We have a tendency to fall prey to apathy when some event does not affect us directly. How many Americans cared about the oil issue till gas prices inflated? Who mourned for the losses of 9/11 the longest, or continue to mourn to this day? Unless you or someone you know have been involved in a tragedy, it's just normal to not care... either after a while, or ever.
This is something I struggle with, and which compels me to keep working. Western Kenya is currently suffering from drought. Plants, animals, and now people are dying. They can't plant their next crop; it's too dry and dusty. Their rain collection tanks are empty now, and women and children have to walk to the river and carry the dirty water in jugs back to the village. Life is based on subsistence farming out there, and they are at the mercy of the seasons and weather. Seeing my friend Edwin, for the third time this week, write another plea on his FB status for people to help pray to God to send rain, made me cry.
I get this way sometimes, when I'm on my own and thinking about the people I've met and lived with, who struggle day by day to make it another day. And I re-imagine myself flying in there, getting a taste of life in another's shoes (if only they all had shoes), then flying back to the safety and comfort of the American Dream. And I start to feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Not just Kenya, but also Belize and Vietnam; you never ever forget when you make eye contact with sadness looking back at you with hope (remember I'm the foreigner they see as healthy and wealthy coming to bring them solutions). And then when the senseless violence began in Libya, even though I've never been there or know anyone there, I immediately sympathize with them because when life gets tough, it's tough no matter where you are, and I hurt for them.
Shana, the wise director of Village Volunteers and my role model, warned me about this earlier, about caring for everyone I visit, and will be tempted to spread myself too thin by wanting to help every project, thereby not being of help to anyone. This is another reason we've postponed India.
So as I visit these new villages and programs for the sake of Therapists Without Borders, my remedy to the pain I feel for the oppressed poor and neglected, I must guard my heart. But when I say "guard," I don't mean avoid feelings toward them; I mean shield it with the knowledge that I'm there to try to make a difference. Not to feel sorry for them. With that last thought, I must finally turn off my iPhone and be on my way to Cusco.
Neuroplasticity: changes that occur in the brain as the result of experience
Showing posts with label reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reflections. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
America: Land of Excess and Opportunities
It occurred to me upon arrival back to the States this weekend that I never make comparisons until I come home.
That is to say, I only notice myself noticing differences AFTER a trip. For example, I noticed that the roads are so smooth here, our cars are in good condition, there are tons of lanes and cars everywhere, and everywhere is air conditioned even though it's not that hot out. I did NOT find myself in Belize thinking about what's different from home.
I've found this to be true even after coming home from other States. Most commonly, I find myself remarking (to myself, really) how vast the Chicagoland area is, how car-oriented we are, and how flat it is around here.
That's about as deep as I can get on this post tonight. I meant to point out how every one of us in America have more stuff than we know what to do with. At the same time, we are constantly surrounded by advertisements to buy more and stores to do so. I thought about how if I wanted to go indoor rock climbing, I can do that. If I wanted to go ice skating in the summer, I can do that. If I wanted to acquire some obscure part of an obscure object for a rather pointless personal project, I can do that (Think: "Mythbusters").
But I'm too tired to make those points eloquently.
On my last day in Belize, June 4th, my left inguinal lymph gland became infected from too many insect bites (last count was over 40). I saw a doctor state-side on Friday night who prescribed me some heavy meds that leave me feeling drained.
Just, please, try to appreciate and share what blessings you have. You live like royalty and don't even know it.
That is to say, I only notice myself noticing differences AFTER a trip. For example, I noticed that the roads are so smooth here, our cars are in good condition, there are tons of lanes and cars everywhere, and everywhere is air conditioned even though it's not that hot out. I did NOT find myself in Belize thinking about what's different from home.
I've found this to be true even after coming home from other States. Most commonly, I find myself remarking (to myself, really) how vast the Chicagoland area is, how car-oriented we are, and how flat it is around here.
That's about as deep as I can get on this post tonight. I meant to point out how every one of us in America have more stuff than we know what to do with. At the same time, we are constantly surrounded by advertisements to buy more and stores to do so. I thought about how if I wanted to go indoor rock climbing, I can do that. If I wanted to go ice skating in the summer, I can do that. If I wanted to acquire some obscure part of an obscure object for a rather pointless personal project, I can do that (Think: "Mythbusters").
But I'm too tired to make those points eloquently.
On my last day in Belize, June 4th, my left inguinal lymph gland became infected from too many insect bites (last count was over 40). I saw a doctor state-side on Friday night who prescribed me some heavy meds that leave me feeling drained.
Just, please, try to appreciate and share what blessings you have. You live like royalty and don't even know it.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Discouragement & Schindler's List
I've hit that point in time where I feel discouraged about how much more needs to be done and how little time I have left. I'm also losing patience with the increase of both the temperature and my insect bites. The first makes me feel guilty for leaving and the second makes me feel guilty for wanting to leave.
I plan on writing about the specifics in more detail another time. Suffice it to say that I am at a low point in this cycle. Whenever I feel this way, I try to remind myself of something my friend Danette told me: think of "Schindler's List". Schindler worried so much about the people who died that he could have saved, that he forgot to consider all the people he did save. It's true that when there are so many issues going on in this world, individuals can only do so much. But consider that "only so much" is indefinitely better than nothing at all.
That brings me to another point: Short- vs Long-term volunteer?
This weekend I was finally able to be a tourist. (Belize is as amazing as everyone claims it to be!) At the same time, I hobnobbed with tourists and that's always an interesting experience. A common reaction when I say that I'm volunteering for 2 weeks is surprise and wonder at how anyone can make a difference in such a "short time".
