Sunday, 19 September 2010
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Chickens!
Hello, friends!
As per usual, is has been a very long time since my last entry. That being the case, it seems a bit unfair of me to ask you all for help. This is Kenya, however, so there is no concept of forwardness or crossing of lines. Consider me culturally integrated! Here goes:
I am currently working on starting a Chicken Project at my school as an income generating activity. My school is struggling financially (because the students and their parents cannot come up with money for school fees), and the students are often quite thin and malnourished. I am interested in starting this project in order to raise a bit of extra money for my students, and also, hopefully, to supplement their diets! Also, since the students will be helping me to run the IGA and care for the chickens, they will gain some useful experience and knowledge in farming and marketing.
I am still in the research stage of the project, but it is never too early to start getting information out there. To start this project, we will require funds for chickens, housing, feed/water/nesting equipment, vaccines, and so on, and if you're willing, we could really use your help! Once I have calculated the total approximate start-up costs (25% of which my school community will be required to raise on their own), I will set up a website with Peace Corps that allows friends and family from home to donate money if they'd like. Once I've done this, I will post the link here! Any small amount would make a huge difference, and would be greatly appreciated.
I will be sure to keep you all updated on the project and how it's going. I will be posting some pictures of my school and students here shortly, just so you can see who you'd be helping. :)
Wednesday, 09 June 2010
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Promote me with a Blog Entry?
That's Kenya-speak for "Give me a freakin' blog entry, you lazy mzungu!"
I have to apologize because it has been months- literally months- since my last post. So, following the Peace Corps tradition of celebrating relatively unremarkable amounts of time (e.g., 45 years of Peace Corps Kenya), I shall write a blog entry for you all in celebration of slightly over seven months of Margaret + Peace Corps Kenya. Excited?
Very much has happened in the past few months, so I'm going to limit this entry to more recent history. I will, however, let you know that in April, I took a vacation to the Coast with my gal pals. It was fantastic! I recommend that, should any of you come to Kenya, you bypass me and just head straight to the Coast. I promise I will not be offended. Also in April, the whole training group got together in Nairobi for a week-ish-long training session. It was great to catch up with everyone, and quite a relief to realize that we're all facing similar challenges.
I want to start this paragraph off by saying that things are going fine at school, but that would be a bit untruthful. I guess that the past few months- the time before the harvest- have been difficult for many people; there is a shortage of food and a serious shortage of money. My school is completely broke (if you'll forgive my lack of tact). There is no money for bread to go with our tea in the morning, no money to pay the teachers, and very little money for food. Lately, the only thing we've been getting to eat is githeri (maize and beans) which I like. Unfortunately, do to the "serious and widespread" outbreak of Aflatoxin in this years maize harvest, Peace Corps has instructed us not to eat maize or maize-products (i.e., ugali, i.e., the dietary staple of every person living in Kenya). Even worse, because of the food shortage in the village, most of the students only get one meal a day. Also, the lack of money to pay teachers is also a serious problem, of course. Many of the teachers have children of their own and need money to pay school fees. Needless to say, moral is a bit low amongst some of the staff.
School is going alright for me, although I am currently facing the challenge of trying to teach algebra to my Form 1's. Holy mother of pizza! Who would have thought it would be so difficult? Also, they continue to copy each others work, clearly convinced that I'm too stupid to notice, or perhaps too nice to care. Indeed, I do find it difficult to punish my kids because I love them to death, even when they drive me bonkers. This week is my first on duty (dun dun dun...) so I have to be at school mad early, stay until the end of the day, AND I'm in charge of discipline. At the end of last week, I made an announcement to the staffroom saying that there would be no caning during my week on duty. They laughed at me, of course, but so far they have respect my rule. :)
In other news, I have started an Art Club at the school!! My wonderful family sent me a bunch of art supplies from home, and we got started on Tuesday. It was great fun; I got about 12 students, and I think the number will increase. What I really wanted was to give students a chance to have fun, be creative and express themselves, because they hardly ever get a chance to do those things. It's a little strange considering that I hardly know them, but I want so badly for them to be happy. I'm not sure my art club is capable of making them happy, but if it makes their lives a little brighter, then that's something.
In other other news, I have broken the monotony of my wardrobe with two new skirts. Seriously, having to wear the same five skirts for six months is enough to drive even the least style-conscious person over the edge.
OK, enough of that. While seven months may not be an interesting or substantial amount of time, the things that I have learned certainly make up for that fact in... um... substance. So, allow me to present:
A List of Lessons Learned: [Slightly Over] Seven Months in Kenya!
