English, Math & Babies

Thurs. Jan 24 2012

Today I went to the school to see my way around. So much stuff that it is so overwhelming but also exciting. The kids are very good, I adore the little ones. I am going to be teaching the older grades reading and writing in the morning (9-13)  then the primary age math after that (6-8) and then finishing my day with little ones in the nursery (3-6). It will be interesting because 11-13 year olds are not usually my favourite but the classes are all so quiet and well behaved - very strange. Then I have to teach math which everyone knows Im not very good at XD But its nothing more than addition and multiplication. The school is interesting because it’s a private school it is really very nice, and the class sizes are very small for a Kenyan school but even so they do not have access to a lot of supplies public schools do in Canada, for example their work books are bound in newspaper instead of fancy journals, and there isn’t much In the way of craft supplies and other things I am used to. In Canada we learn so much integration of technology and fancy supplies but here it's all about using and reusing what you got. The principal of the school has "good job" stickers but they are in polish XD They call me "teacher sophie" or "madam." Having so many different classes and kids is hard because learning individuals an where they are at is a challenge, the first thing I will have them do is make name tags! In the nursery there were few toys and books, even the actual physical size of the classroom is very small.  I will do what I can, I have big shoes to fill! 

Water Bottle in London and a Pillow in Nairobi

Wed. Jan. 22 2012

You know the saying "take only photos, leave only footprints"? We teach it to kids at camp to stress the importance of not breaking branches off trees or leaving garbage on the ground. Well turns out I'm not very good at leaving nothing behind as in the airport in London I lost my water bottle, and somehow left my pillow in Nairobi before we got to Eldoret. Only me XD

We have spent the last couple of days catching up on school work we need to be doing through Nipissing while in Kenya. I tried to take classes that would be interesting/applicable for studying away from school so I'm taking Geography of Africa, Environment and Health and Social Change for Social Justice. Had to do a quiz for Geography of Africa, I think it went alright. Since I'm an English major I worry about taking classes outside of English since formats for papers and assignments can be so different. I have quite a few different courses in things like geography, philosophy, sociology though.

I'm very sorry it is so cold in Canada lately:P Anytime anyone wants to escape and come visit we have extra beds! So please forgive me for this comment, but no matter what I do in this sun I burn, I wear so much sunscreen but it doesnt matter I just get red! I think it's being right on the equator. I hope that i will gain a resistance or tolerance soon. Anyway, I think I got heat exhaustion today or at least was way too overheated as I almost passed out in the hospital (what a convenient place XD). But my roommates took good care of me (yay for nurses) and I am fine just tired! I am definitely going to have to remember to wear my hat and drink lots of water!

Today we walked a lot to the schools, hospital and downtown. I now know where the schools are (there is an older sections and younger kids section) as long as I remember on my own! Nervous. I am going to the school on Thurs to meet people and make a schedule. What I am hoping will happen is that in the mornings I will leave at 7 when it's light and walk about 35-40 min to the old classes and teach there in the mornings then walk back to the "nursery" and be there until 3:20 when school is over and then I'm only 10-15 min from home, then I'll be able to start my course work!

Visiting the hospital was very interesting, it was great to hear what Erica and Sarah would be up to on their internship, sounds like they are going to be very busy! And they will do a great job I'm sure. There were so many people and not enough beds and the director who toured us just took is into emergancy rooms and all sorts. And I am deffinitly never working in medicine IDK how people do it, I have the uttermost respect for all those who do. It stressed me out, and it was so different than a western hospital. Oh my. Tomorrow will be very good to stay here and read and I probably could do with a cold shower. Ive been drinking tons of water but its like I still need more my lips and mouth is always dry. I understand how it must be so hard for those without clean water.

Though tired today I'm still having a great time, and learning those. I'm feeling confident from finding our way around ourselves and buying food and supplies. We can do this!

C'est La Vie

Mon Jan 21 2012

Today we walked to Rena’s for dinner, She is the owner of the school I will be teaching at, as well as the house at which we are staying. She had us over for a delicious vegetarian meal which was very kind. we also had to say goodbye to Karen which was very hard because she really has been our "momma" since we have been here. We wouldn't be here without her.
I am beginning to worry about classes at Nipissing because I have a test on Wednesday and I don’t have time to study! Also who wants to study in Kenya...even when I have a few spare minutes the sun is shining and there is so much to do and see.
Today we walked to Rena's house by ourselves for the first time and did just fine! Tomorrow we will adventure into the market which is so unbelievably busy, although because everyone is outside it always looks like here are tons of people. I continue to realize how important relationships are in kenya as we meet so many people, and the meetings continue to be so interesting and different. We meet so many important people and talk about university business and it's all really cool. I have met the Dean of Education and the Director at the Institute of Gender Equity, Research and Development at Moi and they both have said they would work with me which is so exciting. 

