My last days at Happy Life....

It's my final day at happy life! 

 

I cant believe how fast the time has gone by! Although i am ready to see my family and go back to my home i am struggling to find a way to say good bye to those precious little faces.  Ecspecially melodys pretty little face!  Not sure how i will but i am sure that i dont have many options! 

 

The kids have been really great at happy life! they are all so sweet and loving.  They love attention just like any other child.  But they love it even more for many obvious reasons.  some of their stories are so heart breaking how they ended up at happy life and even though its sad they have no family Happy life is there for them in an amazing way. happy life really takes great care of their kids.  they re a blessing to those children.  the owner and director, and workers, and all the local volunteers from the university close by love each child as their own.  Its been a great experience to see this side of kenya.  The side of kenya that alot of people would never see if it werent for the experience i am having.

 

I have been spending every moment i cant at happy life and with the kids.  The girls i am with probably think i am crazyb ut i love those kids.  i have realized the passion i have for children since i have been here.  i love to see those babies smile so much!  i dont care how tired i have been its been worth every effort i put into to get here! seeing their smiling faces is all that matters at the end of the day.  i have to remind myself sometimes why i am here when all i want to do is lay down and take a nap... but its always worth it. 

 

i have grown pretty close to a couple of the local volunteers as well as a couple of teh workers.   they promise to update me about melody and let me know when she is adopted.  I really hope that a great family finds her and takes good care of her.  she deserves to be loved very much.....she is an amazing girl.

 

Everything else is going great here..i am ready to come home to civilization but like i said will miss it here very much. I went to visit George and Lilian (my first host family...my real kenyan family) yesterday and was able to say goodbye to them and tell them i will miss them!  it was fun to go back but becuase of the recent drama with El Shaddai i was not able to visit the children....which of course broke my heart but when we were walking back to the matatu stop we passed a big group of them coming home from school so that was fun to see them and say hello and we bought them some candy( a.k.a. sweets).  they were excited to say hello but then we had to go back to town....for our two hour matatu excursion through traffic....You have to love kenya ...but the traffic here is out of control! it took us two hours to get home and it should  have only taken me about 45 mins in total....i was so hot and gross when i finally got home at 8 at night (an hour past our 7 o clock safety curfew).

 

However kenya is full of surprises and .....Our water was back on so i was able to shower again. That was nice and a relief after my hot as hell day i had!  i just hope there is water tomorrow when i really need to shower before i enter a plane full of people! 

 

Will try to write again before i leave tomorrow....if i do not.  i Hope you enjoyed reading about my trip and to those who read i appreciate your support.

 

 

Fun, shopping, eating, and then came the sickness....

So things are going well!  I am doing great for the most part.  | came into Nairobi for the weekend and met up with sara for my final weekend here in Kenya, ok well full weekend!  We met up at Westgate Mall of course for coffee and a break from living in the outskirts of Nairobi, which in case you were wondering means no showers, and the same yummy foods i have been eating since i got here!  So i enjoyed my first real cup of black coffee at Dormans coffee house in the Mall since i got here!  IT was AMAZING!  After coffee we headed to the home of heaven...The Volunteer House and Charity the most amazing host mom ever!  When we got there we found out there was another group of about 6 staying there as well because one of their friends was leaving the next day and they all came in for a fun dinner in the Westlands...(just another area of niceness here in nairobi).  So me and sara decided to head out for a yummy MEXICAN food dinner! It was so much fun and i had guacamole and it was so delicious!  Me and sara both orded the veggie fajitas.

After dinner all 10 or so of us headed to a bar and went dacning and enjoyed a few beers.  Here is where i met Austin who is from houston (a volunteer here) who lives in dallas.  Yes you read that right. Austin from Houston lives in dallas.  He is a student at SMU and we had a fun conversation amongst ourselves about texas, and living there etc.  He knew of the domes and of italy and waxahachie which i found odd for some reason but i guess its not to odd!  Then after our convo we all decided to go to Gypsys another bar down the street some actually made it there adn some headed hom seeing how it was 2 a.m. already and apparently bars dont close here! EVER!  haha....so me and chris, and sara hitched a ride with some guy that chris new in the back of his truck!  it was like the old days when i lived in italy, except so much different becuase we were in the middle of a city and i was so sure that we were going to get pulled over but then i remember we were in kenya...we are white...we do pretty much as we please kinda sad that you can get away with so much!

after gypsys, me and sara finally headed home for some sleep!