1. The only thing I can count on in my life here is lizard poo, mold in my bafu, and afternoon downpours. Apart from that, every day is excitingly inconsistent.
2. If you never do anything that scares you, you'll always be afraid.
3. Allow me to quote someone more eloquent than myself! "If what one finds is made of pure matter, it will never spoil. And one can always come back. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you will find nothing when you return." - The Alchemist
4. When you remove the clutter from your life and things become more simple, it doesn't take much to make you happy. For example, a few weeks back I was having a really terrible day and had just about lost all my faith in humanity (not to be too dramatic or anything). To top it all off, I had done laundry the day before, and one of my clean towels had fallen into a mud puddle. I just left it there and went to school. When I returned in the evening, I found that someone had cleaned my towel and hung it back on the line. I nearly cried. In fact, I may have.
5. Before I came to Kenya, I joked with people that I was going to save the world. People say that it is possible for one person to change the world, and I'm not sure if I believe that or not. But I do believe that the only way anything will ever change for the better is it people believe that they can change the world. Oh my goodness, Kenya has turned me into a steaming heap of CORN! (that one's for you, dad)
6. The list of things that I've learned about Kenyan culture could fill whole series of text books, so I'll have to save that for another day. And trust me, I wouldn't go so far as to claim that I really understand Kenyan culture at all. All I know for sure is that it amazes me, confuses me, and drives me slightly crazy. Sometimes I wonder what the hell I'm doing here. But the point is that I'm here, I'm learning and I'm doing stuff. And aren't we all just somewhere, learning and doing stuff?
7. Goats with full-body mohawks and five-inch-long eyebrows are the coolest animals on God's green earth.
Well that's all for now. I hope you've enjoyed reading the above randomness.
Drop me a line if you'd like; I always love to hear from people on the home front! (margaretdcallahan@gmail.com)
Margaret
**The above blog entry is hereby dedicated, with all my love, to Mr. Dave Lang, lifelong friend and second father, and awesomely awesome person. You and your family are in my thoughts always. I miss you guys a ton!**
Sunday, 14 March 2010
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I will start this particular blog entry with a general observation; Kenya is a strange country. A very strange and fascinating country. And not only with regards to chickens, although this particular aspect makes me chuckle. For instance, in what other country would you see about 30 live chickens strapped to the roof of a matatu (the ever-entertaining, semi-life-threatening, popular mode of public transportation)? Where else in the world do people carry their chickens home from the market in a plastic bag with the head and tail sticking out through a couple of holes? I ask you!
Matatu rides alone have provided me with a veritable treasure trove of entertainment and stories, from drunks to marriage proposals to all manner of animals. I have heard that people bring their goats on board. I wonder if people pay a fee for their goats? I mean, it’s not like they fit comfortably on your lap like chickens…
Also, I just have to mention that Kenyans tack the phrase “Isn’t it?” onto the end of everything they say, regardless of the rules of grammar or logic. For example, “You understand me, isn’t it?” or “My name is Mary and I’m saved, isn’t it?” (yes, people introduce themselves this way). I have heard those words misused to many times that I almost keeled over in shock when I someone used them correctly: “It’s hot today, isn’t it?”
So, let’s see… what has been happening? On the school front, things have been pretty busy. On Thursday and Friday, I took three students from each form (12 in all) to a life skills peer workshop. The point of the workshop was to educate some of the leader-type students in life skills and counseling so that they can help their peers deal with the various challenges facing Kenyan youth (HIV infection, early pregnancy, drugs, etc.). The workshop was run by a group called Life Skills Promoters, a Christian charitable group dedicated to saving Kenyan youth from themselves. They are really great people; however, as I am a relatively liberal gal from North-East Ohio, I tend to disagree with them on certain things. For example, the teach that if you drink alcohol, you will die. End. Fin. Bas. Etc. Being unable to lie to my own students on such issues, I restrained myself with difficulty from mentioning that, as a mature adult, taking alcohol from time to time is quite OK.
Sometimes, however, I am unable to keep my opinions to myself because doing so tugs at my conscience. Just a few weeks previously, I attended a conference for life skills teachers and school counselors that was run by the same group. On this occasion, the facilitators spoke about homosexuality as a problem to be solved and something that’s able to be cured. They talk about homosexuals as sinners, as abnormal. Even the smartest students at my school say that if a friend came out to them, they wouldn’t stay friends with them. Appalling. So, shaking with nerves, I put up my hand and defended gays and gay rights in a room full of conservative Kenyans. Since coming to Kenya, I’ve realized that there are some things I believe in so strongly – like equality and human rights for all people – that I cannot keep quiet. And I don’t want to. If people don’t stand up for women’s rights from time to time, even if it’s just little old me, how will things ever change?
