Hey Bloggers,
Today is the last day! Wow. It will most definitely be hard to leave behind my volunteer work. I wish that I could do this forever (with some of the perks of Canadian life truthfully). As much as I will cherish this time, and continuously look back on it, I am equally as thrilled about going home to have a nice clean shower and reflect on the sensory overload I've experienced over the past three weeks.
Kenyans, without a doubt, are truly beautiful and inspiring people. Their spirits are so strong and their will to survive is unfathomable. They struggle with so much poverty, corruption, violence and unsanitary conditions, yet find a way to smile, extend a warm Jambo sana, and make you feel most welcome in their complex country. I wonder if, given similar circumstances, us Canadians could say the same?
Will I come back to Kenya again? For sure. One hundred percent. I will be back to this country to volunteer and do some discovering. Or even perhaps I will venture to another African country next year. There are many touristy things in Kenya I was unable to do (travel to the coast, Mombasa, and go on a safari), so even to fully discover more of its beauty and sereneness, I will be back.
Thank you, to Kenya, to my family, to my friends and supporters. Everyone has made this dream of mine a reality. I am so privileged to have helped and attempted to make, at most, a small imprint on the lives and health of Kenyan people.
Kwaheri,
Jake
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Friday, March 05, 2010
Jambo Mambo,
Today was my last day at the clinic. Tear. Wow. My time here really has been unique and special. I was a little emotional saying good-bye to the Nurses at the clinic, as they were such great mentors this whole time, and even more so, inspirational.
I am extremely glad I came here and that I was able to accomplish this. Thanks, of course, to everyone that assisted financially and supported me leading up to getting here and even while being here. Because of everyone's generosity, I was able to help the Kabete community for three weeks and really learn a lot about Kenyan health care and life here in Kenya. I will never forget this, it has changed my perspective on life, and how it should be lived sharing what I have with others.
Today's health talk at the Rehabilitation school went really well. I rounded up approximately sixty boys from the school into one classroom and taught them on five-to-six different health topics, as previously mentioned. It went well because all the boys were well behaved and very attentive during the session. Prior, I had made two other posters - in addition to the Malaria poster. The first was on Diarrhea and Dehydration, while the second was on Safe Sex and, more specifically, HIV/AIDS.
Right before my talk, I walked around with the other volunteers to see the living quarters and the hall, where they cook and eat. Boy, was I in for a shock and surprise. Fifty boys are crammed into one small building, two of them for the entirety of the students, where they are locked-in at 6pm, for the night, and then let-out at 7am. Remember, this school is a rehabilitation school for troubled boys. They range in age from 12 to 17 years old.
Three of the new volunteers, who are now placed at the school, helped out with holding the posters and rallying up the boys. I was pleased with how interested the boys seemed to be and I really hope that the education I provided them with today with promote healthier lives. Even if they can now recognize some signs and symptoms and/or practice some of the preventative skills to stay healthy, while living in such conditions.
I have been taking videos throughout my time here and, when I get home, I will compile all the videos into one and then post them for everyone to see.
Thanks, thanks and thanks.... What a beautiful experience and what a life the Kenyans live. Reach out, help those around you, and share whatever you can to make someone's life better.
Jake
The eating hall. For the 87 students.
Chopping food for cooking.
Sleeping quarters. Two of the buildings for all the boys. Intense.
Everything is washed by hand and hung to dry. Even at our volunteer house, I had to hand wash all my jazz. I am getting pretty good.
Today was my last day at the clinic. Tear. Wow. My time here really has been unique and special. I was a little emotional saying good-bye to the Nurses at the clinic, as they were such great mentors this whole time, and even more so, inspirational.
I am extremely glad I came here and that I was able to accomplish this. Thanks, of course, to everyone that assisted financially and supported me leading up to getting here and even while being here. Because of everyone's generosity, I was able to help the Kabete community for three weeks and really learn a lot about Kenyan health care and life here in Kenya. I will never forget this, it has changed my perspective on life, and how it should be lived sharing what I have with others.
