6/1/12
I went to speak with my village chief this morning. I had ideas for the new year that I wanted to run by him: starting an exercise class for women, having a nutrition day, doing a "how to build a home water filter demo", and how to build a sack garden. Of course the chief was on board for all of them! I really lucked out as far as chief's go. He is helping me to get the community involved, and he speaks pretty good english! He especially loved my exercise class idea, and wants me to teach one for men too! After that confidence booster, I headed over to the local primary school to see about starting an environmental club for after school. Just as I had hoped, they were on board as well!
So it was definitely a successful day! I'm meeting with the chief again on Monday to discuss dates and places. Hopefully I will be able to start advertising for my exercise classes, and by advertising I mean going door to door and inviting people to come.
Also coming up next weekend and the following weekend, I will be going with my supervisor at JOYWO to large women group "training's." I use quotations because they are more like lectures to the women, but JOYWY calls them training's. My supervisor is the common Kenyan... meaning... not very specific. There is no time set yet, and they haven't specified what they want me to teach about. Im debating discussing water and nutrition, or family planning and HIV...... oh the choices the choices. For those of you who knew me in America, I was really into health and nutrition, and being in Africa... I have crawled away from that. I really want to get back into it, so I'm leaning more towards teaching the women about nutrition.
This brings me to my next topic. " KENYAN MAMA SABOTAGE"
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| this is my mama that is sabotaging me ! hahaha |
Mama's here in Kenya see being "fat" as being wealthy and healthy. Basically well fed. Every time I see my mama Lydia, (she is the one who gave me my Nandi name) she tells me she is happy because I am looking fat. I had the same problem during my home stay in training. No matter how many time you tell them that being fat is not what WE want. They don't listen. In training I truly had no control, because my family cooked my meals.... but now at my site... I have no excuse.
My New Year's Resolution, ( probably like most peoples) is to take control of my eating and exercise more consistently. I would really like to run a marathon in June!
Motivating myself is much more difficult here for a number of reasons. 1) there is no gym to get up and go to, 2) I live alone and only see my friends about once a month or so, 3) when running outside (which I do) you get stared at and called at, (usually by the kids, which gets old) 4) I am already out of shape, getting back into shape is TOUGH!
So there you have it, my new years resolution, and my plans for the community.
7/1/12
I ran to town today (literally) with my fingers crossed the whole time, hoping that my packages would finally be there. And guess what... THEY WERE! I couldn't get home fast enough. Opening them was like christmas morning! My grandma and my mom even wrapped things in christmas paper, so it really was like christmas morning. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa and mom and dad! I love everything! Kibaibai loves his new toy grandma! Mom.... he was a little disappointed that there was nothing for him in your box.... I told him to relax and gave him a treat ;) Thanks again family!!! Today and tomorrow are my days to relax and hang out. Then next 2 weeks are going to be BUSY. Then off to Ghana and Togo with my girl Andrea!
8/1/12
Sunday.... the day of rest, and that's what I did. It was actually the most quiet and peaceful day I have had since I got site. Nobody was constantly at my back door asking for something. All the workers who have been around lately, helping with the maize harvest, weren't around. Kibaibai and I took a walk down to the river. And for the first time, not a soul was there. Usually there are a ton of kids who just sit and stare at you. Well not today! And to top it off the whole "motley crew" wasn't around to walk with us. It's days like these that I remember I'm in Africa.
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