Learning in Teaching.

Olekasasi Primary School. Our first days in there were just… Chaotic! Allow me to describe how I felt:
Growing up in Western countries, we both are used to western organizations, routines and rules; Facing poverty and african schools can be really rough on our young and naive souls… I was kinda prepared for what I was about to experience, but actually, living it is a completely different story…

The blackboards are simply an area of wall painted with black paint, desks and chairs are made of recycled pallets, the student's notebooks are re-used every year until they run out of blank pages, teachers books are re-used from last decade and they have a beautiful garden in front of each classroom.
Every morning, at school, must start with the African Greeting: hand shake and smile saying 'Good morning, How are you'. To your friends you can give a High5 again with a smiling 'Good morning, How are you'. By personal experience, they get offended if you don't greet them personally african style. A hand wave and a loud Good morning it's just not enough for these NICE, HAPPY AND CHEERFUL people.

After greeting, we sit down at our desk, that at this moment, we share it with another volunteer from the local university that has the task of plastifying books. Bonni does that all day around, everyday. I have been watching him doing his task. Seriously… He is an expert. The way he handles the tiny blade which he uses to cut the plastic and the tape is almost artistic, and the discipline that he has on the folding and pasting and cutting and pulling, can determine how strict and responsible he is 'in real-life'.
After a week of sitting and grading homework and give one class per day (if needed/arranged), me and Chelsea finally got some courage to ask for a proper timetable, on which we would have three or four classes that we would be responsible for. We approached Teacher Priscillah, and yes… She helped us getting a proper timetable. That was all it took: 'Asking'.

Now we are experts in giving classes of Math, Science, Social Studies and English. The first days were hard (we even asked Teacher Priscillah if we could be in the same classes together so that we would feel more confident when facing an average of 50 pupils per class), but now we are find it really easy and amusing, when facing all those pupils and teach them about the human body and correct spelling of words.

We encountered another difficult quest: Getting the books for the classes. English was easy. Teacher Priscillah gave us hers. Social studies and Science, Teacher Maurice helped us find one. Math, one week after, Teacher Samuel gave us his. So by now, we have everything we need to conduct proper classes.

Sometimes it is really hard to give attention and support to every single student in the class… There are so many! And each class is only 35min, so sometimes we find ourselves 'stealing time' from another's teacher class.

The school doesn't have a bell. Actually what they have is one student with an actual bell, and he is in charge of playing it every 35min, breaks and lunch time. We found out that that bell is improvised… Meaning that, it isn't a proper bell. But now the Head Teacher got a new one! And complained to us how expensive it was.. And it's true! In a country where meals cost 200SHS, a bell costs 35.000SHS!!!
I love breaks on that school. You see hundreds of kids on the field just playing! imagine what it is to see 600 kids happy on an empty field, playing ball, running, clubbing the only tree there, screaming and laughing. Sometimes we go outside (taking a break from grading hundreds of homework from the day before) and play with the kids. This is the time when we get to know better some kids and bond with others.

On Friday I approached Teacher Samuel and Priscillah, announcing that on Monday we would like to have a meeting with them to discuss sue issues. More on that on the next post ;)

Political campaigns and the Olekasasi Primary School in the back.

Tal como os de cá.

A vida em África é difícil. Não podemos confiar em toda gente, mas também, às vezes, não tems escolha.


No outro dia fomos a Nairobi. Tínhamos várias tarefas que tinham de ser feitas:

(-Chegar à cidade ;)
-Ir ao banco;
-Pagar o safari;
-Comprar o router de internet móvel;
-Registrar meu telemóvel;
-Comprar alguns mantimentos;
-Almoçar;
-Fazer turismo;
(-Voltar para casa.)

A aventura começou com a caminhada para Rongai onde apanhámos um autocarro para a cidade. Desta vez, fomos por um atalho que a Jane nos ensinou logo de manhã. No caminho, cruzámo-nos com um grande número de vacas e cabras. De experiências passadas, eu estava mais assustada com as cabras do que com as mais fortes e maiores ditas vacas.

