Sunday, October 30, 2011

Time is going by so quickly!  I only have 25 more days in Kenya then it’s off to South Africa.  I found out Friday that next Friday is my last school day.  I thought it was the following Friday, but apparently only Class 8 goes to school that week for their exams.  I took my laptop to school last week and showed Class 5 my video of them from last year.  They quite enjoyed it.  I also showed Class 4 some of my personal pictures of my family, home, places I’ve visited, etc.  They, too, were excited to see my pictures.  Several of the students stayed in during their lunch hour just to see them.

My nephew, Troy, and Louis arrived here Friday night at midnight. It was so good to see them!  I felt like I finally had a tangible connection to the United States again.   I saw them yesterday when I went to Kenneth's daughter's baptism at Louis' swimming pool (since they don’t have a baptismal font here).  They stopped by this morning to see my place and invited me to a spaghetti dinner this afternoon.  Troy brought me a couple of things I asked for and totally made my day - 2 cans of cream of mushroom and 2 cans of cream of chicken soup, 3 cans of green chilis, 2 cans of clams, Smarties for the kids at school (I brought some but it isn't enough because I'm teaching about 80 rather than 30 kids), and let me borrow the fly swatter from his room at Louis'.  Who would have thought someone could get so excited over a can of Campbell's soup?!?  It was like manna from heaven.  My cooking possibilities have just expanded significantly.

                                                Jessica ready for baptism

                                                 After her confirmation

          Samuel, the Elders who are teaching him, and me after the baptism

                                                  Kenneth and Jessica

I'm going into Mombasa tomorrow with Samuel, my former ascari (guard).  I've got to go to Kenya Airways’ Corporate office to solve a problem on Diane's ticket.  I need to show them my credit card and ID and have them notate it on her ticket, since I paid for it with my American Express card and she won't have it with her when she goes to check in.  I've also got a couple of other things to do. 

Right now, the Kenyan armed forces have attacked the Somali pirates after they kidnapped 2 people and killed 1.  That is just the most recent problem, but it finally pushed them into taking some kind of action to let Al Shabaab and Al Quida know they are tired of sitting back and taking it.  In the process, things have begun to heat up more even in Nairobi, and Mombasa (about 17.5 mi. from where I live) has stepped up their security measures on the ferry and other places.

I'm a little nervous to ride on the ferry again not in a car with everything that's been happening here with Al Shabaab.  A mzungu (white foreigner) stands out in the crowd, and that's who they are targeting.  The senior couple missionaries are going to pick us up on the Likoni side of the ferry so I won't have to walk on with all the hundreds of Kenyans.  They'll drive us across the ferry into Mombasa and take us to the three places we need to go, then take us back across the ferry, where we will catch a matatu again to get home (about 45 minutes each way).    Hopefully, I’ll get home in time to get to school by 2:00.  On Monday, I only teach in the afternoon.

Today, Samuel and Grace came over and watched the Sunday Morning session of General Conference with me on my laptop.  That’s what we would have been doing at church in Mombasa today anyway, so we all decided we could do that at home and save ourselves 3 hrs. of driving time.  The three of us enjoyed the talks we heard.

I took a matatu down to the end of the road, and Troy picked me up to go have dinner.  After dinner, I decided to jump in the pool and swim some laps.  Eventually, I ended up at the ocean with Kenneth and Abraham’s kids.  We swam out quite a way in the ocean although it’s very shallow.  Then, they wanted me to teach them how to do somersaults in the sand.  They had a great time, but looked pretty funny with their dark brown skin covered with white sand.  Later, I gave Evelyn a swimming lesson.  This certainly wasn’t my typical Sunday!

                              Kenneth and Abraham's kids ready for flips

                                                         Flips

                                                          All of us

It just dawned on me that tomorrow is Halloween.  They don’t celebrate that here, and since it’s spring heading into summer here, it doesn’t feel like time for Halloween, either.

