tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11065853580367763202024-03-05T11:42:33.435-05:00Kenyan FreckleLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-41945389102730401532013-10-16T20:34:00.001-04:002013-10-16T20:34:12.583-04:00test 2 edu 578<div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div><span></span></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Lee R. Von Hofe<br>RPCV<br>864-346-7224<br>Converse College<br>'15 MAT in Special Education: Learning Disabilities</div></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-16658191517061321602011-07-05T12:51:00.001-04:002011-07-05T12:57:04.557-04:00World Map<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Many months of work have finally paid off. I had wanted to leave behind something tangible for the kids to look at for years to come while they are here. The world map project is something that PCVs from around the world engage incorporate their community in; I wanted the same thing for my school. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Peace Corps provided us with a manual for the entire project; from drawing the borders, grids, drawing the countries, painting and labeling.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I had numerous kids help, which was a blessing. I want to mention this before I go any further the KIDS did all of the work except painting the ocean blue background. I did not intentionally go around the school and ask kids to help. I started working on the map and once they saw what I was doing they wanted to chip in. For several weeks I tweaked and tweaked the borders of the map. Without it being square the whole map will be off. I think pictures will better tell the story.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFFuZ5i3anSGTV8-Qe6Gobn9Mdm4kwyK1rDkowogYEebuCpynRLBT0pY9iCLFtrRijqIg-6Isa-5U79Y7uN5kVMXsQL7ac-ktuhYnSLeYvYsx_126kDnlD10Hc_RdYSsguZUIrupDSxw/s1600/IMG_9496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFFuZ5i3anSGTV8-Qe6Gobn9Mdm4kwyK1rDkowogYEebuCpynRLBT0pY9iCLFtrRijqIg-6Isa-5U79Y7uN5kVMXsQL7ac-ktuhYnSLeYvYsx_126kDnlD10Hc_RdYSsguZUIrupDSxw/s320/IMG_9496.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Countries were drawn using the grid sheet.</div><div></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL1pVCgtzSP-Vn4gbPCd9rUFkpVpxne4xSDqLwNxIASvtLxJShkQzXCVQIrYKpyImjIY8czk-VSjs2pjfMvgd58iG4r-cOHVpUmTRgvLdQaFRq47aTuxeDmH9YggzeMWJs9apey2_03U/s1600/IMG_9766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL1pVCgtzSP-Vn4gbPCd9rUFkpVpxne4xSDqLwNxIASvtLxJShkQzXCVQIrYKpyImjIY8czk-VSjs2pjfMvgd58iG4r-cOHVpUmTRgvLdQaFRq47aTuxeDmH9YggzeMWJs9apey2_03U/s1600/IMG_9766.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I examine the next move. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andrew, class 5, was the boss when either I was there or not. He had significant role in </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">every aspect of the map project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR-F6oC0wrH9oDTZ9bMQjLGtF7FpcM5K7UaTr7dKJhxNbyVf8yrQqKTf7YQqPkXq_0AAD5mJWC1HKzq2uYbImK9BGDePP9mIQ8ojHz07dRmVaefTbic_jgr4g7Sj4Onj_DYmbZjUAUR4/s1600/IMG_0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHR-F6oC0wrH9oDTZ9bMQjLGtF7FpcM5K7UaTr7dKJhxNbyVf8yrQqKTf7YQqPkXq_0AAD5mJWC1HKzq2uYbImK9BGDePP9mIQ8ojHz07dRmVaefTbic_jgr4g7Sj4Onj_DYmbZjUAUR4/s320/IMG_0645.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqljvJh_BY_yQiS2oHj5Pk2qegtqAX7z8I9ZB9vzSHwnAQwflDntElHhNUTVUkwnfH9SFFGHm1PIoytq51LV2F_1smUDEpTf4E0kJ7rXX_et5AuPGJV60e28T1R-HOIWHCSLhGQmu_NOU/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqljvJh_BY_yQiS2oHj5Pk2qegtqAX7z8I9ZB9vzSHwnAQwflDntElHhNUTVUkwnfH9SFFGHm1PIoytq51LV2F_1smUDEpTf4E0kJ7rXX_et5AuPGJV60e28T1R-HOIWHCSLhGQmu_NOU/s320/IMG_0367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of the kids that assisted with any aspect of the map got the honor of painting their</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> name above the map.</div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-56632954010183057732011-07-05T12:15:00.001-04:002011-07-05T12:17:23.139-04:00Shimoni-South Coast<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The month of June went by pretty fast. This is in part because I went to help a fellow PCV at her site with behavior issues at the school. She had told me on numerous occasions how things were getting worse and no sign of improvement. I mentioned I had a PCV come to my site in early February to help me with my special needs class. Because Mary did such a wonderful job teaching and training me; there was immediate results happening in the class room. I felt confident in what I was doing on a regular basis at my school that I could help her out.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Her site is located on the south coast, near Mombasa. It took me two full days to get there. Upon arriving in Mombasa from Nairobi I took a tuk tuk to catch the ferry. I don’t remember ever getting on a ferry before. I stood in line with everyone else. The gates were opened then cars, tuk tuks buses, and people boarded what I thought was the platform for the ferry. While waiting on the ferry to come (it was on the other side of the inlet) we started to move. I was really confused. It finally hit me, what we were all on was the ferry. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I boarded the matatu and headed for Shimoni, 2 hour ride. I was greeted by Vicki at the final stop in Shimoni. It was really nice to see her. Walking to her place was a breath of fresh air; no more rushing to get some place.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Over the next few days I would go with her to her school to observe a normal day’s activities. Later in the evening, she and I would discuss things that I saw and the possible suggestions for making things run more smoothly. These things included: time out chair, reward system, positive reinforcement and effective communication between teacher and pupil. It was really nice to see for both her and I the positive changes taking place among the pupils. Their is the added benefit of her counterpart at school who is on the same page as her.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We also tried to enjoy the village of Shimoni a little bit. One afternoon we visited the boardwalk at the pier. We both anticipated crashing waves from the indian ocean beneath as we walk on the boardwalk. When we arrive we look at each other with confused looks. I was thinking, are we at the right boardwalk. There was no water to found anywhere. As we are walking along Vicki is welcomed to the boardwalk by the droppings of a bird. She said it is 3rd different continent that has happened. We find a bench to sit for a moment. We notice out in the distance a couple of goats grazing and then a man walking near by. In a area that is covered with water normally, goats are residing. This was quite funny.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The week at her site and school went by really fast and a lot of things getting accomplished. We both left Friday for Mombasa. I was to leave Saturday morning to head to Nairobi. While in Mombasa we both indulged in great food (pizza shawarma (pita bread stuffed with meat, ice cream and masala chips) and a little bit of second hand shopping. </span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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</span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-51127445360724175782011-05-12T08:29:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:20:30.967-04:00"Easter Egg Hunt"<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Some of my lessons are spontaneous which makes for a fun class on occasions. I have noticed the school ground not as clean as it should be. I took the opportunity to teach the kids the importance of cleanliness. I had the conversation with a friend who takes her kids outside of class on a consistent basis in the morning to pick up rubbish with the lesson of keeping your school clean is the right thing to do, I agree. As was the case with her class and mine as well, funny looks and questions do ensue. Why are you picking up trash, why now, you (me, the teacher) are picking up trash too.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The topic for the lesson was CRE, Christian Religious Education, At the beginning of the lesson I said God made the trees, sun, animals and people. God wants us to care for the land that He gave us. When He sees rubbish He is sad. He wants us to keep it clean. I then split the kids into pairs and we went around the school picking up rubbish. I would point out some trash and they would run to pick it and throw it in their paper (yes I know what you thinking; that is plastic and not paper. I have never heard the plastic being used). I had no idea the kids would have so much fun picking up trash. I am planning on doing this on a consistent basis, if not daily most assuredly every week.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJhyphenhyphenkxMTzK6GzssCr1XhssJLt-bJoM7nhAjxKKHtQyMb3yAC3eF-u1bKUbTf82mD3CFMbjw82TCda5xVQqOGy9k3JijAB8rRxXWenQ0K9WJIhMWB5DM7ufpp_fXsBDaRsic4URFOIPEc/s1600/pick+uptrash+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJhyphenhyphenkxMTzK6GzssCr1XhssJLt-bJoM7nhAjxKKHtQyMb3yAC3eF-u1bKUbTf82mD3CFMbjw82TCda5xVQqOGy9k3JijAB8rRxXWenQ0K9WJIhMWB5DM7ufpp_fXsBDaRsic4URFOIPEc/s320/pick+uptrash+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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</span></span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-45231866110559995152011-05-12T03:45:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:20:30.734-04:00Keeping Current<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You have probably noticed by the recent entries in my blog the activities themselves do not correspond with the dates that they are posted. I have done a poor job of being consistent with updating my blog. I have ever intention of at the least every two weeks to fill you in what is going on here. There has been a lot that happened, but sometimes sitting down and writing is the hardest part. I will start with what just happened then gradually fill in some missing holes along the way.</span></span></span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-17661742675004083982011-04-28T09:56:00.001-04:002011-04-28T10:10:22.335-04:00Self Help Group<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Several weeks ago, Saturday, Mach 19, I went to my monthly Parents of Deaf Self Help Group. It has been customary since the beginning of the year that every other month we would have a meeting at a member’s home. On this occasion we went to Madam Mary’s house. I was told by my counterpart, of all the homes to visit this one is a must.</div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It was raining and cloudy the day of meeting so the departure time was pushed back. I was also wondering if I would be going because some places would be very hard to pass due to the mud. The rain subsided a bit and I headed to the meeting point, Kakamega.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I met two of the members in Kakamega while the others went ahead because I was caught up in the rain back at site. We took a matatu from town for 30 minutes then alighted. We were met by a man who looked like he was just from the shamba (garden). A conversation ensued and the man led us into the village. After 20 minutes of walking we were handed off to another man to take us the remaining way to Madam Mary’s house. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We were all welcomed in their house and took a seat. Every house I visited the sitting room has couches and chairs covered with fabric (mostly white with a little designs). We were treated with mandazi and chai. Each person virtually had a plate full of mandazi for themselves. We chatted for about 2 hours then we were given lunch. Yes I was completely full, but it is extremely rude to refuse lunch. There was rice, fried and boiled meat, ugali, and skuma, There was so much food. It was really easy to get full from just looking at all of the food.</span><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After we had relaxed a bit from gorging ourselves the meeting started. I was asked to give a short KSL lesson. I have taught for many months at the self help group and because the members pick up the signs really fast being creative with new teaching material is a struggle at times. This time I taught things inside the house. I pointed to various items in Mary’s house ie: window, chair, table, clock, calendar, sufria etc.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was really appreciative for Madam Mary to welcome us all into their home. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit1ROq6mGeZM8lGBv4gTWWB3A88BxfAeWHJhYyA8yPFMAH5g5P9_K4pM33Qaj1eLSpZ5NKzlFlNiiQ74Dkw7qnWXmOXe66xNvb5rg8EfEwyy0J3UbXBKRNXNDHCch1xpYLuF_KVFCQwY/s1600/IMG_9687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit1ROq6mGeZM8lGBv4gTWWB3A88BxfAeWHJhYyA8yPFMAH5g5P9_K4pM33Qaj1eLSpZ5NKzlFlNiiQ74Dkw7qnWXmOXe66xNvb5rg8EfEwyy0J3UbXBKRNXNDHCch1xpYLuF_KVFCQwY/s320/IMG_9687.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Madam Mary's home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBx2NnsXyCKYBb6WAOdm1Yj6PfBtBKq0SHrIxe9mpObTAr1UpeGe-8M6cwM7H-PzWnQG4Kv6cH4xjlV6gdeQsZHiurjOLnBybmMCTyia3-83U6xO02CxJrWp1MLU5F2JEfT-MwZoc614/s1600/IMG_9691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBx2NnsXyCKYBb6WAOdm1Yj6PfBtBKq0SHrIxe9mpObTAr1UpeGe-8M6cwM7H-PzWnQG4Kv6cH4xjlV6gdeQsZHiurjOLnBybmMCTyia3-83U6xO02CxJrWp1MLU5F2JEfT-MwZoc614/s320/IMG_9691.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Madam Mary </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIdtUXz8VwpspoeaZsxcw57g6aP2ekqzNijSrmrJ88GJBtwP1I1_iCleKgC1giADktM2VCTd4EKiEmNDosoGn8LKtsqpxFd1ZiKu0ex2xQJST2txNmKi5h_yjnhEwxaZ9qcoJZGJ4LA0/s1600/IMG_9683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIdtUXz8VwpspoeaZsxcw57g6aP2ekqzNijSrmrJ88GJBtwP1I1_iCleKgC1giADktM2VCTd4EKiEmNDosoGn8LKtsqpxFd1ZiKu0ex2xQJST2txNmKi5h_yjnhEwxaZ9qcoJZGJ4LA0/s320/IMG_9683.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We are being served our mandazi and chai</div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span id="goog_2048589638"></span><span id="goog_2048589639"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsF817XKaAfE8ofn3q_sbJfiIhY2n0fhC7VXe6Kne0zph7y88yNFGKlQzKJK9JtdGvjtwUf8DpHCgRU0ZpzfLGc9yJJtKoExWGbzVrdnUy8Vok1edPKwLB7dfYFfSHL8GSXkYfZtR5qY/s1600/IMG_9696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsF817XKaAfE8ofn3q_sbJfiIhY2n0fhC7VXe6Kne0zph7y88yNFGKlQzKJK9JtdGvjtwUf8DpHCgRU0ZpzfLGc9yJJtKoExWGbzVrdnUy8Vok1edPKwLB7dfYFfSHL8GSXkYfZtR5qY/s320/IMG_9696.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
