got the modem, but it's sooooooo slow

September 23, 2011

I got to spend the whole day with my new baby! Good thing because he needs constant supervision.  So after giving him 2 flea baths and a regular bath yesterday, I think all of those cow ticks are dead. Bad news is that they are STILL stuck to him. I'm going to try an oatmeal bath tomorrow morning. Hopefully that will calm his skin and maybe loosen this stuff.  This afternoon I went to the local secondary school (by local I mean right across the street from my house).  The principal asked that I teach an after school session about reproductive health and hygiene.  The girls ranged from 9th to 12th grade. I was definitely a little intimidated! There were at least 50 girls. I told them to feel free to ask questions, and don't be afraid to embarrass me! At first they were very quiet, but then the questions started coming! A lot of their questions had to do with things they had heard from other teachers and nurses. One question " is it true you can get an infection from using toilet paper?" Another " can you get an infection from using perfumed sanitary pads?" Imagine my surprise to these questions! Someone actually told them these things were true! Well I busted those myths, and many others. Also another interesting thing, when I started to talk about the use of condom, there was a lot of giggling. Well I found out later that they in the past have only discussed abstinence. So I guess I shocked them a little too.

After the session I asked for their feedback. They said they really enjoyed the session and felt very comfortable with me.  They have asked me to come back and have another session! I'm going to bring in a question box so they can anonymously ask questions.  I'm soooooooo glad it went well. I actually feel like I am doing something for my community now. Until now, I have questioned what I am truly doing here. Well I think that relating to these girls is it. I know the women's groups are appreciative, but they definitely don't give the kind of feedback that I get for the girls. Next week I am going to another secondary school and doing a co-ed session. This should be interesting!

Sept 20, 2011

I'm a mom! Yep I got my puppy today! His name is Kibeibei (ki-bye-bye). It's Kallengin for joyful. He's an "african" breed. By that I mean, This is Africa they don't have breeds! haahahah. He's supper cute! Ill upload pics soon. I gave him 2 baths today, and he will be getting at least one bath a day until I rid him of all the cow ticks that cover his body! They look like "cradle cap" if you know what that is, but then you take a closer look and they move. I think most of them are dead since he got 2 flea baths today, but they stick to his skin. GROSS! I can't even begin to house train him because I don't want him in the house until they're gone. So for now he is stuck in the kitchen, probably for the best, makes messes a little easier to clean up. 

Also today I visited a couple girls secondary schools.  I wanted to offer my volunteer services to them. On Thursday i'm going to teach a program after school at the school closest to me. Kind of short notice, but I guess I did tell them I'm free whenever. So I'll be talking to them about reproductive health and what not. Tomorrow will be my planning day/ studying day.

More updates about the puppy to come!

Sept 19, 2001

I went to the hospital in Turbo today. I met with the local health officer. It went really well and now I feel I am actually getting somewhere. It has been kind of difficult finding someone in the community who can tell me what the community needs. Everyone else just gives me the same generic list. 

Water sanitation is the main problem that people face in this community.  There is plenty of water, at least right now during the rainy season. However having water that can make you very sick, does absolutely no good. So we are going to work on training the local community health workers, so they can train community members, on different methods of cleaning the water. There are 3 suggested ways: 1: boiling water for at least 5 minutes. The problem here is that it cost money to fuel the fire, so most people bring to a boil and don't boil for the whole 5 minutes. Also once the water is boiled, it should be filtered to get the debris out. By debris I'm not just talking about dirt, I'm talking about worms! Yep little tiny worms! I actually found one in my sink water, I put it in a jar on my counter, unfortunately it was dead in the morning, so much for having a pet......  2: You can use PUR, I use this. It's a packet of chemicals that you add to 10 liters of water, stir, and filter. I've used it since getting to Kenya and have had no problems. 3: You could use this other chemical called water guard. Its similar to PUR, but is a liquid you add to 20 litres. They all of course make the water taste slightly different, which is one reason people choose to not use them.  Another problem is proper storage of the cleaned water.  Water should be stored in a sealed container after cleaning. Most people seem to store in buckets and pots, without lids. This opens the window for re contamination. Proper storage container can also be expensive, which is why they turn to lidless buckets. 