Saturday morning, me and sara headed to the Masai market where i did some major shopping again (yes i am out of control and a masai market addict...i wonder if they have rehad for this).  I LOVE BARGAINING! i got some amazing souveniers today and some major deals! i get better at it each time i go.  A couple of the sales men even remembered me from before and didnt want to help me bcause i  am too good at bargaining!  Today however was extremly hot for some reason so me and sara left and headed for lunch at another amazing coffee house where i had an amazing milkshake (choco banana)! YUMMY!!! Then sara needed to head into tuskys (local grocer) for a few items but i decided to sit outside while she went in becuase of the craziness taht place can hold!  BUt it was an intersting experience to sit outside on the sidewalk and watch kenyas local pass by.  Then headed back to our temporary heavan we like to call home away from home!

Then......THE SICKNESS came over me like nothing i have ever experienced! i started to feel extremly sharp pains in my stomach and my sides and ache all over my body!  so i though maybe a nap would help....i was wrong!  i began throwing up and cramping more and more and i was so unsure what was wrong.  After about 4 hours i started to THINK i felt better so me and sara and three other cute new volunteers that live at the volunteer house permantley went to a delicious brazilian steakhouse for dinner.  THen it all began again!  the cramping intense pains and throwing up in a public toilet!  It probably has been the lowest point in my trip.  let me just remind you how lovely public bathrooms are here! THEY ARENT!  they smell and are so dirty!  But i dealt with it and tried so hard to enjoy my 2000 shilling dinner!  Mostly just drank water and then we decided it was time for us to go...and headed back through the darkness to cathc a matatu. which in its own event was so interesting.  We decided to split up so we could fit in a matatu.  matatus at night arent the best idea but what can ya do!  so we split up and got in our matatu where i then had two girls sitting in my lap so we could fit.  i have issues with matatus getting so crowded so i stared out the window and tried to concentrate on the pain i was already feeling! haha....then when we finally got to our placement i got out and tried to pay the matatu conductor as we swayed back and forth from his level of drunkedness! it made for an intersting night thats for sure!  Fianlly home i crashed on the bed where i cried and laughed off and on for the night! I know sounds terrible but i over all had an amazing weekend and now its sunday and i have ONE WEEK left!  I am in shock and denial a little that i have so little time left. But i am ready to head home and see my family and Zack and of course my adorable nieces! 

I will write again soon....and i will be home soon as well!

Just an update....

Things are going normal and thats a huge plus.  I am loving Happy Life more and more each day.  Things there are so much nicer and better ran then El Shaddai.  Of course i miss it there as well ecspecially the little kiddos.  But i am trying to only look at the positive side  of things to not gt too down.

 

 

 

Today at Happy Life I arrived at 9 and instatnly found my way back to the infant room and instanly found melody.  I was asked to feed her becasue i am the only one that can get her to eat properly i guess.  I guess  am pretty great!! Jk.  Then i helped feed all the other infants as well.  Then around 10 a church group from Chicago of about 20 to 30 arrived to volunteer for the day.  They are doing a ten day travel through Kenya and each day they are spending the day at a different Orphanage.  and today was our lucky day.  They arrived with tons of toys and goodies for all the kids that were old enough of course. The kids were so excited!  i love seeing their little faces light up.  we all sat around and played with the babies and talked etc.  Me and one of the workers Mary got to know eachother very well today also.  She is actually a volunteer that comes everyday while she is in search for a job.  She is so helpful and speaks english very well. Then Mary and I helped put the babies to bed after lunch was over.  I had a great day today at Happyl ife each day passes quicker and quicker but i am still ready for my house with air conditioner, hot showers, and American food!  No offense Kenya! 

 

I am still learning so much each day and each day that passes another lesson is learned.  I am learning so muc about myself more then anything.   When i first got moved to Happy life i was so down and so frustrated about the change but i guess i need to remember that with each change there is something postive you just have to be open to it!  I think so far the most important thing i have learned is that.  that i need to be open to change! KENYA is alllll about change and usually at the last minute! 

 

I am going to go home now to finish laundry and then hea back to happy life to play with the little kiddos who are getting out of school soon. 

 

Two weeks left

Two weeks left.....

Yesterday was exactly two weeks left...yes on valentines day which was spent with my friend martha, so not alone which is good because apparently Kenyans take their love holidays seriously here.  Me and martha were in town on her last day here shopping around at the Masai market and there were people all over Nairobi selling flowers, teddy bears, etc.  It was insane, i couldnt believe how many people were carrying the stuff around with them.  I even got a rose with my chicken sandwich at lunch.  Was so funny. 

I had a good weekend keeping Martha company on her last weekend here.  She left sat night at 11:30.  I was secretly a little jealous of her.  I am starting to get antsy to see my friends and family and of course Zack!  But we had alot of fun.

