I had an awesome day, ok lets be honest, I've had an awesome past couple of days. Since Im leaving for home soon (only for a visit) I have not been working here. Instead I've been spending my days with my 2 favorite families, and it has been so comforting.
Yesterday I taught mama kosi and her sisters how to bake a cake, I was supposed to teach mama jemeili too, but ran out of time so I baked her one this morning. They loved learning how to bake! We also used food coloring to make the cake a red a blue swirl. They wanted to make it for their guests that they were having today.
So today (this morning actually) I went over to help prepare the food. I showed them that I am the master at rolling out chapati ;)
I felt so great to get to help out and be treated like family instead of a guest. When I visit most people here in Kenya, I have to sit (usually alone) in the sitting room, while they prepare the food or chai for me. But with mama kosi's family and mama jemili's family, they put me in the kitchen and don't act like i'm fragile. Still they are impressed when I know how to prepare some traditional food.
So we cooked all morning chapati, rice, ugali, kuku (which I actually didn't kill) and fried potatoes. It was a feast, and the whole family was there, along with some other visitors.
They never did serve the cake we baked yesterday however. I wonder if they thought there wouldn't be enough for everyone, or...... they wanted to save it for themselves :)
Probably a little of both, the cake did turn out kind of small. Obviously here we bake the cake from scratch and not from a box. I'm not sure what I am doing wrong, but the cake never seems to rise, it always turns out flat and dense........ Grandma I'm coming for you for tips personally! hahaha
Other than that, I've been also spending alot of time with Kibaibai, I sure will miss him, while I'm gone :(
Sunday, November 4, 2012
A few pictures from halloween
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| Just some animals at the watering hole |
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| Our zoo, or safari, from left : Lindsay-Cheetah, Me- Giraffe, Andrea- Zebra, and Breezie- Lion |
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Well I am back from Halloweening at the beach. I had a great time with great friends! Now only a few days at site before I am headed back to the U S of A!!!!! whooop whooop whooop... It's hard to express my excitement through typing, but just so you know, I am VERY excited!
This morning I went for a run. After 5 days of not sleeping, not running, and probably having a little to much fun, I thought the run would not go well. After 2 miles I turned around to head home, and a kalingen runner came up behind me ( i usually see a lot of runners in the morning) Anyway, I finished my last 2 miles at his pace! I was pretty impressed that I could keep up. Obviously I was a lot more tired than he was, he said he'd see me tomorrow.....we will see. hhahaha .
I'm mostly getting stuff done to go home, so there is not a lot going on this week. I probably won't up date again till I get back from America, unless I get bored at home...... which I'm not expecting that to happen.
This morning I went for a run. After 5 days of not sleeping, not running, and probably having a little to much fun, I thought the run would not go well. After 2 miles I turned around to head home, and a kalingen runner came up behind me ( i usually see a lot of runners in the morning) Anyway, I finished my last 2 miles at his pace! I was pretty impressed that I could keep up. Obviously I was a lot more tired than he was, he said he'd see me tomorrow.....we will see. hhahaha .
I'm mostly getting stuff done to go home, so there is not a lot going on this week. I probably won't up date again till I get back from America, unless I get bored at home...... which I'm not expecting that to happen.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
I didn't have much to do today, one of my supervisors from Nairobi, came by to check on me and some other volunteers on this side of Kenya. He says I am a "silent" volunteer, meaning that they don't usually hear from me except for the monthly reports. He said it is not a bad thing, as long as everything is going good. I told him I'm very integrated and can work out most of my problems on my own.
Such as today....... so bored, nothing to do..... so I baked bread! See what I mean, I can solve my own problems.
I baked Oatmeal Raisin Bread.
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 1/4 cups water
1 large Tbsp honey
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
2 cups flour
1/2 cups rasins
(I added 1/2 Tbsp flax seed)
Cook oats in one cup of water until soft .Stir in honey and salt and let cool. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and stir into oat mixture along with 3/4 cup flour. Beat mixture for a few minutes, then cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for about an hour or until it doubles. Stir down mixture and stir in the raisins and add the rest of the flour. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (around 5 minutes) Form dough into a ball and but it in a buttered pan. Let rise for about 1 hour. Punch it down and let it rise for about 30 minutes. Bake in hot oven until done.
I also made a peanut butter icing for it. 1 Tbsp natural Peanut butter. 1Tbsp milk, and powdered sugar.
TAMU!!!!!!! (yum!!!!!!!!)
