Introducing Ki bizzel

Sorry I have not posted in a week. I have had visitors all week and have been busy. My friend Andrea and her pup Sangala have been staying with us.  I taught Andrea how to make these:

We have been making paper beads all week, then bought the materials to make bracelets and earings. We get so into it that we don't even notice how many beads we're making until we have hundreds of them. Well while in the process of dipping the paper beads into varnish, a little dripped onto Kibaibai's head. Then this happened:

Now I introduce to you, Ki bizzel. Yep I cut out the glue and gave him a mohawk. Now some of you may think this is cruel, but he looks sooooooo cute. The people who work on my compound asked what was wrong with him this morning, so I had to explain the Mohawk, the thought it was funny too. 

Other than that nothing new is happening here. Soon I will be teaching the womens groups how to make these paper beads so hopefully they will be able to generate some income. 

Vegas Vaca for Halloween

This weekend I met up with other Western volunteers in Kisumu. AKA Vegas Vacation. We spent all day Saturday at a resort pool right on Lake Victoria. You can see hippos wadding in the water from the lounge chairs. Now on our peace corps salary, we cannot afford to stay at this resort, but for 200 shillings we can lay at the pool all day! We all got burnt to a crisp, even those who did wear sunscreen. Afterwards we went back to our hotel and got ready for the night. Our hotel has a roof top bar (like vegas baby!) Also an Agriculture NGO was throwing a Halloween bash, and invited all Peace Corps Volunteers in the area. It was a good time, with GREAT friends. It's nice to be able to leave site every once in a while and hang out with each other. We all had a great time. I got back to site just in time to get stuck in Eldoret due to a rain storm.  I got lunch until the rain died down, then headed home. Kibaibai was sooooooo happy we played for a few hours, then after such a busy weekend, was in bed by 9. 

This is (from left) Breezie, Andrea, me, Joy, and Henry. Andrea, Henry and I were a zebra, giraffe, and an elephant. Breezie was a baboon and joy was the market place. 

out in the bush

27-10-11
Today Anastasia and I traveled far out into the bush to visit 2 women's groups.  Luckily they were very grateful we came. There was a gaint rain storm, though we had to stay because a car is not a luxury many people have here. It went really well though the women were very appreciative.
Kibaibai is always very happy when I come home though. He seems to save all of his energy for me. I can't sit and have a peaceful moment, he is always chewing on something or pooping somewhere. He is currently licking his dinner off of the floor because he decided he didn't want to eat it out of his bowl. Did I mention his dinner tonight was omena. Omena are these tiny fish, that the mamas will sun dry and fry. I boil them and feed them with the supu to Kibaibai. So yes if you're thinking, "I bet the kitchen stinks!" You're absolutly right, the kitchen now reeks of fish, thanks Kibaibai. I guess I will go get a mop, and maybe give him a bath........
Going to Kisumu Saturday for Halloween! I can't wait to see my friends!!

This is a picture of Anastasia and I when we were working the HIV testing clinic. I wanted to put a picture up so you know she exists and is not my imaginary Kenyan friend. She's real!

And this would be my little angel, do you see his halo!? No? That's because he got it taken away for pooping on the floor and peeing in my bed! Angel? I think not!

fashion friday on tuesda

So here is my fashion Friday post. I'm either late for last Friday, or early for this Friday! I really suck at this, so I appoligize. Blogging is not so easy when you don't have consistent internet access.This skirt Grandma made for me right before I left the States. I got the sweater at the market in Eldoret 150 shillings. and the scarf on my head I got in Loitocktock. I have this one and a black one. Scarfs are necessary for the Kenyan wardrobe. Women use these scarfs to wrap their head, or wrap around their sholders, to tie the babies to their backs, and to sit on the ground. So many uses for piece of material! 