Today's health talk at the Rehabilitation school went really well. I rounded up approximately sixty boys from the school into one classroom and taught them on five-to-six different health topics, as previously mentioned. It went well because all the boys were well behaved and very attentive during the session. Prior, I had made two other posters - in addition to the Malaria poster. The first was on Diarrhea and Dehydration, while the second was on Safe Sex and, more specifically, HIV/AIDS.
Right before my talk, I walked around with the other volunteers to see the living quarters and the hall, where they cook and eat. Boy, was I in for a shock and surprise. Fifty boys are crammed into one small building, two of them for the entirety of the students, where they are locked-in at 6pm, for the night, and then let-out at 7am. Remember, this school is a rehabilitation school for troubled boys. They range in age from 12 to 17 years old.
Three of the new volunteers, who are now placed at the school, helped out with holding the posters and rallying up the boys. I was pleased with how interested the boys seemed to be and I really hope that the education I provided them with today with promote healthier lives. Even if they can now recognize some signs and symptoms and/or practice some of the preventative skills to stay healthy, while living in such conditions.
I have been taking videos throughout my time here and, when I get home, I will compile all the videos into one and then post them for everyone to see.
Thanks, thanks and thanks.... What a beautiful experience and what a life the Kenyans live. Reach out, help those around you, and share whatever you can to make someone's life better.
Jake
The eating hall. For the 87 students.
Chopping food for cooking.
Sleeping quarters. Two of the buildings for all the boys. Intense.
Everything is washed by hand and hung to dry. Even at our volunteer house, I had to hand wash all my jazz. I am getting pretty good.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Jamnbo Everyone,
Today was a peaceful day in the clinic. Had to say good-bye to some of the staff that won't be back tomorrow for my last day. Kind of sad. I hate to leave them because they are so under staffed.
Tomorrow I am teaching in the boys school with Rosemary. That should be fun. Nothing much else to report as I near the end.
I have my poster picture as promised.
Enjoy it.
Jake
Today was a peaceful day in the clinic. Had to say good-bye to some of the staff that won't be back tomorrow for my last day. Kind of sad. I hate to leave them because they are so under staffed.
Tomorrow I am teaching in the boys school with Rosemary. That should be fun. Nothing much else to report as I near the end.
I have my poster picture as promised.
Enjoy it.
Jake
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Working in the dispensary. Smiles for the Kenyans. They make everyday beautiful.
Nurse Lucy (older) and Kenyan volunteer, Rose-Marie translating our teaching session this morning at the clinic.
Charity and I taking a moment to smile for the camera. She has such a great spirit and has been my Mom away from home.
On our way to the Market, Tuesday March 02, 2010.
Hey Everyone,
Today is my eighteenth day in Kenya and a pretty good one. To quickly get it out of the way, I got my MCAT scores back and scored well. I will be able to apply to all the schools and I wanted to, this summer. YAY!
The clinic yesterday was pretty typical. Although, yesterday I got to teach the patients about malaria. I covered: what is malaria?, signs and symptoms, treatment, prevention, pregnant women and children with malaria. The people from the community really seemed to enjoy the session. I made a poster (I keep forgetting to take a picture of it but I will). And the group in our education session asked questions at the end, which I was really surprised about.
I had Rose-Marie, the Kenyan volunteer, help translate mostly everything I said, so that they really got the most out of it. This morning we talked to the patients about diarrhea, dehydration and vomiting. This went equally as well.
After clinic yesterday, Charity (my house Mama), took me to a huge Masai market on the outskirts of the city center. It was really quite something to see. Going back to the markets a second time with a Kenyan made all the difference. They still tried to swindle me because I am a tourist but Charity was able to bargain with them in Swahili and she knew what the average cost of things were. When I went alone two weekends ago, I had picked out 13 things, all from different vendors, and the mediator guy that walked around with me tried to sell it all for 300.oo USD. Yea right! I bought everything I wanted and some from the other day and I managed to stay below 40.oo USD. Thank you Charity.