Such as today....... so bored, nothing to do..... so I baked bread! See what I mean, I can solve my own problems.
I baked Oatmeal Raisin Bread.
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 1/4 cups water
1 large Tbsp honey
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp dry yeast
2 cups flour
1/2 cups rasins
(I added 1/2 Tbsp flax seed)
Cook oats in one cup of water until soft .Stir in honey and salt and let cool. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and stir into oat mixture along with 3/4 cup flour. Beat mixture for a few minutes, then cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for about an hour or until it doubles. Stir down mixture and stir in the raisins and add the rest of the flour. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (around 5 minutes) Form dough into a ball and but it in a buttered pan. Let rise for about 1 hour. Punch it down and let it rise for about 30 minutes. Bake in hot oven until done.
I also made a peanut butter icing for it. 1 Tbsp natural Peanut butter. 1Tbsp milk, and powdered sugar.
TAMU!!!!!!! (yum!!!!!!!!)
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| Finished oatmeal raisin bread |
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| Kibaibai sun bathing because he is absolutely not impressed with my cooking........ |
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Saturday: I would like to reset the scene for you. I showed up to the event (cancer awareness day) It was being held at a local primary school. I marched over to sign up for the 3000 meter race. At the time I signed up there was only one other lady signed up. She came over to greet me as I was at the table. Go figure she is like a real kenyan runner! I come to find out that she just got back from running a half marathon in China...... I think to myself ...."great.......... hopefully more people sign up so it is not just me and her, that's not much of a race..." After the men finished their half marathon (in an hour!) We got ready for our race. By this time a few other women had signed up. They were all around may age or a bit older, but all of them were mamas. I thought "I actually might have a chance here" We lined up, and the race began. These women took off in a full sprint! ...... Now for those of you who run long distances, we usually try to keep one pace throughout, meaning we don't sprint at the beginning. Well I was so overwhelmed, I took off at a much faster pace than I am used to, and still managed to fall behind very quickly. The race was 7 times around the field, which by the way, was uneven and un-mowed. I did my best to pick up my pace, but I'm also racing at an altitude of about 5000ft. I finally started to gain up on a mama, and passed her. I finished the race second to last..... and the mama I beat was running barefoot and in a skirt......... a little embarrassing, but everyone was very supportive! and now I can officially say I raced with the kenyans :)
The races were not the only thing going on that day. There was soccer and volleyball games, as well as free cervical cancer screenings. While all the women were waiting for their turn to get screened, I took that opportunity to teach about breast cancer, and I taught them how to do a self breast exam. So I say all and all it was a very good day. I was exhausted afterwards, and was in bed by 7:30!
(Friday) I was working with the Living room. the outreach group that I normally work with, was very busy preparing for tomorrows cancer awareness outreach day, so I felt more in the way than helpful. We did take the HIV positive patients, to the AMPATH clinic in Turbo, so that kept us busy until lunch. After lunch (and more sitting around doing nothing) I headed home. No better way to end the day than snuggling with Kibaibai, sipping an adult beverage, and watching Grease! Just a way to relax before tomorrows cancer awareness day. I'm going to run the 3000 meter race (against kenyan women) and then give a talk about breast cancer. Susan told me today that they are expecting over 500 attendants, well here's hoping I don't trip while I'm running, or mess up my talk!
Thursday, after a brief house cleaning episode, I went over to visit my neighbors. It had been over a month since I had visited! I can't believe how much the kids have grown! We settled right into our normal routine, as though I had just seen them the day before. The reheated some lunch for me (even though I had already ate, they always insist) Then I hung around, helped bath the babies and caught up on our lives. I really miss them when I don't see them. I am so lucky to have families that make me feel like part of their family. It makes being here alone, much easier. I'm planning to go visit again next week, hopefully I will have time to teach them how to bake!
The races were not the only thing going on that day. There was soccer and volleyball games, as well as free cervical cancer screenings. While all the women were waiting for their turn to get screened, I took that opportunity to teach about breast cancer, and I taught them how to do a self breast exam. So I say all and all it was a very good day. I was exhausted afterwards, and was in bed by 7:30!
