Basketball, Drama and Funeral

Basketball, Drama, Pupil dying, Muslim funeral, teaching/coaching basketball next term, pupils exams and getting a haircut; a very busy week. I really don’t know where or how I am going to start.

As is custom that the third Saturday of every month a colleague and I go to Kakamega to teach KSL to parents of deaf pupils. I went to Kakamega on Friday to visit another volunteer who lives near town. I crashed there Friday and Saturday night. At the meeting this time there were more parents that attended, that was a good thing to see. For roughly 30 minutes I taught all of the parents vocabulary. We covered food and things in a house. I am thoroughly impressed that they pick up the material so fast. I feel very comfortable teaching, especially signing. The pressure and anxiety of speaking is not an issue; therefore focusing on signing and interacting with the people become the priority. In May I am going to teach them sentences and stories. They will learn vocab and stories at the same time. On Sunday Margaret and I went to go look for the drama competition at the near by high school. The day before my colleague told me about this competition. While we were walking down the tarmac (paved road) I noticed to the left some people playing basketball. Of course my eyes were instantly attracted to the round ball. I wanted to cross the street and get in on a pick up game. I did not know how much I miss playing, but I do miss playing. Upon arriving at the high school we notice that there is field hockey and rugby going on. I stood there for several minutes taking it all in. I enjoy competition whether playing or watching. I asked a gentlemen who was near what was going on, he said that this was the semi finals qualifications for nationals for high school sports. He also said that the basketball that we saw on the walk toward the school was a part of the qualifications. Of course at the moment my mind started to think about whether the deaf primary have basketball teams. I enquired with a few people and they said only the hearing and more specifically the private schools have basketball teams. My next thought was that I was going to start teaching the kids at school next term. That is my goal. Before I come back to site in May I am going to buy a basketball to bring with me. A nearby high school to Mumias has a nice court of which I plan on playing on often.

Field Hockey.

The main reason we were at the school in the first place was the drama competition. We walked to the auditorium and realized that it had started and people were waiting outside for their opportunity to get a seat inside. Margaret and I made a friend outside while we were waiting for the first act to end so we could see if we could get a seat. Not only did the gentlemen help us get in the building, but the hostess escorted us to the front row. He made two gentlemen get up that were seated. We were given water, bread, and soda. Again it is evident, visitors are treated like royalty. Kenyans are very hospitable. I still think that a big reason for the above and beyond treatment was that we are wazungus (white people). Part of me wants to be treated like everybody else, but at the same time it does feel nice to be given the fatted calf. The dramas, chorals, soloist, and dances were outstanding.

On Saturday I received a text message that a pupil at school had just died that morning. Certainly not what I wanted to read and experience while I am here. I arrived back at the school and learned all the details, malaria. On Monday, a large portion of the teachers and some of the students traveled by bus to the funeral service at the boys home. The next day was the burial. That was my first muslim funeral that I have attended. Interesting tid bits about a muslim funeral: only men are allowed to dig the grave, men bury the person, women are not allowed to be see the burial process, the body is placed in a white cloth and not in a casket, body is laid on its right side-facing meca-holy city for Muslims, while body is moved from carrying stretcher a white cloth with the muslim symbols on top is waved on top of the grave so people can not see the body being placed underground, sticks are placed horizontal along length of body with leaves/branches on top of that, dirt is then placed back on grave.

Muslim Prayer before burial

Exam week has gone by pretty well, but the days seem long. There is a lot of sitting around.

April plans.

Provincial games with school will be in Wbeye 30-2. If the pupils do well we will go to national’s in nyeri (hour north of nairobi). I will be there the 4-9. On the 9th I will be meeting my friends in nairobi for our vacation. We are going to the kakamega forest, white water raft down the nile in Uganda, then to Kigali, Rwanda to see the Genocide Museum. My plane leaves Kigali at 4 pm on the 18th for Nairobi. From the 19-28 I will be in Nairobi for In service training for Peace Corps. It will definitely be nice to see my other PC friends.

Oh yeah--I got a hair cut. It is short and my beard has grown in.

Time standing still

The past week while I was teaching P.E. outside with my class 5 kids I heard an airplane. I did not think to much about it, oh how was I mistaken. Once the kids saw the plane it was chaotic. They were jumping up and down pointing and signing as if they had seen an UFOs. Not only did my class stop but every other class at the school. Once the other kids notice my kids making a big deal about the plane that the other kids ran outside to see the huge airplane. For 10 minutes I answered questions and watched their reenactments of the plane flying over head. Such questions that were posed, Did you fly on that plane, where is that going, where is it from, and is it making a lot of noise. I found that the present opportunity was worth conversing with the kids about airplanes and flight. Although my class was basically kaput, it was well worth the interaction with the class.

