tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62986082729519785262024-02-21T06:20:12.308-08:00Achungo Children's Center - Exploratory TripDetails and stories about the 110 children at the orphanage and school in SW Kenya from the 2010 exploratory trip.Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-76614757021079269662011-01-02T17:39:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:29:49.090-08:00Final Days of My Stay: Exams and Family Visits<h2></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Madam Dorcas</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdptygdtczBXVdMEIQHpOlRBC1mbGxr9tQZKLuIP3Fs2vumNZWUARS0g7QnFIQqZTpRfMZe5Mbfv9_qdmcEo0myiT-OlXcDWywgjsCNCArvaHbH9NxDkx5D_uJZG9Ae4xYoSDcmsB4Z6W0/s1600/Dorcas-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdptygdtczBXVdMEIQHpOlRBC1mbGxr9tQZKLuIP3Fs2vumNZWUARS0g7QnFIQqZTpRfMZe5Mbfv9_qdmcEo0myiT-OlXcDWywgjsCNCArvaHbH9NxDkx5D_uJZG9Ae4xYoSDcmsB4Z6W0/s200/Dorcas-6.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madam Dorcas and M. Nancy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As one of my last days at Achungo winds down, I walk home with Venezyl and Madam Nancy Odhiambo (the younger teacher Nancy) to visit Madam Dorcas, who is at home with a 3-week-old baby she has inherited from her brother-in-law’s wife who apparently died in childbirth. Madam Dorcas was one of the first teachers at Achungo and would be teaching but for the newborn. (Women teachers are shown respect with the title “Madam” as men teachers are called “Mister”) She is nursing when we get there, but soon after, leaves the Baby with M. Nancy and heads out the door with empty soda bottles. After 10 minutes she is back with sodas for her company (us).<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">She lives in a traditional mud-daub hut but in the updated rectangular style with corrugated tin roof (as opposed to old-fashioned round mud hut with thatch roof). The outside is patchy in places, needing some new mud (and has the laundry drying on the roof), but inside she has some reasonably modern furniture. There is a mud partition and curtain that separates the sitting room from her other room (kitchen/pantry/bedroom). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zJJb3gmnP4NV8h48ifmF6leeEDD2ntkC8suXSgebXM16loO601SKfRpceEIeEo7svk3Gg_39qv1P08WveyqEM_ST07K78_drb945qrfW0jXnVNz7PNDqL4p7B8vuV4Yc-MjN6Pk5haWZ/s1600/Billys-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zJJb3gmnP4NV8h48ifmF6leeEDD2ntkC8suXSgebXM16loO601SKfRpceEIeEo7svk3Gg_39qv1P08WveyqEM_ST07K78_drb945qrfW0jXnVNz7PNDqL4p7B8vuV4Yc-MjN6Pk5haWZ/s200/Billys-6.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family compound</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
While we visit with her in her sitting room, she frequently darts into the other room, tending to the baby or whatever. This is African hospitality -- anyone is welcome to drop in any time, but entertaining may be interrupted with household activities in a way that is casual and accepting. Sure enough, the neighbors drop in to see who’s visiting. Because she lives in a cluster of the huts of relatives (actually, her husband’s family: mother, grandmother, brother), and as they noticed us walking in, they soon drop by for a spell. (Her own family lives some ways away near Kisumu, with a sister in Mombasa and some family in Nairobi.) The kids are also in and out: Venezyl is oldest (about 4 ½) then there’s Momzi, Bebe and Denis (2 girls and a boy). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjv3yEkslC5ggBO3FJ-k5EtpBfv45mc31wF-zwwdDxXG-MepWa0V-mdzYkD05kC7UHQsgiRDFkIb03K_3DzV-gZc2uIhXfkDHdZ29g_VrVkLO27V-rzw3jx6ax6PXNeIYAvUriavVjT8m/s1600/Dorcas-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjv3yEkslC5ggBO3FJ-k5EtpBfv45mc31wF-zwwdDxXG-MepWa0V-mdzYkD05kC7UHQsgiRDFkIb03K_3DzV-gZc2uIhXfkDHdZ29g_VrVkLO27V-rzw3jx6ax6PXNeIYAvUriavVjT8m/s200/Dorcas-5.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With M. Dorcas in her sitting room</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Madam Dorcas started teaching when her now-deceased husband was working away from home and she wanted something to keep herself busy. She’d been invited to teach by Madam Nancy (Akoko, the older teacher Nancy), who knew her from the local Seventh Day Adventist church (that Richard also attends). It was Nancy and Dorcas who began the school.<br />
<br />
After a while, it is time to go and I walk back to the road with all of them. Venezyl wants to walk me to the hotel gate but M Dorcas heads in the other direction to pick up her posho (maize meal) from the miller and Venezyl is torn and cries in frustration. I wait on her but she finally heads back to her mother.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Final Exams </b></div><div class="MsoNormal">On these final school days of the term, we (as in "we, the teaching staff of Achungo"!) finish all the recording of exam scores:<br />
<ul><li>scoring the 6 or 8 tests (depending on grade level) for each of the 110 students, </li>
<li>entering them all in Excel, </li>
<li>calculating student totals and class subject totals and averages,</li>
<li>sorting them by student totals to get the class position for each student, </li>
<li>then recording, on a government form for each student, their midterm and final exam scores plus year-end review comments. </li>
</ul>Whew! A multi-day process that we’ve shortened by maybe ½-day as I help them use Excel for all the initial calculation of score totals, individual and subject averages, class placement, etc.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Richard had sent 2 kids home when they first showed up. They had not attended classes for nearly the entire term but just came in time for exams. He told them they couldn’t take the exams unless they brought their guardians to school to explain why they weren’t attending. He says some guardians will keep the kids home to do chores (guard the drying maize from chickens, keep the ants off the bean flowers, hauling water, whatever). He thinks the kids are not particularly motivated but especially worries that the guardians prefer them to be home helping out and he wants to counteract that. Even though the guardians may be elderly and may need the help, they need to support the children's education as critical for bettering their lives. <br />
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<b>Room to Play</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">While we do the scoring, the students have nothing to do and are getting a bit restless, as they are still spending the class periods in their rooms in their seats, even the 2-year-olds! After a while, someone has the idea to invite the kids (at least grades 1-4) to go the other lot to play for a while. This is an empty lot a short walk away that we leased before our new school building. (Kenyan officials told us in October that we had to leave that leased building because it was too small and decrepit, so we had to rush-build a temporary building on the owned parcel) Michael and I have begun talking to the owner about possibly purchasing this lot plus two adjoining lots. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
The children immediately spread out over this considerable space: in one area boys get a soccer game going, elsewhere mixed groups are playing dodge ball, jumping rope, and engaging in other games. As I take it in, I realize the current lot is oppressively small for a play area. We simply must obtain this additional land as soon as possible. We have new buildings to put up (a granary, classrooms, showers, latrine and more, whenever we get funding), and some are needed right away, but we will need this land before we can start any additional building. Somehow we must make it happen!<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Some of the girls are asking about my departure, telling me they’ll cry, asking if they can come with me, asking when I’ll be back. My sadness only grows as I learn I’ll miss Friday’s end-of-school-year ceremonies and graduations.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<b>The Home of a Guardian</b> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgRQ3jInk_3-4-gQn_cD11dFGhVsBb1BEXH33Gc357dirByxkFubx_4ZBtYCREL56EFXMFiFyAFp5HqEsX205P2IkvsRHr5mnJz6R-c79QdrNc28zhVKwmD3EiWYQOJlO5DV7bThJaKxn/s1600/Billys-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgRQ3jInk_3-4-gQn_cD11dFGhVsBb1BEXH33Gc357dirByxkFubx_4ZBtYCREL56EFXMFiFyAFp5HqEsX205P2IkvsRHr5mnJz6R-c79QdrNc28zhVKwmD3EiWYQOJlO5DV7bThJaKxn/s200/Billys-3.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma's kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Mid-afternoon Richard leads me with B on a visit to B's grandmother’s place – across the street and past some fields in a compound of huts that include her deceased husbands other wife(s). B’s grandmother is the only adult survivor of her immediate family and has 3 of his cousins also under her care. She is very old (early 80's?) but seems very active. Apart from their gardens, Achungo is their only provider of food and school supplies and at times provides supplies for the cousins as well. B is HIV positive. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
I tell her it is a wonderful thing that she is doing and she gives God all the credit. That faith has no doubt sustained her through hardship and grief that I cannot comprehend. Her hut, although similar outside to Madam Dorcas', is not holding up as well and has very little furniture of any sort. But she is surviving and giving B a family.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Home With Silvia </b><br />