(Friday) I was working with the Living room. the outreach group that I normally work with, was very busy preparing for tomorrows cancer awareness outreach day, so I felt more in the way than helpful. We did take the HIV positive patients, to the AMPATH clinic in Turbo, so that kept us busy until lunch. After lunch (and more sitting around doing nothing) I headed home. No better way to end the day than snuggling with Kibaibai, sipping an adult beverage, and watching Grease! Just a way to relax before tomorrows cancer awareness day. I'm going to run the 3000 meter race (against kenyan women) and then give a talk about breast cancer. Susan told me today that they are expecting over 500 attendants, well here's hoping I don't trip while I'm running, or mess up my talk!
Thursday, after a brief house cleaning episode, I went over to visit my neighbors. It had been over a month since I had visited! I can't believe how much the kids have grown! We settled right into our normal routine, as though I had just seen them the day before. The reheated some lunch for me (even though I had already ate, they always insist) Then I hung around, helped bath the babies and caught up on our lives. I really miss them when I don't see them. I am so lucky to have families that make me feel like part of their family. It makes being here alone, much easier. I'm planning to go visit again next week, hopefully I will have time to teach them how to bake!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Pup tent
This weekend Kibaibai got a lot of mommy time. I worked everyday this past week, so Saturday and Sunday I spent at home getting stuff done.
I finished my Halloween costume, cleaned the house, got a couple long runs in, and finished kibaibai's dog tent!
Since I have a couple of vacations planned in the upcoming months..... the main one of course GOING HOME! I had to figure out what to do with Kibaibai, since everytime I leave hime to be watched by my farm boy, I come home to find something more from my house missing! It is starting to really bug me, so Lindsay and I decided to build Kibaibai a dog house! I found some great ideas on the internet, about how to build with recycled plastic bottles, and since there is not really any type of recycling done here, I thought GREAT! Well.........Lindsay and I hiked to turbo, bought the supplies and hiked back (and got our work out in for the day).
We also found a lady selling Strawberries!!!! I had not had a strawberry in a year! By the time we got to my place they were more like strawberry puree, but we still ate them..... well I was eating them until Lindsay found a worm in one! Yep thats life here.... we ended up making make shift strawberry daquiris.
Anyways back to my story, Lindsay built the frame, while I worked on the plastic bottles,..... well go figure I didn't have enough bottles! The idea I got was to cut the bottoms off and stack them, then line them up to make a wall.... well I only had enough to make to rows! So that's when I decided on the doggy tent.
Wednesday:
Yesterday and today I did home visits with my new co workers, Scott and Susan. They work for the Living Room, which is the organization I am now also working with. The home visits are where we go and visit the HIV positive clients, and check on how they are doing, if they are going to their appointments, taking their medications and what not. The first place we stopped today, the women is a mother of 3, she is HIV positive, and mentally ill. Here they don't have specific diagnosis's for the mentally ill, here they are just called "crazy". The women was not around, she had left her three children, all under the age of 5, to fend for themselves. Their neighbor has a kind soul, and makes sure the children get some food. However she herself barely has enough to support her family. I was told the mama who left her children, goes and finds small jobs to do, then uses the money to buy food for herself and doesn't feed the children. The youngest girl, was a client of the living room for a few months because of malnourishment, but has since been discharged due to her recovery. The mother is a client of AMPATH, which is where she gets her check ups and ARV's at no charge. Also when you become a member of AMPATH, you get 6 months of food supplies for you and your family, and guidance on starting your own garden. As you have probably guessed, the mother never started her own garden.
When visiting homes like these, we are not there to bring food/money to everyone who needs it, unfortunately there is no funding for that. We take note of what is going on, and unless there is someone who desperately needs medical attention, there is not much we are able to do. I give as much information as I can about nutrition, water, health, anything I know, but it's still hard when that's all I can do...........
As heartbreaking as these home visits are, I really like my work so far with the living room, and I really like the people I work with. They have no problem walking everywhere (which is a blessing!) Alot of Kenyans would rather take a motor bike than to walk a couple kilometers.
I finished my Halloween costume, cleaned the house, got a couple long runs in, and finished kibaibai's dog tent!
Since I have a couple of vacations planned in the upcoming months..... the main one of course GOING HOME! I had to figure out what to do with Kibaibai, since everytime I leave hime to be watched by my farm boy, I come home to find something more from my house missing! It is starting to really bug me, so Lindsay and I decided to build Kibaibai a dog house! I found some great ideas on the internet, about how to build with recycled plastic bottles, and since there is not really any type of recycling done here, I thought GREAT! Well.........Lindsay and I hiked to turbo, bought the supplies and hiked back (and got our work out in for the day).
