21/1/12

So much is different here, there is so much to take in and write about all at once and I'm afraid I may forget things!
   So lets start from the beginning, from yesterday. I woke at 7.30 which I was pretty annoyed about. The noises from outside seemed to seep through my ear plugs; music, shouting from the children who woke up so early! Plus there was a cockerel who crowed the dawn at least 10 times. I got up to try and close the windows (which wouldn't close) and Dorcas the 'house manager' casually walks in!
   We then met everyone at Tuskys and jumped in a matatu to have a tour. I was squashed in the front with Rawllince and the driver, and I have never had such a bumpy ride! The roads are dust roads and the pot-holes many. To call them pot holes is an understatement - they are great big dents in the road which we were manoevering onto the other side to miss!
   We were shown many places, and I am afraid to try and find my own way because there is so much to remember! We arrived at the place by the lake where we were to eat, it was lovely! Tables lined outside under decking, and right by the water. We ate fish and kale in a sauce with chipatis.
   Afterwards we walked into town and me and Rawllince spent an hour in a cyber cafe where I spoke to Dean and Megan which I was so happy about! It gave me a real boost and made me realise how much I missed home seeing pictures on facebook! It only cost 60 shillings too which was great! We then joined everyone at a place which was playing live music, and had a dance! I wish I could dance, it seems to come so naturally to them! Although sometimes the women dance very provocatively.
   We walked home and I was so tired!

20/1/12

Now I am sat in the sun waiting for my host family to pick me up! It's so exciting! Found out my host home and counterpart, I'll be working for FASCOBE with Dache, which is a radio station that helps women and children (I gather from what I've been told!) I'm going to be living with Rawllince who seems like a real character, with a pastor! Should be interesting!
   Tomorrow we will meet again as a group and are having a meal by the lake which I'm really looking forward to!
... Wow, I'm here! He has 2 kids, 7 and 4, I have just met one of them, she seems quite shy! I am the only white person in the house - must be quite weird for them!
   Their house is nice, it's alot like back home! They have a housekeeper who lives here. She carried my bag up, I couldn't even lift it! I offered to help but pastor Walter said 'no she will do it'.
   I was talking to Rawllince about his family and what he does. He has 2 younger brothers whom he supports as their parents died when they were young. It's shocking to me but they just seem to take it so well. It's definitely alot more common here. So sad though. He was telling me how he is a teacher for primary school, and I was shocked to hear that they still use the cane! He said otherwise children won't learn respect and won't do as they are told. I was explaining how in England we have very different ideas about punishment of children!

19/1/12

So today, we got to find out our placements! We walked to the lake, and then danced after tea - learnt some kenyan moves!
   I've been bitten so much and my foot is in so much pain I can hardly move it :( distracting me from writing!

18/1/12

Day 2 and it already feels like we've been here ages! Yesterday we were greeted, singing and dancing, by our Kenyan counterparts. Today we have spent the day training and getting to know them. It was interesting to find out their preconceived perceptions of what we would be like! One group said they'd imagined we would be 'built and huge', but were surprised to find that we were 'mostly slender', another group said they'd imagined we would be slender, and were surprised when 'some fat ones came off the bus'!
   We've also learnt more about the host homes, (they won't all have toilets!) And we got to state a preference as to our placements. My first choice was one working with children to get them off the streets, I really want it! Found out however that we will be expected to get to our placements on our own! On the back of a bicycle for 20 shillings or on some other thing I've forgotten the name of! I can't find my way around the hotel, let alone Kisumu!
   We went for a wander, a few of us before tea. Once you're outside the gates and down the road a bit it's a different world. The houses, the roads (my feet came back red from the dust!) And the people. It feels so surreal being here, I can't get over it. 

Day 1

We boarded the plane as a group - with no supervisor to help us out. After an eight hour flight, we landed in Nairobi, found the man with the sign and loaded our 23kg bags onto the top of the bus, with the help of a man who then asked for money, which none of us were prepared for!
   When we got to the hotel we were kindly fed and watered and dispersed to our rooms, with another early start the next morning and what we thought would be a 3 hour drive to Kisumu. So now, another 8 hour bus ride later, we are all absolutely nackered. I'm struggling to keep my eyes open, but I don't want to close them in fear that I'll miss something; there is so much going on! And Africa, wow. It's everything I'd imagined it would be and more. With its huddles of corregated tin shacks, soil red as brick, and the trees, so many trees! The views are amazing, and the people so friendly. It seems that they are as much intrigued by us as we are by them, they don't half stare! And they seem to be everywhere, walking barefoot along roads to an unseen destination, lying on the ground outside shops soaking up the sun, walking herds of cows.. it's absolutely perfect. Everything seems to be handmade; the stalls on the side of the road, roofed with plastic sheet and selling browning bananas, to the wooden scaffolding balanced precariously on half built houses.
   Of course, when we stopped for a rest break and to look in a gift shop they tried to rip us off, but that's all part of it, right? It is now quarter to 6 in the evening, the sun is setting and we are dodging pot holes on this bus. It's so beautiful, I can't even describe.

I can finally say.. Africa, here I come

It has been requested that I post one last time before I leave for London tomorrow by someone I'll miss a lot!

I am sat on the floor of the living room surrounded by the contents of my suitcase. When I said I was packing light, I still had two more pages to include, and now I'm wondering how on earth I am going to fit it all in. I must be overpacking, surely I won't need all this. But as I go through each item, I can think of a reason why I'll need it.
Yesterday was a hell of a day, town in the morning to pick up some last minute bits (I really shouldn't have left it until the last minute!) and visited my Grandad in hospital, he was so high on drugs he was talking utter gobledegook, and told me that I needed to be careful out there as I would make a lot of men excited.. :S
This morning I woke up ill, and so ended up missing a planned day at a spa with my mum and sisters which I was gutted about!
All I can say now is thank goodness for mum! She is the one packing my case right now, I knew she'd be able to fit it all in :) thanks mum!
I am absolutely nackered, but have wanted this for so long, I am so so happy to finally be doing it! It is going to be the experience of a lifetime, and one I will carry with me, always.
So now I can finally say.. Africa, here I come.

Just Giving

I have set up this website for those who wish to donate to the charity I am volunteering with.

www.justgiving.com/Zoe-Lock

Thanks :)