Bem, chegámos a Rongai sãs e salvas (apenas dois homens estranhos se aproximaram de nós no caminho) e um outro capítulo apenas começara: encontrar o autocarro número125 para Nairobi. Chegámos à área denominada como Paragem de autocarros (e matatus, tuk-tuks, piki.pikis, etc.) quando um homem veio  correr na nossa direcção e diz: 'Nao?' apontando para o seu Matatu, já completamente cheio com passageiros. A início, não entendi, mas depois de algumas outras tentativas, conseguimos ... Nao = Nairobi.

Decidimos ir com ele. Entrámos no Matatu (que é muito menos espaçoso que um autocarro) e tomámos os lugares de trás. Foi um desafio só para lá chegar, já que estávamos a carregar mochilas e nós não somos as pessoa mais pequenas por estas redondezas...

Duzentos xelins e 45min depois, estávamos em Nao, prontas para esta aventura nas suas ruas metropolitanas. Por incrível que pareça, nós despachámos as primeiras coisas da lista em quase 2 horas (eu sei, eu sei .. É difícil de acreditar, já contando com os serviços públicos, como bancos e lojas de telecomunicações pode ser realmente considerado um milagre...).

Nós queríamos parar e comer algo verdadeiramente queniano e de facto, durante a  nossa busca incansável de 'Vamos descobrir onde o Barclays mais próximo fica", deparamo-nos com 'Swahilli Delicies', e sim, a escolha estava feita. Ambas pedimos uma Coca-Cola refrescante e uma galinha com molho e Ugali (farinha de milho).

Terminámos a nossa refeição, mais do que merecida, e dirigimo-nos para os museus na parte Norte da cidade. Mas, primeiro, demos de caras com um homem, que nos andava a seguir toda a manhã, e convidou-nos para visitar a sua loja - num corredor muito estreito e escuro numa rua secundária perto do gueto da cidade.

Na nossa caminhada (2-3km) para o Museu, passámos pela Universidade de Nairobi, mais especificamente o departamento de Meio Ambiente e Geografia. O Campus é lindo! Árvores altas, belos jardins cheios de flores, arquitetura moderna e tudo está limpo. Também passámos por algumas bancas de artesanato de pessoas locais. Uma mulher veio a correr para nós a gritar: 'Amigo! Vem! Venha para a Loja da Mama e ver o que tem cá dentro!','Oh, nós estamos atrasadas para ir ao museu! Mas, mais tarde, voltamos!', 'Ah ... tudo bem. Prometem?','Sim, nós temos que passar por aqui de qualquer maneira', 'Oh! Ok ok! Mama vai estar à vossa espera. Já agora, adoro o teu cabelo!'. A Mama  ficou completamente fascinada com os meus caracóis, e depois de passarmos pela sua loja, quatro homens apareceram do nada e, mais uma vez, tentaram-nos convencer a visitarmos as suas bancas. Houe um que também falou dos meus caracóis, mas acho que era para captar a minha atenção e tal.e mesmo se gabou o meu cabelo crespo para ver se eu tenho a sua atenção. Na realidade, resultou, porque mais tarde... Já lá vamos!

Nós finalmente chegámos ao Museu. Estava uma escultar à entrada do edifício que lhe concede a dignidade que merece. Quando entrámos, notámos na banda tradicional que estava a dar um concerto (mais uma amostra para vender CDs .. Mas tudo bem). Comprámos o bilhete e dirigimo-nos para a galeria.

Pinturas tradicionais Massaai e artesanato estavam na primeira sala do museu. Na segunda, havia modelos da vida selvagem que podemos encontrar no Quénia (elefante, zebra, búfalo, okapi, leopardo, o gorila, o leão, papa-formigas, pangolim, impala, etc). Depois de mais de uma hora na galeria, merecíamos uma bebida gelada. Então, seguimos as setas para o restaurante e pedimos 'Uma Coca-cola gelada com limão mas sem gelo, por favor'. Esse foi um dos momentos mais relaxantes que eu tive desde que cá estou! De frente para o jardim, com uma bebida refrescante, brisa fresca e uma conversa agradável (eu e Chelsea).

Após esse momento de descontração, fomos para o Parque das Cobras! Isto envolve muitas cobras em terrários ... incluindo as espécies mais perigosas da África! Crocodilos e tartarugas também fazem parte do museu e alguns eram realmente assustadores.

