn't that a LONG day? Wow... amazing. THey cover everything. For music teachers out there... you will be happy to know that the curriculum is vERy strong - these kids know scales, and lots of theory by grade eight. Music is very important here.
there are extremely limited resources. A feeding program for kids with no food.
Those are my first impressions. Must run and get food for myself and prepare lessons for tomorrow. will post pics on blog when i have a better connection and a less sticky keyboard!
Jen xo
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HI everyone,
Thanks for your remarks. Still battling with email here so pics will have to wait. I am trying to get wireless set up on my computer so I can sit quietly in a cafe and just work directly from there... much, much better. But... I am in school LONG hours. Update to my note on how long the kids go to school here - grades 4 to 8 - from 6:30am to 6:30pm... I taught right to 6:30pm today - I wung a two hour lesson - I don't know what I will be teaching basically until I arrive. So I made up a lesson for grade 6 for close to two hours on Canada. The kids were amazing - asking incredible questions... like "what does Canada import", "does Canada have MPs", " are there black people in Canada", "if you don't grow sugar cane, what do you put in your tea" - I did not have to answer that one - one kid asked to answer for me and answered his peer -they import it. It was remarkable. Were they tired, cranky, wanting to go? Nope... they wanted to keep asking questions well after 6;30pm I was the one ready to drop. We talked about racism, we talked about epidemics, we talked about class status.They are very aware of the third country they live in, the political state, how their government works, their state of poverty and yet their education is superb - they wanted to know everything about where I came from. I played drama games with them and they asked to play them again in the one hours "games" time from 3 to 4pm. They are unbelievably polite - every class begins with them standing up and greeting me. They ask how I am, I tell them I am fine. They respond again. They won't sit unless told to. Every lesson ends with a prayer. They are instructing me on how things go around here... they do everything - carry the copy books to and fro, get me a chair if I need one... all without asking. They don't complain. It really is something to behold.
They are ecstatic when their teacher is absent and I can teach them - no substitute teachers here - so if the teacher is not here, they just sit quietly and do their work with no supervision. I saw one class doing this and they wanted me to come in... so I did a lesson on Canada and they were so eager to learn.
\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>The facilities - well, I'll post the pics... the teacher's staff office is tiny, the bathroom? a hole in the ground. I am improving the "squat technique" :> and have learned to bring a roll of toilet paper wherever I go... \n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Transportation here - I really must elaborate on this .... it really is something. If you are my parents ... stop reading :> - you are lucky to have a seatbelt and every car looks basically like it is an inch from falling apart - there are some nice ones, but I have yet to ride in one. A ride back from town in a Tuk Tuk - again , the Smart car with no windows... - is seriously like a ride at the Canadian Exhibition - I secretly love it, if you forget the thought you have rumbling around in your head that says... hmmm, what if we do indeed crash.... this is not going to be pretty. You bargain for price before you get in- I have been told the correct rates - not the tourist rates - and they are surprised that I know them. Anyway - I will not dare to drive anything here... you really need an extension to your driving skills.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Thanks for all your worried notes about my malaria status... I will look into the pills again... I am feeling so much better though that I am really dragging my heels on that. I am being VERY careful with covering up at night ... and spraying everything in sight, but yes, I'll look into an altenative pill or start taking the ones I have again.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>OK - I must head home and figure out how to wing lessons tomorrow... :> I know I am teaching an English lesson bright and early but everything else the headmaster told me he will tell me tomorrow. Nice eh?.... Oh, by the way... the kids correct my English if I make a spelling error on the board, they really are very bright.... so I have to be on my toes.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Big hugs all round,\u003c/div\>",1]
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The facilities - well, I'll post the pics... the teacher's staff office is tiny, the bathroom? a hole in the ground. I am improving the "squat technique" :> and have learned to bring a roll of toilet paper wherever I go...
Transportation here - I really must elaborate on this .... it really is something. If you are my parents ... stop reading :> - you are lucky to have a seatbelt and every car looks basically like it is an inch from falling apart - there are some nice ones, but I have yet to ride in one. A ride back from town in a Tuk Tuk - again , the Smart car with no windows... - is seriously like a ride at the Canadian Exhibition - I secretly love it, if you forget the thought you have rumbling around in your head that says... hmmm, what if we do indeed crash.... this is not going to be pretty. You bargain for price before you get in- I have been told the correct rates - not the tourist rates - and they are surprised that I know them. Anyway - I will not dare to drive anything here... you really need an extension to your driving skills.
