11/10/11

 So I came home today around 2, I had left Kibaibai outside on the gated patio while I went to the office. To my surprise he was NOT there when I got home! I started to panic a pit, after the cat incident, I'm scared of something attacking him.  Well wouldn't you know, he was just trotting around in the yard.  I started to get upset, and mama Lucy on my farm said it was okay, he is just greeting everyone. I asked if he had been out there all day, she said "even yesterday he was greeting everyone." That little stink butt! He is becoming very clever, too clever for his own good! I gave him a bath (to teach him a lesson) (just kidding) and tried to jerry-rig the fence so he can't get out. We'll see if it works! 

So here are a couple pictures of the schools I have taught at in my community. I took pictures from the schools I visited with my friend, but haven't uploaded them yet. The top is Atlas Secondary school, I taught an all girls class. The bottom pictures is Atlas Primary school, I taught grad 2-8 boys and girls together.  

Good Morning everyone! I am very sorry for not updating in a week, Kibaibai and I have been traveling and that makes it very difficult to blog. So to start Tuesday morning we set off on our journey to visit another volunteer near the coast. I went to help him with health education in the schools. So we left the house by 6 and were on our way to Nairobi by 7. First mishap of the day started at the rest stop between Nairobi and Eldoret. A HUGE cat attacked Kibaibai. It must have thought he was a rat! I was so scared, but not as scared as Kibaibai, he peed all over me when I swoooped him up. The cat enede up getting his claws into Kibaibai. I bandaged him up, and he is healing well. Thank god I just got his rabies shot! So next leg of the trip went well, I even sat next to a guy who held Kibaibai the whole time. Now I understand what it's like to have a baby and basically throwing him to the person offering to hold him. We got to Voi where my friend met us and we took a matatu up the mountain. He lives in a very small town on top of the mountain, no electricity and not running water. It seems I got very lucky with my house.  The trip seemed to stress Kibaibai out a little, he peed and pooped in the house the moment we got there, then proceded to throw up on my friend. He's lucky he's so cute.   I was there for 4 days. We taught at 3 different schools and he is planning on returning to all of them to continue teaching health. On Saturday morning the only matatu leaving did leave until 11. We didn't get to Nairobi till 6pm, which means we had to stay over night. Luckily my sense of direction is getting awesome (not to brag) I picked a hotel that was right across the street from the shuttle I needed to take in the morning! Perfect because I was able to leave Nairobi by 8.
Now let me tell you why I have a love hate  relationship with traveling in Kenya. I love it because on this trip alone I got to see baboons (literally walking along the side of the road), gazelle, storks, and zebras! Didn't even have to pay for a game drive! Also on my way home from Nairobi I was able to get some produce shopping done without even leaving my seat! People bring fresh fruits and vegetables right up to your window! (America needs to get on board!) Now how could I hate traveling in Kenya you ask? I've said it before and I'll say it again, the conductors and drives try to cheat you and lie to your face. They will tell you it's express with no stops but it's not. They will up the price because you're white, and they ask you to buy them sodas and other snacks. But if you can get past these always annoying problems, then travelling can be somewhat enjoyable. You just have to know where to go and who to travel with.
Another friend of mine came to visit on Sunday. We met with AMPATH, which is an NGO yesterday, then proceded to return to Eldoret and do some major damage shopping in the market! We bargined our butts off and got some great deals. We had a delicious greek dinner last night which consisted of fatoush salad, hummus, carrots, crackers and mangos. I made the hummus from scratch, and the salad Elise made a delicious dressing for. I have now prepared mexican, chinese, greek and african foods since moving into my site! No wonder I'm not losing any weight!
So that is all for now, thanks for you patience with my lack of blogging!

So I had an AWESOME day today! It started out a bit frustrating though.  On Wednesday I went into the office where my supervisor told me that JOYWO was putting on an HIV mobil testing clinic next week. I had already made plans to visit another volunteer to help out with a project. It's annoying that Kenyans don't like to plan ahead, for anything. So anyway I was able to help today. It was supposed to start at 9 am.  The truck with the tent didn't show up until 10, it took over an hour to set up and start to get the inside ready. We ran out of fabric to separate the tent into small rooms. It was just one thing after another. Finally when everything was ready oh around 11.  My original job was to teach about HIV/AIDS while people waited to get tested. Well first off people kept badgering me about getting free t shirts. I literally said " where does it say free shirts?! It's free testing! Do I look like the free shirt lady!?" Anyway when I went to teach, people were acting rude and asking stupid questions and being way inappropriate.  After the first group I was burnt out!  My counter part and I decided we would do the testing. Well as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I am not supposed to come into contact with body fluids. So she did the pricking and I did the counseling. It worked great! I felt that I was getting through to people more, one on one than in that huge group. 