My answer to them is pretty much what I said in my last blog post. We CAN make a difference without having to stay years in an area. In fact, short-term volunteers are people who can take back their experience and enhanced world-view to their home community to spread the knowledge, empathy and enthusiasm, which hopefully encourages more people to volunteer or donate to good causes. Short-term volunteers bring diverse perspectives, opinions, skills, knowledge, ideas, energy, donations and money/jobs (via volunteer fees) to the community-in-need. Short-term volunteers can spread their help across many places versus one concentrated place. Short-termers increase the opportunity for NGOs and other volunteers to network and use each other as resources. Indeed, people who only volunteer weeks or months of their time & efforts can make a huge, long-term overall impact (as long as they work with reputable NGOs). And like I said earlier (and confirmed by those around me) - SOME help is better than none at all.
Now, let me delineate the merits of long-term volunteerism. Two out of the 4 times I've volunteered, I've come across Peace Corps people or places. At an orphanage in Kenya called Dago Dala Hera, I got to see how a PC volunteer used PC funding to help them start building the children's home and set up their HIV/AIDS outreach program. Here in Belize, a PC volunteer just showed up yesterday at one of the schools at which I've been helping. She said she just finished her 3-month training program and will now start her 2-year stint right here in Georgeville and Central Farm to help them develop a literacy program for both schools. She's basically here to fulfill what I imagined would be the best recommendation. We will meet tomorrow morning, along with the both school principles, to discuss ideas for how this reading program will work out. I said today, I didn't want to step on her toes but that I do have ideas as a speech/language specialist -- she immediately reacted with wide-eyed surprise and said she'd love to talk about it since she doesn't have any training for it. What perfect timing that my leaving coincides with her arrival.
Nevertheless, I came home today still feeling discouraged. Then, by God's grace, I read a Facebook message from my friend Summer, who quoted something from her daily devotional book. It brought gentle tears of relief to my eyes, that I have not been here in vain, and the problems that I feel burdened by are not my own. They are problems of a fallen world. Therefore, I am not responsible for solving those problems, nor should I feel guilty for not being able to help more than I have.
Copied below is the entire message Summer wrote to me.
June 1
I AM involved in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard. Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges. Expect to find trouble in this day. At the same time, trust that My Way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection.
Stay conscious of Me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side. Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured. As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world, keep your mind in heavenly places with me. Thus the Light of my presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch.
Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 41:13
I plan on writing about the specifics in more detail another time. Suffice it to say that I am at a low point in this cycle. Whenever I feel this way, I try to remind myself of something my friend Danette told me: think of "Schindler's List". Schindler worried so much about the people who died that he could have saved, that he forgot to consider all the people he did save. It's true that when there are so many issues going on in this world, individuals can only do so much. But consider that "only so much" is indefinitely better than nothing at all.
That brings me to another point: Short- vs Long-term volunteer?
This weekend I was finally able to be a tourist. (Belize is as amazing as everyone claims it to be!) At the same time, I hobnobbed with tourists and that's always an interesting experience. A common reaction when I say that I'm volunteering for 2 weeks is surprise and wonder at how anyone can make a difference in such a "short time".
My answer to them is pretty much what I said in my last blog post. We CAN make a difference without having to stay years in an area. In fact, short-term volunteers are people who can take back their experience and enhanced world-view to their home community to spread the knowledge, empathy and enthusiasm, which hopefully encourages more people to volunteer or donate to good causes. Short-term volunteers bring diverse perspectives, opinions, skills, knowledge, ideas, energy, donations and money/jobs (via volunteer fees) to the community-in-need. Short-term volunteers can spread their help across many places versus one concentrated place. Short-termers increase the opportunity for NGOs and other volunteers to network and use each other as resources. Indeed, people who only volunteer weeks or months of their time & efforts can make a huge, long-term overall impact (as long as they work with reputable NGOs). And like I said earlier (and confirmed by those around me) - SOME help is better than none at all.
Now, let me delineate the merits of long-term volunteerism. Two out of the 4 times I've volunteered, I've come across Peace Corps people or places. At an orphanage in Kenya called Dago Dala Hera, I got to see how a PC volunteer used PC funding to help them start building the children's home and set up their HIV/AIDS outreach program. Here in Belize, a PC volunteer just showed up yesterday at one of the schools at which I've been helping. She said she just finished her 3-month training program and will now start her 2-year stint right here in Georgeville and Central Farm to help them develop a literacy program for both schools. She's basically here to fulfill what I imagined would be the best recommendation. We will meet tomorrow morning, along with the both school principles, to discuss ideas for how this reading program will work out. I said today, I didn't want to step on her toes but that I do have ideas as a speech/language specialist -- she immediately reacted with wide-eyed surprise and said she'd love to talk about it since she doesn't have any training for it. What perfect timing that my leaving coincides with her arrival.
Nevertheless, I came home today still feeling discouraged. Then, by God's grace, I read a Facebook message from my friend Summer, who quoted something from her daily devotional book. It brought gentle tears of relief to my eyes, that I have not been here in vain, and the problems that I feel burdened by are not my own. They are problems of a fallen world. Therefore, I am not responsible for solving those problems, nor should I feel guilty for not being able to help more than I have.
Copied below is the entire message Summer wrote to me.
June 1
I AM involved in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard. Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges. Expect to find trouble in this day. At the same time, trust that My Way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection.
Stay conscious of Me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side. Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured. As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world, keep your mind in heavenly places with me. Thus the Light of my presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch.
Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 41:13
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Therapists Without Borders?
Any doubts* I had about coming to Belize quickly dissipated when I met my host family. Barzakh Falah is run by a married couple, Jaime and Nancy, who rank among the top people I admire, respect, and find inspirational. They have 2 children of their own with 1 on the way (i.e., any day now!) and are raising 3 adopted children, each who had been deemed "unadoptable" by the authorities around here.
The youngest of the adopted chlidren is 4-year-old "B". A child born of substance abuse, B has lived here for 2 years. Her behavior problems had gotten so severe in their home that they confessed they were ready to give up and return B to the system. But then they heard about me and my profession. Through email exchanges and her personal research, Nancy learned that behavior problems may be the result of poor communication skills. They changed their mind about returning her, and took the announcement that I was coming as a sign that they need to give this little girl another chance.
Imagine that! Just because I came, this little girl is staying.
