I'm HOME!
Well, as "home" as a nomad like me can be. No rest for the weary though -- will update more when I can! Videos, pictures, stories till your eyes blur -- guaranteed!
Thanks for all your prayers for safe travels! Tomorrow I have to be in Bellingham by 3pm to catch my ferry to Alaska. The journey continues!
Neuroplasticity: changes that occur in the brain as the result of experience
Thursday, July 10, 2008
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.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Had a good day walking around downtown Nairobi. Bought 2 dictionaries and 12 more kid books for donation. These kid books are great because they are by Kenyan authors, and about village life. Future volunteers could do a better mix of donated Western books with in-country books.
We went to an Indian restaurant instead of Carnivore tonight. Great truly authentic Indian food. Rode in matatus all day, and that is such an experience -- the seats aren't always bolted completely to the van floor, some have flat-screen tvs playing music videos to attract customers, and they all have ticket takers who run on and off the van while it's still in moving traffic. Anyway, more on that another time.
A mosquito net has been draped over my bed; I took my second dose of mefloquine at dinner, and tonight I will resort my belongings to prepare for the bus ride to Dago in the morning. Breakfast at 8am, and out the door in 20 minutes. Here's where the real adventure begins!
We went to an Indian restaurant instead of Carnivore tonight. Great truly authentic Indian food. Rode in matatus all day, and that is such an experience -- the seats aren't always bolted completely to the van floor, some have flat-screen tvs playing music videos to attract customers, and they all have ticket takers who run on and off the van while it's still in moving traffic. Anyway, more on that another time.
A mosquito net has been draped over my bed; I took my second dose of mefloquine at dinner, and tonight I will resort my belongings to prepare for the bus ride to Dago in the morning. Breakfast at 8am, and out the door in 20 minutes. Here's where the real adventure begins!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Nairobi: Saturday, June 21
I've brought Seattle weather all the way here! It is completely overcast and mid-60's degrees, except the Kenyans aren't out celebrating the heat wave - they are bundled up in their winter gear and complaining about the cold!
The exciting surprise was an impressive gentleman named Junior Gaya being here in town to pick me up! He is a native Kenyan who hosts Village Volunteers volunteers in his Nairobi apartment with his sister, but moved to America and married last Fall, so I didn't expect to see him this time. I should explain about the news crew guess; NPR had interviewed Village Volunteer villages in the recent past, but I didn't know if it had been postponed since the unrest. So it was a wild guess. And the plane ticket upgrade was completely in jest, of course. :-) I spent the 17 hours on two planes in economy class splendor.
A few snafus in transit, though. London security confiscated 5 scissors from my carry-on, and would have also taken away my bag of compasses if I didn't react completely crushed the way I did. How could I have forgotten about sharp object restrictions?? Ironically, they ended up taking my carry-on away at the gate anyway because it was overweight. Fortunately, I have all day today in town, so I will replace those scissors myself, and purchase other items if I can.
Well, I just took my last running-water, temperature-controlled shower for a while. Today I will exchange for Kenyan shillings (KSH), get a cell phone set up for in-country emergency calls, attempt supply shopping, and maybe try a restaurant called Carnivore, recommended by a Seattle friend.
Talk to you another time when I have a chance :-)
The exciting surprise was an impressive gentleman named Junior Gaya being here in town to pick me up! He is a native Kenyan who hosts Village Volunteers volunteers in his Nairobi apartment with his sister, but moved to America and married last Fall, so I didn't expect to see him this time. I should explain about the news crew guess; NPR had interviewed Village Volunteer villages in the recent past, but I didn't know if it had been postponed since the unrest. So it was a wild guess. And the plane ticket upgrade was completely in jest, of course. :-) I spent the 17 hours on two planes in economy class splendor.
A few snafus in transit, though. London security confiscated 5 scissors from my carry-on, and would have also taken away my bag of compasses if I didn't react completely crushed the way I did. How could I have forgotten about sharp object restrictions?? Ironically, they ended up taking my carry-on away at the gate anyway because it was overweight. Fortunately, I have all day today in town, so I will replace those scissors myself, and purchase other items if I can.
Well, I just took my last running-water, temperature-controlled shower for a while. Today I will exchange for Kenyan shillings (KSH), get a cell phone set up for in-country emergency calls, attempt supply shopping, and maybe try a restaurant called Carnivore, recommended by a Seattle friend.