Friday night i came into town to meet her and headed over to the Westgate Mall in the westlands area which is where most of the rich people live! We had dinner at a place called Art Caffe and enjoyed a nice dinner outside on their patio.  Then went into the Nakumatt there were its obvious white people shop becuase they had SKITTLES and Original PRINGLES never thought i would care so much about them but we went crazy and bought some junk food and headed back to the volunteer house where we ate junk food all night and drank fanta and watched a movie.  it was so much fun!  We even had the volunteer house to ourselves (where martha lived while here) becuase all her roommates were on safari this weekend and so we just gave Charity the house mom the night off. I got to sleep in a queen size bed all alone and it was the best night sleep i have had since i have been here! 

Saturday morning we headed into nairobi where we shopped and kept eachother company until she had to head back to finish her packing.....and i went home to my homestay....

which by the way is much scarier. 

We have running water ...barely there is no water pressure really and the water is FREEZING.  We are told not to even think about drinking the water it comes straight from teh sweage...eww!  My bed is veryyyy uncomfortable but doable.  Its like a foam pad so if you sit in one spot and try to move you fall back to where you were sitting before becuase the mattress is now caved in.  So it makes it hard to sleep through the night.  Our room is TINY and there are four of us sharing the space and no where to put anything so everything i brought with me is hanging out on the end of my bottom bunk which leaves little room for sleeping! My new area is called Mirema its a slum outside of Nairobi but its not to bad compared to Kibera.  It just smells and the water running through the streets is filled with trash and very dirty.  There are also lots of mosquittos here at our new place too so that bug spray mom gave me is almost gone! But thats good its one less thing i have to pack ont eh way home!

Two weeks everyone and i am home!  Cant wait to see and hear from everyone! 

Matatu's and Bargaining!!!!

I thought i would write a blog today about some random stuff that i know i cant even begin to explain but its worth trying.

Matatus.....
riding in a matatu is always a unique experience that one will never forget once experienced.  The first time i rode in a matatu i was scared to death but as i got to know the way the matatus work i secretly began to enjoy the thrill of it all.  So to catch a matatu you must be quick!  They are more then willing to forget you and move on to the next person willing to get in.  Matatus hold abotu 14 people legally however here there is no such thing as following the laws.  So they tend to squeeze as many as they can into a matatu and if your stuck in the back seat of this matatu you are screwed.  I have had a couple panic attacks being squeezed in the back seat for three with five so thats always a feeling of panic i wont forget either.  Paying for a matatu is also an experience that can be frustrating.  usually i just ask before i get in the matatu how much to town, mirema (where i am now located), etc.  if they say more then i think it should be i say no way its (ten less then they say) and then they let me in cause they then discover i am not some stupid tourist willing to just pay to get to my destination.  so then they give me a real price a kenyan price not a "white person" price. Then  you are off to your destination which usually takes way to long becuase they stop every 3 moinutes to pick up as many people as they can so they can make a maxium profit.  Its tons of fun sometimes the music they play is always fun and can make you want to dance .  Some matatus have t.v.s that play VERY LOUD music videos that are a little risque but theya re fun and funny none the less.  When finally to your destination you must yell to the conductor who is only inches away but can barely hear you because of the loudness or just take it upon yourself like i do and bang on the roof like the kenyans do when you want off and the driver stops and you move the the mass amounts of people and jump out to the street and try to avoid the other million matatu conductors trying to get you on their matatu or taxi drivers trying to get you in their taxi which at times could just be a lie!  But no worries anyone....im kenyan smart now!



Bargaining....
Bargaining is always FUN!  I am really good at it thanks to my arguing skills i have inherited from mom and daddy garrison. The people at Masai Market recognize me and love doing business with me becuase i think they are entertained by my good bargaining skills but sometimes they avoid me because they know i am looking for a cheap price!  Cause although i am white i want the cheapest price possible!  White people are thought to be very rish here and well....IM NOT!  Masai Market is tons of fun though and i always leave with much more then i should but i just love what they are selling and there is some really cool stuff!  Yesterday for example i went with my pal martha and went for one thing and left with about 10!  I bought most of my souveniers though.  My first purchase was three peices of really cool art that were started at 11000 and i got them down after hard bargaining for almost 30 minutes down to 2300!  i could have gone much lower but they were nice and i think worth what i paid.  So sometimes you still get a little ripped off but i guess its the experience of it all that makes it so much fun!  The hardest part is being stalked down by the same people all day.  screaming at you to come to their shop which is not a shop at all in american terms ig uess its just a tarp on the ground with tons of stuff laid out and most people have the same thing!  Not everyone though.  But when a person sees that you made a purchase its much harder from there becuase they know your serious about buying and they want you at their shop!  But i guess ia m good at being stern and ...well a little bitchy which i have decided you have to be here in Kenya sometimes! 