Support Group with Madam Mary's Family and Friends</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-48781384038522982882011-03-11T03:56:00.001-05:002011-04-17T12:19:52.861-04:00Learning to SpellThis past week I had my kids do a simple exercise. Apparently it is engrained in Kenyans to love cameras; therefore I put the idea the to good use. I wrote out on pieces of paper the letters that make up their name. For each letter of their name they would sign and I would take a picture. Of course they enjoyed this. Below is pictures of a few of the kids.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVGu6AoYp4htaeHqDV0L8DlyLnrMxVExRxUQker92fWWWSA0NnUXl5x_fVGcS-AGu_x9Gdcagt_GNzYDKQQc70U_WLVZGBimWyQ4UctIyPELyyzM37PZvRFPj0-MhBOuFk7han29WjWc/s1600/IMG_9541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVGu6AoYp4htaeHqDV0L8DlyLnrMxVExRxUQker92fWWWSA0NnUXl5x_fVGcS-AGu_x9Gdcagt_GNzYDKQQc70U_WLVZGBimWyQ4UctIyPELyyzM37PZvRFPj0-MhBOuFk7han29WjWc/s320/IMG_9541.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ruth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSgggoRSWjgETg6AWjK0Rhdzrg2X_COWiTfLTaoPZBYiSqPwsOAqe5sSJNNeJi8gEtHG6_qmfNNY-A4tZVOOL0aZ8m3pBSQ4rhPB3xcVILF9UNwCx8GOvUxWDUPkVJJvcGiuRlbtRA10/s1600/IMG_9562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSgggoRSWjgETg6AWjK0Rhdzrg2X_COWiTfLTaoPZBYiSqPwsOAqe5sSJNNeJi8gEtHG6_qmfNNY-A4tZVOOL0aZ8m3pBSQ4rhPB3xcVILF9UNwCx8GOvUxWDUPkVJJvcGiuRlbtRA10/s320/IMG_9562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daniel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58TfMbS7SGQTAbSY6Z85ffdS359uYeRWZd9H97bcfrsYvhnJat0wDczcxf_DAISPkldr7o5M5E3fRu6H9n2XCGW0I8YEfemFKkZxsSVVMOoOZ5YCBg2FLYrWEuMgg9XTfsv2vgO_P2kY/s1600/IMG_9558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58TfMbS7SGQTAbSY6Z85ffdS359uYeRWZd9H97bcfrsYvhnJat0wDczcxf_DAISPkldr7o5M5E3fRu6H9n2XCGW0I8YEfemFKkZxsSVVMOoOZ5YCBg2FLYrWEuMgg9XTfsv2vgO_P2kY/s320/IMG_9558.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jacob</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-47128095663663203822011-03-07T06:36:00.000-05:002011-03-07T06:36:21.930-05:00Change from the Inside Out<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I was asked recently how Kenya has CHANGED me. Sixteen months in kenya and counting and my mind never seems to stop thinking about what appears to me everything under the sun.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Being in country this long so many things passed by that does not affect me like it did when I first arrived. I wonder if those things would alter how I have changed.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have a great respect for the mama that sells fruit and vegetables in a wooden make shift shack. She does not have electricity or anything fancy; she is just selling what she has to make enough money so her family can eat that evening. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I appreciate that people go to great lengths to make sure things are clean. Children and adults wash their clothes after one use. They have control over how clean they can be and they take pride in that. Or what about the duka (shop) owners who sweep away the trash from in front of their place. They make sure that the dirt is clean with no rubbish anywhere.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I have learned about self confidence. It was fairly certain that my belief in myself before coming to Kenya was very shallow. Living in a foreign land for months standing up for onself and believing in yourself comes with the territory. I am very grateful for where I have come from and where I am now. Self confidence was something I greatly desired as part of my journey here.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am learning what I am competent and good at doing, teaching. I knew very little about teaching before coming. After receiving training for two months I was thrown to the wolves. I can assuredly say that I am a good teacher. I do not have years of experience as my counterparts, but I believe in what I am doing. I have realized along the way that if I am passionate about the subject and care for the kids it will translate over to the kids wanting to learn themselves.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Leaving a world of abundant resources at my fingertips to coming to a place where people are resourceful for what they have. Children make their own toys. Empty juice cartons, bottle caps, wire, and sticks are assembled together to make a car. If one car is not enough they will string together several together to make a train of sorts. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Kids love playing football (soccer) and since buying a ball is virtually out of the question for all of the kids they make their own. The pupils gather paper (plastic, plastic bags are called paper bags) bags and tie them together with some string for their homemade ball. I have yet to learn how they make the ball, but before I leave I am going to learn.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I can take a bath with 3 liters of water. I turn on my lights only when necessarily, at night. It is no inconvenience for the power to go out and for me to use a candle or a lantern.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Washing my clothes in a basin and hanging them to dry outside shows me that having a washing machine and dryer are not a must. I agree, it will be nice to use on a regular basis. On the same note, I would not be afraid to clean my own clothes and then hang them dry.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Community and Friendships in Kenya are very much a part of the culture. Visitors are always welcome and invitations are not needed for someone to drop by. If you are visiting someone who is just leaving their house it is rude to not welcome them in the house and have a cup of tea. If you are sick it is expected that people will stop by all the time to see if you are ok and what they can do for you. This of course is different than the west. We want our privacy. Thoughtfulness of others is always welcome, but we want to be left alone while we get better. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Where ever you are going, greeting people along the way is necessary.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I appreciate the community model that happens here. The focus is not about self, but caring about your neighbor. I think in the west we have missed that a lot of the times.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-78311611725625303262011-03-06T04:56:00.002-05:002011-03-10T08:31:35.713-05:00Rewarding Moments<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Teaching has those very rewarding moments that reminds you that what you are doing is having an effect. There are several other PCVs that are teaching class one, two and three and a few teaching remedial. I will occasionally call or read their blogs to find out what they are doing so I can steal/borrow their ideas. They have a vast knowledge of different activities that I can definitely use with my kids.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This past week I was re-teaching counting 1 to 5, Ok I have taught counting for the whole year. I wanted to do something different than writing on the black board. I took the kids on the walkway outside the class. Who wants to sit inside a class all day.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I wrote their names and numbers 1 to 5 with chalk. I have a good friend in town that I had asked her to keep all of the bottle caps of the sodas she sells. We used those bottle caps for the kids to put the caps on top of the chalk numbers that I wrote. They kids were enjoying themselves. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhgVXGMHp0wYgkjuxaJPGXLkfWyRL8u1B6pB_4Tgc6ChH9VvwtBYeVVdvyb8BJB2OFwUyizFBLPPXdTcsN_em8J0fgf-s5N_ClytT0nd8C63YRjZlqbDaKF4eqgF9PvMp4kM7h4TjbBQ/s1600/IMG_9476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhgVXGMHp0wYgkjuxaJPGXLkfWyRL8u1B6pB_4Tgc6ChH9VvwtBYeVVdvyb8BJB2OFwUyizFBLPPXdTcsN_em8J0fgf-s5N_ClytT0nd8C63YRjZlqbDaKF4eqgF9PvMp4kM7h4TjbBQ/s1600/IMG_9476.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daniel</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuVCVoUSjlFbUf_m6lZZOTGVxtkD9ntA9EDSJfIj_hQcZ1_tzar7Zf67_ee0UrwnMtcO20yJvEPlu09sPY2elA9Wr_eJ6a8Hc9rFtOORMIqCJQpo2WFHNsYcb4N6G_1LISeLq2wSpK9Q/s1600/IMG_9494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuVCVoUSjlFbUf_m6lZZOTGVxtkD9ntA9EDSJfIj_hQcZ1_tzar7Zf67_ee0UrwnMtcO20yJvEPlu09sPY2elA9Wr_eJ6a8Hc9rFtOORMIqCJQpo2WFHNsYcb4N6G_1LISeLq2wSpK9Q/s320/IMG_9494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ruth</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV15aH2nbYXmVurP1hFbvZOz_ebfjtDhJ4Dwb0uoC3Az6i8xMyMj13bRsdeZ_3lqNz8Lz5PuUFjwNUMA7XXz_H9eaBCZMQv6ZH9oeAPh2ykl3bqKrBwXbAFjMndCSRSOmm6RmF0RNhv-4/s1600/IMG_9490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV15aH2nbYXmVurP1hFbvZOz_ebfjtDhJ4Dwb0uoC3Az6i8xMyMj13bRsdeZ_3lqNz8Lz5PuUFjwNUMA7XXz_H9eaBCZMQv6ZH9oeAPh2ykl3bqKrBwXbAFjMndCSRSOmm6RmF0RNhv-4/s320/IMG_9490.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Witney</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAQsamAX-HubAssvJa6h12udIZcEyoRGQzJYiwQMCIPeskP3jP9_DFlvkkaZx1pUnkDnRa3A-sl9kfxBpVD6C7yIYTIUpFKW8L1Irz3IEP0GTAQYWSgZ93emEmgvYPAJS58mD0PYgJKQ/s1600/IMG_9481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAQsamAX-HubAssvJa6h12udIZcEyoRGQzJYiwQMCIPeskP3jP9_DFlvkkaZx1pUnkDnRa3A-sl9kfxBpVD6C7yIYTIUpFKW8L1Irz3IEP0GTAQYWSgZ93emEmgvYPAJS58mD0PYgJKQ/s320/IMG_9481.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">W Ouma</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf_6Q5yoWsOxfr56NW7ltc5ETl0x_MzD3jUL6h79SSkEpmrzbkGd3P7mn4qac1AUXtI-1IjqFKSLRofSRSgaFVZ7IyNZ1RVFbaCGV09mW1E5wS1TFF_yZ5f1Aql0rVSWg0Q8_A0coiJg/s1600/IMG_9478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf_6Q5yoWsOxfr56NW7ltc5ETl0x_MzD3jUL6h79SSkEpmrzbkGd3P7mn4qac1AUXtI-1IjqFKSLRofSRSgaFVZ7IyNZ1RVFbaCGV09mW1E5wS1TFF_yZ5f1Aql0rVSWg0Q8_A0coiJg/s320/IMG_9478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">David</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkv0MuMj0-MaoFlIQL0VzcRKUJhGV2XrZk1LrvAcHLY-Ra-_-1p2K4jmaLbPgV92uuxxiuvFhtejLMri4qghIYtnllGfBO64gpX1VPwblg4r8m5ZHW-jf8LW01hH56rrHLOpmFgqIZkg/s1600/IMG_9475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkv0MuMj0-MaoFlIQL0VzcRKUJhGV2XrZk1LrvAcHLY-Ra-_-1p2K4jmaLbPgV92uuxxiuvFhtejLMri4qghIYtnllGfBO64gpX1VPwblg4r8m5ZHW-jf8LW01hH56rrHLOpmFgqIZkg/s320/IMG_9475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meshack</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jN6ak7lpx-ZQyd9KGDOdydCXMN-Ipm2NIHNDiRKtx-v2AL8bg0KeisoCnLxvz_70PLK6M6D3miYTupYxX4l-itQ-hiNDz3c5Ynm5zsoDMqBuFv8yOBjhRSwSMYWk4VkiT-FHAX9EFMc/s1600/IMG_9472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jN6ak7lpx-ZQyd9KGDOdydCXMN-Ipm2NIHNDiRKtx-v2AL8bg0KeisoCnLxvz_70PLK6M6D3miYTupYxX4l-itQ-hiNDz3c5Ynm5zsoDMqBuFv8yOBjhRSwSMYWk4VkiT-FHAX9EFMc/s1600/IMG_9472.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Benjamin</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlzB1VzFrm6m2E_VwOKzqpFOegG21xVkRgLwNkOCuPDe8ETnOcaDLVe1nWj93NE6GUjZUhC_g709wV6FTpmzGmT9wEEYLInAUyPNhxBRd7IrRBnePBWd_Cwtb7DfXcwnSrxCCtd9JFxk/s1600/IMG_9471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlzB1VzFrm6m2E_VwOKzqpFOegG21xVkRgLwNkOCuPDe8ETnOcaDLVe1nWj93NE6GUjZUhC_g709wV6FTpmzGmT9wEEYLInAUyPNhxBRd7IrRBnePBWd_Cwtb7DfXcwnSrxCCtd9JFxk/s320/IMG_9471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linda</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO34awZ8gG6O3OghLcDZWbn9zlWldREyKDhO2qMKIJzYMwS6CxATCzgw56FcbpiK4bDyaoXAa5Vtiiv_nXmz9xWwDYu37SFrXMC6tu_q5an9hkjvY4jHFNIbb9LlTw1QR0kxvIDLNhiw/s1600/IMG_9470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO34awZ8gG6O3OghLcDZWbn9zlWldREyKDhO2qMKIJzYMwS6CxATCzgw56FcbpiK4bDyaoXAa5Vtiiv_nXmz9xWwDYu37SFrXMC6tu_q5an9hkjvY4jHFNIbb9LlTw1QR0kxvIDLNhiw/s320/IMG_9470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jacob</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Follow up to possible South Africa trip. Senior Peace Corps staff discussed the issue at length and decided that only two PCV will be given clearance to go. I am not one of the two that are going. This of course is not the news I wanted to hear. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Map project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is hard to believe after nearly 4 to 5 weeks the map is drawn on the wall. There were several kids that helped in drawing. I envy their drawing ability, they are really efficient and good. I hope in the next few days to start painting the individuals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-57723809138102355482011-03-06T04:37:00.000-05:002011-03-06T04:37:15.609-05:00Remedial Help<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The phrase, you will be teaching remedial/special needs class this term (maybe year), had brought about a lot of stress and anxiety. I was clueless how to teach such a class. I wondered how I was going to survive. I requested from Peace Corps for a fellow PCV to come to my site for one week, 14 February to 18 to do what felt like a miracle. Mary left her site on a Saturday morning and arrived in Mumias Sunday afternoon. Traveling from the coast to western is a two day journey. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A synopsis</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Monday. Mary sat in the class and just observed my co-teacher and myself to get a feel for how we teach and the behaviors of the kids. At the end of the day she ran across me what she observed and things i could possibly do.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Tuesday to Friday.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I implemented a lot of things she noted. There were a lot of things she said that i took to heart and it made a difference. I will list those here. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-Being attentive to every child--they are all different</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-caning is not the answer</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-continue using the time out chair for discipline. The chair faces the corner of the wall and the pupil must sit there for a few minutes before returning to his/her seat.