Make no mistake -- this is not a family that hasn't tried everything. This is not a family who thinks "oh well, this one doesn't fit with us. Send her back." They've reached out and sought help, particularly from the Social Services here who are supposed to support the children and their new families. But Social Services here is bullcrap. They don't know the first thing about caring for children with special needs, don't want to admit it, and don't want to do anything to help.
At first, I was intimidated by thinking I was expected to fix everything. Now I know that they know that it's a process, and that I am not an expert by any means, and that if things don't work out, it won't be my fault.
This little girl is SO precious. She's skinny and small and hyperactive. She has mood swings and temper tantrums and speech/language issues. But overall, on the "problem child" scale from 1-10 (1 being normal and 10 being that-14-y/o-boy-with-autism-who-tore-the-bathroom-sink-from-the-wall-in-a-tantrum, or
that-7-y/o-boy-with-Prader-Willi-syndrome-who-lashed-out-at-random-to-scratch-and-draw-blood, or
that-8-y/o-boy-with-Oppositional-Defiant-Disorder-who-waited-till-you're-watching-to-grab-and-run-with-scissors), I'd put B at a level 4.
But I can see how, to parents who've raised normal children, B seems so different and difficult. From my perspective, though, B is a cute very-treatable child. For example, within the first day she learned to make the /f/ sound in the initial word position in single words with visual cues only. She responds to verbal praise and positive attention! She has scattered skills up into the 4-year-old range, but mostly seems to function at a 2- to 3-year-old level. I suspect she has Emotional Disability, among other things. And why not? She was born with odds stacked against her, and has been through circumstances no kid's ever supposed to be put through.
Barzakh Falah has hosted many volunteers through various organizations. But... I'm the first to work directly with the children. (Past volunteers assisted with construction and farming.) Because I came, Nancy and Jaime now recognize that they need to reach out for more volunteers who have skills and knowledge to work with disabled/disadvantaged children and to train caregivers like themselves.
And those 11 children that I've been seeing at the two schools? They are all behind by at least 1 grade and teachers don't know how to help them. They have been "punished" for not achieving. One teacher even said to me today that she's been teaching her students, "No one is stupid. They are just lazy."
But because I came, they started to recognize that they may have been unfair to the children, because they can't help it if they have disorders. And now they want to know how to help them. Talk about paradigm shifts!
And because I came, motivation to create my own organization has been rekindled. While there are large organizations coordinating efforts for doctors and dentists to travel to rural villages, currently no official program exists for special educators, counselors, therapists, social workers, or psychologists. With all due respect to the doctors out there... but doctors are not the ones who are out in the field helping people and their caregivers cope with their diagnoses. They are not the ones who know how to deal with the day-to-day behavioral or emotional or intellectual deviations from the norm. We have to be creative, empathetic, knowledgeable, and PRESENT for those who are struggling.
Anyone who's interested in helping me start "Therapists Without Borders" (or another name more clever than this and includes special ed teachers, counselors & psychs), or anyone interested in travel volunteerism, please let me know!
(Neuroplastic Travel, Inc.?)
-----
*When planning my post-podunk, IL, travels, I considered 3 options.
1) Visit friends in various parts of Eastern Asia
2) Visit Michael in Switzerland
3) Village Volunteers (VV) again and
a) go back to Sirua Aulo in Kenya
b) go to India's Abha Light program (I'd considered it in the past)
c) go to Belize as the first VV volunteer
To be very honest with everyone out there, I was leaning toward option 1 more than anything else. (Oh yeah, it wouldn't have worked well for me to go to Switzerland even if we were still together-- Michael is tied up with school and studies). I was burnt out at work and sick of being an SLP. I really wanted a break AND I longed to country-hop again, like I had just done from Nov '09 - Feb '10. A whim, some encouragement from a good friend, and a strong sense of responsibility all urged me to choose option 3c. Now I realize it was God's doing all along.
The youngest of the adopted chlidren is 4-year-old "B". A child born of substance abuse, B has lived here for 2 years. Her behavior problems had gotten so severe in their home that they confessed they were ready to give up and return B to the system. But then they heard about me and my profession. Through email exchanges and her personal research, Nancy learned that behavior problems may be the result of poor communication skills. They changed their mind about returning her, and took the announcement that I was coming as a sign that they need to give this little girl another chance.
Imagine that! Just because I came, this little girl is staying.
Make no mistake -- this is not a family that hasn't tried everything. This is not a family who thinks "oh well, this one doesn't fit with us. Send her back." They've reached out and sought help, particularly from the Social Services here who are supposed to support the children and their new families. But Social Services here is bullcrap. They don't know the first thing about caring for children with special needs, don't want to admit it, and don't want to do anything to help.
At first, I was intimidated by thinking I was expected to fix everything. Now I know that they know that it's a process, and that I am not an expert by any means, and that if things don't work out, it won't be my fault.
This little girl is SO precious. She's skinny and small and hyperactive. She has mood swings and temper tantrums and speech/language issues. But overall, on the "problem child" scale from 1-10 (1 being normal and 10 being that-14-y/o-boy-with-autism-who-tore-the-bathroom-sink-from-the-wall-in-a-tantrum, or
that-7-y/o-boy-with-Prader-Willi-syndrome-who-lashed-out-at-random-to-scratch-and-draw-blood, or
that-8-y/o-boy-with-Oppositional-Defiant-Disorder-who-waited-till-you're-watching-to-grab-and-run-with-scissors), I'd put B at a level 4.
But I can see how, to parents who've raised normal children, B seems so different and difficult. From my perspective, though, B is a cute very-treatable child. For example, within the first day she learned to make the /f/ sound in the initial word position in single words with visual cues only. She responds to verbal praise and positive attention! She has scattered skills up into the 4-year-old range, but mostly seems to function at a 2- to 3-year-old level. I suspect she has Emotional Disability, among other things. And why not? She was born with odds stacked against her, and has been through circumstances no kid's ever supposed to be put through.