Life is happier with a Melody

Ok i know i am obsessed but i love Melody.  Today I went to happy life found melodry and didnt put her down the entire time i was there until it was time for her to go to bed for a nap.  She is so pretty and loves me just as much back. Even a couple times i tried to put her down she wouldnt let me.  I found out today she is 8 months old as well.  Perfect for me to take home...haha.

I was in he infant pin with the babies and there were three kids crying at the same time and i was alone because the infant caregiver went to get soemthing so there i was sitting alone and three babies crying so i decided there was nothing i could do buyt try to calm them down after about 10 minutes i succeded they finally were all happy and not crying anymre the caregiver was impressed she said she could hear them crying and was trying to hurry but when sxhe came back they were all sitting with me and happy. she offered me a job and then i kindly replied but said i will take melody home though and she said ok we will see what we can do.  I guess you can be 25 and adopt a same sex baby from there.  so i can adopt a girl in 7 months she she took me seriously and i might come home with melody.

ok not really because i dont think that it would be the best idea in the world but i do love her.

after melody time i went into the infant room and helped feed all 12 of the infants it was so much fun. i never thought i would have so much fun feedng changing and being puked on 4 times by babies but i do.  now i am in nairobi waiting for my friend martha. tomorrow is her last day and she is heading back to D.C. So i came into town today to hang out with her and spend the night at her house and then see her off tomorrow.  she was hear a month so that means tomorrow is exactley two weeks left fo me. 

i will be seeing all very soon!

Happy Life....

Happy life is the name of my new placement here right outside of nairobi.  Not sure if the new area i will be living is considered a slum or not but i am about 99% sure that it is.  Its very intense and dirty and smells....Lovely. My new placement at Happy Life is great. I do love it and i have already met another adorable little girl that i am tempted to bring home as well. Her name is Melody and she is so beautiful.  This placement is for babies who are abandoned at the hospital, etc.  So they have babies from 1 day old to 5 yrs old.  The babies  are not forced to go somewhere else after age 5 but this place is very nice and caring for the children and does a good job of getting the babies adopted.  So pretty much every child eventually gets adopted.  Its the coolest thing, they even have this giant bulliten board of all the babies who have been adopted by families its the sweetest thing.   I got to feed a little baby today and i had a lot of fun doing that as well.  There was baby food all over me and in my hair. Its was so funny.  Jonathan though it was halarious as well....the baby. We only spent a could hours there today the babies sleep from 1 to 3 and then they are given bathes and then i think  some days they want us to come back at 4 to help with the small infants. I am excited to play with the small babies..

I have not met my host family yet. The husband Tony is away for a wedding in Mombasa and The wife Ann is at work.  THey have a 3 year old little girl who i have been told is a very spoiled little ....uh angel!  haha.  I will get to meet them tonight and i will have to report back.  My new roommate is from L.A. and she is only 20.  She is pretty cool and easy going she has been here for 5 months and goes home the day after i do.  she seems pretty excited to go home. 

I am getting more excited to come home....i love my new placement but i do miss El Shaddai. This morning before i left i took a box of paper, crayons, pencils, coloring books, markers, erasers, etc.  The kids were so excited and the Teacher Ann was even happier.  She was so relieved to have pencils.  The pencils the kids were using were about teh size of a quarter and broken and chewed on.  I hated  it so i spent some money on pencils for them.  Anyway, i miss Elizabeth already as well. But I am sure she is doing fine. 


I will report more later this week.

oh there is drama everywhere....

last night our program directors from Vicda came to our house to meet with me and julia and kelsey about our placement at el shaddai.  long story short Steven and Beatris the owners were not happy with the way my roommates were doing things at el shaddai.  my roommates were told they didnt spend enough time there and when they did go that they didnt stay long enough.  i guess i was doing just fine...but i was also spending at least 4 hours at the pre school and then 2 at el shaddai. so i was fine but steven and beatris didnt want to work things out and asked for us to be gone by friday....which in turns means i have to go as well.  at first i was devastated and very sad well i wont lie i still am but one thing i have learned here very quickly is there is nothing to be done sometimes and you just have to go with the flow.  so we are being picked up tomorrow ( was supposed to be friday but one of my roommates had it out with the owner today so now we are leaving tomorrow) and being dropped off at a new placement called happy life.  Its close to nairobi which is a positive thing i think.  i only have two weeks left which seems crazy but it also makes it hard to really connect with the kids. but i am sure i will manage and ball my eyes out there like i have done here at el shaddai.  i have come to terms with it and beginning to except things....just makes it hard. John and gladys our directors here were very sorry they have to take us away and i was very angry with them at first but its not their fault.  and its very unfortunate that things couldnt have been worked out.  maybe its for the best.  thats waht i am telling myself anyways. 

elizabeth is doing well.  she is my little angel.  she has been talking to me non stop and today she even danced and sang for me. of course i cant understand a word she is saying but i am going to miss her like crazy.  she is the one kid i am going to miss the most.  she has come so far and i am afraid me leaving might put her back in a funk.  lets hjope not!  She is constantly holding my hand and making me carry her around and if i try to walk away she runs after me screaming my name....LOLA......haha. 

