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Published: October 29th 2009
Hello again everyone!
So it was pointed out to me that my last blog entry didn't quite all make it onto the website. So I guess I will just start from where it left off...
I was explaining that Mondays are used basically as a "drop" in day for anyone to come in and visit and talk with Kilonzi, Brittney and I. This Monday, Kilonzi organized a sort of business meeting. He had some of the ladies bring some jewelry that they make with them to the office to show Brittney and I. The idea is that we are hoping to be able to sell some of it back in Canada in the future. They make some really nice stuff! But the problem is, that nobody here has any money to buy any of it! So basically we looked at everything they make and tried to tell them what sorts of items would sell well in Canada...
Monday I wasn't feeling very good, so we spent Monday afternoon just lying around the house and napping and resting. We planned on going back to the office in the afternoon, but some serious rain stopped us from walking back up there.
Tuesday- we spent the day doing home visits. The first one was actually really tough. I cant remember his name, but he has been diagnosed with HIV and has been taken to the hospital and given medication, however he has basically lost all hope and stopped taking his medication. He is bed-ridden for the most part. It was hard to talk to him, and see him in so much pain. Very tough.
After that visit we walked to a couple other houses, but many of them weren't home. Kilonzi explained this is acutally quite a good sign, because it means they are feeling well enough to go out! Finally though, one woman was home. Freda, we met her last Monday. This visit went SO WELL! She was just so happy to see us! We sat with her and her husband Richard for quite a while actually. She immediatley brought out tea and a huge bowl of sandwiches (which were just butter and bread)...and since Brittney doesn't drink tea or like butter...I ate double! lol....she seemed insulted that it wasn't ALL getting eaten...so needless to say I was quite full leaving her house. She was really great though, she was so content just to sit there with us. She made us promise we would come back next week as well.
Wednesday morning was GREAT! Instead of the regular breakfast (tea and bread with jam), Maggie made pancakes...which were actually crepes...but they were SOOOO good!! A very nice surprise! We were told by Kilonzi we were going to spend the day helping with a "Community Mapping" program, and that's pretty much all we knew, so we had no idea what to expect. We walked with Kilonzi for about 45 minutes, and finally reached a church (where the meeting was being held). It was about 15 students from a community college and about 10 members of the community. They were working together to learn about the history of this area (known as Ngando) and then map it out (on the floor of the church using chalk) to look at the boarders, and the weak points of the community as well as the strong points. It was actually super boring for Brittney and I, because much of the Q&A was conducted in Swahili. Also...we really didn't have anything to contritube because we don't know the area very well at all. However, they seemed quite happy that we were there and taking some pictures.
After the meeting (from about 10 am till 2:00 pm....of just sitting....) they served lunch. It was a HUGE portion of food (Chipati, rice, veggies, beef, followed by a bowl of fruit) and Brittney and I couldn't come close to finishing our share...but it was pretty good anyways...
We got a drive back to the office after lunch and played with the kids for about an hour and a half. It was quite a long day! We got home at about 4:30 and the hydro was out all night and through until this morning. Which acutally really didn't change much other than we just read our books using flashlights.
Today (Thursday) we went back up to the school! It was really great. We brought a backpack full of toys and school supplies and gave them to the head mistress. She was really happy. I went back to my Class 6 and they seemed excited to see me. We taught English and Social again...but as the kids became comfortable with me again....all they wanted to learn about was Canada and learn how to speak French (most of which I have forgotten..) so I ended up teaching them a little bit of French and a little bit of Spanish. I brought with me a map of the world (that my momma gave me to bring) and we put it up in the classroom....they LOVED it! It made it much easier to teach them about Canada and other places.
We walked back to the office with about 10 of the kids from my class to meet Gladys and John from VICDA (our volunteer organization). It was nice to see them, and really nice of them to follow up with us!
We are going to meet again next Thursday, so they can give us our certificates for our volunteer work.
We are just at Junction (yet again) now updating blogs and sending e-mails.
I didn't upload any new pictures yet...but I will again in the near future!
Hakuna Matata Everyone!!
-Denise
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Dennis T
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Untamed office
You indicated that you enjoy reading our comments. I thought as a public service (to you) I should keep you updated on our office adventures in the same manor as you are with your African adventures. Yesterday I got a paper cut on my left index finger. Mark swore 27 times... and Collins ... well ... he was just Collins. More to come...