Bem, depois do episódio de museu, voltámos para a estação de autocarros para apanharmos um Matatu de volta para Rongai. Mas, obviamente, passámos pela loja da Mama. E foi uma estreia! Nós regateámos. Muito! Quase 30 minutos depois, ambas possuíamos prendinhas para amigos e familiares.

Ao irmos para a paragem de autocarros, parámos durante uns minutinhos para comprar água e uma sobremesa para toda a família.

Eu não posso descrever o quão caótica a paragem de autocarros realmente é. Na verdade, não era paragem nenhuma! Tornou-se um ponto de encontro para todos os meios de transporte que se possa imaginar! Desde autocarros grandes a motas, desde matatus a tuk-tuks. Finalmente estávamos dentro do Matatu rumo a Rongai, após andarmos feitas loucas a perguntar a toda a gente 'Rongai? Rongai? '.

As criaturas má lindas no Quénia.

Um dos edifícios principais da Universidade de Nairobi.

Dentro de um Matatu. Rongai-Nao-Rongai.

Chegámos a casa a são e salvo. Jantámos e comemos a sobremesa.

Os mais barulhentos cá de casa.

1- Depois de um dia inteiro cheio de aulas com quase 50 alunos, nós voltamos para casa e damos de caras com três meninas lindas e animadas. No entanto, há UMA que se destaca das outras.

2- Depois de um dia inteiro cheio de aulas com quase 50 alunos, nós voltamos para casa e ouvimos as badaladas das 17h do Sr. Relógio de Parede. Ele adora badaladas. E fá-las a cada hora que passa. A originalidade é o seu ponto forte (uma canção por hora...)

Sr. Relógio de Parede e Boi.

Ah... A Ironia.

Não é maravilhoso quando nos confrontamos com a Ironia?

(...) 'Nothing like you and I'

Esta viagem tem sido tal como aquele filme 'Comer, Orar e Amar'. E o melhor é que eu sempre quis ter algo semelhante ao que Julia Roberts encontrou ao fim de um ano de viagem: encontrar o que ela encontrou, saborear o que ela saboreou, ver o que ela viu (mas claro, ver outros sítios, mas ver com os mesmos olhos), etc. Há uma mensagem especial por trás do romance. O optimismo, os sonhos, o desejo e claro... Amor para dar e vender!

Rongai lá no fundo.

Hienas? Onde?!

Finalmente conseguimos jogar com as bolas que trouxe!

Eu e Chelsea fomos dar um passeio. Um passeio fotográfico assim se pode dizer, nas redondezas da nossa casa. No momento em que chegámos perto da nossa escola, reparei que algumas crianças estavam a correr na nossa direcção, e poucos instantes depois:"Professora Chelsea!"... É sempre ela! 'E a Professora Ana?!", perguntei. Chelsea soltou uma gargalhada enquanto o garoto ficou um pouco atrapalhado e envergonhado, mas bem, agora eles sabem quem eu sou! Acho... (Deixem-me dizer que isto só acontece por causa da equipa de futebol Chelsea FC) -- '

Bem, as crianças começaram tocar-nos exaustivamente e agarram-nos pelas mãos (e pelo meu cabelo! As pessoas aqui ficam fascinadas com meus caracóis, e só querem tocar, tocar e tocar!). As crianças perguntaram-nos se podámos ensiná-los a correr. Nós olhámos uma para o outra e eu disse: "Bem, e que tal jogar à bola?","Nós não temos bola...", "Ah, então nós amos a casa num instante buscar uma bola e voltamos dentro de 5min!". E assim o fizemos; 5min mais tarde, lá estávamos nós, arbitrando um jogo de futebol anárquico entre 20 crianças. Os pequenos limitavam-se a ficar ao nosso lado, em busca de protecção contra os chutos fortíssimos dos mais velhos em direcção indefinida. E Victoria também lá estava. Mais uma vez com aquele sorriso humilde e calma que nenhuma outra criança foi capaz de transpirar.

Só pudemos ficar por lá cerca de 20 min, porque, mais tarde íamos jantar algures com a nossa nova família, supostamente ao 'sítio do costume'. Então, quando já avançávamos para a 2ª parte do jogo de futebol, de um tempo de futebol, vimos a Jane a correr na nossa direcção, e quando nos alcançou anunciou que Esther e o marido estavam no carro à nossa espera, para que pudessemos ir então à tão ansiada ceia no Buffalo Restaurant (acompanhada de bebidas e...já lá vamos).

