Now that I feel like I have gotten more settled in Nairobi the weeks have been flying by! I can`t believe that it has been almost 4 weeks since I left home. I wish I could say I miss home, but I don`t. Maybe the people in it, but I feel assured that everyone will still be there when I get back :)
The last few weeks I have spent doing my placement in Kibera, going to different families to see how they are doing and handing out flour and beans. Since that is only twice a week, I am tagging along with another volunteer to his orphanage & school placement where we help teach class and then run around like crazy people at break time in a small court yard with far to many children. Their winter break is starting at the end of this week so the number of children at the school will be cut dramatically, so there will be a little less chaos.
This last weekend I went on an excursion with 10 other volunteers and 4 kenyans to various areas outside Nairobi. We first visited the KCC slums and the school there that was started a number of years ago by a volunteer much like myself. He`s done some amazing work in the community and you can really see how these children`s lives have been improved from education. After that we rode bikes through Hell`s Gate which is a National Park that is the inspiration for the gorge where Mufasa was killed in the Lion King, and has THE Pride Rock, I touched it, no big deal. We also went for an amazing hike with the most beautiful surroundings. Kenya is so lush and green, it was amazing to see, pictures truly don`t do it justice.
The next day we took off early to an IDP camp to see how many people have been living their lives since 2008 after being displaced from their homes due to election violence. These tents were meant to be very temporary, but have been forced to last much longer than intended due to various circumstances. It was heart-breaking to hear the stories of some of the people living in the camp. These are people who had it all before; a home, a job and a family. Some or all of these things were taken away from them because of the post election violence.
To open our eyes further, we were then taken to the garbage slum, which is exactly as it sounds. Small shacks built on piles of garbage that keep getting larger as this slum is on a garbage dump site. This slum was much different from my experiences in Kibera. It`s hard to put into words the feelings I had as I saw these people and the conditions they live in. The women are the backbone of the community, making and selling various crafts to support their families. While some of the men work in the near-by town, some or all of the money is spent on home-made alcohol which often leads to further issues within the slum. Watching the women line up to recieve clothing from the volunteers was a confirmation to me that i have way to many clothes at home and could afford to thin out my closet. You could tell by what the women were wearing that they take whatever they can get from donations and make due. The hardest part for me came when the volunteers were to hand out cookies to the children. At first the children lined up in a proper line and took their two cookies each and ate them. But then we had leftovers, and when they realized, the volunteers and I were swarmed, jumped on and grabbed by the children trying to get whatever they could from us. Their desperation broke my heart and I can`t even image what their lives have been like to bring them to behave like that for a single cookie.
These experiences are teaching me more about the world than I ever would have learned in a classroom. I am hoping to continue to learn more about this country, what it has to offer and what I have to offer it. I haven`t spent any of the fundraisied money yet because I want to ensure that it is going to the right place, and will do more conintuous good, rather than a quick fix. One of the volunteers and I have talked about building a community chicken coop at the IDP camp and buyin swine at the garbage slum as chickens and goats don`t live very well among the garbage, but I will keep you posted!
This weekend I will be taking a more touristy tour and go on a three day safari, hoping to see the big five! Can`t wait to report back.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Tuesday 8 November 2011
Life in Kibera
It's now been over a week for me in Nairobi, but it feels more like a month! I'm almost even starting to feel more local, although I am still sticking out like a sore thumb. It is interesting to see the way that locals treat us once they find out we are volunteers here rather than just tourists. It's almost like they realize we don't actually have money to hand out to them and tend to give us more "Kenya" prices rather than "mazungu" prices.
This last weekend I visited the Maasai market in downtown Nairobi to see what they had to offer. I have experienced bargaining and haggling over prices before, but this was something I had NEVER expected. Michael and Grandpa would have been in heaven. The workers instantly separate us from one another to make sure they are only bargaining with one person. They often put items in your hands and haggle over the price for 10 or 15 minutes when really I had no want or need for the item in the first place. Needless to say I spent almost all my money for that day but walked away with a lime-stone carving, long dress and a large knife painting of Maasai people. A group of us volunteers also experienced a taste of the Nairobi night life, going to a near-by bar. It was pretty much exactly like home, with overpriced drinks and dancing on the d-floor. I convinced two Kenyan ladies to show me how to shake by booty African style because I didn't want to look like such a white girl anymore. We had fun. After being drained from the Saturday festivities we mustered enough energy Sunday night to cook our host mama some traditional "Canadian" food, beef tacos with fresh salsa and guacamole. I won't have any problem adjusting to the prices of avocado here, 30 cents for the most massive avocado I've ever seen!
My week days have been spent in Kibera, which is an interesting place with everything that goes on. Kibera is a slum made up of narrow dirt (mud) pathways that have little ration to the directional system. It is covered in garbage and other rather unpleasant surprises. Wild dogs roam the streets tearing through garbage trying to find something to eat, which is rare in a place where people struggle with the same dilemma. Chickens and roosters are also wandering the streets although they are apparently similar to cats in the way that they always find their way back to their homes. As the day gets hotter the smell in Kibera gets stronger, but I think I am adjusting to it and noticing it less.
