Swearing In today!

We are headed to the US ambassador's house to officially swear in as real peace corps volunteers!

4th of July in Kenya? Hell yes!

Just because I'm not in the US of A, doesn't mean that we didn't celebrate like Americans! We rented out a place where we have our group trainings and spent the night up there. We all made a bunch of American type food with the supplies that we have here, got two kegs, had a bondfire, and sang at midnight for America. We all had a great time and so much fun being all together without a curfew!

On Tuesday, we had to make our own lunch with our language groups. We decided to have chicken or kuku. We don't have grocery stores here so that means we have to kill a live one and cook it....so we did! I have it all on video and it was an experience!  It was a very delicious kuku too! The video will hopefully be up in the next couple of weeks depending on internet connections.

Training is over in two weeks! We swear in on the 21st and then we are off to our sites. My address will be changing so don't send anything until I can get my new one up. Time now is being spent as much as possible with each other because this is the last time we are all going to be together for a while.

Kenyan Kisses!

Machakos

We are going to Machakos on Sunday for a three day "vacation"! It will be nice to get a change of site. We are doing our HIV/AIDs training and should get some good down time to hang out with each other. We are planning a big 4th of July party and make some American food. I'd kill for a Taco bell or pizza right now, but the food isn't bad. We just got a cookbook with a lot of ideas in it so when I don't have anything to do I'll be practicing making different things in a makeshift oven of sorts. Less then a month till we test in our languages, leave here and swear in at Nairobi. AH!

If anyone hasn't heard there is a referendum being voted on in Kenya for a new constitution. It happens on August 4th. Read up on it to get an idea of what is going on in the politics here. We are hoping and pretty sure there won't be anything like the post election violence in 2007.  

PS...this post is for Nicole who called me out, but for the record I was talking about the last post! Love you NicNic!

Missing everyone! xoxoxo

About one month in

It's crazy to look back and see that I've been here for about a month already! And I only have a month left in Loitokitok and then we head to Nairobi to swear in and then off to our sites.

A normal day consits of me waking up at the horrible hour of 6am and laying in bed till the latest 6:30am. Then I get up and get ready, eat breakfast which is usually a fried egg, a kenyan pancake, and chai. Sometimes Blue band sandwiches are thrown in there which is just "butter" on bread. It's tasty though. Then I leave and have my 30 min walk to my language class which is at Paige's house....across town. It's small groups. Mine has three people, Paige, Louis and me. Our trainer is Sam. We tend to have a good time during our class. Like last week we learned how to say "If I was a rich girl" in Kiswahili like the Gwen Stefani song. We have language till noon and then lunch. We normally have a cheap lunch at a hoteli or restaurant. I'm a fan of the rice, chapati, and beef with some vegetables (cabbage) on the side. All for about 60 shillings which is less than a US dollar. We then walk around the market and maybe buy some bananas or oranges that aren't orange in color they are actually green and yellow. After lunch, we have cultural and technical training. We were matched with groups in the area to work with and do a small project. Julie and I are working with an HIV/AIDS support group in Kimana.  We are working with them to plant skumawiki which is a vegetable that is eaten a lot here. After those different sessions, we all head to a local bar to watch the World Cup. It's our time to hang out together and relax before going home at our 6:30pm curfew. Then comes dinner with my family and some wonderfully dubbed Spanish soap operas that my mama and I watch together on TV. Yep, TV, and I have electricity and water with a shower. I'm spoiled here and it's not going to help prepare me for my site which has none of these things! So, I'm going to enjoy them while I can!

Today (Saturday) is the main market day and everyone is out selling and buying things. It's a really fun thing to see and experience. Today i got a Leso which is a piece of fabric that you wrap around you. It's a huge thing here and all the ladies wear them.   Weekends are pretty relaxed here. I do my laundry in the morning which is washing my clothes in a bucket. I clean my room and hang out. I did a lot of reading today. The volunteers like to get together and play soccer, football, or frisbee on the weekends too so that gets us out of the house and we are able to see each other more.

We all talk about the food that we miss from home so please, everyone...enjoy taco bell, mexican food, and cheese for me!!!

Much love from Kenya!

I'm here in Loitokitok!!

So we don't really have internet access here in Loitokitok. I'm at an internet cafe right now. Training is going well. We are learning the language Ki Swahili. And yesterday we found out where we are going. I'm going to the coast! To a place called Jilore near Malindi. Check it out online! It's going to be hot and humid there! Sticking with the same language and I'll be working in a dispensary doing health education to my 5,000 people village. I'm nearby 4 other volunteers so it should be nice. It very beautiful here too! Mt. Kili is huge and it's in our backyards. My host family is very nice and very excited to have a Mzungu (white person). My Mama is very nice and wants to teach me everything!

Hope all is well over there. I miss everyone and home a lot but things are busy here. Will update when I can but it will be spaced out!


xoxo

Training has begun!

Hello Everyone!
My training has started in Kenya. It's lot of rules and regulations. Language classes have started also for KiSwahili. We will be learning were our site will be next wednesday. After that we will transition to learning the tribal language. Weather is great here. It rained for the first time here today. It was similar to hawaii rain where it was light but got heavy at times. We went into Nairobi tonight for dinner and a drink. It was a bit scary because they call it Nairobbery. But we were definitely safe and had a nice time. We head to our training site tomorrow and I won't know how much internet access we will have. And I get to meet and start living with my Host family on Sunday. Things are busy here but we have time for fun too. We played ultimate Frisbee yesterday and the soccer game got rained out today.