Nós as duas (eu e Chelsea) ficámos realmente surpreendidas com as condições do restaurante. A primeira coisa vimos foi o parque infantil. Com baloiços e 'astro-jump' (liguem à Chelsea para mais informações ... em português é conhecido como 'insufláveis'), Boi e Soni simplesmente desataram a correr para o insuflável, enquanto eu e Chelsea relembráva-mos reclamando como nós, às vezes, durante a nossa infância, éramos proibidas de entrar nesses parques infantis por 'parecerer-mos' mais velhas, devido à nossa altura acima da média...

Bem, caminhámos para as traseiras do parque, onde estavam dispostas cadeiras, chapéus de sol e mesas numa esplanada do restaurante. Ficámos com a  única mesa vaga e, logo depois de nos sentarmos, pedimos duas cervejas e duas Coca-Colas  (Coca-Colas para mim e para a Chelsea, cervejas para Mama e Papa) - não  que não bebêssemos cerveja, só que nós não queríamos dar a impressão errada sobre o nosso carácter, então... Ficámos pelas Coca-Colas!)
Foi por esta altura que (sem crianças por perto), conseguimos ter uma conversa adulta (bem, suficientemente adulta).
Conversamos sobre Kibera, como é que as pessoas vivem por lá, e Papa compartilhou algumas experiências que teve quando ele ia visitar alguns amigos nesse musseque. Conversamos sobre o tempo (não foi a versão cliché!). Comparámos o tempo (super-hiper-mega) frio do Canadá, com a tolerância de Ester à humidade. Conversamos sobre viagens fizéramos anteriormente a esta aventura no Quénia.
E conversamos sobre Vida Selvagem Quéniana!

Deixem-me dizer que há dois anos, Mama e Papa tinham um cão grande. Um pastor alemão. Ele era corajoso e forte. No entanto, um dia, ele foi encontrado morto no jardim da frente. Ideias do que o possa ter morto?! UM LEÃO! AI MÃE que há animais selvagens correndo livremente por aqui! Nop, Agora que não me levanto para ir fazer xixi durante a noite... Aguento... Até às 7 da manhã.
Depois dessa experiência do leão, vieram as histórias sobre a hiena. "Ah, sim, à noite, de vez em quando, és capaz de ver uma a andar pela estrada.". E logo depois do Papa ter dito isso, Chelsea apenas olhou para trás e vê uma sombra nuns arbustos "O-O-O que é isso? ', Todos nós olhámos e eu perguntei 'Hiena? Onde?! " tentando descobrir o que Chelsea mirava. Um instante depois, Esther, com uma grande risada disse: 'Isso é um gato minha querida! "

Papa and the kids.

Com muitas experiências para compartilhar e histórias para contar, e de jantar à estilo do Quénia (sem talheres), Papa pediu duas Tuskers. Uma para mim e outra para a Chelsea.

Num Domingo de manhã.

Eu já me apercebi do quão óbvio é a fé e crenças que os quenianos carregam por JC e Deus. Sou capaz de ver um cartaz, uma frase, uma imagem, um símbolo, algo que lembra a Igreja Católica em todo os sítios que vá. No outro dia, fomos para a casa da Professora Priscillah para um chá depois de um dia inteirinho de escola e, claro, as paredes da casa estavam cheias de fotos e quadros alusivos a Deus e fé.

Deixem-me dizer que eu realmente não sigo os princípios cristãos mais convencionais ... eu não vou à missa aos Domingos, e (eu sinto muito em dizer isto, e não quero ofender ninguém), por vezes duvido da sua existência. Ou melhor, eu acredito em algum tipo de energia que nos mantém Aqui. E, segundo a primeira e segunda Lei da Termodinâmica "nada é destruído, tudo se mantém" e "o princípio da entropia", passei a acreditar que não é um ELE que nos governa, mas nós mesmos temos esse poder dentro de nós. Eu não tenho 'alguém' lá em cima 'ditando os mandamentos para que me possa tornar uma melhor pessoa. Não. Para mim, eu sou uma melhor pessoa porque assim escolhi ser.

Mas bem, vamos manter-nos no tópico.

