So last week continued in a hectic fashion, on Wednesday we were frantically usshered out of school as some large men from immigration turned up asking for our passports and permits. I am still not sure if we have the correct paperwork for volunteering as I am definitely in Kenya on a tourism visa, but not sure what this allows!
Thursday saw a third attach from Al-shabab but in the very north-west of the country, close to the Somalian border...worrying...? I think the main concern is that it is just really hard to predict when or if there will be an attack in Mombasa and if so where it will be! Avoid ex-pat or tourism bases is the guidance thus far!
On a brighter note, I had a lovely weekend relaxing in Mombasa. This began on the beach on Friday afternoon and ended on the beach on Sunday! On Saturday me and a friend went into Old town to finish off our souvenir shopping and then to the beach and on sunday we simply beached. I did find tme to visit a baby orphanage on Sunday morning however. This was adorable, there were a range of youngsters, some only a few weeks old, being taken care of by an Australian girl and her Kenyan husband. One of the kids had cerebal palsey and was very slim. He had recently been to the hospital for treatment, and shockinly had been told that his fees would be higher as he was special needs! I also spent a whle holding a few week old baby who had been abandoned after birth in a cardboard box, currently she weighs only 2.5kg. It is sad and upsetting to hear such stories but overall I felt happy that the kids were at least beng well taken care of!
Today was back to school and back to normality. The GVI staff member is having a week off but school ran quite smoothly. I did a bit more first aid than normal as one of my girls has a long-standing wound on her leg which must be treated daily, and a standard 1 boy gauged a chunk out of his foot! I also found a boy in my class with a pussing sore on his leg! Niice!
Monday, 31 October 2011
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Al Shababapop
So, I am trying to be better at this, and it has been a pretty hectic week so far! Yesterday school was tiring, the kids seem to be getting harder work as the temperature increases, and they don't seem to respond to any threats or punishments. This causes me a dilemma as some of the punishments that the school would give them I do not agree with, and so I am reluctant to go to anyone higher for help. Beating them or making a child kneel with their arms in the air are not the kinds of activities I wish to inflict upon any of them!
School and the past few days generally seem to have been a bt crazy, all of the Somalia business ad the grenade attacks in Nairobi aren't the types of news you want to hear! At school the local teachers seem to have entered into some kind of conspiracy where they have sneaky local teacher meetings in Swahili (enouraging coherence between local and volunteer teachers?!).
Today was also hectic, I taugh four lessons then went home for lunch then spent three hours at community class! It is kind of nice to be busy though, so I appreciated it! I am now preparing for tomorrow, although I am nt sure how many times I can say "be quiet" before I explode!!
School and the past few days generally seem to have been a bt crazy, all of the Somalia business ad the grenade attacks in Nairobi aren't the types of news you want to hear! At school the local teachers seem to have entered into some kind of conspiracy where they have sneaky local teacher meetings in Swahili (enouraging coherence between local and volunteer teachers?!).
Today was also hectic, I taugh four lessons then went home for lunch then spent three hours at community class! It is kind of nice to be busy though, so I appreciated it! I am now preparing for tomorrow, although I am nt sure how many times I can say "be quiet" before I explode!!
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
The rains came down and the floods came up
So this weeks major event has been the crazy levels of rain that have come down. I enjoyed a great weekend in Gede, relaxing at the eco lodge on Saturday. Then on Sunday we took a dugout canoe across the Mida Creek. Although somewhat stressful at times this was another surreal experience, especially as the guide and captain sang Kenyan songs to us whilst bobbing around the middle of a rather large expanse of water. Wont be doing that again in a hurry, but enjoyable all the same. This was followed by an hour long walk up to the Gede ruins which was briefly interrupted by the first of many downpours! The ruins were interesting but somewhat comfusing...it seems that hundreds of years ago the infastructure was far superior to that in place now- concrete that has remained this long over mud, wood and stones. We took a tuk tuk back to the lodge after eating some bajias and colas on the street in Gede town...yum.
