So the last day is finally here! After spending a week on the south coast of Mombasa enjoying the sun/rain (we played a LOT of cards), we are in Nairobi! Our wonderful friend David (from Kenbel Tours : D )gave us a lift from Mombasa to Nairobi yesterday, which ended up taking the entire day... ugh! But we're here and staying in a nice hotel with HOT SHOWERS AND TV!! Wow, talk about luxury...
Today, we got up early to check out the Masai market--imagine the farmers market x100 (but no food). So many kikois (wraps/sarongs), jewelry, clothing, shoes, trinkets, everything! It was large and overwhelming, but we had Grace, our friend from Kasigau (and Abs' sister) help us navigate the vendors. It was a long process, but we came out with some really amazing things. We've all gotten pretty good at bartering with people and I think we'll have tendencies to haggle our prices when we get home!
Some of us have been feeling a little sick, not sure why, but we're surviving and taking it easy. We've been staying safe in the city, especially after the referendum (which passed!!!). The voting process here is different here. The voting staff dip each voter's left pinky in a dark ink to signify that they've voted. It's like a permanent "I Voted!" sticker. The person's pinky nail stays stained for a pretty long time. It's neat to discretely see who's voted and who hasn't.
Ken and Kris, our professors for this trip, are leaving Nairobi tonight. We got to see them today and yesterday for a short time. We're all very excited to go back home and enjoy the basic things that we've taken for granted. We're all so excited to see our family, friends, significant others, pets, computers (with wireless internet) and flushing toilets.
With that said, thank you to everyone who has read this blog, who has posted comments, and who have been thinking about us for the past two months. We've all had an amazing experience here; we've learned so much about teaching and about ourselves. We appreciate your support--all types of support, and we are so happy to come back and be with the ones we love. Wish us safe and timely travels and we will see you in the states very soon!
Tu anani kesho... see you tomorrow!!
The Kenya 6
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
In Diani + other updates
Hey everyone,
We are offically (almost) done with our elementary internship. We have a few more bits to wrap up, but after that, we're finished! Everyone except for Julie returns home to do their special education internship requirements. We are all very excited to be finished, to be vacationing at the beach, and to finally come home.
Here's how the last three or so weeks panned out for us:
We taught for two more solid weeks at Jora (Mad, Amy, Chanda) and Rukanga (Julie, Molly, Jesse) primary schools, working with classes 1-8. On Thursdays and Fridays, still at Bungule, all 6 of us. The last week was a bit off-schedule due to the schools moving their testing up a week. In the schools at the end of each term, all the students take the national exams in each subject they study. These exams take about three days and the students are basically drained afterwards. Even classes 1-3 take the exams, IN English! They have some translation help from their teachers, but other than that, they complete the exams. We finished the last few weeks teaching the groups we could meet with and doing inservices for the teachers. For the inservice, we presented all the strategies and ideas we've used while working with their students. We left them with posters and materials to hopefully help their students make some progress in the terms to come. All the schools were very happy to (after the exams) let us take a peek at the mark lists (grade sheets) to compare term scores and look for improvements. We all miss the kids so much--they kept us smiling every day.
The schools moved the exams up one week to compensate for the Referendum. Kenya just voted in an updated constitution that includes a bill of rights. 'Just' meaning on Wednesday! They tallied the votes and it passed--68ish% I believe voted yes. In the Kasigau community, we have witnessed many 'Yes' rallies, people wearing green shirts and holding large informational meetings. We have received Travel Alerts from pretty much everyone warning of the political aftermath of the referendum (like bombings in public places and other violent outbursts) so we are on the watch! Its pretty safe here in Diani because it's such a touristy place. They just closed shops, and that was about it.
We spent the last few days at the banda having fun, packing, and hanging out with some wazungu friends (aka other white people). We've had such a fabulous experience here and we've learned so much! We can't wait to come home and tell you all about it.
We leave on Wednesday morning from Nairobi and arrive on Wednesday night in Vancouver. We fly out and arrive on the same day, even though we'll be flying for 18-something hours. Ugh!