I will write again once i have been to my placement in nairobi and let you all know how it is.  Things happen for a reason right!

Mombasa Mombasa Mombasa.....

Mombasa was amazing!!!  White sandy beaches and bright blue water!!!  Coul not have asked for more.  Our bus ride was over night but because the highways here consist of bumpy roads no real concrete....i didnt sleep a wink.  which means i was awake for the time we almost hit a giraffe. That was exciting...

we arrived in mombasa at 6 a.m. and took three matatus and a fairy to get to our beachalet at Diani Beach.  after we got settled in we took a walk up the beach and headed up to a market to get some food for the weekend....we found a grocery store that had dr pepper and i about freaked out.  i have been craving a dr pepper for weeks and i finally found one!  was so very exciting.  after the market we had some lunch and headed to the beach for several hours of laying in the sun.  and then hanging out on our porch that over looks the beach becuase (it was right on hte beach). 

day 2 consisted of too much laying out being sunburnt and then headed to this place called 40 thieves.  this place was our life line while there.  they had american food!  that was also AMAZING!  i had pizza and fried foods.  I wouldnt believe how much i missed that crap.  we hung out here for several hours which was also right on the beach and booked snorkleing for sunday.  we also took a nice little walk on the beach taht evening while the sun set and it was so beautiful. 

Day 3 we woke up nice and early to head out for out snorkle adventure. we went out to the coral and were able to swim around for 2 hours with all kinds of fish i got to hold a star fish and we saw several eels.  that creeped me out.  oh and a million sea urchins (sp).  those are also creepy big and black with very large spikes..... the weather was perfect and sunny all weekend with some cloud cover but not to bad.

day 4 we went into mombasa tpo see Fort Jesus which was ....interesting. But very hot this was the hottest day by far and i couldnt stand it anymore with the 90 percent humidity....so we headed to a nice cool place ate some dinner and hung out where i hate tons of ice cream and waited for out bus hom.

i had so much fun and loved every single mintute of it......me and sara and marth ( two girls from my intake who have become pretty good friends with) and julia my roommate really enjoyed ourselves and i didnt want to leave exceot that i very much hate humidity! 

Wish i could write more but my computer sucks today...just know that i am nice and tan and had an amazing time laying on the beach for four days....oh and on my last day i rode a camal up and down the beach as well....and the camal tried to bite me but that cool....was still worth it....

the bus ride home was slightly more stressful....we almost hit a VERY large elephant with our bus and then about 10 mins later we spotted a bus turned over on its side...which freaked me out but i am home safe now.....

Headed to the Coast.....

Hello to everyone who is experiencing a cold winter in the states....I am writing to gloat about my trip to Mobasa....that i will be leaving for with in the next few hours!!! HAHAHA!  I am very excited!  We are taking a cab from the volunteer house in spring valley at 9 to our bus stop and will be taking a 8 hour bus ride across kenya to Mobasa over night!  We arrive at 6 a.m. and are staing on the South Coast in Diani Beach Chalets! RIGHT ON THE BEACH!  I plan to binge eat and lay by the beach for 4 days non stop!  I will be sure to wriet in detail how amazing it is when i get home!

 
I have three weeks left as well and although some days are truly a struggle time is flying by and going faster each day.  El SHaddai is going great.  I spent the whole week at teh Pre School with the little 3 and 4 year olds who dont speak much english at all.  So its been a struggle but a great challenge that i am loving.  I am teaching them the alphabet and numbers 1 through 20!!! Its tough but going as well as it can!  THere is one little girl that i love so much i want to bring her home so badly....her name is Elizabeth and she is 3 but before i came had never spoke a word.  they thought somethign was wrong with her...but today i was able to get her to say A B C! 

 

I was so excited i burst into tears right then and there.....she is adorable.  So yes there are days when everything is worth it and then....there are days that i cry and want to board my plane.

 

Today was good....plus i am on my way to Mombasa!

 

Will write again soon!

 

Eating in Kenya

Eating here in Kenya is always a ....well experience.

 

I am not taking a liking to the food here and it kinda makes each day a little bit of a struggle.  I wake up in the morning to chai tea and eggs and tomatoes and toast. which sounds nice at first untill  you have to eat it every single day.  I am getting so sick of tea it is hard to believe.  and i dont even like eggs that much.

 

lunch consist of leftovers from the previous night which are left outside to set for some unknown reason.  I am convinced i have eaten many bugs.  OH the milk is also left out side to sit for some other reason i would like to not know. 