On the weekend I went to Kisumu with several other volunteers for a short road trip and to get away from our sites. Kisumu is the 3rd largest city in Kenya. It definitely has amenities of a big city, but at the same time the charm and the uniqueness of Kenya's. We (6) all stayed at lodge in the heart of town. A warm shower--a commodity-was nice for a little bit. We spent our time walking the streets and shopping. It was the consensus was we wanted to eat well and have some comfort foods: mexican, pizza, brownie’s with ice cream and milk shakes. The meals were more expensive than Mumias but it was worth a change of scenery and food.

On Sunday we woke up and went upstairs for breakfast. Upon completion we ran into some other mazungu’s. We conversed about our travels and what we were doing in Kenya. We shared stories with people from Chicago (working in Bungoma-not far from Mumias), Scotland, and Netherlands. They proceeded to tell us of the roof top view. Upon reaching the roof, the view was spectacular. We had a 360 view of Kisumu, with a good view of Lake Victoria.

Mango Pie

With the assistance of another volunteer, we made a mango pie. It was so good. WOW. That was Friday.

I woke up on Saturday and wanted to walk over to the field just beyond our school to take a gander at the scout troops. (in case you are wondering it is the same as the boy scouts). This is the 100th year of scouting in Kenya. There is going to be a big hoopla this June and July. I went with my camera to take a few pictures and introduce myself to the leaders. What I did not know was that would turn into being offered tea, bread and mandazi (fried pastry). And then being the guest of honor for their opening ceremony. The troop leader asked if I would give a few words to the kids. The kids were from various schools in the region. It was a competition of sorts. I felt like a VIP while being introduced to the area commissioner (A.C.) and assistant area commissioner (A.A.C) for scouts. During my brief talk to the kids I told them that when I was your age (feels weird saying that) that I was a scout and it is something to take pride in because it will benefit you later in life.

Again and again I find the people of Kenya to be very hospitable and friendly. I am continually am asked by kenyans, how do you find this place. I always say the same thing. Kenya is a very beautiful place with friendly and hospitable people.

The A.C. asked if I would invite the kids from the school over for the bonfire later that evening. After juggling a few things we were able to get some teachers to assist me with just a few number of kids. There was a lot of dancing, singing, dramas and of course laughter. The A.C. Wants to have a scout group started a deaf school. He gave me a brochure on the logistics on being a leader for the scouts. I relayed the information to few of the other teachers and they seem very excited about starting a scout group at school. It wasn’t to long ago that I was not a fan of scouting, but how things can change. I am looking forward to helping start a scout group here at the school.

De ja vu. Would you like to give the sermon next Sunday. That was the question posed by the pastor this morning. It seems recent that I was asked a similar question by my deputy head teacher. Although before it was for Sunday school, and this was the actual sermon. I have wondered if this is normal, for people to ask guests to have a big part in the ceremony/service. A fellow teacher told me today, yep it can be normal. I was shoked by the question from the pastor-that was during the service by the way. I told him maybe in a few weeks.

Everyday is an adventure.

This upcoming week is review week before exams the following week. I can’t believe I have made it through my first term. My month break is coming in April. I have tentative plans. I hope to nail down some things later. Rafting down the Nile is an option, but weighing the expenses. I might have to bite the bullet and splurge.

Public Speaking...Fear no more

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Yesterday I took another trip to Kakamega to teach parents of deaf children sign language. This time we had a meeting and we got some things accomplished. Though no parents arrived on time, an hour late, we had a successful meeting. When we finally got to a room to start teaching. We learned early on that one of the parents had not attended the meeting last and did not know the alphabet. My colleague, Shikuku, took the lone gentlemen outside and taught him the alphabet while I was in the room with the remaining 5 women. I did not have anything planned to teach. I first taught them signs for cities in Kenya. I would give the sign and they would then guess the correct city and then finger spell the correct answer. These ladies were very smart. I moved on the animal signs and family. I felt a little embarrassed that I was ill prepared. One thing I don’t like is going to into teaching and not being prepared. All in all the meeting worked out just fine.