Thanks for all your worried notes about my malaria status... I will look into the pills again... I am feeling so much better though that I am really dragging my heels on that. I am being VERY careful with covering up at night ... and spraying everything in sight, but yes, I'll look into an altenative pill or start taking the ones I have again.
OK - I must head home and figure out how to wing lessons tomorrow... :> I know I am teaching an English lesson bright and early but everything else the headmaster told me he will tell me tomorrow. Nice eh?.... Oh, by the way... the kids correct my English if I make a spelling error on the board, they really are very bright.... so I have to be on my toes.
Big hugs all round,
__________________________________________________________________
Hi there,
Well I've added a ton of new pics on blog. They are mainly of Mombassa - so you are going to be think that I have only been on holiday here! I have a TON of pics of the school where I am working, but unfortunately my memory stick has decided to go on strike and so they are all on my personal computer right now and I can't transfer them to my flash. So.. rest assured I will get them posted.... and you will see what I have been doing - the REAL work :> To further the update ... I have now found out that grades 6-8 on top of being at school from 6:30am to 6:30pm go to school for a FULL day on Saturday! And the grade 8's come in on Sunday for a few hours. Talk about high education. I also found out that I am working at what is known as a private school, but when you see my pics you will see that it is not anything like independent schools at home....
Ok - I probably should head off - I will try to get the silly computer things ironed out so that you can see the pics of where your sponsorship dollars have really gone... it will blow your mind. I head home at the end of the day full of dust from head to toe ... did a Physical Education class with grade fours earlier on today and they basically taught me what to do... full of African songs and chants where you imitate the person in the middle. You can BE SURE they called on me to imitate - in Kswahili - all there actions and chants - MUCH to their delight as I wriggled my body and tried to sing the chant. They then played a racing game ie. who can get to the pair of shoes first... ALL in barefeet, on a rocky, dusty ground - they all took their shoes off for this - I'm telling ya.... so simple - they have nothing but two deflated soccer balls to play with.... I am bringing some of the ones I brought over tomorrow - they will be very happy. Then I taught a social studies class on forestry to the same kids.... yup, just went in the class, asked for their textbook, took a thirty second scan and went to it... hilarious, talk about flying by the seats of your pants... thankfully this is grade four. I tackle the math class tomorrow.... wish me luck, actualy I've taken a peek at it and I think I can handle it.
Ok - good evening y'all,
Jen
Quick update - things are busy here now and I am squeezing in some internet time at the end of the day. I will try to update with more pics either later on tonight or later on in the week.
In short - some people have been emailing me with requests for the blog site again. So here it is http://jennafrica.blogspot.com/
Quick update - had a trip to the coast - Mombasa - BEAUTIFUL - unbelievably nice. But hot, hot, hot.... stinking hot.. managed to get myself a nasty burn even though I have been being so careful. So a bit pissed at myself for that.
The trip down there started off on a rocky start... I had been feeling unwell for a few days and really felt crappy on the trip down. I was thinking it was a reaction to the Malaria pills I have been taking and I think I am right. Met a fellow Canadian on the plane down who is taking the same medication and she had had the same symptoms. Basically, malaria like symptoms - headache, aches, severe cramps, loss of appetite. Not fun... So, I decided to stop taking the medication and have only just started to feel good again. It is risky, so I plan to see a doctor here and see if there is an alternative medicine I can take... but it was ridiculous that the preventative medicine was making me so ill - there was no way I was going to be able to teach properly. So cross you fingers that those pesky mosquitoes stay away from me!
Mombasa was so beautiful - exotic looking and beaches to die for.
First day of real teaching today... well more observation... many emotions. They have no resources here... but the teachers are bright, intelligent and so giving. And the kids - well kids... full of promise and enthusiasm. But at times you just feel like crying when you see young, young children lining up for a simple plate of rice and beans in a feeding program that they (the kids) pay for and that for some of them that is the only meal they get during the day. And yet, they smile and act like nothing is wrong.