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-coming to class prepared is vital. There are kids that need the artwork drawn for them. need to do that before and not when i am through teaching.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-after i finish teaching and give out the exercise books i go around the class giving high fives and encouragement to the kids. Without being prepared i can not do that.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-the more visuals for the kids to see the better. One day i brought in a live kuku (chicken). Yes, their attention was held.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-when a kid or two are misbehaving i need to go around to the other kids that are working well and give HIGH 5's to say they are doing good. The 2 misbehaving kids will notice.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-when multiple kids are being disruptive i must chose the appropriate battle to fight. I can not address all of the needs at one. I should chose the situation that is most important and more than likely if that one stops the others will simmer down as well.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-implementing a behavior chart-this is inclusive of class rules (no fighting, do your work, and stay in class). If the pupil can do these i will give them a reward after two periods. I must start on a small scale. The better behaved the kids become the longer between rewards. The behavior chart is taped to the wall so the kids can see whether they are following the rules.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If you would have seen my class Monday then came again on Friday, it was night and day. I told Mary there were a few instances during the week where i was speechless. "I am confused, it is quite and they are all working. That has never happened. “</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With out a doubt her visit has done wonders for my self confidence, behavior of the kids, and allowing myself to teach and not try to manage behavior the entire period.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-57300824223840561222011-02-28T13:04:00.000-05:002011-02-28T13:04:44.027-05:00Impromptu English Grammar Lesson<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I made a recent trip to Kisumu to visit some friends this past weekend to get away from school for a short time. I was meeting a friend at the sports grounds in Kisumu so I found a place to sit in the shade till I got a call from her. At one entrance, the one where I was sitting, there is roughly 10 express passport photo stands just seconds walk from one another. While waiting I began to read and noticed something peculiar about the signs advertising for passport photo printing. Most of the signs had the same message, but their were three that caught my attention. Express Passport Size Digital In 10 Minutes,” “Express Passport Size and Photos After 10 minutes”, , and finally “Passport Size Express Digital For 10 minutes.”</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTnqdfmF17xsqzm-BsxAuBZ4nmpkw1lkMtTbRmex-I2zQgQVPixY9z33FwY0-Pg9JXmlPeOYzsHbDNm0YGb0UMOYBlRBWwRz3zyEiWypIJNWddA0gOcPtqYFYnqaqy5OnsB_XM1zNnzA/s1600/IMG_9450_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTnqdfmF17xsqzm-BsxAuBZ4nmpkw1lkMtTbRmex-I2zQgQVPixY9z33FwY0-Pg9JXmlPeOYzsHbDNm0YGb0UMOYBlRBWwRz3zyEiWypIJNWddA0gOcPtqYFYnqaqy5OnsB_XM1zNnzA/s1600/IMG_9450_2.JPG" /></a></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK8TpZlsfJ-qd9p36f5wcqo4J1qrUQ-txEvwOVSyDFCMXOAraqpn9FzV-26sQ8hRXfN1fhPvdCLoPM4X09oRivXGPb_DfK2fnsTo07GNKFEShj_WYU71tAt1G-6RSE4IgCqpPESZi2gk/s1600/IMG_9451_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK8TpZlsfJ-qd9p36f5wcqo4J1qrUQ-txEvwOVSyDFCMXOAraqpn9FzV-26sQ8hRXfN1fhPvdCLoPM4X09oRivXGPb_DfK2fnsTo07GNKFEShj_WYU71tAt1G-6RSE4IgCqpPESZi2gk/s1600/IMG_9451_2.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After reading the signs I knew I had to take a picture of each. When I got to the last one “...for 10 minutes” the gentlemen manning the station asked what I was doing. I informed him of the different signs and the different meaning of each. I then broke his heart and told him his sign is just wrong. It is very bad English and makes no sense. You could say, express photos for shilingi hamsini (50 kenyan shillings). I then showed him the other two signs and explained the difference. Not to long after that, every man that has a express photo booth was standing around listening to my explanation for what is proper English grammar. One gentlemen spoke up and said, “which of the other two are best?” I then replied by explaining what each of them means before giving an opinion. “In 10 minutes” means that the photos will be finished between 1 and 10 minutes. Your window for doing this work is very short. The other sign that said “After 10 minutes” means that the pictures will be finished AFTER 10 minutes. This could mean 11 minutes, 12 minutes, 20 minutes, 2 hours or Christmas. This phrase does not give a parameter when it will be finished. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After explaining each in detail they wanted to know which of the two was the best. I told them “In 10 minutes” and “after 10 minutes” are correct. The gentlemen insisted on knowing which is best so the customers would pick that one. I said using “In 10 minutes” tells the customer it will get finished fast, under 10 minutes. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While I am writing this recap of the event I am noticing that as a whole, all three signs have bad English aside from the “in, after and for.”</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This was definitely a fun experience. I wonder when I go back if any of the signs will be changed.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-55670850407153913712011-02-01T04:42:00.000-05:002011-02-01T04:42:05.661-05:00Remedial/Special Needs<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Tuesday, February 1, 2011</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Another teaching year at Mumias Deaf Primary is underway and there are a few changes to my teaching schedule. This year I have the challenge of teaching remedial/special needs in class 0. I did not put in a request to teach this class, but somewhere along the way I was selected to co-teach with a fellow teacher. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">During a staff meeting last year it was a consensus at the time that the panel heads of each department (ie, math, science etc) would choose teachers to teach the subjects. The selection was based on merit and discretion of the panel heads. On the day of selection I was looking forward to teaching math to class 5 because I taught them in class 4. I waited to here my named called, but it was not in the cards for any subject not just math. As you can probably guess I was confused, agitated, a little irate amongst other feelings. I expressed my feelings to the staff and administration. The response as I stated before, selection was based on merit. This was not sufficient for me. I swallowed my pride and in hopes things might change in the coming days. Well, nothing changed. I was placed in remedial/special needs class 0. I know with out a doubt I can sleep peacefully because I gave 100% last year and the kids improved. Maybe I will not understand the reasoning, but I know what I did and will stand by that.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Teaching remedial class is nothing but a challenge. As the name implies there are kids that need special attention. I was used to that last year, but somehow this seems like running up a wet grassy hill with traction less shoes. I made up my mind to put my heart into it and see what happens. In light of my lack of experience in this arena I have asked a fellow volunteer, Mary, to come visit for a week 14 February to 18th to assist in anyway possible. I am so looking forward to her visit. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Suggestions for teaching Remedial/Special Needs????</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In other news I am starting to draw/paint world map project. Numerous other PCVs have completed this at their school so I thought it would be good to be done at my school as well. The project as name implies is a large painting of the world with all of the countries. It will be painted on the outside of one of the classrooms. After a very slow start to the project, I am getting underway today. The map final size will be 308 cm by 616 cm, this is huge and thus a ladder is required. I really don’t like ladders at all. I will fake it for the duration of the project so the kids will have something very nice at their school to learn from. I will update with pictures along the way.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Finally today I have some tentative exciting news. I heard from a fellow volunteer about the World Congress World Federation of the Deaf Conference in South Africa, July 2011. This conference happens once every 4 years all over the world. For the first time ever it is being held in Africa. People from around the world deaf and hearing will meet in Durban, South Africa for one week to learn about deaf culture with one focus being on developing countries, ie. Kenya—in my case. Among the many topics covered from different presenters there are 4 main focus areas: deaf education, sign languages and studies, developing countries, and human rights.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I am mentioning this information because I am very much interested in going. I can not think of a better way to establish friendships and contacts from other deaf people and organizations from around the world than by attending this conference basically in my backyard. I have for sometime now contemplated other avenues of work and/or direction with the deaf community, but have not gotten very far besides Special Olympics (which I assisted with while in South Carolina) and being a deaf education teacher (I am doing that right now). A deaf teacher colleague at my school has expressed interest as well. For now, I am waiting on feedback from Peace Corps whether I can go. I am confident in a yes. When I hear something I will post.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-25134220806448977962011-01-18T22:26:00.002-05:002011-02-27T03:45:52.411-05:00Frog Giggin<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There are days when you wish you had not promised someone something, well that day was today (15 January). Several months ago and virtually all of last year the kids would always ask me if I have eaten anything from a crocodiles to snakes. They have a fascination about asking if I have eaten snakes, There is a persistence in saying that mzungus eat snakes. I don’t know one person that has. I am not taking into account Andrew Zimmerman (from the Travel Channel). I am really not sure where this fetish comes from. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Somewhere along the way they asked if I have eaten a frog. I honestly don’t remember eating one, but maybe once or so way back when. My mom said she had, so I knew it was within the family. In a way to excite and see their disgusted looking faces, I said yes. I told them for some reason if they catch a big one I will cook it for them. Well that day was today. They found a descent size toad and brought it over. Chui (my cat) enjoyed his time playing with the toad with no intention of killing or eating, just playing. There were 3 kids that really wanted to try. I knew one kid would; he ate a live grasshopper in class last year (caught that one on video). I boiled then fried the toad. I gave the arms and legs to the 4 kids (Andrew did not want to try before, but when I finished cooking he wanted to taste). Maybe next time they will get a bigger toad. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cultural exchange of some sort.</span><br />
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</div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-71627409471444587292011-01-15T12:38:00.000-05:002011-01-15T12:38:28.234-05:00New Bed<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A year has passed and I have a new bed. The bed that I used for the better part of last year was requested from the school to be used for visitors. I decided that I would rather have a wooden nicely built bed over continuing to use a kid’s bed the school offered me after I gave my original bed back. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My first opportunity to have a personalized bed was exciting and I got exactly what I wanted; something simple with a book rack on the head board. After two weeks my bed was finished. I went to go pick it up this afternoon and had it taken to the house via a boda boda (bicycle) tied to the back. I am continuously amazed on how and what boda boda’s can carry. I have seen so many things tied to the back: a goat, 7 straw chairs, 4 people, bed and so many others. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Due to the fact the bed was so big the man riding the boda had to push his bike to the school. Upon arriving at my house several kids were there anxious to ask me who’s bed this was. I informed them that it was mine then they were eager to help me carry out the old kids bed and bring in an adult bed.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There were six kids that had a great interest in helping put the bed together. They went right to work. Bickering and complaining among some of the kids blossomed into lackluster performance and corporation. I told them, “work together.” They got the message and worked on a section at a time making good progress. They came upon a speed bump, the side boards were not sliding into the head and foot board very well. I remember seeing the carpenter put corresponding markings on the boards to indicate which board attaches to what. I explained the importance to the kids of planning ahead so when the time to put something together it can run with less hiccups. We removed what we had done and switched around the side boards and they slid right in. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">These were the six kids that put the bed together.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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</span></span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-85664875123519563702011-01-01T08:07:00.001-05:002011-01-01T08:14:14.773-05:00Christmas in Egypt<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cairo</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 19</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I took a bus from Mumias to Nairobi where I spent the night at Milimani Backpackers. A ten hour bus ride is seldom any fun, but I knew the final destination would be worth it.