Notice to anyone wanting to send me packages!!!!!! Please do so ASAP because for my first 90 days I don't have to pay taxes on packages to get them. After 90 days it's very very expensive!! Send to the address on the blog and they will forward it to my training site. A package is considered anything other than a letter.

Kwaheri! (goodbye)
LA

Here in Kenya

I have arrived! Kenya is very beautiful from what I saw on the plane. Flights were long but good. Training starts tomorrow. Checked into the hotel and ate dinner. Headed for one of my last real shower for a long time. The weather is cool at night right now. Officially time is 10pm.  It's very refreshing weather. Will keep everyone updated!

LA

Day 2-Orientation

i got to meet all my group today that is going with me to Kenya. Very exciting day and it feels good that everyone is having the same concerns as I am and was. We leave for JFK in the morning. Our flight to Switzerland leaves at 6pm and then from there we fly to kenya and get in around 6pm on the 26th. Shots start on the 27th...yay.

And I will be watching the season finale of Lost tomorrow so I'm very excited I don't have to wait 2 years to find out what happens!

:) lovely

Day 1-Philly

Today was very stressful and rushed! Trying to get packed and to the airport was intense. Saying goodbye to Mom, Dad, Nicole, Krystina, Josh, Matt and Dylan was pretty emotional and tough to do. Crying on the plane next to strangers isn't fun and they tend to stare. Flight to Philly was fine. Got in and then had help with my luggage because I can't carry it myself (not good). Checked into the hotel and I'm still doing things...(it's 2am here now) Tomorrow is orientation and finalizing paperwork. I'll get to meet everyone that I'm going with. Will post updates when I can!

Thank you for all the love and support! :)

Address and Info

So here is a brief description of my first few days in Kenya and what they will be like. My address for sending things while I'm at my training site (till the end of July) is below. I'll put up some mailing instructions soon!

Loitokitok, Kenya is my training city...check it out on the map! 


Packages go to the capital:

Volunteer’s name, Peace Corps Trainee

P.O. Box 698-00621

Village Market

Nairobi, Kenya 

Arrival:  Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) look for one of our staff who will be holding a Peace Corps sign.  If you do not see him or her at the gate, please proceed through immigration, collect your luggage at the baggage carousels and proceed through customs.  Peace Corps staff and current Volunteers will meet you outside of customs and will be displaying Peace Corps signs.  You will then travel by bus to AFRALTI, which is approximately a 30 to 60 minutes drive from JKIA depending on traffic.  There, you will have a light meal and a good night’s sleep.   

Day One:  Thursday, May 27, 2010

Breakfast will be served 6:00 – 8:00 a.m.  The first session starts promptly at 8:30 a.m.  You will receive a Safety & Security briefing by Nuru Zuhudi, Safety & Security Coordinator (SSC).  You will meet with Amy Byerwalter, Administrative Officer (AO), and Isabella Maisiba, Volunteer Records Clerk.  They will provide instruction on how to complete various administrative forms.  At this time, they will also collect your Peace Corps passports and 12 passport photos.  During the morning, you will also meet the following Peace Corps Kenya senior staff as part of your orientation:  Steven Wisecarver, Country Director (CD); Enos Radeny, Associate Peace Corps Director Education (APCD); Joseph Maruti, Training Manager; other staff and current serving Volunteers. The Medical team will share with you a detailed immunization program. You can expect to get your first shots.  Peace Corps Medical Officers (PCMOs) will also hand out malaria prophylaxis, give vaccinations, and start the medical sessions. 

Day Two:  Friday, May 28, 2010

Breakfast will be served 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. The first session will start at 8:30 a.m. You will receive information on where you will be for your 2 years of service.  A detailed description of your work assignment will also be shared at this time.  During the day, you will learn more about your host families and meet the Host Family Coordinator.  

Day Three: Saturday, May 29, 2010

Breakfast will be served 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. Please have all your luggage packed and ready for loading after breakfast.  We will give you instructions where to bring your luggage for loading. You will depart for Loitokitok by bus at 8:30 a.m.  The trip to Loitokitok will take approximately 6½ hours (270 kilometers).  If you are prone to motion sickness, we recommend that you take medication before traveling.  (Please bring this medication with you from the U.S.)  We will be providing a box lunch and drinks for the trip. Petrol stations/rest stops are not frequently found on this route.  The bus will stop as needed; however, please be prepared that a pit latrine/toilet may not be available where you stop.  You may need to walk off-road to relieve yourself. 

Once in Loitokitok, you will have dinner and overnight at the Outward Bound Trust of Kenya (our training hub).  You will share a dorm style room with 9 other trainees. 

Day Four:  Sunday, May 30, 2010

Breakfast will be served 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. and the first session starts at 8:30 a.m.  The day will focus on preparing you for entry into your host family communities as well as getting to know the training staff in several one-on-one meetings. You will also be introduced to your Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitators.  Lunch will be served 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. During the afternoon, you will be introduced to your host families.  You will overnight at your home stay.