Alright so here's the deal, I cannot believe I only have one more week here. The school week flew by. It's been 6 days of actually being in Kenya and it's just now I am getting used to everything. I am writing this as Talisa( who is 7 years old) is braiding and playing with my hair ;) Today was great! I had to play legos with pre-schoolers who the whole time just talked to me in their mother tongue language. Of course I had no idea what they were saying to me, but I just smile and nod and tried to keep them from hanging on me like little monkeys. My favorite thing of the day was a little boy named Collins about 4 or 5 years old kept pointing and smirking at me saying "mzungu mzungu!" In Swahili that means white person! Adorable little thing, but quite mischievous. Then I ate lunch with the teachers then it was off to watch class 4 perform a song and dance. I then told class 6 I would read stories with them after they begged me, but I ended up watching class 7 debate team! All in all, School was great. I have decided after being here, that the Kenyan Shilling rate to the US Dollar is so little! It only takes 6,000 shillings to send 2 of the kids to school. If they could have a sponser, it would be wonderful. I just want to pay for all of the kids, but their are about 400 kids!! Here's my point..... When it comes down to it, 6,000 shillings is $60 US dollars!!!!!! That would be enough for a whole school year for 2 children! It's just profound.
Tomorrow is Saturday and Daniel is taking Jackie and I to Shimba Hills to hopefully see wildlife. aka Elephants, giraffes, rhinos etc.... ! Then off to the beach.
I will write again, thats all for now. Goodnight (here) from Kenya
With Love,
Des
Friday, October 8, 2010
FRIDAY! Only one week left ;(
Alright so here's the deal, I cannot believe I only have one more week here. The school week flew by. It's been 6 days of actually being in Kenya and it's just now I am getting used to everything. I am writing this as Talisa( who is 7 years old) is braiding and playing with my hair ;) Today was great! I had to play legos with pre-schoolers who the whole time just talked to me in their mother tongue language. Of course I had no idea what they were saying to me, but I just smile and nod and tried to keep them from hanging on me like little monkeys. My favorite thing of the day was a little boy named Collins about 4 or 5 years old kept pointing and smirking at me saying "mzungu mzungu!" In Swahili that means white person! Adorable little thing, but quite mischievous. Then I ate lunch with the teachers then it was off to watch class 4 perform a song and dance. I then told class 6 I would read stories with them after they begged me, but I ended up watching class 7 debate team! All in all, School was great. I have decided after being here, that the Kenyan Shilling rate to the US Dollar is so little! It only takes 6,000 shillings to send 2 of the kids to school. If they could have a sponser, it would be wonderful. I just want to pay for all of the kids, but their are about 400 kids!! Here's my point..... When it comes down to it, 6,000 shillings is $60 US dollars!!!!!! That would be enough for a whole school year for 2 children! It's just profound.
Tomorrow is Saturday and Daniel is taking Jackie and I to Shimba Hills to hopefully see wildlife. aka Elephants, giraffes, rhinos etc.... ! Then off to the beach.
I will write again, thats all for now. Goodnight (here) from Kenya
With Love,
Des
Tomorrow is Saturday and Daniel is taking Jackie and I to Shimba Hills to hopefully see wildlife. aka Elephants, giraffes, rhinos etc.... ! Then off to the beach.
I will write again, thats all for now. Goodnight (here) from Kenya
With Love,
Des
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Day 6 in Kenya ;)
JAMBO (Hi) Everyone!! So sorry it's been a bit since my last update. I have had the worst luck connecting to the internet. So far, it's extremely hot and humid here, probably such as a humid summer day in Minnesota. It is a whole day difference of 8 hours so my time is all off!