Talk to you another time when I have a chance :-)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
$0.35 per minute at SeaTac
Flight to London departs at 10:20pm, but I am here and ready to go.
Shana Greene, the executive director of Village Volunteers, and I added several more items into my grey luggage, such as 5 deflated soccer balls, trial antimalarial medication, and ... well, my socks. At curbside check-in, we discovered it is 75 lbs! The gentleman suggested moving some items over to my green bag, which was exactly 50 lbs (thank you very much). He saw that they were all donations and said because of that, he would like to "help [me] out as much as possible." He would accept up to 57 lbs in the green bag for free! We shifted some things out, and in the end I ended up walking away and we both forgot to pay for the extra weight in the original! God bless that man :-) And to all the people who donated to me to help pay the would-be charge! You can consider that money having gone to my vaccinations, airplane tickets, and visa application.
Shana kept hinting that there will be a surprise "that will be obvious". I took a shot and guessed she upgraded my plane tickets some how, but that wasn't it. She is excited that I am the first volunteer back after the election riots, but she took the precaution to ensure I will be escorted at all times, especially between villages. I wonder if the surprise is some kind of news crew :-)
Shana Greene, the executive director of Village Volunteers, and I added several more items into my grey luggage, such as 5 deflated soccer balls, trial antimalarial medication, and ... well, my socks. At curbside check-in, we discovered it is 75 lbs! The gentleman suggested moving some items over to my green bag, which was exactly 50 lbs (thank you very much). He saw that they were all donations and said because of that, he would like to "help [me] out as much as possible." He would accept up to 57 lbs in the green bag for free! We shifted some things out, and in the end I ended up walking away and we both forgot to pay for the extra weight in the original! God bless that man :-) And to all the people who donated to me to help pay the would-be charge! You can consider that money having gone to my vaccinations, airplane tickets, and visa application.
Shana kept hinting that there will be a surprise "that will be obvious". I took a shot and guessed she upgraded my plane tickets some how, but that wasn't it. She is excited that I am the first volunteer back after the election riots, but she took the precaution to ensure I will be escorted at all times, especially between villages. I wonder if the surprise is some kind of news crew :-)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
What do you think?
I flipped through this donated book the other day called "My Very Own Octopus". In it, a boy imagines all the advantages of having a pet octopus, which includes protecting him from bullies and hugging him 8 times with his 8 arms. Those are all cute and appropriate.But this book includes full color pages of situations such as "My room would always look neat because my octopus would help me put away all my clothes" and "And when my friend David came to vis
it, my octopus would help us put away all my toys"... and then "of course we would share our allowance with my octopus for helping us"... Anyone else notice something about these lines?The boy goes on to daydream that "We would always take my octopus to the store when we went shopping. Our cart would be filled in no time at all. And anything our cart couldn't hold, my octopus would." and "On Halloween, my octopus could go around with me, and we would collect more treats than Glenn and all the other kids."...
This is the definition of American greed and materialistic competition! Consumerism starts with our children! This little boy is 'living the good life' of the Western culture of overindulgence. I'm concerned about the orphans getting the impression that all white kids have large rooms to themselves full of clothes and toys (true as it may be for most), and getting hung up on that... I mean, I'm not sure I'm comfortable explaining to poverty-stricken orphans that American kids regularly get money from their parents to buy whatever they want at the toy stores!
On the other hand, I don't want to shelter them from what it is like for a middle class American family, because that's the purpose of books - to educate and expand the minds, help them explore their world in ways they can't otherwise... I remember last year even secondary students at Pirrar were marveling at what dollar bills look like, and kept asking about what animals we raised in America, and what kinds of foods we ate, what our homes looked like... Who am I to judge how to filter their education? Perhaps this book can be presented to the students as it is -- a book written for upper to middle class U.S. citizens. -- and hope they understand.
Blog readers, what is your opinion? This is a genuine question about cultural sensitivity that I have been wrestling with over the past several weeks. Please feel free to comment on my blogs; I appreciate any feedback and value open discussion. Thanks!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I love my mom and her Engrish
(we are chatting on instant messenger)
Mom: Did you get some shock's yet?
Mom: You know what I mean? To pretend.
Me: Yes, Mom, I got my shots
Me: To protect
Me: :-)
Mom: Did you get some shock's yet?
Mom: You know what I mean? To pretend.
