Hamjambo Marafiki - feels good to use Kiswahili again! Just a note to let you know I am back in the US. Too many things were happening back here and I decided to cut my term of service short and return home. I have been in Colorado with Rusty, Shannon, Lucy and Josie, as well as Betsy and Dave. It has been good ad I don't feel like I have been out of the country for 20+ months. I traveled to see my sister Sandie in CA and am heading for the NW tomorrow for a visit with Katie and friends. I am "homeless" for now and retake my townhouse August 1. I am looking foward to getting caught up with all of you once I return to Lincoln. I do have a phone and my number is 402 613 6269. Hope this finds you all well and see you soon! Pat

I was SOOOOOOO very fortunate to be one of the 10 Peace Corps volunteers to see Vice-President Joe Biden address the American Missions in Nairobi this morning. It was an incredible experience to say the least. I guess a picture can speak a 1,000 words ---

Dear Friends and Family - I just checked my blog and it has been 2 months since I have done any updating. Pole sana. I am not sure where time has gone, but we are now in the last week of May! I will do a brief update on what has happened since March.

The rains returned - the second round of rains came sooner than expected. It rained every night for over 2 weeks and flooded the shambas. Many of the crops had to be replanted. It was incredible to sleep every night with the rains pounding on my tin roof. At least we could catch water, which of course is a process all its own. We are back in the dry season and these extremes really makes one aware of water catchment systems and how important they are.

Camp GLOW was an incredible success for the 28 girls and 10 counterparts that attended. It was amazing to see the girls transition from quiet, shy and reserved to empowered young ladies. The speakers touched on many issues of empowerment for the girl child including, self-defense, life skills, the value of education, starting and owning businesses and self-esteem. They all had the opportunity to go to work for a day with a Kenyan, professional woman. Other than us spending 10 hours on the bus transporting the girls, they had an incredible opportunity to see what they could be. Sleeping in tents was a first time experience for many of them. Food was incredible and the good news - it rained only the last night we were there! It was definitely worth all the time, effort and energy spent to make it happen.

Outdoor presentations.Doctors to be?

After spending 3 weeks in Nrb. for Camp GLOW it was a pleasure to return to site and my family here. I was greeted by Sam and Mumo (ages 4, 2) running to greet me and wheel my suitcase down the dirt lane. The suitcase was bigger than them, but they were successful. I missed being called Mutanu or Obama and seeing all the now familiar faces of my community.

I managed to get a quick, long over due trip to Loitokitok in to see Hellen and her family. She was my host family when we first arrived in Kenya. It was to reconnect with her and see the town. She definitely was a blessing and made the transition to Kenya easy. The bara bara (tarmack) is almost completed between Emali and Loit. which made the trip 3.5 hours instead of the 8 hours it took a year ago!

Hellen and Pat BFF

I completed a quilt and it seems that everyone wants it. (My attempts to teach quilting were a grand failure! Too much work). I gave it to the church I attend to auction/raffle/sell to raise money for their building fund. NOW all the ladies in the church want to know how to make one. At any rate, I hope it raises a pot full of shillings for them.

I have been needlepointing items for friends here. (Thank you Diane for all the supplies). Again, my attempts to teach the actual skill were a dismal failure. Probably not too bad, as supplies would be impossible to get here. As with the quilting, everyone wants to have a completed item, but the lack of free time makes it difficult to actually make one. There is a quilting/needlepoint shop in Nrb., but the prices are incredibly high and only the very rich can afford the prices or time to quilt.

I continue to work with the nursery school on a random basis. I miss the kids and seeing how excited they get when I come. (They know it is "play" time with Mutanu and we do have a good time).

I will be spending 5 days in Nrb this week "meeting and greeting" the 40+ new PCVs that are coming to Kenya. It will be good to re-ignited with the enthusiasm of the newbies. My adventure has been the predicted roller coaster ride. Incredible highs and dismal lows. But how is this different than life anywhere? I have enjoyed my time here and will miss my friends when I leave.

This is a quick update on my life. Let me know what has been happening with you.

Love and miss you all. Pat/Mutanu

I spent an amazing 6 days in Nairobi! I can't believe I am saying that as much as I dislike being there. I arrived on Friday and met a friend to see the Kenyan Archives which was a great look at Kenyan history. I later met more PCVs for a fine Indian dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Saturday and Sunday were meeting days to plan for Camp GLOW and iron out many details. We will have 30 campers from all over Kenya, 5 of which will be deaf, 10 counterparts to help out, 3 PCVs and 6 committee members. It will be held at the DEPOT in the outskirts of Nairobi. It is the site of the Rowallen Boy Scout Camp (which will be hosting an international scout event in June!). The camp is based on empowering young girls in Kenyan. Our chair woman, Tameisha, has been in contact with some incredible Kenyan women who will serve as presenters and mentors to the 30 campers. Two of which I had the pleasure to meet. Betty, who used to work in the corporate world has now become a well known Kenyan poet and has a troupe that performs her works through out Kenya. She has even traveled to London. This was one smart woman who has always been a feminist and leader. I was in awe of her.

Wanjiku was the other impressive woman I had the opportunity to spend time with. Tameisha and I were invited to her home for a visit and dinner. She was the provincial commissioner in Isiliyo (an upper level governmental position) and then with USAID for 16 years as their gender and development coordinator. Either of these women would put Oprah to shame they were so incredible.

The best part of the week was being invited to Ambassador Rannenberger's annual International Women's Day dinner. There were over 150 women of all walks and ages - what chance to meet some great people. I put on my best Junior League manners and met as many people as I could. There were several ex-pats who had served as PC volunteers years ago, an 84 year old American who has lived in Kenya for the better part of her life, an ambassador's secretary who has lived in at least a dozen different countries and so many more. It was a great opportunity to rub elbows with some pretty fancy folk, especially for Tameisha who would like to stay in Kenya after Peace Corps.

I have no pictures of this event to share - but the food was great, the wine was good and the evening delightful.

Friends, I have had another great Kenyan adventure. I traveled to Naivasha with another PCV, Paula, for a coupe of long overdue days of hiking. This is the third time I have attempted to climb Mt. Longonot and the weather was never cooperative. Even this trip was a bit iffy, but the rain gods smiled on us. Friday (March 26) Paula traveled to Nguluni and we spent the afternoon walking about my community and greeting my friends. Saturday was an early morning walk to Tala to catch the matatu to Thika. Since Paula had not had the "pleasure" of traveling the back roads I wanted her to have that experience. But darn! the road crews had been out and grated the roads. So much for a bumpy ride. We traveled to Thika and on to Lake Naivasha and Fish Eagle Inn, just in time to order a glass of wine and sit under an umbrella poolside before the rains came. After a few glasses of wine and a so-so hamburger we retired to the dorms for a nights rest. Got up early and headed towards Mt. Longonot. It was a bit of challenge to find the road into the gate, but we did. Had another 2 km walk to the base of the mountain and then the hike began. Mt. L. is a volcano and it is a walk up the mountain, around the crater and back down. The dark clouds were forming and I was fearing rain. Some of the "paths" lead you up a small crevice and if the rains came one would be washed away so needless to say we walked fast. Once at the top, we still had peaks to scale to get to the summit and some incredible views of the Rift Valley. Nimechoka kabisa by the time we were done. And for those who think I walk fast, Paula is even faster. We did a 7 hour hike in 4.5 hours. Once more, we dodged the rains and got back to the Inn just in time.

Mt. Longonot

View into Mt. L. Crater

Monday looked like more rain, so we decided to ride the matatu and travel to Nakuru and Nyahururu to see some country. 2 hours later we are taking lunch in Nyahururu and meeting Charles, a retired school teacher and environmentalist. He drives us to Thompson Falls and shares a bit of local history. He asks the matatu driver to stop at a certain point on our return trip to see the "best view of the Rift Valley" - and it was. It had rained lightly all day, so we were glad to be in a matatu and not on the trail.

Thompson Falls

View of Rift Valley from matatu

Tuesday was a hike into Hell's Gate, a trip down the gorge and back out on the Buffalo Circuit trail. We were hiking for over 8 hours that day. Once more, dodged the rain bullets and managed to return to the Inn before it started to rain. We met 2 young girls from Holland - medical students working in Rwanda and had a great visit with them.

Wednesday was the return trip to Nairobi and home, to wash clothes and pack my bags for another most interesting work-week in Nairobi - my next blog.

I hope all is well with all of you - I know spring must be close and that any snow that falls will not last long. Life continues to be good here.

