Nashapae

Hujambo! Habari? (Today we're going to Nairobi, so I can use Kiswahili now!)

So, here's an update on where I am in my placement now:

Im working at a primary school in a town called Saikari now. We have to teach older kids, because the younger ones dont understand much english. They are so excited for us to be there. During breaks at school all the kids come up and rub my arms and touch my hair. (They say 'nzuri', which means good, so thats nice!). They want affection so badly. Students in the classes can be between ages 9-25, depending on how old they were when they started school. And then they just move up grade levels each year. Secondary school starts at age 18 normally, but most people cant afford to go. Its so sad at the school during class though. On my first day, I was copying something on the board and told everyone to get out their paper and write it down. Most of the just stared at me. So, I gestured, "write it down!". There was some rummaging about then they started working. But, as I was walking around the class, I realized that about 2/3 of the kids were simply pretending to write with their hands!! They had no writing utensils! I knew that the school would be low on materials, but I had no idea that they didnt have anything to write with. So, part of our trip to Nairobi today will be to get pencils, pens, and erasers for every kid in the entire school. (about 350 students.) The thing that made me the most upset though, is that the head master apparently has loads of materials in his office (including books, which the kids have none!). So, we're just taking this into our own hands. Also, on the school front- Monday is strike day. We talked to the head master about it, he says "You can teach here, you are our friends. But not the government people!" So, all the teachers will be gone on Monday, and the 4 of us will have to do as much as we can. When I came to the school, the first day I had a class that was just sitting in a room alone. I said "where's the teacher?" They had none. So they just came to school and sat in a classroom. So, even though there are a lot of barriers to break down (and it can be quite frustrating), I am so glad I am here- for the kids! (1 Corinthians 15:58) They are just so excited when you call on them to answer, or write on the board. They say "teacher, teacher!!" (we taught them hangman yesterday, they loved it!) So that's school so far.

Now, on the manyatta- (thats my homestay)-
I live with a small family by the school. All 4 of us teachers are there, but its so nice. We cook dinner every night with the family. First, we 'take chai'. Its a milk/sugar tea that you have before dinner. Then we eat around 8, by firelight. Then dishes, and to bed. On my first day at the manyatta, I got my Maasai name- it's Nashapae (Nah-shah-pie), which means 'one filled with joy'- I love it!! I dont think I could have gotten a better name. So this is what everyone calls me now. I get to take a shower tomorrow (yay! first one so far...). What happens is, there's a water barrel that you get water from, then you take it in a basin to the shower room. And you stand in the basin and wash. Pretty simple. Its actually weird, but its quite nice to not worry about being clean. The baby wipes were a good investment though.

Water here is a huge problem. And its weird, because I knew that, but its just different here to see it. There have been very few crops the last 2 years because of drought, and the land is sooo dry (I am filthy from the wind blowing the red dirt all over me, but its really not a big deal at all, everyone is dirty). Also, water to drink is scarce. Most people cant afford bottled water, so they have to walk miles with buckets to the nearest water pipe to get it for the families. This is normally the kid's job. So you see them walking with jugs often. And its not even clean water, but their bodies are used to it, so it's fine for them. So, Ive been praying for water- and guess what happened this morning!! In the middle of the dry season- rain! And then the sun came out and there was a huge, full arc rainbow. Beautiful.

One of my favorite things so far is the Maasai women. They are so beautiful. In the town where we live everyone is Maasai, and everyone dresses traditionally. The colors of the clothes and jewelry are wonderful. They do everything- wash, clean, cook, take care of the kids, and livestock. I love seeing them with their big sticks walking the cows around! But, you cant take pictures of them unless you know them really well, as pictures are quite taboo in their culture. The worst thing though, is that women are still taken advantage of here (not us, the Maasai women). Female mutilation still takes place, and if you choose not to, you are never respected in the community. I thought, maybe only some do this, but I asked one of the women at our homestay and she says "No! All girls! They have to!" Quite sad.

A few things that I think are interesting/ Ive learned here so far:
Africa really might be addicted to aid. (Probably more on this in a later post)
Time: Its a relative thing. Ive only been here a few days, but it feels like forever. Things are slow here, and I knew that, but being immersed in it is quite different. It really made me think about the difference in how we view time and how God understands time. God, the designer of time and space has an eternal mindset, which we cannot grasp. It makes me think about waiting on God, and His timing- really quite different from ours! Just seeing the difference in the way my time was in the US and how it is here, makes me understand a bit more how much I really havent comprehended God's view of time. But He has entrusted us with time, so no matter what it feels like (slow or fast!) we must use it to glorify Him.
Its really nice to be: Dirty/Disconnected/Not rushed

I think thats it for now. I miss everyone, and please keep praying for me.

penda-
Brittany