On the right path...

Of all the people to sit beside on the bus from Nairobi to Isongo, I happened to sit beside a business and social studies professor from a university in Nairobi. Dr. Hebron Were was traveling to Kakamega to lecture at a new university here. When I told him what I was coming here to do, he got very excited an wanted to get involved. Hebron has 2 Master's degrees and a PhD, all studying sustainable development and marketing - exactly what I know NOTHING about! So, after finishing up his lecture he came out to the classroom (a mud hut) to conduct the first official class of GEWLS. He gave us an excellent lecture on building a grassroots program, explaining to the girls how important it is to learn new skills and open new doors, even when you're not sure where they'll lead. He talked to them about how to take a dream, or a vision, and make it a reality. It was incredible, and I couldn't possibly have planned for anything better. The students were very engaged and asked lots of questions - so much so that he's decided to come back in a few weeks to see how we're all doing. On top of that, he's even offered to develop a curriculum for the women so they will know how to keep building on the program long after I leave! The long-term goal for GEWLS is to build a vocational school for women. Somehow I ended up sitting for 7 long, dusty hours on a bus beside a man whose career it is to develop new educational opportunities in the region!

So today I came in to Kakamega to prepare for tomorrow's class. I was able to buy a big bag of m
mitumba (second-hand clothing) for next-to-nothing and tomorrow we start hooking the rugs! I'm really keen to see what kinds of patterns and designs they come up with. I hope to be able to post some pictures of the work but the internet connections, like everything else, run on 'Africa time'. I'll try this weekend.

I'm beginning to settle in to Kenyan life: waking up to cows mooing in my window, riding on the back of a moto boda through cane fields (motorcycle taxi), chasing the chickens around the yard (dinner), listening to Christmas carols blast out of the car-battery-operated CD player (A Partridge in a Pear Tree in Swahili!), and taking my first real Kenyan shower (after 3 days I decided it was time... too bad my tan washed away!). Of all I think the shower was the best - water warmed over the cooking fire and a scoop with which to pour it over my head.

I'm going to get back to the family compound before it starts to pour. Hope all is well with everyone, and thanks for following along - it doesn't feel so lonely this way!

Sincerely,
Obama's Sista