Apart from the life skills arena, school is going fine. My form 2’s are lazy and love to copy each other because they just don’t care; honestly, they drive me bonkers. My form 1’s however, are awesome. I’m their class teacher so I know them pretty well, and I’m proud of them! They work had and even ask me for homework at the end of class. It does amaze me that Kenyan students ever learn anything; they are sent away for weeks at a time to find school fees, and the turnover rate of teachers is incredible. They are always coming and going, finding better, higher paying jobs. Sadly, three of my closest teacher friends have found such a job and have up and gone. Blah. Although I am happy for them for finding a good job, I now feel as though I’m starting from square one in the social department at my site. Also, they’ve left me with no one for company but a lady teacher who talks to herself constantly.
Life outside of school is also going well! I have become accustomed to the creatures that reside in my house, and have even named one of the larger spiders that hangs out in my sitting room (his name is Ralph). Also, I am beginning to adjust to – maybe even to enjoy? – life on my own. My house is getting to be pretty nice, although it is an ongoing project. I have even started to branch out a little in the cooking department (key phrase “a little”). I shall no provide you with a simple recipe of my own invention!
Margaret’s Magical Tuna Noodles (I just made that up now…)
Ingredients:
A couple handfuls of curly pasta
1 can of white chunk tuna sent to you, with love, from America
1 onion
Ample amounts of Blue Band (a margarine-like substance)
Salt
Pepper
Cook pasta, add Blue Band, set aside. Chop onions and sauté until brown-ish. Return pasta to pot and add chunks of tuna. Warm it all up and add salt, pepper, and more Blue Band. Seriously delicious, in any country! ☺
The past couple weekends have also been very fun. Two weekends ago, I visited the Kakamega National Forest. Two pals and myself went camping at a nice (and empty) site in the middle of the rainforest. They each had two-person tents. We had a great time. We hiked a lot, saw the most magnificent trees and wildlife (including monkeys and very bold baboons who just wondered onto our campsite to chill), cooked canned beans and corn over a fire, drank red wine from the bottle, and listened to music. Lovely.
Last weekend, I traveled to Bomet in the Rift Valley Province for a reunion with my gal pals. It was fa-ree-zing!! I never expected to have to bundle up in Africa. But Whitney welcomed us to her nice little shack that lets the cold outside air in through all kinds of cracks, but it has electricity and she's decorated it very well. We had a great time. On Friday night, Whitney made us dinner while Jenny and I watched “Friends” on her computer underneath 13 blankets. Saturday, we picked up Christine in town after a long walk in the gorgeous countryside, picked up lunch and went to see a nearby waterfall. Sadly, the skies opened up and we were forced to find shelter. The monsoon turned out to be a blessing in disguise; we were rescued by a young engineer/missionary-type. He invited us to his house (sure, we didn’t know him well, but he was nice and promised us a fire!). His house was a palace. So we spent the afternoon admiring the electricity and runner water, eating Skittles and marshmallows, and talking to our new friend and his roommate. It was quite nice. We decided we had wore out our welcome when Whitney’s puppy peed on the nice missionary’s clothes. So we went back to the house, got warm, and made guacamole and chapati for dinner. Jenny and I left early Sunday morning in order to meet up with some other PCV’s for lunch in Kisumu. Twas a great weekend.
Hmm, what else? I was evaluated by my supervisor dude from Nairobi on Wednesday. He sat in on one of my classes, talked about me with the deputy principal, and came to check out my house. He seemed really happy with my teaching and said I had a very nice and organized house (I guess he didn’t take a close enough look at my floors… phew!). He also told me that, while I look younger than 22 ½, I act older. Always nice to hear, considering I look like a high school student. So all in all it went very well; it is encouraging to hear that he thinks I’m doing well here so far.
On a day to day basis, I’d say that I’m pretty happy and content. I had a feeling that eventually I would feel this way, even though it was hard to imagine it in the beginning. Life here is simple, school is challenging, and the country continues to amaze me. And honestly, how could anyone who wakes up every day to a glorious sunrise, and who brushes their teeth at night under an unbelievably starry sky, be unhappy?
As usual, thanks for reading!
Margaret
Sunday, 21 February 2010
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I am currently privileged to the rare combination of my own computer, electricity and good service!
First, for those of you who are not Union-ites, I wrote a little article for the Union College Math Department newsletter; if you're interested, here is the link:
http://www.math.union.edu/~friedmap/Newsletters/
It's the February 19 article at the top.