Back to school for closing assembly and some devotional songs. Then, on my way home, I see Silvia waiting for me. She invites me to visit her home near my hotel. She lives in a single room with her aunt (she was taken in after her parents died) behind a tiny shop that her aunt runs. This room is shared with her aunt's 2 other children and new baby (and I guess, husband).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZhPsgR7hwA8LM9_XVTVTx_GtHC73bv612zUUFxBsFxE-auA4M395C7JSTy06abRinvYNumU7eLFLJji3NGRPPYG66j1B4Wuq_R-aSz1TP63qx-ZuCkCUT1E3usS7rQ4gPVd2waHm5O5L/s1600/SilviasHome.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZhPsgR7hwA8LM9_XVTVTx_GtHC73bv612zUUFxBsFxE-auA4M395C7JSTy06abRinvYNumU7eLFLJji3NGRPPYG66j1B4Wuq_R-aSz1TP63qx-ZuCkCUT1E3usS7rQ4gPVd2waHm5O5L/s200/SilviasHome.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silvia's family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Her mother (aunt) tells me that Silvia wants to go to America with me (and I tell Silvia that her education must come first--I really don't know how else to answer her!). Her mother asks her a few times if she’s last in the class again and is going to be held back. Silvia doesn’t know yet. However, I've been working on scores so I have seen her results. It turns out she is a very poor student (Richard thinks she has limited ability) and actually is last in her class and won’t be promoted, but I figure that news will come soon enough without my help. When her mother asks me about my family and especially my wife, Kathy, I get a chance to talk about her work with learning disabilities, just in case understanding the normalcy of LD helps those present to understand Silvia's situation.<br />
<br />
She also tells me that Sylvia wants me to stay for tea and sends Sylvia out for some ears of roasted maize. When she returns, I have something to chew on for quite a while (tough maize)! They are all very gracious and pleasant, including her oldest daughter (7<sup>th</sup> grade), 2 yr-old son, George William, and the Baby, improbably named Joe Biden! After a good while, I bid them adieu and head to the main drag to buy some water. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Why stop visiting now? In town I run into George, Michael’s friend with the experimental farm who tells me that I promised to come back to visit... "what happened?” (I’m getting way too used to this “you promised” con. When someone wants something it comes out as "you promised." Shades of childhood manipulation.) We chat for a while and in the course of our conversation, I give him a few new ideas (he’s definitely the idea man). I suggest he try pepper spray for the bugs on his plants. And I talk to him about beekeeping--my "ton" of honey from 5 hives in Arizona. It would be great if I could really add value here in some way, but I wonder if my experiences are so separate from the context of their lives that it is pointless!? </div>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-903646042705021662011-01-01T16:46:00.000-08:002011-01-01T16:51:46.682-08:00Notes on Orphanage Care<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.urbanhalo.org/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLaTrvGZkgtYOrxgj7s-Y-exJ7I0TaLP8n1ZR_F7R1hST7xIZdqUpMGIXpmxamK7VPAg4WnfhADY2VqGb5pBCbeW9lpeArUcfL8iXTL0KtIA4FTOU8w8krERHGUC-PIK5de3J2uDeuawF/s1600/urban_halo_cover.jpg" /></a>As if I needed it, I got further acknowledgement of the various and real benefits of the model that Michael created in Achungo. I finished reading a book called “The Urban Halo” by Craig Greenfield about his experience helping HIV/AIDS orphans in Cambodia. Craig did a lot of research (UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID, Yale University study, study by Yule and Raynes, research by John Bowlby and work by several other psychiatrists and psychologists) and came to the conclusion that the advantages of community-based care for orphans are overwhelming as compared to institutionalization. </div>In his words, children/orphans are better off even in “bad” homes than they are in group homes.<br />
<ul><li>Children in the community, whether living with family members or with others within their home community, experience significant social development and personal development gains over children from group homes.</li>
<li>They tend to experience fewer emotional and behavioral problems and are generally better adjusted</li>
<li>They tend to be happier with their lives (for example, they don’t feel locked up or prevented from leaving as can be the case with children in group care situations.</li>
<li>Community-based care is far less expensive than group homes (various estimates are that it is anywhere from 6 times to 100 times less expensive)</li>
<li>Children in group homes are not prepared for reintegration into society and in many ways lack the life skills for coping with reality when they age out and are released from the group home. Children in community-based care have the advantages of living within a family unit and within the community, so do not need to “reintegrate”</li>
<li>The group home breeds dependency and fosters loss of independence. </li>
<li>Abuse is less likely in community-based care, especially because there is more community support and more of a sense of belonging.</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve been impressed see with Achungo’s community-based care and this book only reinforced my appreciation for Achungo as a very impressive model compared to many other orphanages I’ve seen or heard about. As opposed to a western organization with US or European management and western-style buildings and programs, Michael’s Achungo is very African, run by local Kenyans with a structure, program and even buildings that fit into the local culture. <br />
<br />
In Ethiopia we saw a very western orphanage – as well-intentioned as it certainly was, it seemed very out of place and could not help but emphasize the difficulty their children would have re-integrating into their society. </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhIvSFwpxzJ0qcwB79UGKvWUmmjC4pdlLqwsysfmTrWWwf18ySeg2jLo9feCinAH1bz2DWs_QnDSWUn-k6enYFQDpBDqscrOde_U7K8fMyVmosSqOmH2Hy0b4NDz9kpuMfloXF8cjBmqo/s1600/Billys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhIvSFwpxzJ0qcwB79UGKvWUmmjC4pdlLqwsysfmTrWWwf18ySeg2jLo9feCinAH1bz2DWs_QnDSWUn-k6enYFQDpBDqscrOde_U7K8fMyVmosSqOmH2Hy0b4NDz9kpuMfloXF8cjBmqo/s200/Billys.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy and his grandmother/guardian</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Achungo could hardly be in a more rural environment and that definitely makes it easier to provide community-based care than it would be in a very urban location. The children live with families in the community (often relatives but sometimes just caring neighbors that are good Samaritans) – they have not been isolated but are part of the local society and grow up as healthy socially as one could hope.</div>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-59909916397856872182010-12-03T18:18:00.001-08:002010-12-03T18:45:20.928-08:00Day 8 - It's Another Day in the Neighborhood!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> 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</w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->I awake early (5 a.m.), as usual, and to all the usual sounds:<span style=""> </span>roosters crowing nearby, dogs barking in the hotel yard, a TV blaring somewhere, trucks and cars and cycles loudly driving past on the road that is a few steps away, all manner of horn honking near and far, loud speakers blaring from town with music or prayers or preaching, a motorcycle cranking up just outside my window, oh, and birds making all sorts of sounds I don’t recognize.<span style=""> </span>Just another day in rural Kenya where the day starts early.<span style=""> </span>(“Monte’s not at the Hilton any more!”) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnB4Q6i2Zgs_tC13npFYFLnmA3GmLci2WJmpOTfaAiXwuWd6EkU0e82-sxGhBFVACa6pJrXPVMH3d8N04whJsTb826ZCe3x-1VO2JzVta0MLpQXhqPi0orDQ5-8xtzIfMRCXWtRu_9_qxZ/s1600/P1010303.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnB4Q6i2Zgs_tC13npFYFLnmA3GmLci2WJmpOTfaAiXwuWd6EkU0e82-sxGhBFVACa6pJrXPVMH3d8N04whJsTb826ZCe3x-1VO2JzVta0MLpQXhqPi0orDQ5-8xtzIfMRCXWtRu_9_qxZ/s320/P1010303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546651836272375218" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">It’s Saturday—no school, no plans, just a relaxed day in rural Africa.<span style=""> </span>So I take a walk down the road toward Kisumu, which soon turns from tarmac to dirt to mud.<span style=""> </span>I still cannot believe the beauty of the lush green landscape.<span style=""> </span>It reminds me of Kauai in its vivid green vegetation, the huts beside banana trees and corn fields.<span style=""> </span>A man catches up with me and tells me how hard he’s working on his fish farm but he needs some capital and I explain that I’m working for Achungo, trying to get help for the orphans and their school and currently don’t even have any funds for that.<span style=""> </span>Partly to avoid any more of that conversation, I quickly turn into the compound of a government school:<span style=""> </span>Nderu Primary.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What a mistake that is!<span style=""> </span>I immediately turn envious – Nderu is on acres of flat land with enough buildings for a full primary and then some, and a huge, grass soccer field and play area –maybe 150 yards of flat grass.<span style=""> </span>By comparison, Achungo is on a tiny, cramped, sloping stretch of dirt and the nearby land is also on a slope unfit for a soccer field. <span style=""> </span>Oh if only Nderu Primary were falling out of use and looking for a buyer!<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Some of the class rooms are in serious disrepair, but it looks like other buildings are under construction.<span style=""> </span>And then there’s that latrine that is sinking into its pit!<span style=""> </span>Oh well, the best I can<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2GZkH_jdt0TANL7b188mgF29c5Qcjce72WHH1jb_-MXQFPUxD2v9c60OgZ3OVkHgty4dSlxZ_90GYohUG4Aja9KtZH9d_o9CQ1i4c8hajN7E0gmUm_UYnspu1FuOszaOjulc3HqQOWrY/s1600/NdiruLatrines+%25284%2529.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2GZkH_jdt0TANL7b188mgF29c5Qcjce72WHH1jb_-MXQFPUxD2v9c60OgZ3OVkHgty4dSlxZ_90GYohUG4Aja9KtZH9d_o9CQ1i4c8hajN7E0gmUm_UYnspu1FuOszaOjulc3HqQOWrY/s320/NdiruLatrines+%25284%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650911337295842" border="0" /></a> do is turn my visit into a study of latrine and classroom construction methods.<span style=""> </span>One latrine building is very unusual – built up about 4 feet with metal doors that lead underneath – I guess for cleanouts!!?<span style=""> </span>I also notice the classrooms have their blackboards painted onto the cement walls. <span style=""> </span>Hmm – that does make for a much smoother blackboard than the very rough plywood in use at Achungo.