After lunch the rain started to come down more persistently and our departure was delayed, although eventually we braved the weather and made it onto a Matatu. The matatu got progressively busier throughout the journey, and at times people were quite literally hanging off it! We made it back regardless and then had to journey through the already flooded bombolulu village.
Endlessly, the rain continued throughout the night...and Monday morning came. The walk to school was possibly one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life...up to my ankles in brown water at several points and drenched in rain by the time I arrived at school, I battled on through. I later realised I had also taken several of my skeeter bites through the puddles, I will eagerly await infection...haha (joking...ish). To further add to the days traumas, an outbreak of chicken pox began at school...so glad I have already had it! I also had wet cement dripping into my classroom rather persistently....the kids found this hilarious however, as it was quite obviously, poo! They were very sweet however when it landed on me and a few of them came up and brushed me down!! Today I was less than enamoured by the idea of undertaking this journey again, but somehow I find waays to make myself do these things and I made it to school, managing to avoid any paddling situations but still with somewhat muddy feet and legs! More of my studenst came in today though (many stayed home due to the rain yesterday) so it felt more worthwhile. I also made it to adult ed (minus my rain jacket as it wasnt raining when I set off) and needless to say arrived home somewhat soggier than when I left.
Maintaining high spirits is easier than you think however especially with the kids around to keep you smiling!
After lunch the rain started to come down more persistently and our departure was delayed, although eventually we braved the weather and made it onto a Matatu. The matatu got progressively busier throughout the journey, and at times people were quite literally hanging off it! We made it back regardless and then had to journey through the already flooded bombolulu village.
Endlessly, the rain continued throughout the night...and Monday morning came. The walk to school was possibly one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life...up to my ankles in brown water at several points and drenched in rain by the time I arrived at school, I battled on through. I later realised I had also taken several of my skeeter bites through the puddles, I will eagerly await infection...haha (joking...ish). To further add to the days traumas, an outbreak of chicken pox began at school...so glad I have already had it! I also had wet cement dripping into my classroom rather persistently....the kids found this hilarious however, as it was quite obviously, poo! They were very sweet however when it landed on me and a few of them came up and brushed me down!! Today I was less than enamoured by the idea of undertaking this journey again, but somehow I find waays to make myself do these things and I made it to school, managing to avoid any paddling situations but still with somewhat muddy feet and legs! More of my studenst came in today though (many stayed home due to the rain yesterday) so it felt more worthwhile. I also made it to adult ed (minus my rain jacket as it wasnt raining when I set off) and needless to say arrived home somewhat soggier than when I left.
Maintaining high spirits is easier than you think however especially with the kids around to keep you smiling!
Friday, 7 October 2011
Oh wow, three weeks down, I thought I would find 8 weeks in Mombasa very long, but if I was going to be here for my standard 4 weeks, there is absolutely no way I would be ready to leave!!! I feel like I have settled in at school now and life's become quite normal. I finally know the names of everyone in my class and have a slightly schitzophrenic relationship with them...in the same day I can find myself hollering at them to sit down and be quiet and then later I find myself laughing and joking with them, overall I don't think my yelling has scarred them too deeply...hopefully. In composition today most of them wrote that they love their teachers as well, so that can't be bad!!
I've been doing a lot of work on my BTEC in Leadership this week and have planned my school trip to the post office for two weeks today- hopefully byt hen they will all have written a coherent letter which will be posted to some children in England! I also lead debrief one evening which was interesting- we have debrief and dinner at 6pm Mon-Thurs for all of the volunteers to share what has happened that day. I've also been working with some of the others to build up a remedial English programme as many of us are finding students in our classes that are battling with work in all of their subjects due to their lack of basic English language skills. It must be incredibly difficult to study in a second language, especially as many of their parents will be uneducation and possibly unable to read or write even in Kiswahili!