\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Anyway - have my first classes to teach tomorrow. Creative Arts and English - so must prepare tonight. Will be working at a local orphanage on Saturdays ... I have pics of that which I willl be posting, but maybe not tonight.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Thank you for your replies... I can't return them all personally because my internet time is preciously short. But please know I do appreciate them VERY much and stay in touch. Connie - I got your email about changing your address - I'm pressed for time tonight, but will get to it shortly.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Big hugs to you all.... this is an incredible journey. Though - I must admit... I miss MY BED!\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Jen xo\u003c/div\>\n",0]
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Anyway - have my first classes to teach tomorrow. Creative Arts and English - so must prepare tonight. Will be working at a local orphanage on Saturdays ... I have pics of that which I willl be posting, but maybe not tonight.
Thank you for your replies... I can't return them all personally because my internet time is preciously short. But please know I do appreciate them VERY much and stay in touch. Connie - I got your email about changing your address - I'm pressed for time tonight, but will get to it shortly.
Big hugs to you all.... this is an incredible journey. Though - I must admit... I miss MY BED!
Jen xo
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone,
I am at a brutally slow internet connection tonight so cannot post pics on the blog. Sorry - I have an abundance of neat shots to share with you.
So, I thought I would give a more detailed update instead.
Mombasa is a coastal town - quite exotic - much more of a mix of Islam and Muslim with Christian then Kisumu. There is an old fort built by the Portuguese around 1560 which is the main attraction in Old Town. It has a Spanish feeling. Narrow, windy streets - gorgeous views of the coast. the coast is spotted with resorts which I had the fortune to frequent due to connections of my hosts. What i needed as i battled the side effects of my malaria medication. I swam in the Indian ocean - WARM and gorgeous, went snorkelling along the coral reef, sampled Kswahili food - my name in Luo would be Ajenni - with an emphasis on the Je syllable. So I have been introducing myself to the kids like that and they laugh and laugh. I am a Mazunge - which is a white person. And they say Jambo Mazunge, jambo! Anyway - saw some other attractions, crocodlile centre (very sticky key board so i am giving up on typos) Went to an outdoor disco and danced to about 5am.. ugh... very tired, but this is what my hosts do - it actually was a lot of fun. Went shopping in the old market.
Before going i visited a slum here in town where I will be working at an orphanage on Saturdays. The conditions here are by our standards deplorable. Shack like housing, rancid, toxic water running in ditches, animals roaming the streets, kids all over the place. But again, life abounds and the people seem to just accept it all. The Day Aid Centre is home to children who have lost both or one parent to Aids. They range from mere months to about 14 years of age. They sat and chatted with me, recited poems, sang - I captured some of the singing on video and if I can will email it to you. the two women who run the program are amazing. One of them sews uniforms for the kids - they absolutely cannot go to school without a uniform. They have a feeding program but at the moment they have no funds for this so some of these kids get no food at all. Hopefully they get a meal at school. Mary - one of the leaders - told me that she usually buys them a treat for coming. So - of course i offered to buy it - and for a mere six bucks I bought them all sodas and some bread - Mary picked up the bread, I did not know she was going to do that. So - it one respect i was happy to do this - a soda is a real treat for these kids - on the other hand it was utterly pathetic for me to see them sipping pop and eating two slices of white, fluffy wonderbread thinking this is all they were getting. I asked the kids to take me for a tour of the slum and they battled for who would hold me hand! :> The tour was an eye opener. the other leader - Mara - who sews sells material from Uganda to make some money for the food program. I ordered two outfits which will I get on Saturday! I will be able to where these to schools. Beautiful material full of colour. I go back this saturday and plan to bring one of the soccer balls.
\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>I haev pics of all of this and will post.\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>They have changed my school once again so I am now officially working at Jakamenda Primary school teaching English and Creative Arts. The school rooms are made of tin, wood, banboo and concrete floors. Wood benches and chairs. Blackboard. The kids do everything in copy books. they are very bright. And so far from what i see well behaved! Though I have been told to expect teh same classroom management problems as at home.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>For all us slackers at home - get this.... from grade 4 to grade 8 these kids go to school from 6:30am to 5:30pm - YEP! - with breaks and lunch. There is a prep time in the morning and after school - with formal lessons inbetween... isn't that a LONG day? Wow... amazing. THey cover everything. For music teachers out there... you will be happy to know that the curriculum is vERy strong - these kids know scales, and lots of theory by grade eight. Music is very important here.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>there are extremely limited resources. A feeding program for kids with no food.\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Those are my first impressions. Must run and get food for myself and prepare lessons for tomorrow. will post pics on blog when i have a better connection and a less sticky keyboard!\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Jen xo\u003c/div\>\n",0]
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I haev pics of all of this and will post.