Domingo de manhã, é a hora de ir à igreja. Senti o nervosismo à flor da pele assim que vi o edifício - uma estrutura de metal, com cadeiras, bancos e uma mesa na frente para os porta-vozes. Não sei bem o Porquê ou o Como, mas o o meu batimento cardíaco acelerou bastante. (Eu tenho que admitir que algo/ alguém estava a avisar-me sobre aquilo que estava prestes a acontecer dentro daquela humilde capela ao lado da escola Boi e Soni,  mesmo em frente à rua da casa de Ester .) Então, todos nós entramos na igreja. Estavam provavelmente 20 pessoas lá dentro nesse momento .

E estavam todos a cantar.

Tive calafrios quando me apercebi o que estava a acontecer, e quando me sentei na minha cadeira, eu (quase) senti as lágrimas nos olhos. No entanto, consegui conte-las, porque sabes: eu tenho uma reputação a manter!
Mas a ansiedade ainda não tinha ido embora! Eu ainda estava totalmente alerta de que algo estava para acontecer. Eu senti realmente algo.

Foi então que eu conheci a Victoria. Uma menina bonita (que neste momento pensava que era um rapaz - só porque ela usava calças e não um vestido bonito e extravagante como o de todas as outras meninas) que estava entretida com uns óculos de sol de uma amiga, e, aleatoriamente, sentou-se ao lado da minha cadeira. Ela sorriu para mim enquanto ouvíamos um discurso (não sei sobre o que é que era, porque Ah, sim, esta era uma missa em Swahili), com os óculos de sol no meio da testa. Por algum tempo nós apenas trocámos olhares e sorrisos, até que ela finalmente perguntou muito baixinho 'Qual é o teu nome?'. Ainda com meu coração a bater como um comboio e com um sorriso imortal nos lábios, respondi-lhe, e perguntei o dela. Lembra-te que, por este altura, para mim ela era um rapaz. Então ela disse-me o nome dela, mas eu não cheguei a entender por causa do discurso extremamente emotivo que uma mulher estava a dar. Então, depois de um tempo, eu não consegui resistir e, novamente com apenas um sorriso, dei-lhe os meus óculos de sol. Ela ficou felicíssima, e por alguns minutos, não saiu de junto de mim. Só quando Boi veio para dentro (vinda das brincadeiras ao ar livre com outras crianças) e a chamou para ir brincar, ela deixou-me sozinha. Eu estava meio preocupada que nunca mais iria colocar os olhos em cima dos meus óculos de sol outra vez ... Mas depois de algum um tempo, ela voltou, "feliz que nem um rei" (uma expressão comum por aqui), com os meus óculos de sol na mão.

Ainda com o estranho pressentimento dentro de mim, recebi os óculos de volta enquanto uma mulher norueguesa deu seu discurso sobre o Senhor, política e fé. Quando Martha (o nome da mulher) se sentou, mais uma vez o padre assumiu o controle sobre o microfone e disse:
"Reparei que temos entre nós mais duas senhoras brancas. Por favor, podem vir aqui à frente e apresentam-se para as pessoas aqui presentes, de onde vêm, etc.? "

Enquanto ele explicava em Swahili para o resto das pessoas que tínhamos de ir até lá à frente e falar, eu olhava para a Chelsea e Esther para realmente perceber se tinha mesmo mesmo mesmo de ir. Eu estava em pânico, e, aparentemente, a Chelsea não entendeu nada a partir 'Reparei que temos... "; então tive de confiar no olhar de Ester. E com um gesto de Esther, levantei-me e puxei a Chelsea comigo. Caminhámos para a frente da capela e sem microfone lá estávamos nós: a enfrentar 50 pessoas cheias de fé e amor, esperando ansiosamente para saber quem éramos.

Victoria, a Sorridente e a sua bicla fixolas!

Depois de um minuto, ou dois, ambas estávamos de volta ao nosso lugar, com as mãos a tremer loucamente com adrenalina de estar de pé em frente a uma pequena multidão. Depois disso, a sensação que tive desapareceu, e Victoria lá estava, com o mesmo sorriso a mirar-me com admiração e curiosidade.

Estas duas horas na igreja foram intensas e cheias de formas e sentimentos que eu nunca vou esquecer.

