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Kenya Blog 2
We started off today going to the glass factory. We crossed a suspension bridge and it was really exciting. It was scary but worth it once we entered the glass factory. We watched some men make some glass vases and bowls. Later on we traveled to Shompole, where will be staying for the next three weeks. The drive was very scenic, taking us through the beautiful hills. We stopped to have lunch where the Constant Gardener was filmed and the salty lake was filled with flamingos. Once we arrived we found our tents which are quite nice. We headed up to the school and met many of the children in the village. The kids welcome us into their school and community. They had a lot of energy and we enjoyed talking to them. We played hand games with them (ex. Patty Cake). We look forward to beginning work on the construction site tomorrow. We miss everyone!
Suzanna, Bridget, Mike, and Connor
Kenya Blog 3
Today was our first full day in Oloika, our new home for the next two weeks. We started working today on the school in town, which is our main work site. We dug holes for trees into the rocky earth, we cut metal wires, and we made quite a few support poles for the cement which will eventually hold the roof, among other projects. The day started out cloudy, which was a perfect transition for us coming from Nairobi (which means “cold” in Maa, the language of the Masai). Before lunch, the sun came out and we all started to sweat. The heat could be worse, so we were glad for the weather we had.
We worked side by side with some Masai men from the town, and their expertise was appreciated. We tried to learn their names, and we learned vocabulary while we worked (all the parts of the face, the scenery, numbers, etc.). Learning the language has proven to be a challenge, but we all enjoy reciting what we are able to pick up.
Living here in Oloika, even for only one day, is somewhat indescribable. I could roll off a list of adjectives that might come close, but truly that would be unfair to the place. The scenery is beautiful and the people are friendly and curious. One tradition here that is unusual to most of us is waving. While we drove through the country to get here, everyone we passed waved to us and smiled, shouting “Sopa!” (“hello” in Maa). When we walk through town, everyone smiles and greets us; we feel so welcome.
One specific thing I’ve begun to consider is the nature of instincts – not just the animalistic ones, but the personal ones, the ones who separate us all as individuals. What do you say when you meet someone? How do you react to certain things? When do you laugh? Coming here, we’ve seen so many different people, and their ways of life are quite obviously different. Our own instincts, the ones we’ve grown up with, suddenly seem foreign; at the same time, the ways of the Masai seem equally foreign. So, where are we? I want to naturally be able to say “Sopa” instead of “hello,” and “Ashe” instead of “Thank you.” Figuring out our instincts, and being able to change them consciously, is something I’m still learning, but I can definitely say that it’s fun.
Liz
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