During this past week I was asked by my deputy to teach Sunday school at his church. That was something I wanted to do and did not give really a second thought about doing so. I planned a short lesson about judgement day and the sheep and the goats. The kids seemed to like the lesson and also the song I taught them, “This little light of mine.” I have learned that most of the songs sung by kenyans are very simple with very short verses. This song was also short which I chose on purpose. After Sunday school was finished a few of the kids were singing the song.

The deputy then asked if I would go into the service and introduce myself, I obliged. After nearly 20 minutes, the assistant pastor/deputy asked if I would say a few words. I stood up and said, “God is good, All the Time and All the time God is good.” I went on on say that I am teaching at mumias primary deaf school. I will be teaching there for 2 years. I have found the kenya people beautiful, caring and kind. (Before I arrived in kenya/started teaching, I would have been terrified about speaking infront of a congregation. But I was not scared at all. Thankful for that.

I think since I am an american and it is assumed that all americans have money that they will contribute to any cause. I was asked and then basically informed that I was going to bring my church family from america to do a mission work at this church. And that I was going to bring a camera and video next week so that I will show my church back home so they will be more inclined to come. Isn’t it nice, when things are just imposed.

Last week I found a church I really liked. When I arrived there were only 4 people there, including the pastor. I arrived thinking the service was over, but I was mistaken, it had just began. For the next hour or we had church. Wow. It was refreshing to hear the word preached. There was no musical instruments or sound systems only: building, benches-4, and a podium. I can’t wait to go back there. During the service I was asked to lead in a song, I thought…and came up with Holy, Holy, Holy. I sang and the 4 other men joined in. They were appreciative and want me to teach them more american songs.

Most of my evenings are very similar, I cook a large meal that usually has lots of left overs and then spend roughly 2 hours spending time with my students. Since I live on the school compound access and interaction with students is always available. Every evening from 7-9 pm all the students are required to go and sit in their class rooms and read their books and do home work. Their homework is done during the day and returned to the teachers office for grading. And reading consists of looking at pictures. The latter I find very interesting. When I am spending time with them they will turn page after page and sign, “eaten finished.” Some things I have eaten, but for example, snakes, parrots, and rats just to name a few are not ones I have partaken. I spend my time in 2 classes, math and social studies. In light of the fact I really like teaching math I incorporate it into those two hours. A few days ago I made multiplication flash cards for numbers 1-9. The kids really enjoy guessing the correct. What they don’t know is that the more we practice the better they will get. It is good to see when they are able to come up with an answer with out looking at their multiplication chart.

I have noticed there are several things that I could get my hands in for secondary projects. The school needs to use the 3 computers that they have. I know for sure that one of them works, I plugged it in myself. I was told before hand that it had died. Really all it needed was multiple outlet surge protector. Time will tell with this project. The computers are currently being moved out of the library into another room at the school. I am not sure how or what this will look like.

Another possibility is fixing the water tanks. There is no consistent “tap” therefore the water runs out frequently. Keeping your own stash of water on hand at your house is very important. On the school grounds there are 3 large water storage containers, 1000 Liters each. A volunteer before established and had a system working but now it needs to be reassessed. For roughly March through August there is constant rain. It is a shame for the water to not be used. There are “gutters” that catch the rain and funnel it to the large storage tanks. The issue comes in when the connection between gutters and the tank is disconnected or broke. This project seems like a very “simple” one to address. The tanks are in good condition but need to be cleaned out and closed up. I am asking around to find out more about the steps that need to be taken to get it down.

One day last week I was low on water so I made a trip with my two 10 liter buckets to the river. When I arrived there were 10 pupils there washing their clothes and one boy was taking a bath. He was embarrassed and did not know what to do when he saw two mama’s walking by, it was somewhat humorous.

I look forward to teaching P.E. And the kids also look forward to the class. I refuse to copy the other teachers when it comes to p.e. Since it is something I enjoy, I try and do things a little different. Right now I am teaching them how to play volleyball. You may think that they my class 5 kids know how to play since they play everyday after school, normally only the class 7 and 8 kids. There are so many things I want to teach them but my time is so limited. The instruction for skills is at the beginning. I know really all they want to do is play a game. Once we go over a few fundamentals, I let them have fun by playing. I join in also.

Next term I want to start a physical fitness test with my pe class. I remember growing up and having various activities that tested your abilities. For example: sit ups, push ups, sit and reach, running, jumping etc. I am going to have a poster in their class with their names and the activity with the results. At this point I don’t know how often I will do this, 1, 2 or 3 times a week. It should be something that continues throughout the year.