</p>A while after my return, Michael comes to my room, we cover some of my latest research questions, and then go down to the hotel restaurant for lunch. (It's the only thing one could call a restaurant anywhere in the area) We order and then he disappears for a few minutes and returns with another man who joins us (Who is he? <span style=""> </span>I know I’ve met him before, but….).<span style=""> </span>I ask if he also wants to order some food and he does so. <span style=""> </span>The two of them talk for a while in Luo and although I can’t understand anything else, I do hear them mention the word “Board” and it slowly dawns on me that this is Lawrence, the chairman of Michael’s local Board.<span style=""> </span>OK, he’s an old friend and I just didn’t remember.<span style=""> </span>Then Michael reverts to English and mentions that Lawrence had provided posts to help with the construction of the temporary schoolhouse. <span style=""> </span>(And at that point I sincerely hope Michael hasn’t been reading my mind as I wondered who he was and why he had joined our lunch!<span style=""> </span>This man helps Michael regularly and is his primary supporter.<span style=""> </span>Glad to be able to share lunch with him.<span style=""> </span>Glad I kept my mouth shut) <p class="MsoNormal">After lunch we head down to the school.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb2l5C8XgiKZyXhbkC1-0OsVaHavSqtY81EmDFJ_fG3OSLBQS3jON0BWaNDnQnySr7fV3DmDQ_0xPF_SmKdGAnrI4LKpHupj1ddzbPXbV-qh0GIh3nIqfrtaYtmj3K7uaKaG7-c0Ij2Ya/s1600/computerlab2.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb2l5C8XgiKZyXhbkC1-0OsVaHavSqtY81EmDFJ_fG3OSLBQS3jON0BWaNDnQnySr7fV3DmDQ_0xPF_SmKdGAnrI4LKpHupj1ddzbPXbV-qh0GIh3nIqfrtaYtmj3K7uaKaG7-c0Ij2Ya/s320/computerlab2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650918882909954" border="0" /></a><span style=""> </span>Saturdays at 2pm is computer lab for the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup> graders and Richard had invited me to join him if I could.<span style=""> </span>We get there at almost 2:30 and I’m a little anxious at being late, but, nothing we could do about it, we had waited almost an hour to be served our lunch.<span style=""> </span>No worries, turns out we’re all on Africa time!<span style=""> </span>When we get there, there’s no Richard and kids are just playing in the yard.<span style=""> </span>After a while I ask Michael if I should just get started (although I have no clue what they’re covering in “computer lab”) and he agrees.<span style=""> </span>So I set up in the Teacher’s Lounge with my laptop on the desk and about 10 students in plastic chairs and a bench jammed in front of the screen trying to see. <span style=""> </span>And some 5 more join us over the next 20 minutes.<span style=""> </span>I talk about the parts of the computer but give up after a vain attempt to describe the tiny wiring inside – how do I describe a motherboard to children who have little experience of electricity?<span style=""> </span>I know Richard has shown them cut/paste in Word so I start with “what is a word processor...what is a spreadsheet”<span style=""> and </span>then we try a little cut and paste and basic formatting (bold, underline, italics).<span style=""> </span>This is so far out of the realm of their experience and having no hands-on opportunities, they have so little sense of it, that it just doesn’t seem productive.<span style=""> </span>I bring up a game that might help—it's a simple memory game, and I invite them to take turns selecting 2 cards on the screen by clicking on them to find matches.<span style=""> </span>At least it gets them excited about computers and getting a brief feel for cursor and mouse.<span style=""> </span>Finally, I show them my promotional movie of Achungo and some of the pictures I've taken and we wrap just as a rainstorm hits. <span style=""> </span>Maybe someday we will bring out a handful of outdated desktops so they can have a real computer lab!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5W2-aV2jx-Gu-pHAgklH1A8EM3BNGxaQx57BOxoVQF0XJBRIMGuM3ug6DA3TpC3MxDhEe5q_84RI_bHYLRKo4YqclgLwc8CCVkzmICeXx0DCGvAI72i1GPcTJqF8gE7RIWO13rhP6fD0/s1600/P1010431.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5W2-aV2jx-Gu-pHAgklH1A8EM3BNGxaQx57BOxoVQF0XJBRIMGuM3ug6DA3TpC3MxDhEe5q_84RI_bHYLRKo4YqclgLwc8CCVkzmICeXx0DCGvAI72i1GPcTJqF8gE7RIWO13rhP6fD0/s320/P1010431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546650935103861106" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We hang out a bit longer before they head for home and some of the students teach me a few more words in “matha tongue” (Luo) and I note that they are becoming more familiar with me, especially the girls and the younger boys.<span style=""> </span>They feel my hair (it is so different from theirs) and are fascinated with the skin on my arms (seems translucent to them).<span style=""> </span>I am essentially an albino in terms of how strange I appear to them. I am "mzungu" ("the white guy").<br /></p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-82124782830023705972010-12-01T14:04:00.000-08:002010-12-01T15:10:25.446-08:00Day 7 -- I’m a Teacher<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> 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mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><b style="">“Can I help with some more teaching?”</b> <p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Richard is glad to oblige and gives me my teaching schedule. I’ll teach 3 classes plus help with PE for Grades 1& 2.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Woops, looks like I’ve already hung out too long with the other teachers in the Teachers’ Lounge and missed my first period.<span style=""> </span>No problem, we’re on Africa-time: “just start the same schedule with 2<sup>nd</sup> period”.<span style=""> </span>“Where do I find the lessons?”<span style=""> </span>Mr. Richard then finds me the course books and explains that with exams next week they are just doing “revision” (i.e., review).<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>“What do you suggest for English 3?”<span style=""> </span>As I query him on each class, he provides the rookie with suggestions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Grade 3 – English</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With the 3<sup>rd</sup> graders we review articles (“a” vs. “an”), discuss vowels vs. consonants, use of “some” vs. “any”, examples of opposites ….then I give them a short quiz on the blackboard with 4 problems out of the course book (“which word doesn’t belong in this list”).<span style=""> </span>They bring their exercise books up to me for correction as they finish.<span style=""> </span>A few get them all correct and are so excited.<span style=""> </span>But by the end the class is in a bit of an uproar.<span style=""> </span>I have utterly flunked the correction process.<span style=""> </span>I put red checkmarks by incorrect answers.<span style=""> </span>Afterward the teachers explain to me that a red “x” means “incorrect”, a red check goes next to each correct answer.<span style=""> </span>Then the score is written at the top along with the date and a word of encouragement (“excellent”, “good”, “average”).<span style=""> </span>Well, I can learn, too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Next period -- Science for Grade 2</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With the second graders I read from their course book about health issues (when and how to wash hands, wash meat, how to cook meat, etc.), identification of animals (domesticated vs. wild, which are harmful and why), then I test them from book questions on filtration.<span style=""> </span>Many of them are so diligent as to rewrite their incorrect answers and resubmit them to me. <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I’m beginning to think I’m getting this down!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Next up: <span style=""> </span>4<sup>th</sup> Grade CRE</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our lesson is about “Abilities and Responsibility” and is based on the parable of the 3 servants and their different investment schemes (2 doubled their master’s money and the 3<sup>rd</sup> just buried it).<span style=""> </span>We talked about how each of us is special and important, none are more important before God.<span style=""> </span>“Each of us has skills, abilities, talents – what are some of yours?”<span style=""> </span>The students mention praying, biking, reading, washing clothes and acknowledge each of them.<span style=""> </span>We talk about how each skill is important and should be developed and can be used to help others.<span style=""> (</span>I like the character-building in this government religious ethics curriculum.)<span style=""> </span>I close with a quiz.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">PE? Hmm! I never did figure out when, where or how I was to do PE, but it is obviously not worrying anyone.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As the school day ends, Michael is sitting in 4<sup>th</sup> Grade and has the students telling stories.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style="">“The Mangoes”</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“I saw a mango tree and I wanted very much to get a mango off that tree, but there was a dog and a cat guarding that tree and in the house, 2 men sitting <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFN9KiHeA3PWEcAzV5xU2ocEjkPjipEMzxoW4jSUppBFeIvS7ekUko8fIV5Lrz__3dXjNS_t3uoyI6mfCfMjcM5FyfkPIsm3Z0EtGYJJ3djdTqSJbnpnooj9vtaoN_mwsKvTxnrkhRb_m/s1600/P1010430.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFN9KiHeA3PWEcAzV5xU2ocEjkPjipEMzxoW4jSUppBFeIvS7ekUko8fIV5Lrz__3dXjNS_t3uoyI6mfCfMjcM5FyfkPIsm3Z0EtGYJJ3djdTqSJbnpnooj9vtaoN_mwsKvTxnrkhRb_m/s320/P1010430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545850692580856322" border="0" /></a>by the window. A little ways beyond the tree was the river.<span style=""> </span>What to do?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">I knew the dog’s name was “gubabalu” so I picked up a stone and threw it in the river.