I've also been reflecting a lot on the futures of the children at the school. All of them come from informal or slum settlements which are unrecognised by the government and thus have no government schools or clinics in their neighboorhoods. Shauriyako- the informal settlement surrounding Precious is a hive of activity in the daytime, with shops, cafes, and winding alleyways of houses. The comunity spirit in the area is far superior to that we are accostomed to in the UK, as people spend much of their time on the street, encouraging them to bond with others living around them; the lack of privacy and close quarters obviously encourages this further. However, the main reason for educating the children is to try to get them out of such areas and into safer more permanent environments...this is obviously a major challenge. Further to this, I have heard that at night the village becomes somewhat dangerous and less of a friendly place to be. It feels as though we are educating against all odds at times, especially with some students, but when one writes a coherent sentance or grasps a concept it all seems to become a little more worthwhile...anyways these are my random thoughts regarding the children's circumstances.
Other than this, it has been an enjoyable but incredibly speedy week, off to Gedi to see some ruins tomorrow, hopefully the weather will hold out, as it has been close to unbroken sunshine for several days now!
I've been doing a lot of work on my BTEC in Leadership this week and have planned my school trip to the post office for two weeks today- hopefully byt hen they will all have written a coherent letter which will be posted to some children in England! I also lead debrief one evening which was interesting- we have debrief and dinner at 6pm Mon-Thurs for all of the volunteers to share what has happened that day. I've also been working with some of the others to build up a remedial English programme as many of us are finding students in our classes that are battling with work in all of their subjects due to their lack of basic English language skills. It must be incredibly difficult to study in a second language, especially as many of their parents will be uneducation and possibly unable to read or write even in Kiswahili!
I've also been reflecting a lot on the futures of the children at the school. All of them come from informal or slum settlements which are unrecognised by the government and thus have no government schools or clinics in their neighboorhoods. Shauriyako- the informal settlement surrounding Precious is a hive of activity in the daytime, with shops, cafes, and winding alleyways of houses. The comunity spirit in the area is far superior to that we are accostomed to in the UK, as people spend much of their time on the street, encouraging them to bond with others living around them; the lack of privacy and close quarters obviously encourages this further. However, the main reason for educating the children is to try to get them out of such areas and into safer more permanent environments...this is obviously a major challenge. Further to this, I have heard that at night the village becomes somewhat dangerous and less of a friendly place to be. It feels as though we are educating against all odds at times, especially with some students, but when one writes a coherent sentance or grasps a concept it all seems to become a little more worthwhile...anyways these are my random thoughts regarding the children's circumstances.
Other than this, it has been an enjoyable but incredibly speedy week, off to Gedi to see some ruins tomorrow, hopefully the weather will hold out, as it has been close to unbroken sunshine for several days now!
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Thats Life
So just a brief update on life in Mombasa... This week has been CRAZY busy at school as I have been teaching on my own, planning, teaching and marking is hectic! I have also started training from my BTEC in Leadership which has involved watching several presentatiuons in the evening...and I took my kids swimming!
Teaching alone is harder work as the kids are hard to control and teach at the same time, but the week started well and they seemed to be getting used to Madam Elisabeth quite nicely. THEN on Wednesday it was HELL, they were mental as they had all moved seats and I was just about ready to give up on their ever learnigng anything. Madam Isabel, their local Kenyan teacher who teachers the subjects I dont (I do English, Science, Sport, Creative art and Reading) whipped them into shape and on Thursday, in their new seats, they were little angels. I think I am quite a hard teacher but I really don't want them to think they can walk all over me, so I plan to continue being mean until my last week when I will let them do whatever they like!!
Overall however my class are great, I know all of their names now which helps immensely, and having only 23 in a class is a great number....not that there is even room for that many really!! Swimming on Thursday turned out to be a lot of work by I had organised all of the equipment the night before gone into school then gone home to collect it and take it to the pool, taught the beginners, took them back to school, then washed all the stuff for the next class the following day!! Woah.
It's a bit strange now as a lot of the volunteers that joined with us left this weekend, and a whole new bunch have arrived, I guess I will see a lot of people come and go, although the speed tiume is going by makes me think the time until I am home will fly! I moved rooms so I am sharing with two people who are actually staying a little longer than me, so we dont have to have a constant turn over of new roommates- harsh but fair?