Hugs and love to all - Mutanu (Pat)

This is not about Pat in Kenya, but what is happening back in America while I am here. I do miss the 40+ inches of snow you all have had, but not the cold weather. But the big news is how the Novak family is growing. Josephine Grace (Josie) was born last Thursday (Feb. 18) weighing in 8.2 and 19" with a fantastic head of hair.

Betsy and David have announced September wedding plans. Not sure how that will impact my PC situation, but will be there for the wedding for sure.

Life is good - traveled last weekend to the east of Mt. Kenya helping another PCV work with his group project and will have the opportunity for an actual holiday this coming weekend traveling to Mt. Longonot and Hell's Gate. The weather is a bit tricky, the rains should be over, but they aren't so we shall see.

Anyway - here's the pics of big sister Lucy and Josie and David and Betsy.

Love and hugs to all - spring is coming!

Mutanu

Nimechoka na nimechafu – kabisa! I am tired and dirty – totally. I just returned from a 10-day journey to the Coast and I am exhausted. It was a great trip in so many ways. I started my journey on Tuesday, working in the PC office trying to get as much information re: GAD (Gender and Development) and Camp GLOW (Girls Leading our World) meeting on Friday. I have a friend living in Nairobi so I spent the night and left early for Mikindu. Since I had time to spare, I walked for over an hour from my friend’s house to the staging area in town (Nairobi). I saw a lot I had whisked by in a matatu. It took a bit to find the staging (departure) area as there are so many, and so many of the streets have no signs. I knew it was by the Salvation Army and Tuskys (a grocery store). Once found, I had an hour wait until it filled and then a 3 hour “bus” ride to Makindu. Rafiki yangu (my friend) Paula is working there with the Makindu Children’s Center which helps find funding for OVCs (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) and their guardians as well as operate a primary school. She truly has a job and works 6 days a week. She is an AARP member of PC and the one I plan on hiking Mt. Longonot with at the end of this month. I stayed at the Sikh gurdwara (hostel) which was incredible. We took our afternoon chai and snack there as well. The cost was merely a donation. It is truly a sanctuary in the midst of the African desert!Sihk Temple - Mikindu

Next morning I was up and sitting on a bus to Mombasa. This was a 6 hour trip. Fortunately the Mombasa Road is well paved and there was only one stretch of road construction. Reminded me of home! Once reaching Mombas I had to alight in town, find a matatu to the ferries, cross over, catch another mat to Mtwombe and my friend Jonathan’s. The ferry is very controversible – several have sunk and during busy hours there are literally hundreds of folks pushing their way down the ramp to board. My timing was good so I avoided the “crowd”, but it was still packed. Felt like I was in a cattle herd and being pushed down the ramp. Pickpocketing is rampant so I was extra cautious! Once landing on the other side, it was another 15 minute ride to J’s site with is a NYS (National Youth Service) school where he is an IT person. His house has 3 bedrooms, huge sitting room, kitchen, indoor toilet and bath! A palatial estate and he has opened it up for PCVs who want to stay on coast.

Next morning, another mat ride to the ferry, cross over, and then a 3 hr ride to Mswembenie and Jeff’s site. He is with a camping group and ecotourism. The campsite is on a plot above the beach on the Indian Ocean. The treat here was watching Jeff greet and interact with the locals in his community. He lives in one room of compound/hotel. Takes most of his meals out and the mama at the hoteli prepares dinner for him every night. He has an hour ride to get to his posta and beinki.

Pat and Jay - Indian Ocean Gede RuinsOn to Sharuimoyo. We had to leave Jeff’s site by 6 to make sure I was on the early mat. to Ukunda to catch the bus to Mombasa in time to catch the matatu to the next stage! Even if I was at the stage, we could wait for a period of time for the mat. to fill, or on the other end, it could already be filled and there would be no room for me. Yikes, did I feel the pressure of what I had no control over. The travel gods were smiling and all went well. Five hours later I arrived at PCV Mary site late afternoon and had a 20 -30 min. walk UP hill to her housing. She is a public health volunteer and often times they are placed in remote areas. Her house is 2 rooms and a kitchen with sketchy running water. But she has no stima (electricity) but she has adapted well. Hopefully they will be able to hook up in the near future as the poles and lines are in place. Mary is another AARP PCV so we had much to talk about. Saturday we went to the Gede ruins near Watamu. Built in 13th Century and abandoned 400-500 years later. Traveled to Malindi for lunch, Kalifi for grocery shopping and then back to Shaurimoyo. After a great meal, a bottle of wine, birthday calls from children it was a full day. Sunday we went to Timboni beach with Jay, one of Mary’s Kenyan friends, saw another PCV site on the beach (ecotourism again), back home for an early start to Wongoni the following day. Pat, PCV John, John - Taita HillsTravel to Voi was easy (4 hours) – the 2-hour, 24 mile ride to Wongoni was on the worst road I have ever been on. I will never again complain about potholes in the US. How the matatu driver made is beyond me, but I am glad he did! We kept climbing up, up and view was incredible. I am now in the Taita Hills. PCV John works with another ecotourism group. We walked around his village, truly a village with no stima at all, and saw the 3 hotelis, and small dukas (shops) ,one bar and many traditional African homes. The next day, we hiked for 8-9 hours in the Taita hills with one of his counterparts and Isiah, a friend and guide. Unfortunately there are no trails and we got “off” trail only once and I was not sure what was going to happen. It was a bushwacking adventures. We talked about what they needed to do to make it a successful hikers destination. My legs still hurt. Next day, back down the hill (slightly faster), and back to Nairobi.

The adventure gave me an idea of what other PCVs are doing, how they are living and how difficult travel can be for some of them. Me, I have it easy. I have water and stima, easy access to food and travel and a paved road to Nairobi. Everyone is having hiis/her own work and living experience. This trip put a lot into perspective for me and made me realize how good I have it here.

It also made me realize how hard it will be to share my PCV adventure as so much of it is internal and personal.

I hope this finds you all well and enduring the winter in Nebraska. Spring is just around the corner! Love and hugs to all. Mutanu (aka Pat)

I just realized it has been well over a month since I have updated my blog - probably because not too much has happened to report on from here. Christmas was quiet. Although I had invitations to join people, nothing was definite in natures, so I stayed home and was with my compound family and their extended families. It was nice. Mumo and Sam (almost) replaced playing with Lucy and all of the families kept bringing me food. It was definitely more than I could eat, but in traditional American style, I stuffed myself on pilau, chapiti and mboga (rice, chapati, vegetables. I had baked 11 cakes to give as gifts. It was great! When I usually bake a cake I take a slice for my self and divey up the remainder so they at least get a taste - but to get a whole cake was awesome! Took me two days and a lot of charcoal to complete the task, but it was so much fun to see their faces it was worth the effort. I included a cake for my neighborhood children who had never tasted anything like it before. These are the kids, that the mamas are often gone and there is no baba in sight. These are the kids taking care of kids and are not in school. A sad sight. Fortunately there are many intack families around as well. Not much different than what one might find in America.

I am planning on traveling to the coast next week for a GAD (Gender and Development) meeting to plan the Camp GLOW which occurs in April. I am taking extra days to see other PCVs along the way as well as the Eastern part of Kenya. My PC experience has been limited to my site and Nairobi for the most part so this is an opportunity I cannot miss. I am somewhat fearful about traveling by myself, catching the right matatu to get from point A to point B, but since I am staying with PCVs every night I at least have a specific destination and place to stay. I have it planned that I travel only during the day - basically because PC prohibits traveling at night! It will be a great way to see another part of Kenya as well as seeing what other PCVs are doing and how they are living. But I know it will be HOT and HUMID there. How do you back for 10 days in one small back pack? (Clean underwear and a toothbrush I am thinking).

My attempts to teach quilting continue. I re-cycled the pieces we assembled last term and had the students repeat what we had done. We have only 5 students in the program right now so this is a good chance to assemble in a circle, quilt and "talk" as it be. We actually completed all the squares and have them joined so they can see what the end product should be like. I am having them do one square by hand and another on the machines. They are not fond of handwork - takes too long! I have become friends with a man who owns a fabric shop in Tala and he is most interested in what I am doing. He teaches during the week, so I am trying to connect with him on the weekends. As always, who knows what will become of this.

I have not connected with the Environment club at the secondary school for a while, as they have been on break. Hopefully that will resume in the coming months. They have planted maize amongst the trees we planted earlier. The rains have been good so all looks well.

Camp GLOW will take up a lot of my time in the next couple of months. It is a camp to empower young women in Kenya. Our leader, Tameisha Henry, is doing a great job of doing all the hard work of connecting with partners and sponsors. This is our meeting next week - to actually plan the events of the camp. So if you have any ideas of any activities (however small) for community building, empowerment, blah, blah, blah let me know.