I'm living with a great family and the girls are sitting right next to me watching some dramatic show ;)
To make a long story somewhat short, lets start by saying life is much different here. Every day I start my walk to the Shikamana School for disadvantage/orphan children.(45 minutes there, 45minutes back) I am greeted by a "Jambo" almost everyday by the people in the village on my walk. Jackie ( The other volunteer from England) and I were initially in charge of just loving, feeding and caring for some of the children, but we have now stepped in and started teaching a few classes. The classes are from Kindegarten 1 all the way to Class 8. Class 6 Math and PE classes and kids are my favorite so far. Oh and class 8! Yesterday a lady from Belgium came in and taught them a few songs and dance. All the ages are just lovely and precious.
The school itself was built actually 2 years by the Americans! Previously, the children (now around 400 students) had been learning outside and under a little hut. They then built a very westernized style school for them. I love being a part of it! We are so blessed to be living in one of the most powerful countries of the world. Everything we do and achieve should never be taken for granted. My favorite part is when I tell them I am from America I get almost the same response.... " OH Obama!!" DO you know him? Who did you vote for? Of course I just had to laugh. Now, they usually don't every learn about the U.S. presidents until at least high school, but in this case seeing as Obama's dad was Kenyan it's quite a huge deal for everyone here!
I have also come to the conclusion that my tattoos are very distracting to most the children. I tried my best to cover them up but it's just too hot!! One little boy asked me if I would take him to America to get meet Obama and get a tattoo;) hehe Well then...... Guess that sums up that day.
Today we gave class 8 the option of social studies or P.E. and they all chose social studies. There are some very, very intelligent students in the classes.
My next project when I get home is to put together a few fundraisers for more libraries in order for teachers and students to actually learn more. I know we all have an idea of a 3rd world country, but honestly until you arrive and live with the culture( not just seeing a village of the people as a tourist) no idea!
Tomorrow is Friday which means it has already been a week! Only a week to go which actually is somewhat disappointing:( See you all soon !
XOXOXOXO
I'm living with a great family and the girls are sitting right next to me watching some dramatic show ;)
To make a long story somewhat short, lets start by saying life is much different here. Every day I start my walk to the Shikamana School for disadvantage/orphan children.(45 minutes there, 45minutes back) I am greeted by a "Jambo" almost everyday by the people in the village on my walk. Jackie ( The other volunteer from England) and I were initially in charge of just loving, feeding and caring for some of the children, but we have now stepped in and started teaching a few classes. The classes are from Kindegarten 1 all the way to Class 8. Class 6 Math and PE classes and kids are my favorite so far. Oh and class 8! Yesterday a lady from Belgium came in and taught them a few songs and dance. All the ages are just lovely and precious.
The school itself was built actually 2 years by the Americans! Previously, the children (now around 400 students) had been learning outside and under a little hut. They then built a very westernized style school for them. I love being a part of it! We are so blessed to be living in one of the most powerful countries of the world. Everything we do and achieve should never be taken for granted. My favorite part is when I tell them I am from America I get almost the same response.... " OH Obama!!" DO you know him? Who did you vote for? Of course I just had to laugh. Now, they usually don't every learn about the U.S. presidents until at least high school, but in this case seeing as Obama's dad was Kenyan it's quite a huge deal for everyone here!
I have also come to the conclusion that my tattoos are very distracting to most the children. I tried my best to cover them up but it's just too hot!! One little boy asked me if I would take him to America to get meet Obama and get a tattoo;) hehe Well then...... Guess that sums up that day.
Today we gave class 8 the option of social studies or P.E. and they all chose social studies. There are some very, very intelligent students in the classes.
My next project when I get home is to put together a few fundraisers for more libraries in order for teachers and students to actually learn more. I know we all have an idea of a 3rd world country, but honestly until you arrive and live with the culture( not just seeing a village of the people as a tourist) no idea!
Tomorrow is Friday which means it has already been a week! Only a week to go which actually is somewhat disappointing:( See you all soon !
XOXOXOXO
Saturday, October 2, 2010
HELLO from Amsterdam, HOlland ... still....