Now I will do my best to post another one on Friday! 

dream breaker

26-10-11

On Sunday, my friend invited Anastasia and I over for lunch. We had chapati, rice, beans, and chicken (Which I killed). Yep slaughtered my second chicken, this time I held it down and everything, I'm pretty much a Kenyan now. Lunch was delicious. However, every time I meet someone new, they always, not really ask me, but tell me how wonderful America is, and how someday they will go.  I'm so sick of hearing this! I realized the grass is always greener, but people here in Kenya have the common misconception that if they get to America, they will get  a job and make lots of money. This is where I come in as the dream breaker. I explain to them that it's even difficult for college graduates to get jobs, so what makes them think they will be able to find work. Also I explain how in Kenya, one can live off 100 Kenyan shillings a day, 100 shillings is equal to 1 dollar. Now you tell me, in America, can you live off of a dollar a day? I also have to break it to them that there is ALOT of poverty in America. They always tell me that they were taught that there is no poor person in America! Can you believe that! Being poor in America is way worse than being poor in Kenya. Here you can literally build your house out of mud (many people do), you can grow your own food, or buy it for very cheap. In America, if you don't have money, you live in a homeless shelter or sometimes on the streets, you never know when your next meal will be.  I hate to be this dream breaker, but someone has to do it. 

On a brighter note, I tried to post this on Sunday: Does anyone remember those weasel ball toys? It was a battery powered ball with a stuffed weasel attached. Well that is what Kibaibai looks like! It's the cutest thing! He rolls and falls all over the place, he hasn't quite grown into his new legs yet, which are getting so long! I can't believe how fast he is growing! Still my little baby though, and still cute as a button. 

corruption what!?

This shout out goes out to my 5 am YMCA gang! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! You wouldn't beleive the day I had on Wednesday. Anastasia and I were given bad directions to a women's group, there for were left wondering around for over an hour. The second group changed their time without telling the group leader, therefore we were an hour early for the what was supposed to be 2:00 group. We hoped on a matatu and was ready fro the day to be over. Just our luck! At the police stop, I guess the matatu tout didn't pay the police enough, or had a bad rep. I got kicked off the matatu for not sitting in a seat! In case you don't remember from earlier posts, matatus are vans used for transportation and are usually over crowded by many. They seat 12, but usually hold 15 or so. Well I guess its good I only got kicked off and not arrested or fined, however this "enforcing"/ accepting bribes is BS! Anyway after walking to the next town to catch another matatu, I headed to Turbo. And to my surprise..... there was a HUGE package! Not from just anyone, but from my 5am class I used to teach! I absolutly made my day! The yummy goodies helped get my mind off of the matatu situation. Thanks Guys!!! Miss you!

19-10-11

So sorry I haven't updated you all in a while. 2 reasons, 1. I don't really have anything to write about, 2. I ran out of internet time. 

I've been pretty busy with women's groups lately. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and ask myself. . . what am I really doing here, do these women really listen to me? Well today I got the conformation I needed. Not only were the women very thankful and appreciative, but the chair lady of the group and spoke up to the women who were laughing through out the entire session. I was talking about the importance of using condoms, male and female. The ladies were laughing so hard they were crying. The chair lady spoke up "why are you laughing!?" she said, "Our children our having sex, getting AIDS and dying! There is no reason to laugh at condoms!" I was so grateful for this mama. I could care less if the women laugh, sometimes I make jokes and laugh along too, but this mama made an excellent point! Kenyans are losing a generation because of AIDS. Not really because of AIDS, but because of the lack of knowledge to prevent and the denial to get treated. These mamas may not feel that they should use condom because they "are faithful" who knows about their spouses, but their children are having unprotected sex, because they are not educated on how to protect themselves. If they don't teach their children, who will? I am only here for 2 years, and though I plan to teach at every school in my area, there will be some that miss the day, or just won't listen to me. 

If you remember a few weeks ago, I taught at Atlas Primary school ( I posted a picture of the group). I left an envelope their for them to ask anonymous questions. I picked up the envelope the other day, because I will be returning next week to answer their questions. The envelope was bursting with questions. Some of which, I couldn't believe, were being asked by primary students. This primary school goes up to 8th grade, and the majority of the questions were about STI's and HIV. Basically "babies" asking these questions. The headmaster is only giving me an hour to answer the questions as well as speak about other health topics. NOWAY can I elaborate on all of these questions in 1 hour! It's sad that the schools don't offer better health teachings and even counseling to these students. Hopefully after my session the headmaster will allow me to return for another session.