We also found a lady selling Strawberries!!!! I had not had a strawberry in a year! By the time we got to my place they were more like strawberry puree, but we still ate them..... well I was eating them until Lindsay found a worm in one! Yep thats life here.... we ended up making make shift strawberry daquiris.
Anyways back to my story, Lindsay built the frame, while I worked on the plastic bottles,..... well go figure I didn't have enough bottles! The idea I got was to cut the bottoms off and stack them, then line them up to make a wall.... well I only had enough to make to rows! So that's when I decided on the doggy tent.
Wednesday:
Yesterday and today I did home visits with my new co workers, Scott and Susan. They work for the Living Room, which is the organization I am now also working with. The home visits are where we go and visit the HIV positive clients, and check on how they are doing, if they are going to their appointments, taking their medications and what not. The first place we stopped today, the women is a mother of 3, she is HIV positive, and mentally ill. Here they don't have specific diagnosis's for the mentally ill, here they are just called "crazy". The women was not around, she had left her three children, all under the age of 5, to fend for themselves. Their neighbor has a kind soul, and makes sure the children get some food. However she herself barely has enough to support her family. I was told the mama who left her children, goes and finds small jobs to do, then uses the money to buy food for herself and doesn't feed the children. The youngest girl, was a client of the living room for a few months because of malnourishment, but has since been discharged due to her recovery. The mother is a client of AMPATH, which is where she gets her check ups and ARV's at no charge. Also when you become a member of AMPATH, you get 6 months of food supplies for you and your family, and guidance on starting your own garden. As you have probably guessed, the mother never started her own garden.
When visiting homes like these, we are not there to bring food/money to everyone who needs it, unfortunately there is no funding for that. We take note of what is going on, and unless there is someone who desperately needs medical attention, there is not much we are able to do. I give as much information as I can about nutrition, water, health, anything I know, but it's still hard when that's all I can do...........
As heartbreaking as these home visits are, I really like my work so far with the living room, and I really like the people I work with. They have no problem walking everywhere (which is a blessing!) Alot of Kenyans would rather take a motor bike than to walk a couple kilometers.
Monday, October 1, 2012
last week
Today 1/10/11
Last night I heard kibaibai growling in the kitchen, and my gate out back was rattling. I ignored it at first, then I remembered....... Kibaibai's bone that I just bought him 2 days ago, was outside! Sure enough when I went out back to check, it was gone! I knew exactly who took it, those thief puppies! Simba and Chewy! hahahhahahah These puppies are being trained to become security dogs for our compound. They are still small enough to fit through the hole in my gate, that's how I knew it was them! So I grabbed my flashlight and went out in search of the stolen bone.
Now I know it seems a little silly to get so protective over a dog bone, but I buy Kibaibai a HUGE bone to chew when I am going away for a night. I don't go away that often, but he usually gets 1 or 2 a month, and at 100 shillings a pop, I've become a little protective.
So I went out to the farm, the puppies heard me coming and started jumping and wanting to play, they knew they had been caught. But I didn't see the bone. All of the compound workers were sitting around a fire out back. I told them I was looking for Kibaibai's bone that the puppies had stolen. They couldn't even talk because they were laughing so hard! I'm sure they were thinking, "this crazy white girl, she already lets the dog sleep with her, now she's out in the middle of the night looking for the dog's stupid bone!" Well through their laughter I told them to help me look. One of the guys found it back in the barn where the pups like to play. Happy that it was found, I thanked them and bid them good night. When I got back to the house, kibaibai was overly joyed that I had retrieved his precious bone. It was then that I noticed, I was covered with mud! The puppies had been jumping all over me and I guess they were muddy the whole time.
I washed up after calling mom and dad and telling them the story, then I called it a night.
Just another night in Africa.
Thursday 27/9/12
Finally got a chance to go out and work in my garden. It looked like I hadn't been out there in months rather than just a few weeks. My green peppers are blooming! However everything else is dead or dying. My lettuce is not dying, its actually flowering, which I did not know it could do. Lindsay says I should let the seeds fall and it will grow with out replanting it, so that's what I am going to do. I really love having a garden, I can see why people in the States garden, it's kind of a good way to relieve stress. The problem here, is that no one will let me do anything by myself. I tell them they don't need to help, and that I want to do it alone, but they just don't get it. I know they are trying to be nice, and think I don't know what I am doing, but sometimes I just need that alone time! Anyways after cleaning my house, doing laundry, and working in the garden, I am EXHAUSTED!
visited some new neighbors after lunch. Well they are not "new" but new to me, since I just met them. Now I'm ready to rest up and get ready for the weekend. Breezie and Lindsay are coming tomorrow, then Saturday were going to Eldoret. I have to teach a JOYWO class, but afterwards were going dancing. We all need to relieve some stress, and what better to do so, then going out in Eldoret!
