the camel i rode.

cobra, and he had some serious attitude.

lwanda.

for the month. (october)

Do to a variety of events that occurred during October, I have chosen to only write one post for this month.  At the end of September some friends and I hiked through Hell’s Gate Gorge, the original plan was to bicycle through, so I was prepared for that – I ended up hiking/climbing in TOMS for 4-5 hours, surviving in the end.  It was a beautiful place, and I was again amazed at the diverse landscape of Kenya.

During the first week of October, Kevin and Helen Jenkins were in Kenya with World Vision.  It was so great to see familiar faces, as well as interact with the work they are doing with Kevin’s new role as President of WV International.  We visited a WV Area Development Project in one of the slums, Soweto Tulia, it was encouraging to talk with WV staff as well as the local community based organization that is helping with the project; I was reminded how great human potential is.  It was also fun to have Helen come see where I was living at Daystar.

For Fall recess, Lora and I ventured to Kisumu – with the final destination being a rural village called Lwanda.  Meeting my Kenyan family was amazing; there love for people is incredible – meals and conversations were shared by many visitors, us included.  While we were there we walked through the farmlands and visited the school there (Lora and I are doing research projects about using Solar power there as an appropriate technology, so it was awesome to meet with the Teachers there).  After our stay we went back into Kisumu, and trust me to fall out of a Matatu on our way back.  At first, because the pain was so great I thought I had broken my foot; thankfully it was diagnosed as a sprain/fracture.  Getting back to Nairobi was less than comfortable, 8 hours on a bus with painkillers that were sub par was not fun.  What made it manageable were the stunning green fields of tea that we were surrounded by on the drive.

Oh and a word for the wise, avoid Kenyan hospitals at all cost.  Somehow I have become rather acquainted with them on this trip.  At least they gave me crutches!  I spent the rest of the month healing and finishing final papers/projects I had been working on.  It is unbelievable how close looming graduation is.

November holds Lake Victoria (Mfangano Island), Mombasa, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.

nairobi. (Week 7: September 20-26)

Writing resumes. My computer is bust, crashed and done.  So you will have to have patience with me as I try to catch up with more recent stories (as well as replying to emails, etc).

August hosted the 2009 Kenyan Census, and I forgot to mention being counted as one of the country’s possible 40 million people.  There is one thing that is for certain, there is never a shortage of people; Lora and I continue to observe this fact on our Tuesday trips into Nairobi.  As exhausting as it is, the both of us cannot get enough of the urban center.  Our bus leaves at 5:30AM and we arrive by 7AM, rush hour.  The usual Kenyan walking pace is much slower than that of a Canadians, but at 7AM the Kenyans bolt past us – most of them hoping to arrive at work on time (they are successful, I assume).  After grabbing our breakfast regular, fruit salad (best ever – mango, avocado, banana, watermelon, papaya, apple and pineapple – 70SHL) at some sketch market stands, we begin a conversation with the owner.  Most of this chat is spent on casualties, and the rest of it is spent trying to teach him how to say Lora’s name (Kikuyu’s don’t pronounce neither “l” or “r” in their dialect) a hilarious pursuit.  Some chai is what we normally head to next.  Lora and I discuss how we would try and describe the city of Nairobi to someone who has no concept of what it is like, and both of us struggle with an answer.  It is hard to not mystify a place like Nairobi. I am going to try and encapsulate some things we have experienced while here:

1. Jambo – basically an insult “Hello,” said to tourists or those looking out of place in the city.  Constantly it is a greeting used when Lora and I walk around, our favorite: “Jambo, I’m a taxi driver.”  As if our legs cannot do the walking.  We have also met many “Safari Guides” – “Massai Mara at a very good price” – I have lost count of how many times we have had to explain that we live in Kenya.

2. Pictograph – art.  We stumbled into a fantastic little gallery on Post St. that was a photography exhibit.  The majority of the photos were portraits.  I think that one thing Nairobi is underestimated on is the Arts; there are spoken word, hip hop and endless Afro-fusion concerts happening every weekend (will get to one soon), and galleries hosting contemporary Kenyan art are popping up.

3. People – it one of my favorite things to do (anywhere in the world) – to sit and watch people, something about ordinary life is voiceful.  Curiosity is almost never fulfilled, as most of the time is spent inventing imaginary lives for the people who pass you by.

