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.
I've never been to a Muslim funeral before. Sounds like an interesting experience.
ReplyDeleteIt was really interesting. Definitely the customs and rituals are different than what i have seen before
ReplyDelete