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Published: December 1st 2012
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Hello again!
Tonight it my last night at Brackenhurst, Limuru. It has gone so fast but has been an amazing experience! I have nearly overcome being sick and can eat like normal again!
This last week has been incredible with so many great days. Monday consisted of the normal daily duties at BOC which included sorting the good and bad beans/rice. We played many games with the children and the older girls did some singing and dancing for us. Anna and Jessica said goodbye to the children after 8 weeks. It was so sad to watch as tears flowed from them and the children. That night after dinner Sarah and Kelly also left. That too was another tearful goodbye. Becky and Sarah became great friends from volunteering and watching their goodbyes was so sad.
From Tuesday onwards it was just Becky and I at BOC. It felt so weird! But she was great fun to be around and the kids love her to bits. On this day I gave the children a grip ball I brought from home and some stickers. They went absolutely bananas for the stickers and the boys loved the grip ball. It was a
busy day as the kids were full of energy but it was great fun. At lunch we were offered some of the childrens meal; beans, spinach, carrot and rice. It was nice but we couldn't eat it all, the serving was massive. We felt terrible throwing it out in front of them so we decided to disguise it in a empty chip packet and nearly got caught. We felt awful when Patrick (the teacher) told us we had a kind heart for eating the meal as past volunteers tipped out tea he gave them. We were in hysterics for ages and are probably going to hell.
During the week we have a cook called Freddie who cooks our dinners. His meals are delicious but also very salty. He is gorgeous and loves to cook. His meals typically consist of pastas, rice, potato, chipati, stews, vegetables, salads, chicken on the bone and his signature 'cream of vegetable' soup (with whatever vegetable is at hand). We have a roster where two of us help cook and then another two wash up. Freddie does a speech each night, detailing what meals have been prepared for us. These speeches are classic and a
running joke in the house amongst volunteers. So when Freddie went on holiday for the week and Peter our new cook had dinner ready at 4:30pm with no speech we were devastated.
Wednesday was a big day for BOC as friends of Pat Dickson came to visit. Pat is an Australian who helped to finance the orphanage. The children perfomed songs and dances for their visitors. It was so much fun to watch, I think they were born with rhythm. They were all on a sugar high after receiving lollies and treats from the visitors. They were also given staple food to last them a while. We took many photos and videos on this day for International Volunteer Day on December 5th. I really enjoyed putting together the photos and videos and showing an example of the impact we are trying to make.
On this day Teresa brought yoyo's for the children and I brought them new colouring pencils and a memory card game. It's insane how greatful the children are. Kids back home would be so bored with the activities and ideas we come up with as our world is so technologically advanced. But here the children even
Kibera Slums
Boy in slums just love and I mean LOVE to go read in their small library. Their faces just light up at the most simple things.
Thursday was my last day at BOC and Becky's too. It was an eventful and sad day filled with colouring, hand printing, smiles, crying, goodbye letters, skipping, thousands of photos and just soaking up our final day. We brought old clothes from past volunteers as well as a clock for the hall. We decided to buy the kids chocolate, chips and fanta as a party treat. Their excitement was contagious and their faces absolutely hilarious when sipping the fanta (like biting a lemon). As it came to say goodbye, I began to get very overwhelmed as the children began crying. I felt like a fool as I've only been here two weeks whereas Becky has been here for 7 weeks and has really been able to get to know the children and form great relationships. Its insane though, in such a short period of time I've made great friendships with the children and will always remember them. One boy in particular, Joseph, who steals everyone's heart without trying. It was heartwrenching watching the children cry for
Tea Fields Limuru
Tea farmers picking Becky. Their love for any volunteer they come across is so genuine. It's up there with one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen. It just felt terrible saying goodbye, knowing that their life was just that orphanage. They leave the orphanage maybe 3 times a year and the activities we did with them was the extent of their day besides school lessons. It's hard to comprehend until you've seen it but they literally have nothing but the clothes on their backs, their bed and each other and they are fine with that because that is their life. It makes you feel incredibly guilty and stupid when you realise that back home you have so many appliances and electronics that we seriously do not need and theres kids here who don't even have soap or a change of clothes for the next day. It was a hard day, but I hope to be able to return and see the children again soon.
Friday proved to be a fantastic day! Hannah previously volunteered in a school, near the Kibera slums in Nairobi, and decided to take us there for a visit. We met Jeremiarh (teacher) and his students who
were gorgeous. They are between the ages of 14 and 19. Jeremiarh volunteers as a teacher at the school as he is unable to find his own teaching job. Many schools won't employ him simply because he grew up in the Kibera slums. It's outrageous. He and the students escorted us through the slums where majority of them live. Here they brought us to the home of 7 year old girl Elizabeth who lives with her auntie and step mother. Hannah is sponsoring Elizabeth. She weighs 9kg and is the size of a 3 year old. She is severely malnourished. Hannah is working with Jeremiarh and the school to improve Elizabeths quality of life and to bring her back to health. Seeing the slums was a real eye opener, but amazing at the same time. The smells were awful and the sizes of homes were only just bigger than a double bed. Houses were made from mud and corrugated iron roofs. It was great to see this as most foreigners/tourists are not allowed through the slums. Thanks to Hannah we got to see so much more than we expected!
Today was another great day. Teresa, Hannah and I went
Crescent Island
Walking Safari Giraffe on a day trip to Crescent Island in the Great Rift Valley. It is surrounded by Lake Naivasha. It was amazing!! We did a walking safari where we saw giraffes, zebra, buffalo, impala, beautiful birds, wildebeasts, gazelle, monkeys, waterbuck, dik dik (tiny deer) and many different types of antelope. We were so close to the animals and the views were breathtaking. I think I went a bit too photo crazy. I was so happy I bought a new camera as the shots I got are amazing. We also got a great view of pride rock they named after the Lion King. After our walking safari we got on a longboat and ventured out into the water and saw hippos and more gorgeous birds and wildife. It was the best day and a great way to finish my time in Kenya.
Unfortunately we said goodbye to Becky tonight. She was a classic and so hilarious. I wish I started my trip sooner so I was able to experience more of the project with her. I will definitely be visiting her in England whenever I get the chance! Tomorrow I leave Brackenhurst and head to Karen Camp where I start my
overland tour. I am so excited to see more of Africa! I am sad to leave the friends I've made but I'm excited to start the next leg of my trip. Until next time! x x
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Jennifer Mc Innes
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photos
Ash I just had a look at the sneaky hippos, your photos are great, and so is diary entry. Now for the next part of your trip, be safe at all times and keep taking those amazing photos, Love Mc Innes family xxxx