I think this catches you up to date on my life in Kenya. It is well, not terribly exciting and I continue to wonder about the impact/change I will leave behind. But I am having a good time in the process. I have received photos showing the amount of snow on the ground in NE - brrrrr. It just looks cold and overwhelming. Stock up on movies, books, food and wine in case you get snowed it. Then kick back and enjoy the forced r&r.

I hope this finds you all well. I love hearing from you, so "good job, keep it up - try another day". I miss you all.

From Nguluni - Mutanu (aka Pat)

Holiday greetings from Nguluni to all my friends and family in the States. I cannot believe this will be my second Christmas celebrated in Africa and that I am on the downhill side of my service to Peace Corps. It has been an adventure in so many ways and one that I am grateful to have undertaken. I have learned so much (mostly about me) and only hope to retain my insights when I return home. My friends in Nguluni have helped fill voids, but there is nothing like being surrounded by family and friends during the holiday season. I wish you all the best for 2010.

Our follow-up World Aids Day event is OVER and I consider it a success. I think we reached over 500 members of the community and hopefully tested a large number of them. We are waiting to find out how many were tested. I am including only a few of the 100's of pictures taken. I had 5 PCVs come from their sites to help and it was great having them here for moral support and just to help. I cannot thank them enough.

2010 will be busy, which is good as it will help the months fly by. Jan 3-6 I will be busy with the GAD (Gender and Development) auction in Nairobi to raise funds for Camp GLOW. It will be held at the US Ambassadors house where the swearing in of the new volunteers take place. The end of January I hope to travel to the coast (Mombasa) for a GAD/Camp GLOW planning meeting and to celebrate my medicare birthday with other PCVs. February and March will be a long over due trip to Loitokitok to see Mama Hellen (my hostess for our 2 months training) and a trip to Mt. Longonot and the Aberderes with some other AARP members of PC. I am looking foward to both. April will be Camp GLOW for a week. This is a camp for young girls (13-18) to empower them and encourage them in their life choices. I am really looking forward to this. After that, who knows.

Sandwiched in amongst all of this I will continue to work with KVTC, the nursery school and the environmental club at the secondary school. I have met some incredible people who give a face to the hope of Kenya.

Most of you know, Rusty (aka Russ these days) and Shannon (Baba and Mama Lucy) are expecting another baby in February. I am saddened to miss the event, and only hope to make up for lost time when I return. I was able to skype them last week and it was a treat to see Russ and Shannon and see Lucy in action. Ohioan cousins, Dick and Linda were in Kenya last week on safari. Fortunately they had a stay in Nanyuki at the base of Mt. Kenya so I traveled there to see them. It was a great visit. Besides, the Lodge was absolutely fantastic and the food was incredible.

I had mid-service medical and dental and all is good. I am so grateful that I have remained healthy and have had no problems.

Life continues to be good here. I enjoy every day and try to adjust/overlook those areas that would normally cause me stress.

So here are a few pictures of the WAD event to close with. I do wish you all a great and happy holiday season.

Ninapenda wote Mutanu (I love you all, Pat)

In August at a permaculture workshop I learned how to plant a gunia (gunney sack) shamba (garden). The purpose of this is a means to provide a ready source of food for PWLA (people living with aids). If planted outside their home they can easily pick sukuma (kale) or spinach without having to walk any distance. I planted one outside my door, with the help of some neighbor children. We have taken 3 meals from my shamba - the deal is - my neighbors pick and cook, and give me kidogo (a little). One more win-win situation in Nguluni! I recently had the opportunity to share this with the new PCV's at their IST (in-service training) and decided it was time to share with you. All it really is, is container gardening, Kenyan style. I will be working with friends from the HCLC (support groups for PLWA) next year and try to plant several out in the interior for people in need.

All continues to go well in Kenya - the rains have subsided a bit which has me worried. I am told they will continue. It would disheartening to have a 3 month rainy season last only 3 weeks when the crops are looking so good right now. Once more our town has failed to pay the water bill, so it is back to hiring someone to go to the well to fetch water for me.

We are moving forward with the follow up World Aids Day community event - a lot a work, but great fun meeting the "hoop-di-doos" of the community. Hoping it is a major success.

Think of you all often - miss you all, but am so glad I am here. Happy holidays - and eat some turkey for me.

Mutanu (Pat)

Step 1 - Collect the stones to put in the bottom of the gunia. Fill the center "pipe" with stones to help with watering. The center pipe is removed and only stones remain - this filters the water to the sides.

Step 2 - go to the nearest burn pit to dig the soil.

Step 3: carry to soil to the where the gunia is to be

planted. Step 4: (below) plant the seeds in any broken basin, box or whatever!

Step 5: (Right) transplant seedlings to gunia and finally - a GUNIA with sukuma! YUM.

These are just some of marafiki zangu (my friends) in Nguluni.Sorry about the placement, Siku moja (1 day) I will figure this out!    Mutanu

 

A few folks have asked about the rains and the name Mutanua - so hope to clarify both at the same time.  We are now in the long rainy season for Kenya - September through December, but the rains are a month late and those "in the know" are predicting heavier than usual rains.  So just like any other drought, it is slowly coming to an end.  Unfortunately, there are very few ways to store the excess water that comes with these heavy rains.  Cachment systems are only for those with /= (shillings).  The fields are slowly showing new, green growth and the temperatures have cooled a bit.  People are frantically planting in the shambas (fields).  This is another blog as I spent part of Tuesday helping my friend plant mahindi and maharagwe (corn an beans) while trying not to get stuck in the mud!

Now for Mutanu.  That is my kikamba name.  Kikamba is the mother tongue of the people in this region, the Kamba.  I was given the Maasi name of Naishiba in Loitokitok by my host mama and it means "person who is always happy".  Mutanu is the same, only in kikamba.  Now for those who know me well may be thinking "This is PAT?"  Well, yes it is and for the most part I try to live up to my name on a daily basis!  There is so much to enjoy and treasure here that it is easy to do.  I have relinquished all (well, most) expectations from folks so do not get too upset when things do not happen as planned.

People have many names here Wambua - born in the rainy season, Mutua - people who have been here for many years, etc.   It is Mama Sam or Baba Sam, never Josephine or Francis, their given names.  I never know what to call any person.

Okay, short but sweet.  I am planning on updating on the weekends, so look look for the blog on my quilting class on Sunday.  Hopefully with any degree of regularity you will remember to check my blog to see what is happening in Nguluni!  

siku njema, kwa heri,   Mutanu

I was supposed to travel with a friend to Mt. Longonot and Hell's Gate for a couple of days of hiking in the great Kenyan outdoors - but then the rains came!  I was planning on leaving on Friday about noon to ride a matatu to an area called 14 Falls and then onto the Lake Navisha region.  About noon, just as I was getting ready to leave for the staging area I received a phone call - "Raining cats and dogs here -what do you want to do?"  It had rained all night in Nguluni, but the day was sunny - I am thinking let's go - it will be okay.  Then I pictured the mud road to 14 Falls - the deep ruts would be filled with water and the solid soil would now be mud.  In a moment of sanity, I said "let's cancel and go after the rainy season!"  A smart choice.  It has rained every night - torrential downpours and the dirt roads are now mud.  But the fields are looking greener and the livestock have smiles on their faces knowing that there will be food for a while.  I guess I can sacrifice hiking for much needed rain!

As I was unable to be hiking yesterday, I went to the local secondary school and helped plant 400 trees on the school compound with the environmental club.  Barclay's Bank worldwide sent 30 representatives as part of their international "Make a Difference Day".  They had presenters talk about careers, motivation and of course HIV/Aids.  I met with representatives of the Green Belt Movement here and best of all I made 2 new friends - Edna and Grace.  Two Form 2 students.  We talked about their hopes and dreams and how they might achieve them.   There were over 200 students present for this event and it was great!  Hence, the silver lining in these here rain clouds!

I understand snow has come and gone - I hope it is not a sign of long, hard winter for you.  But boys and girls,  can you say "global warming"?  The rains are a month late in coming to Kenya and they are predicting major flooding in many areas.  Oh well, no controversial subjects in this blog.  

All in all, life in Nguluni continues to be good and a different adventure every day.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be here, but miss friends and family terribly.

kwa herini - Mutanu

Here are some photos of my students working on their quilt squares.  Note the iron box!  They manage to do pretty darn good work with little to work with.  Their squares are really turning out to be quite colorful as they share their scraps with each other.  These are great girls (and the token male) and a lot of fun to work with.

If you double click on the photos you are able to enlarge them.