<span style=""> </span>It made the sound “gubabalu” and the dog heard it<span style=""> </span>and ran toward the river. I was afraid the cat would cry if I went to the tree that that the cry would bring the dog back, so I threw another stone into the window of the house.<span style=""> </span>When the window broke, the men went “tsk, tsk, tsk” and the cat thought they were calling it and ran toward the house.<span style=""> </span>Now I could get my mango.” </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style="">“The River Crossing”</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">“I had to carry 3 things across the river:<span style=""> </span>a goat, a hyena and a bag of potatoes, but I had to be careful that the hyena didn’t eat the goat or the goat eat the potatoes, so…</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style="">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>I carried the goat across first.<span style=""> </span>The hyena was not going to eat any potatoes.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style="">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Then, I carried the potatoes over but brought back the goat so he wouldn’t eat any.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style="">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Next, I carried over the hyena (quickly, so he didn't bother the goat), leaving him with the potatoes</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style="">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Finally, I could carry over the goat and continue on my way.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Often as the school day ends, the third or fourth grade <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q-PPb_7BxBtxzi5oidPt9OHQ7WKDeNK05lxM2fKxlCvgkLsujisTYekE8g0HaTxL4SDgmlSIDciZdcplRY3EANLTsAicqcx99GCQ4RJWKHH3dCKC7RFCvfvTLs-TrQTlrPCerlXDPw3Z/s1600/2sweeping.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q-PPb_7BxBtxzi5oidPt9OHQ7WKDeNK05lxM2fKxlCvgkLsujisTYekE8g0HaTxL4SDgmlSIDciZdcplRY3EANLTsAicqcx99GCQ4RJWKHH3dCKC7RFCvfvTLs-TrQTlrPCerlXDPw3Z/s320/2sweeping.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545853764924385666" border="0" /></a>students are asked to sweep out all of the rooms of the office building and school rooms and today they also wet down the new school room floors (they are made of a mix of dirt and sand called marram).<span style=""> </span>They do so as a team, diligently, without any hesitation or complaining. Maybe we should incorporate chores into our school day in the U.S. -- could be character-building!?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And then it’s time for the closing assembly:<span style=""> </span>Mr. Richard gathers all the students under the shade tree and exhorts them to be ready for exams and to be at school on-time, and encourages them that if they work hard they will all be Achievers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRQ1GKZvlBKHbbbpgZiAZMrtsq4BL67FIJ17RaodVfb3_3i1JKT25WMaQF79Z-CxTR66mqO4FRRfBt1vPAdaZoir2Fz-jP7RI7TH15W5Y7c_UTuRthftvL1dOfuACX17xXSCrWohCJuoU/s1600/xclosingassembly-5.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRQ1GKZvlBKHbbbpgZiAZMrtsq4BL67FIJ17RaodVfb3_3i1JKT25WMaQF79Z-CxTR66mqO4FRRfBt1vPAdaZoir2Fz-jP7RI7TH15W5Y7c_UTuRthftvL1dOfuACX17xXSCrWohCJuoU/s320/xclosingassembly-5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545850680368640674" border="0" /></a><span style=""> </span></p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-15584138766219297962010-12-01T11:52:00.000-08:002010-12-01T13:34:20.313-08:00Day 6 -- Field TripToday Michael and I have planned a trip to nearby Homa Bay, mostly to check out the market (their market day is Wednesday).<span style=""> </span>I want to survey nearby markets for a couple of reasons.<span style=""> </span>First, to help me understand some of Achungo’s costs;<span style=""> </span>and secondly, to learn about possible opportunities for us to earn some income (are there agricultural projects that would be worth our while?<span style="">). </span>I’m also interested to see if there are any handicrafts sold – anything that might be attractive to buyers in the U.S. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAftebvI6eOr_Ilh_ntDNmxEmB1du7G0rJOylTEkR0ZwqQPzbYIcjIIrqNJaieKHjTGsMWv1QfX-LfO7VPJ8ma0aNrJvOmvH0hY1jbuteAVJdE5Lj1XS2OVVztfcjCa6_SjENAS1IHLcN/s1600/tankleak3.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAftebvI6eOr_Ilh_ntDNmxEmB1du7G0rJOylTEkR0ZwqQPzbYIcjIIrqNJaieKHjTGsMWv1QfX-LfO7VPJ8ma0aNrJvOmvH0hY1jbuteAVJdE5Lj1XS2OVVztfcjCa6_SjENAS1IHLcN/s320/tankleak3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545829198571004610" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">But something has come up to delay our trip.<span style=""> </span>After I arrive at the school, Michael calls me outside the office, introduces me to 2 men, and tells me that the water tank has some holes that need fixing.<span style=""> </span>When he learned that these men were nearby and doing plastic patching of water tanks, he jumped at the chance.<span style=""> </span>There’s a small hole about halfway up the tank and Michael is worried that the leaking mineral salts will erode the cement and masonry of the water tower.<span style=""> </span>The larger hole is at the top of the tank and although we can try to avoid filling it that high, Michael said bees get in during the dry season and drown and cause the children much distress when they come out the water taps. <span style=""> </span>When I probe a bit, he tells me that when Living Waters, Nairobi installed the tank, they actually dropped it and that might have caused that tear at the top.<span style=""> </span>All eyes are on me – I guess it’s up to me, especially since I’m the only one who can pay for it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He tell me they want 2,500 shillings to fix it.<span style=""> </span>I put on my “due diligence” hat and ask them some basic questions: Where else have they done similar repairs? How long will the fix last? Aside, I ask Michael what he thinks of the price and he says Ksh 2,000 should be enough.<span style=""> </span>I tell him it is up to him, seems worth doing as long as he is confident in these men.<span style=""> </span>Outside he talks to the man a bit more, negotiates him down to Ksh 2000.<span style=""> </span>Soon he turns to me and says it is time to head out to Homa Bay that that we will pay the men ½ now and ½ tomorrow after we are sure the leaks are fixed.<span style=""> </span>I give him the money as covertly as possible, he gives it to Headmaster Paul and off we go to Homa Bay.<span style=""> </span>This experience is just one of many that give me a lot of confidence in Michael, as opposed to some of what I’ve heard about “working with Africans.” </p><p class="MsoNormal">A few more surprises are in store before Homa Bay.<span style=""> </span>Michael had mentioned a friend with a garden as well as a CBO ("Community-Based Organization") that we might want to visit and I soon realize that he means today.<span style=""> </span>The friend, George, has a daughter (Peggy) at Achungo and he has been doing some experimental gardening over the past 3 years.<span style=""> </span>He shows us his “nursery” for ornamentals – hibiscus and coleus-type plants that he is growing from cuttings off of a few plants he purchased (he sells them to hotels, schools), also passion fruit and pawpaw (papaya) that he’s grown from seed (he sells the seedlings).<span style=""> </span>He tells us pawpaw produces after the first year and he has a 6-footer with big fruit that he said is 1.5 years old.<span style=""> </span>He has purchased a fan palm to see if he can get it to seed.<span style=""> </span>He’s growing bananas and some sugar cane and plans to get more land as he develops sprouts from these plants.<span style=""> </span>Michael has brought me because he knows I’m investigating possible enterprises for Achungo.<span style=""> </span>Maybe we should think about a nursery?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">George also shows us his vegetable garden: beans, butternut squash, onions, tomatoes, kale, maize (a drought-resistant variety).<span style=""> </span>He’s cross-bred his Brahma bull to get a faster growing, stronger hybrid.<span style=""> </span>Seems quite the entrepreneur.<span style=""> </span>Michael likes his hard work and creativity (tells me that unfortunately a lot of people aren’t willing to work hard enough to be successful).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our next surprise stop:<span style=""> </span>Ogande Primary. The government school has 500 students and nearby, associated secondary schools:<span style=""> </span>“Ogande High Girls” (800) and “Ogande Mixed” (i.e., coed with 300 students).<span style=""> </span>I’m wondering why we’re here when Michael introduces me to the Old Mockers Youth Group – an “Organization of Self-Help Group” CBO with 20 members between 18 and 35 founded in 2006 when a group of them decided that rather than just talking about how bad things were they should try to do something.<span style=""> </span>They show their CBO certificate from the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services – Department of Social Services, Homa Bay.<span style=""> </span>(I’m not making any of this up)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After introductions, their Secretary shares with us that their goals are to engage in activities related to HIV/AIDS, poverty eradication and community development, with a secondary purpose of empowering orphans.<span style=""> But they haven</span>’t begun activities yet on that last one.<span style=""> </span>I’m starting to wonder how much of this is boilerplate. Their primary activities are training and fundraising and they are raising dairy goats and kale and pineapple for income and also hold seminars and are looking at other businesses. Next he explains that they need funds and are especially interested in starting work on their project to "empower orphans".<span style=""> </span>(Now I wonder if I’ve been set up)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Michael speaks next, introduces me and my role and explains that he thought I<span style=""> </span>might be interested in what they are doing and that I also talk with various NGO’s.