Why did the hippo cross the equator?
This morning, we woke up bright and early for a boat ride around Hippo Point. The name is just what it sounds like. We got to see hippos!
Reality
In our efforts to understand better the needs and concerns of adolescent girls in rural western Kenya, we have conducted a number of “key informant interviews.” We have talked with female teachers and guardians, as well as primary and secondary school girls. Tomorrow we will meet with a group of women professionals, hopefully to begin sorting out how best to respond to all that we have learned this week.
Tie-Dyed Carport
Yesterday, our group gathered under St. Anna’s carport to begin the first step in tie-dying prep for Saturday’s seminar. Yes, we came to Kenya with enough dye to color the 120 GIS t-shirts we brought in tow. It turns out that tie-dye works on carport concrete just about as well as it does on white cotton t-shirts.
Letters from Bar Andingo
Of the 15 primary schools with which the Umoja Project works, Bar Andingo is one of the most involved. Since 2003, when free primary school education took effect in Kenya, the enrollment of the school has doubled as children from poorer homes entered school for the first time. Bar Andingo has struggled to absorb the influx of students — average class size is 80 students and basic resources like pens, paper and textbooks are often lacking.
We learned…
We learned…
We learned how to just go with it.
We learned that nothing, not anything, can prepare you for a child’s death.
We learned how to make friends with people we can’t talk to.
Combining Homes
Our clothes are sorted into dirty and clean piles (the dirty piles are considerably larger than the clean), the trash bags are bursting, and to most, our room looks like a hurricane has hit (to us, it has never been so organized). The floor is littered with journals, various charging cords, and extremely muddy shoes.
What I Have to Offer
As of today, I have been home from Kenya for two weeks. I was not ready to leave Kenya on July 17th when we flew out of Nairobi; yet, I had to stick to the plan that was laid out several months previous. Since I have been back on American soil, I have spent a large amount of my time sharing about my experience.
Family Across the Ocean
My homestay experiences have been great! I have learned so much about Kenya by staying with people and families in their local homes — instead of staying at a guest house or hostel all summer long. Most of all, I learned about radical hospitality as I entered the houses of strangers each week for four weeks. Yet, I also won’t forget about my African experiences that came from within the home.
Dislocated Exegesis
I had no idea how forceful an actual experience of true dislocation could be. On Friday, I was sitting in the hospital again, this time supposedly healthy, waiting for my lab results. Since I was waiting, I got out something to read.
Learning from the Rocks
When we all finally packed in the most amazing thing happened. As passenger 18 boarded and took her seat atop the lap of another woman she began singing and clapping, bellowing out songs of praise to God. Within seconds everyone was singing, clapping and dancing as best they could in the confined space. The truck swayed, less as a result of the bumpy road and more so because of the unified sway of a chorus of praisers and worshippers.