Hey ALL! So My arrival time in Kenya was suppose to be this morning at 8am. (kenya time) WELL>>> I would love to say that that actually happend, but no instead I am here paying to use the internet while waiting for my 6pm flight tonight. That means that I won't actually reach Mombasa, Kenya until tomorrow 8 am. (Quick side note, it is 6 am Minnesota time, 12 in the afternoon here in Holland. Luckily KLM airline is top class and provided hotel, free dinner , breakfast, calling card, and even a little "over night" bag filled with shampoo, toothbrush etc...
So amidst all the chaos and trying to call the UK, for assistance about my flight change (Im sure my phone bill will be quite large) I must say, how much I thoroughly enjoyed Amsterdam the first day!
My great new friend Dionne, lives here and took me on a tour of the city and we went shopping of course. I bought some new cute boots! Her and her sister are wonderful, and I will see them and possibly stay there on my way back home. I could listen to them speak Dutch all day! Anyway, I finally got a good night sleep at the hotel at least and cannot wait to actually arrive tomorrow! So far its only been about 3 days and it feels like a week so far, probably due to lack of sleep/time change all that good stuff.
WEll.. for now I'm out I should get off to the boarding gate and I should say how much I LOVE seeing the world and traveling even when everything goes not according to plan. Thats what its all about ;) I love you all, and this concludes post 1, day (3 now) of still trying to reach my destination.
xoxo ~Des
So amidst all the chaos and trying to call the UK, for assistance about my flight change (Im sure my phone bill will be quite large) I must say, how much I thoroughly enjoyed Amsterdam the first day!
My great new friend Dionne, lives here and took me on a tour of the city and we went shopping of course. I bought some new cute boots! Her and her sister are wonderful, and I will see them and possibly stay there on my way back home. I could listen to them speak Dutch all day! Anyway, I finally got a good night sleep at the hotel at least and cannot wait to actually arrive tomorrow! So far its only been about 3 days and it feels like a week so far, probably due to lack of sleep/time change all that good stuff.
WEll.. for now I'm out I should get off to the boarding gate and I should say how much I LOVE seeing the world and traveling even when everything goes not according to plan. Thats what its all about ;) I love you all, and this concludes post 1, day (3 now) of still trying to reach my destination.
xoxo ~Des
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Day one less then 24 hours!
I leave tomorrow, and I hope that I have internet when I arrive in Diani, Kenya. So I hope to be able to update and upload pictures of my adventure. I am so excited and blessed to be able to go. A huge thanks to CIndy and Tracy for letting me take this time off from wonderful work, in order to go for these 2 weeks! This is a short blog I know, but more too come. I have to go pack!
xoxoxo
~Des
xoxoxo
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Kenya in 28 days!
So I thought I would post my first blog about my trip to Africa. I'll be gone for 2 weeks working at an Orphange in Diani, Kenya. It will be 8 to 5 and I will have the weekends off. I am so completely excited and ready to go. One other volunteer through the company Travellers Worldwide will be with me. Many last minute things to get together now, but as of now I have my visa, my flights etc... I will try to keep as many posts on here as possible before, or after the trip! I wish everyone could have this same opportunity, be on a look out for many pictures of the beautiful nature, wildlife, and of course the wonderful kids and people I am about to meet.
My thoughts are consumed every day about life here, the luxorious lifestyle I live. (which of course I am extremely thankful for!) I cannot wait to be extremely humbled again and live with another culture, experience a new world, a new life and do something to better serve other people while taking in it all in.
I get my all my shots next Tuesday!! Wish me luck ;)
With that said, on this blog I plan to post anything from travel experiences, Hairstyles, fashion ideas, health and wellness, workouts, How-to's, music videos, poems, quotes, and many other little things that I find fascinating !
My thoughts are consumed every day about life here, the luxorious lifestyle I live. (which of course I am extremely thankful for!) I cannot wait to be extremely humbled again and live with another culture, experience a new world, a new life and do something to better serve other people while taking in it all in.
I get my all my shots next Tuesday!! Wish me luck ;)
With that said, on this blog I plan to post anything from travel experiences, Hairstyles, fashion ideas, health and wellness, workouts, How-to's, music videos, poems, quotes, and many other little things that I find fascinating !
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