Merry Christmas!
I have had my first Kenyan Christmas. The days leading up to Christmas here in Loitokitok, it was hard to tell it was the holiday season at all, but I woke up on Christmas morning to Christmas carols being sang on TV. My host Mama and I spent the morning cooking, and then took all of the food to my host Baba’s parent’s house. As my Christmas present my host Mama gave me a new outfit to wear, and it is really pretty, a bit too big for me, but it was really really nice of her to get me something. The celebrations included eating a lot of food, most importantly goat; I was given the honor of eating some of the goat pancreas… I also got to talk to my family back at home. It was really great to hear their voices. I miss them a lot, especially during the holiday season!
Since Kenya celebrates Boxing Day, we exchanged presents on Saturday. I use the word exchange loosely because exchanging presents is not normally a part of how most Kenyans celebrate Christmas. But, in a cultural exchange, I did give gifts to my host family. They were partly Christmas and partly thank you so much for letting me stay with you gifts. I gave my host Mama a Peace Corps lesso (a kind of shawl/wrap thing, that all of the women here wear) and I gave my host Baba a calendar of Oregon. The calendar is already on the wall, and it is a nice reminder of home! The kids in my family got pens, stickers, a Frisbee, a deck of cards, and earrings (for my 16 year old sister), and I think all the presents were a big hit! And, my special Boxing Day treat was phone calls from my two best friends from home! I was so surprised when my phone rang and it was an international number, I was expecting my parents again, but was shocked when it was Cydney’s voice, and then Courtney’s voice! It was really great to hear from them, and it was so nice of my mom to arrange for them to call me! I can’t believe how lucky I am that it is so easy for me to communicate with the people I love back home!
Then, on Sunday, our training class got together to have a little Christmas celebration of our own. We did a Secret Santa gift exchange and also everyone brought little snacks. It was a fun day. It felt a lot more like Christmas than Christmas day did here.
In other news, training is almost coming to an end. We will be leaving Loitokitok next Sunday and heading to Nairobi for a while for training sessions with our future supervisors. It is hard to believe that we have really been here that long, and soon we will be officially sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers and we will be sent out to our respective schools. I am excited to start doing the work which I came here to do, but there is also an expected level of nervousness that comes along with leaving PST. Our swearing in date is January 6th. And, since 2010 marks the 45th anniversary of Peace Corps here in Kenya, our swearing in ceremony is going to be a bigger event than usual. The ceremony itself is taking place at the ambassador’s house, and a number of high ranking government officials have been invited. I’m sure it will be a day I will not soon forget, and I promise to take lots of pictures.
In the last few weeks we have been wrapping up PST and there has been a new focus of learning skills which will help us to integrate into our community. Those trainees who passed their LPI last time have started to study their local language, to assist with integration. I am studying Dhuluo (which literally means, mouth of the Luo), which is challenging, to say the least. Kiswahili and Dhuluo are in different language families, so while they share some words, knowing Kiswahili has not aided us much in learning the language. But, the kicker is that Dhuluo is tonal. Words that are spelled the same, when pronounced differently, mean two different things. And, since I have never encountered a tonal language before it can be incredibly difficult to decipher between the two, let alone try to recreate the sound you are supposed to be making when you say certain words! I must say, though, that the language is fun! Some of the sounds incite fits of laughter in all of the trainees learning Luo! And, I am very happy to have the advantage of knowing some Luo before I head to site!
