The events/adventures/highligh
So here I am back in cold Kelowna (you all know that it’s nothing new for me to be cold but coming from warm Kenya has been a shock!), wanting to share my last few experiences, at least a shortlist of them!
For starters the orphanage got an outbreak of chicken pox. Mostly it was older kids who were affected by it. We did have a bit of a scare with Stacia, who is 5 and HIV positive; she had a very bad case and ended up in the hospital for three days. For most kids, chicken pox isn’t serious, but it can be quite dangerous if you have HIV. She’s fine now; back to her sunny singsong-y self.
I had a bit of a scare as well, thinking for about a day that I had shingles (the adult version of chicken pox), as I had some pretty gross sores erupt right when the kids got sick. Also I’d spent most of two days comforting Stacia before she went to the hospital, so I had my suspicions. Fortunately it was just an infection that some over-the-counter antibiotics have cleared up nicely…I just look really terrible in some of the photos!
One day Hannah and I took 11 boys, age 1 ½ (Peter) to 13 years old, to be tested for HIV. There are 3 kids with HIV at the orphanage so it’s important for the others to be screened on a regular basis, so if they do happen to get HIV they can get on ARVs quickly. The screening was done with a drop of blood, then you wait 5 minutes, if one bar shows, you’re negative, if two or more show you are positive (looks similar to a home pregnancy test). All 11 boys were negative…yay!!!!
I also had the privilege of getting a tour of Kibera with Mama Tunza as my guide. We actually ended up at Siloam orphanage (I mentioned it in a previous email, it is very very basic). I’m under the impression that having Mama T give me a tour was a pretty big deal and that she doesn't do it for just any volunteers, only the special ones.
I also snuck in a four-day safari. I was meant to go for 6, but wanted to spend my last few days with the kids, and that was the right decision by far. Don’t get me wrong, the safari was awesome and a must do in Africa, but by the end of four days I’d seen all the animals I wanted to see and was ready to get home to my darlings.
I went with my fabulously funny friend Leila from (R)Adelaide, Australia and we got linked up with 6 others. We almost didn’t make it, as our guide, Joshua got pulled over at a routine police check and almost got arrested. Leila and I tried to keep our cool as plenty of yelling in Swahili went on and then handcuffs were pulled out. We were then told by one of the cops that they were arresting Joshua, but forgiving him, as his insurance had expired. A few phone calls later (and maybe a bribe) and everyone calmed down and we went on our way.
We spent our first day in Lake Nakuru, which is famous for its flamingoes (which make the weirdest noise, kind of like thousands of orthotics squeaking in shoes!). We were fortunate to see a leopard (which I was told by a somewhat reliable source—Panda—that I likely would not see one, as they are quite rare). The next three days were spent at the Maasai Mara, where we saw: lions, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, wildebeests, water buffalos, hippos, zebras, crocs, impalas, gazelles, baboons, warthogs (Pumbas!). I’d have to say elephants were and always have been my favorite.
Right now is actually low season (in terms of tourists and animals), so while we saw lots of types of animals (including the big five: rhino, leopard, lion, elephant and water buffalo), we didn’t see them in huge volumes. The upside was that there were only a few other safari vans, so we were usually able to get in quite close to the animals. Sometimes too close, as we got to watch two lionesses and a lion feast on a freshly killed pregnant wildebeest, something I could only watch for about 3 minutes, but my fellow safariers watched for about 30!
We also visited a Maasai village, which was super interesting…the women basically do all the work, they build the houses, take care of the children, do all the housework and cooking. The young men take care of the cows (which provide them with everything…milk, blood (yes the Maasai are the cow blood drinkers), meat and dung to build the houses), while the older men pretty much make their own beer (from fruit from a sausage fruit tree…aptly named because they look like sausages) and drink it. We got to try the beer, which was horrid. Found out later that I wasn’t really suppose to try it as only older women are allowed to drink in that culture. Whoops, won’t make that mistake again! Also, on average the girls get married when they are 14, usually to a 25-year-old man. A different culture, that’s for sure!
The last three days were a bit of a whirlwind. I slept at the orphanage my second to last night, as it was finally fumigated…no more bedbugs! The last days were spent playing with the kids, being a human jungle gym, tossing around an American football. Some of the older girls discovered that my hair is awfully fun to play with and this kept them entertained for hours!
The last day was definitely sad and it was hard to say goodbye. I was touched to be given gifts from two of the girls. Asha, who was in the class I taught and is 13, gave me a silver bangle and Milker, who’s about 10 gave me one gold earring and two blue beads. I got all teary eyed; these kids really have next to no possessions and still gave me going away gifts! The younger kids don’t really understand that you are actually leaving, but maybe it’s better that way
I had Mama Tunza and about 15 of the girls walked me home. I am supposed to greet all of you from all the orphans and Mama Tunza! They also wanted some reassurance I wouldn’t forget them; I don’t see how I ever could!
So I’m sad to be gone and I miss the kids so much already. I was amazed at how quickly I felt at home in Kenya and how I could fall in love with a slum! I really wish I was spending Christmas with them, but maybe next year (I have promised and I intend to go back to Kenya at some point next year…to which most of the kids replied, so we’ll see you in January? Not quite that soon!!). I can’t say this too often, these kids are amazing, they get along so well, they are so resourceful, they are kind, funny, thoughtful and sweet.
I will say I’m glad to be gone before the Presidential election on the 27th; Kenya and Kibera could be interesting (read: dangerous) places for a short while depending on the outcome. Already in the last ten days I could feel the tension is starting to rise in Kibera, where they are a stronghold for ODM, a socialist party. The feeling in Kibera is that is ODM doesn’t win and Kibake is reelected it will be because the election is rigged (currently ODM is ahead in the polls).
It is good to be home, even though I miss Kenya tons. Still really jetlagged and a little bit culture shocked (I’m waiting for it to really hit with Christmas). I’m looking forward to catching up with many of you! Have a happy holiday and all the best wishes for the New Year!
Love Kelsey
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