Barzakh Falah has hosted many volunteers through various organizations. But... I'm the first to work directly with the children. (Past volunteers assisted with construction and farming.) Because I came, Nancy and Jaime now recognize that they need to reach out for more volunteers who have skills and knowledge to work with disabled/disadvantaged children and to train caregivers like themselves.
And those 11 children that I've been seeing at the two schools? They are all behind by at least 1 grade and teachers don't know how to help them. They have been "punished" for not achieving. One teacher even said to me today that she's been teaching her students, "No one is stupid. They are just lazy."
But because I came, they started to recognize that they may have been unfair to the children, because they can't help it if they have disorders. And now they want to know how to help them. Talk about paradigm shifts!
And because I came, motivation to create my own organization has been rekindled. While there are large organizations coordinating efforts for doctors and dentists to travel to rural villages, currently no official program exists for special educators, counselors, therapists, social workers, or psychologists. With all due respect to the doctors out there... but doctors are not the ones who are out in the field helping people and their caregivers cope with their diagnoses. They are not the ones who know how to deal with the day-to-day behavioral or emotional or intellectual deviations from the norm. We have to be creative, empathetic, knowledgeable, and PRESENT for those who are struggling.
Anyone who's interested in helping me start "Therapists Without Borders" (or another name more clever than this and includes special ed teachers, counselors & psychs), or anyone interested in travel volunteerism, please let me know!
(Neuroplastic Travel, Inc.?)
-----
*When planning my post-podunk, IL, travels, I considered 3 options.
1) Visit friends in various parts of Eastern Asia
2) Visit Michael in Switzerland
3) Village Volunteers (VV) again and
a) go back to Sirua Aulo in Kenya
b) go to India's Abha Light program (I'd considered it in the past)
c) go to Belize as the first VV volunteer
To be very honest with everyone out there, I was leaning toward option 1 more than anything else. (Oh yeah, it wouldn't have worked well for me to go to Switzerland even if we were still together-- Michael is tied up with school and studies). I was burnt out at work and sick of being an SLP. I really wanted a break AND I longed to country-hop again, like I had just done from Nov '09 - Feb '10. A whim, some encouragement from a good friend, and a strong sense of responsibility all urged me to choose option 3c. Now I realize it was God's doing all along.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Sirua Aulo Academy Teacher Responses
I'm in Kericho now, at a Cyber because Emmanuel had to replace the car's brake pads and didn't want me to be bored waiting (though there's no way I would've gotten bored, with Kenyan newspapers to read, blogs to pre-write, "Into the Wild" to start reading, etc.) This one is much less annoying, though I still wouldn't call it high-speed. Anyway, onto the rambling!
I've decided to organize my blogs topically rather than chronologically because it would get tedious for writer and reader.
First on my mind is yesterday's last day with the Sirua Aulo Academy.
On Saturdays, all students and staff attend school to complete standardized testing, then gather to learn the scores. Each teacher takes turns telling who the top three scorers of their classes were, who come to the front to receive a star on their forehead and applause from the students. This weekend, after the scores were presented, a couple teachers gave speeches of thanks to me and the people who donated the items, then asked me to speak a few words. Which I promise I did NOT record on video so you won't get to hear it hahaha... Hey, you weren't there, so you don't get a say on what gets recorded or not :-) I basically thanked them for their welcoming me, the teachers for their time, reminded the students to study hard b/c a good education is the key to their future, and that when I return in October I expect to see the donated books worn down from overuse. Then I officially presented the items from the suitcase to the Headmistress, even though we had been using them all week. Teachers again gave thanks and then we gathered the whole school for a picture outside the classrooms. Then students were dismissed.
Earlier in the day, two parents brought two new kids to the school at my request. They are kids who were hidden in the homes over the years because they had nowhere to go, not being accepted by public schools or by the community. One was a 10 year old girl named Naeku Nkilasi. Mom said she had a normal birth but delayed milestones. Mom realized she was different when she was about 2. She had seizures which lasted only a few minutes at a time, but they were infrequent- she could go 4 months without it, and she hasn't had another since she was 7. Mom estimates she functions more like a 4 year old, though she only knows about 10 words in Swahili. She can do all regular chores and properly wash herself. When asked, Mom's biggest concern with her is that she has not gone to school.
Another child is named Nathaen Parningo. He is 7 years old and has a twin brother. He began nursery school with his brother but after that year was over, the Intro (e.g., kindergarten) and other subsequent teachers wouldn't let him into the class and now his brother is in Class 2 without him. He also had a normal birth and actually has had normal milestones and "understands everything" ... He just has a "heavy tongue" and doesn't talk. Or, when he does, it's inaudible. He can eat and swallow fine, for the SLPs among us. From my observation, he is normal in all aspects. Because of the time constraints, language barrier, decreased socialization, and intimidating aspect of a mzungu asking random questions, I wasn't able to diagnose much else on him. When asked, Mom said her biggest concern is that he has not attended school.
Notice a recurring theme?
I suggested we put Naeku into the Nursery class and Nathaen into the Intro that day to see how the kids themselves respond to each other. The new kids were shy at first, but since they were so warmly welcomed by the other students, they fit in well. They will both do well in school, especially Nathaen, whose story just makes me mad like hell. I expect him to excel quickly and hopefully catch up to his brother in a couple years based on the quality of Sirua Aulo's teachers compared to the public education Kenya has 'offered' where his brother is. My only concern was overloading the already overloaded Brenda who teaches this combined Nursery/Intro group (there were already 20 bouncy kids from 3-7 years old). I suggested (er... strongly recommended) to Emmanuel that he hires an assistant for Brenda if he were to accept these new kids into Sirua Aulo.
Well, there was no question for him, no moment of hesitation that these kids should come to Sirua Aulo or that Brenda will get an assistant if I suggested it. I said I'll try to find sponsors for these kids by October so that when I return, they can attend school and I can train the teachers on how to integrate them. Emmanuel being who he is, said he'll actually start them Monday because he's sure I'll find sponsors for them.
!!!