Last week our entire training class traveled to Makindu for some FBT (Field Based Training… remember Peace Corps is a government organization, so they love their acronyms). We traveled to Makindu on Sunday. Peace Corps staff had decided that in an effort for us trainees to become more comfortable with public transportation, they would not be driving us in Peace Corps vehicles, but instead we were on our own to find our way there. Jenny, Whitney, Margaret and I arranged for a matatu to take us to Emali where we would need to switch matatus for the short remainder of the trip to Makindu. Since I am almost positive most of you don’t have firsthand experience with matatus, I will try my best to explain the experience. Matatus are mini buses that serve as the main mode of transportation between towns, and also around major cities like Nairobi. They usually have 14 seats. And by seats, I mean legal, has a seat belt, comfortable seats. BUT, most matatus cram as many people as possible into them in an effort to make more money. At one point between Emali and Makindu we counted 21 people in our Matatu. Some Matatus are falling apart, and their top speed is about 20MPH, while others are very nice and even have video screens that project music videos during the ride. Since the road linking Loitokitok to Emali is only partially paved the trip takes about 2 hours but can take up to 3 hours, despite it being only about 115 Km away. The ride from Emali to Makindu was less than an hour, and we all arrived safely, and with more matatu experience under our belts!
In Makindu we visited the current project of a currently serving Peace Corps volunteer in the business sector. She is working with the Makindu Children’s Center. This center provides services and support to OVCs (orphans and vulnerable children) and to their caretakers. The children at the center performed songs for us, and we heard from a student who graduated the program and is now studying law. The current PCV gave us excellent insight into how to integrate into the community and also ideas on what kind of secondary projects we can be involved in. We also visited a VCT center and the local hospital’s AIDS/HIV center. But, at least for me, the highlight of the trip was watching various groups perform songs and dances in their traditional style which portrayed educational messages regarding AIDS/HIV. One of the groups was made up of young men and women, while another was comprised of women who were all above the age of 60. It was one of the most powerful experiences I have had since arriving in Kenya. I was struck by these women who were doing all they could to stop the spread of AIDS/HIV and their use of traditional styles of song and dance were very powerful. It was inspiring and humbling all at the same time. AIDS/HIV is a huge issue in all of Africa, and the numbers can be daunting and overwhelming to say the least, but there are things that can be done to make a difference, and these women are definitely going their part to make that difference.
Well, that’s all from me. I’m really sorry the pictures didn’t upload last time, but I will try again today and hope that I have better luck! Thanks for all the Christmas wishes, emails, and facebook messages! Love you and miss you all! And I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Happy (belated) One Month Anniversary!
December 4th marked our one month mark in country! To celebrate, a large group of the trainees along with two of the current volunteers, who are here in town helping with training, went on a hike! The hike was absolutely beautiful and I am going to try to upload picture from the hike when I am done with the blog.
Saturday was our first official LPI test… An LPI is a Language Proficiency Interview. It is the test that all Peace Corps trainees around the world have to take in order to be sworn in at the end of training. For trainees in Kenya, we learn Kiswahili, the countries national language (English is also a national language…) and we have to pass our LPI with a minimum score of Intermediate Low in order to be sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers. In case you are wondering what intermediate-low means, I’ll tell you! Our trainee handbook has the definition as: “Able to handle a limited number of interactive, task-oriented and social situations. Can ask and answer questions, create new phrases, initiate and respond to simple statements with complete sentences and maintain face-to-face conversations, although in a restricted manner and with linguistic inaccuracy. Within these limitations, can manage simple situations such as asking directions, making purchases, giving personal information. Vocabulary is adequate to express the most elementary needs. Strong interference from native language may occur. Misunderstandings frequently arise but with repetition the Intermediate-Low speaker can generally be understood by sympathetic listeners.” (The trick with Int-Low, which isn’t talked about here, though, is that you have to know a certain number of verb tenses, and have a sufficient vocabulary as well). Also, during the LPI there are usually a few role play scenarios, where you have to role play ordering in a restaurant, bargaining in the market, explain how to cook a Kenyan dish, or reserve a room in a hotel.
