Guava. It is a green golf ball with a ghostly interior when raw, slowly giving way to, at it’s best, a yellow baseball with a pink center as it ripens. I walked down the mere two steps it takes to enter my abode not five minutes ago from what I like to call “Guava Hunting”. [...]
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Today was such an amazing day! I played volleyball and just bonded with the students. I made a sweet thai-themed pasta for dinner and it’s blowing my taste buds’ minds!! There’s electricity right now to top it all off!! The following is an entry I wrote on Thursday – quite hilarious. I seem to be [...]
Before I get lost in the flurry of bringing back memories of what’s transpired since the last time I’ve updated, I’m going to share my new address for the current site I’m at. Joshua Josa, Peace Corps Volunteer (BE SURE you put this, otherwise hefty charges may be added)PO Box 164Kehancha – 40413 Now, onto [...]
Happy New Year everyone! I hope all your Holiday and New Year celebrations were everything you imagined it to be. I know mine was! I celebrated an early Christmas with my parents and the actual Christmas with my Headmaster at his brother’s house with thousands of his extended family members and New Years in Komotobo [...]
I know I promised an update some time ago to some of you. Here’s the promised update – I apologize for the wait. Um, where do I start? When I last updated, I was sitting in my palatial room at the Kenya Continential (it’s palatial in comparison to anywhere else in Kenya, okay?) wondering what [...]
I am sure many of you are wondering what the hell I am up to these days, what with not uttering a single solid update on the blog since the beginning of July. There’s a very good reason for that. I’ve been on sort of a whirlwind since then – hopping to and fro and [...]
I practically stormed back into my house tonight. I have night duty where I am required to supervise between the hours of 5 – 9pm to make sure that everything runs smoothly during dinner and evening preps. This is rotated between all the teachers who live on or near the school compound. It usually isn’t [...]
I'm sitting at the Java House, a Kenyan equivalent of Starbucks, mooching off of their free Internet. Today hasn't been the greatest of days despite it being July 4th. In the past, America's Independence Day from the British had little importance to me. To be honest, it was another opportunity to party and have a [...]
This is a ‘poem’ that I was strangely compelled to write some time ago after I exited the choo. Black hole; gaping maw Into you, I let forth a stream Yellow and healthy. Black hole, gaping maw Sunbeams and scintillating yellow light Downward ho, Awaken what lie in the depths. Black hole, gaping [...]
What an interesting month it has been! I now realize and apologize for not posting about what happened after the whole incident with the woman. I am safe and everything turned out for the best. Two Peace Corps staff escorted me back to Meru where we then got the woman to come with us to [...]
What does a Spaniard, German, and an American have in common? Couchsurfing and elephants. In actuality, the trio has much more in common for they are all of European heritage albeit the American, me, being born in California. Fee Brinkmann, the German horse whisperer, and Sergi Ayora, the Spaniard guitarist fell into my life one [...]
Here are some funny things that Kenyans ask/say: “Running will cure the cold that you have entirely.” “I am scared of snakes because they are all poisonous and are the witchdoctor’s slaves.” “If you go at it with many women, your *mm* will grow long and mighty.” Kenyan: Have you met so and so? S/he [...]
Today begun the third week of school in the second term. I woke up earlier than usual in anticipation for the start of teaching classes and whatnot. I couldn’t help but laugh when I found out that the entire school would be migrating to the nearby Kaaga Primary School for a zonal athletics day. This’ll [...]
It has been nearly two weeks since I came back to Meru and time has really flown by, in hindsight at least. I remember vividly some moments during the time where time seemed to be scraping its body on a desert, desperately searching for water. I must admit, it has been rather difficult adjusting to [...]
Another month has come and gone. It was the fastest month that’s transpired during my time in Kenya, and with good reason too. April has always been a good month for me but I think it’s been even more so after teaching for 3 months straight. However, I’m glad to be back at site because [...]
I have been reading a book called The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach and as the title blatantly suggests, it’s about dead human bodies. In the most recent part of the book I read, it mentions in passing that dead bodies in America are hidden; rarely seen in the public eye thanks [...]
I had my breath taken away from me while, as lady luck had it, sitting in the front seat of a speeding matatu heading back to Meru from Ntugi. Albeit being crushed to the passenger door by the two others next to me, I had a panoramic windshield view of two beautiful forest elephants crossing [...]