While the teachers were scoring the tests, the kids were free to play (many were enamoured with the jumprope and inflated ball I took from Emmanuel's home which his wife had been using as decorations on the wall and ceiling hehehe... this is what happens when volunteers bring foreign toys from the U.S. and don't explain what they are or how to use them!!) Nathaen immediatly was invited to play soccer (that is, kick the ball up and down the massive rocky hill the school is on) with the other boys. Emmanuel and I invited Naeku to play with the inflated ball and taught the 3-5 year old kids to take turns tossing it back and forth with her.
The Moms watched and were pleased beyond words. Eventually they went home because there were older students on whom we could rely to walk the two new pupils home safely.
This was a tough day for me, to have to say goodbye to the 70+ kids who have become accustomed to running up to Emmanuel's car saying "Hi Linda! Hi Linda! Hi Linda!" each morning. I spent time in each of the classrooms, with each of the teachers and all the students. My focus was on literacy, as I said, and introduced books into all the classes. The children LOVED them. Even the 3rd graders enjoyed lifting the flaps of a donated Sesame Street book. All new stuff to them.
This trip has been immensly satisfying, personally and professionally. I received the greatest compliments on Saturday during a debriefing meeting with the teachers. Mostly they said they learned to be more patient with the kids like me, because they watched the kids learning a lot from me being more patient with them and giving the ones who make mistakes at the blackboard a chance to fix and learn from their mistakes. Sorry that last sentence isn't coherent -- I was just told that we have to go soon and don't want to spend time editing now. I'll edit and add pictures, like I said, when I'm back in the States. Let me just mention that when I asked the teachers to share their thoughts and requests, they all said "bring your friends! and bring more books!"
I've decided to organize my blogs topically rather than chronologically because it would get tedious for writer and reader.
First on my mind is yesterday's last day with the Sirua Aulo Academy.
On Saturdays, all students and staff attend school to complete standardized testing, then gather to learn the scores. Each teacher takes turns telling who the top three scorers of their classes were, who come to the front to receive a star on their forehead and applause from the students. This weekend, after the scores were presented, a couple teachers gave speeches of thanks to me and the people who donated the items, then asked me to speak a few words. Which I promise I did NOT record on video so you won't get to hear it hahaha... Hey, you weren't there, so you don't get a say on what gets recorded or not :-) I basically thanked them for their welcoming me, the teachers for their time, reminded the students to study hard b/c a good education is the key to their future, and that when I return in October I expect to see the donated books worn down from overuse. Then I officially presented the items from the suitcase to the Headmistress, even though we had been using them all week. Teachers again gave thanks and then we gathered the whole school for a picture outside the classrooms. Then students were dismissed.
Earlier in the day, two parents brought two new kids to the school at my request. They are kids who were hidden in the homes over the years because they had nowhere to go, not being accepted by public schools or by the community. One was a 10 year old girl named Naeku Nkilasi. Mom said she had a normal birth but delayed milestones. Mom realized she was different when she was about 2. She had seizures which lasted only a few minutes at a time, but they were infrequent- she could go 4 months without it, and she hasn't had another since she was 7. Mom estimates she functions more like a 4 year old, though she only knows about 10 words in Swahili. She can do all regular chores and properly wash herself. When asked, Mom's biggest concern with her is that she has not gone to school.
Another child is named Nathaen Parningo. He is 7 years old and has a twin brother. He began nursery school with his brother but after that year was over, the Intro (e.g., kindergarten) and other subsequent teachers wouldn't let him into the class and now his brother is in Class 2 without him. He also had a normal birth and actually has had normal milestones and "understands everything" ... He just has a "heavy tongue" and doesn't talk. Or, when he does, it's inaudible. He can eat and swallow fine, for the SLPs among us. From my observation, he is normal in all aspects. Because of the time constraints, language barrier, decreased socialization, and intimidating aspect of a mzungu asking random questions, I wasn't able to diagnose much else on him. When asked, Mom said her biggest concern is that he has not attended school.
Notice a recurring theme?
I suggested we put Naeku into the Nursery class and Nathaen into the Intro that day to see how the kids themselves respond to each other. The new kids were shy at first, but since they were so warmly welcomed by the other students, they fit in well. They will both do well in school, especially Nathaen, whose story just makes me mad like hell. I expect him to excel quickly and hopefully catch up to his brother in a couple years based on the quality of Sirua Aulo's teachers compared to the public education Kenya has 'offered' where his brother is. My only concern was overloading the already overloaded Brenda who teaches this combined Nursery/Intro group (there were already 20 bouncy kids from 3-7 years old). I suggested (er... strongly recommended) to Emmanuel that he hires an assistant for Brenda if he were to accept these new kids into Sirua Aulo.
Well, there was no question for him, no moment of hesitation that these kids should come to Sirua Aulo or that Brenda will get an assistant if I suggested it. I said I'll try to find sponsors for these kids by October so that when I return, they can attend school and I can train the teachers on how to integrate them. Emmanuel being who he is, said he'll actually start them Monday because he's sure I'll find sponsors for them.
!!!
While the teachers were scoring the tests, the kids were free to play (many were enamoured with the jumprope and inflated ball I took from Emmanuel's home which his wife had been using as decorations on the wall and ceiling hehehe... this is what happens when volunteers bring foreign toys from the U.S. and don't explain what they are or how to use them!!) Nathaen immediatly was invited to play soccer (that is, kick the ball up and down the massive rocky hill the school is on) with the other boys. Emmanuel and I invited Naeku to play with the inflated ball and taught the 3-5 year old kids to take turns tossing it back and forth with her.
The Moms watched and were pleased beyond words. Eventually they went home because there were older students on whom we could rely to walk the two new pupils home safely.
This was a tough day for me, to have to say goodbye to the 70+ kids who have become accustomed to running up to Emmanuel's car saying "Hi Linda! Hi Linda! Hi Linda!" each morning. I spent time in each of the classrooms, with each of the teachers and all the students. My focus was on literacy, as I said, and introduced books into all the classes. The children LOVED them. Even the 3rd graders enjoyed lifting the flaps of a donated Sesame Street book. All new stuff to them.
