A Round Of Applause!

I’ve tried starting a few of these this past month, however none of them made it to the page (as you can see). Finally I feel as though things are stabilizing enough that I have some foresight into my near future.  Even if it is only a few weeks of foresight, it is definitely better than it was about a week ago!

So, if you’ve been watching the news you will already know that Kenya just recently had their presidential elections.  Kenya’s previous presidential elections (stated lightly) didn’t go so well. Peace Corps actually evacuated all volunteers.  So, this time around they took every precaution necessary to make sure we were ready for anything. A few days before the big event we were all (100+) consolidated near Machakos (where I lived for my 2 months of training). We were to prepare ourselves for an evacuation, pack up our homes, say goodbye and explain to our communities that we didn’t know if we would be coming back or not…not the easiest thing to go through. What caused a lot of stress and anxiety in the beginning however turned out to be really wonderful and unique experience for Peace Corps volunteers. I got to meet all of the volunteers in country!  And what an amazing group of people! We kept ourselves busy by having committee meetings, collaborating, and doing planning for upcoming trainings. We hosted our own PC Kenya Olympics and other events (which I was quite impressed with, we are a talented group!) All of that, along with good company and relaxing pool time, it was a very nice vacation. I can’t say that I would feel the same way about all of it if it weren’t for the Kenyan people keeping the peace and letting all of us enjoy ourselves. We had meetings twice a day, morning and evening and I can’t begin to tell you how my stomach would knot before every single one, waiting to hear something terrible had happened. But it didn’t!! So, even though Kenya may not have made the most logical choice of President… I am proud and so happy to still be here!

I am now back at site, had my first day of school on Friday. I was walking up during assembly; the kids and teachers all silently looking upwards towards the raising flag. When one student notices me walking up and starts a commotion, she starts clapping and so do the rest of the students…Yes, my students gave me a round of applause!  The teachers looked at me expectantly, like this was some American thing I had taught the kids to do and I was meant to do something in return… I just stared back at them with an equally confused look.  Clearly my kids are still working on expressing their excitement when I show up after a period of absence. A few of my girls did hug me after assembly and my little kids fought over who got to hold my hand and braid my hair for the rest of the day. I’ve never been happier to have my hair pulled out or my hand held by little grubby fingers all day.

At the end of consolidation our Country Director started announcing some of the “Big Upcoming Events”. The last one announced was our COS (Close of Service)…Hard to believe! I've been hit with some perspective and I will be soaking up every last moment I have here. 

Drink Drink Drink!!!

Te well was being finished this day, they had to empty all the water. After filling every container that the school owns there was still more water that needed to be emptied! A good sign. 

I am no artist....I tried my best

We had a whole day dedicated to making cards, the older kids got very into it! It was cute. 

When the pump was installed and finished, the kids insisted on filling everything and anything they could find....including the pot they cook lunch in. After they were all filled we decided to have a water splashing contest/fight for the rest of the day. I think it was the first time that my kids were able to waste water without a care. So much fun! 

And all the plants were watered as well... :)

Sorry that none of these pictures are in any order, it's whatever loads first that ends up on the page. But I hope that this has given you all back home some insight to how much this has meant to my school and community. The Primary school next door as well as our school has more than enough water and I can't even begin to tell you how many thank you's and smiles this has brought. So let me relay that on to you, Thank you Thank you! Sending all of you warm thoughts and hugs! Missing you always.

A new year!

Week one of school is finally underway and I am able to catch some down time to finally update everyone on life here in Kenya and projects that you all made possible! I am so happy to tell everyone that after returning from a Holiday of a lifetime the well is being dug and water is about a week away!

My time off from school was filled with travels, training of the new education volunteers, saying good-bye to other volunteers, experiencing new cultures and meeting many new friends along the way that I won’t ever forget.  It was a Christmas and New Years that nothing will compare to, such a unique experience and I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience it. Arrived back home to the rainy, green wonderland of Western and immediately started the well. Thanks to all of you, while I was traveling enough money arrived in order to get it started! By the time I was able to make it to the school the workers had already started that perfectly round hole in the ground. I started giggling and laughing with excitement, couldn’t believe it was actually happening!

The first few days of digging

This is into the first week of school. My kids are fascinated by the process. 