I enjoyed a glass of rose cabernet sauvignon while reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer after a lengthy day of laundry and cleaning. After months of drinking rarely and irregularly, it seems that a small glass of wine is sufficient to elevate me to a buzz that is the same level I needed at least [...]
Greetings, My name is Joshua Josa and I am currently a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Kenya as an educator of the deaf. I are writing to inform you about the 2011 World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) World Congress conference in Durban, South Africa. It is to be held 18-24 July of this year. [...]
It’s been more than a month since I last posted anything? I find this very hard to believe. Alas the calendar does not lie, at least not this IDEOS Android-based Google phone. I was reluctant enough to get the phone for I see myself to be loyal to Apple products, after using all of their [...]
It’s official. I’ve just passed the middle of my first school term in Kenya. The first term is 14 weeks long, the longest of all the terms. I’m glad because the next two terms, I will have a lot more on my plate to keep me busy and I will know my way around the [...]
So, a very special reader has asked if I could write in response to special requests. YES!!! In fact, I encourage each and every one of you out there to make a request because by doing that, you’d be satisfying your curiousity and at the same time be helping me accomplish Peace Corps goal #10. [...]
Sunday was a very eventful day, despite not getting very much done. I did my laundry, the biggest to date at Kaaga, and scaved off as long as I could from being asked about church. Eventually, when the laundry was finished and I had fed myseld a nice eggs and potatoes breakfast, I decided to [...]
I’m pretty sure this marks the beginning of a routine. I’ve been coming to the internet cafe on Tuesdays right after I go to the Nakumatt because I get to marvel at western items. It’s probably a bad idea for me to include the Nakumatt in my routines because it just means I’ll be spending [...]
I witnessed an event that was.. well, I hope no one ever has to see this sort of thing. While traveling in a taxi to Makutano (the junction between the roads from Maua and Isiolo) I saw a man crossing the street. A truck carrying miraa was speeding down and the man didn’t take the [...]
I swam in a pool yesterday. It felt so great, especially after a morning run with Joseph. I am not kidding, teasing, or lying in any way – the run was up and down a very steep hill three times. Being the usual competitive man that I am, I told Joseph that I could beat [...]
It’s been a whirlwind these past few weeks. I spent Christmas and New Year’s in Meru and I survived! For the days before and after Christmas, 8 other Peace Corps Volunteers came out to my site in Meru (hot water and western toilet helped lure them ) and we had a lot of fun, some [...]
Kibet, the language and culture coordinator, had asked me to write up a speech for swearing in. The speech would be done in Kenyan Sign. I had written up a speech reflecting the Deaf Education group’s experiences in Machakos, which was different since we were geographically separated from the other 20-something people down in Loitokitok. [...]
So, I have finally been sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer. That was on Wednesday. It is Friday. I think. Well, as of this morning, I thought. I had to ask my friendly neighbor whether it was really Friday or not. The past two days has really been a blur. I really wish [...]
The day has come. This morning, as I took my last looks at the family and home that housed me for the past two months, I walked down the dirt driveway for the last time as a Peace Corps Trainee. I have hit, oddly, my highest high and lowest low within the past 3 days. [...]
We are entering our 8th week of training in Peace Corps Kenya, and I can hardly wrap my mind around that. Time moves in a pace that is so different here than in the United States. The past 7 weeks feels as if they have been compressed and really turned out to be only 3 [...]
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I miss all of you back home. Seven of us + PCV Mary from the Coast + Aggrey celebrated thanksgiving at the ABC Guesthouse in a room that we rented for the night. We tried cooking as close to an American thanksgiving as possible. On the menu, there was gnocchi with a [...]
Dreams come like a flood as if they were dammed for many years. (they probabl were by something within Apt 101) Each night, I surrender to Morpheus’ power at 9:30 and each morning at about 3am, my bowels awaken me from my deep slumber. (I curse the late night dinners here we usually have dinner [...]
So, I’ve been in Kenya for nearly a month. The largest animal I have seen thus far is that of the common sickly cow. Zebras, lions, giraffes you say? None. NONE! I am shocked, truth be told. The lucky Science and Math B&B’s down at Loitoktok have already seen their share of zebras, giraffes and [...]
