That's what you get from 24 hours of dedicated vomiting. Yup. Thursday night was a bit of a disaster, and sadly, I had to cancel Friday's class. The girls were so disappointed. "But we have no teacha!", they exclaimed. Apparently Kenyan's don't vomit much. There was quite a bit of curiosity about the whole thing. People came into my hut to stand there and watch! There was much discussion about what medicines they should give me but I finally convinced them to let me just get it all out - all of it - and then I'd be better. And I am. Phew!
So classes began in earnest today, and I mean that literally. The girls showed up early, sat quietly with full attention when I spoke, and then worked as quiet as mice for 3 hours straight! I asked them if they'd like to take a break to drink the tea they brought but they said "No! We like to do this work!". There were only quiet whispers and giggles, and they were so happy to learn. If I could only bring them back to Canada to teach my 1st year students how to learn... The only time things fell apart was when I picked up some of the mitumbas I'd bought for fabric and started to cut them up. "Oh NO! Why do you do that?! Why do you cut up the new-used clothes?!" they cried. After a bit of translation it was decided they would bring in their old-used clothes for fabric, and trade them for the new-used clothes I bought. Sounds like a fair trade to me! So that's what brings me to Kakamega today - to buy the girls new-used clothes. They're going to be so excited tomorrow morning!
Otherwise I'm really enjoying living with the Mukhalukhas. They are incredibly kind, generous people. Joseph, the father, is incredibly knowledgeable and keen to talk about everything and anything. And I mean everything. He had nothing to read the other day until he found a Harlequin romance novel... I've got to finish the book my mom gave me on the Biafran War and give it to him as soon as possible!
There are a lot of people living on the family compound, and I'm not sure yet if I've figured out yet who's family and who's not. Any of the girls that had too far to travel for class have been taken in by Joseph, and he is also raising a few of abandoned children - 3-7 years old. This seems to be the Kenyan way of life - if you have, you give, until you have no more. Words to live by.
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5 comments:
Hi Janice,
I'm sorry to hear you were so sick and am glad to know you're feeling better.
How far is it from Isongo to Kakamega? Is the Moto Boda your usual mode of transport?
Love, Mom
Hi Janice,
I am so totally inspired with your adventure. I will never again ask what can one person do? You go girl!!
I am so envious with your classroom setting. It would be worth the trip to experience the gratitude. Maybe I could send some of my students to Africa!!! I get to pick which ones!!
Love,
Auntie Colleen
Wow, barf-o-rama! Best to get it over and done with at the beginning of the trip, right? I hope you stay barf free for the next few weeks, my friend!
Penny
Hi Janice,
We're sorry to have missed your call yesterday. It's reassuring to hear your voice on the answering machine in any case.
Thank you for the e-mail.
I had thought you had told me it was 1&1/2 hours from Kakamega to Isongo so we're not surprised we won't be hearing from you as often from now on.
Keep well.
Love, Mom
my idol.
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