Clinic was busy again today because of the pre-natal clinic and the vaccination clinic, on top of the regulars. I was a little mad at the doctor today because he came for the last hour and the nurses had already done the bulk of the work. Shockingly, I also found out today that clinic nurses in Kenya, roughly, make 5,000.00 USD a year salary. OMG. That is nothing. WTF. I am lost for words. I am going to try and confirm this but I asked Lucy a few times and she seemed to understand what I was asking. Unbelievable. That money does go quite a long way here. But to think that they work ten times harder than Canadian clinic nurses, with so much more knowledge, makes it so unjust.
I have to get off the computer, not sure even if I will edit over this blog for now, so don't hate if there are mistakes... xoxoxox 'till tomorrow.
Jake
Today is my eighteenth day in Kenya and a pretty good one. To quickly get it out of the way, I got my MCAT scores back and scored well. I will be able to apply to all the schools and I wanted to, this summer. YAY!
The clinic yesterday was pretty typical. Although, yesterday I got to teach the patients about malaria. I covered: what is malaria?, signs and symptoms, treatment, prevention, pregnant women and children with malaria. The people from the community really seemed to enjoy the session. I made a poster (I keep forgetting to take a picture of it but I will). And the group in our education session asked questions at the end, which I was really surprised about.
I had Rose-Marie, the Kenyan volunteer, help translate mostly everything I said, so that they really got the most out of it. This morning we talked to the patients about diarrhea, dehydration and vomiting. This went equally as well.
After clinic yesterday, Charity (my house Mama), took me to a huge Masai market on the outskirts of the city center. It was really quite something to see. Going back to the markets a second time with a Kenyan made all the difference. They still tried to swindle me because I am a tourist but Charity was able to bargain with them in Swahili and she knew what the average cost of things were. When I went alone two weekends ago, I had picked out 13 things, all from different vendors, and the mediator guy that walked around with me tried to sell it all for 300.oo USD. Yea right! I bought everything I wanted and some from the other day and I managed to stay below 40.oo USD. Thank you Charity.
Clinic was busy again today because of the pre-natal clinic and the vaccination clinic, on top of the regulars. I was a little mad at the doctor today because he came for the last hour and the nurses had already done the bulk of the work. Shockingly, I also found out today that clinic nurses in Kenya, roughly, make 5,000.00 USD a year salary. OMG. That is nothing. WTF. I am lost for words. I am going to try and confirm this but I asked Lucy a few times and she seemed to understand what I was asking. Unbelievable. That money does go quite a long way here. But to think that they work ten times harder than Canadian clinic nurses, with so much more knowledge, makes it so unjust.
I have to get off the computer, not sure even if I will edit over this blog for now, so don't hate if there are mistakes... xoxoxox 'till tomorrow.
Jake
Monday, March 01, 2010
Jambo Mambo Rafikis
Today is my last Monday and the rest of this week will be a bunch of lasts as well. Sad face. Time hasn't really flown by but it does seem like it wasn't enough time. That is for sure.
Today was full of rain and, because of this, the clinic was really slow. I decided to take this rare opportunity to walk across to the boys rehabilitation school where one of the other volunteers, Dennis, is placed. He was kind enough to walk me around and show me the school.
There are hardly any school supplies for these kids and the four teachers that teach the 87 boys are only Kenyan volunteers who haven't been able to find real teaching jobs. It was very evident that these volunteer teachers are doing the bare minimum due to the lack of pay. The boys were in their respective classes, grouped according to age, but the teachers, all of them, were just sitting in the staff room talking amongst themselves.
Dennis explained to me that this is how it normally is and he doesn't try to get involved in what they do because it would cause animosity between him and the staff. I walked around to the various classrooms and observed what some of the boys were doing. Some were actually studying their math, geography, agricultural studies, English and Swahili; however, the majority of the boys were just fooling around and playing games.