For the past 3-4 weeks I have been working with the Garment Making students at Kenbric, attempting to teach them the concept and techniques of Quilting!  Since most of the students have limited English and broken Kiswahili and I have no Kikamba, you can imagine the challenges I am facing!  Even after showing them pictures of quilts I had made, and photos from magazines, they had no idea of what the purpose of this assignment was all about.  Finally, my counterpart came into the class room and talked about making bedsheets from scraps of material and how beautiful they could be.  Somehow he managed to get them to understand the outcome and now most are interested and curious about what we are doing.  

We started by practicing making small stitches - you can hear me say "kidogo, kidogo" a lot!  They are not used to 1/4" seam allowances or sewing with only one strand of thread so I am changing much of they learned!  But in the end, the small hand stitches will make their garment making even better. (I hope).  I give them quilting needles at the start of class, collect them when class is over - that way they are available for the next session.  They are amused to see me use a needle threader - but I will not give that up!  I bring 2 pairs of scissors  with me, the ones they use really could not cut the proverbial butter.  They measure using a ruler or tape measure, mark off the 1/4" for the seam allowance and I try to get them to sew along that line.  I have shown them the tape we use, but since it not available here they cannot use it.  It has been difficult to get them to cut exact sizes of squares or rectangles and to measure as they go.  With one iron box it is hard to kupiga pasi (iron) as each section is joined.  There will be a Kenyan style of quilting that will actually work by the end of this term.

I have taken to enlarging the patterns (good friend Nancy J sent a calendar of 365 squares) and coloring in the various pieces.  Trying to make step-by-step instructions on paper so that this project will be "sustainable" (A BIG PC word).  I have to make each square ahead of time so that I can make sure my measurements are accurate.  That is my task for this afternoon.

Most of the students are really enjoying this new skill, a few absolutely hate it.  It takes too much time and patience for them.  Not much difference between students here and in the US.  I am hoping that soon the students will be able to put enough squares together to actually have a small quilt to take home with them.  With any luck, this class will continue with the new term that starts in January and the first years now can help the new students and life will be easier.

 

After struggling for many days (and even weeks) asking myself the age-old PC question "Why am I here?" I think I finally heard an answer.  I was sitting outside my compound visiting with Mama Sam and answering her never ending questions about this very issue and I heard her say "You will make such a difference in the children you are working with.  You cannot leave because now people are starting understand why a mzungu would come to Kenya with no pay to help our people.  They will understand that we can help each other too!"  

As I think back on my 9 months at site and what I had hoped to accomplish and compare it to what I have actually accomplished I have two totally different lists.  I came to my site knowing I would make a difference - I would bring the accounting records of my school into the 21st century, and I would figure out ways to improve the bottom line of this business and solve all their financial problems and I would influence the students to LEARN and know the value of learning!  Boy was I wrong.

I have computerized the financial records, but to what avail.  The drought is impacting everyone in this area so no one is able to pay their school fees, so there is very little money to account for.  I plan on working on the computer, but in Kenya Powers' plan to ration electricity, this is the day they shut off power in my community!  My students, as great as they are, have limited English and a moderate level of Kiswahili and therefore speak mostly in their mother tongue - Kikamba.  I roll my eyes, and continue on in my Kimuzungu (part English, part Kiswahili) and hope they understand just a bit of what I have been saying.  Karibu Kenya.

I walk to work from my humble home and am greeted by dozens of school age children saying "Obama" and extended closed hands to meet mine.  One little runs hears the sound from afar and actually runs the equivalent of several blocks in her bare feet, over rocky, dirty streets to greet me.  That is why I am here.  I visit my ex-neighbor who is "bankrupt".  Her husband is another city going to teacher's college, she is left with her two children and no money.  It's okay because they know they will be better and are willing to make the sacrifice now.  I buy unga, mafuta, sukari, kabichi, viazi, vitunga (flour, fat sugar, cabbage, potatoes, onion) and have her cook chapati and cabbage for me.  I leave 2/3s with her family so they can eat.  They are so grateful.  That is why I am here.  The children in my compound have improved their math skills by playing simple games, tossing bottle caps into rings (drawn with chalk) and scoring their points.  That is why I am here.  My 11 year old neighbor needs help with math.  She is a good student, but struggles with math.  I invite her in and tutor her and dividing fractions and working with decimals.  (Granted, I needed to take a quick look at the book to review!)  That is why I am here.

So maybe, it is not what I planned on doing that is making a difference.  Maybe it just the fact that I am here that is making a difference.   I don't know, and may never know, what kind of a difference I have made in anyone's life, but I hope that there is even just a little.  

View on descent from summit

A view of our "destination" - the summit

Sunrise from the summit

Sunrise from the summit

Where we went!

Camp Moses - first night on the mountain

First of 4 nights on the mountain  w/friend Allen

First day's hike - uphill all the way

the PCVs + guides + porters + cook = successful journey!

August has been an incredibly busy month in Kenya – and a lot of fun!  Hopefully I will be able to update you on the most difficult adventure I have ever had – EVER!  The week of August 15, 8 PC volunteers climbed Mt. Kenya – a height of 4,985 M or 16,355 feet.  I thought I was in good shape, but the high altitude kicked me hard.  But we all made it to the top to see the sunrise, even if it meant leaving camp at 2:30 in the morning!  We were on the mountain 6 days, sleeping in tents and being well taken care of by our porters and guides.  I was the only one to hire a personal porter – how the others toted their 30-40 pound packs is beyond me.  I am grateful to have had Robert carry mine for me!  I am just going to include pictures to give you a taste of the adventure.  Even the photos do not do the scenery justice, nor do they show the difficulty of the “hike”.  I am so grateful to have done this adventure.  Once more, you can see I have not figured out the photo situation in the blog, but you can get the idea of where we were!    

My Bedroom & Mosquito nettingTinroof ceiling (noisy if and when it rains)Precious jerry canMy kitchen sinkMy Kitchen

My sitting room (Note Yoga rug and chondos (baskets)

Corridor/Laundry room of my compound

Well folks, this is the best I can do today.  Will work more on layout another time.  But this is how I am living these days.  LOVE IT.  

  July 7, 2009  (as a heads up, some test photos were put on my last blog, LUCY, my house, kids lighting jiko) in case you were wondering where they came from.  This has been a interesting learning experience! Here we go folks – my first attempt at putting some photos on this here blog.  I finally bit the bullet and purchased bamba-net, an internet connection so now I can be oneline without having to go to the cyber café.  I don’t know if this is a good thing or not, but hoping it allows for better communication with folks back home and staying more current with this blog.  Things are going well at school and we are hoping to host a World Aids Day (Dec. 1) event in the town, focusing on youth and prevention.  Hopefully we can organize it and make it happen.  Finding time for my counterparts to work on it will be difficult as they are usually busy in the classroom and dealing with all other school issues.  I hope to involve some of the other HIV/Aids groups to share the work load and involve as many folks as possible. My first attempt at photos will be focusing on the school and the students.  I will give you a brief update on the “sewing supplies” adventure.  As many of you know, and some of you actually participated in it, 2 giant boxes of sewing and craft supplies were sent.  At first it presented a dilemma, how to best distribute them to make sure the most people got the most of them over the longest period of time.  I finally came to realize it DIDN’T MATTER and turned over the majority of the sewing supplies to the school.  I have been the monitor of them – had to count (220) zips, 200+ spools of thread, and sort and tie together buttons.  Each day students will come and get what they need for the garment they are making, return unused thread at the end of the day so it will be available for the next days class.  I sometimes think – “I have 2 masters degrees and I am counting thread  and sorting buttons!”, but then realize it is a perfect opportunity to interact with the students and get to know them better.  In reality, it has been fun. Don’t want to make this a long dissertation, but hoping to successfully post one photo to test the waters.  Let me know if this works or not!   As always, thinking of you.  Just to make it interesting – it is COLD here.  Had 2 long sleeved shirts on today and am sleeping in my down sleeping bag!  Enjoy the summer heat and humidity in NE.    

The door to my nyumbani ("house")

Neighbor kids jiko ("charcoal stove")

June 7, 2009

It has been over a month since I have updated this blog – pole sana. It just seems like the days fly past and I have nothing accomplished! Much like life in the US. Today is Lucy’s first birthday, so I thought it fitting and appropriate to write an update. I cannot believe I am missing her first birthday, but know all the other grandparents will take good care of her. When I was in Nairobi I found 2 story books which have great drawings and are written in both English and Kiswahili – Know they are a bit old for her now, but will enjoy reading them to her when I return. I baked a chocolate cake today and will celebrate Lucy’s birthday from Kenya with my neighbors. I had the compound kids draw birthday cards for her which I hope she enjoys. I know the kids had fun drawing them. They kept singing “Happy Birthday to Lucy” as they worked. So darn cute.

