Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Sex and Alcohol!

Now that I have gotten your attention, I would like to keep your attention on something I think is important.  We received training on so many topics that seem to be endless, but yesterday we covered Sex and Alcohol.

The topic is really not specific to Kenya but for America and the rest of the world as well.  However, for some things, such as HIV/AIDS, it is prevalent in Kenya unfortunately.  But over the years, with strong emphasis on Life Skills in the curriculum and educating the communities, the epidemic is getting under control.

Anyway, we were shown a chart showing top 10 best methods of not getting STD or HIV/AIDS:  There are in this order

  1. Abstinence -- 100% effective
  2. Condom
  3. Condom
  4. Condom
  5. Condom
  6. Condom
  7. Condom
  8. Condom
  9. Condom
  10. Condom
Although this gave us a chuckle, but I think the message got across.  As for me, coming to Africa meant for me an opportunity to "pay it forward" the gifts (knowledge and skills) I have to those that need them.  Second purpose for me was to have the opportunity to travel and see the world.  I have no intention of doing anything else.  So, Abstinence is what I intend to do here.

We, Deaf Educators in Machakos (10 of us), will be travelling to Liotokitok to meet the other educators (18 of them) for one week to have our HIV/AIDS training -- not to learn how to avoid it, but how to teach our children and communities how to prevent it, and how to manage it if infected.

Now on to Alcohol, the booze here in Kenya is far stronger than what we have in America.  For example, the following Kenyan booze is equal to one American 6-pack beer:
  • 1.6 bottles Guiness beer (has 6.5% proof)
  • 2.2 bottles of Tusker beer (has 4.2% proof)
  • 3.3 bottles of Smirknoff Ice (has 7% proof)

So, if we drink their booze the same amount as we usually do, we will just be too drunk.  Funny thing about Guiness is that they say it appears that the Kenyan women favor this beer because they believe there is iron on it to help with their health.  

They explained that there are plenty of "home brews" (like moonshine) around here, but cautioned us about trying them out because some of them will cause us to go blind.  They put in ethanol to try to boost potency.

Some myths:

1.  Are most rapes done by strangers?

False -- 84% are done by known acquaintances.

2.  Rapes are always happening for the young and pretty?

False - most rapes occur to those that are 21 - 69 years old, of any race, ethnicity, sex, etc.

3.  Rapes occurred because the victim did not resist.

False - the victim could be drugged, out of fear, in shock, overpowered.  Compliance is not to be taken as consent.

4.  If the victim did not say no, then its not rape.

False - Same as #3 above.

5.  Only women can be raped.

False -- Rape can happen to men, even of same sex (male-male or female-female).

6.  Most rapes, the victim were asking for it?

False -- but we all must be careful with how we dress, act, how much drink, etc.

Off topic, we went to the market with our trainers so that we can learn KSL for the vegetables and fruits.  It was very helpful.

KSL Trainer Isabel, Britni, Anna


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

And I Will Be Teaching At.....


Today, after so much anticipation and excitement, we finally received our permanent site assignments. Based on what I have read about the school, I am very happy and excited because they offer, and need, almost everything that I can offer and want to contribute.

Some facts about the school:

  • Reverend Muhoro Secondary School for the Deaf
  • Located in Mukurweini, Central Province, which is near Karati (30 min drive) and the big town Nyeri (45 min drive)
  • It is hilly in the mountainous region with lot of trees
  • There is a current hearing volunteer in Secondary Deaf Education, Amanda Herrell, that I will be replacing, so I will get all the tips from her
  • I think there is one Deaf teacher there already
  • Will live on the school compound in a house with one bedroom, sitting room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet, outside choo, water, electricity, all furnished from previous volunteer
  • I still will need to capture and haul water for drinking and cooking
  • This high school is among the first high schools for the Deaf
  • The school is built on hills and have many flights of stairs from house to school
  • There are 264 students in the school, but I think of the total, about 100 may be Deaf
  • School's average grade is 2.7 which I thought was pretty good
  • There are school activities like soccer, volleyball, indoor games, cricket, athletics. 
  • There are also clubs such as drama, science congress, scouting, etc.
  • Their website is at www.revmuhorosfd.com

Monday, October 22, 2012

Random Post

This post is pretty much random, with random photos.  Just wanted to share life here.

Is there witches in Kenya?  Maybe not because they cannot find broomsticks here.  All brooms are pretty much handmade and binded like the photo below.  Everyone bends down and sweep with these brooms at an angle (not straight up, but lean toward one side and sweep to use more bristles.  There are many brooms of various sizes, including small one that we use to "sweep" water into the drain after our bath.


Just a random photo but wanted to share with you the kinds of roads we have here.  Only downtown Machakos and the main roads connecting major villages are paved (even they are unmarked and poorly done).  Everything else is simply dirt, and rough with stones and ditches (in the middle of the road) from the rain.


The plant below seem to be of cactus family.  I was told that if you break a strand, and get its oil on your skin, it would irritate and burn your skin.  These plants along with the ones that have like 2 1/2 inch thorns are usually around properties to keep animals (and humans) off property.  There are often loose barbed wires going through these plants as well.


See the huge thorns? They are everywhere.  Dead branches of these plants are laid around properties, even on top of some walls.


I guess since there are no garbage refuse service, people pretty much burn their trash (after reusing whatever that can be reused), and toss them.  These sights are everywhere and they saddens me.


Outlets here are of the British type.  Three thick prongs giving out 220 volts.  All outlets have their own "switch" I guess to protect electronics during non-use or to save electricity.  Most of our electronics can take 110 through 220 volts (if there are transformers in them) like the Macbook adapter in photo below.  All they need is an adapter to change the prongs.  Other electronics such as hair dryer, TV, etc., that do not include transformers will fry if you just put an adapter on it.


Hey New York City folk, heres your challenge,  show me a cockroach bigger than this?  Good thing there is not many cockroaches at my home, but I hear there are some more at other trainees' homes.  This photo was taken at the Garden Hotel, one of the fancy ones at Machakos.


My full week load of clothes that I hand washed.  Jeans are the killer.  They hurt my knuckles when they are used to "wash" the fabric against my other hand.  I learn to "economic-ize" my clothes so that if my clothes I wore are not that dirty or I did not sweat too much, I would wear them again.  Also certain fabrics are not so great for hand-washing (like pure cotton) because they stretch.  I seem to favor  couple shirts I got that are 50% cotton 50% polyester cuz they wash so easy and dry so fast. 


Hand-tilling.  I have no clue how much he makes when my baba hired him to do the side of the house and the land behind him.  He took two days to till the land. 


It is not in Kenyan's culture to hang our underwear outside.  I was taught to hang my underwear in my room.  Actually my baba told me to wash my underwear same time I bathe, but I rather not.  So I wash my week worth of underwear at once outside, then bring them inside my room to dry.  It takes two days to dry them inside, sigh.  Good thing I brought like 14 pieces so I can wear fresh one everyday!


Walking on the roads always attracts curious kids.  I am in a fishbowl.  They say so many things that I have no clue, but wave back with smiles.  I am sure some of them may be insults, but I think most of them said nice things.  


Group photo.  One kid could not stop looking at me, even when I told him to look out front.


Toys for kids seem non-existant. They play with anything they can get their hands on.  Some of things I thought would be so unsafe, but seem not to be a problem for them nor their parents.


My booster card for this week.  Hugs to my mom and dad.  I enjoy these booster cards and kept my hands off them until the next card is due.  Sorry about the rotation, no time to edit the photos.


One hole down, two more holes to go.  My pants are loose now.


Many of the beans here are so pretty, maybe too pretty to eat!


More roads for your enjoyment.