Caribu to Kenya!

CARIBU! Welcome in Swahili. Although most Kenyan's speak Swahili, in Kisumu, they speak Luo which is a local dialect/language. So rather than picking up Swahili, I have been learning mostly Luo words.
Erikimanu. Thank you.
Eriti. Goodbye.

A couple of examples I thought I'd thrown in to show you that I am basically African now...

So let's get down to business...
Since I got here, I have been going to different projects that the Ogra Foundation sponsors. This includes orphanages, schools, a feeding center, a health center, and a place for the sick and destitute (which means mentally ill, disabled, and elderly)... At APEC (the place for the sick and dest) there is this pastor who freaks me out and singled me out by asking me if I was a Christian. I wasn't afraid to speak the truth, and after, he told me he would pray for me that I would find Jesus. He is a little bit creepy. But that place is crazy. It means well, but they just dont have many resources. Thats why they have to chain the mentally ill to trees because they have no idea what else to do with them and no access or knowledge of medication. They just pray pray pray and hope they get better. Today we met 3 boys with epilepsy who have seizures weekly that last about an hour they said. =major brain damage and no medication. They just sit around all day which is the saddest part, they don't allow them to go to school.
The home visits to HIV patients were ... for lack of better words, interesting.. me and this other guy volunteer were the first visitors in the house after this lady gave birth to a baby girl, so tradition is you name it after them. I thought they were joking when they kept calling her Maureen. I got to hold her and got a nice photo with baby Maureen. The lady hadnt eaten for 2 days and her baby hadnt either. They also couldnt afford to pay the midwife so she couldnt leave with us to go to the medical clinic. I decided to just pay the midwife so she could come with us and get a proper check up. And the baby needed to be tested for HIV too. Its insane that the education is there (i.e dont breastfeed your baby as you have a high chance of transmitting HIV ) but what else can they do when they cannot even afford to eat? What do you feed your baby??
Things like that + traditional customs interfere with modern education. Everyone says the answer to Africa's problems is education. But I've talked to many university educated Africans who seem to think it's important, but who have told me that there are numerous people with college degrees who are driving taxis or tuk tuks because there just aren't many jobs in Kenya. You have to know someone or be a certain tribe to get a good job. Its sad. Politics. Corrupt government. If education isnt the answer, then what is?
It's hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel for Africa, but all you can do is your best with what you have. And the Kenyans sure do that.
As far as everyone's generous donations....
I have the opportunity to choose where the money I have fundraised goes. I get to choose one or more of the projects that I've visited and allocate the money as I see fit.
I haven't decided yet where I will put the most money, but I am thinking the secondary (or high school) called Oasis of Hope. Its a secondary school created for orphans and those who cannot afford school fees. Which is a shockingly large portion of the population.
I will let everyone know what I decide so y'all know where your money is going :)..


Oh and I'm sure everyone wants to know what I've been eating...
Traditional African food, of course. This thing called Ugali, which is this sticky cornmeal type of thing they mush up with their hands and add spinach/fish/meat/etc to. They have a lot of Indian food here too, including ciabatti which is my favorite! They drink a lot of soda because its so cheap and their meal portions are gargantuan. Never ever ever thought I would be gaining weight in Kenya, but my stomach is no longer flat and the kids are starting to touch my belly and ask if there's a baby inside. Not a good sign. Oh and a normal morning ritual includes waking up with staggering stomach pains and making my way very quickly to the bathroom. But I've gotten used to it.
So that's one less thing you have to worry about. And for the most part, I feel really safe and everyone's been overly friendly.
The scenery is beautiful, very tropical and green.
Kisumu is right on Lake Victoria and we went and chilled with the hippos last weekend. The air in Kisumu is polluted and my boogers are brown at the end of each day, which is nice. I don't drink as much water as I should but thats to be expected.
A lot of things remind me of Guatemala. The Tuk Tuks, how the women carry everything on their heads (including bags of sugar, coke bottles, clay pots, etc.), the colors, the buildings, the shattered glass shards on top of the fences to keep robbers out, and some interesting/crazy tribal ideas that they are still embracing today. For example, if people see someone robbing or stealing from someone else, they will create a mob group and stone or burn the person alive. I've met many people who have seen this happened with their own eyes.
Their old customs are still very much alive, and like that one, are quite backwards and slightly barbaric.
On a happier note, last weekend some other volunteers and I went to the local market, bought some fabric, then headed to the tailor to get fitted. On monday, we will pick up our authentic african shirts and dresses. I'm so excited! I would post a picture but it takes about 45 minutes to upload one onto the internet so sorry to disappoint, but Africa photos are gonna be a while before they are revealed.
Ok Ok enough ranting from me. I am off to wash my panties in a bucket. haha
I hope everyone is well and taking good care.

Much Love From Kenya!! <3