Life just continues on – we have not had city water since mid-April and the wells are running low. I had 100 L delivered last Sunday and will need another 100 today. Good thing I don’t mind wearing my clothes several times before washing. As always, drinking water is first! The bad thing is the crops are failing and food prices are rising. I marvel at how people feed their families on so little. I am grateful to be able to buy whatever I need, and often times just what I want.

I am settling into my work schedule and finding outside opportunities. Right now I am teaching an Introduction to Business class once a week and will start quilting classes soon. I will eventually take over the “Reproductive Health” class – whatever that means. Sure hope they provide me with a curriculum! You are not even allowed to mention the word condoms in classes unless students bring them up. A large focus is on making good choices, HIV/Aids prevention and just growing up. Not too different from the classes in America.

I have started to attend some HCLC (Health Center and Community Link Committee) meetings which consists of 12 groups and/or representatives concerned with HIV/Aids. We traveled to Athi River last week to have a joint meeting with their HCLC and went door to door asking if individuals had been tested or knew their status. The stigma of being HIV+ is HUGE and is a real deterrent to being tested for many. I learned how much I have to learn about Aids in Africa. I am hoping to do some home visits with Marita, a friend from Nguluni and learn more about what is happening around my community. There are so many stories – some disheartening and others incredibly uplifting. There are many individuals living with being HIV+ and leading normal/healthy lives. There is hope. I will be attending a support group meeting for guardians of children orphaned by Aids. I am hoping that in some small way I will be able to provide help to them. Many need to develop “IGAs” – income generating activities – and maybe this is where I can help them find a way. Peace Corps did a great job educating us in this area – now it is just being clever enough to implement what I have learned.

World Aids Day is December 1 and it would be a great opportunity to organize a community awareness day and educate the community about the importance of being tested. We shall see.

I need and want to thank all of you who contributed to my “clean out your sewing basket” campaign. I have received the first box and was amazed and delighted at what I found inside. (Not to mention the M&Ms which I did NOT share). Kenbric VTC trains tailors and dressmakers, but the students have few supplies so when I asked Karyl Newman to organize a collection she did and you all came through with flying colors. I am trying to decide how to best disburse the items, so that the students will be the main beneficiaries of your generosity. I am also thinking of ways to utilize some of them for IGAs with the HIV/Aids support groups. I will keep you posted on how they are used.

The M&Ms by the way – were consumed in a couple days of “stress” eating – Not a good thing. I continue to cook relatively healthy foods, but there are days a greasy hamburger sure sounds good. Next trip to Nairobi and Java House – Burger, fries and milk shake! I make chapatti when I crave bread, but only make 2 or 3 at a time. So good with peanut butter and jam! I actually found popcorn at the supermarket and popped some today for an extra special treat!

I have been trying to keep up with Kiswahili lessons, but my tutor and I are both getting busy and finding it hard to find time to meet. She loaned me several storybooks to read and one of the teachers at school is good enough to listen to me read out loud (without laughing too much) and correct my pronunciation. I read one to my 7 year old neighbor, she will be a good mentor (not too judgmental about my pronunciation) and the plus side is she enjoys being read to. I have yet to figure out how they string 4 or 5 words together into one 15 letter word! And then remembering e’s sound like a’s, and i’s are e’s. And nya---, mbo--- and ng’---- don’t make any recogonizable sound to me at all!

I spent a weekend in Machakos for a Kenyan Sign Language workshop. A PCV is at the school for the deaf there and we worked with her students and PC KSL educators. It was a great deal of fun, and then she reminded us of the importance of knowing some basics in case we encounter a deaf individual who is in need of help. It really put things in perspective for me – and the importance of being able to communicate wherever you are, being deaf, or American in Kenya, or Kenyan in America and how frightening it must be to not be able to communicate. It seems like opportunities for learning and growing are everywhere – it’s just taking the time to recognize them.

There is not much exciting news from here so will close for the time being. It may be several days before I can get to the Cyber Café to post this. Just know I think of you often and wonder how you all are doing. Just take care of yourselves! I do not miss not knowing the news or listening to the political commentary – I catch snippets on the BBC and am pleased that Obama continues to have integrity, character and is working hard to improve America’s image. You all take care, continue to stay in touch and keep me posted on what is happening in your daily lives. Nashukuru.

Siku njema na kwa hereini. Ninakosa yote sana. Mutanu

April 27, 2009 WE HAVE HAD RAIN ALL DAY - WHAT A TREAT!

Greetings from Nguluni – Another long period of no rain, even though it is the start of the rainy season. I returned after two weeks of Peace Corps training in Nairobi to find out there has been no water anywhere in the town for over two weeks. Seems like the pump to the town is “broken”. I have had to have water delivered twice in two days as I had 2 weeks of laundry, a dirty house and drinking water to think about. The well water looks rather sketchy – sure hope PUR holds up to its reputation of being able to purify any water! Even the well is low and the fetchers are raising their rates for collecting water and delivering it to homes. Why not – a great opportunity to earn a few extra shilingi and fetching water from a 20 foot well is not my idea of fun. I’ve tried it and it is darn hard work.

Two weeks in Nairobi is LONG. We had meetings everyday from 8 – 5. It was great to see all my fellow PCVs and find out what they are up to at their sites. It is amazing how we are all on the same roller coaster of emotions and experiences even though we are miles apart. It seems like all are enjoying the Peace Corps experience and the opportunities to travel around Kenya.

Now that I am “official” I plan on doing a bit of traveling with a few other PCVs. I am not one to travel here by my self, so am trying to organize a couple of adventures. There is the wildebeest migration in the Maasi Mara in July and August, and a trip to Hell’s Gate, a hike/bike around a crater are in the plans. While in Nairobi I met another non-traditional volunteer and I plan to travel to her site for a weekend visit.

If I can get in shape I am going to hike Mt. Kenya – definitely taking whatever anti-altitude sickness meds are available. I understand there are various trails of varying difficulty, but the altitude will get you regardless of the route you take. I had very little exercise in Nairobi, and zero yoga/mediation. Now I am trying to get back into that routine. I actually bought a 4 x 6 rug so now I have something to do yoga on that will last. I gave my foam pad, as ripped as it was, to my neighbor for her son to sleep on.

I have had more fun playing with the kids in my compound – today we started to learn to play jacks. Quite the challenge using a pop bead as the ball and small stones as the jacks. I do have a small ball, but it is more fun to see what they can come up with to play with. We have been tracing body outlines with chalk with the children proudly writing their names on the chests. I love to see the smiles that these simple things bring to the kids. This is the reason I am here.

I missed my community when I was gone for the 2 weeks, and was greeted with smiles and yells of “Mutanu” when I returned to town. Even the mamas in my community came running to greet me. I think I am the entertainment in this community and when I am gone there is no one to laugh at/with. I think this is the Peace Corps experience I want to be having.

I have one more week off before classes start and I need to return to work. I have met a wonderful woman in the community, a retired nurse who has a health clinic, and she is taking me to meet the hoop-de-doos at the district level. From there, I hope that I can determine a HIV/Aids project to work on in my community. I will start attending first Thursday meetings of a group of 10-12 organizations that deal with HIV/Aids in town to see what I can help with. This is an area that scares me a lot – not that I might catch it, but my total ignorance as to the depth and despair that it has on Africa. Even though Peace Corps provided us with a font of information during training, it is still overwhelming.

One of the sites we visited in Nairobi is a recycling center. Plastic bags are everywhere – litter is a part of every landscape, but there are some folks trying to correct this. My community has had clean-ups in the past, but no one has organized one in a long time. Another project to look into to. Anyway, the point is, this recycling center in Nairobi collects clean plastic bags, gives them to weavers who make them into great baskets. So if my community can collect and clean bags, they should be able to make a few shilingi by selling them – or even better have some mamas learn how to weave and make the baskets to sell.

Some of the projects others are working with are beekeeping, harvesting butterflies, tree planting, irrigation, farming practices and on and on. If someone could figure out how to turn dust into water – they would make a fortune and save a nation.

As a reminder, my mailing address is:

Pat Novak, PCV

c/o Kenbric Vocational Training Centre

PO Box 539

Tala 90131

Kenya

The Peace Corps address in Nairobi has changed, so mailing to Tala is the best way to go. I appreciate all the cards and letters you have sent – it makes my day when I walk to the posta and there is something waiting for me! I finally received Katie’s Christmas package (mailed Dec. 8) last week. The biscotti was still edible and the M&Ms tasty!