So I have come to realize that my life here, more than ever before, is defined by a series of moments. These moments can be anything – stupid, beautiful, thought provoking, totally meaningless, whatever – and they make things feel real in the midst of the dream that is my life. I’ve been writing down some of these moments, and I thought I’d share a few. I apologize for their silly, pseudo-short story format.
February 13
7:55am
The man with no name greets me every morning. He wears an old, dark blue coat that falls past his knees. He tends to the cows and the chickens; he sweeps the leaves off the grass. The man smiles and puts up his hand, and seems genuinely happy to see me. I smile and wave; I am glad to see him, too. His motives are pure… a simple greeting. He wants nothing from me: not money, not marriage, not a free ticket to America. He doesn’t even speak to me. He may be my favorite Kenyan male.
February 13
10:30am
The other day, I had a conversation with one of the Form 4’s. I listened while he told me about his life. He told me that his father was an alcoholic, and that he died when he was 12. He told me that his mom lives in Nairobi; he stays with his grandmother. He broke his leg five years ago, which is why he is lame; I was startled to hear this. For most Americans, a broken leg would mean only a few months of recovery and bam! Back to normal. We talked for a while about his goals; he wants to become a journalist. He said, however, that it’s hard to plan for the future because if you die, all of your plans go to waste. I told him that it’s no good to fear death and forget to live. He told me that he’s an only child. “Why was I born alone?” he asked. I wasn’t sure what to say. “I guess that’s just the hand you were dealt.”
I enjoy talking to him because he is honest and asks the questions without shame or inhibition. He is one of the few students who dare to talk to me outside of class. The funny thing is that the “administration” fears students like him because they see him as a threat, as dangerous, as someone who might corrupt the minds of the other, “well-disciplined” students. But I wish that all my students were brave enough to think for themselves and to question, rather than blindly accept, the ideas and beliefs of their culture.
February 18
4:10pm
Games (what we calls sports) officially start on Saturday, so the footballers are training hard. Well, hard by tiny-Kenyan-secondary-school standards. I sit on the bench outside of the staff room and watch the girl’s football team warm up. One of my fellow lady teachers, and coach of the girl’s football team, chases the girls around the field with a stick to make them run faster, brandishing it at stragglers. She doesn’t actually hit the girls; at most, the slow pokes receive a tap on the bum. They squeal and run faster. I laugh out loud as I imagine my high school basketball coaches chasing us up and down the court with sticks. Admittedly, I probably would have been a better runner if that had been the case.
February 19
3:30pm
I feel like my daily happiness is directly proportional to the number and variety of chickens outside of my house each morning.
Just kidding.
But seriously, when you spend as much time looking at chickens as I do, you begin to notice that they really do have unique personalities. I wrote an absurdly long paragraph about chickens. I am not proud of this, and I refuse to post it here. I just want you all to know that chickens are far more interesting that you’d think. Or perhaps I need to get a life. I’ll let you guys decide.
February 21
11:24am (NOW! BROADCASTING LIVE!)
For those of you love me enough to have suffered through all of the meaningless crapola that I just wrote, a general update for you: everything is going fine! However, I was rather traumatized last week when I woke up a 4am to find a mouse scuttling up my arm. I wish I were joking. The next day, I went out and bought a mosquito net that covers my whole bed. There have been no sightings of the mouse since (knock on wood).
I still enjoy teaching for the most part, regardless of the fact that some of my students still mock the way I speak. When they do this, I mock their mocking by saying in the annoying, high-pitched voice, "I don't talk like this!" Also, I am constantly frustrated by the fact that my Form 2 (grade 10) math students are still not able to add integers; the majority of my students calculated -8 + 5 to be 13 on their last exam. GAH!
I have been trying to keep myself busy outside of school by “helping” train the footballers (meaning I keep the coach company), by taking frequent walks to town, and by reading oodles of books (currently, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy). I also get to talk to my wonderful family pretty often, which has made my life 3,879,857 times easier. Plus, they send me fun things from home like a Shaq bobble-head doll, yoga articles, and canned tuna.
In other news, I have been at site for a month and a half, meaning that our first term is half way over! I can’t believe how fast time flies, and how much more material I have to cover this term if I’m to have any hope of finishing the syllabus this year. There is no school in April; for the second half of the month, my training class will reunite somewhere (Nairobi?) for IST. My plans for the first part of the month are still to be determined.
Next weekend, I think that a couple of pals and me are going to visit the Kakamega National Forest to check out the birds and the monkeys and the ridiculously massive insects. I have wanted to visit the forest since I arrived at site; I’m really excited!
Well, I think that's it for now. I hope you're all doing well! If you want to drop me a line, I'd love to hear from you... my email is margaretdcallahan@gmail.com.
Peace,
Margaret
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