We were in the school of medicine meeting the  Principal of the college of health sciences when there were people on strike protesting and we had coffee in this board room calmly having a meeting while people are yelling and trying to get through the door XD Some things in Kenya are so funny. I also met up with Andrew who was in our special education class at Nipissing last year on exchange form Moi, Im not sure if he remembered me or not but he is a very nice boy and I hope we will be able to meet up again and that way meet more students.
One thing I think is really important to mention, although people stare at us and may call out to us or call us mzungu, as long as we are in the right place there is no hostile attitude towards us, everyone is so friendly and hospital. Food and making someone comfortable is so important as the relationship between people means so much. .Jowi was telling us that when you great someone in Kenya most people ask about your family, even if they don't personally know them they first want to know "how is your family." That really is a nicer and more personal way to talk to someone as opposed to talking about the weather (Which is always so hot and sunny here anyway)  Today when we were at dinner we met Rena's chef again (who has come in to clean our house before) she is both deaf and mute but it is interesting how easy it is to communicate anyway even without knowing sign language, so much communication between humans are done through expressions anyway and I think we should all remember that. If she can  sign to me that I needed to iron my skirt(so funny)without any words, then I dont know.why people think it is so hard to understand each other at all, no matter how different we are.

Corn Flakes and Stories

Another crazy day, so much I want to get down because I don’t want to forget anything so the form and the grammar will be bad, but too bad!

Today we;

-       Met the Geography Professor Odepo,

-       Talked about teaching in a rural school for a week or two in Jowi’s home village (so cool)

-       Met a gender prof. talked about possible projects together (so cool)

-       Saw another possible compound for living in

-       Hired Grace 

-       Had pizza

We have been visiting and meeting at the golf clubs and country houses I would never be part of in Canada are all a place we are supposed to feel natural here, everything is cheaper and more assessable. It’s strange feeling of privilege, even with people waiting on us and serving us which we are so not used to but it is so strange because they are offended if you did not want them to. For example in the morning our chef pours my coffee. Today he was trying to make us breakfast and we had bought corn flakes but he didn't know what they were so he served them on a plate dry, it was so funny.

We hired a girl Grace who took care of the girls last year which is so great and exciting. 

Jowi told us a great story today as we were rushing around that I want to share. 

A Kenyan man was sitting by a river when a Westerners said to him why are you just lying here you should be fishing and the Kenyan asked why, the Westerner says "so you can catch fish" and the Kenyan asks why. "So you can sell them and make money" is the response, and again the Kenyan man inquires why." So that you can buy a better boat and catch more fish and employ others in the community". but why asks the Kenyan man, and the Westerner replies "so you can relax and be happy without worries." The Kenyan says "but I am doing that right now".

Jowi says that Kenyans can relax where westerners always need to be going somewhere, but where is it that we want to go?

He is a wise man.

There is so much here, so much I had never understood, and so much I never could have known.

And it is only just beginning,

No matter what I am so glad I’m here.

 Sophie

Animal Noises and Lion King Trees

Busy day! Karen (the woman who facilitates are trip) unfortunately  needs to go home early. This means that all the set up and planning we were to do this week is condensed into tomorrow and Monday. Today as so many new things, The way things are run in Kenya are very different everyone moves at a different pace and we are late a lot!

I am feeling comfortable and safe in Eldoret for the most part .Our hosue is cute and sun and grounds are beautiful. Once it is night though everything feels very different so we are always driven around for that part. It is hard to understand what Kenyans mean sometimes but not with their words, they mostly speak very good English, but with their intention. We had a lot of fun today though,  slightly giggly and delirious from the heat and the nice beer we had in a place called Poa place, the Kenyan beer was very good. I am trying lots of new foods, the fruit is absolutely fantastic! We went for dinner at Beatrice's place (she is one of the co-owners of the house in which we are staying and also owns a school). We had all kinds of food the most interesting being mashed cooked bananas that looked like mash potatoes (so good) and pumpkin leaves (also surprisingly tasty). I also tried Chai tea, although Chai in Swahili is 

tea so that makes it tea tea. 

We met some students from the university Wildlife club, they seem very nice and so welcoming. They all want to take photos with us.  Trying to try everything, I have been eating the food without fear and even had fish tonight, you can not worry about such things. You just live your life because that is all you can do here. Everyone is outside all the time because inside is a small house constructed of metal sheets and other bits and bobs. The children are adorable, they come running up to great you admittably probably because they think you have something for them but they are poliete and sweet and smile so big when you give them attention, I cant wait for school to start to meet more of them.  When we drive past people you can see them look they call us mzungus which means white people but in a term that is simply an observation not an insult or slur. Man I need to sleep.

Goodnight world, and beautiful Kenyan stars.

Sophie