My best to all of you in the US – from my little township in Kenya. Life continues to be good. Kwa hereni.

An early morning ps – we had rain last night! Basins and buckets were put out again to catch the water falling from the roof. It has now stopped, but hopefully will start up again today. I will gratefully don my clean tennis shoes and walk to Tala in the rain! Take care my friends.

Today is the first day of my stay in Nguluni. Amazing that I can say that after having been in this community for almost 4 months. BUT, I managed to pass the language proficiency test today – over the phone no less! I know I know more Kiswahili than I showed on the exam, but now I can continue to learn and use the language and have it be FUN rather than an obstacle to overcome. I cannot express the relief I am feeling. I now feel like I can start projects and become more involved in the community I live. Up until now I have been reluctant to do much of anything except go to work, study KSW and walk! Never did want to start something I could not finish!

Over all, not much has happened in here since I last reported. Over the weekend, my school was robbed – for the third time in 6 months. Only one sewing machine was taken, but that machine was used in the workshop to sew school uniforms and generate income for the school. Now the challenge is to find a location to build their own facility. Always financing comes into play as well. The students will be on break for the next month, so hopefully Mr. Mutua and Mr. Keli and I can brainstorm and come up with some ideas.

I have several ideas popping up – quilting classes for HIV/Aids people, cooking classes for the community (we have a great PC cookbook using a jiko la makaa (charcoal)). I have tried some of the cakes and breads and they are great! Just need someone to lite the ^&*()_ jiko for me. Never did master that skill, but what the hey – I got through KSW, the jiko will not beat me. My neighbors all like my baking, and I think there might be a small market for classes. Just charge enough per person to cover buying the ingredients. Who knows, I may be the next Julia Childs of Kenya.

The weather here is HOT during the days – so enjoy your cool days. This is just like

August in NE with less humidity. We have had no rain for many weeks, electricity is sketchy on many days. Gets dark about 7, you will find me in bed about 7:15! Am getting some good sleep here – and it will only be better since I hope NOT to wake up in the middle of the night thinking of KSW verb tenses and noun classes.

Our PCV group will be meeting in Nairobi for 2 weeks in April. Days filled with training, but it will be nice to see everyone and find out what they are doing. I was in Muikirini (by Mt. Kenya) a couple of weeks ago for a language workshop with 3 other PCV. Watched the Bourne trilogy every night-but can honestly say I do not miss TV as much as thought I would. The area we were at is so different from here – hilly, green, and cool and you can see the mountain. Just whet my whistle for traveling the future.

That is about all the news from Kenya – hopefully I will have more to report, on a more regular basis now that I am not totally obsessed by the language challenge.

Continue to stay in touch – I check e-mails once a week and would love to hear from you. Snail mail is always a treat.

Hope you a all surviving the stock market roller coaster, politics in USA and just life in general. Take care

Kwa Heri kutoka Kenya - Mutanu (kikamba for “happy person)

February 25‐ Much has happened in the past 3 weeks, although it seems like nothing has happened. Two weeks ago, the younger brother of Mr. Mwema (carpentry teacher at Kenbric) was killed riding his bicycle along with another young man. The driver (possibly a DUI) lost control of his vehicle and hit the 2 boys. It has been very sad around the school. Saturday we traveled as a “family of Kenbric” to visit the family. There were many people there, and I understand in this culture, those who visit bring maize, beans, flour as well as some funds. This helps the family pay for the funeral and provide food for the many visitors. This will go on until the actual funeral. The funeral is this Thursday, and we will attend as a group. I think the students will also be attending and so it should be a very interesting experience. We did not have school on Thursday or Friday because it was mid‐term break. I ended up walking to Mr. Kelly’s shamba (farm/garden) with him and his wife Veroncia and baby Felix. It was about a 45 minute walk. We harvested the little maize that was there. We were picking the smallest cobs – those that we in America would not bother with, because as Mr. Kelly said: “there might be one kernel” there and that is food. There is a definite food shortage in Kenya, and his expression really hit home. Several weeks ago, the government was offering relief maize. Their office is right by mine, so I could see many people lining up a 7 am, waiting patiently until 11 to receive a small bag of maize. It progressed in an orderly fashion and the patience of the people really impressed me. I feel somewhat guilty being able to splurge on peanut butter, fruits, vegetables and what ever I want. PCV are on a very tight budget so I really do watch my shilingi! I have not had to purchase anything of great cost yet, so I am trying to save for that day. Once I start to travel to different spots, it will be even tighter. The city of Nguluni neglected to pay its water bill, so the entire town has had no water for almost a week. People have being going to a nearby well to fetch water. I have about 20 L left, but my landlord is going to have his wife bring me some from the well today. I will pay her 20 bob (10 cents) for her efforts and it will be worth every penny! There has been a procession of people going to the well with every imaginable container every day. I was told the well would not go dry – I only hope that is true. Just another touch of reality of life in Kenya. We are all hoping water returns soon! Sunday, I traveled to 14 Falls near Thika with my new friend Alan. I walked to the college where he works and we went on to Tala for Chai before catching a matatu to Thika. We were early and got to ride in the front seat. It was a 90 minute, not too bumpy ride. More chai, but now with chapiti as we waited for Alan’s friend Steve, a local, to meet us. We then walked to 14 falls (about 20 minutes) and had to pay 300/= ($4) to get in. This was a lot more than either Alan or I expected to pay. The falls were nice, the water really dirty, so any thought of jumping in was quickly dismissed. It was just pleasant to sit outside and listen to the water falling. I had fun listening to Alan ad Steve talk in KSW and was pleased that I could pick up more

JANUARY 31 – Just a quick update on life in Nguluni. I am finally settling into my work, although at times there isn’t any! You know me, I don’t sit well doing nothing. I am trying to take advantage of that time to learn a new word or two. I have put the schools accounting records on Excel spreadsheets and am trying to keep them updated on a regular basis. I just helped develop a budget for the school for 2009 – should be interesting to see if they can reach their enrollment goals with the Kenyan economy in such dire straights. I am in the process of writing an Introduction to Business class for the students, paring down those debits and credits to money in and money out! Forget the concept of time value of money, depreciation or even bank statements. I will teach this class to all students and help them with a business plan for their specific vocation.

The teachers in Kenya are on strike, the government is not paying them, and in some areas it is becoming violent. I need to listen to BBC more and find out what is going on. My Ksw tutor is a primary school teacher so I am sure she is happy to have the extra income working with me. We have about 20 PCV teachers across Kenya, and they are NOT allowed to work because of the potential violence. I will try and communicate with them to find out what their take is on the strike. I am taking advantage of Mama Sharon and having my KSW lessons in the morning. At least my brain sorta functions then! Yesterday she went to Tala with me to help make some big purchases for my home. White skin = $$$$$, so it helped to have her with me to barter down the prices.

I met Allen, a VSO who is actually teaching computer classes at Holy Rosary College and met one of the accounting instructors as well. He lives on campus with the nuns and seems to have it fairly cushy. I am really settling in to my 2 little rooms, crying babies and fun neighbors. I am woken every morning about 5 by the Muslim call to prayer. Interesting way to start my day. This is when I am trying to “calm” my active mind and meditate. Not very successful so far, but am NOT giving up.

I stocked up on fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and jelly and even oatmeal! Fifty cents for a FRESH pineapple, 25 for a large mango and carrots and onions are literally a dime a dozen. I think cheap, Kenyans think expensive. The other day I brought 3 oranges to my compound to share with my neighbors – they never eat fruit, mostly beans & maize or ugali (basically water and flour). I am going to have them re-enforce my charcoal jiko cookig skills so I can make chiapti. Chipati is like a fat pancake, but if you are clever, you can use it as a wrap for stir fry veggies, put veggies in the dough, or just PBJ. For breakfast, fry an egg (very expensive) and have a breakfast burrito.

I am eating Githeri (beans & maize) for lunch daily at the school. Imagine what that is doing to my system! And Kenyans don’t fart! It is very filing and actually quite nutritious. After school I head for home and my bag of Kenyan made potato chips. You can also buy some pretty good boxed cookies. Bread is AWFUL, which is one reason to make chipati.

Last Saturday I went to a small village where Mr. Kelly (one of my bosses) was doing a small ceremony in paying for the dowry for his wife. Most people there spoke Kikamba so even if I tried KSW it was challenging. Once I was introduced (3 hours into the ceremony) people actually smiled at me! It was a long, hot, interesting day.

I had a great discussion on why there are no longer dowries in the US, basically because women no longer feel the need to be bought! A good chance to exchange cultural values while respecting each other’s culture.