This trip has been immensly satisfying, personally and professionally. I received the greatest compliments on Saturday during a debriefing meeting with the teachers. Mostly they said they learned to be more patient with the kids like me, because they watched the kids learning a lot from me being more patient with them and giving the ones who make mistakes at the blackboard a chance to fix and learn from their mistakes. Sorry that last sentence isn't coherent -- I was just told that we have to go soon and don't want to spend time editing now. I'll edit and add pictures, like I said, when I'm back in the States. Let me just mention that when I asked the teachers to share their thoughts and requests, they all said "bring your friends! and bring more books!"
Thursday, July 3, 2008
I'm in love!
... with Sirua Aulo Academy! 70 adorable charming students every day has done it to me. But more on that another time. I'm at an internet cafe and the connection is painstakingly slow and woefully expensive for what it's worth (that is, even though it's only 2 shillings/minute, it took 10 minutes for me to open up 1 email, after crashing twice over the previous 10 minutes). So here is a quick overview (I had pre-written it and copy/pasted here). Please be patient for the tons of pictures, videos, and details which can be uploaded when I'm back in the US with high speed internet and modern techology (i've no idea of the age of the hodpodge of computer parts I'm using right now)!!!!
June 22: 7 hour travel to Dago, arriving around 5:30pm
June 23: Joined meeting of Dago's community mentors from 8am (though with African time, we actually started at 10) till 5pm
June 24: Met and interviewed with two families dealing with disabilities
June 25: Returned to the Achieng family to provide counseling and assistance. I want to fundraise for these two children to receive medical attention, especially for a 12 year old girl named Jacquiline who I suspect has grand mal seizures so debilitating that mom says she becomes nonresponsive for a 10 day period while the moon is in the raising and lowering phases... Mom says the seizures last for 30 minutes on AVERAGE. Her other daughter, 10 year old Rose, functions like a 5 year old, and mom is afraid she will be just like Jacquiline, though I suspect she is more likely developmentally delayed.
June 26: Presented compasses, protractors, and graph paper to a Grade 8 math class-- Took pictures/video for proof :-); Visited Iago Primary School, the only school in the area with a special education program run by one person, Madam Rose. She cares for about 50 children in total, with 10-15 of them who cannot walk to school because of physical disabilities. She personally visits each home to provide care, home education, and other assistance, in addition to running a life-skills program and integrated special ed program, later walking each of her more severe kids home personally to ensure safety. I want to fundraise for her to receive a bicycle. She will also be an extremely important resource when helping start something similar at Sirua Aulo. Later that day, I walked to the town center with some new friends, where a 24 year old Daniel Odiambo suggested I become Mrs. Odiambo.
June 27: Officially presented donations to Dago Primary School (favorite moment: loud cheers of all the 200+ students when I said I've brought enough pencils for every student to receive a new one. One teacher than said let's give them out now, and they all lined up to shake the hand of the mzungu and receive a pencil); later went to city called Awendo with host mother for Market Day, riding in a matatu (made for 12 passengers max) overflowing with 23 people (yeah, they were hanging out the door, literally! yes, videos to come)
June 28: Video-recorded an orphan named Susan Adiambo as I told her two people named Elizabeth and Andrew will sponser her. A seed she was chewing fell out of her mouth and was speechless for the rest of the morning. :-D Later, at 2pm (actually, 4:30 African time), I went to the orphanage with 14 kids there waiting for me to play with them. By 6pm, the crowd swelled to 42 children. We read books, played Simon Says, they sang songs, we did math, etc. Initially, I used some donated stickers as reward for answering my questions, but quickly realized they will work for getting their picture taken with my digital camera.
June 29: Emmanuel came directly to Dago to pick me up. Had lunch in Kisii and met with the teachers/staff of Sirua Aulo. Kind of an introduction to me, the first white visitor, and the plan for the week.
June 30: Sat in on and assisted in the combined nursery + intro (i.e., kindergarten) class. After school (4:30pm), met with staff for an hour doing an in-service on vocabulary development and answering teachers' questions.
July 1: Intially intended for me to join the nursery/intro class again, but one teacher was very sick and had to go to the hospital, so I substituted her Class 2 (i.e., 2nd grade) class with Emmanuel helping to translate to KiSwahili to reinforce things and help teach. Didn't feel well all day b/c night prior I only slept a couple hours (mefloquine side effect?), and ended up sleeping after lunch leaving Emmanuel to teach the rest of the day. Cancelled after school inservice.
July 2: Attended Class 1 in the morning and co-taught. Introduced board books to nursery/intro
class who devoured and fought over them. After lunch, because Class 2's teacher was still absent and Class 3's teacher had to attend a funeral far away (Emmanuel had been running back and forth teaching both classes), we combined classes 1-3 and we co-taught using more donated books and a laminated safari board made by Kamiak HS's wonderful SLPA. Students devoured and fought over these simple books! In-serviced a bit to the two remaining teachers about reading with children.
June 22: 7 hour travel to Dago, arriving around 5:30pm
June 23: Joined meeting of Dago's community mentors from 8am (though with African time, we actually started at 10) till 5pm
June 24: Met and interviewed with two families dealing with disabilities
June 25: Returned to the Achieng family to provide counseling and assistance. I want to fundraise for these two children to receive medical attention, especially for a 12 year old girl named Jacquiline who I suspect has grand mal seizures so debilitating that mom says she becomes nonresponsive for a 10 day period while the moon is in the raising and lowering phases... Mom says the seizures last for 30 minutes on AVERAGE. Her other daughter, 10 year old Rose, functions like a 5 year old, and mom is afraid she will be just like Jacquiline, though I suspect she is more likely developmentally delayed.
