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!!
Monday, 26 September 2011
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!!
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Shady Places
OK, so I have been in Kenya for just about 2-3 days now, and SO much has happened. To keep it brief, the journey was generally uneventful, there was a lack of chickens on my Kenya Airways flight (always disappointing). Myself and another volunteer met up seamlessly in Amsterdam and managed to traverse the rather complicated system at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta airport without issue. I did however receive a sonewhat comprehensive lecture from the immigration lady who insists I DO NOT VISIT LAMU (no chance!). Bags in hand we headed to the domestic terminal armed with a third volunteer, Sarah, and it had all been going just a little too smoothly. We boarded our final plane to Mombasa and after considerable wait, were told there was a fault with the air-conditioning that needed to be fixed before we could fly...an hour later, still waiting we were told to change planes. This meant returning to the small and crowded airport lounge to be given a replacement laminated boarding card (I asked for three and received three with no evidence of our actual boarding passes...classic), fro here we finally boarded the replacement plane and were on our way to Mombasa.
Arriving in Mombasa was very chilled, no security or passport checks, just straight out to meet our transfers to the Reef hotel for night number 1. As we had some time we decided to chill on the beach, with a fourth volunteer, Karla, catching some rays and taking in the beautiful scenery. This chilling session became somewhat eventful however as the locals caught on to our new arrival and decided to try and flog us anything they had...most went away after some dismissal, but Simon, the Masai, really wanted us to go to his shop...we really wanted to stay lying down!!! Following this a Camel appeared, and after some petting, took Karla and Sarah for a trip down the beach!! Following a shower, some samosas and a nap later we were ready for the hotels evening entertainment. We enjoyed the buffet dinner whilst listening to the Jambo singers perform, and then the traditional dancers began, and this inevitably resulted in my throwing some african shapes, along with the other volunteers.
Saturday morning was an early start, and after not enough sleep it seemed we were in for a busy day. We met the other volunteers- 12 in total, and covered some basic training before travelling to our new homes int he Salama estate, Nyali...this is a gated neighboorhood with guards (so you can worry a little less mum!). There are two GVI houses, numbers 28 and 24, I am in 24, which even has a pet cat called Lindsey (just like home...although considerably skinnier than Kipper). The houses are lovely, by far the nicest volunteer accommodation I have ever stayed in (and by now I have frequented a few), our room has it's own bathroom and even a BALCONY!!! WOW. More presentations and a lunch of chappattis and cabbage later we hit town.
We took a matatu into town, which is the standard mini-bus-van that all african countries employ (i.e. trotro). This was fun with all of us crammed in and music playing. Town was bus and rather hot, but we enjoyed a look around some shops and an ice cream before trundling into old town. Old town in much more peaceful and we sat on the walls of the large fort- Fort Jesus, watching the waves break on the gorgeous blue ocean...amazing. More shops and a walk around ended in our taking a tuk-tuk back into new town- great fun....the rubbish dump we passed, on the middle of a market on the way, was smelly and gross however, and a blunt reminder of our location. Another matutu took us to some african stalls and a western supermarket where we bought some snacks and enjoyed a cold drink. The tuk tuk home was again epic fun, it feels like you ar going much faster than you are, and when you throw in some pot holes it gets really exciting (no dangerous, I promise!!).
The evening brought on chicken and chips followed by a night out, kenya style. We headed to "Shady Place" first if all- so well named, which is a cheap bar on the edge of a car-park...epic. Following this we hit a rather intense club call El Covo by the beach, which made for some great dancing to african and english hits, so much fun! Home by 1.30 for another brief sleep and it was time to face the day again. This morning I have already heard a lot more about the schools and been for a walk around Bombolulu, the slum community in which they are located! It reminded me a lot of 94 in Kasoa, Ghana and I cat wait to get started, although I am not getting a bit nervous re the whole idea of teaching a lesson!! ARGH. One more training day tomorrow and I am in... Off to the beach again this afternoon...casual, just thinking what I would be doing if I were at home...haha!
Arriving in Mombasa was very chilled, no security or passport checks, just straight out to meet our transfers to the Reef hotel for night number 1. As we had some time we decided to chill on the beach, with a fourth volunteer, Karla, catching some rays and taking in the beautiful scenery. This chilling session became somewhat eventful however as the locals caught on to our new arrival and decided to try and flog us anything they had...most went away after some dismissal, but Simon, the Masai, really wanted us to go to his shop...we really wanted to stay lying down!!! Following this a Camel appeared, and after some petting, took Karla and Sarah for a trip down the beach!! Following a shower, some samosas and a nap later we were ready for the hotels evening entertainment. We enjoyed the buffet dinner whilst listening to the Jambo singers perform, and then the traditional dancers began, and this inevitably resulted in my throwing some african shapes, along with the other volunteers.
Saturday morning was an early start, and after not enough sleep it seemed we were in for a busy day. We met the other volunteers- 12 in total, and covered some basic training before travelling to our new homes int he Salama estate, Nyali...this is a gated neighboorhood with guards (so you can worry a little less mum!). There are two GVI houses, numbers 28 and 24, I am in 24, which even has a pet cat called Lindsey (just like home...although considerably skinnier than Kipper). The houses are lovely, by far the nicest volunteer accommodation I have ever stayed in (and by now I have frequented a few), our room has it's own bathroom and even a BALCONY!!! WOW. More presentations and a lunch of chappattis and cabbage later we hit town.
We took a matatu into town, which is the standard mini-bus-van that all african countries employ (i.e. trotro). This was fun with all of us crammed in and music playing. Town was bus and rather hot, but we enjoyed a look around some shops and an ice cream before trundling into old town. Old town in much more peaceful and we sat on the walls of the large fort- Fort Jesus, watching the waves break on the gorgeous blue ocean...amazing. More shops and a walk around ended in our taking a tuk-tuk back into new town- great fun....the rubbish dump we passed, on the middle of a market on the way, was smelly and gross however, and a blunt reminder of our location. Another matutu took us to some african stalls and a western supermarket where we bought some snacks and enjoyed a cold drink. The tuk tuk home was again epic fun, it feels like you ar going much faster than you are, and when you throw in some pot holes it gets really exciting (no dangerous, I promise!!).
The evening brought on chicken and chips followed by a night out, kenya style. We headed to "Shady Place" first if all- so well named, which is a cheap bar on the edge of a car-park...epic. Following this we hit a rather intense club call El Covo by the beach, which made for some great dancing to african and english hits, so much fun! Home by 1.30 for another brief sleep and it was time to face the day again. This morning I have already heard a lot more about the schools and been for a walk around Bombolulu, the slum community in which they are located! It reminded me a lot of 94 in Kasoa, Ghana and I cat wait to get started, although I am not getting a bit nervous re the whole idea of teaching a lesson!! ARGH. One more training day tomorrow and I am in... Off to the beach again this afternoon...casual, just thinking what I would be doing if I were at home...haha!
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