When we take the LPIs that can count it is with outside testers, not the language trainers whom have been teaching us for the last 5 weeks. If we passed yesterday we can request to switch to the local tribal language of the region in which we will be serving. If we do not pass there is a final LPI at the end of week 8. For practice, the trainers have put on two “mini” LPI’s, one at the end of week 2, and one at the end of 4 weeks. On the first LPI, I scored novice mid, which is two levels away from Int-Low. And then last week, I scored novice-high, which is only one level away from Int-Low!!! I was very exciting to be improving and am truly amazed at the amount of language that you can learn when you are immersed in it, and when you are in language class for about 4 hours a day! I just found out that I passed at intermediate-low! YAYYYYYYY! It is really nice to pass now because now I can start learning Kiluo. I will be serving my two years in Nyanza Province, which is where the Luo tribe is concentrated. It would be a huge advantage to my integration if I was able to learn Kiluo before going there! I have heard that Kiswahili is not spoken much in my area, and if you do not speak Kiluo, they would prefer to speak with you in English, not Kiswahili... So, there is extra motivation.
About my future site! I will be teaching in an all girls secondary school in the subjects of biology and chemistry. The school has also requested that I implement and teach the life skills course, which is a kind of general class which covers topics such as HIV/AIDS, non violent conflict resolution, relationships and hygiene. I am very excited! Like I said, I will be in Nyanza Province, my site in close to Lake Victoria and also fairly close to the Tanzanian border. If you are looking on a map, my village is not far from Migorii. Apparently there was a Peace Corps volunteer placed at my site a few years ago, but she had only been there a month before the evacuation and suspension of the Peace Corps / Kenya program. My mom was able to track down her blog for me, so I have read a little bit about my future site and the school. From her blog and from what our program director has told me, my site is gorgeous! The principal of my school is an amazing woman who has really grown the size of my school. My house is on the school compound, it has 4 rooms (so an extra bedroom for guests!), no electricity or running water, but my school has electricity and has a water tank from which I can get water. I am really excited, and I am looking forward to my site! It will be very bitter sweet to leave training though, I have become very close with my host family, especially my host mama, and I know it will be hard to leave. Also, during the day all of us trainees spend so much time together, that it will be a huge change to not see the other trainees every day. But, since most of us are concentrated in Nyanza province, we should be able to get together every once in awhile. I am also pretty lucky, in that I am not far from two other trainees. So, if I need a quick trip away I can visit one of them.
I have been hearing that it is freezing cold back home, and while most people are complaining, I have to say that I miss cold weather! It has been warm the whole time we have been here, at least to me… The locals are all telling me how cold it is and they are wearing jackets and sweaters while I am sweating in my short sleeve shirt…. I guess I have yet to adjust to the heat… But, Nyanza province is even warmer than here, so I better get on that. I also hope everyone is enjoying all the Christmas music (I miss it!) if you tried here it would not be hard to be completely oblivious to the fact that it is the holiday season. Not only does the weather not fit with my holiday season paradigm, but I have yet to see a Christmas themed commercial or hear any Christmas music, let alone any decorations! The rare time that I remember it is almost Christmas, I am caught totally off guard, and it just doesn’t seem to fit. I am going to try to listen to some of the Christmas music that I brought, and maybe see if I can watch Love Actually on one of the other trainees computers, I think that will get me in the holiday spirit!
Well, that’s all from me… I am going to try to upload some more photos for your enjoyment! Look for the captions in the comments section of the post! And, since Charlie (one of the other trainees) was nice enough to let me have some of the pictures off of his camera last time, and I know his mom has seen my blog, I am going to include a picture of him and his host stay Mama! Enjoy!
Saturday was our first official LPI test… An LPI is a Language Proficiency Interview. It is the test that all Peace Corps trainees around the world have to take in order to be sworn in at the end of training. For trainees in Kenya, we learn Kiswahili, the countries national language (English is also a national language…) and we have to pass our LPI with a minimum score of Intermediate Low in order to be sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers. In case you are wondering what intermediate-low means, I’ll tell you! Our trainee handbook has the definition as: “Able to handle a limited number of interactive, task-oriented and social situations. Can ask and answer questions, create new phrases, initiate and respond to simple statements with complete sentences and maintain face-to-face conversations, although in a restricted manner and with linguistic inaccuracy. Within these limitations, can manage simple situations such as asking directions, making purchases, giving personal information. Vocabulary is adequate to express the most elementary needs. Strong interference from native language may occur. Misunderstandings frequently arise but with repetition the Intermediate-Low speaker can generally be understood by sympathetic listeners.” (The trick with Int-Low, which isn’t talked about here, though, is that you have to know a certain number of verb tenses, and have a sufficient vocabulary as well). Also, during the LPI there are usually a few role play scenarios, where you have to role play ordering in a restaurant, bargaining in the market, explain how to cook a Kenyan dish, or reserve a room in a hotel.
