Days go by, I'm reminded of wonderful Keith Urban. You know, when I'm sweeping and mopping, I randomly think of the songs I really miss. Anyway, this one came to me as I began to write..
And days go by... I can feel 'em flyin' Like a hand out the window in the wind. The cars go by... Yeah it's all we've been given, So you better start livin' right now 'Cause days go by...
Things are happening so fast, its crazy. Monday two crazy things happened, first we killed a snake in the computer lab... not cool I tell you. Not cool. It was just a little one, but its still freaky. Ek, I get the chills just thinking about it. They are attempting to put new solar panels on, so thats exciting except for the facet in Elizabeth and I's bathroom for hot water will not turn regardless of the solar panel or the sun... bummer. Everyone else will have warm showers though and I will smile nicely at them in hopes of bathing in their rooms. :) ha ha.
Monday the boys got new cloths which may have made my week, even my month. They came in a burlap sack and light up their faces like it was Christmas eve. They all huddled around, pushing and shoving as if it was their last meal. Uncle John pulled the items out one by one and they each fought over them. Some were very nice, others were, well humorous to say the least. It didn't matter, these boys were going to have a show no matter what they got. Regardless of what they got, each of them took the form of a new character. Our cottage now had Michael Jackson (back in his good years of course), Akon, MC Hammer, 2Pac, soccer players, rappers, and even Goose from Top Gun. My stomach was aching and tears were falling from the utter laughter from the pure silliness of the boys. It was wonderful.
Today we traveled into Kibera the 2nd largest slum in Africa with the Leo Toto program. We talked with the director of the program and then went through the slum with two volunteers who were there for the summer and met with two different families. It was heartbreaking and eye-opening all at the same time. The abject poverty here doesn't even compare to what could run through your mind. The slum is almost a landfill, yet it is home to over a million people. People with jobs. People with kids. People with hearts. Seeing all of this makes me realize again why I am here, because although I'm not directly helping these people many of the children came from similar situations and they families still live in these places. These people don't want to live here, they aren't drug addicts, they are bad people, they are just caught between a rock and a hard place. Jobs are harder to come by than one would even think here in Africa and without a job there is not source of income. Many move to the slums in hopes of finding a job in Nairobi, but it falls though. Our cooks in the kitchen have college degrees, hotel hostess have college degrees, people on the street have college degrees because their simply aren't enough jobs.
Tomorrow Beth and I are traveling to KENWA with Sandy and a journalist team. It is a network of women with AIDS in Nairobi. We are also going to By Grave another outreach program in a slum of Nairobi. Tomorrow is also Gaia's Birthday, so maybe we will go to the Flame Tree, the bar across the street, at night.
As you can probably tell I am really enjoying myself and am learning so much. The volunteers here are amazing as are the people. I'm not in denial and am looking at jobs each day. I currently have my eye on the Clinton Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as Hill jobs dealing with African policy. My hope is to find a job where I can make a difference, I don't know if I can settle for anything less. I know that we all make a difference each and everyday, even by a smile on the street. But seeing these people in such situations makes me realize that it is I that needs to step up and make a difference. Come on, we all know Ive never been one to sit back and watch,
peace and love to all of you. I must make some dinner and then go see how the boys exams were today.
Godspeed
1 comment:
Anna,
At times I think you wonder if we are reading your blog because few comments are entered. But I'm sure everyone is, we are just so taken aback with everything you describe that we have no words. As you say, "we can't even imagine."
I am having a hard time with you being cold at night because you only have a few blankets and have cold showers, but thankful that you are there making a difference.
Miss you so much
Post a Comment