Happy Halloween Everyone,

Kadi

Thursday, October 27, 2011

I don’t know where to begin tonight so much has happened since I last wrote.   My internet modem stick has been dropping me so much lately, that I’ve had a hard time staying online.

I’ll backtrack to last Friday.  I took school off last Friday so I could go into town and shop with Grace to buy her family some clothes and to go to a wood carving shop.  Kenneth was going to take us.  As the day went on, he said he wasn’t going to be able to go because of other business here.  By the time he told me that, it was too late to try to go to school, so I just hung out for the day and didn’t do much.

Saturday morning, Kenneth was going to pick us up at 9:00.  I had now decided that it might be smart to have Samuel with us because he knows Mombasa better than we do.  The time got pushed back to 10:00, and then Kenneth again decided he couldn’t go until later in the afternoon.  I had to be home by 4:00 to catch the school bus to go to Ternet’s village, so that wouldn’t work. 

Ultimately, Samuel and Grace convinced me to take a matatu into town.  It’s about a 45 min. ride just from here to the ferry, then we’d have to get on the ferry with a mob of people, and catch another matatu on the other side.  That was SO NOT appealing to me!  Samuel said he’d be my bodyguard and also make sure that I got into the front seat of the matatus.  I finally consented.   We left here about 11:30.

It wasn’t quite as bad as I expected going in.  In fact, it was much more comfortable to sit up on the top deck of the ferry and feel the ocean breeze rather than sitting in a sweltering car with no air.  Once we got off the ferry, it was kind of fun to walk around where all the little carts and vendors were and even through a small park rather than observing it through a car window like I’ve always done.

                          The last of the people getting off the ferry.

                                            Shops by the ferry.

                                 At the park by the ocean close to ferry.

Catching the matatu in Mombasa, crossing the streets, and shopping were a bit more adventurous.  Grace or Samuel would even take my hand (like leading a little child) to help me cross the street or to keep me out of any perils.  It was really quite endearing.  They both tried to protect me from everything that could possibly harm me.

The worst part was going back across the ferry.  All the people have to stand on the sides in a gated area until the cars are loaded.  If the gate gets closed at the back of the people and you aren’t inside, you have to wait until the next ferry.  We were inside the gate when all of a sudden the whole crowd just started pushing and shoving.  I literally felt myself moved by the crowd with no way to stop or control it.  I was completely pinned in by people.  Samuel stayed directly behind me, and Grace directly in front of me.  Nonetheless, that was really scary to me!  I thought, “This is exactly how people get trampled and die in mass hysteria!”  I DO NOT want to repeat that experience!!!  Apparently, that’s what happens when they are trying to shut the gates.  People shove and push to get inside the gate before it closes.

We only had time to shop for Samuel’s family.   Even so, I just barely made it home in time to wash my feet, change my shoes, wipe off my sweat, and head off to the bus stop for Ternet’s house.

Ternet’s village was most enjoyable.  I’ve made a video of what I saw there, but for some reason, it won’t download onto my blog.  Does anyone know if there are constraints on how long a video can be to download to blogspot?  It’s almost 15 mins. long.   I probably should have made it into two parts.  I think I’ll hold off on telling you about it until I decide there’s no way I can download it.

Sunday, Samuel went to church with us again.  This time, they had a TV set up and we watched the Saturday morning session of General Conference.  Then, the women went off to Relief Society while the men sat through two more hours of the Priesthood session.  We ended up leaving before it was totally over.  That was a very long day!  We left at 8:30 and got home after 3:00.  They’re doing that again next Sunday.  We may just stay home and watch it on my laptop.

Later on Sunday, I took the clothes for Samuel’s kids over to their house to surprise them.  They were so excited.  It was really cute to watch them.  It was like Christmas.  I had them close their eyes and put their hands out in front of them.  I placed their outfits on each of their hands before I would let them open their eyes.  I had already given Samuel his new white shirt (for church) and Grace her maternity dress.  The kids got into their new clothes, ran outside, and started twirling around in excitement.  Here is a picture of all of the in their new clothes.