<span style=""> </span>He tells them he is pleased to see a group willing to take some action and not just talk. And I guess it’s my turn –no use stalling any longer.<span style=""> </span>I try to encourage them, tell them I’m impressed with their efforts to help others, that it is much more rewarding when we are not just living for ourselves.<span style=""> </span>I tell them the NGOs I’ve talked with are only looking for handicrafts that are already in production and that I have no funding myself for Achungo’s orphans. <span style=""> </span>In the end they ask about “youth groups” in U.S. and if any might correspond with them or visit them, so I invite them to send me a detailed description of their group, activities and interests and I’d see what I can do.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDcehD16iZbq2T3prcsDZo6SR4pCrhlDp_rQw0XLBm2EB271h8_TFEVQpZH__sXda2qCp_X6KhqLsTIIwTrvWeynEWk83T8eTdvSw8SQvsbqefu8xQi3CVHdL40Mm6tJdjYVKo6qcjiR2/s1600/HomaBay3.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDcehD16iZbq2T3prcsDZo6SR4pCrhlDp_rQw0XLBm2EB271h8_TFEVQpZH__sXda2qCp_X6KhqLsTIIwTrvWeynEWk83T8eTdvSw8SQvsbqefu8xQi3CVHdL40Mm6tJdjYVKo6qcjiR2/s320/HomaBay3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545829213456761170" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Soon we make our goodbyes and finally head toward Homa Bay.<span style=""> </span>Turns out it’s very close to Rodi, maybe 6 kilometers (4 miles), but the tarmac road is so torn up for the last few miles that you’re essentially driving in and out of potholes constantly at about 5 mph.<span style=""> </span>It is the nearest town directly on Lake Victoria and has a trade on the lake – small pole boats (20-footers) that ply the lake shore.<span style=""> </span>The shoreline is an overgrown bog filling up with hyacinths, so the boats just pole their way between villages.<span style=""> </span>There are 3 unloading/loading while we are down at the “docks”.<span style=""> </span>One is carrying mattresses among other things. One would-be passenger convinces the boatman that he isn’t going to mess up his shoes and clothes wading through the bog and the boatman picks him up in his arms and carries him to the boat as an extra service.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Homa Bay open market area is larger than Rodi's, but pricing seems about the same.<span style=""> </span>A grain-seller explains to us that prices have dropped precipitously in past month as new harvest becomes available. <span style=""> </span>I want to price printers and cartridges, so we stop at the local “internet café.” <span style=""> </span>It’s a tiny shop that has <span style=""> </span>4 cubicles with desktop computers but the power is down! <span style=""> </span>Cost? <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Ksh1 per minute or about $.75/hr.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> 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mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">We get back to Achungo as the school day is ending. Richard has asked me to give the teachers some computer training, so I stick around after the children have left and spend an hour and a half talking through an overview of computer hardware, configuration, OS, applications, and then a briefing on Microsft Office applications. Just glad I can be helpful.<br /></p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-69942808281972039252010-11-29T09:37:00.000-08:002010-11-29T10:42:22.191-08:00Day 5 – It’s the education, stupid<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYZx_fyt5uictlX6B45QxPhdeleJT__F-8FVWHJ-VGvHXHhfT3Oe4AcbEpvFO7r2DOb4WkSyTYthbV7FpgdosxEzbNNEv2ARUm23Xk4ZpaRD640wXtHoZ9FhD4Vx5R7n-vLlxp-QyNB9l/s1600/BCMC+class2.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYZx_fyt5uictlX6B45QxPhdeleJT__F-8FVWHJ-VGvHXHhfT3Oe4AcbEpvFO7r2DOb4WkSyTYthbV7FpgdosxEzbNNEv2ARUm23Xk4ZpaRD640wXtHoZ9FhD4Vx5R7n-vLlxp-QyNB9l/s320/BCMC+class2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545039774886071922" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 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mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->Pardon the sarcastic political reference in the title, but today was focused on the classroom experience which is certainly core to Achungo.<span style=""> </span>I sat in on a number of the classes with the purpose of understanding what the teachers and the students are experiencing and what their potential needs are. <p class="MsoNormal">Appropriately enough, I started in the combined “Baby Class”/”Middle Class” – sat on the floor in the back and observed.<span style=""> </span>These are all the pre-schoolers -- 2 -5 year-olds.<span style=""> </span>This is not babysitting or playtime – I’m impressed at the level of the classwork.<span style=""> </span>In order to advance to Pre-Unit (Kindergarten), they must be able to count, know their letters, even sound out and write a few basic words.<span style=""> </span>The little ones are coloring, and learning to match shapes, numbers and letters and are listening in as the older ones recite their numbers (counting) and letters.<span style=""> </span>The older ones are writing simple words (‘cat’, ‘dog’).<span style=""> </span>All of the training even in this class is in English, sometimes with explanations in Swahili or Luo (the local language).<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The day starts with going over homework and Madam Nancy calls up each group to wait in line for her to correct their exercise books where she’s handwritten (yes, really!) the assignments for each of them the day prior.<span style=""> </span>I’m amazed at how quietly the little ones sit as they wait though the process.<span style=""> </span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Symbol;"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>(Is there anything I could do to help?)<span style=""> </span>What if they had a way to copy off the exercise sheets?<span style=""> </span>But how would they attach them to the exercise books?<span style=""> </span>These little ones have a hard time keeping track of their one little exercise book and not returning to class with it torn up.<span style=""> </span>Impressive enough that they have any homework! </li></ul> <ul><li>What if we got them coloring books?<span style=""> </span>That would give them something to do during quiet times in class.</li></ul><ul><li>Hmm. <span style=""> </span>This class is covered with posters--almost all handmade (!).<span style=""> </span>I wonder if we could find them some laminated posters with the same content.</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">After some time, I promote myself to Primary and sit in/ look in on the other classes.<span style=""> </span></p> <ul><li>Kenya’s educational system has an 8-grade Primary (Kindergarten, called “Pre-unit” and then “Standards” 1 through 8).<span style=""> </span>At the end of 8<sup>th</sup> grade is a national qualification exam that determines their next step.<span style=""> </span>Place highly and you may get a government scholarship to Secondary (High School – called “Forms” 1 through 4).<span style=""> </span>Otherwise, your academics may be over unless you can pay for a vocational school/college (typically 2 years of study).</li></ul><ul><li>Government syllabus for the Standard grades include<span style=""> </span>Social Studies, Math, Reading and Writing in English and Swahili, Science, and CRE (Christian Religious Ed – yes, as part of the government curriculum;<span style=""> </span>there’s also a Moslem curriculum if your school has Moslems).<span style=""> </span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">As I look in on the Pre-unit (Kindergarten), they are practicing simple arithmetic problems (addition, subtraction) and sentence completion.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In 1<sup>st </sup>Grade, as part of social studies, they are reciting and recording (in their exercise booklets) the “class rules”:</p> <ol><li>Not to make noise in the classroom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKtAeRMjQHucv0PwjnFACFlyQQXJ1ebIAnQrh7VR198q5na5eeKP1zxpNkzzhTGri1JXh-jUyYkZWXifsXMw_bZZdpMaIshFrpVSugYb4AJi_6lWDt1WJKz78cNvYCMIflKzAZ-hlxutB/s1600/class+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKtAeRMjQHucv0PwjnFACFlyQQXJ1ebIAnQrh7VR198q5na5eeKP1zxpNkzzhTGri1JXh-jUyYkZWXifsXMw_bZZdpMaIshFrpVSugYb4AJi_6lWDt1WJKz78cNvYCMIflKzAZ-hlxutB/s320/class+%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545040759639627362" border="0" /></a></li><li>To keep our classroom clean</li><li>To ask for permission when you go out</li><li>To obey our teachers and prefect</li><li>To put up our hands before answering questions</li><li>To take care of each other’s items</li><li>To be in class in time</li><li>To be neat and tidy</li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal">3<sup>rd</sup> Grade has fill-in-the-blanks in CRE</p> <ul><li>Who was the father of Jesus?</li><li>Joseph’s _________ sold him to Egypt</li><li>Moses was given the _________ commandments on Mt Sinai</li><li>Christians pray in _________ (mosque/churches)</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">In 4<sup>th</sup> Grade Science, Mr. Eliakim is quizzing the class on some physics basics:<span style=""> </span></p> <ul><li>Which of the following floats and which will sink…a pin on a sheet of paper or a pin on its own?</li><li>Next he describes an experiment to determine the effect of water depth on pressure (the behavior of water leaking through holes at various heights in the side of a tank).<span style=""> </span>He holds the only textbook, so on the very rough blackboard he draws out its pictures of the example experiments as he describes them. <span style=""> </span>[And I think: "that would be a lot easier if each child had a textbook to refer to"]</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">The African teaching style tends towards the Ferris Bueller’s Ben Stein-method of verbal “finish my sentence” ("...anyone? anyone?") with either the entire class chiming in or the teacher asking “who can tell me” and students respond by raising their hands and clamoring to be called on (“teachah,teachah, teachah”).