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 20</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I met my two other traveling companions in Nairobi for our 17:30 flight to Cairo with a stop over in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia. Jon, Amanda, and myself dined for a sub sandwhich at Serit Center. We then took a city hoppa bus from downtown to the airport. Taking the city hoppa was only 50 kshs/ea compared to 1000 kshs for a taxi.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It was a strange feeling being back at JKIA (Joma Kenyatta International Airport) roughly one year ago I got off a plane where I left everything behind to undergo a journey of a lifetime. The journey is till continuing.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our flight consisted of 3 meals. The flight to Adis Ababa, Ethiopia was 1 ½ hours but they game us a meal. Then the flight from their to Cairo we had two more meals. I was stuffed after the first one. I did not let the food go to waste.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 21</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We all arrived in Cairo around 03:30 and were taken to our hostel via a cab provided by the hostel. Going to bed once we got there was not a hard thing to do. Several hours later we got up for a late breakfast. Our first day to walk around the city a bit was nice to stretch the legs and see some new things.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our first destination was Islamic Cairo. Walking through back alley ways and gazing at the various shops was interesting. The walk path was just big enough for a small car to slowly drive. How would I know that; a few cars made their way down the alley ways. I was amazed they were able to maneuver it without knocking over anything. There were a lot of shops selling carpet/rugs and fabric. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 22</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Egyptian museum.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">One thing that was interesting was the lights on the road that gave an additional reminder of a traffic light. This really did catch my attention. In Kenya there are roundabouts where you force yourself into the flow of traffic with no traffic lights, except for Nairobi.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jUF6nEWR1WX_VoTUmWktdZCoPzFpUXBOJBV9ihsAqte1WPDRhyphenhyphen7Db3aceeohQSUHHV_WqfZy3Xo42pCriJWlb9gmug8L0QmdR3d1FqZ7QUbT7ydpQ1p1to8jJ6eP-R0yURbXMez1wyk/s1600/lights.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jUF6nEWR1WX_VoTUmWktdZCoPzFpUXBOJBV9ihsAqte1WPDRhyphenhyphen7Db3aceeohQSUHHV_WqfZy3Xo42pCriJWlb9gmug8L0QmdR3d1FqZ7QUbT7ydpQ1p1to8jJ6eP-R0yURbXMez1wyk/s320/lights.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This day was specifically set aside for visiting the Egyptian Museum. When we arrived there was already an extremely long line. We all agreed to talk a walk across the Nile River and come back after having lunch. On the way we saw the opera house. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-nViQewzEgxm6n5eqNkWd-guyhpQB37McJfErNHaYK6XcXmdrZjy7iTxJ5wgDTTpx-236x3HShQyusyD5T0044BiWn1JGJb7PmS49R45kc42a0mxBcYS0gNCQMLhpZvGviNsrllHePQ/s1600/IMG_8520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-nViQewzEgxm6n5eqNkWd-guyhpQB37McJfErNHaYK6XcXmdrZjy7iTxJ5wgDTTpx-236x3HShQyusyD5T0044BiWn1JGJb7PmS49R45kc42a0mxBcYS0gNCQMLhpZvGviNsrllHePQ/s320/IMG_8520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I am yet to understand the number of Tourist Police around all of the major attractions. When we visited the Pyramids our tour guide told us that there were about 50 tourist officers per monument/site. Some sites it felt like there were more police than tourist. I did see regular cops; they were usually were directing traffic. Also a vast majority of them had a bullet proof shield with them to protect from who knows what.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOknRrlCXIt7kA8pRzvRXvGi6bPehAmg43WBWVeWd2aHUIVyM2ePPrZgNlUEwUoCEAc1h7OoRXJl2qvCELSfdpUxtTCnGNJWDrTksje89Js4Ry409m2yTEa_ntbK_JPMGew_wuBOr9hU0/s1600/IMG_8504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOknRrlCXIt7kA8pRzvRXvGi6bPehAmg43WBWVeWd2aHUIVyM2ePPrZgNlUEwUoCEAc1h7OoRXJl2qvCELSfdpUxtTCnGNJWDrTksje89Js4Ry409m2yTEa_ntbK_JPMGew_wuBOr9hU0/s320/IMG_8504.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Lunch before heading to the Museum we backtracked a bit to look for some authenic Egyptian food at Abu Tarek. Once arriving I remember watching an episode of No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel eating at this establishment. It looked the same from tv. Since I am a fan of the show it was nice to go there and try their food. Their main dish and seemingly only dish was Kosery. This consisted of noodles, lentils, fried onions with chili sauce. It was really good and a very simple dish. As you will see from the picture the men working the stations are going nonstop. There is high demand for good Koshery cooks. Also you will notice the customers are holding reciepts from orders waiting for it to be taken. It is as chaotic as it looks, but there was some structure to the chaos.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvdFOqRi9WTpTc_4wFJAstyC9wrrfeEUW3cfZlFIsE8DET2Ar-0FATQiFcCOAlRmAykwf64VzeCrsRMDQQP8UDvPwKh-LU6rBFwzsKAoU9Z3XxW6L9gbXu2xbzdXWop1_vHHV_m2Ukg0/s1600/IMG_8536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvdFOqRi9WTpTc_4wFJAstyC9wrrfeEUW3cfZlFIsE8DET2Ar-0FATQiFcCOAlRmAykwf64VzeCrsRMDQQP8UDvPwKh-LU6rBFwzsKAoU9Z3XxW6L9gbXu2xbzdXWop1_vHHV_m2Ukg0/s320/IMG_8536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRCSIgB4YDKSzbKq6MaOFZT8OOXLkSBhXl3alWICX0wc_jFalQ1gYvXfdYTVzYKlVznilcvfChZxIh2E0qYFs6FVcIUI2kHjUT_7iADvixBVZEWqRUoXum62HxBYWty-qeyIMmgGdggs/s1600/IMG_8547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRCSIgB4YDKSzbKq6MaOFZT8OOXLkSBhXl3alWICX0wc_jFalQ1gYvXfdYTVzYKlVznilcvfChZxIh2E0qYFs6FVcIUI2kHjUT_7iADvixBVZEWqRUoXum62HxBYWty-qeyIMmgGdggs/s320/IMG_8547.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We were not allowed to take in cameras into the Museum so images are regulated to my memory for now. There are a few things that stick out to me. First, on the ground floor is two huge statues. These were several meters high; therefore the museum was built around it. Secondly was the the gold mask of King Tut (Tutankhamun) which weighed 23 lbs of solid gold. We wondered what the difference visually from a king and a pharaoh. We heard that is was whether they had a straight beard or one that curled up at the end. I recently was doing some research on the web and there seems to be a wide range of distinguishes from one to another based on the time/dynasty and the sculpture.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOMKPfPT6WA6smQCUQp_9YIKc4Ln0Glc2ZxP_mQZzh3-Iu9Whi7ZhNzaqUHvoKzh5EsmwLlK58RykJYTF-mpolN2pwCPJ8MXADLOFrGRsRnbmfUF5UCQjR-dQzXHlWpvQFFcYtQzh0LA/s1600/IMG_8552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOMKPfPT6WA6smQCUQp_9YIKc4Ln0Glc2ZxP_mQZzh3-Iu9Whi7ZhNzaqUHvoKzh5EsmwLlK58RykJYTF-mpolN2pwCPJ8MXADLOFrGRsRnbmfUF5UCQjR-dQzXHlWpvQFFcYtQzh0LA/s320/IMG_8552.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">After finishing the museum we headed in a general direction of our hostel but of course we had taken the back streets. I really liked this method of seeing the city. We were able to see beyond the normal touristy trinkets and crowds and better<br />
got a better idea of normal city life. On our way we saw this and just had to take a picture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xA2yGf4wF3YvL_lx2Y_1Cp3icy3cJKl5GtKn1tInIbIT_V4eHC4zXbgb1dUvUq_eLmlRVKOGPeW4_wPKXz9v2uPwK2boKK9AvJQcb-R6mfZxeBuEmdmbsNoBSWu6liX7XkldtPZbjDQ/s1600/IMG_8565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xA2yGf4wF3YvL_lx2Y_1Cp3icy3cJKl5GtKn1tInIbIT_V4eHC4zXbgb1dUvUq_eLmlRVKOGPeW4_wPKXz9v2uPwK2boKK9AvJQcb-R6mfZxeBuEmdmbsNoBSWu6liX7XkldtPZbjDQ/s320/IMG_8565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">I am a big fan of street food and this was yet another example of taking a commodity and tweaking it abit and make it into an income generating activity. Roasted Sweet Potatoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi_AvbufpTmTHpDslz3pqyXRiB6pbLKlsmJ_kUFuHg_GALNQmm4veczRLYos3glQTjWHn3SzIJfdCt_RGlN9q-Fe9qdGT90MIfQ39IPx2qTcoEXMHs4-3-xKxAvM37SUMt2V03G6y_U0/s1600/IMG_8581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi_AvbufpTmTHpDslz3pqyXRiB6pbLKlsmJ_kUFuHg_GALNQmm4veczRLYos3glQTjWHn3SzIJfdCt_RGlN9q-Fe9qdGT90MIfQ39IPx2qTcoEXMHs4-3-xKxAvM37SUMt2V03G6y_U0/s320/IMG_8581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">During our walk we went down a street that was selling everything from clothes to food to motorcycles. I am used to looking through a big heap of clothes to find my size then bargaining for a good prize. This was different. The clothes were in shops on hangers with marked prices. It was a culture shock.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At dusk and with the hostel meters away it was time for the Muslims call to prayer. I was used to the call and people praying in the mosque. This picture is of men on the sidewalk bowing to prayer in the middle of town. There are speakers throughout the city so missing the call to prayer seemingly could only granted if you are deaf and blind.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHRZzDwgnHS5VgfuzfoSbyVgu2EfL4RVIm6uPhE6Feitw3frTvU5RzhR6JvSw2edO0lQrjh6Z7ClioxEJlSu2pyTDwFOKP6D3rqHyO-aGUaI66puQ0mV-6I-ZmZiViMFMzPtz-hiS3AM/s1600/IMG_8604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHRZzDwgnHS5VgfuzfoSbyVgu2EfL4RVIm6uPhE6Feitw3frTvU5RzhR6JvSw2edO0lQrjh6Z7ClioxEJlSu2pyTDwFOKP6D3rqHyO-aGUaI66puQ0mV-6I-ZmZiViMFMzPtz-hiS3AM/s320/IMG_8604.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 23</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We took a visit to Coptic Cairo. I remember reading that there were coptic christians in Cairo, though just few compared to Muslims. The history of the area was interesting. It is traditionally held that the holy family hid in this area taking refuge from King Herod. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Though the travel guide and Wikipedia hyped this area we all were disappointed. It was a tourist trap. We could not see the residental quarters. It was all around a let down. There was one bright spot though the Convent of Saint George. Depictions of St. George slaying a dragon are engraved in the outside of the church and the inside, paintings and more paintings. Reading the story of this is interesting. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 24</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Pyramids</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I think there are somethings in life where words don’t adequately paint a perfect picture, the pyramids are one of those times. Enjoy the pics.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp9NbvLpNqiyiqamSIL26VoSR8oUGJZCrXX0oqwsyVb3f4HNzq8-oSiPypNkzJaRVXDltTJ_MofAtjgrfv5sqa50jhA6CsKEMVqs2fa8PcKT6fzT1WktTQc_0COP8STLAhRo4VLNrmwQ/s1600/IMG_8734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp9NbvLpNqiyiqamSIL26VoSR8oUGJZCrXX0oqwsyVb3f4HNzq8-oSiPypNkzJaRVXDltTJ_MofAtjgrfv5sqa50jhA6CsKEMVqs2fa8PcKT6fzT1WktTQc_0COP8STLAhRo4VLNrmwQ/s320/IMG_8734.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq57ZfDb1Hq4uwOXwuxdpctksesl0OFGz8WOyfvzKl1cZPaqULuZdLmVfPd2Mp6bGE67_W4vjMW5bLuw1T41xbkWBPMOMK4PXKKWKNTG-JmvnRAP95HjAYZdKji1zKGHLH6sSDexuiplY/s1600/IMG_8851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq57ZfDb1Hq4uwOXwuxdpctksesl0OFGz8WOyfvzKl1cZPaqULuZdLmVfPd2Mp6bGE67_W4vjMW5bLuw1T41xbkWBPMOMK4PXKKWKNTG-JmvnRAP95HjAYZdKji1zKGHLH6sSDexuiplY/s320/IMG_8851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5uuvKEIjAxZkl5EkTteE3tyAVgzPIznZ-BOLHSYwcwjXfwEM30z2W3vdgKDo5RDFaevsPN3-62nUXUGa3mrEXEzvROtR1gcGbNCpdLhZn_0_JtG_PAh__clOaqRQ_MvJVwC_mc2v4QU/s1600/IMG_8890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5uuvKEIjAxZkl5EkTteE3tyAVgzPIznZ-BOLHSYwcwjXfwEM30z2W3vdgKDo5RDFaevsPN3-62nUXUGa3mrEXEzvROtR1gcGbNCpdLhZn_0_JtG_PAh__clOaqRQ_MvJVwC_mc2v4QU/s320/IMG_8890.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPAsW0waeiuATKVJ7YnLWVwrTKLofB8XVIQW1BGdqdMzJkhUpFd17ixR9pfU_o9NdKCqbrdqT_kZ9ERFk6jqpjb1qdKGV-vYITAAtJyLi0grODF18Icz6aX9zKAxs-sbC4g6qm7j0jH8/s1600/IMG_8892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPAsW0waeiuATKVJ7YnLWVwrTKLofB8XVIQW1BGdqdMzJkhUpFd17ixR9pfU_o9NdKCqbrdqT_kZ9ERFk6jqpjb1qdKGV-vYITAAtJyLi0grODF18Icz6aX9zKAxs-sbC4g6qm7j0jH8/s320/IMG_8892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 25</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Christmas in Alexandria</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We took the train from Cairo at 8:30 and after a 2 hour ride we arrived in Alexandria. I was looking forward to looking at the scenery along the way but the smog, I mean fog was thick and consistent for most of the trip. The station in Cairo was under construction, the smell and feel also showed the same thing.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmDRbJatMysMsUE7QXw8BppnWkHBcUIka35KvwpmmGzdh41yEBCvGiT16i6voZU0uAW7rt03Tfqn9_DzRbwNkkyahx2MtMYrHfz2UnlcOhdqaXOTlmiOP9-qqDnxYx-VpVHPor9pKIfs/s1600/IMG_8938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmDRbJatMysMsUE7QXw8BppnWkHBcUIka35KvwpmmGzdh41yEBCvGiT16i6voZU0uAW7rt03Tfqn9_DzRbwNkkyahx2MtMYrHfz2UnlcOhdqaXOTlmiOP9-qqDnxYx-VpVHPor9pKIfs/s320/IMG_8938.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Kenya on the other hand has few bakeries, but their variety is very limited. The Arabs do it right. Of the many selections included date filled, hard and soft breads, rolls bread sticks and many others.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At the station in Alexandria we meet two people who joined us on our walk around for a brief period. The lady was a lawyer from China but doing a one year stint in London and the gentlemen was a teacher in Japan apart of the DoDDs (Department of Defense) teaching at a military base to children of soldiers.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We walked for a good hour then went in and saw Ramsess II pillar at Amud El-Sawari. The site was in the middle of town with buildings surrounding it. After that we walked up a hill for a bit to some catacombs. I remember the catacombs in Rome and these also did not disappoint. Majority of the burial slots were a few feet by 6 or so feet. So though were quite deep.