They have changed my school once again so I am now officially working at Jakamenda Primary school teaching English and Creative Arts. The school rooms are made of tin, wood, banboo and concrete floors. Wood benches and chairs. Blackboard. The kids do everything in copy books. they are very bright. And so far from what i see well behaved! Though I have been told to expect teh same classroom management problems as at home.
For all us slackers at home - get this.... from grade 4 to grade 8 these kids go to school from 6:30am to 5:30pm - YEP! - with breaks and lunch. There is a prep time in the morning and after school - with formal lessons inbetween... isn't that a LONG day? Wow... amazing. THey cover everything. For music teachers out there... you will be happy to know that the curriculum is vERy strong - these kids know scales, and lots of theory by grade eight. Music is very important here.
there are extremely limited resources. A feeding program for kids with no food.
Those are my first impressions. Must run and get food for myself and prepare lessons for tomorrow. will post pics on blog when i have a better connection and a less sticky keyboard!
Jen xo
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HI everyone,
Thanks for your remarks. Still battling with email here so pics will have to wait. I am trying to get wireless set up on my computer so I can sit quietly in a cafe and just work directly from there... much, much better. But... I am in school LONG hours. Update to my note on how long the kids go to school here - grades 4 to 8 - from 6:30am to 6:30pm... I taught right to 6:30pm today - I wung a two hour lesson - I don't know what I will be teaching basically until I arrive. So I made up a lesson for grade 6 for close to two hours on Canada. The kids were amazing - asking incredible questions... like "what does Canada import", "does Canada have MPs", " are there black people in Canada", "if you don't grow sugar cane, what do you put in your tea" - I did not have to answer that one - one kid asked to answer for me and answered his peer -they import it. It was remarkable. Were they tired, cranky, wanting to go? Nope... they wanted to keep asking questions well after 6;30pm I was the one ready to drop. We talked about racism, we talked about epidemics, we talked about class status.They are very aware of the third country they live in, the political state, how their government works, their state of poverty and yet their education is superb - they wanted to know everything about where I came from. I played drama games with them and they asked to play them again in the one hours "games" time from 3 to 4pm. They are unbelievably polite - every class begins with them standing up and greeting me. They ask how I am, I tell them I am fine. They respond again. They won't sit unless told to. Every lesson ends with a prayer. They are instructing me on how things go around here... they do everything - carry the copy books to and fro, get me a chair if I need one... all without asking. They don't complain. It really is something to behold.
They are ecstatic when their teacher is absent and I can teach them - no substitute teachers here - so if the teacher is not here, they just sit quietly and do their work with no supervision. I saw one class doing this and they wanted me to come in... so I did a lesson on Canada and they were so eager to learn.
\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>The facilities - well, I'll post the pics... the teacher's staff office is tiny, the bathroom? a hole in the ground. I am improving the "squat technique" :> and have learned to bring a roll of toilet paper wherever I go... \n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Transportation here - I really must elaborate on this .... it really is something. If you are my parents ... stop reading :> - you are lucky to have a seatbelt and every car looks basically like it is an inch from falling apart - there are some nice ones, but I have yet to ride in one. A ride back from town in a Tuk Tuk - again , the Smart car with no windows... - is seriously like a ride at the Canadian Exhibition - I secretly love it, if you forget the thought you have rumbling around in your head that says... hmmm, what if we do indeed crash.... this is not going to be pretty. You bargain for price before you get in- I have been told the correct rates - not the tourist rates - and they are surprised that I know them. Anyway - I will not dare to drive anything here... you really need an extension to your driving skills.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Thanks for all your worried notes about my malaria status... I will look into the pills again... I am feeling so much better though that I am really dragging my heels on that. I am being VERY careful with covering up at night ... and spraying everything in sight, but yes, I'll look into an altenative pill or start taking the ones I have again.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>OK - I must head home and figure out how to wing lessons tomorrow... :> I know I am teaching an English lesson bright and early but everything else the headmaster told me he will tell me tomorrow. Nice eh?.... Oh, by the way... the kids correct my English if I make a spelling error on the board, they really are very bright.... so I have to be on my toes.\n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Big hugs all round,\u003c/div\>",1]
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The facilities - well, I'll post the pics... the teacher's staff office is tiny, the bathroom? a hole in the ground. I am improving the "squat technique" :> and have learned to bring a roll of toilet paper wherever I go...