Near the end of my little walk about, Dennis introduced me to the principal of the school. Spontaneously, I decided to offer my services and asked if I could teach the boys about their health. It was very impromptu and now I am kind of kicking myself for 'volunteering' to teach. I will be fine. In fact, a student colleague of mine, Lise, and I once organized an elementary boys and girls group, at a local school, for our community health placement back in university. So I am going to follow our teaching format from that and teach the boys about: hand hygiene, safe sex and STDs, smoking, bacterial infections and proper antibiotic usage, as well as malaria and diarrhea, as those are two very common illnesses the boys come into the clinic with. This should be interesting.
Also, tomorrow I am doing my health talk on malaria at the clinic. I am making a poster for easy visuals and one of the other nurses will help translate in Swahili what is not understood in English. I will be working on that tonight.
I have to warn you of a picture I posted below. When I was approaching the lane to my clinic this morning, that branches off the main street, I came across a dying dog. I guess a car, or matatu, hit the dog - they drive ridiculously fast here and pass blindly all the time - and they must of left it on the side of the road to die. I nearly starting crying and it took everything in me to get close enough to take a picture. I wanted a picture because it quickly became quite metaphorical in a sense. It made me think of the dogma - it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. This country is a prime example of how this philosophy plays out and the evidence is quite fitting.
Many Kenyans are fighting for life. Fighting for food to put in their mouths and, seemingly, just scraping by at it. Hardly anyone is getting anything for free and only a very limited few are lucky to be born into some form of 'wealth' or 'privilege' - that is if you are lucky enough to not be born an orphan. Here, privilege and wealth mean a roof over your head, parents that are employed at anything, meals at meal times and an education - the bare necessities. Man, it is really hard to grasp this world. To think that a plane ride away you can live a life filled with luxuries and, to many, this leaves them feeling unsatisfied and hungry for more.
I wish everyone could come here, to Kenya, to the suburbs of Nairobi and take a look at what life is like. Then I would ask them to close their eyes and envision yourself being born into such a life. No choice. No alternative. No luck. Just having to make do with what you were given. Then, please, try to go back and complain about anything. I dare you to.
As for the dog today, his chance at life is over. So always look at what you have before wishing for something more. And think, at least I wasn't left to die on the side of the road.
Jake
The cows were grazing all over the clinic field today. It was weird to look out the windows while 'working' and see 25 cows chomping on grass.
Minutes after the next picture, I ran into these boys on their way home from school.
Boys: "Pic-cha mista....pic-cha mista"... too funny. They love getting their pic-cha taken.
This is what was awaiting me this morning at 0900am. The dog was dying at the beginning of the lane, leading into the clinic. It is a really graphic picture but I decided to post it because these are some of the vivid images you see on a daily basis here in Kenya. I cried for this dog. And as if once wasn't enough the dog was still there at 200pm when I left the clinic. Sad face.
Today is my last Monday and the rest of this week will be a bunch of lasts as well. Sad face. Time hasn't really flown by but it does seem like it wasn't enough time. That is for sure.
Today was full of rain and, because of this, the clinic was really slow. I decided to take this rare opportunity to walk across to the boys rehabilitation school where one of the other volunteers, Dennis, is placed. He was kind enough to walk me around and show me the school.
There are hardly any school supplies for these kids and the four teachers that teach the 87 boys are only Kenyan volunteers who haven't been able to find real teaching jobs. It was very evident that these volunteer teachers are doing the bare minimum due to the lack of pay. The boys were in their respective classes, grouped according to age, but the teachers, all of them, were just sitting in the staff room talking amongst themselves.
Dennis explained to me that this is how it normally is and he doesn't try to get involved in what they do because it would cause animosity between him and the staff. I walked around to the various classrooms and observed what some of the boys were doing. Some were actually studying their math, geography, agricultural studies, English and Swahili; however, the majority of the boys were just fooling around and playing games.
