03/10
The smell of the land soaking up the rain after long durations of drought has disappeared as the rains come more sporadic. Anne and I are getting along very well. The project has become much better with her around as she pushes for more interaction with the community while leaving me with the space I sometimes need to read or write.
To jump back in time: on Thursday Patricia departed to Nairobi and the weekend was filled with planting tea and sun flowers on an experimental basis and football practice as well as a match on Sunday on the actual pitch. To this match only 7 appeared, which meant that 4 of the younger ones had to jump in. In the first half the Kaani team scored after being rewarded with a penalty that should have been off-side before. During half time it started to rain turning the pitch into mud and making it impossible to play. Another penalty and goal later the match was over and one could clearly see the disadvantages playing on a small and crooked pitch comes with.
On certain days Anne longs to be back in Germany with her friends and family then I have to comfort her and remind her of the good things while on other days I am the one that needs comforting. On those days Kenya reminds me of Europe during the Middle Ages. The majority of the people are so back ward in their mind set that it will need a Renaissance and an industrialization to develop this country. I sometimes have the feeling just because there are the material things such as cars or televisions available that can be found in Europe the people do not need to change or learn anymore just acquire these and the rest will come by itself.
Even the education system is backward. Just because Kenyan primary education is basically free it does not mean that the country is bound to progress. Most of Europe had free primary education 100 years ago so to expect Kenya will progress equally fast after 4 years is just ludicrous.
The students get tought religion from Standard 1 but not in an open, state and church separated way but rather quizzed on what Psalm x says or what wonders Moses did. Leading to most kids being able to tell you what the bible says but without relflection of any sort. Althogh illegal, beating children for mistakes is still common practice and police brutality only nurtures this. Leading to the end of school exams being overshadowed with huge scandals of cheating as the only way to escape the beating for doing mistakes is to learn how to cheat your way out of it. The most shocking story however was that of a robber in the area around two years ago told us by Peter the host father. The robber and sometimes others would enter the houses and steal whatever he found valuable. One night he got cought by the owner of the house who cut both his heels so he could not run away then called the village together. After a beating the thief told the village the names of his friends and yet they still burnt him alive afterwards.
Of course on the days Anne longs to be back in Germany I tell her that the food has greatly improved since Musyoki cooks for us. The weather has remainded pleasant with regular rain fall and on some nights the sky is so clear the stars are as visible as they can possibly be with a spectacular moon. Peter remains friendly but most importantly as open as can possibly be and seems to have no problem with us spending an upcoming weekend in Nairobi, where I will stay with Sylvia and a few days in Mombasa with other volunteers.
There is a hold on the water tank project as I now do not know whether the BMZ requirements are applicable to the specific conditions.