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After our visit 3 floors below the earth’s surface that was discovered because a donkey fell in hall in the early 1900s we walked back to the train. We had plans to visit the Mediterranean Sea and have fish for lunch. In brief we walked for 2 hours and ended up were we started. At this point we were tired and wanted to go to the train. Though we did not see the sea we did get to see some residential life.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Upon arriving back in Cairo we stopped several times for some food: gelato ice cream --WOW, fruit juice mix with slices of bananas, pomegranates and oranges, shwarma (hoaggie roll with onions and slices of meat, falafal (smashed green gramms with flour fried as a patty and served in a pita bread with veggies. I ate so much, but so worth every bite.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFgJQC3GYJfvhu8P8_Lw_ZUDnftWJzf6v45BNksPlWpYTKv5fwTysqb43ztaSAJejP8t45fnPHquAc0hhtcLjJ8rHfE7_PABzPrjaFgQDxQpwWJa24RNCAO_NlVpf0vgn67SIt1N9haY/s1600/IMG_9016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFgJQC3GYJfvhu8P8_Lw_ZUDnftWJzf6v45BNksPlWpYTKv5fwTysqb43ztaSAJejP8t45fnPHquAc0hhtcLjJ8rHfE7_PABzPrjaFgQDxQpwWJa24RNCAO_NlVpf0vgn67SIt1N9haY/s320/IMG_9016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd9O45qwDCmjaCm59gpJuI_N2648zKCAXzO-JpmWi59I-qmWfi5nuxwvPcWjWTf5UsUirO_c3F8SUsgDPcC5D4pf8TMmU7hVTU93RFSSnUIhg44IO5Lar8pcpNU23fZlYs6kYlojJdjc/s1600/IMG_9017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd9O45qwDCmjaCm59gpJuI_N2648zKCAXzO-JpmWi59I-qmWfi5nuxwvPcWjWTf5UsUirO_c3F8SUsgDPcC5D4pf8TMmU7hVTU93RFSSnUIhg44IO5Lar8pcpNU23fZlYs6kYlojJdjc/s320/IMG_9017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">December 26</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My last day in Cairo and Jon and I visited A sultan mosque a good 6 km away from the hostel. Along the way I saw this lady displaying her pita bread to be sold. You are correct that is the on the step. A few feet later another person had put theirs on atop of a roof of a car.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLbgbp7uaXUOGwthiqQ_ynnPlSdn7rcYBPBxiqULYDBan9txoXwQ8LMKeGixTmvz9pENDrhckdPp7P1XAt8gFVC5-yO76p8urbdsCMURjGyKcL1OOF8eBFXHqT4dXIEo9RDJw8E8pmBY/s1600/IMG_9124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLbgbp7uaXUOGwthiqQ_ynnPlSdn7rcYBPBxiqULYDBan9txoXwQ8LMKeGixTmvz9pENDrhckdPp7P1XAt8gFVC5-yO76p8urbdsCMURjGyKcL1OOF8eBFXHqT4dXIEo9RDJw8E8pmBY/s320/IMG_9124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Sultan Mosque was huge and is still in use today by Muslims. These men are washing themselves before going to pray.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU1NepAwD599uaVD8j_I-onaNwPT_oOXWZKVDgS6lNm2RxwNP18QPv962UuY0pJPEl2mse-IeNsf7uG_mHvUe34jh9ESSw4DaGSYfuxXV9Ds2g6-oI6gVRJicYMINQ5xRwb7mb-6JUpo/s1600/IMG_9080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU1NepAwD599uaVD8j_I-onaNwPT_oOXWZKVDgS6lNm2RxwNP18QPv962UuY0pJPEl2mse-IeNsf7uG_mHvUe34jh9ESSw4DaGSYfuxXV9Ds2g6-oI6gVRJicYMINQ5xRwb7mb-6JUpo/s320/IMG_9080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our last destination was the Citadel that overlooked the city. It was a spectacular view.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-YYRwwfkmD-pYZSnZXGRJYbyqlJ3L8FG4Xa9MyyepK38Z_9TI6QMJvDB6JQmhI4H9LyzEdXzX3nRYTkdHMM8UrDTk1_7hg_JV4OKY7fpa5GhwUGdcWD5LWZeXvOGzjzPyBXnRhaB-DQ/s1600/IMG_9102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-YYRwwfkmD-pYZSnZXGRJYbyqlJ3L8FG4Xa9MyyepK38Z_9TI6QMJvDB6JQmhI4H9LyzEdXzX3nRYTkdHMM8UrDTk1_7hg_JV4OKY7fpa5GhwUGdcWD5LWZeXvOGzjzPyBXnRhaB-DQ/s320/IMG_9102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-79045447768153292002010-12-04T12:22:00.001-05:002010-12-04T12:22:27.588-05:00Term 3<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">It is hard to believe that my third term as a teacher in my first year is now complete. Of course teaching is a new experience for me. There were definitely moments when I was not sure if I would survive. What about the 7 weeks of teaching social studies where I dreaded going into class. When maps was the only thing I covered; I knew the kids were tired of it and I was too. Finally I found something that worked, what a break through. I would summarize the material I was to cover and right it on the board. As a class we would sign and resign the text. Two students would then come up to sign up as well. Once I thought the kids had an “idea” of what was written on the board I would give them questions to answers. After nearly 3 months did their cob webs of reading comprehension skills begin to be improve and gradually relevant answers would be given; unfortunately only from 2-3 kids. This was a great feeling. When the culture and the normality of the situation is to copy from the board; to make them think and reason for themselves, even though very minimally, it is gratifying. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Or what about the first time I was asked to give a speech because I was the welcomed visitor at my school in the staff room. Public speaking is not something I relish, but I try to force myself to act strong. As I muddled through a very brief self introduction I was thinking about just getting through. Because it is culturally accepted for visitors to say a few words I knew that I would have to get used to this practice. Since then I have talked at a Boy/Girl Scout meeting outside my school, deputies church, another church I have attended, Peace Corps meetings, closing day ceremonies at school, and the vast number of other occasions. My comfort level has grown. Or what about teaching hiv/aids to class 8. Not only was the material something I was not keen on or the fact that I was teaching class 8. Transitioning from little kids to the big kids on the block. Their signing and comprehension were so advanced than from those I taught befdore.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The second and third term I taught Kenyan Sign Language. I felt somewhat comfortable but not nearly at ease. It is one thing to teach a subject that is new to both the kids and the teacher ie math, social studies, pe etc. It is entirely different if the subject is the mother tongue of the student. Teaching KSL was a definite struggle, but I am glad I endured. I do think I learned more than I taught.</span></p>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-74597727062556106822010-11-02T14:13:00.003-04:002010-11-02T14:54:05.883-04:00Nairobi MarathonI continually find myself doing something that i have said on numerous occasions that I don't enjoy doing, running. Yet again this time I find myself running in a 10km race in Nairobi. What I do enjoy, which i guess cancels out the running part, are a few things. For one, I like competition. Second, I like to visit different places. Third, I like the experience of the swarms of people all running/walking in one direction.<div><br /></div><div>I had registered to run a month ago, which is the same time I started training for the race. Outside the gate of the school is a football pitch that every morning I would will myself out of bed to run several laps. Initially I was training with a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, who teaches at a nearby school, and a fellow teacher at the deaf school. As the weeks passed they slowly became infrequent for the morning runs and thus my motivation for longer distances became harder to convince myself to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Halloween eve/Reformation day eve 15,000 people have gathered in downtown Nairobi for the marathon. There were full and half marathon runners, 10km and a family run. My initial plan was doing the half marathon, but later changed to a 10km. Something new to me was the timing chip, it was no longer to be clipped onto the shoe, but it was taped behind the race number that you wear. I am not sure which way is better. The results will be published soon, so we will see. Unfortunately when i registered i neglected to look at my race number to see if I had a timing chip, so my name will not be published on the web/newspaper.</div><div><br /></div><div>Normally when running in a race like this people dress up in costumes to be seen. This day was know different. A group of people were carrying an inflatable water raft while running and would sing. 1-2-3-4- 1-2-3-4 "We will not quit." It was amazing that they ran nearly the whole 10km caring this raft. </div><div><br /></div><div>The race started just outside of Nyayo stadium in Nairobi. The 10km runners finished outside while the 1/2 marathon and full marathon finished inside the stadium. I got a glimpse of the marathon runners before I set off, WOW. They are fast.</div><div><br /></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-61843343641290696202010-09-24T13:39:00.012-04:002010-10-05T14:19:38.443-04:00Two Worlds Collide<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It has been a month and more since my last entry. 31st July to 7th August was a mandated travel ban put on my Peace Corps due to the possible unrest that may have occured during the voting of the referendum on August 4th. We were informed that we could spend the time at another volunteer’s site. Along with 5 others I stayed in Lamu. We stayed at a school of a fellow volunteer. For a short time we visited Lamu Island. There was a lot of relaxing and reading books.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">From Lamu I took a motor boat to another island for a flight to Nairobi to meet Mark who arrived that morning. The airstrip felt like an open pasture with paved runway. We spent the night at Milimani Backpackers in Nairobi. It was a hostel, right near town. We took a matatu from town to Kisumu 8 hours away. Then we transfered to another one to my site in Mumias. I could tell Mark was not thrilled about the long matatu ride. Sitting in a cramped seat for a long time does not feel good. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We spent 2 days and 3 nights in Mumias. We took a walk around town and met some of my friends at the local dukas (shops). On the evening of the 9th, the vocational girls at the school assisted mark and I by slaughtering a kuku (hen) for dinner. The girls did all of the work, we just watched as they cut off the head, drain the blood, plucked the feathers, cut it into pieces and fried it in a fry pan over a jiko. Tasted wonderful.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The next day we traveled to Kakamega, (45 minutes away) to watch the National competition for cultural and dance for secondary schools. Their were schools that dressed up in cultural/village attire for dance and song. It was a good experience, though we did not stay there very long.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We spent our last night at my house before taking a comfortable bus ride to Nairobi the next morning. We arrived in the afternoon and went straight to the hostel. The next morning we were picked up by Jocky Tours to take us to Amboseli National Reserve. On our way we stopped by Kenyan Wildlife Service to pickup our entry pass into the park. We arrived a little before lunch at the lodge. We had lunch then headed out for the afternoon safari ride. We saw: elephant, giraffe, cheetah, lion, hippopotamus, wildebeest, gazelles, zebra, and buffalo. Every year between July and September is the Wildebeest migration from Tanzania and western Kenya to the southern part of Kenya. The zebras also accompany the wildebeest on their migration. We left early in the morning on Friday for a game ride before heading to Loitokitok. Mark and I felt as we were being driven around to go look for animals the second day, the excitement had gone. We had seen so many animals the first day, it was old news. The primary focus this day was getting good pictures of giraffes. When we were heading to the exit, there was a heard right in front of us. They are incredible creatures. All in all it was a good time looking for the animals. I recommend it. I think next August I want to see the wildebeest migration in August.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEBoGYFRPrnGXQkLaz4eC2YvyizGCUTpovgNIoDnAN-lx-fcIyeB7FMSWc4y05IuNHhxas2ruqMUMs5Kzuoich-pbmRTICNPd3V7dN9-nBdB7iANoYRzeIUk1toqnb3LG2O_uFfn9XJg/s1600/IMG_7147.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEBoGYFRPrnGXQkLaz4eC2YvyizGCUTpovgNIoDnAN-lx-fcIyeB7FMSWc4y05IuNHhxas2ruqMUMs5Kzuoich-pbmRTICNPd3V7dN9-nBdB7iANoYRzeIUk1toqnb3LG2O_uFfn9XJg/s200/IMG_7147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520540043150866978" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEBoGYFRPrnGXQkLaz4eC2YvyizGCUTpovgNIoDnAN-lx-fcIyeB7FMSWc4y05IuNHhxas2ruqMUMs5Kzuoich-pbmRTICNPd3V7dN9-nBdB7iANoYRzeIUk1toqnb3LG2O_uFfn9XJg/s1600/IMG_7147.JPG"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Elephant</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7XX2iXPa5YTL3O8kOm8SiU-5NVTiGoVBqVsfNYRl2YenY0XkE5wHM-Oe20Y4fBlVALio4Xtw0C1Gan4QuxNC5R2ckz_MePjDEplheFJ1bXMpHRf4VDh80SaVPtonyVA7aPM6LIaumIM/s1600/IMG_7004.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7XX2iXPa5YTL3O8kOm8SiU-5NVTiGoVBqVsfNYRl2YenY0XkE5wHM-Oe20Y4fBlVALio4Xtw0C1Gan4QuxNC5R2ckz_MePjDEplheFJ1bXMpHRf4VDh80SaVPtonyVA7aPM6LIaumIM/s200/IMG_7004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520540030636728178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Zebra</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeu51daaP-ul7corO8vfMzXTl5Xwgm02olds6EgjHfaucTNDh1axKrECoKQJAN_e7M-cLoFfbCO7_MSZ0UkZdqdxsueo9HxTxmsmkF_s2I9CAkCDmUgydY4e6lo_OCPvS_6duTJEUYzDA/s1600/IMG_7338.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeu51daaP-ul7corO8vfMzXTl5Xwgm02olds6EgjHfaucTNDh1axKrECoKQJAN_e7M-cLoFfbCO7_MSZ0UkZdqdxsueo9HxTxmsmkF_s2I9CAkCDmUgydY4e6lo_OCPvS_6duTJEUYzDA/s200/IMG_7338.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520540046780929394" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Giraffe</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdQ7D-kD1hpjUYjUQkcDtv2qeM332ggHiYpKFe0iQsq__sXOq5kMgQYPF2jl9ivf55sxBwOttOqQAtimymceZ9Ig0XKM74XM8cv02E3MlNzj1ODTXnpjT8GSHWISiQLuDBIHNUc6Itc0/s1600/IMG_6801.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdQ7D-kD1hpjUYjUQkcDtv2qeM332ggHiYpKFe0iQsq__sXOq5kMgQYPF2jl9ivf55sxBwOttOqQAtimymceZ9Ig0XKM74XM8cv02E3MlNzj1ODTXnpjT8GSHWISiQLuDBIHNUc6Itc0/s200/IMG_6801.