PICTURES FROM SAFARI

..................finally!! check em out

Close-Calls Kenya!!

I have to write about a day I had a very close call. So, Presilla (Camp David Receptionist), Sandra (other intern), and I wen't to visit a school to invite children to an upcoming Community Day where they are going to give out mattresses for Christmas. It started raining, as usual right after it had been excruciatingly hot and sunny just seconds before. We were returning to Camp David and Presilla took us through a short cut. It was a narrow alley, but looked safe. As we chatted we heard barking dogs coming near. We were almost at the end of the alley when suddenly a GIANT, CHARGING BULL with a PACK OF MAD DOGS turned the corner and were running right towards us, just a few seconds away. This bull was running for its life with its head down, horns pointing ahead. We were all stunned and didn't know where to run. We literally had 3 seconds to act. Directly to the left of us was a building wall and a few inches to the right was a waist high intensely barbed fence dividing the already narrow alley into 2. We couldnt tell which side of the fence the bull was going to go as it twisted and turned in a frenzy... all I remember is scrambling around and suddenly we were all on the other side of the fence looking down the alley at the bull running and the dogs dispersing. In a daze I asked Presilla whether the dogs were chasing the bull or the bull chasing the dogs. She said the dogs were chasing the bull and when she looked back she saw me and Sandra jumping over the fence at the very last second! (good thing I was good at hurdles in middle school)! Afterwards, we all just laughed uncontrollably because we were in such shock at we had just happened in a matter of seconds. When escaping the charging bull, all I could think of was what it would feel like when the bull hit me and whether I could avoid the horns. I realized that if I had worn one of my long skirts, I would definitely be entangled in the fence or the bull, but I decided to wear my one pair of pants that I had worn only once before. Thankfully, no one even had a scratch! The walk back was a wobbly one as all our knees were so weak and I felt like a noodle. I learned that bulls and dogs are not my friends here. Later that day a confused baby cow and a heard of goats frightened the begeezes outta me as they ran innocently passed me. Close-calls Kenya.
I've actually realized that using the same common sense as I would back in the States is good enough to keep me out of trouble. I wouldn't walk around alone at night in most parts of LA either! The first week, a boy with a razorblade tried to cut my bag to get the "goodies" inside (all I had were my roll of toilet paper, purell, cheap sunglasses, and a book). He did not succeed because of my durable Jansport backpack that has lasted me since 7th grade! Booya! In yo face! So now I walk with my bag in front of me. It's just a constant learning process! =) whew

work, safari, home-stay

WORK: I work in the social work office helping with sponsorship..... WAIT.... scratch that.... I basically sit in the social work office and chat with the workers around: Mark, Elvis (hehe), and Presilla. I've been really struggling to figure out my role here. The pace of life is almost painfully slow and it is really hard to get things done. This is my main challenge, and so far I have been surprizingly active because of my own initiative. I have visited homes of families requesting sponsorships (sponsored kids get money from a Canadian organization to come to Camp David and get education and meals), I have seen an overcrowded health center, talked to many staff members for ideas, and had meetings with supervisors. I also have another intern, Sandra, working here and together we are working on our main project, we have many ideas and our main concern is SUSTAINABILITY. We have been researching and brainstorming a lot for that. We are thinking of a health resource center that offers classes on health... but we'll see!
SAFARI: wow. like........wow. I went on my first safari in Tsavo East and it was amazing. It was so nice to see the beauty of Kenya and the animals in the wild. The drive there was an adventure in itself when our van's water tank burst. We rolled to the side of the road and another van stopped to help. We were then pulled by another safari van, attached by a thin rope. The drivers didn't hold back either! They continued to pass other vehicles that were going to slow as our car was dragged from behind! "NO FEAR KENYA" is our moto. Our hotel was so nice and we were on the side of a mountain so we could see all of the Reserve to the horizons and could even see elephants, buffalo and giraffs from our patio! On safari, we searched for animals and ran into many elephants, giraffs, zebras, buffalo, umpala, dikdiks, that were right alongside the van. We even watched some cheetahs stalking giraffs and vulchars eating a dead elephant. And the waterhole was awesome because it was SO Lion King with all the different animals just hangin out together. haha. Just standing up and looking out the top of the van at Kenya was overwhelming. Oh and Hakuna Matata really does means "no worries" and Kenyans say that all the time. (pics to be posted soon!)
HOME-STAY: I am so comfortable there now. The kids are awesome and are really warming up to me. Noel (6 yr old boy) is crazy hyper. Irene (9, girl) loves to dance and read to me and tell stories. Edward (13) is still shy, but hangs out with me now. They love to watch tv and Walker Texas Ranger and dubbed soap operas- I am now a huge fan of their extreme cheeziness. The plumbing is broken so bathroom breaks are a challenge and unpleasant... but sall good. They actually made me spagetti and we used hotsauce as dressing! NOT BAD at all, well that's it for now. (I can't tell if I write too much or too little...) Tatuonana badai (see ya later)

MAMBO! (what's up!)

Well, it has been hard to get internet lately because I am still getting to know my way around Mombasa and where things are located. I guess I don't have to say that it is very different.... well I'm going to say it anyway... IT IS SO DIFFERENT HERE!!!! Okay, just needed to get that out of my system. Well... first I had orientation which was a blast! There are 7 interns total and we all get along really well. During orientation, we had language classes, workshops, a city scavenger hunt to get to know the place, and other activities. We stayed at a hotel that was pretty nice and the food was good. I am vegetarian so my options are limited, but I still eat well. I did have some fish stew... which was questionable.
I ended up getting the flu and going to a Kenyan doctor. I was nervous, but I was taken to a realiable place. The doctor gave me some medicine and in a few days I was feeling better. Then a couple days after we went to the beach and an intern fractured his wrist playing football! So 2 of us have seen the doctor so far.
I moved in with my host-family a couple days ago and they are super nice. The house is bigger than I thought. There is a large living room and my bedroom is nice. I sleep in a mosquito net every night and wear lots of repelent. There is a host-Mama, and 3 kids. There are also kids next door that visit. The kids are crazy haha. Mama Mary heats up water for me and puts it in a bucket so I have warm "showers" (I use buckets for showers) which means SO much to me. They have a western toilet which is a PLUS! It has been really challenging to live with a family that is not my own and be surrounded by unfamiliar things and people, but I am adjusting and hopefully will feel comfortable soon.
Right now I am in town on a break with the interns. We are in a place that we go to get away. There is a coffee shop, Dorman's which is like Starbucks, so it is nice to bring back our sanity. So until next time... "Kwa Heri!" (Bye!) -Julia