Near the end of my little walk about, Dennis introduced me to the principal of the school. Spontaneously, I decided to offer my services and asked if I could teach the boys about their health. It was very impromptu and now I am kind of kicking myself for 'volunteering' to teach. I will be fine. In fact, a student colleague of mine, Lise, and I once organized an elementary boys and girls group, at a local school, for our community health placement back in university. So I am going to follow our teaching format from that and teach the boys about: hand hygiene, safe sex and STDs, smoking, bacterial infections and proper antibiotic usage, as well as malaria and diarrhea, as those are two very common illnesses the boys come into the clinic with. This should be interesting.
Also, tomorrow I am doing my health talk on malaria at the clinic. I am making a poster for easy visuals and one of the other nurses will help translate in Swahili what is not understood in English. I will be working on that tonight.
I have to warn you of a picture I posted below. When I was approaching the lane to my clinic this morning, that branches off the main street, I came across a dying dog. I guess a car, or matatu, hit the dog - they drive ridiculously fast here and pass blindly all the time - and they must of left it on the side of the road to die. I nearly starting crying and it took everything in me to get close enough to take a picture. I wanted a picture because it quickly became quite metaphorical in a sense. It made me think of the dogma - it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. This country is a prime example of how this philosophy plays out and the evidence is quite fitting.
Many Kenyans are fighting for life. Fighting for food to put in their mouths and, seemingly, just scraping by at it. Hardly anyone is getting anything for free and only a very limited few are lucky to be born into some form of 'wealth' or 'privilege' - that is if you are lucky enough to not be born an orphan. Here, privilege and wealth mean a roof over your head, parents that are employed at anything, meals at meal times and an education - the bare necessities. Man, it is really hard to grasp this world. To think that a plane ride away you can live a life filled with luxuries and, to many, this leaves them feeling unsatisfied and hungry for more.
I wish everyone could come here, to Kenya, to the suburbs of Nairobi and take a look at what life is like. Then I would ask them to close their eyes and envision yourself being born into such a life. No choice. No alternative. No luck. Just having to make do with what you were given. Then, please, try to go back and complain about anything. I dare you to.
As for the dog today, his chance at life is over. So always look at what you have before wishing for something more. And think, at least I wasn't left to die on the side of the road.
Jake
The cows were grazing all over the clinic field today. It was weird to look out the windows while 'working' and see 25 cows chomping on grass.
Minutes after the next picture, I ran into these boys on their way home from school.
Boys: "Pic-cha mista....pic-cha mista"... too funny. They love getting their pic-cha taken.
This is what was awaiting me this morning at 0900am. The dog was dying at the beginning of the lane, leading into the clinic. It is a really graphic picture but I decided to post it because these are some of the vivid images you see on a daily basis here in Kenya. I cried for this dog. And as if once wasn't enough the dog was still there at 200pm when I left the clinic. Sad face.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday Morning,
Well my weekend was sort of a flop. Sadly I didn't make it to Naivasha to meet the other volunteers. Sad face. I had all the intentions of going, got up early enough - well at least what I thought early was - and made it into Nairobi City Center. I made my way through the maze of matatus at the Accra Road Station and after some time found my matatu to Naivasha.
Unfortunately for me, the matatus destined for smaller towns, outside of Nairobi, only leave when they are filled to maximum capacity. They have no rhyme or reason to a schedule, only if they have made sufficient money will they make the journey and depart the station.
From Nairobi to Naivasha is about an hour and a half. I got to the matatu I wanted at 0930 thinking it would leave shortly after or, at least, withing the next 15-20 mins. Nope. I sat in the matatu for an hour and forty minutes. I had surpassed the actual time I was to meet the other volunteers and was still where I started in Nairobi. I guess it only takes one time for you to learn. Next time, whenever that may be, I will make sure to get to my matatu with hours to spare.
All was fine though, as the night before was our big night out on the town, and let me tell you, it was big. We started off by going to a fairly well known expat bar called Gypsy Bar. It was fun, lots of ex-patriots but it was more of a bar, as evident in the name. We were looking for something more in line with a club because we all had dance fever. So, two of the other volunteers, Jessie and Josefa, told us of a place they had previously gone to, called Black Diamond. The seven of us jumped into two cabs and headed that way.