Fé.

Portanto, vamos começar pelo princípio.

ONDE ESTOU A DORMIR: na casa de Esther. Ela é cozinheira! E acredita em mim, as comidas que ela faz são simplesmente incríveis. Ela tem duas filhas: Naomi (ou Boi) e Jane (ou Soni). Soni é a mais nova com 3 aninhos de idade, enquanto Boi tem 7. Há uma terceira menina na casa e seu nome é Jane (ou Jane). Ela é uma sobrinha de Ester, e está aqui para a ajudar com as crianças e com a casa. Jane tem 12 anos (e meio) de idade.

As crianças vão para as aulas de manhã cedo e voltam por volta das 16h. Esther trabalha tanto num turno de dia, desde o início da manhã, às 19h, ou no turno da noite, durante toda a noite até o sol nascer. O marido trabalha sete dias por semana, durante todo o dia em por isso de ... Quase não o vejo.

Agora, aqui estão algumas fotos!

Por ordem: Soni, Boi e Isaac. A caminho da estação de autocarros!

Jane e Chelsea. Amigas novas! @ horta.

Like a local.

Life in Africa is hard. We cannot trust everyone, but also sometimes, you don't really have a choice.

The other day we went to Nairobi. We had several tasks that had to be done:

(-get to the city;)
-go to the Bank;
-pay the safari;
-buy the mobile internet router;
-register my mobile phone;
-buy some groceries;
-have lunch;
-do sightseeing;
(-go back home.)

The adventure began with the walk to Rongai where we would catch a bus to the city. This time we went through a shortcut that Jane taught us that morning. We came across many cows and goats. From past experiences, I was more frightened by the goats than by the bigger and much stronger cows.

Well, we got to Rongai safe (only two weird guys approached us on the way) and another chapter just got started: finding the bus no.125 to Nairobi. We got to the area where all of the buses are, when one guy came running toward us and said 'Nao?' pointing at his Matatu already full with passengers. At first we didn't understand, but after some other attempts, we got it… Nao=Nairobi. We decided to go with him. We entered the Matatu (which is much less roomy that an actual bus) and decided to take the back seats. It was a challenge  just to get there, since we were carrying backpacks and we are not the most tiny person around this area…

Two hundred shillings and 45min later we were at Nao, ready for this adventure on metropolitan streets. As incredible as it seems, we did the first things in almost 2 hours (I know, I know.. It's hard to believe, since relying on public services such as banks and mobile shops can be really an effort…).
We wanted to eat something truly Kenyan and actually, on our quest of 'Lets find where the nearest Barclays is' , we came across 'Swahilli Delicies', and yes, the choice was made. Both of us ordered a refreshing Coke and a challenging Chicken with sauce and Ugali (corn flour).

We finished our more than deserved meal and headed to the museums on the North part of the town. But first we came across a guy that was following us for the whole morning inviting us to visit his shop - on a really narrow and dark hallway on a secondary street near the ghetto of the city.

On our journey (2-3km) to the Museum we passed by the University of Nairobi more specifically the department of Environment and Geography. The Campus was beautiful! Tall trees, gorgeous gardens full of flowers, modern architecture and the stress were clean. We also passed by some shops of art crafts from local people. One women just came running to us saying 'Friend! Come! Come to Mama's Shop and see what's inside!', 'Oh, we are actually late to go to the museum! We will be back!', 'Oh… okay. Promise?', 'Yes, we have to come through here anyway so we'll stop at your store.', 'Oh! Okay okay! Mama will be expecting you. By the way I love your hair!'. Mama was fascinated with my curls, and while we passed by her store four more men appeared from the inside of their own shops and persuaded us to go inside, and even bragged my curly hair to see if I got their attention. It work though, cause after… We'll get there!

We finally got to the Museum. A sculpture was at the entrance of the building that gave it the proper dignity. As we entered we noticed the traditional band that was giving a concert (more a show for selling out CDs.. But okay). We bought the ticket and headed to the gallery. Traditional Massaai paitings and art crafts were at the first room of the museum. on the second one there were models of the wildlife we can find in Kenya (elephant, zebra, buffalo, okapi, leopard, gorilla, lion, aardvark, pangolin, impala, etc). After more than one hour at the gallery, we deserved a cold drink. So we followed the arrows to the restaurant and ordered 'A cold Coke with lemon and no ice, please'. That was one of the most relaxing moments I had since I'm here! Facing the garden, having a refreshing drink, fresh breeze and nice conversation (me and Chelsea).

