Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The World of Kenya-part duex
It goes far beyond language communication here in kenya. I've found
that kenyans can have an entire conversation with one person asking
questions and the other one making the sound of a long "A". The other
is they can have whole conversations with just whistling. Different
whistles mean different things like "lunch is ready", "where are
you?", and "come here" etc. I gotta learn how to whistle now too!
Kenyan mamas giving birth is much different. If they come to the
dispensary then it takes about 1.5 hrs and you'll hear no sounds from
the mama in labor and then a crying baby. Then she goes home!
(personal experience one night, it was a girl and she was named
charity) Then it's back to work in the shambas, cooking, or cleaning.
A lot of mamas give birth at home with midwife help and i heard of one
mama that delievers by herself! Youth play offical soccer matches
barefoot. And kenyans love being tour guides and explaining everything
they know about the area. It's great and it's free!
that kenyans can have an entire conversation with one person asking
questions and the other one making the sound of a long "A". The other
is they can have whole conversations with just whistling. Different
whistles mean different things like "lunch is ready", "where are
you?", and "come here" etc. I gotta learn how to whistle now too!
Kenyan mamas giving birth is much different. If they come to the
dispensary then it takes about 1.5 hrs and you'll hear no sounds from
the mama in labor and then a crying baby. Then she goes home!
(personal experience one night, it was a girl and she was named
charity) Then it's back to work in the shambas, cooking, or cleaning.
A lot of mamas give birth at home with midwife help and i heard of one
mama that delievers by herself! Youth play offical soccer matches
barefoot. And kenyans love being tour guides and explaining everything
they know about the area. It's great and it's free!
--
Sent from my mobile device
Friday, August 13, 2010
Rat bastard 2
Rat Bastard
I have an unwanted roommate in my house. A rat! When i first got to
site i heard something running around in the ceiling. Then one night i
woke up to something running across the top of my bed (mattress on the
floor) outside of my mosquito net, but i figured it was my malaria
meds messing with me. The next night i awoke to the same thing so
either there was something there or i'm crazy. All of these times i
tried not to freak out. Then i was gone from site for a week for the
referendum. Monday night, i was awake reading and heard rustling on my
desk. I flashed my headlamp (from the safety of my net) over there and
saw the large rat bastard run away! Confirmation that it was a rat and
that i'm not crazy! So now it had to die. My cp, john, brought in
enough chemicals that i'm sure would harm me and poison bait pieces
the next day. For the next 4 nights i still heard him. He was taking
the bait and storing them in the drawers of the desk. Why hasn't he
died yet? Then i woke up this morning...victory was mine...
site i heard something running around in the ceiling. Then one night i
woke up to something running across the top of my bed (mattress on the
floor) outside of my mosquito net, but i figured it was my malaria
meds messing with me. The next night i awoke to the same thing so
either there was something there or i'm crazy. All of these times i
tried not to freak out. Then i was gone from site for a week for the
referendum. Monday night, i was awake reading and heard rustling on my
desk. I flashed my headlamp (from the safety of my net) over there and
saw the large rat bastard run away! Confirmation that it was a rat and
that i'm not crazy! So now it had to die. My cp, john, brought in
enough chemicals that i'm sure would harm me and poison bait pieces
the next day. For the next 4 nights i still heard him. He was taking
the bait and storing them in the drawers of the desk. Why hasn't he
died yet? Then i woke up this morning...victory was mine...
--
Sent from my mobile device
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Oh the world of Kenya...
Kenya has a simple way of life but nonetheless it's similar to the
basic life in the states...except for a few things. I've noticed
somethings that make me giggle: ever wonder where the shirts that you
donate or ones that don't sell at savers or goodwill go to? Yep! They
come to kenya! (along with other developing countries) i've seen so
many little league shirts with written names on the back, school pride
(go vikings!), and expensive brand name shirts it's funny. Even an old
phoenix coyotes jersey. And they have no clue what it means. Public
transportation have suggested passenger limits that are never followed
like 11 means 25 people can be crammed in...if not more. Goats and
chickens are included. There is no need for strip clubs here because
every mama breastfeeds in public without a concern (which i fully
support). Everything that tastes good is "sweet" (tamu) and if you
look nice or attractive you are called "smart". Kenyans love saying
hello and are truly the most welcoming people. Karibu Kenya!
basic life in the states...except for a few things. I've noticed
somethings that make me giggle: ever wonder where the shirts that you
donate or ones that don't sell at savers or goodwill go to? Yep! They
come to kenya! (along with other developing countries) i've seen so
many little league shirts with written names on the back, school pride
(go vikings!), and expensive brand name shirts it's funny. Even an old
phoenix coyotes jersey. And they have no clue what it means. Public
transportation have suggested passenger limits that are never followed
like 11 means 25 people can be crammed in...if not more. Goats and
chickens are included. There is no need for strip clubs here because
every mama breastfeeds in public without a concern (which i fully
support). Everything that tastes good is "sweet" (tamu) and if you
look nice or attractive you are called "smart". Kenyans love saying
hello and are truly the most welcoming people. Karibu Kenya!
--
Sent from my mobile device
Friday, August 6, 2010
Address correction!
Here is my address and the format:
Lee Ann Sobczak
PO BOX 5905
80200
Malindi, Kenya
--
Sent from my mobile device
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Beach corps is back....
Sorry! I found out that my blogs weren't posting! I got it to
work...hopefully. Things are going well here. I'm at my site and
getting to know the basics. I live in a 3 bedroom house with tap water
and a flushing toliet. (that's for the zutzs) Electricty is supposed
to be coming soon. Almost had it all! Could use some paint and
attention so that is what i'll be working on in my freetime. Observed
two health talks put on by my counterpart. The kids here know more
about health issues than most adults in the states. Nick and i went to
Diani beach around mombasa this weekend. It's the hawaii of kenya and
many british gap year kids vacation there. We are spending this week
in malindi for the referendum that happened today. Most results are
coming back with a strong yes. It rained every morning this week which
means we had to wait to go to the beach till the afternoon...what a
hassle! Got an address! PO BOX 5905 malindi, kenya. No zip...they just
know. I get taxed on packages so don't make them too heavy.
xoxo
work...hopefully. Things are going well here. I'm at my site and
getting to know the basics. I live in a 3 bedroom house with tap water
and a flushing toliet. (that's for the zutzs) Electricty is supposed
to be coming soon. Almost had it all! Could use some paint and
attention so that is what i'll be working on in my freetime. Observed
two health talks put on by my counterpart. The kids here know more
about health issues than most adults in the states. Nick and i went to
Diani beach around mombasa this weekend. It's the hawaii of kenya and
many british gap year kids vacation there. We are spending this week
in malindi for the referendum that happened today. Most results are
coming back with a strong yes. It rained every morning this week which
means we had to wait to go to the beach till the afternoon...what a
hassle! Got an address! PO BOX 5905 malindi, kenya. No zip...they just
know. I get taxed on packages so don't make them too heavy.
xoxo
--
Sent from my mobile device
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