After about 2 weeks of digging, the well is about 45 ft. and the dirt has become so soft and wet. My kids are constantly my little eyes assessing the work being done, as they sit and watch every bucket of dirt being brought up they say, “yup, its wet…there is definitely water down there…” Thought is was cute for the first 50 times… They are great helping the workers in whatever they need, some water, more cement, a brick…you name it if the worker even begins to look around there are 10 hands begging to help.  The bigger kids are keeping the little ones from getting too close to the hole and are so excited that they will NEVER have to walk to the river again! My older girls will say “My last trip!” As they swing their bucket in the air making their way down to the river…and then they make another trip at the end of the day…I don’t know if they realize they have one more week of trips down to the river or if they just don’t care. Regardless they realize what is coming and are so excited about it! The whole school board has come to see the progress of the well and are moved beyond words with gratitude. The happiness and smiles that this well has given is priceless and my pictures just don’t do it justice. I hope you all know how much you have given this community!

It has been so fun being back in my village and school. After being gone for any period of time (even if its an afternoon) all I will hear the next day is “You have been SO LOST!” It is nice knowing that you have been missed. Everyday Eregi becomes more home to me. It is fun to realize how comfortable I’ve gotten here, situations that used to cause stress are no longer stressful, things I thought were offensive I now understand better, things that I didn’t fully appreciate before have become priceless.  A better understanding and integration of Kenyan culture in general I guess. All of these aspects make me so excited for this new year! Getting off to an amazing start and I couldn’t ask for anything more in my life. Can’t wait to see what else this year brings!

Love you all and hope that your new years are off to wonderful start. From all the kids and staff at Eregi Special School we send our love!! (Especially me! Xoxo) 

Words just weren't enough for this one...

Hello Everyone!! I know that there has been some silence since my last post, but do I have so much to share!!!

School came to a close on Wednesday, we were busy with exams the weeks prior and all making our holiday plans.  I certain enjoyed the last few weeks with my kids as they were finishing exams.  Lots of P.E. time, story time, and movie time (if you behaved well that day, of course).  Here is what I was able to capture during my last few weeks of school...

These girls ask for a new story every morning.  Aren't they so beautiful!!! 

Happiness starting the fire in the morning to start boiling their maze and beans for lunch. This is our "Kitchen".

My boys playing soccer one day after exams were finished. 

These are the hearing students from Eregi Mixed Primary School, watching the game. 

Play Felix a bit of music and he will always break out into dance for you.  He is a precious soul. 

Happiness attempting to read my Peace Corps newspaper

My students entranced in Tarzan.  So fun, since Tarzan takes place in the congo and much of the vegetation is the same in Western.

This is how small my computer is for them to watch and they are in constant awe, can you imagine what they would be like if they experienced a movie theater!!??? 

My oldest girl Edith and my littlest girl Purity.

I'm sure from this video you may be wondering how my kids are singing since they go to a deaf school, but a lot of my younger students are actually hearing, but they have some other type of impairment.  In this group now, its about half and half.  And if you notice I actually wave at one of my deaf girls during the song to tell her it was her turn to drop.  But, this is a typical game that some of my girls play during P.E. because the boys play "too rough" during football.  

After school finally came to a close, Eregi Teachers Training College (where I live) happened to be having a culture Festival.  Since students come from all over Kenya, this festival gives them all a chance to show a bit of their home and take pride in their traditions.  Kelsey arrived on Wednesday and Thursday morning we woke to have the most unbelievable and memorable Thanksgivings of our lives.

Part I: 6 a.m. Luhya Cultural Bull fighting:

Father Lwangu and I up and ready for the festivities... I'm tired (you can tell), but wake up pretty quick...and you'll see why...

As people start to arrive the parade around the field and show off all the bulls in front of the stadium.  Many people in traditional colobus monkey furs (which are now endangered in Kakamega Rainforest)

  

This is how they show off their bulls in the beginning in front of the stadium.

The students dancing and parading around the field 

dancing and parading around the field continued...

continued...

This is the students dancing and parading around the field, as is tradition in the Luhya Culture. 

a lot of the time the bulls get angry and charge the crowd around them.  The grass was a bit wet that morning and may times people fell in front in the bull as they were charging.  I'm Thankful that no one got hurt that morning. 

This bull had just won his fight, so they parade him around the stadium. 

The crowd around the bulls will slowly herd the bulls together so they will fight each other. 