The children in Kibera are likely my favourite part of the experience. Everywhere we walk we often hear groups of children singing in a common tune "howareyou, howareyou, howareyou." We're not convinced that they even know exactly what they are saying. They shake our hands, give us high-fives and pound it. They often will do a little dance for us, sing a song and then hold out their hands demanding sweets. But if we don't have any they will settle for us taking their picture so they can look at it. Today after passing a local orphanage/ school, half a dozen small children came pouring out the door running towards us wanting to be picked up and hugged, which we did with great joy, I think I'll frequent that route more often.
I have been placed in an orphanage in Kibera, however I will be switching this week as it is not quite what I was looking for. Instead I will be visiting families two times a week to deliver beans and flour as apart of a feeding program that was started. I will also be working with another volunteer to start up a program designed for children and young adults with disabilities in Kibera. This will give them a place to feel comfortable, socialize and get out of the house as it is very difficult for some given the set up of Kibera. Even the able-bodied people have a hard time getting around.
This last weekend I visited the Maasai market in downtown Nairobi to see what they had to offer. I have experienced bargaining and haggling over prices before, but this was something I had NEVER expected. Michael and Grandpa would have been in heaven. The workers instantly separate us from one another to make sure they are only bargaining with one person. They often put items in your hands and haggle over the price for 10 or 15 minutes when really I had no want or need for the item in the first place. Needless to say I spent almost all my money for that day but walked away with a lime-stone carving, long dress and a large knife painting of Maasai people. A group of us volunteers also experienced a taste of the Nairobi night life, going to a near-by bar. It was pretty much exactly like home, with overpriced drinks and dancing on the d-floor. I convinced two Kenyan ladies to show me how to shake by booty African style because I didn't want to look like such a white girl anymore. We had fun. After being drained from the Saturday festivities we mustered enough energy Sunday night to cook our host mama some traditional "Canadian" food, beef tacos with fresh salsa and guacamole. I won't have any problem adjusting to the prices of avocado here, 30 cents for the most massive avocado I've ever seen!
My week days have been spent in Kibera, which is an interesting place with everything that goes on. Kibera is a slum made up of narrow dirt (mud) pathways that have little ration to the directional system. It is covered in garbage and other rather unpleasant surprises. Wild dogs roam the streets tearing through garbage trying to find something to eat, which is rare in a place where people struggle with the same dilemma. Chickens and roosters are also wandering the streets although they are apparently similar to cats in the way that they always find their way back to their homes. As the day gets hotter the smell in Kibera gets stronger, but I think I am adjusting to it and noticing it less.
The children in Kibera are likely my favourite part of the experience. Everywhere we walk we often hear groups of children singing in a common tune "howareyou, howareyou, howareyou." We're not convinced that they even know exactly what they are saying. They shake our hands, give us high-fives and pound it. They often will do a little dance for us, sing a song and then hold out their hands demanding sweets. But if we don't have any they will settle for us taking their picture so they can look at it. Today after passing a local orphanage/ school, half a dozen small children came pouring out the door running towards us wanting to be picked up and hugged, which we did with great joy, I think I'll frequent that route more often.
I have been placed in an orphanage in Kibera, however I will be switching this week as it is not quite what I was looking for. Instead I will be visiting families two times a week to deliver beans and flour as apart of a feeding program that was started. I will also be working with another volunteer to start up a program designed for children and young adults with disabilities in Kibera. This will give them a place to feel comfortable, socialize and get out of the house as it is very difficult for some given the set up of Kibera. Even the able-bodied people have a hard time getting around.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
First Impressions of Kenya
Jambo!
Today marks the third whole day that I have spent in Kenya. Surprisingly, when I first arrived I was not overwhelmed, rather excited and enthusiastic to finally be where I have dreamt to go for so long now. Arriving at the volunteer house I was greeted by three smiling Canadians, and my host "mom" who not much older than I am. The next day consisted of doing some shopping, visiting and getting ready for the Halloween party we had with other volunteers and locals. Yesterday was orientation getting us ready about what to expect in Kenya and at our placements.
Today I started my placement in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa and the second largest in the world. Kibera is an interesting set-up with mud houses built practically on top of each other and covered with tin roofs. While there it began to rain so hard it was impossible to carry on a conversation because of the thundering sound of rain on the roof. I cooked Ugali over fire which is a delicious Kenyan dish made of maze and water.
I've really been enjoying Kenya, the people are so friendly and welcoming everywhere we go. I look forward to getting to know the people in our area, the city and the beautiful areas surrounding Nairobi. I will keep you posted as to what will happen next in my adventure!
Today marks the third whole day that I have spent in Kenya. Surprisingly, when I first arrived I was not overwhelmed, rather excited and enthusiastic to finally be where I have dreamt to go for so long now. Arriving at the volunteer house I was greeted by three smiling Canadians, and my host "mom" who not much older than I am. The next day consisted of doing some shopping, visiting and getting ready for the Halloween party we had with other volunteers and locals. Yesterday was orientation getting us ready about what to expect in Kenya and at our placements.
Today I started my placement in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa and the second largest in the world. Kibera is an interesting set-up with mud houses built practically on top of each other and covered with tin roofs. While there it began to rain so hard it was impossible to carry on a conversation because of the thundering sound of rain on the roof. I cooked Ugali over fire which is a delicious Kenyan dish made of maze and water.
I've really been enjoying Kenya, the people are so friendly and welcoming everywhere we go. I look forward to getting to know the people in our area, the city and the beautiful areas surrounding Nairobi. I will keep you posted as to what will happen next in my adventure!
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