Transportation here - I really must elaborate on this .... it really is something. If you are my parents ... stop reading :> - you are lucky to have a seatbelt and every car looks basically like it is an inch from falling apart - there are some nice ones, but I have yet to ride in one. A ride back from town in a Tuk Tuk - again , the Smart car with no windows... - is seriously like a ride at the Canadian Exhibition - I secretly love it, if you forget the thought you have rumbling around in your head that says... hmmm, what if we do indeed crash.... this is not going to be pretty. You bargain for price before you get in- I have been told the correct rates - not the tourist rates - and they are surprised that I know them. Anyway - I will not dare to drive anything here... you really need an extension to your driving skills.
Thanks for all your worried notes about my malaria status... I will look into the pills again... I am feeling so much better though that I am really dragging my heels on that. I am being VERY careful with covering up at night ... and spraying everything in sight, but yes, I'll look into an altenative pill or start taking the ones I have again.
OK - I must head home and figure out how to wing lessons tomorrow... :> I know I am teaching an English lesson bright and early but everything else the headmaster told me he will tell me tomorrow. Nice eh?.... Oh, by the way... the kids correct my English if I make a spelling error on the board, they really are very bright.... so I have to be on my toes.
Big hugs all round,
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Hi there,
Well I've added a ton of new pics on blog. They are mainly of Mombassa - so you are going to be think that I have only been on holiday here! I have a TON of pics of the school where I am working, but unfortunately my memory stick has decided to go on strike and so they are all on my personal computer right now and I can't transfer them to my flash. So.. rest assured I will get them posted.... and you will see what I have been doing - the REAL work :> To further the update ... I have now found out that grades 6-8 on top of being at school from 6:30am to 6:30pm go to school for a FULL day on Saturday! And the grade 8's come in on Sunday for a few hours. Talk about high education. I also found out that I am working at what is known as a private school, but when you see my pics you will see that it is not anything like independent schools at home....
Ok - I probably should head off - I will try to get the silly computer things ironed out so that you can see the pics of where your sponsorship dollars have really gone... it will blow your mind. I head home at the end of the day full of dust from head to toe ... did a Physical Education class with grade fours earlier on today and they basically taught me what to do... full of African songs and chants where you imitate the person in the middle. You can BE SURE they called on me to imitate - in Kswahili - all there actions and chants - MUCH to their delight as I wriggled my body and tried to sing the chant. They then played a racing game ie. who can get to the pair of shoes first... ALL in barefeet, on a rocky, dusty ground - they all took their shoes off for this - I'm telling ya.... so simple - they have nothing but two deflated soccer balls to play with.... I am bringing some of the ones I brought over tomorrow - they will be very happy. Then I taught a social studies class on forestry to the same kids.... yup, just went in the class, asked for their textbook, took a thirty second scan and went to it... hilarious, talk about flying by the seats of your pants... thankfully this is grade four. I tackle the math class tomorrow.... wish me luck, actualy I've taken a peek at it and I think I can handle it.
Ok - good evening y'all,
Jen
Impressions of today at school
Yesterday afternoon, I took part in a staff meeting. For all my teaching colleagues out there you will be glad to know that even half way around the world, the feeling in staff meetings is the same! :> Teachers being asked to do more for less... and not being that happy about it! It was hilarious, I could not believe I was seeing politics in action. Found out more about the school today - it is a private school, but unlike in Canada, I would not say that they are getting privileged resources that students would get in independent schools in Ontario. What the students DO get is smaller class sizes and perhaps a slightely better education. Since the government introduced free primary education in Kenya, the public schools have been overwhelmed with students. My class sizes range up to 40, but in the public system they can be 50 or more. The pay is better in the public system and there is job security ... but it is very hard to get a posting - sound familiar? But still in this private school, most of the kids come from the slums and their parents scrape together the tuition fee which amounts to about $180 a year. Teachers make about $300 dollars a month here... not much. And they work extremely long hours. I'll paste some of the latest email I have sent on my group list as well.
