I realized we only have 3 plus weeks left and I should probably have more than just two blog posts for an entire summer in AFRICA. I STILL can't believe I'm in Africa. Yesterday Jamie and I went for a walk with Nature club down to the river and when we got there we could see a troop of wild monkeys playing in the trees across the river. SO COOL!! I was thinking to myself, "wow, self, we are actually in Africa!!" Okay once again there is way to much to talk about so I'm going to steal Deanna's update list. Here goes:
-Michelle left us... Sad sad day. It's so strange not having her here anymore.
--If you didn't already know, the team and I went bungee jumping. It was amazing. The climb was the hardest part. I hate ladders...especially a huge ladder on a crane. The next worst part, getting from the ladder into the cage. I never thought I could bend that way. The best part, falling out of the cage and praying to god the little ankle cuffs could hold you. BTW hanging upside down over a river can give you quite the headache....oh and if you have back problems DON'T BUNGEE JUMP. My next step: SKYDIVING!!!!!!
-I have been on two Safari's. One was legit the other was more like an animal park. We saw every animal I could have hoped to see. Samburu was amazing! We sat on the top of the Range Rover. I lost my sandals... still not sure how that happened.
- Our guide for the Safari told me I would have a job as a spotter for her if I ever come
back to Kenya... Hello graduation plan!!
- The kids are amazing!!!! I don't even know where to begin... After about a week of being called Karen cause they couldn't say Caitlyn I finally just shortened my name to Kate. It seems to work pretty well. I'm still learning to respond to it... "Kate. Kate! Kate!! KATE!!".... "OH, I'm Kate.. What's up little kid?"
-I'm not as funny as Deanna... sorry.
- I went for a walk to the river one of the fist weeks we were here and ended up in a tug-o-war, me as the rope, between the kids and a large African women that was trying to get me to come into her house and drink tea with her. She finally gave up but not before she tried to stuff one of her puppies into my hands. Never thought I could say no to a free puppy did you!!! Neither did I, if i had known what was going on I probably wouldn't have...
- Machizi means crazy in Kiswahili... also happens to be the name of a famous rap duo that I can confidently say are my friends. Look them up. Its a good story. Came from the streets and are now pursung their dreams. Cool guys.
- Deanna have started going to the girls dorms every night and giving them all goodnight hugs and tucking them into bed. Best part of my day!
- I can't believe we only have 3 weeks and 3 days left. I feel like I am finally starting to settle in. Now we are leaving.
- Once again, I always start my blogs to late and get about half way through and the team is ready to go. I will write again soon... Promise.
I miss you Daddy!!!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Oh my god I'm in KENYA!
Okay, so I have never been one to blog so it has taken a long time for me to decide I need to just do it. I have been in Kenya for nearly five weeks now so a lot has happened. I think I would short out the computer system if I tried to type it all right now... So I think I may have to steal Deanna's 30 second update idea and just list the essentials. Here goes:
- We made it to Kenya, barely, twelve hour lay-over in London sucks.
- The first few nights in Nairobi were filled with sleeping, people having sex in the room upstairs while we were trying to sleep, and trying not to fall asleep at dinner. Interesting times. Time changes are not fun.
- We added a fifth member to our team. Her name is Michelle. It is a match made in heaven. She belongs with us... even if she is Puerto Rican and we give her a hard time for it everyday.
- The first morning at the center we woke up to a rooster at 5:00 a.m., finally able to block him out when the 90's American rap started, around 7:00 a.m. Solider boy and T-pain in the morning= very grumpy Caitlyn. Also, learned quickly about Deanna's morning habits... maybe someday I will be able to talk about it without cringing...
- The first week at the center;
- wake up to the same damn rooster and the same music. Sometimes the same song six
times in a row
- set up a schedule for the kids to establish some structure
- set up another schedule for the kids because the first one wouldn't work
- scratched the whole schedule and just worked on a schedule for the school at the Centre
- were told we now had to teach the classes in schedule we had made
- had to talk myself out ripping my hair out with frustration
- Settled in to somewhat of a schedule and had it all change when more volunteers showed up to teach.
- Established a schedule for our club activities. Art, Nature, Literature, and Choir are the clubs we ended up with. Tuesday and Thursdays we play indoor and outdoor games. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are club days.
