So I thought I would write about some of the small things I notice that just make me think "only in Kenia"
Last week with the other volunteers that have left since we passed a little 1x1m hut made out of aluminum on our way to Wamunio (the woodcarving place). Looking closer we found out it was the "police station" and the construction of it was sponsored by some company that had plastered this for the world to see on nearly every bit of the little space that was available. The mix of the pathetic size of the police station and the fact that a company was so proud of sponsoring this little hut made all of us laugh.
Two days later when they had left I was sitting in Machakos having lunch when I noticed a few older men sitting at a table next to me. Suddenly I saw that one of them had a Hitler mustache. I do not know whether he thought Hitler was a great guy and needed praising or whether that particular mustache was fashionable either reasons made me think "only in Kenya".
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Finally we have made some progress (and set-backs) on the issue of how to raise money, why to raise money and what to raise money for. The initial plan as I said on the blog was to raise funds for 20 water tanks with the help of the small project fund of the embassy in Nairobi. Unfortunately that will not work and so I had to slim down the plans to 5 tanks for 5 active community members that will contribute in cash, ballast and sand (to mix with the cement). With the "hakuna matata" attitude this has taken some time but now I have the updated prices, visited the families and solved problems such as where the tanks should be built and how large etc. I want to try and raise 2,000 Euros with your kind contributions in order to start construction of the tanks as soon as possible. Anne the other volunteer who was with me for 3 weeks is trying to raise funds in her community in Germany as well so I think this goal is reachable. I will send further details on Saturday.
And for those interested I got an unconditional offer from the University of Leicester for International Relations, which is a huge relief!
I hope everybody is well. I'm slowly succumbing the constant plus 30 degrees.
Max
And for those interested I got an unconditional offer from the University of Leicester for International Relations, which is a huge relief!
I hope everybody is well. I'm slowly succumbing the constant plus 30 degrees.
Max
Friday, January 29, 2010
Walking towards the final passport check at Geneva's airport, listening to my ipod, I was thinking about the last days spent in Europe and the next months to be spent in Kenya. When "Love like a sunset" came on, a simple 7min mostly instrumental by Phoenix, I had reached the point of thinking how great the days had been with friends and family. I guess the combination of the beauty of the song and the hopeles thought of trying to share my time in Europe to anybody here brought me to the brink of tears. Surprized by my sudden emotional outburst I stepped aside as to not face passport control with tear stained eyes you never know, these days anything can be a bomb even your underwear. I guess that showed me just how detached the two worlds are in many ways.
Putting that aside I was greated kindly when I arrived a few days late due to delays of all sorts. I adapted back quickly and have over the last couple of days improved my room and invested in the kitchen a little. With almost childish joy I have added a table from the local carpenter for 7Euros (a stool is to follow soon), hung up some of my lamps and rearranged a few things to make the room more comfortable. For the kitchen I bought a pan and spices with which I will cook for myself more often. For myself because nobody really wants to eat what I cook it is too unknown, leaves more for me! Plus I have to eat less Ugali which I really can't stand..
Otherwise the food is really okay and it is surprisingly satisfying to eat what you planted/harvested yourself. Whether it is roasted maize, watermelon or mangos they all taste great. Though all the euphoria of a good harvest after such a bad drought is matched by my disappointment that so many plants have sucumb to the sun or insects showing just how dead certain parts of the farm are.
The first evening I came back I realized to my surprise two things had changed: toilet paper was in the living room not only my room and Peter and Alice were brushing their teeth! Whether I caused them to change their habbits or they just felt like their teeth needed some hygiene I do not know either way I see it as my first major success! Another plus is that Peter reads most of the magazines I have lying around and he really seems more informed.
On the first weekend I visited the house of the family of Peter's wife just across the valey yet it seems to be a different world. I'm guessing I'm somewhere above 1500m and although it is January (supposedly the hottest month of the year after september)it gets very cold. The view is amazing as not much on the horizon is higher than us. The area is far more densley covered in trees than Kathuni and generally looks wealthier. The high altitudes and the better environment provide them with enough water. The family is very welcoming and the children especially are more open and cheerful than others. As a guest to a foreign home the entire procedures and rituals of the Kamba hospitality have to be followed, which basically means I do not see any of the women except when they serve tea or food. Another thing is that the father and Peter talk in Kikambe and clearly about me, not that I mind so much as I do not sense they are talking about me in a bad way. Peter then apologizes but not for talking about me in a language I cannot understand but for talking in Kikambe. I answer he should not be worried and everything returns to normal.
Over the past days I have come to the conclusion I want to raise funds for 5 tanks that will be spread in the community rather than giving one a family each that way we can raise more from the community and more people profit and also tought in the nursery school of 5 to 7 year olds (half of them coughing constantly as lung diseases are widespread) more to that some other.
Kwaheri
Putting that aside I was greated kindly when I arrived a few days late due to delays of all sorts. I adapted back quickly and have over the last couple of days improved my room and invested in the kitchen a little. With almost childish joy I have added a table from the local carpenter for 7Euros (a stool is to follow soon), hung up some of my lamps and rearranged a few things to make the room more comfortable. For the kitchen I bought a pan and spices with which I will cook for myself more often. For myself because nobody really wants to eat what I cook it is too unknown, leaves more for me! Plus I have to eat less Ugali which I really can't stand..
Otherwise the food is really okay and it is surprisingly satisfying to eat what you planted/harvested yourself. Whether it is roasted maize, watermelon or mangos they all taste great. Though all the euphoria of a good harvest after such a bad drought is matched by my disappointment that so many plants have sucumb to the sun or insects showing just how dead certain parts of the farm are.
The first evening I came back I realized to my surprise two things had changed: toilet paper was in the living room not only my room and Peter and Alice were brushing their teeth! Whether I caused them to change their habbits or they just felt like their teeth needed some hygiene I do not know either way I see it as my first major success! Another plus is that Peter reads most of the magazines I have lying around and he really seems more informed.
On the first weekend I visited the house of the family of Peter's wife just across the valey yet it seems to be a different world. I'm guessing I'm somewhere above 1500m and although it is January (supposedly the hottest month of the year after september)it gets very cold. The view is amazing as not much on the horizon is higher than us. The area is far more densley covered in trees than Kathuni and generally looks wealthier. The high altitudes and the better environment provide them with enough water. The family is very welcoming and the children especially are more open and cheerful than others. As a guest to a foreign home the entire procedures and rituals of the Kamba hospitality have to be followed, which basically means I do not see any of the women except when they serve tea or food. Another thing is that the father and Peter talk in Kikambe and clearly about me, not that I mind so much as I do not sense they are talking about me in a bad way. Peter then apologizes but not for talking about me in a language I cannot understand but for talking in Kikambe. I answer he should not be worried and everything returns to normal.
Over the past days I have come to the conclusion I want to raise funds for 5 tanks that will be spread in the community rather than giving one a family each that way we can raise more from the community and more people profit and also tought in the nursery school of 5 to 7 year olds (half of them coughing constantly as lung diseases are widespread) more to that some other.
Kwaheri
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Stuck!
Flight from Geneva delayed for 2 hours and so I am spending the night in Istanbul at the expense of Turkish airlines.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Istanbul, Turkey
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