For everyone back home in the states, most get there water from the sink and don't think twice. Here I have a sink, but like I said earlier, I found a worm. Just because water here in Kenya looks clean, doesn't mean it is. So I am happy that I possibly found my first secondary project for the community. I will meet with some community health workers on Monday to discuss possibilities. 

So everyone back home, every time you drink a glass of water, remember how lucky you are that you don't have to worry about getting sick from drinking it.

I know this was a serious post, but I'm trying to keep you updated on my actual work, and not just my not so social, social life. xoxoxoxo

Sept 18, 2011

What I would do for a vacuum cleaner!

I'm serious; I have a new respect for that old hoover. Today I swept my entire house, the broom, how do I explain. It's made of straw and stands about a foot tall. As much as I love it, a vacuum would have made the job much easier! Anyone want to punish their kids by making them sweep the house? Let me know and I'll send one your way! Ok not really, they only cost 10 kenyan shillings, but would cost me over 500 shillings to send. Sorry. I conquered the whole house, and mopped afterwards. I'm starting on all of the curtains now. I might have them done by the time I COS. After a busy morning of cleaning I got to help milk the cows that are on my farm! Yep I'm becoming a regular old milkmaid. It's definitely not as easy as it looks. The little kids that hang around on the farm laughed because they didn't think I could do it.  Well I showed them! All in a Sundays day of work.

Sept 17, 2001

 So as some of you probably know (because I've talked to you) It's starting to get a little boring in the late afternoons and evenings. I'm sure this will change as soon as I get my puppy, but that's not for another 2 weeks...... So I've been cooking a lot. I've been trying to be creative, but my attention span is only so long. Right know I'm making chili from scratch, yep stewing those tomatoes and boilin those beans. I don't think canned beans are available, and if they are at the Nakumatt, then they're probably way over priced. So, is there any recipes out there you have been dying to try?! Send it my way and let me try it for you! I have access to almost all veggies and grains. Not really into cooking meats. Did I mention I only have a 1-burner propane stove? Well I do. I do know how to make a jiko oven, which I've heard works just as well on propane stove, especially for baking. So, any ideas? I'm willing to attempt them if I have the ingredients. Also, thanks to my mommy and daddy for sending me a package, including a magazine! I am now trying my hand at making paper beads. I hope mom and dad know how many activities I can do with just one magazine! I already started, and so far so good! No other updates yet. It's the weekend, and not a lot to do here. I walked to Turbo again today, 2km, not that I'm counting. It's market day so I picked up some produce, and, my market find of the day! A really nice knit blanket! No clothes, but then again I didn't really look. Shopping in the market is kinda like shopping in the malls at home, not a lot of fun alone. But the mamas in the market remember me!, so there is a lot of conversations and little time to look. I'll try again on Tuesday. 

Sept 16, 2011

 Yesterday was my first sick day in Kenya, can I just say being sick without your mommy is no fun. I managed to survive and felt much better this morning. Felt so good that I trekked the 2km to Turbo (sweat out my fever) and went to the Posta (post office). Im soooooo glad I did! I was pleasantly surprised with a letter from my grandma and a package from my parents! Talk about a good day! It made me feel like 200bucks, or 240 shillings, cause that's how much I had to pay for my package, but totally worth it! Tomorrow is market day, so I might make the trek again into town, I could use a matatu, but the walk is so beautiful. 

If you remember in an earlier post, I mentioned I have rats in my ceiling. Well at least that's what I think they are. I also think that its not just a few, but an entire colony. I can hear them pushing things across the ceiling. It makes me wonder what they're doing! Well there is a spot in the ceiling where the attic entrance is. The cover is missing, so I decided to put my new table underneath it. Then stacked a stool on top of the table, and climbed to the top. But to no avail, I am too short to see through the hole! Go figure. I will wait for someone tall to come visit me so we can find out what those rats are up to. Until then I will just use my imagination.

I am going to start a Fashion Friday post. Every Friday I will try to post a pic of my latest market fashion, or something I brought with me. Pretty much what I wear here in Kenya. Do not expect this to be posted on Fridays, but that is what I will call it.