 

Dinner consist of a mixture of beans rice cabbage potatoes chipati (my favorite...like a tortilla kinda) and sometimes noodles.  Each night the same thing in a different consistency.  WHich i hate.  I will probably never be able to eat any of these things after i get home.  At least not the way i eat them here. 

 

I have only been sick a couple times and not even that bad.  I think its from the rotting milk.  hahaha....i am sure i will be fine. i have alread ran out of tums though...should have brought many more. 

 

Things are going well....will write more tomorrow internet is very slow today.

 

 

Kibera and Mombasa

Hello again, things are going well at El Shaddai.  The kids are wonderful and so much fun.  The teacher strike that has been going on since i got here is officially over and the kids go back to school on Monday. WHich means i will be now working at the El Shaddai Preschool in the mornings and then at the orphanage in the afternoons!  I am very excited to get the chance to work with the children on an educational level.  I am going to be working with the kids who are learning English and this should be very interesting since i speak very little Swahili.  It will be another challenge that i am willing to work through and learn from. 

This week me and two other volunteers Sara, Rachel had the oppurtunity to go on a little walking tour of Kibera (Nairobi's largest slum).  It is in The Constant Gardner.  It was an amazing sight to see.  So sad and so hard to really understand how these people live.  There was trash everywhere and the smell is unexplainable.  There is a small stream that runs through Kibera however the only way you would know it is by the moving trash along the side of the road.  I had no clue there was water under all that trash.  It was so sad to see....i truly cant explain the way this place is.  We also were able to go to the Orphanage where some of our intake was placed. There were about 300 orphans there but only room for about 50.  So yes there were about 8 people to a bed...well one can only assume!  It was pretty intense and hard to keep back the tears.  i felt so much pain for these families and these people who live there.  But its their way of life and they make it work for them the best they can. 

Saturday, I met a few volunteers in Ngong and my roommate came along for our TEN i repeat TEN mile hike through Ngong Hills.  It took us about 5.5 hours to complete the whole hike.  I of course forgot to reapply sunscreen at some point and am amazingly fried to a crisp. Even my scalp is HOT PINK!  It was an amazing and beauiful hike.  I went in however thinking it wouldbe a lovely stroll through the hill side and it ended up being a intensive hike!  So needless to say i was completley wiped out after. 

Today (Sunday Feb. 1) is going well.!  I am in Nairobi again with a couple of my friends from my intake.  We went to the Maisi Markets and did some shopping/bargaining!  I spent about 20 bucks and got an amzing peice of art and a couple beautiful scarfs! This bargaining thing is not good for me...cause I love to push buttons which in the end makes me very good at it!  It can get anoying though!  Then we went to the worst part of town looking for our Mash Bus Station which takes us to Mombasa!  We bought our bus tickets though and we leave thursday night for our 8 hour drive to the Coast!  I cant wait! we will spend 4 days there and then head home monday afternoon! That weekend is my half way point and i wont lie i am getting very excited to see my friends and family and my cute boyfriend again! 

So overall things are great and Time is going by. The kids at El Shaddai love to play soccer so i am getting pretty good at kicking a ball!  haha....trust me my coordination problems is so funny to them!  i have fallen in the mud slid down a hill and dropped a million things and the kids think its the funniest thing in the world.  Last week we found the first toy i have seen since i have been here (big bouncy ball) and played soccer for about 3 hours.  The kids were in heaven i have not seen the kids act so excited ever!  So i think before i leave i am going to spend some money on toys for the kids.  They have nothing to play with or do in the day after school and it gets so boring.  They are also loving the crayons and paper.  i have not even brought out the markers and coloring books yet.  i htink i will save them for when i leave.  and give them to the older girls on my last day as a gift!  i will let everyone know how that goes. 

hope all is well... will write again soon.

January 28th

Not much to report today.  I came into Githunguri to buy soap to wash clothes and get some more credit for my cell phone. so i decided to jump on internet and write an update. 

 

Today is Jan. 28th.  Exactley one more month from today before i come home!  My sister becca has had her adorable child and i cant wait to come home to see my new little neice!! SHe will be so big when i see her for the first time.  I have seen pics and she is beautiful just like her mommy. 

 

Yesterday i spent the whole day at El Shaddai.  It was very hot and i got a little heat stroke but nothing to bad.  just pumped myself full of water and called it good this morning.  I learned lots of new songs and games yesterday from the little girls who are not in school because of the teacher strike.  They are loving my crayons and markers i brought.  theylove to write and draw pictures for me.  i have about 20 pics so far that i am bringing home and its only two weeks in. 

 

i am keeping a very detailed journal while here and its already half full at two weeks i may have to buy anothere journal here in the next week or so.