When we take the LPIs that can count it is with outside testers, not the language trainers whom have been teaching us for the last 5 weeks. If we passed yesterday we can request to switch to the local tribal language of the region in which we will be serving. If we do not pass there is a final LPI at the end of week 8. For practice, the trainers have put on two “mini” LPI’s, one at the end of week 2, and one at the end of 4 weeks. On the first LPI, I scored novice mid, which is two levels away from Int-Low. And then last week, I scored novice-high, which is only one level away from Int-Low!!! I was very exciting to be improving and am truly amazed at the amount of language that you can learn when you are immersed in it, and when you are in language class for about 4 hours a day! I just found out that I passed at intermediate-low! YAYYYYYYY! It is really nice to pass now because now I can start learning Kiluo. I will be serving my two years in Nyanza Province, which is where the Luo tribe is concentrated. It would be a huge advantage to my integration if I was able to learn Kiluo before going there! I have heard that Kiswahili is not spoken much in my area, and if you do not speak Kiluo, they would prefer to speak with you in English, not Kiswahili... So, there is extra motivation.
About my future site! I will be teaching in an all girls secondary school in the subjects of biology and chemistry. The school has also requested that I implement and teach the life skills course, which is a kind of general class which covers topics such as HIV/AIDS, non violent conflict resolution, relationships and hygiene. I am very excited! Like I said, I will be in Nyanza Province, my site in close to Lake Victoria and also fairly close to the Tanzanian border. If you are looking on a map, my village is not far from Migorii. Apparently there was a Peace Corps volunteer placed at my site a few years ago, but she had only been there a month before the evacuation and suspension of the Peace Corps / Kenya program. My mom was able to track down her blog for me, so I have read a little bit about my future site and the school. From her blog and from what our program director has told me, my site is gorgeous! The principal of my school is an amazing woman who has really grown the size of my school. My house is on the school compound, it has 4 rooms (so an extra bedroom for guests!), no electricity or running water, but my school has electricity and has a water tank from which I can get water. I am really excited, and I am looking forward to my site! It will be very bitter sweet to leave training though, I have become very close with my host family, especially my host mama, and I know it will be hard to leave. Also, during the day all of us trainees spend so much time together, that it will be a huge change to not see the other trainees every day. But, since most of us are concentrated in Nyanza province, we should be able to get together every once in awhile. I am also pretty lucky, in that I am not far from two other trainees. So, if I need a quick trip away I can visit one of them.
I have been hearing that it is freezing cold back home, and while most people are complaining, I have to say that I miss cold weather! It has been warm the whole time we have been here, at least to me… The locals are all telling me how cold it is and they are wearing jackets and sweaters while I am sweating in my short sleeve shirt…. I guess I have yet to adjust to the heat… But, Nyanza province is even warmer than here, so I better get on that. I also hope everyone is enjoying all the Christmas music (I miss it!) if you tried here it would not be hard to be completely oblivious to the fact that it is the holiday season. Not only does the weather not fit with my holiday season paradigm, but I have yet to see a Christmas themed commercial or hear any Christmas music, let alone any decorations! The rare time that I remember it is almost Christmas, I am caught totally off guard, and it just doesn’t seem to fit. I am going to try to listen to some of the Christmas music that I brought, and maybe see if I can watch Love Actually on one of the other trainees computers, I think that will get me in the holiday spirit!
Well, that’s all from me… I am going to try to upload some more photos for your enjoyment! Look for the captions in the comments section of the post! And, since Charlie (one of the other trainees) was nice enough to let me have some of the pictures off of his camera last time, and I know his mom has seen my blog, I am going to include a picture of him and his host stay Mama! Enjoy!
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