Well folks... my journey here in Kenya has come to an end as of 8:50 tomorrow morning when the plane jets off the runway. To say that this journey has been life changing is a complete and total understatement. Little did I know just a short 3 months ago how Kenya (Kapsowar) would change my everyday thinking and actions in my life. You might say "oh yeah right!" And granted 3 months ago I would have said the same... but what I've learned from these people is invaluable.
Like did you know that:
- Women and children spend over 200 MILLION hours carrying water in a single year. Notice that I didn't say men, and notice that I didn't say eating, collecting and carrying firewood, cooking, bathing, playing, going to school, etc... Also note that, that water is not clean water.
- That girls at age 12 are being circumcised? And now that it is "illegal" they are now becoming younger and younger. Who circumcises these little girls? The "grandmother" in the village. It's up to her what she chooses to take.
- That women are often left to be housewives or birthing machines I call them while the men go away to the bigger cities and work. The majority married couples in Kenya don't live together. Ever. He comes home on leave once a year, and at Christmas. If he has a better job and a better relationship with his wife he may come home once a month or every few months... but money is everything in poor country.
- Cows are worth gold here. You can sell a milk cow for around 40,000-50,000 schillings which in Kenyan terms of living you can do a whole lot with that... except they don't... they only sell them when someone gets sick to pay hospital fees. They have no idea how invest money. And cows are cultural. So it works for them.
- People in Kenya ARE NOT STARVING. Thirsty and dying of back pain from fetching water? Yes. But not hungry. That was one of the biggest eye opening things. I thought they would ALL be near death due to starvation. No. They know how to farm better than most people in Mississippi Delta, because well it's all done by hand and not machine. They live by means of survival. No they may not have a lot of money, but they aren't starving.
- They have a certain way of doing EVERYTHING. Mostly because it's all cultural, and it's ALL they've EVER known. From cutting vegetables, washing their hands, and dishes, cooking, everything.You will find very little kenyans who want to change, and if they do good luck!
- In a hospital setting never trust anyone. You can't sadly. Not the patient, not the nurses. I keep wondering why the nurses don't listen to americans or white people, I mean for the most part they did actually listen to me -- is this me bragging? No. But it's because I took my fathers' advice from the beginning and shut my mouth, listened and watched for a good solid month. I never questioned their motives or said lets do it my way because I'm the white superior girl from america! No, I just politely said oh you know what is even better!!! And they looked at me like I was the smartest gal on earth. So we both won in my opinion! : )
There is so much more I just know Im boring the heck out of you and you probably stopped reading this already, but whatever... facts are facts, and facts are good I think.
Here are some pictures of the "station" as we call it... This is where I called my home for last 3 months.
From my hostale you take a left and this is your view. Takes you to other houses in the station.
Straight ahead view. This is the way to Bill and Laura's house.
You turn from my hostale to the right and this is your view. This is the way to the hospital.
Beside our house. Some of the hospital workers live back here, and the little kids play out here... the women wash clothes out here as well because there is a tap right next to this.
Field goal that Zeke built for Jude to kick on.
Basketball court
Basketball courts that the Rhode's kids did one year at christmas... it's only half way done because they ran out of money to finish it. All the nursing students come here and have big games all the time!
Bill and Laura's house!
The lovely water tanks!
Shadrack's house. He manages the whole station, and also has a matatu that we rent out A LOT. Fun Fact: His wife is a teacher at Kapsowar girls school (which just became a National School = more gov. funding, better teachers, better education etc...) and she was the first woman in Kapsowar to have her Masters degree and will be the first with her PH.D.
More houses at the station... the red roof house is the Medical Administrators house.
Where all the kids play, and the school at the A.I.C. church uses this for P.E.
Entrance
Outside of our hostale from the dirt road.
Window 1. Hot H20 heater. 2. Shower. 3. Sink 4. Toilet 5. No clue.
My Room from the outside... The room from the inside is still on my camera... which is already packed away in backpack. So, Ill show that to y'all later. I shall be leaving the guest house at 5:45a.m. so, add 8 hours and thats when I'm leaving america time. Please pray that my baggage is at adequate weight!!! Because if not then I'm SCREWED! I gave away everything, but i somehow managed to replenish it with gifts to bring back home to the fam!
Can I tell you that it's seriously going to take EVERYTHING in my body to get me out of this twin bed and head to the airport? If it wasn't for me being here illegal after tomorrow, and chocolate chips calling my name when I get home... (Its so the little things) I would so stay here forever. This country is amazing. They (mainly the women...some men) know the true meaning of hard work. They love harder than anyone I've ever known, and that is what is going to bring me back sooner rather than later.
The blog won't stop after this post... I still have SO much to show and tell from going to the Mara and life in the Trama room. I just finally felt good for a few weeks so I could really work and see a whole lot of stuff.
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