<span style=""> </span>Much is rote style, especially in the earlier grades with the entire class reading the board together or reciting a poster or repeating after the teacher. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Grades 3 and 4 gather for PE in a big circle around the trash pit (there’s no room elsewhere in the yard) and seem to be doing a “follow-my-moves” with first the teacher leading a variety of steps and motions and then one of the students. <span style=""> </span>Looks like great fun. <span style=""> </span>(And there may not be much else they can do in the current space and considering the entirety of their athletic equipment is one under-inflated, soccer ball and a few jump ropes.)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n6SCmGPdI_CtYmGUsUl75WEo4-M-XoIj0SsLrSKD1wiWI2ly4LnJ4_3QIPFxYOOVsDx2FFBAjoTLy6n7s-nNUYeMbIUjVUzN_Va7Pl2x7DZfXj3J1_6yOgOzwKwEsxpYm-oHj1kCQheY/s1600/MonteTeach.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n6SCmGPdI_CtYmGUsUl75WEo4-M-XoIj0SsLrSKD1wiWI2ly4LnJ4_3QIPFxYOOVsDx2FFBAjoTLy6n7s-nNUYeMbIUjVUzN_Va7Pl2x7DZfXj3J1_6yOgOzwKwEsxpYm-oHj1kCQheY/s320/MonteTeach.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545043056335399314" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Later that afternoon was my big debut!<span style=""> </span>Mr. Richard let me teach Standard 4 (4th grade) a lesson in CRE.<span style=""> </span>The government-issued (“Kenyatta Foundation”) course book contains simple Bible story lessons followed by key points and then a few fill-in questions.<span style=""> </span>Our lesson was “Choosing to Belong” and it struck me how different the context might be in U.S. for the same lesson.<span style=""> </span>I covered two stories -- Adam and Eve punished for disobeying God, and the story of Abraham willing to obey and sacrifice his son if necessary, and how God honored them both as a result.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""></span>The main message was that we would be blessed if we always make the right choices and obey God and our teachers and our parents or guardians, and included a discussion of how to ask God for strength to find and follow the right choices.<span style=""> </span>It occurs to me that in the U.S. that would be a lesson to individuals about individual choice, but here that context is merely an element of a greater value, that of belonging.<span style=""> </span>Being in community as a value is well-understood here.<span style=""> </span>Perhaps Western culture could benefit from thinking about our behaviors, our choices as impacting our connection with our community rather than limiting our view to ourselves as individuals.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The engagement of the children here is at a level unimaginable in the U.S. <span style=""></span>and towards the end of the school day I see that learning continues even after class.<span style=""> </span>The preschoolers (“Baby Class” / “Middle Class”) sit outside as they wait for the closing assembly. <span style=""> </span>They play quietly in the dirt with their hands or sticks (there’s nothing else to play with) until one starts reciting in English:<span style=""> </span>“1, 2, 3…” and the whole crowd chimes in to recite their counting (“…108,109, 1000, 1001... 1008, 1009, one million”). <span style=""> </span>(Yes, they skipped a few, but it’s a start!) <span style=""> </span>Then they recite the colors (“cala red, cala blue…”), then the alphabet…and it strikes me that rote learning has given these children a number of very valuable tools:</p> <ul><li><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Their mind when idle will revert to what they’ve been repeating over and over, giving them effortless educational reinforcement.</li></ul><ul><li><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The classroom rote is a community-building activity.<span style=""> </span>Learning is done together, it’s a shared process, one where you may depend on each other.<span style=""> </span>As such it both reinforces the social value of education and the educational value of their social group (i.e., adds to how attentive they are, because this is something that is important to everyone).</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal">It has certainly been a day of learning for me!</p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-67111087741010610532010-11-24T14:48:00.000-08:002010-11-24T15:25:53.338-08:00Day 4 – It’s about each, individual childIt’s Monday – school day and I get to spend my first full day at the school!<p class="MsoNormal">School day begins at 7:45-ish with an assembly around the flagpole – children cluster in their class groups and are very orderly.<span style=""> </span>First up is inspection by the teacher-in-charge: </p> <p class="MsoListBullet2CxSpFirst"><span style="font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Does everyone have clean necks?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-CRPBBUPUjfJvQk3aErq5wycsaJo_V71zzh2Q6rGyGGbM6LvvoQMbpWtr3EzuYcNBqx5aqDv7TuE4Sxdf3u1NI30hc3e5iSKq6yFd3Yue1njiwimn3z5zUV-N4UrsxRj5VoplGi3pG9U/s1600/3flag-4.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-CRPBBUPUjfJvQk3aErq5wycsaJo_V71zzh2Q6rGyGGbM6LvvoQMbpWtr3EzuYcNBqx5aqDv7TuE4Sxdf3u1NI30hc3e5iSKq6yFd3Yue1njiwimn3z5zUV-N4UrsxRj5VoplGi3pG9U/s320/3flag-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543253925001830626" border="0" /></a><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoListBullet2CxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Socks on and clean?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoListBullet2CxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Proper shoes (no plastic boots, at least unless it’s a muddy day)? <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoListBullet2CxSpLast"><span style="font-family:Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Generally clean and orderly uniform (though many are quite torn or ill-fitting)? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Those who miss the mark are called up to stand before the group and be scolded. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">That accomplished, it’s time for the flag raising in military style (a little marching of the “scouts” -- the flag brigade that has various ages among the 8 members) accompanied by everyone singing the national anthem.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next up, Headmaster Paul has a few words of greeting and encouragement and Mr. Richard (or Mr. Eliakim, if it’s his turn), leads the children in a devotional song and recited prayer (with hands over faces).<span style=""> </span>And the children are off to their classes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For a few hours this morning, Mr. Richard helps me take individual pictures of each of the students present (97 present, today).<span style=""> </span>Then, I take lunch with the teachers.<span style=""> </span>We eat the same food as the children once all the children have been served.<span style=""> </span>Today is red beans atop a mountain of white rice and we eat with spoons. <span style=""> </span>Below is the typical week’s menu (no spoon on ugali days).<span style=""></span></p><table class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 351.85pt; margin-left: 4.55pt; border-collapse: collapse;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="469"><tbody><tr style="height: 15pt;"><td style="width: 68pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="91" nowrap="nowrap"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Monday</span></p> </td> <td style="width: 283.85pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="378" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Rice and beans</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td style="width: 68pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="91" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Tuesday</span></p> </td> <td style="width: 283.85pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="378" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" ><span style=""> </span>Kale, Ughali, sometimes tiny herring</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td style="width: 68pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="91" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Wednesday:<span style=""> </span></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 283.85pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="378" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Githeri<span style=""> </span>:<span style=""> </span>Maize and Bean Succotash</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15.3pt;"> <td style="width: 68pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="91" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Thursday</span></p> </td> <td style="width: 283.85pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15.3pt;" valign="bottom" width="378" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Rice and Cabbage</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td style="width: 68pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="91" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Friday</span></p> </td> <td style="width: 283.85pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 15pt;" valign="bottom" width="378" nowrap="nowrap"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";color:black;" >Kale, Ugali and meat</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP7GYrCBWDrAS1_agEYwtd3tyzAyYNNxDCzNN30V24gM8Oa5vjFv0uLL8u3zlM3WnTWiXH9TzmCMDaqzRYxS0ra8bXPP0SymOqZuUNd8V58b3FUQu3ybdza6g_DchG5803eJzmKoH7lLK/s1600/feeding7.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP7GYrCBWDrAS1_agEYwtd3tyzAyYNNxDCzNN30V24gM8Oa5vjFv0uLL8u3zlM3WnTWiXH9TzmCMDaqzRYxS0ra8bXPP0SymOqZuUNd8V58b3FUQu3ybdza6g_DchG5803eJzmKoH7lLK/s320/feeding7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543256169815843810" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ugali is the polenta-like standard starch of East Africa -- typically made from maize, sometimes with some dried cassava mixed in, or the brown variety is from millet and sorghum (and is highly nutritious).<br /></p>After lunch Michael and I looked at some nearby land whose owner he says is motivated to sell (has one of his children at Achungo!).