Purely for Children

Jane Merisho is amazing. She has quite the life story. She married Eric when she was 2o something and they have been very in love for the whole time. Something that I find rare around the community that I am residing in. They met at church and have been in love ever since. Two children later they are on their third child. Jane is due in August. How amazing is this. She is thirty eighty years old. Church is her other place besides school. Prayer is important in her life and you can see her praying at 1 am, 3 am etc. You may think this is rediculous, but it is something she likes and I will defend her as though she is my family. Gold is color of her heart. Out of her way is what she does endlessly for these children. Recently we had a mother come to the house in panic as her drunk husband threatened to beat her. Jane sat her down, talked to her, and gave her a bed to sleep in. She is selfless everyday.

Recently we have been doing Tusion, which is extra curricular academics. It is revision of exams. Jane is doing this for no money. How great is that? This is what she told me today "Rosie,, Im doing this for free. I have children who haven't payed since last year and I won't kick them out of this school. I can't. I'm doing this for the children. I don't care about the money. I don't need the money."

The experiences here are rich for me. Please note this might be a place I express myself. Not just a blog, so if you don't mind my thoughts, then keep reading.

If anything I've learned that it's important to have some humor when your traveling. Kenyans laugh at everything. OK, maybe not everything. But, it's easy for me to get hurt. You literally say in your head "What the hell am I doing here." When they laugh it is mostly rediculous. Things that we'd probably find offensive. Or there laughing get;s annoying. But, really this is a fascinating culture. It is common to have a few crappy days here and there.

Ewagan means light in the local language. I work at the Ewagan Junior School. This means that kids come to the light for knowledge.

Simmie my mom's friend is amazing. I just met her for dinner and it's nice to see an american after weeks of just me. Her daughter Cary and her are doing amazing things. Selfless as well. They are strong people. We had dinner at whistling thorns.

After seeing africa I know that I need to make small changes somewhere. Shall I sit on it for a while? Is it bad to start thinking about helping so early? I think that I already have. Ghana, India, Kenya.

It is easy to make friends. I have life friends: Jane, Sweetie (my doctor), my doctors patient Jayashree. They will always be in my heart.

The Swahili I know:

Nacupenda: I love you, something I say to my grandmothers here everyday.

Suba: How are you?

Eba? Fine

Abadiaco: How are you?

Mazurey: Fine, thank you.

We had the kids make thank you letters for friends that have donated supplies for the school.

I'm inspired my being here. I'm wanting to keep doing help for places in Africa. But how?

Kenya is amazing. I can't really tell you otherwise. Although, some things can be frustrating. For example when a kids mother comes and says that her husband might drunk beat her that is bad. It is a bad thing. MOthers don't deserve beatings. Around where we live there is a bar. I think that this bar creates lots of problems.

Animal Orphanage:

On thursday I took the Pre-Unit and Class 1 students to the animal orphanage in Rangata. We hired a matato to take us there. Lots of students piling on top each other. Squished, african style transport. We were supposed to leave around 9 am, but everything runs slower here so we left later. The kids all wore their uniforms, Tr. Jane believed that it would help with a discount, its good so we can tell where all our school children are. We had some sick children on the way to the orphanage. So of these kids never go in transport and mainly stay around where they live. So carsick kids was interensting. The kids sang songs on the way. We stopped in Kiserian on the way to the animal orphanage to get some chips (french fries) for the kids. I also ran with a boy to the grocery store to buy some soda, juice. We then loaded back into the car and went to the animal orhanage. On the way we saw monkeys on the side of the road and all you could hear was a car full of laughter. It was pleasant to see some of these children laughing, getting outside of their normal zone. Nairobi Animal Orphanage was not crowded and charged me much more then the Kenya Citizen Price. The kids were thrilled to see the animals and had big smiles when we saw the monkeys climbing on the side of the cage. Birds, monkeys, lions sleeping, cheetahs, leopard, ostrich were in the animal orphanage. Wild monkeys that weren't part of the animal orphanage were also present. I put a banana out for the monkeys right near the leopard cage and the monkey came and the leopard lunged inside his cage for the monkey.

We enjoyed the animal orphanage a lot and then had lunch on the lawn. Chips (french fries), juice and sweets, biscuits. They said a prayer for the food. "Some had food, but no appetite. Some have appetite but no food. We thank you god for the both. Amen."

Then we went to the giraffe center. Which, was by far my favorite. I got kissed by a giraffe. Pictures to come. Internet is insanely slow. Kids loved feeding the giraffe. Did you know the giraffes could be such friendly animals?

So I'm having a hard time debating whether to leave Kenya or not on April 27th? I have to say it's lonely out here. But, I keep praising myself at how far I've come. Almost 3 months. I don't want to let anyone down. But I have do what my heart tells me. Sometimes it's hard to be alone. I'm 18 years old. Traveling alone. It's nerve racking sometimes. And it's hard to admit this, but sometimes i miss my life at home. You know you want to be strong and not crack. But sometimes you need to let yourself be weak. But it's good to be strong, not give in to the pain of missing home. Throw yourself into what your doing. Then again there is a balance of both.

I think it is a difficult life here for women. The un-educated women don't have a say. Well it really depends on the situation. I can't believe some of the womens stories. Jane the women i live with is amazing. She is willing to hear peoples stories and guide them with a good solution. She is incredibly sweet, and willing to help a lost soul.

I have made many trips to the Kiserian market...where they sell lots of vegetables....

Asante

I love Africa. There is so much to the life here. So much color, so much zazaaammm. The women are amazing. Maternal. Loving. Child bearing. Bearing lots of children just to bring on the tradition. Doesn't that take a lot of bravery. Did you know the Messai are poligamists? The Grandfather GoGoya that lives here in the comp0und married three women and had 8 children with each wife. I asked his son today if he fell in love with these women. He didn't. He married them by giving money for them. He is 98 years old. An amazing man. 98? Yes, I'm telling the truth. How can there be a forced love? How can you be forced to love someone? No love, partnership, it is to keep the society moving. To keep things moving steady. The children born to farm, many wifes to help in the garden.

Life is amazing.

When you greet a mesai elder you bow your head and the mesai pets your head.

more to come later.....

Did you know that Nacupenda means I love you in swahili? Or that Abadiaco means how are you? mazurey is I'm fine. I find myself saying Nacupenda to my Nennay (grandmother) a lot here in Kenya. Not only is she so lovable but well she is loved by everyone. Kenya is amazing. It is traditional. The massai are an amazing tribe- tall, brilliant, proud. Speaking massai. Pure african hospitality. It sounds like a commercial but it's not. It's reality. I'm so proud to say I can be here.

School here:

Gracious + Kind children. Of course can not all speak english but still waving to say hello or thank you when I bring them sweets.

Some children can not afford to come to school so are not schooling. Sad.

Some children are from the tribe Kwkuyu and some Massai.

Each child has a different personality.

About Kenya:

People are generally kind.

Where I am it is literally rolling hills.

Farming land. Most people are farmers where I am living.

HIV seems to not be talked about.

People are curious about my life.

Most people have not heard of VT. But more major states NY, Washington D.C.

Kenyans love Obama. He is 1/2 Kenyan.

Food is Ugali. Made out of corn and with some water then turns hard and you eat it with beans or veggies.

Matato is the means of transporation.