My Hectic Life

These are some pictures of the kids I play with and teach on Sundays. There is more about this day in my blog below.

The boys posing, there is a video too that is so cute, but I can upload that... they were saying "you cant see me" and waving their hands in front of their faces (apparently its a famous John Cena move a guy from WWE which EVERY Kenyan loves)

I think I should ask for funding from NFL in exchange for them using this picture ;)

They love to pose, only it's hard to get them to hold still.

I think this is the beginnings of a new house, but for now it will be monkey bars that they can play on.

This is what they wrote on my gate :)

I’ve been so busy over the past few months. The school program has been all but sucking the life out of me between my frustrations about lack of support (financial, moral, and otherwise) from SIMAHO, the wonderful feeling of working with an engaged and curious class, and the infuriating experiences standing in front of 50+ students who don’t care, don’t want to be there, and don’t listen – its entirely defeating. On the whole, it seems like things are coming together, pole pole, so I try to take it as it comes. I know that the management really likes this program and wants it to succeed, but the school program has been falling through the cracks between them focusing on other projects and staff crises. Somehow, we’ll figure this out and find a rhythm that works for everyone, I just hope it’s soon.

My women’s groups have taken a spot on the back burner these past few weeks and I’m feeling badly about that. But last week, we had a wonderful meeting in Atheyle and I learned some very interesting things about their practices. For example, if a woman is having prolonged labor they used to put her on a donkey and ride her around town (although they were proud to report this isn’t done any more) and for women with delayed after birth they put her on the back of another woman and jiggle her around while pressing her back with some wooden tool (yes, they still do this – although we talked about how it may be harmful to the woman). They would like to have a new water source so I need to get serious about helping them to find funding. The other 2 groups will have to wait a week or so, but then I should be back on track with the monthly meetings.

Things are moving along really well in terms of planning for the Regional Girls Health Camps. I spent an afternoon last week meeting with people about the camps. The District Education Officer had a support letter ready, which, I was informed by the District Health Officer, would promptly be followed by his own letter of support. At the FTC (the future location of the camp in Garissa if all things go well) I met with a very enthusiastic man who was amazingly helpful and sympathetic to a charitable cause. He was happy to lower prices and negotiate set rates for services because this camp is for a good cause. Everyone I met with was thoroughly supportive of the camp and its intention – which lifted my spirit immensely. The one exception – and a big one that is weighing on me – is the view of the Ministry of Education (or at least the second and third in command to the District Education Officer) about condoms. While I’m not surprised to hear an argument against the discussion of condoms by a Somali, I was surprised at his vehemence on the issue. I guess I felt as if at-large Somalis are against condoms, but that most individuals are reasonable when it comes down to facts and teaching the truth. These men flat out told me we could not talk about condoms as a possibility at all. Not even as a last resort if a girl doesn’t have control over a situation involving sex. He argued that in this society women are required to remain virgins until marriage, and hormones are running high among the age group we are targeting so if you give them any other option aside from abstinence they will be curious and try it. Or they will feel like there are options other than remaining abstinent or getting pregnant. I didn’t really say much in response because I was so shocked and also because I didn’t want to step on toes when I’m coming to them for approval on a project, but conversations will need to happen as we are moving forward. I’ll ask around to see what the general feeling is within the community. It was so frustrating to hear though, particularly because I know there are people within the town (other high-ranking officials and even religious leaders) that wouldn’t have a problem with saying that condoms should be used only if remaining abstinent is not an option. But at least there is time for meetings and negotiations.

The other day I took my camera with me to lay with the kids and got so many great shots! My favorite is of what they wrote on my gate “RECHO NI TEACHER”. When the kids first showed it to me I was afraid maybe someone had written something bad on my gate, but when I read it I was so happy. It means “Rachel is a teacher”. They were really proud of it and I can tell they really like having me around. It feels good.

I have somewhat adopted a new philosophy over the past weeks. So many things in these past months, especially the school program, have really been causing me stress. I find myself on the verge of losing my temper so frequently. Yet somehow when it boils down to my flash point, I’m able to remember that this is a great learning experience – most of the time anyway. I can’t be expected to be perfect all the time and the reason I joined the Peace Corps was to be challenged. Well, here is my challenge. I’ve somewhat managed to convince myself that the small failures don’t add up to a larger one. That actually, every small failure and bump along the road is shaping an experience which can’t possibly end in less than a success. I am here. I am doing it. I will make it through. And that is the real point of this all – what I learn (about myself and about the world) in the process of trying to do some work.