Quick update – had trouble putting this online Saturday. Made two trips to the Cyber Café and both times had difficulties. Will try again on Tuesday. Picked up a lot mail and one package today in Tala. So at least here it is coming to me. Will savor those letters tonight with my chai. Think of you all often - miss you

Dear Friends in the USA – Monday and change is fast approaching. Kenyans are very excited, an almost everyone claims to have some relationship with Barack!

I am going to summarize my past week in Nguluni. I only wish I could include some pictures to make this more real for you. This may be long, but bear with my day by day life. It has been most interesting and challenging to say the least. If you go to wikpedia and look up my town (village) it will be described as poor African town. Those are kind words. My emotional roller coaster has been from the very highest peak to the lowest valley and I am taking life one day at a time.

I was very disappointed to have my assignment site changed at the last minute, but as many of you wrote – there is always a reason. I think I am beginning to see why. My services (what ever they may be) are really needed here.

My counterpart/supervisor and I left Nairobi on Friday for a 90 minute matatu ride to Nguluni with my 4 bags + the additional bags of books and buckets Peace Corps requires. Quite the site – we took up at least 3 seats, of course I had to pay extra for the bags. I will say, 90 min. is a short ride, some of the group going to the coast were on matatus for 2 days and taking who knows what to get to their sites.

Arriving in Nguluni, I am thinking what am I doing?? It is a very poor community of about 2,000 people, most of whom are children or unemployed adults. There are 2 pool tables at the matatu station which attract all the “undersirables” every day. Many of the people here work in Tala, about a 60 minute walk from here.

We left my bags at the Kenbrick Vocational Training Centre where I will be doing a variety of tasks, from computerizing their records to teaching business and HIV/AIDS classes and possibly a computer class or 2. Who knows? (si jui?) The 2 gentlemen I am working with, Mr. Mutua and Mr. Kelly, are the founders of the school. It was started a couple of years ago to provide opportunity and to train the youth of the community in motor vehicle maintenance, tailoring and dressmaking, cabinetry and joinery, and hopefully, with my help Accounting/Business. Their goal is to provide these youths with the opportunity to find employment and break the poverty cycle. They have about 30 students right now who are second year students. They are busy trying to recruit new students now. Tuition is about 1500/term + 450 in catering fees. Keep in mind, 79 KSH = $1. This is a LOT for these students.

The school is located in rental space, and is rather falling down, but they seem to do the job of holding classes and providing an education for their students. They have electricity, but not running water. The dream is to purchase a plot of land near the existing school and build one class room at a time. There is actually a plan in place to achieve this goal. I give them credit! Students are asked to provide beans and maize for lunches. That is ALL they eat, every day. I had some today, and it was pretty good, but every day? The school is about a 10 minute from where I live. I should mention, the sewing machines were stolen a couple of months ago, and they have just managed to replace one machine and one finishing machine. They make the blouses/shirts for their students’ uniforms.

My housing. My 2 rooms are in a compound of 8 units. My rooms are about 9 X 9 if you stretch it. Cement walls, floor and tin roof. Mr. Mutua has loaned me a bed, coffee table and sitting chair. The school is building me a work table (cooking + studying) and it will be nice to not cook on the floor. There are a lot of children and babies who live in this compound and people seem to like to play their radios rather loud. You know how I like my quiet – so this is my biggest challenge. I have met most of my neighbors and they are very nice. Some speak limited Kswahili and mostly kikamba and little English. A bit interesting asking questions and getting to know them. We have 2 outside choos and 1 shower which are shared by all. The caretaker and his wife keep this areas very clean which is reassuring. I am in awe of how a family of 5 can live in this tiny space, cook inside with charcoal and keep it clean. The women are washing clothes daily and I see them washing their floors. I plan on getting some type of floor covering so I can do a little yoga without being on the cement. I am trying to practice 2 times a day, focusing of breathing and standing postures. Thank you Rita Coolidge for your music to practice by! It is so dry and dusty here, I wear a blouse once and the wash water turns to mud! How Kenyans stay clean is beyond me. I only hope my clothes withstand the hand washing for next 2 years! Mr. Mutua wants to build me a clothes dresser, but I am waiting to see how the 3 months trial period goes. Then I can actually settle in and spend some more money on staying organized. Right now my food and kitchen supplies are in plastic baskets and my clothes are folded next to my bed. Papers and books are everywhere, so my next purchase will be a book case.

Water is scarce – We have a tap on the compound and I filled my 100L jerry can on Saturday. We did not have water again until Thursday. I had about 40-50L left, but was starting to get concerned. Refilled yesterday. It rained today so I had every tub and bucket out catching rain water for washing clothes, dishes and my floor. Never had been in this situation before, so it will take some getting used to and using water wisely. One PCV in her second year, was telling us that she used her dish water to wash her floors and anything left from washing clothes was used to clean the choo. I feel like I am camping with limited supplies! I am hoping to purchase a smaller, 20L jerry can for additional storage.

I walk 60 minutes to Tala to a grocery store. There are a few market stalls in Nguluni and a few dukas (shops) with limited supplies. Basically I have lived on PB&J, rice, mangoes and pineapple for the past week. I have no desire to eat any meat, but need more veggies in my life. Once my table comes and I can get somewhat organized I will try and do better. The less food in the house, the fewer the gnats. I have coffee every morning and have made chai only once. I am anxious to actually start cooking, but know I will have limited foods to chose from so I will have to shop wisely in Tala.

I finally found a Kswahili tutor – Mama Sharon. She is a primary school teacher in town and we met today for the first time. I was impressed with her style and patience and think that she will help me a lot. Pronunciation is my nemesis and she was very patient with me. We laughed a lot, English does NOT have ny, mb, nz combinations and they twist my tongue! I think I will enjoy knowing her as a tutor and friend. We will meet as often as possible, and learning new vocabulary will give me something constructive to do at night.

My short wave radio and the BBC are great friends. I am so glad to have my Ipod and all those books on it! Yes, Galitz, tell Ian it was well worth all my time and effort to put them there. Only wish I had done more! I am hoping to watch Barak on TV Monday. Mr. Mutua has a TV but we cannot figure out when it might be on. Sounds like it will Tuesday here because of the 8 hour time difference.

I have found a sanctuary in the Holy Rosary College where the cyber café is. It is a quiet campus and if they had housing I might just move there! It is a 30 minute walk, on the way to Tala. It actually has some trees and is a very quiet setting.

Basically, today, I am okay. We shall see how the weekend goes. Nights and non-work days are very challenging. There is really no place to escape to that I have found yet. I am looking though. I think this is part of the PC experience. Before I came I wanted to have my time – to focus on yoga, meditation, and spiritual growth. Now I just need to actually take advantage of the opportunity to do so! The outcome of this journey is up to me, and no one else.

For those of you who did not get an update from Katie, Mr. Mutua has allowed me to use the school PO Box in Tala to receive mail. Snail mail will always be appreciated. My new address will be:

Pat Novak,

c/o Kenbrick Vocational Training Centre

PO Box 539

Tala (90131)

Kenya

Hopefully, this will expedite the receipt of any mail.

I hope this has updated you on my Kenyan adventure. Stay in touch.

Kwahereni to all

Love, Pat

Saturday – just a quick update. Another rainy night – most welcome by the maize and the people.

Have a conversation with a fellow PCV last night, and several SMS messages from others comparing sites. Some have great locations and poor assignments. This morning I am grateful for an assignment that will make a difference, even though I don’t have a coastal, resort area site location. I keep reminding myself of what my mission to PC is, and it is NOT to be on holiday but to make a difference in the lives of those I work with. Keep reminding me of this!