Anyways, on general happenings, we went out for diner last night which was great, I am getting used to the local food which is lovely...cabiji and chapati is my usual lunch at the slum cafe, costing arounf 40p in English moneys- cabiji being bcabbage in tomatoes and onions. Last night I also trued cachumbari, a cold mix od onions, tomatos and peppers with spices- tasty! Today we headed into Mombasa old town for a stroll around and then planning a quiet night in (possibly meeting the newbies!)...
Teaching alone is harder work as the kids are hard to control and teach at the same time, but the week started well and they seemed to be getting used to Madam Elisabeth quite nicely. THEN on Wednesday it was HELL, they were mental as they had all moved seats and I was just about ready to give up on their ever learnigng anything. Madam Isabel, their local Kenyan teacher who teachers the subjects I dont (I do English, Science, Sport, Creative art and Reading) whipped them into shape and on Thursday, in their new seats, they were little angels. I think I am quite a hard teacher but I really don't want them to think they can walk all over me, so I plan to continue being mean until my last week when I will let them do whatever they like!!
Overall however my class are great, I know all of their names now which helps immensely, and having only 23 in a class is a great number....not that there is even room for that many really!! Swimming on Thursday turned out to be a lot of work by I had organised all of the equipment the night before gone into school then gone home to collect it and take it to the pool, taught the beginners, took them back to school, then washed all the stuff for the next class the following day!! Woah.
It's a bit strange now as a lot of the volunteers that joined with us left this weekend, and a whole new bunch have arrived, I guess I will see a lot of people come and go, although the speed tiume is going by makes me think the time until I am home will fly! I moved rooms so I am sharing with two people who are actually staying a little longer than me, so we dont have to have a constant turn over of new roommates- harsh but fair?
Anyways, on general happenings, we went out for diner last night which was great, I am getting used to the local food which is lovely...cabiji and chapati is my usual lunch at the slum cafe, costing arounf 40p in English moneys- cabiji being bcabbage in tomatoes and onions. Last night I also trued cachumbari, a cold mix od onions, tomatos and peppers with spices- tasty! Today we headed into Mombasa old town for a stroll around and then planning a quiet night in (possibly meeting the newbies!)...
Monday, 26 September 2011
What a weekend
Soo much seems to happen here every day...and an immense amount since my last post....I cooked dinner for 24 people (sausage and mash)...hectic, I taught by myself on Friday and a kid passed out in my lesson, hectic, and I had one of the best weekends of my life!!
We headed down to Shimoni on the south coast for the weekend, taking several forms of transport including the likoni ferry off Mombasa Island...semi-refugee-ship-esque. Shimoni was incredibly rural, we ate at a restaurant with 4 tables for around 2 pounds- amazing, and we stayed at a womans house for around 3 pounds (I am pretty sure we kicked her family out of their beds...eech). Then on Saturday morning we rose early and headed for a forest walk- boot camp- it was hot and arduous but worth it to see soem MONKEYS wooop. Then we headed back to 4 tables and over to Wasini Island- a VERY REMOTE area. This was potentially the most rural location I have ever visited. The island as a whole has no electricity or running water. We spent the afternoon learning how to cook Swahili food at a lady's house- samosa, chappatti, potato stew, coconut rice...YUM. We drank a lot of ginger tea and she dressed me up in traditional cloths that she wanted us to buy- far from flattering. We stayed at another house, which was partiually building site, watched sunset, ate our food, and watched the stars- immense! In the morning we were boated out to a tourist Dhow (boat) which took us down the coast close to Tanzania and we saw DOLPHINS- epic, they were amazing. Then we snorkelled and took the boat back to Wasini for lunch, which was served at a table gazing out across the bay. After the boat ride back we were shuffled into a bus and headed back to Mombasa. The whole weekend was once in a lifetime stuff, and I never thought I woudl experience it, but it was epic. We were so well looked after as well, with different people taking care of us throughout then handing us on to the next carer!