Black Diamond was exactly what we wanted. It had a bigger bar with a dance floor and DJ, also a outside patio with its own bar and plenty of space. As soon as we entered the music was pumping and the best of African music, mixed with reggae, hip-hop and very limited top forty. The crowd was more of a mix of locals and expats but weighted a little heavier on the local side. It was great. The drinks were fairly cheap and we all had an excellent night. One success.
Most of this weekend, the electricity and water was off at the house. Last night we hung out in candle light and couldn't shower or boil fresh drinking water. It did come on this morning however, and thankfully so. As today is the last day of February, a new gang of volunteers are on their way to commence their own journeys. Throughout today, there will be six new volunteers coming to the house, four of which will stay, and two will go to more rural placements. Two have already arrived, a guy from Australia and a girl from Taiwan. Exciting.
Well, here is to the start of a new month. Lets hope it is equally as adventurous and that I make it through my last week in Kenya. What a journey so far. I love volunteering and what a better place to help out as nurse. I will definitely be back to accomplish some more touristy stuff, as I would have loved to go on a safari and get to the coast of Mombasa. Next time.
Love,
Jake
Well my weekend was sort of a flop. Sadly I didn't make it to Naivasha to meet the other volunteers. Sad face. I had all the intentions of going, got up early enough - well at least what I thought early was - and made it into Nairobi City Center. I made my way through the maze of matatus at the Accra Road Station and after some time found my matatu to Naivasha.
Unfortunately for me, the matatus destined for smaller towns, outside of Nairobi, only leave when they are filled to maximum capacity. They have no rhyme or reason to a schedule, only if they have made sufficient money will they make the journey and depart the station.
From Nairobi to Naivasha is about an hour and a half. I got to the matatu I wanted at 0930 thinking it would leave shortly after or, at least, withing the next 15-20 mins. Nope. I sat in the matatu for an hour and forty minutes. I had surpassed the actual time I was to meet the other volunteers and was still where I started in Nairobi. I guess it only takes one time for you to learn. Next time, whenever that may be, I will make sure to get to my matatu with hours to spare.
All was fine though, as the night before was our big night out on the town, and let me tell you, it was big. We started off by going to a fairly well known expat bar called Gypsy Bar. It was fun, lots of ex-patriots but it was more of a bar, as evident in the name. We were looking for something more in line with a club because we all had dance fever. So, two of the other volunteers, Jessie and Josefa, told us of a place they had previously gone to, called Black Diamond. The seven of us jumped into two cabs and headed that way.
Black Diamond was exactly what we wanted. It had a bigger bar with a dance floor and DJ, also a outside patio with its own bar and plenty of space. As soon as we entered the music was pumping and the best of African music, mixed with reggae, hip-hop and very limited top forty. The crowd was more of a mix of locals and expats but weighted a little heavier on the local side. It was great. The drinks were fairly cheap and we all had an excellent night. One success.
Most of this weekend, the electricity and water was off at the house. Last night we hung out in candle light and couldn't shower or boil fresh drinking water. It did come on this morning however, and thankfully so. As today is the last day of February, a new gang of volunteers are on their way to commence their own journeys. Throughout today, there will be six new volunteers coming to the house, four of which will stay, and two will go to more rural placements. Two have already arrived, a guy from Australia and a girl from Taiwan. Exciting.
Well, here is to the start of a new month. Lets hope it is equally as adventurous and that I make it through my last week in Kenya. What a journey so far. I love volunteering and what a better place to help out as nurse. I will definitely be back to accomplish some more touristy stuff, as I would have loved to go on a safari and get to the coast of Mombasa. Next time.
Love,
Jake
Friday, February 26, 2010
Hey Everyone,
Its FRIDAY..... and I can actually get excited about this because the other volunteers and I have decided we are going out Kenya style. To be honest, I don't really know what that means but I will let you all know on Monday. We are a little nervous about it but will be cautious. This involves cab rides to the door step and being picked-up at the door step at the end of the night. I am sure we won't stay out too late either. Mom, don't worry about me. I just need a night of drinking and DANCING.