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520540033510293986" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This sign was at our lodge at Amboseli National Reserve</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "></p><p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCQVWs-EZgqDZYr1r31HOy-U4W2w6AjZAKQX7HovG4ke0iNhI5Dq2PCXWrmzKs6bvzCyRpXqVanpk9ESYVtKTE9Fsu_QB-PIP6TVSxDIVm552msdx8ImzmPX2r8CPoSlkIZ88E-tpSX4/s1600/IMG_7276.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCQVWs-EZgqDZYr1r31HOy-U4W2w6AjZAKQX7HovG4ke0iNhI5Dq2PCXWrmzKs6bvzCyRpXqVanpk9ESYVtKTE9Fsu_QB-PIP6TVSxDIVm552msdx8ImzmPX2r8CPoSlkIZ88E-tpSX4/s200/IMG_7276.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520552475428950290" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "></p><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mark and I standing ontop of a lookout point at Amboseli National Reserve</span></span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdQ7D-kD1hpjUYjUQkcDtv2qeM332ggHiYpKFe0iQsq__sXOq5kMgQYPF2jl9ivf55sxBwOttOqQAtimymceZ9Ig0XKM74XM8cv02E3MlNzj1ODTXnpjT8GSHWISiQLuDBIHNUc6Itc0/s1600/IMG_6801.JPG"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57RryO8YlY3hYOWN0-s-3Oi8OeX8o-2M9vPsNoShHNA3p_dGSWBctzpOaQILJVjQVUitHX2pD0hyphenhyphenQ8wlZWwIi-uXxOaNdZDtXpNqMTA82aUvgpBdzTFKEGilM__ZnJ-MYdZOgg2ikbw0/s1600/IMG_7109.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57RryO8YlY3hYOWN0-s-3Oi8OeX8o-2M9vPsNoShHNA3p_dGSWBctzpOaQILJVjQVUitHX2pD0hyphenhyphenQ8wlZWwIi-uXxOaNdZDtXpNqMTA82aUvgpBdzTFKEGilM__ZnJ-MYdZOgg2ikbw0/s200/IMG_7109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520552468496744514" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wildebeest</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9TgqmhyBVODTYUEFm-sa2Ns4zOVzsPKvtJi4JwhyGtm6EqNNRqw9EygwNeyAJ_1ARvNrp4-ND2H1PDQeAQaFC5fVsUUBozd7UWpVj8vBHot6qryMuUJUecLWPhZUIArKucolCxfFVQI/s1600/IMG_7702.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9TgqmhyBVODTYUEFm-sa2Ns4zOVzsPKvtJi4JwhyGtm6EqNNRqw9EygwNeyAJ_1ARvNrp4-ND2H1PDQeAQaFC5fVsUUBozd7UWpVj8vBHot6qryMuUJUecLWPhZUIArKucolCxfFVQI/s200/IMG_7702.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520552482637547986" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dhow on Lamu island</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57RryO8YlY3hYOWN0-s-3Oi8OeX8o-2M9vPsNoShHNA3p_dGSWBctzpOaQILJVjQVUitHX2pD0hyphenhyphenQ8wlZWwIi-uXxOaNdZDtXpNqMTA82aUvgpBdzTFKEGilM__ZnJ-MYdZOgg2ikbw0/s1600/IMG_7109.JPG"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZrZUtZsrbdStgs6yd2lkU5VcxGL8kCEtZtp4VDvtwqbykFYFJio0EyToFh0OnnGZSFTCwd8qkJlyCOI2SrLo7jST10Ohb67P0GUcIGRnlls7xj3rRTel-pJiekeerN3YztFHBl77rfE/s1600/IMG_7736.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZrZUtZsrbdStgs6yd2lkU5VcxGL8kCEtZtp4VDvtwqbykFYFJio0EyToFh0OnnGZSFTCwd8qkJlyCOI2SrLo7jST10Ohb67P0GUcIGRnlls7xj3rRTel-pJiekeerN3YztFHBl77rfE/s200/IMG_7736.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520549684754073586" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Feeding the girafe, while being kissed at the girafe center in Nairobi.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Ir6IctM04bXo2B_7fjJ-OVEPFV9673gUhlxKuAb6VSPRHzLwNTssej6SRlOLVfGtPC-F_NlXJhii9LZmeUDmW21cwlTHszxdzs9NOf_N92_8bWKfUQ3B0MhSX0xDaw8hJuxXIjj164/s1600/IMG_7474.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Ir6IctM04bXo2B_7fjJ-OVEPFV9673gUhlxKuAb6VSPRHzLwNTssej6SRlOLVfGtPC-F_NlXJhii9LZmeUDmW21cwlTHszxdzs9NOf_N92_8bWKfUQ3B0MhSX0xDaw8hJuxXIjj164/s200/IMG_7474.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520549676620752242" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mark and I relaxing from our dhow trip while we wait on our food being prepared.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For several days we were staying with my host family that I lived with during my pre service training nov-dec 2009. It was rally good to see the family. On Sunday we were asked to join in their massive feast along with 50 other guest. Yes, we were having mbuzi (goat). Mark got the pleasure of seeing the slaughter and skinning.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We then took a bus ride to Mombassa to spend the night before heading to Lamu. Ramadan was occurring therefore for about 30 days most shops are closed all day and only opened at night. We stayed at a lodge directly across from a mosque where the calls to prayer were very loud all night and thus hard to sleep.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We took a 7 hour bus ride to Lamu. The last 3.5 hours were on dirt, uneven roads. This section of the bus ride felt like 7 hours. There were frequent check points by the police. Normally they are looking at the registration of the bus via a sticker on the window and various other things. By the bus driver giving the officer a newspaper, there was no inspection. I remember looking over one time and noticing that the officer already had a paper when he accepted another from our bus driver.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Lamu is an island so we had to take a jetty from the mainland to the island. Wow, there were so many people on this boat. I am thinking around 30 plus cargo and goats. We arrived without sinking. Upon arrival there were a sworm of natives wanting us to follow them to a place to stay that they had selected. There was also the other bunch of people that were trying to haggle/harass you into going on their dhow trip. I am used to the behavior of Kenyans, but it was apparent Mark was perturbed. Koreans don’t mess with you, they just leave you alone. For 2 nights and 3 days we wandered around the island doing whatever suited our fancy. We took a walking tour of the island based on the information from The Lonely Planet travel book. When we were walking around with the book in hand, a kenyan stopped us and said to look at so and so page, my business is in there. They are used to their tourist and know their tour books.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dhow trip. A dhow is a wooden boat with a canvas mast. There is a captain and a helper. The weather was very windy and thus the waves made the boat ride an adventure. They had to constantly change the direction of the mast to keep us going. We were leaning way left, then way right. It definitely was not a relaxing float in the ocean. I was glad when we stopped to fish. Mark was the lone recipient of a fish. The captain caught a few, but I was having no luck. Once on shore the two men fixed us lunch. They grilled the fish we caught plus the “just incase we did not catch any fish ” (fish he bought in town before sailing off), stew, fruit and rice. It was very satisfying.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We flew back to Nairobi from Lamu in what looked and felt like a paper airplane. There were 12 seats crammed close together. Small airplanes I suppose are not designed for comfort, this was no different. Taking off from the runway felt the same as climbing the first part of a roller coaster. In no way did it give you the feeling that this was going to be smooth ride. There was no separation from the passengers and the pilot. We landed safe and sound. Our next day we visited the Giraffe center. It is known for giving visitors the opportunity to be kissed by the giraffe. He had a long, slimy tongue. I wanted to experience the slobber, but Mark was content taking pictures.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Saying goodbye was tough, but it was nice seeing him for a short while. Hopefully we can do it again sometime in the future.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-64237360134763893432010-07-29T20:58:00.002-04:002010-07-29T21:05:53.273-04:00Rafting the Nile<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXnDsGhEK8dDAs7nn9RBqHtTBxCs9vVSMJue2Tt4-OlcV9doGrOd-gnogBudTv9oSIjOLqK5IQdUyaHQtxkw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-63244390683183847562010-07-29T19:45:00.016-04:002010-07-29T20:36:49.515-04:00End of Term 2 Year One<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It has been a few weeks and some things are consistent. For one, on two occasions I was assigned to go invigilate exams at neighboring schools with a few fellow teachers. My school I would consider to be “more modern” and near the city. When I mention that my school is more modern I am making reference to the fact we have running water from taps, though sometimes it runs dry, electricity most of the time and a big school campus. These past two schools that I went to invigilate were in the village. It is hard to describe; pictures will do a better job.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaVbaX543iHQBD_NMNGsDQiVNb9i2K5YVDRCnnndDcO4LQVxCqQfgxF7al8wuAbHf1H-4tmVnX1shfZeDBtr9GV3YcP2ZnqawbqT51Mr9lExyOIV7m9s3_oHATLyiOzbiQR_N6zfQ3k0/s1600/Image0081.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaVbaX543iHQBD_NMNGsDQiVNb9i2K5YVDRCnnndDcO4LQVxCqQfgxF7al8wuAbHf1H-4tmVnX1shfZeDBtr9GV3YcP2ZnqawbqT51Mr9lExyOIV7m9s3_oHATLyiOzbiQR_N6zfQ3k0/s200/Image0081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499481127647545666" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBe7AJ3-0fDPVBF33kQkIOwOkKD7s6Tw0XN_xgFlChdTYeGl9SI_MemQo2aZXEnRORhKpfYcl-leTzcxXwumqUu27Ku36Men8-TrxYMCSoJVGgMf1zfbH-v_Gx92qwKFZcKdLfgTFTfU8/s200/Image0102.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499479704515620354" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The image on the left is the first school i invigilated with 2 other teachers. When i first arrived i thought that the students had on dance outfits and were going to perform, but later realized that is their normal attire. We sat outside under a tree and marked papers. We were there for 2 days. The school on the right was much larger than the previous one. There were 6 teachers that went to invigilate. Each teacher was assigned a classroom and thus we were responsible for marking those students. We had desks that were outside the classroom that we sat at to mark and wait while the students took their test. We were here for 3 days.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The KCPE is very important in life of the class 8 student. This is the final exam that the class 8 students take in hopes in getting good enough marks to be accepted to secondary schools. Most if not all schools have mock exams through out the in preparation for the final in November. As you probably guessed when there is exams teaching new material is not taking place. I really don't see how they keep up the pace and the kids retain the information.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Invigilation is an all day affair; arrive at 8:30 till 4 p.m.. The hosting school provides tea and lunch. Tea consists of tea and bread with blue band butter. Lunch is the Kenya staple: Ugali, skuma wiki (kale) and beef. I realize again and again that there is Mazungu (white person) affect. All of a sudden not only myself but the entire crew of invigilators are treated like kings because I showed up. Tea and bread turns to tea,bread, eggs, and ground nuts. Lunch becomes stew potatoes, rice, skuma wiki, roasted and boiled meat. As a departing “thanks” they would give us soda and biscuits (crackers). When we all return to the school all of the teachers ask if we got the fine treatment. Apparently a big reason for the special treatment is somewhere in their brain, they equate the white man as a “walking ATM.” My teachers realize this, but they are not going to turn down good food. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I mentioned in my previous entry about my struggle with sanity and the whole nine yards about being here in Kenya. I can say that I am doing a lot better. I had a welcoming and grateful call from my parents and a lot of down time from the end of term. Although I have only been at site for almost 7 months; I am grasping why it is that Peace Corps is the hardest things you will ever love. On those occurrences that make me appreciate why I am here. For one, my class four students have wanted me to come to their class every evening and practice math with them. When students want you there it is a wonderful feeling. It also helps substantially that my brother is visiting in just a few days. Oh what a wonderful two weeks that will be! I gather from what I have learned from other PCVs that this is a hard job being a volunteer.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This past Friday I went to a overnight funeral for a fellow teachers father who passed away. I was curious what this would entail so I joined about 10 others to the deceased residence. We left the school at 9pm in two vehicles. Upon arriving from the 30 minute bumpy car ride I noticed there were rows of chairs neatly arranged in front of the head table; this head table was for the “DJ.” He had a tv on top which was playing kenya music videos, most of which were spirituals. Before going I was informed that there would be lots of dancing and drinking. When I was looking around I noticed no one was dancing and all were just sitting down watching the music video. There were few people sitting around a camp fire. It was nippy. We were in the village. No power or running water. The electricity was pumped through a generator that was rented for this occasion.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We were first taken to see the recently deceased Mzee (older gentlemen). He was in his casket inside his house. All the while there were numerous spiritual songs being sung as we paid our last respects. We finished and returned back to watching the music videos. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Off to the side a few men were busy digging the grave for the Mzee in front of the house. (The head of the house is buried infront of the house while the wife is buried on one side of the house. If an adult dies without marrying they are buried behind the house). The grave was 6 feet deep with brick and mortar lining the wall of the grave. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">While sitting watching the video I was enquiring about the masons who were busy digging from my fellow teachers. After they finish preparing the grave all of the workers are given a kuku (hen) with some strong drink. My first question, was only one kuku shared among the workers? The answer was yes. I did not feel like the workers would get that much to eat. I have shared 2 hens among 3 people and I was hungry afterwards. I jokingly told a teacher that the head mason should regulate the number of helpers to get the maximum amount of chicken possible per person.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Soon thereafter we were invited to a neighbor's house for tea and bread. We had our fill and returned to the music videos. Roughly 2 hours later, 12am we were invited to partake in dinner. We had the kenya staple: ugali, skuma and meat.