4.  Kito International – practicum/internship.  Every Tuesday also hosts a meeting with the Director of Kito International, an organization that is helping rehabilitated street-boys from the slums go through Vocational school and then assisting them with obtaining micro-finance loans that will help them start businesses.  The organization is young and therefore there is plenty of opportunity to help them expand in research and ideas.  The role that Lora and I are playing is one of consulting and researching suitable Micro-Finance practices for Kito to partner with, we are also hoping to meet with focus groups about business ideas.

That’s all the time I have for now (as I am now borrowing others computers and do not want to waste their time).

the mara. (Week 6: September 13-19)

CATS – Continuous Assessment Tests have eaten up my week.  Just as the two (of the nine) lions we saw at Masai Mara did to their breakfast, a cow found wandering on their land.  Our driver Fred stopped at a viewpoint on the Rift Valley, and it was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen.  The Rift Valley extends from Israel down through Africa ending in Mozambique; it is one of the most fertile lands in this area of Kenya.  The Masai tribe inhabit most of the land, and the rest is the Mara.  We had an eventful time on our safari’s, seeing more animals than imaginable.  The most insane thing was seeing three cheetahs sprawled on top of a rock, cuddling together as if to keep the other warm – despite the heat from blistering sun.  I appreciated the binoculars that my Father insisted I should pack, through them I watched a lioness chase a Zebra across the plain, the best of dinners.  The hostel we stayed at was this sketch little campsite in the middle of nowhere, played cards with some British guys, Japanese guys and a girl from Belgium – hilarious!  On the way back to Nairobi we stopped at a Masai Village and visited with the people, it was fun dancing and jumping with them, though none of us could do it quite as rad or high as them.

Next weekend is the exploration of Lake Naivasha and a hike through Hells Gate.  Will be staying with some friends from there, traveling Kenyan style – BEST.

in the wild.

with love from kenya (Week 5: September 6 – 12)

Invitation to Sunday brunch, accepted.  To get there, Lora and I made the trip into Nairobi.  Upon arriving in the city we went with a couple of the Kenyan guys on the “City Hoppa” a sort of bus.  Once we got to the downtown core, we had to transfer as we were going to a different part of town then the boys; we opted for the “Matatu’s” another sort of bus/van in which most drivers cram 20 passengers into the 14 seats.  We paid 30 bob, and quickly got over the fear of death by car accident – our driver was quite competent at his job.

Around the backyard porch, at brunch, sat the Director of the World Bank, the Director of the International Rescue Committee for Horn and East Africa, several Advisors/Analysts of the big NGO’s in Kenya, a lady who works with the Women Nobel Peace Prize winners promoting gender development, Micro-Finance Directors/Educators, and another who is in the process of starting up a NGO that is helping rehabilitated-street boys start businesses.  Needless to say, Lora and I were honored to be there, the conversation and story of these people lives and the many invitations to do internships at their various workplaces were incredibly encouraging.  I will keep you posted on what happens here.

The Matthews had me for dinner Monday night; it was delicious as per usual.  Had some great conversations with newly acquired friends, George and David about philosophy, the church and music.  The differences in thought (Western vs. African) are quite noticeable when such topics are debated and elaborated on.  This is both something that is good, and challenging.

Nairobi the following weekend was different than before; instead of exploring the city we went to a children’s home to do some work.  I was not sure what to expect when we were invited, but upon arrival I could not have been more welcomed.  The home is run by 2 momma’s who care for the 15 children that live there (ages 3-14).  It was a beautiful place.  The children were thoroughly entertained by our hair, and spent a good portion of the day combing it and braiding it (ouch!).  At the end of our visit, one of the young boys, nicknamed ‘Pastor’ sat us all down in a circle and conducted prayer; asking each and everyone of the children, as well as us, to say a word of prayer.   The simplicity of these prayers is what made them some of the most powerful I have witnessed in my faith.

The night was spent in an estate that overlooked Kibera, the largest slum in Africa.  It was a really strange thing to be drinking a Fanta while observing some of the most destitute poverty.  I am hoping to go inside Kibera eventually, so that I can stop speculating about what it is like, and actually know.

masai mara.

things we will see. the big five.