This is a full bull fight.  I know in the middle you lose sight of them, but in the end you will see the winner bull being brought around in celebration. 

This bull was almost too drunk and high to even walk.  Before these fights they give the bulls Bhang (marijuana) and their local brew so the bull is agitated...this one had A LOT....and won his fight! 

  

The initial BANG of the fight is always the most exciting part....so here you go. 

Part II: Traditional Dancing and Song

 VIP!!!

Coast

Coast

Masai during their traditional song

Masai traditional dancing

Masai

Kalenjin

Luhya (my tribe)

A Luhya traditional song

Luhya

Luhya

Luo (Kelsey's Tribe)

Luo

Luo

This was a Luo dance that they last minute requested to perform.  They dedicated this dance to Kelsey and I by beginning it with "a special dance for the girls abroad, we love you." As you can tell from our commentary and excessive giggling throughout, Kelsey and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  Couldn't have asked for a better finale!! 

Luo

So, I hope that you all enjoyed this as much as I did uploading everything for you to see. I'm hoping to upload a few more larger dancing video's tomorrow so stay tuned, maybe check it out again tomorrow for the new videos.  This day was incredible and obviously words could not describe it all, this was the best I could do.  Through December I will be on break from school and traveling through Kenya, of course I will keep my camera handy so that I will be able to again share more videos and pictures.  School will start in January as well as the digging for the well so that it will be completed on time. We are half way to my goal amount, so maybe if it slipped your mind or the Holidays has softened you up to donate to a worthy cause, please please send what you can as soon as possible. 

Miss and Love you all back home, hope that you had a delicious and grateful Thanksgiving! 

Help Quench the Thirst!

“Help Quench the Thirst” –Let’s dig a well!

A little background:

As you may know I am in the Peace Corps and teach in a rural village in western Kenya at the Eregi Special School for the deaf. It started as a class in a primary school nearby. The head mistress of the school today, Beatrice, taught the class. As the class size grew and grew it became obvious to start a school specifically for the deaf. It has been in existence now for three years and has grown from one class to six with over 30 students ranging in grades one through six. Applications for the school continue to grow and expanding will be necessary soon.

A typical day:

Children start trickling onto the grounds around 7:00 am, many walking several miles. Before classes begin there are the morning chores to perform [there are no janitors, cooks, etc] For most of the kids fetching water from the river is there job, grabbing 5 gallon buckets and jerry cans they take off on the 15 minute walk down to the river and the 20-25min trek back up. This water will last only ½ of the day as it is used for all needs, from drinking to mopping the floors and watering plants, etc.

Classes begin at 8:30 and end at 3:10. There are 4 breaks including lunch. PE is directly before lunch and many kids do not partake because it is too hot and they know there will no water to drink until more is fetched. Lunch time begins and the children all gather around the mud hut that we call our kitchen. They all eat fast the maize and beans, and grab their buckets and head for the river for more water to get through the afternoon.

My perspective:

I have been teaching in Eregi for a year now and have become accustomed to fetching water. It’s rarely thought of as a burden, quite the contrary, for the mind set of the school and the community is they are lucky to have a water source so nearby. I’ve never heard a student refuse to get water or put up a fuss about it [as I know I would have]. They take pride in their school and it takes water to keep it beautiful and clean. It isn’t until moments where thirst stops my kids from playing soccer at PE or there is some kind of emergency that requires water and there is nothing but empty jerry cans and buckets do I realize the urgency that this situation needs to be addressed. School is a challenge enough for these kids and worrying about thirst and wasting time fetching water I would like to see end before my term here is over. I am asking for help to dig a well on the school grounds.

Implementation:

I will be working on this project with the headmistress and the priest from the neighboring catholic teachers college that I have come to know and can trust. We have already begun with analysis of where to dig and how deep and have negotiated a price of $6000.00. The well will take approximately 4 weeks to dig [literally it is dug by hand and lined with brick and mortar] and will start as soon as enough funding has been collected.

Conclusion:

Even though I’ve always thought of myself as “water conscience” being from America I still took it for granted that it is plentiful and clean. Water cause such stress here, and this well would help create an even more enjoyable, safe and secure place for my kids to come to everyday. Please help this dream of mine become a reality. If you are able to help, please send any amount of money you can to the address below where it will be put into a bank account that can be accessed only by myself.

Quench the thirst

C/O Bradley’s

PO Box 442

McKenna Wa 98558