After lunch my APCD (aka boss) from peace corps stopped by for a check up. I knew this ahead of time, but boy did he pick a good day! Anyway that went great as well! He met with me and my supervisor. He said he is very impressed at how much I have already done in a month, and to keep up the good work! I know the I'm doing good things, but it feels good to hear it from my superior. So all in all GREAT DAY!

So this weekend the girls came to visit! We're taking turns visiting each other. We had girls night in. Here in Kenya, unless we're in a tourist area we can't really go out the way we would in America, it's a little more dangerous, plus you don't want people in your community seeing you party like a rockstar.  So we had a weekend full of wine drinking, mexican eating, dance party, hair party, chinese food, prank calling, baked goods eating, and 2 rascal pups! It was a blast. It's times like these that you forget you're in Kenya because your having fun like you would in America. So the girls came over, I made mexican on Friday night which consisted of refried beans ( I smashed and refried myself) homemade mango salsa, guac, and homemade tortillas. We sat around and chatted, it feels good to catch up on each others lives at site. The next day we went into Eldoret to do a little touristing. I showed them some great souvenir  shops! Saturday night I made chinese for dinner: I made vegetable lowmane and homemade sweet and sour sauce.  I told you I like to cook! And it was so great to have someone to cook for! Like I said there was some prank calling, dance party fun happening. My friend brought her pup as well. At first Kibaibai didn't know what to think and my friends pup is about 3 times the size of Kibaibai. But after a bit, they became best friends! They got into mischief and peed and pooped everywhere, but they were sad when they had to say good bye this morning. All in all it was a FANTASTIC weekend! 

So I said earlier that I've been cooking alot lately. Well I made home made Hummus! and tortillas! the Hummus taste pretty darn good for being home made in Kenya. I went to the local hospital today to ask about brochures to hand out at my sessions. I got a box of condoms! I'm getting good and getting free stuff to hand out at my sessions! I also got the number of the man incharge of all the condoms and brochures! BINGO!
Also I stopped by the fundi, my dress will be ready tomorrow! I'm getting an "american" dress made! I tried it on and it's super cute, and a little scandelous! I'll post a pic after I pick it up!

Its football season in America, oh how I miss tailgating! and I miss my friends! I am so glad the girls are visiting me this weekend! Much needed chat and wine time! So here's a should out to Julia, Holly, Janie, Steph, and AJ! I miss my roomies! My house could compete with igloo parties, but not without you guys!

Tomorrow I have 2 womens groups and if I get a connection, I'll post a fashion friday post as well! xoxoxox

Sept 29, 2011

            Yesterday I went into Eldoret to go into the office. I had to write a monthly report of what I have been doing and what not. Back to reality, this is not just fun and games, but a job too. After finishing my report I went to the Ministry of Health to see about female condoms, they're not as widely available as you would hope. You can get them from health centers, but not shops.  They were able to give me one, so I can use it for my demonstrations in the women's groups. Also, while I was waiting, I noticed they had boxes upon boxes of PUR. Which if you recall, is the water cleaning method that I use and do demonstrations about.  I asked about where they are available for the community to buy, and instead of giving me an answer, they gave me 2 boxes! That pretty much made my day! Now I can give the women a sample so they can try it themselves. 

            Afterwards I went to the Ministry of Agriculture to see about vaccinations for little Kibaibai.  The vet offered to come to the house to give Kibaibai the vaccine.  I finished my business in town and we headed to the house. I guess this was my fault, but I should have asked how much the vaccine would cost before we got to my house.  Well Kibaibai got the Parvo vaccine, and it cost me 2000 shillings! Can you say OUCH!  I guess I thought it would be cheap because this is Africa. Well I guessed wrong. If he gets Parvo, I'm suing. I guess he is worth it though.