                                Eyes closed with surprises on their hands.

                                   Seeing their surprises.

It’s been a really crazy day.  I think I’ll stop for tonight and finish this tomorrow.

Sleep well,

Kadi

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Today is a public holiday, so there was no school today.   It used to be called Kenyatta Day and was to celebrate Kenya's freedom, named after their founding President Jomo Kenyatta who died in 1978.   It was observed every October 20^th in his honor until the new 2010 constitution abolished Kenyatta Day and replaced it with Mashujaa (Heroes') day.  So today, they are celebrating Mashajaa Day.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am teaching math and p.e. (weather and test permitting) to Classes 4, 5, and 6.  Their playground is a little "grass" with dirt in-between.  They have two goal posts on the main field.  That's about it.   There are no lines for boundaries, etc.   They have very little equipment.   On Tuesday, I was going to teach Class 5 "Sharks and Minnows", but discovered I had both Class 5 AND Class 4 out there (about 55 kids).  They were all over the place.  They, more often than not, go out for "PE" without a teacher.  Basically, it turns into a 35 min. recess.  So, I found I had a hard time pulling them together to even give instructions.  I had planned on explaining the game inside, but the kids haven't had PE for so many weeks because of bad weather or being tested, that they just ran out of the rooms when they heard they were going to get PE, they were so excited. 

                                          This is their playground.

This was my first chance to teach PE, and it fell pretty much flat on its face.   Without much equipment, cones for boundary lines, etc., and having that many students made it very difficult.  Besides that, the girls and boys generally don't ever play together.  I was told that I could keep them together, but they tend to separate themselves. 

For the second half of PE, they wanted to have a “football” (soccer) game between the 4^th and 5^th Standards.  Since the first half was such a fiasco, I was happy to oblige.  Their football game was interesting to say the least – one whole class ran around trying to kick the ball one way while the whole other class ran around trying to kick it the other way.  Of course, there were several kids who just hung to the sidelines trying to stay out of the fray.  All I really know about soccer is that you can’t hold the ball, and you are trying to get the ball into your team’s net (which they don’t have).  Luckily, another teacher came out about that time and rescued me from looking like a complete idiot!  The kids seemed to have fun, in spite of it all, however.  

Next week, I WILL discuss the game inside first and draw it on the board.  After I tried (being the operative word) to tell them how to play the game and I blew the whistle, the sharks were where they needed to be, but all the minnows ran in the complete opposite direction from where I told them to run, so the sharks didn’t have anyone to “attack”.  I know that I don’t have a loud voice outside, so it was hard to explain it to them in the first place.  Hopefully, next week will be more successful.

On Tuesday, the missionaries came over again and met with Grace and Samuel.  We had a great discussion.  They are coming again next week.  Today, the missionaries called me to suggest that perhaps I could hold a Family Home Evening (FHE) with Samuel’s family sometime soon to help them see how they can teach their children in their home.  Sunday is about the only day to do that because Monday – Saturday, the kids don’t even get home from school until about 6:30 PM, and they are expected to take their “baths” and do their homework before they get to eat – which generally happens around 8:00.  Then, it’s time for bed.

After the missionary discussion, the elders and I rode a matatu down to Neptune (a hotel at the end of the matatu’s run), and Nicholas, who works for Louis, drove us down to Shamba la Salama.  I swam my laps, but Caroline thinks she has malaria, and Evelyn had gone into Mombasa, so I didn’t teach swimming lessons.

Tomorrow, I’m still hoping to go into Mombasa with Kenneth and Grace to do a little shopping.  If we get there early enough, the senior missionaries (The Scott’s) will meet us and take us to some shops.  Sister Scott has a meeting at 2:00 with the Primary Presidents from the three branches in Mombasa, so it will depend upon what time we can arrive there.