After the relaxing moment, we headed to the Snake Park! This involved lots of snakes in terrariums… Including the most dangerous species in Africa! Crocs and turtle beloved to this part of the museum and some were really scary.

Well, after the museum episode, we headed back to the Bus stop to catch the Matatu back to Rongai. But obviously we passed by Mama's Shop. This was a first! We bargained. A lot! Almost 30min after, we both had gifts for friends and family. Heading to the Bus stop, we took some minutes to buy some water and desert for the whole family.

I can not really describe how chaotic the bus stop was. Actually, that wasn't a bus stop no more! It became a meeting point for EVERY means of transport imaginable! From big buses to monocles, from mattes to tuk-tuks. Finally we were inside the Matatu heading to Rongai after wandering around the place asking 'Rongai? Rongai?'.

The two most B-E-A-Uuuuutiful creatures in Kenya at the moment.

One of the Main buildings of University of Nairobi.

Inside the Matatu: Rongai-Nao-Rongai.

We got home, safe and sound. We had dinner and ate our desert.

The loudest ones at home.

1-After an entire day, full of classes with almost 50 students, we get home and face three beautiful girls that, no matter what, are always happy and cheerful. Tough ONE highlights from the other two.

2-After an entire day, full of classes with almost 50 students, we get home just to hear the 5pm announcement from Mr. Clock. He likes announcements. He does that every single hour. An he is very original (a song per hour…).

Mr Clock and Boi.

Oh! 9o'clock, there's the song of the hour...

Oh... The Irony.

How wonderful is it when you face it?


(…) 'Nothing like you and I'

This trip has been just like that movie 'Eat Pray and Love'. And the best thing is that I always wanted to have something like Julia Roberts on that 1year journey: find what she found, taste what she tasted, se what she saw (but of course, see other places, but see with the same eyes), etc. There is such a beautiful message behind that story. The optimism, the dreams, the desire and of course… Love to give and take!

Rongai at the background.

Hyenas? Where?!

We finally got to play with one of the footballs I brought!

Me and Chelsea went for a stroll. A photographic walk if you may say, on the neighborhood. By the time we reached our school, I noticed some children running in our direction, and not long after 'Teacher Chelsea!' It's always her! 'What about Teacher Ana?' I asked. Chelsea just laughs and the kid gets a little embarrassed, but well, now they know who I am I think. (let me say that this only happens because of the football team Chelsea FC) --'

Well, those kids started to touch us and grab our hands (and my hair! I find that people here just get fascinated with my curls and they just want to TOUCH!). They asked us if we could teach them how to run. We kinda looked at each other and said 'Well what about playing ball?', 'We don't have ball', 'Oh, then we'll get a ball from home and we'll be back in 5min!'. And so we did! 5min later there we were, being referees of a anarchic football game between 20 kids. The little ones just stayed next to us looking for protection from the rough kicks that the bigger one were doing. And also, Victoria was there. Again with that humble smile and calm that not other kid was able to transpire.

We could only stay there for about 20min, cause we were going to have 'supper' somewhere nice and relaxing. So after a while of footballing, Jane came running towards us to say that Esther and her husband were in the car waiting for us, so that we could go to Buffalo Restaurant to eat (and drink, but we'll get there).

We both (me and Chelsea) were really surprised with the conditions of the restaurant. The first thing we saw was the playground for the kids. With swings and 'astro-jump' (call Chelsea for further information… or just Google it), Boi and Soni just simply ran to it, while me and Chelsea were complaining how we, sometimes during our childhood, got kicked out from playgrounds for being too tall, and guards don't believing that we were just old enough to be inside…

Well, then we walked to the back of the playground, where an esplanade with sun umbrellas, chairs and tables were set. We got the only one that was free and, right after taking our seats we ordered for two beers and two cokes (cokes for me and Chelsea, beers for the Mama and Papa) - Not that we don't drink beer, just that we don't want to give the wrong idea about ourselves, so… Stick with the coke!
It was by this time that (with no kids around) we could have an adult conversation (well, kinda of).
We talked about Kibera, how the people live in there and Papa shared some experiences he had when he was visiting some friends there. We talked about the weather (not the boring talk though!) We compared Canada's (super-hyper-mega) cold weather with Esther's tolerance to humidity. We talked about trips that we had done.