June 26: Presented compasses, protractors, and graph paper to a Grade 8 math class-- Took pictures/video for proof :-); Visited Iago Primary School, the only school in the area with a special education program run by one person, Madam Rose. She cares for about 50 children in total, with 10-15 of them who cannot walk to school because of physical disabilities. She personally visits each home to provide care, home education, and other assistance, in addition to running a life-skills program and integrated special ed program, later walking each of her more severe kids home personally to ensure safety. I want to fundraise for her to receive a bicycle. She will also be an extremely important resource when helping start something similar at Sirua Aulo. Later that day, I walked to the town center with some new friends, where a 24 year old Daniel Odiambo suggested I become Mrs. Odiambo.
June 27: Officially presented donations to Dago Primary School (favorite moment: loud cheers of all the 200+ students when I said I've brought enough pencils for every student to receive a new one. One teacher than said let's give them out now, and they all lined up to shake the hand of the mzungu and receive a pencil); later went to city called Awendo with host mother for Market Day, riding in a matatu (made for 12 passengers max) overflowing with 23 people (yeah, they were hanging out the door, literally! yes, videos to come)
June 28: Video-recorded an orphan named Susan Adiambo as I told her two people named Elizabeth and Andrew will sponser her. A seed she was chewing fell out of her mouth and was speechless for the rest of the morning. :-D Later, at 2pm (actually, 4:30 African time), I went to the orphanage with 14 kids there waiting for me to play with them. By 6pm, the crowd swelled to 42 children. We read books, played Simon Says, they sang songs, we did math, etc. Initially, I used some donated stickers as reward for answering my questions, but quickly realized they will work for getting their picture taken with my digital camera.
June 29: Emmanuel came directly to Dago to pick me up. Had lunch in Kisii and met with the teachers/staff of Sirua Aulo. Kind of an introduction to me, the first white visitor, and the plan for the week.
June 30: Sat in on and assisted in the combined nursery + intro (i.e., kindergarten) class. After school (4:30pm), met with staff for an hour doing an in-service on vocabulary development and answering teachers' questions.
July 1: Intially intended for me to join the nursery/intro class again, but one teacher was very sick and had to go to the hospital, so I substituted her Class 2 (i.e., 2nd grade) class with Emmanuel helping to translate to KiSwahili to reinforce things and help teach. Didn't feel well all day b/c night prior I only slept a couple hours (mefloquine side effect?), and ended up sleeping after lunch leaving Emmanuel to teach the rest of the day. Cancelled after school inservice.
July 2: Attended Class 1 in the morning and co-taught. Introduced board books to nursery/intro
class who devoured and fought over them. After lunch, because Class 2's teacher was still absent and Class 3's teacher had to attend a funeral far away (Emmanuel had been running back and forth teaching both classes), we combined classes 1-3 and we co-taught using more donated books and a laminated safari board made by Kamiak HS's wonderful SLPA. Students devoured and fought over these simple books! In-serviced a bit to the two remaining teachers about reading with children.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Kenya 2008
Last year, students from Pirrar Secondary School for Girls in the Transmara District recited
this poem for me among many other "dramas" and performances. These girls, whose parents pay high prices for their secondary education (i.e., equivalent to high school) sleep in the room next to the classroom. Their outpouring of enthusiasm for education in the midst of having nothing that we privileged Westerners have (like electricity, clean water, toilets, sealed windows, adequate textbooks, air conditioning) was enough to bring me to tears. They marveled not only at my camera, but also at the scent of my moisturizer, the spiral-binding of my notebook, the color of my US dollar bill, the texture of my chap stick.
this poem for me among many other "dramas" and performances. These girls, whose parents pay high prices for their secondary education (i.e., equivalent to high school) sleep in the room next to the classroom. Their outpouring of enthusiasm for education in the midst of having nothing that we privileged Westerners have (like electricity, clean water, toilets, sealed windows, adequate textbooks, air conditioning) was enough to bring me to tears. They marveled not only at my camera, but also at the scent of my moisturizer, the spiral-binding of my notebook, the color of my US dollar bill, the texture of my chap stick.I couldn't fathom how spoiled we are. I couldn't take it. I cried that night.
Their school was burned down in the post-election riots that erupted earlier this year.
Not long after my visit to Pirrar, I visited another school called Tororet Primary School which serves over 200 students. Primary education is free (up to 8th grade), but I was not prepared for what I saw. The walls of one building were wooden planks with holes wide enough for children to walk through. They don't have floors -- the dirt becomes a muddy mess when it rains, in which children sludge around barefoot. Their library consists of two walls with practically barren shelves, and the 6 teachers share one desk in their one mud-floored office.
Nevertheless, just because I came to visit -- me, a mzungu (white person) -- the whole school put on a performance [see video below] and gave speeches. For me! I did nothing that day but take pictures to be used in creating awareness and requesting donations when I got back to the States; and I haven't been too successful with that. They asked me to give a speech, and presented me with two hard boiled eggs and a cup of chai. And later, they presented a bracelet handmade by the students using tire rubber and beads 'from the city'. I will cherish that forever.
The students and faculty were inspired by my simple visit. They said (as it was translated to me from a parent's speech in Swahili) whenever a mzungu (aka, white person; to them, Chinese are also white) comes to see them, it is a good omen. We bring good fortune to them.
How does one respond to that? I was floored. I had already brought donations of school supplies to another school (where they also held a ceremony by placing all my things on a table, bringing in a battery-powered megaphone, giving speeches and performances, and sharing a feast of goat meat soup), so I didn't have anything to give to Tororet.
I still don't know how to reciprocate Tororet's generosity. There are too many schools with too much need in this area; the donations I'm collecting this time are going to be split between two other schools/orphanages (Dago Dela Hera and Sirua Aulo Academy). Both these places need the school supplies as much as Tororet. I only wish all the people who have generously contributed items will be able to be there with me to see the faces of these precious children as I open the suitcase and say, "Here. These are for you." I will do my best to take pictures and videos as much as possible so you can see the good you have done for these wonderful children.
Last year, I went to the country without any idea what I would encounter. This time, I enter armed with nullified culture shock and another year's experience as a speech-language pathologist. I've had comparatively extensive contact this time with my village hosts, who have coordinated with me on how to make the best use of my time and specific skills.