I had the most extraordinary experience today - the kids performed their drama dance for me. The theme being girl education and HIV/AIDS. IT WAS AMAZING. I captured some of it on video and will be taping the whole thing on parents day on May 25th. I have been asked to make a contribution to the performance - so I have to think over the weekend how the kids and I can come up with another scene. They dance, they sing, they chant - nothing like I have ever seen before. So much rhythm!
Also - the kids' marks here are solely based 100 percent on their National State exam. That's it... no marks collected throughout the term, participation or other tests. They get marked all the time but that does not count for their final mark. Talk about pressure on the final exam! Hence all the extra hours.
Oh yeah.. one other sobering observation. Kids get caned here... from grade 4 up... Not necessarily for bad behaviour, but for petty mistakes in their work. Can't say I really agree with this and I it is pretty hard to witness. It is under control, but still... The teachers and I have had some interesting discussions about it ... it is officially illegal in Kenya, but is still widely practiced. The kids are not hurt, but still like I said, a bit hard to watch.
I had the most extraordinary experience today - the kids performed their drama dance for me. The theme being girl education and HIV/AIDS. IT WAS AMAZING. I captured some of it on video and will be taping the whole thing on parents day on May 25th. I have been asked to make a contribution to the performance - so I have to think over the weekend how the kids and I can come up with another scene. They dance, they sing, they chant - nothing like I have ever seen before. So much rhythm!
Also - the kids' marks here are solely based 100 percent on their National State exam. That's it... no marks collected throughout the term, participation or other tests. They get marked all the time but that does not count for their final mark. Talk about pressure on the final exam! Hence all the extra hours.
Oh yeah.. one other sobering observation. Kids get caned here... from grade 4 up... Not necessarily for bad behaviour, but for petty mistakes in their work. Can't say I really agree with this and I it is pretty hard to witness. It is under control, but still... The teachers and I have had some interesting discussions about it ... it is officially illegal in Kenya, but is still widely practiced. The kids are not hurt, but still like I said, a bit hard to watch.
Some more pics of the school and teaching
This is me with the class 4 - that is what they call "grade" here... class... Notice the barefeet in the soccer match - these kids have the toughest feet - they run around all the time in the barefeet and don't seem to hurt themselves too too much.
The staff room....
Here are the resources and the rooms the staff work with... And the blackboard was my lesson on Canada.
Impressions from my teaching days
Other impressions of my long day of teaching. My hosts howled with laughter as I related the events of the day. I forgot to mention to you that in one class, still learning how to do the greeting to them, I somehow got myself in a continuance of the "hi, how are you" questioning and they just kept on repeating the answer – it was like a game of "who’s on first" Finally, I just said "please, sit down!" :> Another hilarious moment: near the end of day a huge bumblebee – and I have to tell you they are HUGE here. One comes and buzzes around my window every morning (this is to add to the chorus of very loud crows who caw their greetings to me.) Anyway, this bee came hovering around the entrance to the classroom and finally, of course, came into the classroom right at me. Needless to say, I dodged this rather large insect much to the delight of the children. Nonchalantly, one got up and swatted it down for me. This is common place for them and to see a Mazunge afraid of one, must be hilarious for them. Their accent is quite strong and we often play a game of "pardon me?" with mainly myself asking them to repeat themselves multiple times so that I can figure out what they are saying! One funny moment was when we were discussing differences in means of transportation between Kenya and Canada and they kept saying to me "sheep" – I finally said, ok you ride sheep…. only to be later corrected on the board that what they had been saying was "ship" ha ha, we had a good laugh as I told them that I had seen many forms of transport around here, but had yet to see people riding to work on sheep! I forgot to tell you (to add to the long list of insects I am encountering), I had a lovely greeting as I went for my shower. A large spider awaited me right before the shower stall. It looked like a good sized dock spider. Now, it is not my practice to generally harm these creatures, but the thought of sharing my bare feet with a spider of unknown origins was a bit too much for me and I’m afraid I zapped and squashed it into spider heaven and quickly donned my waterproof sandals before entering the stall.