<span style=""> </span>The only land we own right now is way too small; there’s no way we could add grades or showers or anything else, and very little land for the children to play even.<span style=""> </span>These 3 other lots add up to about triple the current lot and sound very reasonable in price – maybe totalling about what we paid for the current lot (sounds like a 70% discount?)!! <p class="MsoNormal">I began to see a God-sized vision for Achungo with the possibilities that could be opened up with this added land.<span style=""> </span>This would make all the difference for these kids and transform Achungo from a few years of schooling and care to a real start in life that gets them through 8<sup>th</sup> grade—the critical milestone that could put higher education within reach and give them the opportunity to leap ahead economically. <span style=""> </span>Hmmm!</p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-91863948239670847272010-11-23T17:20:00.000-08:002010-11-30T10:47:05.508-08:00Day 3 - It's SundayToday,<span style=""> </span>Michael takes me to his home church to attend services.<span style=""> </span>He has attended here since he was small.<span style=""> </span>We drive up the gravel drive to Kager Vision Center and into a grassy compound with a sizable brick chapel (maybe seating for 150<span style=""> </span>about 90 attending), a stucco and rock community center building and a stucco clinic (built by an NGO).<span style=""> </span>The African style of worship is not unlike a rousing Southern Baptist service with lots of singing along with the preaching and teaching.<span style=""> </span>As I’ve noticed elsewhere here, there were always 2 speakers as there is constant translation (here the dual service was Luo and English).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmreumDpmEAIIvve58S-TT3R8F6GH_CX3RG4VBDoXXSwSqYQAxTM0cs9W55n6i4wbdnCpgIAw_KzEOs6hqmN7uIGuEAF2_Oenp9tBK879xEK3f5urMW7TIfB5ecS4X_Mk13yfYEdBBehDt/s1600/churchdancers.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmreumDpmEAIIvve58S-TT3R8F6GH_CX3RG4VBDoXXSwSqYQAxTM0cs9W55n6i4wbdnCpgIAw_KzEOs6hqmN7uIGuEAF2_Oenp9tBK879xEK3f5urMW7TIfB5ecS4X_Mk13yfYEdBBehDt/s320/churchdancers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545415982921154738" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">We sing a while, with the worship leader and 3 women chorists taking turns leading, and 2 keyboardists accomplanying.<span style=""> </span>Then the dance team shows up.<span style=""> </span>The four eight-year-old girls file in and stay up front and for the 15 minutes of that song, dance to the music in unison.<span style=""> </span>It is just delightful – those girls have all the moves, frequently varying their dance, sometimes executing turns, sometimes back-to-back, always in unison.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The<span style=""> </span>Guest teacher speaks on how to pray (importance of silence before God, separation from distraction, etc.) and later on how to worship with all our heart/soul/mind/strength --worshiping in truth (accurate to scripture), with real (heartfelt), thoughtful and practical (not just ritualized) worship.</p><p class="MsoNormal">And it seems to me that "worshiping with all our strength" suggests that it should cost us something, should involve some sacrifice, if we’re really putting our lives in His hands. For a little while recently, my road seemed particularly difficult and humbling, but in general I am thrilled with my work with Achungo. It seems like nothing but a gift.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Halfway into the service, visitors are invited to introduce themselves and many come up to the stage for a brief word. Michael speaks briefly, introduces me and I briefly express my greetings, appreciation of the unity of believers world-wide, and sense of call to join Michael in his important work at Achungo.<span style=""> </span>Pastor Henry closes the service sharing his recent travels to develop the ministry and visit colleagues and parishioners, as well as upcoming program plans.<span style=""> </span>After the service, during greetings, I tell him how much of a blessing it is for me to work with Michael, that I consider him my role model. (I hope his church is very proud of Michael!)<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is close to 2pm when Michael drives me back to Rodi. I remark on his introduction of me as having <span style=""> </span>left a big job to fill the position of Mama Achungo (i.e., Exec Director) and I tell him that I was much more impressed with how he has left his new career for Achungo.<span style=""> </span>He is a very remarkable man.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He joins me for lunch at the Tausi Hotel and we talked about all the things we want to do during my visit.<span style=""> </span>I am pleased to hear him say that 3 weeks might not be enough for all we want to do.<span style=""> </span>I had begun to worry that it would be a burden to him but his excitement is all the encouragement I need.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FH-bBxRMfKtoWgJOTXo6nUjfqrVsO62m4U43CJxyI_X5LCxuLA0ussClncRE11vUKR0o-C5jNebLvZRwyld0Xf2sRYzy_dXwct-nfDP6Wt2PJgQFyuHXLpWooXGGvfWzhWOtKQK5QYHs/s1600/RodiKids.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FH-bBxRMfKtoWgJOTXo6nUjfqrVsO62m4U43CJxyI_X5LCxuLA0ussClncRE11vUKR0o-C5jNebLvZRwyld0Xf2sRYzy_dXwct-nfDP6Wt2PJgQFyuHXLpWooXGGvfWzhWOtKQK5QYHs/s320/RodiKids.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545414400578135122" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After Michael heads for home and after a brief rainstorm and thunder-boomer had blown through, I take a walk down the road past town, and past the rich, green countryside and fields of maize and banana farms.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I seem to be a big celebrity --I'm incessantly greeted from nearly all those I pass.<span style=""> </span>Little children called out “mzungu”<span style=""> </span>(“hey white person”) and grownups offered greetings of “how odd you?”<span style=""> </span>and I learned the proper reply is “fine, thank you, how odd you? A very friendly place.<br /></p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-12276794535169595692010-11-22T15:57:00.000-08:002010-11-30T10:36:54.314-08:00Day 2 - Down on the Farm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9MejolfefgZNsDj_nAiovhXu0zJpfm5bcA_f1xjbzAeWGKtMetridagzzh22XeUKUPAkwawjh-ZvSMlPW-6i_BHx3sJIWDw6NoTXqKRwAycJILhciASW-0WJGv3VGBYGVbUa_K2aYSAz/s1600/MamasHse.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9MejolfefgZNsDj_nAiovhXu0zJpfm5bcA_f1xjbzAeWGKtMetridagzzh22XeUKUPAkwawjh-ZvSMlPW-6i_BHx3sJIWDw6NoTXqKRwAycJILhciASW-0WJGv3VGBYGVbUa_K2aYSAz/s320/MamasHse.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542976539378669682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->Today Michael takes me to his village, Kager, to view the Achungo farm plots.<span style=""> </span>The farming now takes up a lot of Michael’s time and is our key to moving toward some level of self-sufficiency.<span style=""> </span>The current Samaritan’s Purse funding (the only funded project going on right now) provides for the costs for these plots with the objective of providing the majority of the food for the children and staff of Achungo. <p class="MsoNormal">There are 5 plots, 2 are on a hill, today we walk the 3 that are in the lowland.<span style=""> </span>Michael and 6 hired hands cultivated the plots and seeded and fertilized maize and beans some 3 weeks prior and the corn is more than knee high.<span style=""> </span>They’ve been weeding it, as grass and weeds grow very fast during the rainy season, and are now applying fertilizer topically (“top-dressing”) as a second application.<span style=""> </span>They’ve dug ditches through the fields to carry away rain runoff that otherwise would wash out the crop.<span style=""> </span>Their methods have resulted in fields that look far more productive (denser and in better health) than neighboring fields.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieI4XXCy_1p3u03q_HvNmdEC3ppOqD78fny8bm6y-3K27VBRzGoErCuwd3H8oqxzJjvU9uEk_U3IYBJ28EmNkCe_Amwg7pMj_YnfHQDSMqWbYepGK03rIMO-YWcirQNLvaSHrOVaED7Cs_/s1600/Farm+plot.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieI4XXCy_1p3u03q_HvNmdEC3ppOqD78fny8bm6y-3K27VBRzGoErCuwd3H8oqxzJjvU9uEk_U3IYBJ28EmNkCe_Amwg7pMj_YnfHQDSMqWbYepGK03rIMO-YWcirQNLvaSHrOVaED7Cs_/s320/Farm+plot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542974503001130786" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Afterward, Michael takes me back to his family compound – where he grew up and where some of his family still live.<span style=""> Families in rural Kenya that have any land build their homes in clusters that kind of radiate out from the parents hut. </span>We passed the house of one of Michael’s brothers and he called a greeting over the bleating of his several young goats.<span style=""> </span>Further up we entered the family’s main area where Michael’s house sits next to his mother’s and his grandmother’s.<span style=""> </span>Once small mud huts, they are now stuccoed, 3-room homes with tin roofs (as opposed to thatch).<span style=""> </span>It is an idyllic setting, with large, open areas of verdant wild grass that looks like a well-kept lawn and many shade and fruit trees.<span style=""> </span>The mango tree was full of fruit that would be ripe in another month and behind the houses was a small stand of banana trees.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After we greet his mother (his grandmother is not at home), we greet Beatrice, who was outside washing clothes in a large bucket.<span style=""> </span>Michael invites me inside for lunch and we talk as Beatrice prepares and serves a lunch of rice and chicken.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We talk about the farming and then about other ways we might develop projects to help with food or provide some self-funding.<span style=""> </span>After lunch, Michael invites his oldest brother to talk to us about various cash crops that he might suggest.<span style=""> </span>He also invites over an “mzee”, an older neighbor who has been chicken farming, to talk to us about his methods, costs and market prices.