Please send us messages on the blog. We love hearing from all of you!! We're enjoying these last few days, but definitely ready to come home, so see you soon!
The Kenya 6
ps- even though Amy isn't right next to me (Madeline), I'm sure she'd want to say thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. We all had a great time on the safari--saw 7 lions, too many elephants to count, zebras, giraffes, baboons, buffalo, so many birds and many other creatures. We had a great (really expensive) lunch and got to watch two lions come to a watering hole, and had a great dinner at the banda! A very amazing day!
Thanks for reading--look forward to (hopefully) one more post!
We are offically (almost) done with our elementary internship. We have a few more bits to wrap up, but after that, we're finished! Everyone except for Julie returns home to do their special education internship requirements. We are all very excited to be finished, to be vacationing at the beach, and to finally come home.
Here's how the last three or so weeks panned out for us:
We taught for two more solid weeks at Jora (Mad, Amy, Chanda) and Rukanga (Julie, Molly, Jesse) primary schools, working with classes 1-8. On Thursdays and Fridays, still at Bungule, all 6 of us. The last week was a bit off-schedule due to the schools moving their testing up a week. In the schools at the end of each term, all the students take the national exams in each subject they study. These exams take about three days and the students are basically drained afterwards. Even classes 1-3 take the exams, IN English! They have some translation help from their teachers, but other than that, they complete the exams. We finished the last few weeks teaching the groups we could meet with and doing inservices for the teachers. For the inservice, we presented all the strategies and ideas we've used while working with their students. We left them with posters and materials to hopefully help their students make some progress in the terms to come. All the schools were very happy to (after the exams) let us take a peek at the mark lists (grade sheets) to compare term scores and look for improvements. We all miss the kids so much--they kept us smiling every day.
The schools moved the exams up one week to compensate for the Referendum. Kenya just voted in an updated constitution that includes a bill of rights. 'Just' meaning on Wednesday! They tallied the votes and it passed--68ish% I believe voted yes. In the Kasigau community, we have witnessed many 'Yes' rallies, people wearing green shirts and holding large informational meetings. We have received Travel Alerts from pretty much everyone warning of the political aftermath of the referendum (like bombings in public places and other violent outbursts) so we are on the watch! Its pretty safe here in Diani because it's such a touristy place. They just closed shops, and that was about it.
We spent the last few days at the banda having fun, packing, and hanging out with some wazungu friends (aka other white people). We've had such a fabulous experience here and we've learned so much! We can't wait to come home and tell you all about it.
We leave on Wednesday morning from Nairobi and arrive on Wednesday night in Vancouver. We fly out and arrive on the same day, even though we'll be flying for 18-something hours. Ugh!
Please send us messages on the blog. We love hearing from all of you!! We're enjoying these last few days, but definitely ready to come home, so see you soon!
The Kenya 6
ps- even though Amy isn't right next to me (Madeline), I'm sure she'd want to say thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. We all had a great time on the safari--saw 7 lions, too many elephants to count, zebras, giraffes, baboons, buffalo, so many birds and many other creatures. We had a great (really expensive) lunch and got to watch two lions come to a watering hole, and had a great dinner at the banda! A very amazing day!
Thanks for reading--look forward to (hopefully) one more post!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Whew!
Hey everyone,
Sorry for the 2-week post delay. We haven't had as much time to get online as we thought. We are all doing well. Almost done with the internship. The schools here are amazing, so supportive and welcoming. We feel so fortunate to learn from the wonderful teachers and students.
This weekend, we will be traveling to Voi, then to Tsavo East for a game drive (aka safari) to see some big critters. Hoping to see some elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, and... maybe a cheetah (at least I would *Madeline*).
Anyway, last week in Kasigau then heading to Mombasa for a week on the beach.
Miss you all! Look for an update soon!
The Kenya 6!
xoxo
Sorry for the 2-week post delay. We haven't had as much time to get online as we thought. We are all doing well. Almost done with the internship. The schools here are amazing, so supportive and welcoming. We feel so fortunate to learn from the wonderful teachers and students.
This weekend, we will be traveling to Voi, then to Tsavo East for a game drive (aka safari) to see some big critters. Hoping to see some elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, and... maybe a cheetah (at least I would *Madeline*).