HIV/AIDS awareness is embedded into the curriculum at all times. English stories they are studying tell stories about people suffering from AIDS. They talk about prevention and how it is contracted in science class – it is in every subject taught in school. Also, issues about education - for example, they talk about the fact that some children cannot go to school due to work that they must do for the family. These kids are very well informed and it is a widely held belief here that the war against AIDS must, must, must begin with this level of education. One of the great questions the kids asked was whether we had tribes in Canada – and I went on to tell them that the Native people of Canada had tribes. This in turn, led us to a discussion to the history of Canada and how the Europeans brought with them smallpox that wiped out huge populations of the Native people. We thought about the comparison of this with AIDS – and that though they were very different situations that there were some similarities. Stories of the effect of AIDS are everywhere here. Two mornings ago, I chatted with Opea, the lovely waiter who takes care of my breakfast. He was asking me about Canada and whether life was so difficult as it was in Kenya. He was sad that I was going to be staying only a month and I said, well perhaps I will come back and he said, who knows if he would still be here. I asked if this was a decent job to have and he said yes, of course, but that life was rough. His dream was always to become a doctor but he has no financial means to do so. He graduated from secondary school through sponsorship and had great marks, but had no way to pay for further education. Secondary school is not free and many kids must stop education after primary if they have no sponsorship. His parents both died of AIDS when he was twelve and has had to fend for himself ever since. He is twenty now and obviously frustrated that he must be a waiter making not enough to save anything with no means of getting on with his education. He said that the scholarships tend to be awarded to privileged students and that "unable" students as he called himself, were never even considered for scholarships. I asked him about the possibility of loans and he said yes, that was a possibility, but you still had to come up with some of the funds. I told him to not give up – to fight for a way to continue his education, he was still young enough to do so. But it makes you appreciate the system we have in Canada where students may leave school with huge student loans, but they still have that chance to get ahead in life. If any of you know of any organizations that could be approached in Canada for funds for a situation like Opea’s – let me know. It would be lovely to get him in touch with a way to really go after his dreams.
HIV/AIDS awareness is embedded into the curriculum at all times. English stories they are studying tell stories about people suffering from AIDS. They talk about prevention and how it is contracted in science class – it is in every subject taught in school. Also, issues about education - for example, they talk about the fact that some children cannot go to school due to work that they must do for the family. These kids are very well informed and it is a widely held belief here that the war against AIDS must, must, must begin with this level of education. One of the great questions the kids asked was whether we had tribes in Canada – and I went on to tell them that the Native people of Canada had tribes. This in turn, led us to a discussion to the history of Canada and how the Europeans brought with them smallpox that wiped out huge populations of the Native people. We thought about the comparison of this with AIDS – and that though they were very different situations that there were some similarities. Stories of the effect of AIDS are everywhere here. Two mornings ago, I chatted with Opea, the lovely waiter who takes care of my breakfast. He was asking me about Canada and whether life was so difficult as it was in Kenya. He was sad that I was going to be staying only a month and I said, well perhaps I will come back and he said, who knows if he would still be here. I asked if this was a decent job to have and he said yes, of course, but that life was rough. His dream was always to become a doctor but he has no financial means to do so. He graduated from secondary school through sponsorship and had great marks, but had no way to pay for further education. Secondary school is not free and many kids must stop education after primary if they have no sponsorship. His parents both died of AIDS when he was twelve and has had to fend for himself ever since. He is twenty now and obviously frustrated that he must be a waiter making not enough to save anything with no means of getting on with his education. He said that the scholarships tend to be awarded to privileged students and that "unable" students as he called himself, were never even considered for scholarships. I asked him about the possibility of loans and he said yes, that was a possibility, but you still had to come up with some of the funds. I told him to not give up – to fight for a way to continue his education, he was still young enough to do so. But it makes you appreciate the system we have in Canada where students may leave school with huge student loans, but they still have that chance to get ahead in life. If any of you know of any organizations that could be approached in Canada for funds for a situation like Opea’s – let me know. It would be lovely to get him in touch with a way to really go after his dreams.
This is from my journal from a few days ago...
