Living positively

Here I am, entering my 3rd week here in Kenya, That doesn't seem possible to me!  It is amazing to me how comfortable I have become with the things that surround me and the way I am already changing my views.

The biggest thing I have noticed and felt, which I am sure is common, is the way i handle money and financial issues.  The amount people live off in a week, a month, a year, is astounding.  Today I spent 2000KSH($27CAD) on buying some gifts to take home.  Multiple bracelets, four cards, two beaded jewelry holders(i mean entirely beads and wire and beautiful).  That is a lot of money in one transaction.  I find that while doing projects here, I am funding some little things personally and think in my head "Do I pay $150 for this when $150 could provide A, B, and C for a family?"  It makes you reflect on what you spend and use and forget to appreciate at home.  How many have a laptop, smart phone, gaming console, tablet, TV, DVD player.. Here I am visiting homes that are a third the size of my room back home.  I am staying in a three bedroom apartment where someone is cooking my meals and cleaning my laundry.  The home I am staying in would be considered low class or "west side" by looks but it is clean with electricity and hot water to shower and comparatively speaking I am living large here.  Back home I have a family and friends who miss me and care and worry about me and here people are struggling to make even $3 a day. A DAY! not an hour.

I am not sure where I am going with this post but I felt it is important to recognize and honour these people who work so hard, who come to work and to learn every day and greet you with a smile.  Who  sing and laugh and feel honoured that I visit their homes.

Every single day you have money to buy food let alone junk food, coffee, and new clothes just because you WANT them, be thankful and humbled. I know you cannot compare truly our lives back home and here but I know I am painfully aware of the clothes I am wearing, the food I am not finishing(but will be very fat because I am fed so well and so much), and the weak HOT shower I get every morning and bed i have each night.  I am honoured that these people and this community has welcomed and accepted me, every single day.  God bless my Kenyan family.

Time flies

As most people are aware there was a terror attack this past week in Kenya resulting in the deaths of 147 Christians at a university.  This event has been a lesson in the way different countries are affected and respond.  Interestingly enough I had no idea until chatting with family.  When researching the event it was all over western news sources with terrifying headlines and even so much as saying there was a nationwide curfew.
On the other end/side, in Kenya no one outside the immediate area is panicking, life has gone on as per it had been.  The only curfew may be in the Garrisa area.  It's interesting because Al Shaabab is a major presence even in Nairobi and there are areas that westerners don't visit because of that.

I am entering my second week here in Kenya already and I cannot believe how fast time is going.  By the weekend I already felt like part of the community here at work and like I have been here much longer, but in a good way.  I spent the weekend with a Canadian family in a very western feeling estate and I really looked forward to coming back to my Kenyan family!
I had planned to learn basic Swahili before I came but of course that never happened because I am very good at procrastination and now I am here!  This is definitely something I recommend anyone travelling into a country for more than a couple weeks should do.  Not only would it make day to day life a lot easier but it is I think a respectful thing to do when coming as a guest to a new culture.

I don't have much to do so far in the way of updates as it is a short work week and this week is my first week working on projects.  Stay tuned for adventures in life!

Jambo!

I can't believe I am actually writing from Africa.  I also feel like I have been here more than just three days!  I have already learned a lot about myself..

I have learned that I do in fact get extremely homesick and I was a bit terrified trying to sleep the first night.  All the worries of everyone back home crept in and resulted in a serious lack of sleep.  I woke at 4am the first morning and made an extremely expensive phone call home when it was finally late enough I could see where the heck I was.  It was a pretty amazing view I must say.  I just needed a moment to say holy crap this is so much harder than I expected out loud and have someone say thats ok!  The first day was a whirlwind of seeing the farm, meeting all the staff and women and staying awake.  Mum, as Mary is fondly called, makes you feel so loved and at home that I am so thankful because the evenings can be lonely as the lone intern here.

This is unlike any other place I have ever seen and makes me realize how little of the world I have seen and how lucky I am with my living situation but I am fascinated by everything and love how different it is.  Matatus are everywhere and traffic is insane!  The roads make Saskatchewan look pristine and people are swerving around holes, people, animals and vehicles.  Im glad I don't have to drive here!  The countryside is gorgeous! The hills are always topped with mist in the mornings and the smells are amazing(for the most part!).  Town is a mix of donkeys pulling carts, cows and goats randomly walking around, then mercedes and businessmen. I have also seen a grand total of 5 other "Mzungu"! Yes, i'm counting!

My second night I woke up at 2am and only another 45minutes so i'm amazing I was still functioning.
I got a tour of the Daycare program where when I walked in the door 71 children mobbed me yelling HOW ARE YOU and all grabbing my hands.  It was a terrifying amount of attention but they were so funny with so many different personalities and always yelling HOW ARE YOU

Day 2 we did 6 home visits to the nearby slums and other communities to see the homes of the women in the WEEP program and to learn about their businesses they are building.  They are extremely sweet and welcoming and I already know I am going to miss them if I adore them all three days in.  I am so impressed by their courage, determination,and talent and am going to have a lot of new skirts and dresses! I need them because this "colder weather" might make me into a sweaty puddle!

Day 3 was exhausting and fun. Today I did painting with the daycare children and also did a quick lesson on brushing teeth.  We gave them some crayons pens notebooks and of course treats and it happened to be their last day before a month holiday so my first project had to be competed quick like this.  I left tired and extremely sticky but feeling very loved.  They are an extremely bright group and the teachers are working hard to teach them and make sure they are safe during the day.  We already have next week completely packed because of the easter holiday and the work days promise to go by quickly.  I found out I have weekends off so I need to figure out what the heck to do to fill the time and not break the bank!

Well it's almost time to head home for the day and I am still working on catching up on sleep so I can form proper thoughts.

Keep Fit and Have fun!