<span style=""> </span>Finally, we end our agri-project ruminations by visiting a nearby greenhouse funded by an American group and viewing its impressive vegetables.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On our way back to Rodi, Michael stops at the “village blacksmith” and we watch a while as he hammers iron hoe blades.<span style=""> </span>His forge (coal fire-pit) has a people-powered blower (hooked up to a bike wheel with a handle for manual turning).<span style=""> </span>I had noticed the metal plow sitting in Michael’s yard<span style=""> </span>-- with a team of oxen, he had gotten very familiar with that plow just a month prior.<span style=""> </span>I could imagine that it came from that same local smithy, his forge and his hammer.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAwL7TvT97RCzYKRKeQLNmlsmaHrWuYz6JAbHfzaCjRd237gQompEGJWtzoVmFq3FZeecKLwZHEJX41PuWPGXP6cQFJ7Rz-vR1nenuEIWAqfqfibLNb3HwkFC7ow1j_mF6stNyJ6kZvkq/s1600/blacksmith3.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAwL7TvT97RCzYKRKeQLNmlsmaHrWuYz6JAbHfzaCjRd237gQompEGJWtzoVmFq3FZeecKLwZHEJX41PuWPGXP6cQFJ7Rz-vR1nenuEIWAqfqfibLNb3HwkFC7ow1j_mF6stNyJ6kZvkq/s320/blacksmith3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545413242474911058" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglO6sj9oiVXxHZ_aqqYSz270uBVyGeSsq-gG4Ve5AwI54Y5lfDLkbU62SAd_iBvqxVto98z1MwNGSZD5kf9zv9LPzzNRcZNGVSdh1Hqt_dQv1ScMHK37f3bUNcfJtf4VUMTg-DJXFtRF1H/s1600/blacksmith1.JPG"><br /></a></p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298608272951978526.post-18370644707537708772010-11-20T13:36:00.000-08:002010-11-30T10:28:12.445-08:00Day 1 - First day in Kenya<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Although I actually just got back from my 20-day trip to Achungo as of this writing, I couldn't blog while there. I had virtually no internet access. There's no wifi -- a few times I borrowed someone's laptop with their 3G internet service (Safaricom!) So I now recreate those 20 days, Day 1 being Oct. 29.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycy-F4kTlTeR8Wa8JtB3il4kxG7iDiqMiLLgwcRoO8d2YQb7CPRiQgscX3BS27aHiDpE8zF7Ddbf5OafiBfqNiPH7GDxzgLYRLHuwswQw8DZyZWGKpdSR-WiZVO7t0BYHLkb9Z3rE6nv-/s1600/P1000506+Airport.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 116px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycy-F4kTlTeR8Wa8JtB3il4kxG7iDiqMiLLgwcRoO8d2YQb7CPRiQgscX3BS27aHiDpE8zF7Ddbf5OafiBfqNiPH7GDxzgLYRLHuwswQw8DZyZWGKpdSR-WiZVO7t0BYHLkb9Z3rE6nv-/s320/P1000506+Airport.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545410154792438642" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is the day I finally get to meet Michael, his wife Beatrice, and the school staff and children and it turns out to be a gorgeous, clear, 85-degree day. Of course this is equatorial Africa, so maybe when it's not raining, it's always a gorgeous, clear, 85-degree day!?<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Michael Nyangi is the founder and Director of Achungo. He meets me at the Kisumu airport with Beatrice, his wife, and with George, a Marketing consultant who is on his Kenyan board.<span style=""> </span>His Kenyan board consists of a group of local supporters formed in 2008 of friends, his past teachers and others and who meet when issues arise or at least monthly.<span style=""> </span>When officials recently told him the school would have to close unless he had more classroom space and desks, it was his board who found him 50 used metal sheets as a start for materials for the new building. They have helped him and encouraged him in a ton of ways.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hoping to organize group trips next year, I want to check out prices on school supplies, etc.<span style=""> in the big city of Kisumu (biggest we'll see this trip). </span>We stop at the “mega-mart” (one of the few shopping centers here)<span style=""> and I </span>buy lots of water as I check out what else they have. The Nakumatt a.k.a. MegaCity is a warehouse-sized, modern shopping mall that includes a Walmart-type store—very clean, well-lit, well-stocked and virtually empty of people at 9:30 a.m. though what I saw of the small parking lot seemed fairly full.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next, after dropping George off, we drive through lush green countryside studded with small plots of bananas and maize, even some rice, as the road turns from tarmac to serious potholes to dirt, and we slow down accordingly, before we make it to Rodi Kopany and arrive at Achungo Children’s Center.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the day I spend at the school getting acquainted with the teachers and the students.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">First I'm introduced to the teachers in the Teachers' Lounge (that's what I call the 8x15 room that serves as their office. Michael kicks things off in this somewhat formal meeting and speaks of how important Achungo is and that sometimes we have to be patient and wait on God's timing when we’re in His hands—I think less a reference to my joining Achungo than to his personal pain that he cannot pay the teachers (one has just left when he found an opportunity to be paid). Next up,<span style=""> </span>introductions by headmaster Paul (a retired teacher) and a short speech by me (my journey and how my experiences indicate to me how important Achungo is and that it is my privilege to be able to work with them).<span style=""> </span>I tell them that much of what I will do during my 3 weeks will be to learn from them how I could best serve them as Executive Director.<span style=""> </span>I also recounted Kim Golter’s advice on running a non-profit: essentially, put God first and He will make sure everything else happens.<span style=""> </span>Michael closes with words acknowledging me and my comments. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGENGTk_a-pyH2iEv_JCxUFRx7jnh11W5X4BgsIrAaX1jBWSNVC_khMX6HiyPiFH4lM_5P37EydDAjeQhcNlibduJJ1AUePSgXfMYoRV_WPRNCjcIccA916_kxKOGIH1AE8zfEzKkBkaqn/s1600/1welcomeassembly17.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGENGTk_a-pyH2iEv_JCxUFRx7jnh11W5X4BgsIrAaX1jBWSNVC_khMX6HiyPiFH4lM_5P37EydDAjeQhcNlibduJJ1AUePSgXfMYoRV_WPRNCjcIccA916_kxKOGIH1AE8zfEzKkBkaqn/s320/1welcomeassembly17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542973462231455138" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After introductions and sharing with the teachers, the children gather and sing welcome songs (“everybody come, we gonna welcome, our visitor at Achungo…”) and recite some homegrown poems.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then in a classic African scene , everyone gathers under the shade tree.<span style=""> </span>First Michael quizzes the children on random questions and then Richard invites them to tell stories and several stand in turn and tell seemingly ad hoc short stories.<span style=""> </span>Each begins with an interactive preface -- something like “story, story” and all the children respond in unison “tell us a story”.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicihZ3n37y1YaDSmbyEc46lgmtq5pcUj8m5WlgA8ICnN9bWY050SOKLu7DQWh3tgD2Xyr-fQK3S9kQ8c1J5lkOxZ6zcjhopqtarPelG7YWZcp6sqzIlpa80mI9CGhwI3akqq8YozftZCyU/s1600/xclosingassembly-3.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicihZ3n37y1YaDSmbyEc46lgmtq5pcUj8m5WlgA8ICnN9bWY050SOKLu7DQWh3tgD2Xyr-fQK3S9kQ8c1J5lkOxZ6zcjhopqtarPelG7YWZcp6sqzIlpa80mI9CGhwI3akqq8YozftZCyU/s320/xclosingassembly-3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545410154250982482" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the ceremonial lowering of the Kenyan flag, the school day is over and the children file out the gate for their walks home.<span style=""> </span>I join a group of them and talk a bit with Madame Nancy (Akoko—the younger) as we walk past another small private school (Midland Vision Academy) and some rental units (some with 10x10 single rooms in long tin buildings, others upscale brick with TV antennas.<span style=""> </span>As we get into town, I leave the children and Nancy to their various homeward paths and head to the open market – it’s Friday, Market Day! Rodi is not much more than a few blocks of shops clustered around a junction, but it really comes to life on Friday.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Picture a supermarket after a tornado has thrown away the roof and walls and cast all the goods all over the ground!<span style=""> </span>The vendors mostly have their wares on tarps (old sack material, etc.) laid out on the ground with virtually no organization and little room left to walk.<span style=""> </span>OK, there are some discernable “departments” --<span style=""> </span>a group of proximate vendors selling used shoes and some selling used clothing of all sorts, the group of charcoal sellers, of fishmongers, sellers of hammered tin pans, of maize, of greens, and of other produce vendors.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lots of friendly banter, some aimed at me:<span style=""> </span>some “karibu’s” (“welcome/come in”) and “Hello’s” along with the various communications of “wouldn’t you like some…”<span style=""> </span>During the hour I stroll, taking notes and pictures, a few men pester me for money and I turn to them and say “I don’t speak Swahili”<span style=""> </span>(in Swahili) and leave them to ponder that as I make my exit.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I walk back to the Tausi Hotel (Motel 6 caliber but the nicest by far in town and very adequate), order the “fish stew and ugali” – a whole Tilapia that seems like it’d been fried a while and then cooked in a mild tomato sauce, on separate plate the big lump of maize ugali (polenta-style) and in a separate bowl the sauce from the fish.<span style=""> </span>Tasty and filling, at least after I get all the bones out of the way.<span style=""> </span>($3 for the food and $.40 for a small soda (240 Kenya shillings / 30 Ksh). Guess I won't go broke this trip! I hear the jetlag calling and once they bring me the wash basin to clean up after my sup, it's time to catch some z's.<br /></p>Monte Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07177205452332250839noreply@blogger.com0