Today was another regular day in the clinic. Nothing too new or exciting. The staff has really warmed up to me, and I feel like I am a part of the team. I thought I would ask them what their plans were for the weekend and the response was not too thrilling and borderline sad.
The nurses are all Moms and in Kenyan culture that means doing everything. Its not enough that these women, unlike many others, are educated and work full time jobs but they also have to fulfill the gender role of being mother and wife. They explained to me that weekends are spent catching up on the house work they fell behind on during the week and washing all the laundry - including linens - by hand.
Men in this culture do relatively nothing but go to work. They aren't supposed to step foot in the kitchen, they don't participate in the cleaning and they don't do any of the washing. I asked the nurses how this will ever change and if they teach their children differently. "Children are meant to help their moms out but the boys, when the grow up and marry, follow in their fathers' foot steps", the nurses responded.
They did say; however, that men help out a lot before the wife has kids. When it is just man and woman together, the responsibilities are split equally. But when children are born into the family, the man must exude his role as the leader of the household and be catered to. Archaic. Stupid. Ignorant.
For the rest of the weekend, I have now planned and confirmed that I am to go to Naivasha. It is a small, small town a hour-and-a-half North of Nairobi. This town is host to another Lake, similar to that of Nakuru, with flamingos and has a mountain with a hiking trail. I am meeting the two Canadian nurses that arrived when I did. They are going to be other volunteers from the IDP Pipeline Camp, so we will all hike and be tourists together. We will be spending Saturday night in cheap accommodation in Naivasha and then I will come back to Nairobi on Sunday. I am getting to this town and back by matatu, which shall be interesting. At most, I have only ever been in a matatu for 30 min, so triple that and I am in for an adventure.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and remember... life is beautiful.
Jake
Its FRIDAY..... and I can actually get excited about this because the other volunteers and I have decided we are going out Kenya style. To be honest, I don't really know what that means but I will let you all know on Monday. We are a little nervous about it but will be cautious. This involves cab rides to the door step and being picked-up at the door step at the end of the night. I am sure we won't stay out too late either. Mom, don't worry about me. I just need a night of drinking and DANCING.
Today was another regular day in the clinic. Nothing too new or exciting. The staff has really warmed up to me, and I feel like I am a part of the team. I thought I would ask them what their plans were for the weekend and the response was not too thrilling and borderline sad.
The nurses are all Moms and in Kenyan culture that means doing everything. Its not enough that these women, unlike many others, are educated and work full time jobs but they also have to fulfill the gender role of being mother and wife. They explained to me that weekends are spent catching up on the house work they fell behind on during the week and washing all the laundry - including linens - by hand.
Men in this culture do relatively nothing but go to work. They aren't supposed to step foot in the kitchen, they don't participate in the cleaning and they don't do any of the washing. I asked the nurses how this will ever change and if they teach their children differently. "Children are meant to help their moms out but the boys, when the grow up and marry, follow in their fathers' foot steps", the nurses responded.
They did say; however, that men help out a lot before the wife has kids. When it is just man and woman together, the responsibilities are split equally. But when children are born into the family, the man must exude his role as the leader of the household and be catered to. Archaic. Stupid. Ignorant.
For the rest of the weekend, I have now planned and confirmed that I am to go to Naivasha. It is a small, small town a hour-and-a-half North of Nairobi. This town is host to another Lake, similar to that of Nakuru, with flamingos and has a mountain with a hiking trail. I am meeting the two Canadian nurses that arrived when I did. They are going to be other volunteers from the IDP Pipeline Camp, so we will all hike and be tourists together. We will be spending Saturday night in cheap accommodation in Naivasha and then I will come back to Nairobi on Sunday. I am getting to this town and back by matatu, which shall be interesting. At most, I have only ever been in a matatu for 30 min, so triple that and I am in for an adventure.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and remember... life is beautiful.
Jake
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)