 

Anyway, things are going goo.  Going hiking this weekend at the Ngong hills in Ngong. Then on sunday i am going to do some major shopping at the Maisi Markets....everything is bargaining here so i need to get some practice before i start buying...but i will be sure to write about how that goes next week. 

 

Hope everyone is doing well. Miss you all

With Love

Safari = Amazing

This weekend I went on a Safari in the Maisi Mara for 3 days!  Most incredible experience i have ever had in my life.  Was so beautiful.  I still cant believe how luck y i am to be able to do something like that while i was here. 

The first day we drove from Nairobi to the Campsite for 6 hours then went out into the park for abuot 3 hours and watched the sun set. isaw so many animals, zebras, giraffes, elephants, warthogs, and so much more.  Then we watched the sun set behind the hills and it was something i will never forget.  Then we headed back to camp and had dinner and fought off the bats swooping around our heads for about 3 hours until i got so sick of it and went to bed.  Our tents were interesting but i had the hottest shower for the first time since i have been here. that was amazing as well.

The second day was even better, we went out at about 7 a.m. and were out for the whole day.  I got to see hippos in the Mara River  as well as some crocs!  And then crazy amounds of zebras and elephants and much much more!  We had a picnic lunch and some monkeys kept trying to steal our food which was halarious when they succeded! After that we headed back to main camp but with a stop to a Maisi Village on the way.  They did some dances for us and sang some amazing songs (got some on video)!!!  They even showed us around our village.

the next day we got up so early and headed our for our last day!  we watched the sun rise and then got a rare experience we saw two lions so we decided to stop and watch.  They got up and walked up to our van it was incredible.... They were so closei  could have reached and out touched them....but i didnt!  was a little nervous but it was still a beautiful thing!

After we had breakfast and then headed back to Nairobi another 6 hour drive that instead turned into 8 becasue our van broke down on way home!  oh well made for a fun experience except i got sunburnt to a crisp waiting in the shade for it to be fixed!

I am heading back to Gythangie in about 20 mins so i will write again soon! 

Love you all
Lora

Taking a walk on the wild side

WOW, its already weekend number two for me.  I am back in Nairobi meeting up with all my intake friends ( people who got here same day as me).  We are all meeting here at the VICDA
 office and then heading over to the Volunteer House in Spring Valley.  We leave for our 3 day safari early in the morning and i cant wait!  I will be sure to update after on how wonderful it is!

My first week at El Shaddai is over and .... it was tough but so amazing.  The children LOVE me.  They love my hair and how soft my skin is.  They are constantly braiding my hair and feeling my arms and my toes.  They also love to have their picture taken.  I was not sure why so i asked one of the workers who i get along with very well ( Flora).  She told me its because I am going home to America and they think that someone will see their picture and they will become famous and rich "like all other Americans".  Oh yeah because i am white i am instantly thought of us RICH!  Wishing i was right now so i could give all the children everything they need.  Its interesting to see however how happy most of them are.  Some dont even know what toothbrushes are.  Its interesting to see how they just live with out the things i am so convinced i need.

I wish i could give most of these children the world but i cannot.  I also wish i could bring some home....also cannot. The worst part is that i feel like i am doing nothing. But i have to stop and remind myself that i am bringing them smiles each day.  When they are smiling it may only be skin deep but its still a laugh and smile. 

Yesterday i spent the day with the infants.  They keep them in a separate room from all the other children for some reason.  SO i went in to play with a couple of them and i...yes got Peed on!  It was so funny.  One minute i was laughing and playing with Joseph a baby who has a muscle disorder and will never be able to walk or talk and is also affected by HIV.  And then the next i was soaking wet.  I went straight home to wash myself and my clothes.  Then back to El Shaddai for me.  I am lucky i live so close the shelter i guess!!!

Each day that goes by gets a little easier for all of us volunteers.  But each day is another day closer to coming home as well! I look forward to their smiles but i also look forward to seeing my family and friends again.  And so so so many things i took for granite before! 

Love you all....Be nicer then necessary to everyone because everyone is going through some fort of trial. (Thanks to my beautiful mother).

Day 1 In my Placement

Hello again

 

I cant believe how lucky I have been here.  I have finally made it to my home and my placement here in a little Village outside of Githunguri.  Its a cute little town and it has interent.  Its about 10 minutes away from my home so not to bad.  To get into town i have to take whats called a matatu.  Very intersting experience.  I get on and then come around and collect money. Its really cheap only about 20 shillings to get into town.  That is only like .30 cents.   I have two roommates that are volunteering at the same place as me El Shaddai Childrens Home.  I have not been there yet. I am going right after my trip to town.  I will be sure to report as soon as i get internet access again. 