Today I saw the school where I will be working. They are actually changing schools on me in order to make it easier for me in terms of transportation. Nyamasaria High School is a wee bit out of town and it would have meant taking a matatu (bus) every morning. Plus – I would have been teaching English – not as a second language, but in terms of literature which I am sure I could do, but that is not what I have been studying to do all year. So at Jakamenda Primary School, I will be working with grades 7 and 8 and possibly younger …. as well as working on Saturdays with an orphanage. I will be able to do much more drama and music here. This orphanage caters to street boys (boys that run around Kisumu and live on the streets, they sniff glue and beg for food and money) There are several orphanages that manage to lure these kids off the streets and rehabilitate them. Some run away or cannot be enticed. I met some of them today. There is also a nursery on site. As soon as I arrived, a small boy, aged 1-2, no pants on, no shoes, came running up to me and hugged my legs. He was adorable! We played a game where I lifted him up and down… It was not entirely an easy sight to see the conditions in which these kids live and go to school. There is a VCT centre on site – a voluntary counselling and testing centre, a church and living quarters I suspect for some of the staff. The school rooms are very primitive, benches, long tables and a chalk board at the front of the room. I will post some pics. There is a formal school (where they follow the Ministry curriculum) and an informal school (where they use the same books, but do not follow the curriculum – more teaching the kids life skills I suspect. There is a carpentry workshop on site. Some of the kids are orphans due to their parents dying of AIDS, some were abandoned, some of the kids may have AIDS themselves – I will know more next week. I will also be taking time on the weekends to visit other AIDS related NGO’s who do work here. My host has been attending a three day conference this week which I rather regret not having the chance to attend. It sounds fascinating. Today, they heard talks from various elders of tribes around Africa explaining coming of age practices (circumcision, sexual habits) and how they relate to the spread of AIDS. My host was explaining a talk given by an elder from Senegal. Yesterday, it seems a group put on a play with music depicting some theme having to do with AIDS.
We then visited an area called Dunga – passed a lot of shanty shops and homes, dirt roads – very bumpy of course – and cows on the road. Seconds later we were arriving at a Lake side resort – totally opposite scale. Posh restaurant, pool, view of Lake, lovely meals, gardens to sit around… The proximity of the disparity was a bit alarming. At the resort I saw more white people then I have in all my trip, but plenty of locals as well. It was really lovely there – peaceful and relaxing, but you could not escape the thought that you were living on the "other" side of life here. There are residential areas that are quite upscale – with gated entrances, guards and quite large – some mansions, some on the scale of the grand homes in High Park in TO.
Later on in the day…. I treated myself to my very first pedicure if you can believe it! My hosts suggested it… they saw the state of my feet – which was not very pretty! They are very cheap here and I must admit my feet are completely different right now… why have I not done this before…. boy, did they need it. I will certainly be going back there before I leave – Eunice worked wonders. I also got to observe the very intricate and interesting techniques in a black hair salon. I’ve heard of all these things from my friends in TO, but have never witnessed them! I was assured that this salon was very safe to go to for pedicures as you actually have to be careful as not all salons take care in sanitizing the utensils properly between clients. My hosts go there all the time and they are completely aware of any precautions that need to be taken. Phew…
We then visited an area called Dunga – passed a lot of shanty shops and homes, dirt roads – very bumpy of course – and cows on the road. Seconds later we were arriving at a Lake side resort – totally opposite scale. Posh restaurant, pool, view of Lake, lovely meals, gardens to sit around… The proximity of the disparity was a bit alarming. At the resort I saw more white people then I have in all my trip, but plenty of locals as well. It was really lovely there – peaceful and relaxing, but you could not escape the thought that you were living on the "other" side of life here. There are residential areas that are quite upscale – with gated entrances, guards and quite large – some mansions, some on the scale of the grand homes in High Park in TO.
Later on in the day…. I treated myself to my very first pedicure if you can believe it! My hosts suggested it… they saw the state of my feet – which was not very pretty! They are very cheap here and I must admit my feet are completely different right now… why have I not done this before…. boy, did they need it. I will certainly be going back there before I leave – Eunice worked wonders. I also got to observe the very intricate and interesting techniques in a black hair salon. I’ve heard of all these things from my friends in TO, but have never witnessed them! I was assured that this salon was very safe to go to for pedicures as you actually have to be careful as not all salons take care in sanitizing the utensils properly between clients. My hosts go there all the time and they are completely aware of any precautions that need to be taken. Phew…
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