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on Beatriz Pujol (Kenya), 09/Dec/2009 18:03, 34 days ago
Moving to Nairobi has been like moving to any big, hectic city. I find I have to work very hard to make time for myself and not get wrapped up in always working and socializing. First of all, I need my downtime and secondly I cannot afford the social life I have been leading in this city!! So, this weekend I declared“me time” and spent most of it in my lovely new apartment! I have wanted to sit down and update my blog but had not made time until now.I hit my year in Kenya mark on November 16th and reflected in my journal about the past year. Here is some of what I wrote:“In the past year I have learned so much. I have been stretched and pulled, overjoyed, deeply saddened, horrified, humbled, puzzled and amazed. I continue to be moved by the Kenyan people. They have amazing hope and optimism and the willpower to get up each day and continue. No matter what their lives bring, they never give up, that is just not an option. In spite of extreme poverty, corruption, politicians that are so inept and awful that my American head can’t begin to comprehend, food insecurity, drought, lack of clean water (or any water), they still remain optimistic. I come across children who are profoundly disabled due to meningitis, huge numbers of deaf children and people with epilepsy. And death takes on a new meaning here. The amount of personal loss the people in this country experience has no equivalent where I come from. Somehow Kenyans continue to move forward, have hope. Even if that is all they have.I have learned so much about life this year. Kenyans are patient, often I feel to the point of complacency. I believe in the Peace Process but have come to understand why revolutions happen and sometimes think that may be the only way for real change to come to Kenya. I hope I am wrong!”The past two months have been full. I am adjusting to Nairobi and do not find it quite as overwhelming as I did in Oct. I have gotten into a nice routine with my work and am thoroughly enjoying it. I moved to a wonderful new apt and have a new housemate, Katherine, who I am getting to know. The building is in a great part of town, just where I wanted to be and is large and comfy with a big kitchen that has a full stove and oven and big fridge! My roommates’ room has a tub, heaven! There is a pool in the complex as well and security is VERY tight.I traveled one more time for work, to the North of the Rift Valley. I was in a lovely small town called Iten. That area is green, fertile and developed. It is evident money has been put in to the area. The second president of Kenya, Moi, was from that area and invested in the infrastructure and the education there. The town overlooks the Keiyo Valley, which is beautiful! However, the area was the hardest hit in the post election violence nearly two years ago. We passed several homes and businesses that were burnt from the violence. The EARC coordinator I am working with there is great and we went to a special school that has an autism unit. I really enjoyed my visit there and look forward to going again.In strong contrast I visited Kapenguria in West Pokot. The Pokot region is quite remote and is known as the“Wild, Wild, West of Kenya”. In the rural areas there is a lot of cattle rustling. The town leaves a lot to be desired, particularly in regards to decent food to eat.This was my dinner conversation with the waiter the TWO nights I was there:“What food do you have?”“Beef, chicken, ugali, chips, chapatti, pilau.”“How is it prepared?”“Fry, boiled, stew.” (Up to this point I know this by heart, as this is the response in every small town restaurant.)“I will have beef stew and chapatti.”The waiter comes back… “no beef stew and chapatti.”“It is not ready or you do not have it?”“Don’t have.”“What is in your pilau-meat and rice?” (Usually a really nice dish of rice, a mixture of veggies, and sometimes meat with a curry spice- I doubted it was made that way there!)“Yes.”“And what else?”“Beans”“ I do not like beans, make with no beans.”“What vegetables?”“Sukuma wiki.” (Kale)“No, I do not want that.”“Kuku (chicken) –fried with chips.” (A healthy choice!)10 minutes later…comes back with chips“Kuku?”“No kuku”So, chips for dinner two nights in a row!!Even though the town was dire, the people were kind and ever so eager for help. A volunteer on this project was just placed there. What a trooper he is!This past Friday I visited a community based program that supports kids with disabilities and their parents or caregivers. It was in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa. It was my first time to Kibera. Many of the vso volunteers work there and I have two projects I will be supporting there. The place we went was on the edge, not really in the depth, so I didn’t have a full experience. However, the stories of the parents were still quite sad. I do think I am acquiring thick skin, as I wasn’t as affected as I thought I would be. The first child I consulted with was a 4-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and brain damage. The mother was a young, single mom with a 10-year-old boy as well. They had been living in Kibera and she was working as a house girl. But her baby demanded too much attention with his disability and she lost her job and was not able to find another job because she had nowhere to leave him. She lost her home and is now living on the streets in town. When she lived in Kibera she was attending a program for children with disabilities and he was getting some therapy. But now she cannot get to the program, as she has no money for transport. There are no homeless shelters or anywhere to refer her. She is eager and willing to workand help her baby but is on the streets. We were able to give her the name of a school with a special unit that may take her son and her 10 year old could also go to school there (he has been out of school since she lost her home). If her kids are in school she could find work and get back on her feet. The other therapist and I who were evaluating the child felt so bad, but the mom was optimistic and hopeful. Once again, amazed by Kenyans!So, in FAR contrast to Kibera, I am heading to the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania for Christmas. I am going with a bunch of other volunteers and looking forward to hitting the beach for some R&R!Still waiting for visitors….I have a wonderful guest room…..Happy Holidays and I think everyone should make the following New Years Resolution“I will go to Kenya and visit Trixie”!