Anyway, last week in Kasigau then heading to Mombasa for a week on the beach.
Miss you all! Look for an update soon!
The Kenya 6!
xoxo
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Kenya 6 in Bellingham
The Kenya 6 before they left. They're having a tough time uploading photos, so this may be it for awhile.
Monday, June 28, 2010
internet access is so shotty!!
Jambo!!
Amy here-
I just wanted to say, mom: CONGRATS ON LANDING A JOB!!! i am so proud of you :) i love you my family: mom, dad, gemmy goop, krusty, mandia, gma, gpa, the kyles, the mistys, the forakers, and the patricks!!! larry: i cant wait to land in your arms!! s+j you keeps me happy and alive.. love my bestie boos!!
Update:
this is the first week that the six interns are on our own in the schools. it is such a crazy adventure. everything in kenya land is so different from america. we all have so many stories to share! we recently found 2 scorpions in our bedroom and there are always cockroaches in the toilet..gross!! haha the yucky and scary things do not outweigh the many adventures, blessings, and treasures we have discovered here. We love you all and we are headed to mombasa this weekend (big tourist place on the coast) so hopefully we will all have internet and/or phone access. keep us in your prayers, you are all in ours!!!
the kemya 6
Amy here-
I just wanted to say, mom: CONGRATS ON LANDING A JOB!!! i am so proud of you :) i love you my family: mom, dad, gemmy goop, krusty, mandia, gma, gpa, the kyles, the mistys, the forakers, and the patricks!!! larry: i cant wait to land in your arms!! s+j you keeps me happy and alive.. love my bestie boos!!
Update:
this is the first week that the six interns are on our own in the schools. it is such a crazy adventure. everything in kenya land is so different from america. we all have so many stories to share! we recently found 2 scorpions in our bedroom and there are always cockroaches in the toilet..gross!! haha the yucky and scary things do not outweigh the many adventures, blessings, and treasures we have discovered here. We love you all and we are headed to mombasa this weekend (big tourist place on the coast) so hopefully we will all have internet and/or phone access. keep us in your prayers, you are all in ours!!!
the kemya 6
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Back in Rukanga
Hey everyone,
Just a quick post: We have our teaching schedule! 2 days a week in Bungule and then jumping around to the other 4 primary schools on the other days. We will be staying busy during the weekends and busy teaching during the week.
We took a big hike (African hike=bushwhacking up AND DOWN) up the hill behind our banda where the baboons hang out. We got scraped and scratched up a ton, but it was fun. Didn't see any baboons while we were up there, but when we went down, they climbed about during dinner time. The pictures of the view on the hill are outstanding. We could actually see the curve of the Earth--no joke. Amazing pictures to follow!
We are well fed and well taken care of. My internet is about to run out, just wanted to do a quick post.
We love and miss you all. It was soo amazing to read your comments. We took pictures of the computer screen to show the others who didn't come down to Rukanga. So your messages made it to their recipients.
We love you all sooo much! Thank you so much for the updates.
The next time to get online will probably be next week, so post post post and give us something exciting to read!
Jambo!
The Kenya 6
Just a quick post: We have our teaching schedule! 2 days a week in Bungule and then jumping around to the other 4 primary schools on the other days. We will be staying busy during the weekends and busy teaching during the week.
We took a big hike (African hike=bushwhacking up AND DOWN) up the hill behind our banda where the baboons hang out. We got scraped and scratched up a ton, but it was fun. Didn't see any baboons while we were up there, but when we went down, they climbed about during dinner time. The pictures of the view on the hill are outstanding. We could actually see the curve of the Earth--no joke. Amazing pictures to follow!
We are well fed and well taken care of. My internet is about to run out, just wanted to do a quick post.
We love and miss you all. It was soo amazing to read your comments. We took pictures of the computer screen to show the others who didn't come down to Rukanga. So your messages made it to their recipients.
We love you all sooo much! Thank you so much for the updates.
The next time to get online will probably be next week, so post post post and give us something exciting to read!
Jambo!
