Mambo!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving! If you are reading this from Vermont, I also hope that you are enjoying the snow (if there is snow). A few mornings ago there was a lot of new snow on Kilimanjaro. Seeing it made me stop in my footsteps on the way to class.
My thanksgiving was all that I could have wanted, although pumpkin pie WOULD have been the cherry on top. Out very traditional thanksgiving included chicken (killed moments before), French fries, rice, meat stew, chapatti, cabbage, bananas, and soda (a treat)! I spent it with the 40 other volunteers. We had the day off, so we relaxed and played soccer (in tank-tops and pants!) all day. Perfect!
Let me back up to what I have been doing for the past month… Thanksgiving fell in the middle of our two-week ‘mock teaching’. We observed Kenyan teachers teach biology, chemistry, physics, and math for two days. Following those two days it was our turn to teach for the next six. The education system in Kenya is a little different from back home. Here, after taking a test at the end of grade 8, students may or may not get in to secondary school. If they do get in, they will likely have a days worth of travel from the nymba (home) to shule (school). This means that most of the schools are boarding schools. They have a six week break from the end of November until the beginning of January, the start of the school year. So all of out students for these two weeks came during their holiday. Some came to get out of weeding the shamba (farm fields), while others wanted some extra study time for their exams. Regardless, it was for sure an interesting experience. It is very different to be working with an education system that SO heavily teaches to the test. I can see both the positives and negative to the education system, but I definitely foresee frustrations ahead!
For the entire two month training I have and will continue to be staying in a homestay. My Kenyan family takes great care of me! There have definitely been struggles: I don’t ever seem to eat enough for Mama’s liking, they eat at 8:30-9 at night, I crave more freedom, I can’t wear shorts or tank tops unless I am locked in my room, but I will really miss them when I cam on my own! One of my favorite moments so far was a night when I was particularly hungry, it was late, and there was no dinner in the jikoni (kitchen). Mama told me to follow her outside, where she was cooking Githeri (beans and corn) on the outside wood fire. It was the first time that I had ventured outside at night, and the night’s sky was breathtaking. Mama thought I was crazy to stand in the middle of the lawn with my eyes glued to the sky, but I find the stars incredibly centering, especially when I need it most. From that point on I have found some reason to go outside at night, or make a mad dash to the outside choo (pit latrine) early early in the morning.
December 12th was Jamhuri Day, Kenya's independence day. I planted trees with my host sister in the morning (I love her), and went to the district celebration in the afternoon. All of the district officials were sitting under a tent while different groups in the town put on short skits (mom, dad, and the lewis's, does this remind you of when we were little?). Everything was great, until they made a special announcement that the PC volunteers should be given space under the tent. Assistant chiefs, and other officials gave up their seats for us. Meanshile, the rest of the townspeaple are standing along the sidelines in the sun. It was a honor, but it will be a constant struggle to be treated so differently!
A few random notes: we have been hiking and exploring on the weekends and it is wonderful; every morning I wake up, run to the choo (i need to stop drinking water at night), come back and do yoga and pilates..i love it; the children here are adorable, but their "mzungu, how are you?" over and over again is something I wasn't ready for; there is this hill on the last stretch to my homestay...it gives me a wonderful few of the valley, and often makes me stop and smile...I am in Kenya!