I am currently sitting in the house of which I will be serving for the next 2 years. This house is known as the ‘princess – house’ among the Peace Corps Volunteers, and I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. This house is a mere minute walk away from where I [...]
I’ve finally gotten time to get into an internet cafe here in Machakos. Wow is all I can say for now for all I have been through so far. I do not think I have ever been this time-constrained in my life. We do so much day in day out. I normally go to sleep [...]
Today was filled with paperwork. The sun’s rays creeped into my room and woke me up before my digital alarm. Makes me feel like I shouldn’t have wasted my funds on the electronic device Breakfast was at 7 – eggs, toast, and a very shriveled up sausage. Kenyans are big on milked tea, so I [...]
The journey to Nairobi was so long that at times I thought we weren’t ever going to arrive. We started on a bus going out of Philly to NYC, which took 3 hours. Once we got to JFK, we took over a large area of seating and just did stuff anyone would do while waiting. [...]
Today has been a long day. An amazingly productive and exciting day with much packed in between, but long nonetheless. I woke to the frantic buzz of my new digital vibrating alarm clock. To be quite honest, the buzz reminded me of an angry swarm of bees and had scared me with it’s first pulse [...]
For about the lifetime of a calendar my entourage has been hitting Cinespace, one of the happening bars in Hollywood. This is especially true for Tuesday nights when us stuck in the limbo that is after graduation. Cinespace has been like a mother’s teat to us, with their free booze from 1o-11pm and their spectacular [...]
Here are picture of Kezdet! I think I’m going overboard with some of the things I may be bringing. Already, I have seven pairs of shoes that I want to bring. (3 of which are sandals, water shoes, and flipflops mind you) The packing list says to bring extra shoes for we’ll be doing a [...]
What a surprise it was to find a furry creature when taking out the trash. My my, what big teeth you have possum. Please don’t bite me and further spread your rabies to the world. Be happy I let you live?
October 11, 2010 11:10am on US Airways via Los Angeles, CA to Philadelphia, PA at 7:22pm October 13, 2010 4:20pm on Delta via New York City, NY (JFK) to Amsterdam, Netherlands 6:00am October 14, 2010 10:25am on KLM via Amsterdam, Netherlands to Nairobi, Kenya 7:25pm Can anyone provide me with a handful of sleeping pills [...]
Another lengthy day of jackhammering the second concrete pillar in the backyard. I want to finish this as soon as possible so that I can get started on any other things that needs to be done around the house. Autumn is fast approaching, and that means cutting back the fig tree, gathering up all the [...]
I’ve been wondering for some time now where the orientation will be for the Peace Corps. I have been secretly hoping for it to be in either Austin, Texas or Washington D.C. so that I can take one last look at some of the friends that I won’t be seeing for the next 2 years. [...]
In lieu of my going to Kenya, despite it having a diverse range of biomes, I thought it fitting to change the woods from ”There he goes… racing through the woods again..” to savanna . After all, what is the first landscape that pops into mind when thinking of Africa, much less Kenya? For me, it [...]
I, Joshua Josa, am accepting my invitation to serve as a Deaf Educator/Behavior Change Communicator Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya departing on October 11, 2010. I hereby certify that I have read the Volunteer Assignment Description, Online Welcome Book, and Core Expectations and agree to abide by the policies therein. Sounds so binding and [...]
I had a very sleepless night with the Glee Cast’s version of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing stuck in my head while imagining myself running amok in the heart of Africa. I woke up this morning, begrudgingly, after only 4 hours of sleep. I was struck with an odd feeling and I somehow knew that my [...]
Smiled upon one posing beneath a lustrous vine, Quaffing wine. Curious interest began the strange descent Into the maze. Round and ’round we frolicked with no end in sight, Until one fated day, I met my faze. O cursed day – the onslaught of the blight. Unbeckoned, uncelebrated, unsung; it came. The flood washed… Washed [...]
Throat fiery and nostrils overflowing, I forced myself, unwillingly, out of bed at 7 ‘o clock for a dentist appointment followed by a follow-up for my lab tests. I drove my usual route to Cal State Northridge in the maroon ’91 Chevy Astro with a drooping ceiling on the drivers’ side. When CSUN came into [...]
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