The Kenya 6
Thursday, June 17, 2010
In Kenya!
Hey everyone,
After some hectic/barfy (for some of us) travel, we made it. The Amsterdam airport was a bit disappointing, but the tile floor provided great comfort. We saw zebras on the way to Voi. We are checking out schools today. We spent about 2 hrs at the school we'll be teaching at (Bungule primary school). It's warm and the soda is refreshing. The children are absolutely wonderful--smiling and happy to see us. We have taken many pictures but we can't upload them just yet (until we have more than 30 minutes of internet). We are all alive, safe, fed, showered, and excited. Also tired from the sun.
From Madeline: Hey everyone! Thanks for reading this. I'm having a blast. The plane rides were ok and I didn't drug up as much as I normally do. Slept more than I normally do, which was great. I love you and miss all of you. Please please leave us a message or a comment. We need to hear from you so please please say SOMETHING. Ok, I love you all. xoxo
From Amy: Hello!!!! I am already sunburnt but loving every second of it!The view is beautiful and our banda (house) is wonderful. Semi-american toilets :) WE are all very happy and are having a blast meeting all of the people. Larry, I found a new schip-schwap: lemon bitter..... hahaha i love you and everyone else..please leave us messages, it might be a week before we can contact agin. love doves
After some hectic/barfy (for some of us) travel, we made it. The Amsterdam airport was a bit disappointing, but the tile floor provided great comfort. We saw zebras on the way to Voi. We are checking out schools today. We spent about 2 hrs at the school we'll be teaching at (Bungule primary school). It's warm and the soda is refreshing. The children are absolutely wonderful--smiling and happy to see us. We have taken many pictures but we can't upload them just yet (until we have more than 30 minutes of internet). We are all alive, safe, fed, showered, and excited. Also tired from the sun.
From Madeline: Hey everyone! Thanks for reading this. I'm having a blast. The plane rides were ok and I didn't drug up as much as I normally do. Slept more than I normally do, which was great. I love you and miss all of you. Please please leave us a message or a comment. We need to hear from you so please please say SOMETHING. Ok, I love you all. xoxo
From Amy: Hello!!!! I am already sunburnt but loving every second of it!The view is beautiful and our banda (house) is wonderful. Semi-american toilets :) WE are all very happy and are having a blast meeting all of the people. Larry, I found a new schip-schwap: lemon bitter..... hahaha i love you and everyone else..please leave us messages, it might be a week before we can contact agin. love doves
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Trip information, agenda, and a message to readers/followers!
Hey everyone!
The blog works! This is the website we will be using to mass-communicate with the outside world (aka- our family, friends, and other concerned persons). For those of you who have briefly heard about our plans, here are some more details:
- We are going to a region in Kenya (eastern Africa) to complete our Elementary Education internship requirements by teaching in Pre-school-8th grade classrooms.
- Kenya has a national curriculum that requires their students to pass classes both in Swahili and English, so we will have academic subjects to teach.
- We will be in a region called Kasigau. You can Google Map it for the location--try the satellite option. It shows the region in detail.
- We will be there for about 7 weeks.
- We will have some time to play (!) after we finish our internship.
- We want to stay connected (somewhat) to the outside world, hence the blog!
Here's some info about the blog: We can upload text, pictures and links. We're not sure how frequently we'll be accessing the internet--that's something we'll sort out when we get there. We're also not sure what type of internet access we will have. If it's dial-up, the pictures may have to wait until we get home!
You can read the posts, follow us if you like and leave comments as you wish. All six of us (Molly, Amy, Chanda, Jesse, Julie and Madeline) will all have control of the content, so please feel free to leave messages for anyone! We look forward to your comments, so please leave them, even if it's just to say 'hi' or 'watch out for lions'.
Here are some brief trip details: we leave on June 14th--one week from tomorrow! We fly out of Vancouver, B.C. in the evening and have a (roughly) 5 hour lay-over in Amsterdam before taking another evening flight to Nairobi. We end up in Nairobi, Kenya on the morning of the 16th to meet up with Ken and Kris--our two professors.
That's about it for now! Thanks for reading!
Madeline (and the other 5)
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