Me: Yes, Mom, I got my shots
Me: To protect
Me: :-)
Monday, June 16, 2008
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Packing Queen
WoW!!! 140 pounds of school supplies & books (including weight of suitcases) were donated in a month! I never get tired of saying it: THANK YOU!
Kamiak High School staff and Mukilteo School District SLPs have been so extremely generous with their donations of mostly brand new items!! I didn't expect that!
For the sake of packing space and the environment (because they burn their garbage in rural Kenya), I had to open all packaging that can't be reused for storage. It was like Christmas in June! ;-)
All told, there are over 130 books (Pic is of my
sorting them by size into hard/soft covers), 1312 crayons, 584 pencils, 173 markers & color pencils (not counting an entire plastic box containing probably a hundred!), 22 rulers, 8 calculators (5 brand new! 1 TI brand!), 4 sturdy clip boards, and my favorite (b/c I didn't even think of it!): 11 protractors and 16 compasses with pencils! Not pictured are various educational toys, art/craft supplies, and my sanity.
How does one fit them all into 2 checked luggages and 1 carry-on?
Fragile items have to go into my carry-on for sure. Here's a glimpse of how tightly this is packed. (All those youthful years of competing with my brother in Tetris had to count for something!)
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Final layer! This little buddy is 40 lbs.
By the time I finished that one, I was too tired to tightly pack the remaining check-in cases. I put the hardcover books in my soft-cased green suitcase along with some durable toys.
Layer 1
Layer 2. This one is just about 50 lbs (thank goodness -- Anything over that there is a $50 charge)
And finally, the paperbacks are in the more structured case with fabrics, tote bags, and maybe some of my clothes when I get around to going to Goodwill for skirts and such (which I will wear and leave in Kenya as further donations).
This suitcase was generously donated from a colleague SLP! She said I can donate it along with my other suitcases later as I leave. Perfect! The tough part is, it is 15 lbs empty, and now it is just about 50 lbs without my clothes in it... Well, I have 3 days to sort it out!
I'll have to make room for 2 deflated soccer balls (and pumps?) because both Emmanuel and Patrick have requested it last minute. Hmm...
I will be updating about my personal backpack when I get around to packing it... It is also interesting to read about, I'm sure, because it includes such things as 5 rolls of handrolled toilet paper in a ziplock bag, and my all-in-one liquid shampoo/soap/laundry detergent.
Stay tuned!
Kamiak High School staff and Mukilteo School District SLPs have been so extremely generous with their donations of mostly brand new items!! I didn't expect that!
For the sake of packing space and the environment (because they burn their garbage in rural Kenya), I had to open all packaging that can't be reused for storage. It was like Christmas in June! ;-)All told, there are over 130 books (Pic is of my
sorting them by size into hard/soft covers), 1312 crayons, 584 pencils, 173 markers & color pencils (not counting an entire plastic box containing probably a hundred!), 22 rulers, 8 calculators (5 brand new! 1 TI brand!), 4 sturdy clip boards, and my favorite (b/c I didn't even think of it!): 11 protractors and 16 compasses with pencils! Not pictured are various educational toys, art/craft supplies, and my sanity.How does one fit them all into 2 checked luggages and 1 carry-on?
Fragile items have to go into my carry-on for sure. Here's a glimpse of how tightly this is packed. (All those youthful years of competing with my brother in Tetris had to count for something!)
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Final layer! This little buddy is 40 lbs.By the time I finished that one, I was too tired to tightly pack the remaining check-in cases. I put the hardcover books in my soft-cased green suitcase along with some durable toys.
Layer 1
Layer 2. This one is just about 50 lbs (thank goodness -- Anything over that there is a $50 charge)And finally, the paperbacks are in the more structured case with fabrics, tote bags, and maybe some of my clothes when I get around to going to Goodwill for skirts and such (which I will wear and leave in Kenya as further donations).
This suitcase was generously donated from a colleague SLP! She said I can donate it along with my other suitcases later as I leave. Perfect! The tough part is, it is 15 lbs empty, and now it is just about 50 lbs without my clothes in it... Well, I have 3 days to sort it out!
I'll have to make room for 2 deflated soccer balls (and pumps?) because both Emmanuel and Patrick have requested it last minute. Hmm...
I will be updating about my personal backpack when I get around to packing it... It is also interesting to read about, I'm sure, because it includes such things as 5 rolls of handrolled toilet paper in a ziplock bag, and my all-in-one liquid shampoo/soap/laundry detergent.
Stay tuned!
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?!]
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