Early Tuesday morning was the last time it has rained, thank goodness.  Twelve days straight of rain was really starting to get to me!  I’m still hopeful for clear weather on Saturday so I can go to Ternet’s village.

Pauline, Samuel’s sister and owner of my house, came to stay here for two weeks from Germany.  She arrived Tuesday morning, but she discovered she had to take care of some business in Nairobi, so she flew out this morning.  She’ll be back late Sunday night.  Samuel had to meet her there, so he is taking a bus today to Nairobi.  He won’t be back until late Friday, so I won’t have an ascari for two nights.  I hope I don’t have any weird creatures coming into my house that I have to deal with on my own!

Well, that’s about it for now,

Kadi

… Monday, October 17, 2011

Samuel came over to guard me later, and we had a long discussion on many topics.  He’s gone from 7-8 cigarettes per day on average to only 2!  He’s making great progress.  Because we talked until late, I didn’t get my blog finished, so it’s now Monday morning.  I went to sleep last night hearing Samuel trying to sing some hymns on his own in his little guard house.  He called out to my window and asked me to sing “Come, Come Ye Saints” again for him.  That was the hymn that I said was my favorite.  We practiced a few times through the window, then I went back to bed and again heard him singing.

Well, my excitement over no rain was short lived.  It’s currently raining AGAIN - DAY 11 OF RAIN!  Ugh!  I hope it clears up enough so I don’t have to stand in pouring rain when I go to catch the matatu for school this afternoon.

I’ve got a busy week planned – most of it is weather-permitting, so we’ll see how that goes.  Today, I want to teach Grace how to make rice pudding and attempt the Lion House’s Taco Soup using a recipe off the internet for the packet of taco seasoning since they don’t sell that here. 

Tomorrow, Pauline Maina, the owner of my house, is coming from Germany to stay here for two weeks.  That ought to be interesting since I’ve now sort of got a routine going and don’t really know what she will expect to do while living here.  This house isn’t big enough to really separate people very far.  For instance, I like to listen to my music on my laptop while I’m working in the kitchen or on my computer.  I don’t know if that will bother her.  She also didn’t want me to tell Samuel and Grace that she was coming so she could “check up on them.”  I haven’t said anything, but apparently this is how she operates, and Samuel has gotten “underground” word that she’s coming soon.

Tomorrow also, the missionaries are coming at 2:00 to meet with Samuel and Grace, then the three of us will go down to Kenneth’s so I can swim laps and teach swimming lessons while the missionaries meet with a few people there.  Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and also the pool will be clean.

Wednesday, I need to go up to Ukunda to pick up some jewelry I ordered.

Friday, if I can get out of teaching for a day, Kenneth said that Grace and I could ride into Mombasa with him.  He has work in there and will drop us off.  Then, Bro. and Sis. Scott, the senior missionaries, offered to take us to the best places to shop.  I want to get some souvenirs as well as buy Grace’s children a new outfit each.  I don’t know if they have any retail stores for that or not.  I’ve only seen second-hand clothing stands on the side of the road.  I’d like to surprise her with this, but I wouldn’t know the kids’ sizes.  I’ve already gotten her a necklace (unbeknownst to her) that  she was admiring when we went to look at jewelry one day.  I’ve been trying to think what I could give Samuel.  As I’m writing, it’s just come to me – a white shirt for church.  We had a discussion about that yesterday.  After shopping, I’m hoping to take all of us to lunch before we head back home.

Saturday, I’ll try to go to Ternet’s village again.  Her kids go to our school, so I’m hoping I can get pictures of her house, as well, to show you how a typical student lives.

Well, if I’m going to have time to do my cooking before I leave at 1:15, I’d better get going.  Everything takes so much more time to do here.

Have a bright, sunny day today, and enjoy its rays for me!

Kadi