 

My host family is great.  George and Lillian are the parents and their daughter and granddaughter live with them as well.  They are considered a very wealthy family here in Kenya. They have cows and chickens, this is a big deal here !!!  I have also been lucky enough to have hot shower and working toilets!  They even have a filter on their running water in the kitchen so i dont have to spend money on any water!  I feel as though i am very blessed and lucky to have such a nice accomidation here in Kenya. 

 

My roommates Julia, Kelsey and Jane are really great and young.  Jane is from New Zealand and is 21. SHe has been done with her volunteer experience for about 4 months.  She just cant get herself to leave.  So she sleeps on the floor in one of the bedrooms.  Julia is from California (central coast). She is 18.  Just graduated high school in june...can you believe her bravery! She leave two weeks after me but has been here for 4 months.  Then there is Kelsey from Oregon.  She is 20 and is going to be leaving in 4 months.  She has been here for two months.  I can't believe how brave these girls are.  I am struggling with my 6 weeks. They are all very caring and very nice and taking good care of me.  Showing me where and how everything works here. 

 

I will be going to my placement at El Shaddai after town today.  I cant wait to meet the children and spend some time with them.  I am very excited to be a part of this. I wont lie it is a challenge but it is an amazing experience as well. 

 

Friday morning THeir daughter (Sharon) is taking me into Nairobi and dropping me off at teh Vicda office.  I am meeting about 10 other volunteers that came out the same day as me and we are all going to the Maisi Mara Safari for three days.  I am very excited and i kno that will be so much fun!  I cant wait to see some of the friends i made from orientation.  Its weird how attached you get to people in 3 days. Some of the girls i met my first couple days are really amazing and have become a life line for me here.  We are all supporting eachother through this and its a very great learning experience. 

 

Ok well. I am going to head back to the house and get a couple things for the kids. Then head over to El Shaddai.  Its only about a 3-5 minute walk from my house!  So thats nice no matatus to work!  They can be a stressful thing! 

 

I am learning so much about myself every minute of every day. Miss everyone...

 

Write again soon!

 

Love you all!!!

So much and much much more

Hello everyone,

 

Things are going very well!  I am already homesick but making lots of friends.  Day one of Orientation was fun much like a classroom setting.  Learned many things about the culture and language and getting around, etc.  After we went to a eat lunch at a chinese place and got to sit in this huge tent with about 20 other new volunteers.  Was very much worth it and fun!  After we went back to our temp. housing.  Our house mom is amazing, her name is Charity and she is the sweetest and happiest person i have ever met!  We sat around and got to know eachother for a while had dinner (which was green peas and noodles and this yummy bread that they eat with almost every meal).  THen after such a long day went to bed.  Today has been long and exhausting but very fun.  FIrst we were picked up and went to a animal orphange.  I got to pet and take pictures with a baby cheetah! It was amazing!  Then after we came back into uptown Nairobi and got to go to this huge market to get fresh water and a cell phone.  ( mom and dad i will be calling soon).  Thun my first real kenyan lunch.  I hate baked chicken and this stuff that looked like mashed potatoes but was not!  It was flour and water!  YUMMMY....JK!!  Now we are back to the Siona House which is where our Vicda Leaders are and I just booked my first safari with them! Next weekend for 3 days!  WIll be very fun.  Also tomorrow i am going to Lake Nakuru for a one day walking safari!  Apparently there are Pink Flamingos everywhere there! 

 

All in all things are going very very well.  I miss home however and Zack very very much!!!  Its weird what we take for advantage in the States. Showering has been the most interesting adventure i stand in a bathtub and poor water out of bottle!! its great! 

 

Anyway I miss everyone and please feel free to email.  But i only get email about once a week probably! 

 

Write again soon!

 

 

One Week To Go!

I have one more week go before I board my plane to Kenya.  I am beginning to get nervous but the anticipation is taking over.   I got my final details from my program advisor last night.  I will be working in the Elshaddai's children home in Githunguri, which is a rural area outside of Nairobi.  My day to day activities are not precise however they will include some teaching, tutoring, childcare, house duties, extra curricular activities, some some maintenance as well.  

Also, while I am there I will be living with a host family.  Their names are Mr. and Mrs. George Muigai.  Their daughter and granddaughter live with them as well.  And I am pretty sure that I will have a roommate or two while I am there as well.  

I am very excited to meet the children and get to know them. I am also excited to meet my host family.  Time is ticking and I feel as though I still have a million things to do before I am ready to go.  

I am not sure what the internet situation will be like however, I will do my best to find access on the weekends on my free time and write everyone! 

Thanks for all the support I received from everyone!  This trip couldn't have happened with out Zack's support and my parents as well!  

I will do my best to keep in touch!