Although I am going for exactly 3 weeks between June 19 and July 9, the unfortunate reality is that a whole week is used up just to get to these rural villages and back (2 days flying, 1 day bus ride over mock-roads). I will have 7 days at Dago with my host Patrick (yet to meet), and 8 days at Sirua Aulo with host Emmanuel (same from last year). Both have delineated a rough itinerary for me:
Hello,-----
Glad to hear your exicited about your final times before you travel.
We cant wait to be part of Dago in 2 weeks.
We have 7 days with you, short but will make the best of it when you come.
The first 2 days you will spend with a mother and her 2 disabled kids.
The 3rd day you spend with a mother a disabled widow woman who has 5
kids, they just lost there house to the wind 3 weeks ago and have
moved in at the grandmothers house.
4th and 5th day, you spend at the childrens center, helping with everything.
6th day, you spend at the disabled school, they attend classes half
day, then later taught practical work, ie farm work and shop keeping.
Last day at the center with the community and leaders.
Hope that works with you.
Any changes will be addressed, your allowed to change schedule, when
your here, coz im sure you can want more time at a certain point.
Cant wait to meet you.
Patrick
Linda Nashipai,
I hope this message finds you well and ready preparing to come home. I know there tons of questions you may need to ask, but be sure that Lord’s hand is in your trip and all will be well. I intend to pick you up during the early hours of the 29thJune from Keroka. Thereafter, we head for home. We will have a our first staff session in the afternoon- and I hope it will dwell around handling children with disabilities and empowering children through speech. It can be an hour session or at most 1 and half hour.
On the 30th June, you will be handling two kids, Leeyio and Brian who have some disabilities in their speech and handling of the 20+ kids in the introductory and nursery class- this will take you 2 days.
2nd July- class one
3rd July- class two
4th July- class three and a staff session in the afternoon.
5th July- Travel to Nakuru
6th July- Game viewing
7th July-Travel to Nairobi.
Each evening, we’ll be going through website content until the day you head back. Kindly bring the school one ball if you still some room in your luggage. Safe Travel.
Blessings and Love,
Emmanuel
I am intimidated at the prospect of being their one resource for the special needs population and the first volunteer back to the area after it was closed off from the threat of violence earlier this year. I am at the same time thrilled out of my mind to return to a place where love, hope, and happiness are at its purest, unencumbered by materialism, gluttony, greed. I'm anxious about my health and safety, as I will be days away from medical help should anything happen. Most of all, I am concerned that I won't be effective/useful enough to them, to be able to do something to help that will last. For these things, I trust in God to carry me through and use me as He sees fit. At the same time, I ask for your prayerful support throughout the journey and thank you in advance for it, so I know you will be with us in spirit.
----
[As the camera pans to the right, the adults at the table to my left are the school principal and a parent representative. On my right are the teachers, but I don't pan over to them on this clip. The students are performing a traditional Maasai chant about the moran returning home safely. At the time, many students were out at a district-wide music/dance festival and competition (which I was later able to attend! I might upload a clip of it where they do the same song in full regalia), but the remaining students did a magnificent job, don't you think?!]
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Mimi ni Nashipai!
Neuroplasticity... refers to the changes that occur in the organization of the brain as a result of experience.
Growing up in Florida, the winter holidays meant bright lights wrapped around palm trees and spray-on snow. Florida's natural pines were never the nice conical plastics we purchased from stores. The Christmas trees I saw on TV and movies were all fake, perfected versions of the irregular tropical pines that grew naturally; I was certain of it. That is, until we moved back to Chicago in 1997 (where I was originally born). All along the roads were snow-covered, perfectly conical trees! They grew "just like that"! They existed!
That's when I realized my sense of reality had been altered forever. Chicago transformed everything I had known to be true in my short life: the weather can fluctuate between extremes... there's cultural, linguistic, and culinary diversity... I can feel safe in this preppy school... there's almost 3 million people around me...
I had never imagined anything like it. And I loved it!
What else did I not know I didn't know? I had to know!
I've been addicted to travel ever since. Wanderlust has taken me to about half the states in the US, parts of Canada, and 7 other countries. I'm thirsting for more.
Upon return from my first trip to Kenya last year, I did my best to put my thoughts into words:
Growing up in Florida, the winter holidays meant bright lights wrapped around palm trees and spray-on snow. Florida's natural pines were never the nice conical plastics we purchased from stores. The Christmas trees I saw on TV and movies were all fake, perfected versions of the irregular tropical pines that grew naturally; I was certain of it. That is, until we moved back to Chicago in 1997 (where I was originally born). All along the roads were snow-covered, perfectly conical trees! They grew "just like that"! They existed!
That's when I realized my sense of reality had been altered forever. Chicago transformed everything I had known to be true in my short life: the weather can fluctuate between extremes... there's cultural, linguistic, and culinary diversity... I can feel safe in this preppy school... there's almost 3 million people around me...
I had never imagined anything like it. And I loved it!
What else did I not know I didn't know? I had to know!
I've been addicted to travel ever since. Wanderlust has taken me to about half the states in the US, parts of Canada, and 7 other countries. I'm thirsting for more.
Upon return from my first trip to Kenya last year, I did my best to put my thoughts into words:
"I cannot express what this experience has meant to me. Some people say it changed their lives, but to me it seems to have added a whole nother dimension. My frame of reference for understanding what life is about and the spectrum of people, cultures, environments, attitudes, etc., including where I fit in it, has been expanded indefinitely. I can already see that this blossomed global perspective will help me in my personal and professional life. And relying on the ripple effect, hopefully I can spread my enthusiasm to others so that eventually we will have increased tolerance, empathy, and altruism in this world."
Maasai villagers called me Nashipai, which in the Maa language means "Happiness". This blog title translates to "I am (called) Happiness!" Indeed, I was constantly happy to be in their presence and welcomed so thoroughly into their lives. With this attitude, I invite you now to follow me in my adventures around the world in the hopes that the travel bug will bite you as well, so you can get up and go change your mind.
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