Pictures!

So, since I was unable to put anything up here while I was in Kenya, I thought people might like to see the highlights. I have plenty more, but these are the best.

Mbakalo

Ugenya

Kuria

Mituntu

Nairobi

Kibera Slums

Lang'ata Giraffe Center

Mombasa

Kakamega Rainforest

Maasai Mara

Enjoy!

-Pat

Mituntu

So, finally, Mituntu. This village of hope reaches the Tigania West district, which is close to Meru town and in the shadow of Mt. Kenya. Here, we were able to visit four schools, and we were going to complete a fifth, but Marla got sick that day. The school’s here ranged from two of the best we had to two of the more frustrating. One school, we had major issues with the communication barrier, students and teachers alike. The other we dealt with a class that doubled to twice it’s size the second week through (we came on a Saturday the first time, so half the students were missing. When we came the second time, most of the students were there [plus some from the other stream, potentially] and didn’t know what was going on so didn’t pay attention and caused a major headache [the second time I was close to losing it]). The two schools that were good were both provincial schools, the boys school being really interested in all of the sciences (beyond what I covered [things like cloning and liver transplants]). I think I liked this group the best

For the week, we stayed with Barnabas, Ann, and Kendy (not sure how to spell this. it took me a while to figure out that Barnabas was not saying Kelly or Katie.) Barnabas is a principal at a small school up in the hills surrounding Ngundune (or more likely another village/town since it was a small distance away). Ann is a deputy principal at another school and also owns her own cake business (supposedly the best in the Meru area [I believe this considering someone paid her to come to Nairobi with a cake for their wedding]). Kendy was in standard one (I think) and didn’t really talk or say much (despite my attempts to practice some Swahili [maybe I was saying it wrong or my accent still got in the way]). They also had a cat, which I thought was the most annoying cat I have ever met. It was constantly trying to rub up against legs or steal food off the table (and it didn’t take hints well either).

One of the mornings (7/8), we visited Barnabas’s school and gave a talk to his students about the three methods of learning (auditory, visual, kinesthetic) and combining them to do well with studies and figuring out how you learn best (exams were coming up in a couple weeks). We then took questions about the US, our lives, and made comparisons with Kenya. Barnabas had managed to double the student number (from about 80 to about 160) over the course of two years. He also had funding secured from a couple agencies to build new dormitories and a new laboratory. (His office and the teachers’ office were made of wood, small, and poorly lit. I liked seeing that his focus was on the students first.) Another thing to note was that most of the roads in the Eastern Province that we were on were well paved (I asked Barnabas, and he affirmed that it was because of politics), however, the road to his school was still unpaved, but that is soon to change through EU (European Union) funding. This was also the day that Marla and I were served tea 7 times (once for breakfast, once before the talk at Barnabas’s school, once after the talk, once when we got back for lunch, once at the school we were attending, once when we got back from there, and once or dinner.). As much as I liked their tea, it was a bit much for me, and needless to say, I didn’t eat much for dinner.

The first week we were there, Barnabas was in the process of studying for exams (he is attempting to get his Master’s degree). Upon return, we discovered that he passed with a B average. For his last term, he was attempting to come up with topics for a dissertation. His best at the time was to investigate the roles of women on the growth and development in the Tigania West area. His thought was that because women took a more active role in society, creating women’s groups, caring for families, and running businesses, they must have the largest impact on growth. It was a fairly interesting topic. The second week we were there, Barnabas was busy being trained as a supervisor for the census (a huge deal in Kenya. So big, in fact, Kibaki announced a national holiday for the day after).

Another one of the mornings (7/10), we went with Barnabas’s friend, Antony (a police officer from Mombasa from the area who grew up with Barnabas [he was also the person Steph and I called to find a good place to stay in Mombasa and was very generous in showing us around that weekend), to his shamba. He showed us around his large compound, where he seemed to grow just about everything (amaranth, maize, coffee, pumpkin, macadamia nuts, avocado, bananas, natural beehives (hollow logs [he also sent over honey earlier in the week, complete with the beeswax. It was delicious.]), and probably a few others that I am leaving out. (He ended up sending us home with a collection of fruits, which we gave to Ann and Barnabas.)

He then showed us around the area, taking us to some of his land (which he was willing to donate if someone would be able to build a center for people with HIV in the area. I was a bit upset by this offer after he took us past some of his land where he is building rooms to rent to people, but upon further reflection [and explanation that land is expensive], I realized that it was a very generous offer given the circumstances. I felt like he should be doing things for his community himself, if he wanted change to occur, but if he has grown up in a culture where NGO’s consistently offer to help communities if they give a certain portion, he is making a very legitimate offer and show of concern for the people in his village.) and introducing us to some of the villagers. We then had eggs, tea, and an entire chicken (well, I had an entire chicken offered, Marla didn’t eat non-kosher meat, and I knew I would have lunch in a couple hours. Otherwise, I would have been up for the challenge. [In all seriousness, it was a very kind and respectful gesture to serve us a chicken because it meant sacrificing a source of food or income.]).

After tea, we went to talk to the school Antony is a board member for. It was very small, only having students for three of the four forms. Here, we took Q&A from the teachers and students. I got a lot of science questions from the biology teacher (about HIV [why it is difficult to cure, etc.], cloning [is it ethical], and other topics) and both of us got a lot of general questions from the students about the US vs. Kenya. At the end, the principal expressed his thanks and told us he would have killed a goat and had a feast if he had known we were coming (again, a great sign of respect, but something that is very difficult to feel comfortable with knowing the sacrifice they are taking for us. [On the other side of the coin, while it is being killed in our honor, it is being shared with everyone and the community would have benefitted]).

When we visited one the provincial schools, the school matron (i.e. the school mom), Faith, is also one of the members of the LMC. She invited us for lunch a couple of the days. It was the first time I had ever had passion fruit (I’d describe it as a more tangy orange. It was good.), and because of this, she sent us home with a big bag of thirty or so fruits (which we also gave to Ann and Barnabas. This was turned into juice for dinner that night.)

Beyond these experiences, there is not much else to say. We were pretty confined to the schools in Mituntu and didn’t see much else. The second week we were there, we were only around for a few days (the schools all booked us on the first two, and Marla’s parents were coming the next day to Nairobi for a trip to Mbakalo and the Maasai Mara.) so didn’t do much, but here's a few more pictures.

-Pat

More Links

I have finally gotten settled in to my apartment in San Diego and it has been a busy orientation week for my program. I will hopefully have a chance to write up the last few pieces I have been wanting to do soon. For now, a couple more links from Steph on our adventures.

Kakamega Rainforest

Maasai Maara

-Pat

And yes, Steph, I was going to use your posts without asking. You are using my pictures after all.

Links

I have since returned to the US, and I am about to head out to San Diego for the start of grad school. I haven't had much time to write with the quick turn around, but I will put up a few more posts about the last bit of my experience when i get a chance. For the time being, here are some links to stuff Steph has posted that we did together (she even puts up pictures... woah...).

Hillary

Mombasa

Giraffe Center