(Week 4: August 30 – September 5)

Obviously we procrastinate sometimes, right? I think I have mostly forgotten what happen this week, there may be a few of these where I have been so busy as to not even have had a moment to sit and write.  Class was in full swing this week, assignments due and all.  And when I say assignments due, what I really mean is that the Lecture’s assign you a paper, reflection, question and want you to bring it to the next class.  I promptly have done all of these assignments and printed them out, expecting to hand them in, but such is not the case – either the Lecture forgets that they had assigned something, or the class convinces them that there was no assignment in the first place (because none of them have completed it).

One of the disadvantages of DSU, is its 11PM curfew.  This has interrupted many conversations and interactions over the last few weeks (sometimes, it has not, but missing curfew is not permitted – woops!).  In the evening, after dinner, it is normal for us to go play a card game, watch football being played by the men’s team or read in the library.  I find this frustrating, as the lack of freedom decreases our mobility and opportunity to do other things; thankfully it’s just for a season.

Hope you are all doing well!

DSU (Week 3: August 23-29)

Schedule is as follows:

Monday: 12:30-3:30 INS 412 Modern Africa

Tuesday: 8:45-10:00 Mandatory Chapel Service

Wednesday: 8:45-11:45 PEA 340 Conflict Theory, 12:30-3:30 ECON 312 African Economic Problems

Thursday: 8:45-10:00 Mandatory Chapel Service, 10:00-12:00 RET 320 Christianity and Islam in Africa

Friday: 8:45-11:45 PEA 365 Introduction to Refugee Studies, 12:30-3:30 DEV 413 Gender and Development

BAM! With luck my first class started, Lecturer in on time, and 40+ classmates in attendance. Here we go. The introduction for my Modern Africa class began with the Lecturer telling us her life story, and how she was a “…born again Christian” (a fact that all my Lectures proclaimed to the different classes they were teaching).  Afterwards she asked us all to introduce ourselves to the class; this was our name, major and country of origin.  “Hello. My name is Monica, at home my major is International Studies here I am in the Community Development program but will only be participating for a semester.  Oh and I am from Canada.” Simple right? That is what I thought to, but there seemed to be much more curiosity among my classmates about this girl from Canada, so I soon found myself bombarded with an array of questions. Starting with the Lecture who asked what I thought of Africa, the land, the people; why I was here; and if I was well. By the end, I think the answering of my questions took up a good portion of the class. Several of the girls in my class welcomed me to their home later in the evening; they wanted to teach me how to make chapatti. I quickly agreed.

Something that has taken a bit of getting used to are the built walls that are up around any home, institution, or building; and the G4S guards that litter the entrances to these places.  As I walked to my new found friends’ (the previously mentioned girls from class) home I encountered 6 guards; 1 at the entrance of my hostel, 2 who checked my bag before I left campus, 1 who asked to see my invoice (proof of my studenthood at DSU), 1 who told me to take out my nose ring (campus rule), and the last I met at the entrance to the hostel I was about to enter (he asked for my ID).  Though these security measures seem incongruous, the guards take their jobs seriously and do not jest about. Most work 12 hour shifts, and are not to do anything but their jobs (on the overnight shifts, they cannot bring along reading – nothing).  I am not convinced that these guards would be so beneficial if crisis did arise, most are sloth like and do not carry any sort of weapon; perhaps there power is in numbers, or the uniforms they proudly display?

So far, the interactions with my peers have been far more edifying than academia at the University.  First off, I have successfully learnt how to make chapatti and ugali – staple foods in many East African homes.  One of the girls who hosted my Kenyan cooking experience (the first of many) was the former President of Kenya’s children; her story was remarkable and I learnt more in conversation with her about Kenyan “self-esteem/views/culture” than I will probably ever learn in any class I take. Just as Mina, my Kenyan roommate and I have discussed an array of subjects from the 2007 Post-election Violence that occurred in Kenya, to traditional tribal ceremonies, to the problems caused by the settlements in Mao and how to say “goodbye” in KiSwahili.

An intense game of Sea Farers was played on the weekend, and peanut butter popcorn was enjoyed.  Dinner with the Vice Chancellor of Daystar in Nairobi was entertaining, he kept bringing up how him and President Raymond had met on such and such date, and oh how great Trinity Western University – too funny.  Another important event of the week was the successful completion of my application for a Kenya’s Pupil Pass, now I will have to wait and see if I actually get one before my visa expires.