It was back to reality today though as I am teaching alone all week so had to get up and get planning, the kids are great though and it generally went well...although I am pretty strict. Dreading the walk in tomorrow though as it is going to be SOGGY- its essentailly monsooned all evening, and after this level of rain the slum floods, bad...they are not puddles you want to wade through!!
We headed down to Shimoni on the south coast for the weekend, taking several forms of transport including the likoni ferry off Mombasa Island...semi-refugee-ship-esque. Shimoni was incredibly rural, we ate at a restaurant with 4 tables for around 2 pounds- amazing, and we stayed at a womans house for around 3 pounds (I am pretty sure we kicked her family out of their beds...eech). Then on Saturday morning we rose early and headed for a forest walk- boot camp- it was hot and arduous but worth it to see soem MONKEYS wooop. Then we headed back to 4 tables and over to Wasini Island- a VERY REMOTE area. This was potentially the most rural location I have ever visited. The island as a whole has no electricity or running water. We spent the afternoon learning how to cook Swahili food at a lady's house- samosa, chappatti, potato stew, coconut rice...YUM. We drank a lot of ginger tea and she dressed me up in traditional cloths that she wanted us to buy- far from flattering. We stayed at another house, which was partiually building site, watched sunset, ate our food, and watched the stars- immense! In the morning we were boated out to a tourist Dhow (boat) which took us down the coast close to Tanzania and we saw DOLPHINS- epic, they were amazing. Then we snorkelled and took the boat back to Wasini for lunch, which was served at a table gazing out across the bay. After the boat ride back we were shuffled into a bus and headed back to Mombasa. The whole weekend was once in a lifetime stuff, and I never thought I woudl experience it, but it was epic. We were so well looked after as well, with different people taking care of us throughout then handing us on to the next carer!
It was back to reality today though as I am teaching alone all week so had to get up and get planning, the kids are great though and it generally went well...although I am pretty strict. Dreading the walk in tomorrow though as it is going to be SOGGY- its essentailly monsooned all evening, and after this level of rain the slum floods, bad...they are not puddles you want to wade through!!
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Slumming It
So, I have been here a few days now, and have established a bit more of a routine. Sunday was relaxed, after blogging I headed back to the house and had my first cooking in Africa experience...instant noodles, they were pretty tasty but I am not sure how I will get on when I have to cook a proper meal for 27 people on Thursday! Following the noodle adventures I went down to the beach with some other volunteers and partook of some essential tanning hours. The beach is crazy as there is such a mix, white rich people on holiday, us and then HUNDREDS of locals, it is very beautiful though and the weathers been amazing so its worth going! Sunday night, to avoid further cooking a few of us headed to a restaurant called Caribou for dinner, very tasty. I've eaten pretty well so far...hopefully it will continue, the food is quite random, and definitely indian influences, as I have had chappattis a couple of times and naan, and seen a lot of tikka and paneer on menus.
Monday was the final session of training, more specifically on teaching this time, and after some basic exercises we were given our timetables. GVI has 2 schools in Bombolulu, the slum backing onto our more privileged area (Nyali), one is Olives Rehabilitation Centre and the other, where I am based is Precious Vision Centre. It is a 20-30 minute walk from home (very sweaty) and the kids are quite poor but very sweet. I am teaching standard 4 English and Science with Cammy, a volunteer who is nearing the end of her 9 month placement. This is great as Cammy has shown me the ropes and has such great methods and lesson plans in place that I can adopt. We visited precious for the first time on Monday afternoon and met Madame Jane, the founder, who you really do hear coming. She is a larger than life lady who left a well paid job at a private school to open the centre after discovering that the village (Bombolulu) existed. She has had some hard times as she had problems with the centres previous location, but is very content now, pronouncing that she was proud to be so fat...a good thing in Kenya. She also showed us her greenhouse where she is growing tomatos and other veggies, she is IMMENSELY proud of it!! Then she took us for a walk through the village which was somewhat eye-opening...the houses are all made of branches and mud and living is very basic, no electricity or water. Finally, I was introduced to my class who seemed lovely. The evening saw some school prep and a yummy veg stew and rice as well as my introduction to chores. Each of the volunteers are expected to do a chore each day and today mine was Bathrooms....nightmare, there are three which have to be cleaned and mopped (and I have to do this again on friday...say what?)