- Our world was flipped upside down when we were told that the Chef that had been cooking amazing African food for us everyday was leaving and we had to cook for ourselves. Sad Sad day.. Spaghetti every night just isn't that appealing.
- Michelle and I went on a little "Safari" to Solio Ranch. It was more of an animal butt Safari because that was about all we could see of the animals as they ran away from us. We saw Mufasa though (Lion King reference!)
- We learned some of the hip places in Nyeri; Banana Leaf Resort (great food, better beer), Julie's Coffee shop (legit coffee, good sandwiches), Dorpix Cyber Cafe (good music, great staff, fast cheap internet)
- I miss my dog, Tyson, alot. I miss my family, alot. I miss American food, alot. I miss my friends (Lauren!!) alot.
-Time flies when your in another country.
- You, well more like Deanna and Michelle, become really open about bodily habits when you live with four people in a small apartment for a month.
- Look both ways before you cross the road. Then look again in the opposite order because they drive on the wrong side here and if your not careful you WILL get hit.
- If you pay the workers at the animal orphanage you can get in the cage with a cheetah and pet it. Even though the sign claims it to be a corruption free zone. Must be an Mzungu special..
- Girrafes are really sloppy kissers.
- Night life in Nairobi isn't much different that in America. Really bad music played way to loud for the speakers in the club and there are still creepers.
- Horseback riding hurts here too. The sites are better but it still hurts... alot.
- People are still pushy here...Deanna!! Gotta go. Dad (Wangila, main man) is here. Time for clubs. Will write again in another month.
- We made it to Kenya, barely, twelve hour lay-over in London sucks.
- The first few nights in Nairobi were filled with sleeping, people having sex in the room upstairs while we were trying to sleep, and trying not to fall asleep at dinner. Interesting times. Time changes are not fun.
- We added a fifth member to our team. Her name is Michelle. It is a match made in heaven. She belongs with us... even if she is Puerto Rican and we give her a hard time for it everyday.
- The first morning at the center we woke up to a rooster at 5:00 a.m., finally able to block him out when the 90's American rap started, around 7:00 a.m. Solider boy and T-pain in the morning= very grumpy Caitlyn. Also, learned quickly about Deanna's morning habits... maybe someday I will be able to talk about it without cringing...
- The first week at the center;
- wake up to the same damn rooster and the same music. Sometimes the same song six
times in a row
- set up a schedule for the kids to establish some structure
- set up another schedule for the kids because the first one wouldn't work
- scratched the whole schedule and just worked on a schedule for the school at the Centre
- were told we now had to teach the classes in schedule we had made
- had to talk myself out ripping my hair out with frustration
- Settled in to somewhat of a schedule and had it all change when more volunteers showed up to teach.
- Established a schedule for our club activities. Art, Nature, Literature, and Choir are the clubs we ended up with. Tuesday and Thursdays we play indoor and outdoor games. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are club days.
- Our world was flipped upside down when we were told that the Chef that had been cooking amazing African food for us everyday was leaving and we had to cook for ourselves. Sad Sad day.. Spaghetti every night just isn't that appealing.
- Michelle and I went on a little "Safari" to Solio Ranch. It was more of an animal butt Safari because that was about all we could see of the animals as they ran away from us. We saw Mufasa though (Lion King reference!)
- We learned some of the hip places in Nyeri; Banana Leaf Resort (great food, better beer), Julie's Coffee shop (legit coffee, good sandwiches), Dorpix Cyber Cafe (good music, great staff, fast cheap internet)
- I miss my dog, Tyson, alot. I miss my family, alot. I miss American food, alot. I miss my friends (Lauren!!) alot.
-Time flies when your in another country.
- You, well more like Deanna and Michelle, become really open about bodily habits when you live with four people in a small apartment for a month.
- Look both ways before you cross the road. Then look again in the opposite order because they drive on the wrong side here and if your not careful you WILL get hit.
- If you pay the workers at the animal orphanage you can get in the cage with a cheetah and pet it. Even though the sign claims it to be a corruption free zone. Must be an Mzungu special..
- Girrafes are really sloppy kissers.
- Night life in Nairobi isn't much different that in America. Really bad music played way to loud for the speakers in the club and there are still creepers.
- Horseback riding hurts here too. The sites are better but it still hurts... alot.
- People are still pushy here...Deanna!! Gotta go. Dad (Wangila, main man) is here. Time for clubs. Will write again in another month.
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