Morning assembly.
Word got around fast that I have a lot of sweets haha. I bought a ton to give away all week.
My class! Class 4 baby! They are like my little chocolate babies and they love me :)
This guy is the first guy I've met in Kenya who has been to America. Got invited by the UN to teach a couple groups about the Maasai tribe and lifestyle. Went to New York City, Chicago and Colorado.
I laughed so hard hearing him describe what America was like for him! He said, "my mind literally locked. I could not think everything went so fast." I cannot fully describe the simplicity of life here. Western lifestyle must be just a shock! He told me many stories about riding on an airplane and the subway and thinking it was crazy people would get up and walk around on those lol.
I was asked to teach art class for my class. Told them to go draw something outside haha. There drawings were so good actually. I love my little 4th graders!
Lery!
School lunch!! Everyday the same exact thing, corn and beans. In the dry season if no water, no lunch. The government pays for the lunch. If they don't serve lunch attendance plummets, with lunch it skyrockets.
The lunch kitchen. They get one cup in a small plate. Some are also assigned to prepare lunch and serve it and to fetch water for cooking.
One night we went back to Saikiri to go to a local Maasai market.
Heather and I hung out with our two friends who volunteer in Saikiri again by this coke stand. It was fun to chat for a while about America. They are both from Boston area so it was cool to learn about New England and tell them about Utah.
I love the Maasai Land!
I saw Silas who lives with us! He runs a phone charging and hair cut business. I charged my phone and got a shave! He put a ton of alcohol on my face to clean it and I think I lost a few brain cells.
I feel dirty! Need a shower.
What I then saw take place was hilarious. These are Maasai Land Mutatu's. Or in other words a bus or taxi. Watch the process of loading people. I thought they were full when I first saw them.
Lol! Oh my gosh I was dying of laughter.
Fun time at the market and felt so relieved my phone is charged again. Never forget how important power is! Not to mention the luxury of running water!!
This was my favorite student in my class. Her name is Vivian. Adorable. She always seemed skeptical of me but I could always draw a smile out of her. Got so attached with these kids during the week.
My class rocks! Since day 1 I gave class 7 sweets and class 4 sweets too. Every kid comes up to me and asks now, "sweets sweets!?!?" all day at school. it is way funny. Goes to show they appreciate things like that sooooo much!
Laundry day. I decided since I am living in the dirt and getting filthy there is no reason to get all my clothes dirty. So I am wearing the same clothes every other day or so. It is impossible to stay clean. At this point I am using bath wipes everyday but longing for a shower and even to wash my hands! The lack of running water does take its toll. I began to think of the miracle of places that learn to always have running water that is clean and that also have constant electricity. Cause without it you realize it is so valuable. Always in the back of my mind is I want to be clean. My feet and hands just get filthy! Laundry was tough because getting the dirt out by hand is tough.
While doing laundry I stepped right in that little cows turd!
Heather and I washed our hair as well.
The jewelry making never stops it seems!
Took a drive to Ngong to get some more sweets for the kids and more importantly some water for us because we are out. Wow is water critical. I'd love to wash my hands by now. Even just a river would be soooooo useful. But there is nothing near by so...
Driving on a motorbike on all these roads. They call these scooter taxi's Bota Bota's. My driver was hilarious!
It is really pretty here. I live the contrast of green and orange.
Ngong!
I really like Ngong. Walked around it twice now. Feels safe and friendly. And they have power!
Night class again. One night I spent 1.5 hours on the English alphabet with a 14 year old boy. He never got through it all the way without making a mistake but we made tons of progress. Crazy to realize how critical education in a school is so important.
I got pretty attached to my class because on Wed I got asked to teach them Science too for the next 3 days. The teacher said she had to bail to take care of stuff lol. Always makes me laugh how Kenyans are. So I taught them all about soil. I also was teaching them English and specifically transportation English words and ideas. It was so much fun. I say a word and they all would yell it back to me lol. And every time I walk in to teach they stand and all yell transportation in unison haha. I actually really really enjoyed teaching these kids. The perfect age because they listen and are so enthusiastic. They love learning. I'm very impressed with them and how smart they are considering lack of materials and enough teachers. Love Kenya and Maasai Land kids!
One other thing on wednesday is while we were making the short walk to school in the morning we saw almost the whole school on the road walking away from school. We asked them what was going on and they said they were sent home to get money for this month of school. Three teachers are paid by the parents. It is just so different here. Kids sent home at the beginning of a school day? The teaches said they dont pay unless they send them home. So I had 5 students to teach that morning. Most did come back by afternoon class though.
Transportation quiz. They all got up and shared there answers to where they want to travel and why and what vehicles they will use. Everyone said America. So freaking cute!
The sweets were a huge deal for them! They appreciated it so much.
When we went into Ngong I also got them all a new pencil and sharpeners. Many asked me all week for a pen or pencil. Even that simple of a thing is not provided for the kids. They also are not given some of the text books. Crazy.
The new pencils! They were so happy!
Cows on the soccer field.
The teachers lounge.
A new volunteer joined us on Wednesday. Her name is Fatma and she is from England. Very interesting girl. I think she really struggled roughing it like this.
Fatma and Heather painting the kitchen roof.
Students preparing for lunch the next day. Getting the dust out of the corn and beans.
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