Today, Tuesday has sparked the beginning of what will be daily life for me in Mombasa. I rose at 6.30 (sure you'll all be impressed) and set off for school after my cornflakes at 7.30. A group of us walked together as I am not sure of my way yet, arriving in time for assembly/singing in swahili at 8. Lessons began with science at 8.15, then double English and a break-time meeting of volunteers and teachers (with chapattis). Reading was the next lesson, where the children choose books to read privately, and as my class had lessons with the local teachers all afternoon I headed home for lunch. Instant noodles and a rest later I headed out to what we call community. This is adult education in Olives church in the slum. I watched a maths class and then helped with English, going round to some of the students individually and chatting and helping. One of the students was a Samburu warrior visiting his brother in Mombasa, I spoke to him a little about where he was from and his life and he asked about mine, allowing him to practice his English. He then gave me a bracelet that he had made, very kind, although I hope I am not now in some way betrothed!!!! (JOKES). Dinner of spag bol was delicious and then I did my chores (mopping...or in my style just wetting the floor) and then came here!!
Monday was the final session of training, more specifically on teaching this time, and after some basic exercises we were given our timetables. GVI has 2 schools in Bombolulu, the slum backing onto our more privileged area (Nyali), one is Olives Rehabilitation Centre and the other, where I am based is Precious Vision Centre. It is a 20-30 minute walk from home (very sweaty) and the kids are quite poor but very sweet. I am teaching standard 4 English and Science with Cammy, a volunteer who is nearing the end of her 9 month placement. This is great as Cammy has shown me the ropes and has such great methods and lesson plans in place that I can adopt. We visited precious for the first time on Monday afternoon and met Madame Jane, the founder, who you really do hear coming. She is a larger than life lady who left a well paid job at a private school to open the centre after discovering that the village (Bombolulu) existed. She has had some hard times as she had problems with the centres previous location, but is very content now, pronouncing that she was proud to be so fat...a good thing in Kenya. She also showed us her greenhouse where she is growing tomatos and other veggies, she is IMMENSELY proud of it!! Then she took us for a walk through the village which was somewhat eye-opening...the houses are all made of branches and mud and living is very basic, no electricity or water. Finally, I was introduced to my class who seemed lovely. The evening saw some school prep and a yummy veg stew and rice as well as my introduction to chores. Each of the volunteers are expected to do a chore each day and today mine was Bathrooms....nightmare, there are three which have to be cleaned and mopped (and I have to do this again on friday...say what?)
Today, Tuesday has sparked the beginning of what will be daily life for me in Mombasa. I rose at 6.30 (sure you'll all be impressed) and set off for school after my cornflakes at 7.30. A group of us walked together as I am not sure of my way yet, arriving in time for assembly/singing in swahili at 8. Lessons began with science at 8.15, then double English and a break-time meeting of volunteers and teachers (with chapattis). Reading was the next lesson, where the children choose books to read privately, and as my class had lessons with the local teachers all afternoon I headed home for lunch. Instant noodles and a rest later I headed out to what we call community. This is adult education in Olives church in the slum. I watched a maths class and then helped with English, going round to some of the students individually and chatting and helping. One of the students was a Samburu warrior visiting his brother in Mombasa, I spoke to him a little about where he was from and his life and he asked about mine, allowing him to practice his English. He then gave me a bracelet that he had made, very kind, although I hope I am not now in some way betrothed!!!! (JOKES). Dinner of spag bol was delicious and then I did my chores (mopping...or in my style just wetting the floor) and then came here!!
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