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After returning my teachers and I started dancing to the music being played. I love how there is not judging in regards to dancing. It was getting pretty nippy and thus the campfire helped a great deal.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The whole funeral service last about a week. The pre burial service is less rowdy with few dancing and drinking. Once the person has been placed in the ground then the real party starts. We left at 5am. I only got in one hour of sleep that night. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Before I joined the Peace Corps I was working as a stone mason. This not only included putting designed and colored stone on houses but also laying brick. Since my time here in Kenya I have taken special notice of the brick making and laying process.<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There is no brick factory it is all manual labor. The process has several steps and takes several weeks. First, a plot of land is chosen to dig the mud. This only works well if the ground is damp so digging and placing the mud in the brick forms would be effective and efficient. The brick makers only have two tools: hoe and a brick form that the mud goes in. The brick form can only form two at a time. There is a lot of walking back and forth between the digging pit and where the bricks are laid. Second, once all of the digging is done, rotating the bricks takes place. The bricks are placed on the ground and can lose their shape if they stay in one position for a long time. Every day the brick is rotated. All the while there is plastic on top of all of the bricks to prevent moisture/rain from damaging the bricks. Depending on how many bricks one is going to make, the amount of time may vary. Once all of the bricks have been rotated sufficiently, they are then ready to be burned. The bricks are stacked up in a mountain shape with a cavity at the base for putting logs for the burning. Later in the process the cavities are closed and the burning continues for 2-3 days. Once the time is done, slowly the bricks are removed. If any of the bricks need to be burned some more, those bricks are set aside and burned later.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqIcm8g02mV35pD9-2bQfuT0EXyFSjXEnajPjWWTioULH-5hkhLYVPJmfK0ECU7PwXA9d9DXptU1BsHPGYS3c0kvLO732qsIg6VXqRnnIkH4fX3DJRzdexGGjGcY8yE2oaHsQ_tDv7gQ/s1600/Image0004.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqIcm8g02mV35pD9-2bQfuT0EXyFSjXEnajPjWWTioULH-5hkhLYVPJmfK0ECU7PwXA9d9DXptU1BsHPGYS3c0kvLO732qsIg6VXqRnnIkH4fX3DJRzdexGGjGcY8yE2oaHsQ_tDv7gQ/s200/Image0004.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499483585429780066" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1lLSbYE7OPPjRWDPeokil59Hf8jdP-B1yE7Ea3hdsOtMK5hOsE6dnkXapKl0_ClZked_BKCLf0H06O2bgWb48SNBFvUmKIvkW1klhjRu96YRiQnoJWJDeGqGFzWBQ_hzWtSlkdN8V8U/s1600/Image0039.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1lLSbYE7OPPjRWDPeokil59Hf8jdP-B1yE7Ea3hdsOtMK5hOsE6dnkXapKl0_ClZked_BKCLf0H06O2bgWb48SNBFvUmKIvkW1klhjRu96YRiQnoJWJDeGqGFzWBQ_hzWtSlkdN8V8U/s200/Image0039.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499485319670241698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ucpo3a71b00e995TiLtJ6fAps-oO6xBOTRlS-FzLWvfku-rOqWRKOYj-m5htFxzlLmKAJfEDNfvk4C1npinG-4W3dPGQhTZB8QLZJ9b_cUgL9_RaaSxeQt1EpRplwRXKOnJhf7B8WvE/s1600/Image0117.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ucpo3a71b00e995TiLtJ6fAps-oO6xBOTRlS-FzLWvfku-rOqWRKOYj-m5htFxzlLmKAJfEDNfvk4C1npinG-4W3dPGQhTZB8QLZJ9b_cUgL9_RaaSxeQt1EpRplwRXKOnJhf7B8WvE/s200/Image0117.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499483889089910690" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuU5rgJA2dlCEHEWx1dD0OKN14ilTxndTcaeBSY2KDK3q6z-Qpknk8_Ytib_FuiggtUvUyIHqcAn8wtBT_n970eMaP31cNCGs7n0SrGzfCKV3hsIadQqcORTYBvnCq9eKZEa4iY-EtVk/s1600/Image0088.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuU5rgJA2dlCEHEWx1dD0OKN14ilTxndTcaeBSY2KDK3q6z-Qpknk8_Ytib_FuiggtUvUyIHqcAn8wtBT_n970eMaP31cNCGs7n0SrGzfCKV3hsIadQqcORTYBvnCq9eKZEa4iY-EtVk/s200/Image0088.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499485322336874322" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A couple weeks ago I went to a nearby high school to watch provincial soccer competion. For the finals, there were approx 4,000 people lined the perimeter of the football pitch 2-3 deep. It was a really neat site. Before the main event, boys final, the girls played. At the beginning of the game there was a gentlemen standing behind a group of people giving a play by play of the game. He was doing it in his mother tongue. The men then asked him to move in front so they could hear better. As the crowd grew so did this man's popularity. He was then asked to be in the center of roughly 100 people. He found his soap box. What made it even more interesting was he was able to do it in several languages: mother tongue, Swahili, English, SuperSport (a sports tv station). The men around him was trying to get the announcer's attention, but to no avail. He was quite entertaining.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJaI2v8wXnwrqk4NHemYQtDYXbcFLy9DU63JcWUfNex0vluXkapxtlxMZt6ATfw_EpBhUB85vrQsqF6d6b4cWq_Xkd8GkXzA0Zuh66e8GS8_Vy3oz9_vx9CxkwkSSjqAlZcv059qrkTU/s1600/Image0133.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJaI2v8wXnwrqk4NHemYQtDYXbcFLy9DU63JcWUfNex0vluXkapxtlxMZt6ATfw_EpBhUB85vrQsqF6d6b4cWq_Xkd8GkXzA0Zuh66e8GS8_Vy3oz9_vx9CxkwkSSjqAlZcv059qrkTU/s200/Image0133.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499488923386122226" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-64582109408692706822010-06-30T15:08:00.002-04:002010-06-30T15:36:25.593-04:00Would you like an escort?<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have not done a good job of keeping my blog updated. There has been a lot that has happened. Well I guess not that much, just watching a lot of world cup soccer. The longer there is between the harder it is to include what I missed.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The sequence of things might be a little out of order since I am aiming for summation. I got a cat about 3 weeks ago. My fellow volunteer that teaches at the secondary school next door told me that a teacher at the school has a contact that wants to give away 2 cats. I was interested in a cat for several reasons. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For one, it would be nice company. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Second, several weeks back I had a visitor in my kitchen. I heard a rustling in the kitchen. Below the sink I keep a plastic bag (Kenyan’s call it a paper bag--don’t know why) for my trash. I noticed that my trash bag was moving, but I did not want to open it up and see what was inside. I had a strong suspicion it was a rat. I grabbed the bag forcefully at the top and went to my room to get my flashlight then headed to the trashpin to through out the “trash.” When the bag landed, I saw the rat scurrying along with the help of my flashlight. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Third, it would help kill/chase away rats.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Last week the house father of one of the boys dorms and the head prefect (pupil boss for the kids) came to my house at night to tell me that there was a rat problem in their dorm. They then preceded to tell me that they wanted to use my cat. I am not sure how this works but I thought the cat should be bigger than the rat. My cat (chui--sounds like chewey--means leopard in Swahili) is only 7 weeks old and 7 inches long. I let them use them use Chui overnight. Early in the morning they bring Chui back with the news that the rat was caught. I did not see the rat, but I still find it hard to believe. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Would you like an escort? My prompt response while at a restaurant having only chai was a resounding NO!! I looked at my friend who was sitting next to me with a strange look, wondering why the waitress was wanting to get me an escort. I had mixed feelings. She then asked again, I replied no thank you. I was not sure what I should have said or should have acted. My friend and I were wondering why she wanted to give us a prostitute. Several days had passed and I was talking with some fellow teachers about various topics. I mentioned about my recent trip to the local hotely for lunch. I then preceded to tell them what the waitress told me and how I was really perturbed. Both of the gentlemen laughed and then I knew something was up. They said that if you just order chai with nothing else the waitress will ask if you want something else to go with your chai. This is referred to as an escort. Only then did it all make sense. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">On the teaching front; I love teaching math; ksl is getting better; social studies is quite a struggle; life skills, teaching body change to class 4 and 5 is still a challenge; Physical fitness test in P.E. is enjoyable. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I am open for suggestions on teaching puberty to grade 4 and 5</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. They like looking at pictures, but teaching the material is hard. I am not sure which material to teach. I have a manual from Peace Corps that I am following, but so far class participation is low.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For Maths I have made a “Math :) Chart.” This is a poster I put in the back of the class with all of the kids names. Everytime a pupil does very well on their homework I will draw a smiley face on their paper. Subsequently I will give them a sticker that I have also drawn a smiley face on for them to place on the chart. Also on the chart is multiplication smiley talley for their weekly test. This Friday is x5. For the next two weeks we will be reviewing x2 and x3 then x4 and x5.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Recently I went through a spell (to some degree I am still there) where life here is very hard and wrestling with various things. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I struggle with being alone even though I am surrounded by so many people. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I get frustrated with the religion conversation in the staff room and around town. My comfort of the Bible belt is no longer present. The testing of what I truly believe is challenged every day. The banter is constant; but I feel like I have nothing to say. Is what I know really right? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Where do I fit in? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My mango and banana cobbler is outstanding!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There is only 2 weeks left of class then a week of exams. The school is closing early because we as a school are boarding some schools for the national dance festival which is happening at a nearby high school.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have been thinking about starting two clubs: bible club and health club. A good friend gave me a bible chronological story cloth that I could easily use to teach and act out bible stories. CRE (Christian Religious Education) is an examinable subject. I feel like the students would benefit greatly by reviewing and acting.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The other idea is a health club. This would be very beneficial in discussing hiv/aids. Sex among primary school kids happens more than I think it does. Not only in my part of the country but throughout Kenya. Even though it is a good idea, explaining this to the deaf kids is such a struggle. I will try and get another teacher on board which might make it easier.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This past weekend a few volunteers including myself went to Kisumu to celebrate the 40th birthday of a fellow volunteer. Our time including taking a boat trip on Lake Victoria to see hippos, eating fresh perch from the lake and relaxing. We ate lakeside. What was interesting about the fish is that you get to pick from the fish they have displayed that you want them to cook.</span></span></span></p>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-57077570050511716002010-05-24T11:38:00.000-04:002010-05-24T11:40:06.643-04:00Term Two and Chickens<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">School has started. I am excited to be back at school with my students pushing them to think beyond what they are used to. This term two teachers and the head teacher (principal) are teaching at the secondary school next door. This only means one thing, the other teachers get a heavier load. I maintained my same classes from last term: match (class 4), social studies and p.e. (class 5), life skills (class 4 and 5). In addition to those I added one more, Kenyan Sign Language (class 6). I really wanted to teach KSL for several reasons. Mainly it would help my personal signing and thus improve communicating in my other classes more effectively. So far I am enjoyed KSL, but it is similar to teaching english. One small problem, I am not good at English. The syllabus for KSL is basically the same thing for English wit a few minor changes. Teaching the material for two weeks has gone ok; I have a long way to go.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This term I wanted my P.E. Class to take part in a physical fitness test. I remember in middle school taking part in this. My memories were mixed. I liked competition, but I rarely performed very well. I am pushing my kids to perform in: push ups, sit ups, sit and reach and running sprints/shuttle runs (there is another name that could be used).</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My goal for math class is by the end of the term I want them to know the multiplication tables 2 - 9. I mulling over ideas of how to best to after this. Initial thoughts were to make a multiplication chart for the wall, and flash cards. </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you have other ideas please share.