Another positive – since I have no one to ask Word/Excel questions, I am forced to deal with them on my own. I am actually being relative successful in that endeavor and the best thing is, I am not getting upset if I can find a solution immediately. This is so NOT me. Yikes, who is this person writing this blog?? Love

Habari ya Mwaka Mpya – Happy New Year and may 2009 be a year of change and betterment world wide.   January 20 will probably become a new Kenyan national holiday.  I am going to enjoy viewing the world from this side of the Ocean.  I am hoping to finally be able to buy a newspaper and catch up on the news.   The holidays have passed.   I will be the first to admit Christmas was a bit rough emotionally.   Fortunately I heard from all of my children which was wonderful.  Packages had not arrived yet and I am hoping they will in Nairobi when we arrive.  Snail mail takes 3 weeks and packages may take up to 4.  I am hoping to have a PO box on site to eliminate some of that time.   I am trying to write “group” letters from Kenya to keep you updated since internet access is not the easiest.   It may or may not change when I get to site.   We had our language (LPI) exam last week – I actually improved my score from Novice medium to Novice HIGH which is encouraging.   The next level, intermediate low is the passing level.   Maybe 8-10 out of our group did that – and they are the ones who studied all the time.   Me – I liked hanging out with my host family.   Hopefully PC will provide a tutor on site (it’s in the manual!)   I felt pretty good about my score, since I felt rather low after actually taking the exam.  There must be a better way, but in the short time we have (which was cut shorter with the holidays) I don’t know what it would be.   Sunday is a family/partner appreciation dinner and then PC stays at Outward Bound where we stayed the first night in Loitokitok.   We leave early Monday morning for the 8 hour bus ride to Nairobi.   It looks like a packed schedule there and we will finally meet our counterparts and find out our site locations.  I haven’t  even looked at the location list and will be more than happy to go where I am assigned.   I  truly want electricity at home and at last easy access to running water.  AND, I want a work assignment that I will be comfortable with.  By the time I post this, I will know and let you all know.  The unknown isn’t bad if you don’t think about it!   I have had some great 4 hour hikes around the area over the past couple of days.  It has been a great stress reducer.  Yoga has been minimal, but am hoping to find PAT TIME on site and build it into my schedule.   I have not been successful in attaching pictures to this blog, but will work on it again today.  I would love to have you see the countryside which is absolutely georgous.  Mt. K looms everywhere.   I hope to be in the Rift Valley or in Central (Mt Kenya) areas.  There are quite a few assignments in the Coast area, which will have a totally different landscape.   Each will have its challenges and benefits.   Will finalize this in Nairobi and get it posted.   Thanks to all who have written – it is so much fine to get news from home.   Group letters are great – keep them coming.  Love to all – enjoy the cool weather – about 90 here today and the sun is HOT. We had a long, hot and dusty (8 hr) bus ride from Loitokitok to Nairobi on Monday - sitting several hours in stand still traffic.   Not much fun breathing that diesel fuel.  It was great to get to a fairly new hotel with private rooms, western toilets and hot water.  After a decent night's sleep it was back into peace corps pace, a lot of information and forms to fill out.  Today, Wednesday, we met our counterparts and finally found out where our site locations are.   I will be in Muranga, central province.   So from looking at Mt. K on a regular basis, I will be able to see Mt. Kenya.  A good location weather wise and it appears to be a good work position.   I will be assisting the Kanyenyaini Tea Factory which deals with fair trade products.  The person I met with is the accountant and I am not sure what all my work will entail, but at least Accounting is part of the equation.   My home, from what I can tell is 2 rooms and has electricity and running water.  It is 2 hours from Nairobi which is great.  The 8-10 bus rides do not thrill me a lot.  I will travel there with my partner on Friday and see my home then.   I think I will be able to buy everything I need locally which will be great.   I will furnish it pole pole (slowly) and buy only what I need.   Kswahili continues to be a nemesis - the 16 who scored Novice High will be tested again in 3 months - we need to elevate to the next level so I will be hiring a tutor on site and working hard.  I think I will be okay, if I can just get over the fear of speaking!!!!!    I am quite good on paper, but that doesn't count.Just finished eating a burger, fries and chocolate malt with friends.   Came back and consumed 6 of Betsy's chocolate chip/raisin/nut cookies I received today.   Too bad they were sent December 1, but they still tasted great.   Life goes on in Kenya - all is well.   Keep writing and staying in touch.   Thanks for all the Christmas notes, you might want to send Halloween cards soon so they get to me in time!    Love to all.   As for pictures, I will continue to work on that, but check out some of the other Kenya websites, we are all here together and they may be able to give you some indication of what I am doing.

December 10, 2008

Rafiki yango Mwamerika Ð Jambo kwa Loitokitok, Southern Kenya. We are now half way through our pre-service training and it has been incredibly intense. I have had limited, very expensive access to e-mails, so I have not been on line in a long time. PC does not provide us a very large amount to live on, so it is lunch or internet!

A quick update to this blog - We started as a group of 42 and so far 2 have been returned to the US for health reasons. It was sad to see them go Ð and I only hope that I stay healthy and have no major problems. Our medical instruction (PCMOs) are great and provide us with a ton of preventative/maintenance/curative information. We have medical sessions 1-2 times a week and get shots on a regular basis. They are taking very good care of us.

Kswahili lessons are in small groups from 3 Ð 5 students, after the first 2 weeks they split us on based on ability, so there are 3 AARP members in my group. Yes, I am the oldest! Most days I feel comfortable with my ability Ð and others not so. I can introduce myself and speak in very general terms. If anything is said out of context it takes a while to filter it into English. We have a preliminary language test next week and a final exam in January. I am not worried as I know effort is as important as the output.

Technical training has been a bit of a challenge. For the first 2 weeks we had conflicting instructors and a massive amount of work to do. Now, one of the instructors is gone and we have more free time to do our work. We have been assigned partners/businesses in Loitokitok to work with and help them solve some immediate problems. At first I questioned why?, but now can see how this exercise will help when we got to site and are on our own.. Details will take too long, but over all I am working well with my partner on several issues and actually feel like I am going to be of some help to them.

Personally Ð my home stay Mama is AWESOME (poa sana = very cool). It is just she and I, with many visitors. But this allows me time to study and one on one interaction with her. She is the Mrs. Menka of Loitokitok for those of you who have been to Ghana. Very much a leader in the community. Excellent housekeeper and cook and is willing and wanting me to learn Afrikan ways. Cooking on a jiko ya mkaa is not liking cooking over an electric stove, grill or campfire. Out of many tries, I have only been successful once in keeping it litÐ better learn this or I will starve on site. I actually baked a chocolate cake the other day and prepared the full evening meal. Not nearly as good as HellenÕs but it would pass. We have electricity (very nice), but no running water. There is an outside choo (toilet) and thank heavens for all those squats in yoga class! We have easy access to a water source and I spend 1 hour, 2 times a week purifying water for me to drink. I acuallly get to pee in a bucket for those night calls.

Some of the PCTÕs and I had yoga class last week and some Kenyans joined us Ð much fun. In speaking with the nurses they though teaching yoga to women infected with AIDS would be great Ð future project on site! Yoga has serve d to keep me in balance over the last month. Namaste!

I have a computer literate friend (Harmony) who is going to help me post this to my blog. Hope it works. If you can access this, please share this site with others so that I can stay I touch with as many friends as possible. During PST there are 40 wazungus (white faces) so there is some support Ð on site it will be different and I would love hearing from all of you. Not necessarily e-mails, but snail mail. Would be much appreciated.

I have yet to doubt my reason for being here Ð only my ability to serve and make and make a difference. My thoughts and prayers are with you all and hope you have a marvelous holiday season. HellenÕs family is coming this week-end so that should ease the holiday blues for me. Take care, do write Ð

Kwa heri - PatI

After a year of preparation and anticipation I finally met the other 42 individuals going to Kenya. An approximate breakdown is 9 Kenyan sign languague teachers, 13 math/science educators and the rest part of the small enterprise development sector. Only 4 of the 43 appeared to be 50+ with many of the others fresh out of college, and under 30. It appears to be a good group of individuals, very diverse and dedicated to the PC service. Our orientation was very general in nature, knowing we will receive detailed instructions once we arrive in Kenay. We take a bus from Philly to JFK tomorrow and leave at 6:15 pm for Amsterdam, with a 2.5 hour layover and then on to Nairobi. My possessions can be found in a suitcase, oversized back pack, carry on and small back pack. I hope I have all I need, and not too much of what I don't. I did some last minute shopping in Denver for mud boots (rainy season) and a new bike helment, which of course meant I had to reconfigure my suitcases!!!! Departure is finally here and I cannot believe I am finally a PC Trainee!!!! I had a great last week in CO with my children, their significant others, baby Lucy and Shannon's mom Diane from FL and her dad from MI. Leaving the kids was difficult to say the least, but I look forward to their visits to Kenya. Just to let you all know, things are well - I am excited and of course frightened to some degree - but I know this is something I have to do in this life time. Take care all of you - write when possible - and do stay in touch. I shall not miss my house, my car, my furniture or even Lincoln, but I shall miss all of you. Kwa heri - Pat

I am in Denver for my final 10 days before departing for Kenya.   It has been a long process to get to this point and now departure and the start of this great adventure is only days away.   I will enjoy my days with Russ, Shannon and Lucy, Betsy and Dave and Katie and Janiene.   It will be great to have the family together before I say kwa heri (goodbye) to all.  I hope that this is just the first of my many entries to keep you posted on my journey.   Let me know if you successfully access this blog, because as many of you know, I am hardly computer literate!!!   Take care, and stay in touch.