Tuesday 25/9/12
Today was my first day working with the living room. I mentioned before that it's a nursing/rehab/hospice center. I'm working with the outreach program. Today we did home visits to the HIV positive clients. I'm pretty much doing what I do with JOYWO except it's a little more personal. I taught the people we visited to day, about the importance of treating their water before drinking it. We were very out in the rural! and walked the whole way, which was really nice. I met 2 babies, and neither of them cried or feared me when I held them . I already this new work! Tomorrow I am going to a widows group to teach. Then I won't go back until next tuesday.
I want to leave you with a little bit of humor, since my pictures won't load.... TIA...
check out this site! http://whatshouldafricacallme.tumblr.com
Last night I heard kibaibai growling in the kitchen, and my gate out back was rattling. I ignored it at first, then I remembered....... Kibaibai's bone that I just bought him 2 days ago, was outside! Sure enough when I went out back to check, it was gone! I knew exactly who took it, those thief puppies! Simba and Chewy! hahahhahahah These puppies are being trained to become security dogs for our compound. They are still small enough to fit through the hole in my gate, that's how I knew it was them! So I grabbed my flashlight and went out in search of the stolen bone.
Now I know it seems a little silly to get so protective over a dog bone, but I buy Kibaibai a HUGE bone to chew when I am going away for a night. I don't go away that often, but he usually gets 1 or 2 a month, and at 100 shillings a pop, I've become a little protective.
So I went out to the farm, the puppies heard me coming and started jumping and wanting to play, they knew they had been caught. But I didn't see the bone. All of the compound workers were sitting around a fire out back. I told them I was looking for Kibaibai's bone that the puppies had stolen. They couldn't even talk because they were laughing so hard! I'm sure they were thinking, "this crazy white girl, she already lets the dog sleep with her, now she's out in the middle of the night looking for the dog's stupid bone!" Well through their laughter I told them to help me look. One of the guys found it back in the barn where the pups like to play. Happy that it was found, I thanked them and bid them good night. When I got back to the house, kibaibai was overly joyed that I had retrieved his precious bone. It was then that I noticed, I was covered with mud! The puppies had been jumping all over me and I guess they were muddy the whole time.
I washed up after calling mom and dad and telling them the story, then I called it a night.
Just another night in Africa.
Thursday 27/9/12
Finally got a chance to go out and work in my garden. It looked like I hadn't been out there in months rather than just a few weeks. My green peppers are blooming! However everything else is dead or dying. My lettuce is not dying, its actually flowering, which I did not know it could do. Lindsay says I should let the seeds fall and it will grow with out replanting it, so that's what I am going to do. I really love having a garden, I can see why people in the States garden, it's kind of a good way to relieve stress. The problem here, is that no one will let me do anything by myself. I tell them they don't need to help, and that I want to do it alone, but they just don't get it. I know they are trying to be nice, and think I don't know what I am doing, but sometimes I just need that alone time! Anyways after cleaning my house, doing laundry, and working in the garden, I am EXHAUSTED!
visited some new neighbors after lunch. Well they are not "new" but new to me, since I just met them. Now I'm ready to rest up and get ready for the weekend. Breezie and Lindsay are coming tomorrow, then Saturday were going to Eldoret. I have to teach a JOYWO class, but afterwards were going dancing. We all need to relieve some stress, and what better to do so, then going out in Eldoret!
Tuesday 25/9/12
Today was my first day working with the living room. I mentioned before that it's a nursing/rehab/hospice center. I'm working with the outreach program. Today we did home visits to the HIV positive clients. I'm pretty much doing what I do with JOYWO except it's a little more personal. I taught the people we visited to day, about the importance of treating their water before drinking it. We were very out in the rural! and walked the whole way, which was really nice. I met 2 babies, and neither of them cried or feared me when I held them . I already this new work! Tomorrow I am going to a widows group to teach. Then I won't go back until next tuesday.
I want to leave you with a little bit of humor, since my pictures won't load.... TIA...
check out this site! http://whatshouldafricacallme.tumblr.com
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