</span></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Recently I hit a wall about my life here in Kenya. It finally felt like the “honeymoon” period is over. The question for me is how I will push forward and be involved and connected with the community here in Mumias. A good portion of the struggle stems from the abundance of down time. I am used to being continually entertained either by t.v., playing sports, spending time with friends or various other things while in the U.S. The kenyan mindset is so different I am reminded time and time again. There is no such thing as “time.” Sitting with friends and sharing life and stories is common and part of the fabric of life here in Kenya. Still this is so hard to get used to, but hopefully as time passes it will become more ingrained in me and not the occasional nuisance. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well I decided to find out if raising chickens is hereditary. My grandfather and grandmother raised chickens when my mother and uncle were children. This past weekend I went to market and bought myself a hen. I found the one I wanted, I payed and went on my walk toward the house. While I was carrying the hen I realized something was wrong. I was carrying it wrong. Apparently, carrying it like a baby is not right, but rather a football is the proper way. I really don’t know what to expect or do with the hen. (oh I have named her, Midnight). It is a good thing that the kids know and are eager to teach me. For the first three days Midnight should be tied on a tether just outside my house so she knows where to go in the evenings, yep, inside my house. After the three days, I can let her run free throughout the compound. There is a one Rooster that roams around impregnating the females at a rampant pace. I hope he finds Midnight, I want some eggs and baby chickens.</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-35973857858003906532010-05-01T07:21:00.008-04:002010-05-02T06:08:36.049-04:00Rain Forest, Rafting the Nile, and Genocide MuseumThe heading is just a brief summary of what I did for a few days in April. There is so much that I could write and will fill in the gaps later. For now know that I had a wonderful time experiencing the cultures of Uganda and Rwanda. Rafting down the Nile was exhilarating. Observing the genocide museum and the church outside of town stirred up in me so many emotions. Sadness. That a people group could kill close to 1 million people. Anger. Various countries, including the US did not send aid. Heartbreak. Hearing stories of family members die in front of their eyes. Disbelief. Reading that children were mercilessly killed.<br /><br />Below are pictures of rafting down the Nile in Jinja, Uganda.<br /><br />The boat crew. We are hitting the rapids head on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmAEmEgkxRnVg3jHusOX3pdzmtMG_Roqm21jemZXhShFyEp2gKJub5nihyg1F-nfPtr-zciWQaK-gFXOW3dbr3xq21v14-YP5PrflnaTc4aNntT_LJJwDROTFmuwcdLZs3GvG9y8I_zA/s1600/rafting+crew.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmAEmEgkxRnVg3jHusOX3pdzmtMG_Roqm21jemZXhShFyEp2gKJub5nihyg1F-nfPtr-zciWQaK-gFXOW3dbr3xq21v14-YP5PrflnaTc4aNntT_LJJwDROTFmuwcdLZs3GvG9y8I_zA/s200/rafting+crew.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466263462697327650" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBq_vrAve5DphKvSmX-qZ0hfWslCp2JxKbRCFNbcaVRG4HJygDjsYSGsqUcrlyD9BgZXpBQg4XWjN7_mRoMnm7TRlxyXjL1wHQJX3YqIo6RKRaqEq9KQbMnPR1l3MIdEjYPIWCR4Ou-0/s1600/wave+crash.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBq_vrAve5DphKvSmX-qZ0hfWslCp2JxKbRCFNbcaVRG4HJygDjsYSGsqUcrlyD9BgZXpBQg4XWjN7_mRoMnm7TRlxyXjL1wHQJX3YqIo6RKRaqEq9KQbMnPR1l3MIdEjYPIWCR4Ou-0/s200/wave+crash.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466263460474604370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our raft being flipped by the class 5 rapids (left). Our guide has his foot caught in the raft. Allen (raft mate) came to his rescue and pulled him aboard. (right)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmYAwA688RfoeLoK5mNPSw5nlm6QupgGxxyHztP5VGShkryCBqTis4DGw6uknvtHRgNJ0zJtsXogjf8vsSVd3ArmrpLBmuBvwZiwoLNTaW8B6ekpHTMe0eiAB74nGa72QneHO7P3EAV0/s1600/flip+raft.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmYAwA688RfoeLoK5mNPSw5nlm6QupgGxxyHztP5VGShkryCBqTis4DGw6uknvtHRgNJ0zJtsXogjf8vsSVd3ArmrpLBmuBvwZiwoLNTaW8B6ekpHTMe0eiAB74nGa72QneHO7P3EAV0/s200/flip+raft.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466262957063370002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Vzz7d15fPtRi81UsBs-fCDUqxPYV5eAwQ-onlsxnrk5sCfa9cACjGvNi-4p-EpbBOhMZpmkDoYarzAneEHZUgF0M8sLWAMDJwZVIF7kWniRlEIX_Pc5VIaHYT-1ziPdFLNcwhis_IPo/s1600/foot+caught.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Vzz7d15fPtRi81UsBs-fCDUqxPYV5eAwQ-onlsxnrk5sCfa9cACjGvNi-4p-EpbBOhMZpmkDoYarzAneEHZUgF0M8sLWAMDJwZVIF7kWniRlEIX_Pc5VIaHYT-1ziPdFLNcwhis_IPo/s200/foot+caught.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466263466194523746" border="0" /></a>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-24928177690719654202010-04-24T12:43:00.007-04:002010-04-25T03:42:09.643-04:00Provincial and National Games<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">March seemed like an extremely long month. The last three weeks of the month went really slow. The week of the 14th was review for the exams that followed the next week. The week of the 28th was provincial games in Webuye. What was really good was the meeting with the parents of Deaf parents on the 20th. For one, there were more parents that came and we were able to cover more material. My colleague has been a great help. I am very appreciative of him letting me lead the lessons. I will miss the meeting in April because I will be at the national games in Thika, but will continue in May. The objective in the future is to teach them stories and grammar. Thus in the process they will learn vocabulary.<br /><br />Provincial Games in Webuye was an exciting time. It was really good to see other hard of hearing/deaf schools come together and compete in games. The games were: athletics, handball, netball, volleyball, and soccer. The games started on the 31st with a parade. There was a 10 person horn and drum band that lead the students from the school to the field where the activities would be held. We walked through the middle of Webuye town for 20 minutes. Webuye is 3 hours north of Mumias. Mumias did outstanding. It feels good to win.<br /><br />Walking through town reminded me of running the Cooper River Bridge Run. After exiting the bridge the residents of Charleston are standing on their porch or their front lawn cheering on the runners as they pass. Though the people of Webuye did not cheer as we processed through the streets; they did line the streets gazing at the masses of primary school kids walking.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Marching band that lead procession to signify start of the games (far left) Obstacle Course for the young kids (middle) 800 meters race for girls (far right)<br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhG1UAJX8E9bZs2QQdlI6I7JuiOMtrTZxk61yJN00bBLTmm6_2PhMf5RZjW5uf-V0ExPDWPCGR1MQDG5A2uZhP2ZAhHNxRQNZSrXO1IYElARrcsweGS1sAVi2bCOPa9LF1B0pltAoe_8/s1600/IMG_5744.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhG1UAJX8E9bZs2QQdlI6I7JuiOMtrTZxk61yJN00bBLTmm6_2PhMf5RZjW5uf-V0ExPDWPCGR1MQDG5A2uZhP2ZAhHNxRQNZSrXO1IYElARrcsweGS1sAVi2bCOPa9LF1B0pltAoe_8/s200/IMG_5744.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463748153535376050" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMbQwqNtnT6eqiL3pdXEUYO-GirwfH09Vn84WXXXM6HICBN_03SFETgJrD2VZamUsOrdtZmn9c_R8XSVu6wb9q5lKEwh7eOEb7MoTx3l-HGv__zKw6f-WRsp-kuU96EWyXm1J6PdwWRY/s1600/IMG_5771.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMbQwqNtnT6eqiL3pdXEUYO-GirwfH09Vn84WXXXM6HICBN_03SFETgJrD2VZamUsOrdtZmn9c_R8XSVu6wb9q5lKEwh7eOEb7MoTx3l-HGv__zKw6f-WRsp-kuU96EWyXm1J6PdwWRY/s200/IMG_5771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463748165803531474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3H6qqYyPL7SLPd3qKjJJXhK899kXl5097ToOE5pXrxA51As5IlmFPXzoUdjH_aKNFLsInMUEdoM-wBZAkrYF_CDVSJGFDTpXAsrtca1LaUprI8ciamA6egSwe2M2UFMUqakDDv3sC6Nw/s1600/IMG_5765.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3H6qqYyPL7SLPd3qKjJJXhK899kXl5097ToOE5pXrxA51As5IlmFPXzoUdjH_aKNFLsInMUEdoM-wBZAkrYF_CDVSJGFDTpXAsrtca1LaUprI8ciamA6egSwe2M2UFMUqakDDv3sC6Nw/s200/IMG_5765.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463748157655726610" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman', serif;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">National Games was a whole nother animal. The games were originally set for Nyeri, but a few days before the games started it was moved to Thika. My impression was that the fields would be “top notch.” After attending the provincial games where the athletes competed on grass and dirt fields I was hoping things would be different. I was mistaken. Though there was no paved area for handball or netball, I suppose the dirt was sufficient for the kids. I am obviously an outsider, because the kids are so used to playing on dirt and some grass that it was no big deal. I have mentioned before that shoes is a luxury and not a requirement. I am still baffled by how well the kids move on the dirt and rough ground. And did I mention kicking a soccer ball with their bare feet. Ouch!! I can barely walk barefoot on the same terrain, much less kick a hard round ball.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Their are 8 teams for each discipline. The 8 teams comprise the 8 provinces in Kenya. The best players from the provincial teams are assembled to form one team. For example, Mumias primary did very well at the provincials therefore most of the players on the Western team were from Mumias. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I attended the opening ceremony with the masses of others from the provinces. We flooded the city of Thika with buses and hoards of people. All of the buses arrived at the Ministries of Thika government offices. Just as was the case at the provincials we walked around the town centre holding banners displaying our provincial pride. The walk was long and walk in a circle with in the town. We finished at the City stadium. I was so impressed. The field had thick and healthy grass with a nice track. I was really disappointed to later learn that none of our activities would be held there. We all arrived and we walked around the field displaying our pride. It felt like the opening olympic ceremony. I got a few goose bumps.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I stayed and supported Western until Thursday afternoon. Another volunteer came to Thika to visit her students briefly before heading back to Nairobi. I joined her on her trip back to Nairobi. I was joining her and 2 others for our journey through Uganda and Rwanda. I watched as Western was winning event after event. It is good to see your school and province perform well.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Opening Ceremony (far left) Western boy playing soccer-in blue (middle) Western girls playing netball in yellow (far right)</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY2hT_yYbMklGZqvPvnx8WloWb5XPzc90jGnUGdyiYAWyZp9N6wuyn0KdKAsASoXJFaRh20No6IqRYBq_6bO0DT1hVYFqrHv_BRJp64hlv5sjUTjrBqeyzF0xEqi7BkUa0uX-VR4mCrU/s1600/IMG_5897.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY2hT_yYbMklGZqvPvnx8WloWb5XPzc90jGnUGdyiYAWyZp9N6wuyn0KdKAsASoXJFaRh20No6IqRYBq_6bO0DT1hVYFqrHv_BRJp64hlv5sjUTjrBqeyzF0xEqi7BkUa0uX-VR4mCrU/s200/IMG_5897.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463976728403330274" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEird7UDyJuK_QIHz9_p_NO5B4x7EztPmN00AYD1EnGA5uB46jujPs_hguFNZjlwO0B1RPz0D2hc1q8bopshnzKYzrdGaZaN2VjUdRmfzHb7Zrk5PcXCWXIBM6Uq7H0R3IvakyP7aTbW3QM/s1600/IMG_6036.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEird7UDyJuK_QIHz9_p_NO5B4x7EztPmN00AYD1EnGA5uB46jujPs_hguFNZjlwO0B1RPz0D2hc1q8bopshnzKYzrdGaZaN2VjUdRmfzHb7Zrk5PcXCWXIBM6Uq7H0R3IvakyP7aTbW3QM/s200/IMG_6036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463975478960877794" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43MokTTs8YX4xHGmmyeuXHsijUhH-1GBqOM1YwN6LuWrf7yMCn6tN2xBM08SCMN-03cwxE6lzFIOBKdsoCJGZLJfjX7l9KsHh0V_w0hvXKsDBoujzY0NNNu21aW2nxpyaQDQ_HO51GvA/s1600/IMG_5980.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43MokTTs8YX4xHGmmyeuXHsijUhH-1GBqOM1YwN6LuWrf7yMCn6tN2xBM08SCMN-03cwxE6lzFIOBKdsoCJGZLJfjX7l9KsHh0V_w0hvXKsDBoujzY0NNNu21aW2nxpyaQDQ_HO51GvA/s200/IMG_5980.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463975468243050882" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></span></a></p></span></div></div></div>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1106585358036776320.post-70994770556119184052010-03-25T14:44:00.006-04:002010-04-25T03:15:17.064-04:00Basketball, Drama and Funeral<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Field Hockey.</span></span></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKPwI1alFy8ttOX7bv_YQLFL7dp3zXdwgbX1_hni4gs7zBw5VmDQnPl3kAWs-TaOvyQQwvdyINc7sSXmv4y-0ocxhc5f9zOgkmuGKDqF3bV4HNsHmM9rPUjMYwyL401j2pjhoFy_zXtI/s1600/IMG_5572.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKPwI1alFy8ttOX7bv_YQLFL7dp3zXdwgbX1_hni4gs7zBw5VmDQnPl3kAWs-TaOvyQQwvdyINc7sSXmv4y-0ocxhc5f9zOgkmuGKDqF3bV4HNsHmM9rPUjMYwyL401j2pjhoFy_zXtI/s200/IMG_5572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463965243947837570" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCps40iUEvYWEnK-oL4x8QW6zIASCdOjfmL1j7EK2anqSoqmdPsX7aWajKSmmLnRRDDf6IfK7aLsIEcMJWVpA_Z9KJ_6zWi0BLv1m_uhtAMfqphA7bSdVuq2qFCpHkYu5xcc6imr9vQZ0/s1600/IMG_5590.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCps40iUEvYWEnK-oL4x8QW6zIASCdOjfmL1j7EK2anqSoqmdPsX7aWajKSmmLnRRDDf6IfK7aLsIEcMJWVpA_Z9KJ_6zWi0BLv1m_uhtAMfqphA7bSdVuq2qFCpHkYu5xcc6imr9vQZ0/s200/IMG_5590.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463966024819389538" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Muslim Prayer before burial</span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_lMTHD6o3AWP0oB6XiloH6JLtJwcErLSIzi6su0h4PlEgjxDP1uvS9p2uSOEfMGJfpq2vYpE36hjFdKEuSFQrjiUqU4mbmhrZVRA5P1s_FQ6dJAkGD5iPBIkWf1c-NeE5NxS06LOWug/s1600/IMG_5663.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_lMTHD6o3AWP0oB6XiloH6JLtJwcErLSIzi6su0h4PlEgjxDP1uvS9p2uSOEfMGJfpq2vYpE36hjFdKEuSFQrjiUqU4mbmhrZVRA5P1s_FQ6dJAkGD5iPBIkWf1c-NeE5NxS06LOWug/s200/IMG_5663.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463966673296120210" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a></div> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Exam week has gone by pretty well, but the days seem long. There is a lot of sitting around.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">April plans.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oh yeah--I got a hair cut. It is short and my beard has grown in.</span></span></span></p>Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005924677204259511noreply@blogger.com2