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Published: April 29th 2011
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Jetlag
Maurice, Nabeel and Gordon in the mutatu on our way back to Kagoya Oyaore osiepnas (Good Morning Friends)!
The last few days I have been settling into rural life in Kenya, off the shores of Lake Victoria in a community of villages known locally as Kanyawegi. I am with two other UBC students, Nabeel and Gordon, to collaborate with the community under the organization GIVE, Global Initiative for Village Empowerment.
Already, the welcoming into Africa has been rewarding and beyond my expectations. After 17 hours of flying, we were greeted at Nairibi airport by John, a cousin of Maurice who is our primary contact in Kanyawegi. We arrived in late evening but managed to stay up for a game of scrabble and some authentic Kenyan cuisine: ugali (thick porridge-like maize), sukuma wiki (superfood kale to “push the weak”), beans and mango. The following morning we took an early flight from Nairobi to Kisumu, the closest city to our home the next 6 weeks.
Maurice met us at the airport and we were escorted to our home, Kagoya, in Kanyawegi. The heat is immediately recognizable and the unfamiliar smells demand humble curiosity. The Kenyan people are extremely friendly; it is rare to walk down the street and not be greeted with a
Road to Kisumu
Recently paved, making travel more agreeable. smile (bwonjo) and “how are you”, often followed by squeals of laughter if spoken by children.
We have ventured into Kisumu a few times to get supplies and get acquainted with our surroundings. The city is a bustling, lively place full of activity and people hanging out at the edges of the roads, taking in the day with ease. In contrast, the rural area of our home is less congested and animal sounds break the silence: chickens, turkeys, cows, goats, dogs, and a few others I have yet to identify.
The predominant tribe in this area is Luo, interestingly the ancestry of US president Obama. Apparently his grandmother lives a short distance away and entertains a steady stream of visitors. We have been practicing the Luo language as much as possible and the locals are thrilled to hear our efforts, again often chuckling as we struggle with pronunciation.
Nabeel is working with the Education team and has been meeting with teachers to discuss curriculum and ways to improve children’s exam scores. Kenya has recently adopted the same constitution as the US, which will be fully implemented in 2012. However, one of the immediate changes was to provide
Butterfly
All sizes and colours flutter freely free education to all people. This change shall have a major influence in the lives of people for years to come.
Gordon and I are on the Nutrition and Food Security team and our main project is to gain background information from the farmers and key informants about the present state of agricultural productivity and inquire about ways to improve the livelihood of the people here. We have been fine tuning our list of questions this week, which shall be translated into Luo by Maurice so we can communicate with all pertinent individuals.
The jetlag is finally wearing off and I feel comfortable with my surroundings. The food is very agreeable and has much Indian influence – I can get chai and masala dosas here too! I am surprised at how familiar things feel here. The British have left their mark in the style of architecture and available groceries. Music blasting from Mutatus (20 seater vans used for public transport) is often Western rap, pop, reggae or various traditional African.
It has been a refreshingly slow introduction to Kenyan culture this week. It is hard not to feel guilty sometimes for the lack of productivity! I am
Chameleon
Slowly crossing the road - notice the dark speckles on its back camoflaged to the gravel grateful for this opportunity to relax and shift into a more natural rhythm of waking with the sun and only moving as quick as the mode of transport allows, whether that be walking, biking, or mutatu-ing. The people here are incredibly beautiful despite the dire situations they may be facing. In particular, the children are full of joy and are quick to engage. Our first day, we had a handful of local children knocking at our door to say hello, and their visits have continued.
Thank you to all you lovely beings that have been so supportive of my thirst for adventure. It was a bit strange to adjust so quickly from exams to lounging in the sun, but much needed! Sending lots of love and wishing you all well!
Much love and sunshine,
Laura
xoxo
PS. I have not changed the email settings from my previous travel experience to Thailand and India, so if you would prefer not to receive updates feel free to remove yourself!
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Angie
non-member comment
Amazing
Yet another amazing adventure for Ms. Laura. Such a blessing you have to do a wonderful thing! I look forward to reading you adventures along the way of this wonderful trip! xo