And we talked about wildlife!

Let me tell you that two years ago, Mama and Papa had a big dog. A german shepherd. He was really brave and strong. Though, one day, he was found dead in their back/front yard. Any idea what killed him?! A LION! OMG there is wildlife running freely around this place! Nop, I'm definitely NOT going peeing during the night.. I'll just… HOLD IT 'till 7am.

After the experience of the lion it came the hyena stories. 'Oh yeah, at night you see then running by the road really often'. And right after Papa said that, Chelsea just looked back to a shadow in some bushes behind her back 'Wh- Wha- What is that?!', we all looked and I asked 'Hyena? Where?!', and tried to figure out where was Chelsea spotting something. A moment after Esther with a big laugh said 'That's a cat my dear!'

Papa and the Kids.

With lot of experiences to share and stories to tell, while having dinner Kenya style (no cutlery), Papa ordered two Tuskers. One for me, and the other for Chelsea.

On Sunday Morning.

I have obviously noticed the faith and believes that kenyans carry for JC and God. You can see a poster, a sentence, a picture, a symbol, anything that recalls to the Catholic Church everywhere. The other day, we went to Teacher Priscillah's House for a cup of tea after a full day of school, and of course the walls of her house were full of pictures and frames allusive to God and Faith.

Let me say that I don't really follow a conventional Christian principles… I don't go to church, and (I'm sorry to say this, and I don't want to offend ANYONE) sometimes I doubt of HIS existence. Or better, I believe in some kind of energy that keep us going. And by the first and second law of Thermodynamics "nothings is destroyed, only transformed" and "the entropy principle", I came to believe that is not a HE who rule us, but we ourselves have that power within us. I do not have someONE 'up there' dictating commandments so that I can become a better person. No. For me, I am a better person because I CHOSE TO BE.

But well, lets keep on topic.

Sunday morning, is the morning for going to church. I was nervous when I saw the building - a structure of metal, with chairs, benches and a table at the front for the speakers. I had the feeling for the moment I laid eyes on the chapel, though I didn't know Why nor How. (I have to admit that something/one let me know about that episode that I was about to have inside that humble chapel next to the school where Boi and Soni go to, right across the road where Esther's house is.) So, we all entered the church. There were probably 20 people then.

And they were singing.

I got goosebumps when I realized what was going on, and by the time I sat on my chair, I (kinda) felt tears on my eyes. Though I held them back, 'cause you know: I have a reputation to maintain!
Though the anxiety wasn't gone! I was still fully alert that something was about to happen. I really, really felt something.

It was then that I met Victoria. A cute little girl (that at this time I thought she was a boy - only because she was wearing pants and not a pretty little and fancy dress like all the other girls) that was playing with a friend's sunglasses, and randomly sat beside my chair. She smiled at me while the priest was giving a speech (about I don't know what, cause OH yeah, this was a Swahili session) with the sunglasses on the middle of her forehead. For sometime we just exchanged stares and smiles, until she finally asked really softly 'What's your name?'. Still with my heart beating like a train and with a immortal smile on my face, I answered and asked hers. Note that by this time, she was a boy to me. So she told me her name but I didn't get it cause of the really emotional speech that a spokes woman was giving. So after a while, I did not resisted and, again with only a smile, I gave her my sunglasses. She was really happy, and for some minutes she did not leave beside of me. Only when Boi came inside (from playing with other kids) and called her to play along, she left me. I was kinda worried that I would never lay eyes on my sunglasses again… But after a really short time she came back, 'happy as a king' (a common expression), with my sunglasses in her hand.

Still with that strange felling inside, I got the sunglasses back while a Norwegian woman gave her speech about the Lord, Politics and Faith. When Martha (that's the woman's name) sat down, again the priest took over the microphone and said:
'I have noticed other two white lades there. Can you please come up here and present yourselves, where do you come form etc?'

While he was peaking Swahili to the rest of the people clarifying that we were supposed to go up there and talk, I stared at Chelsea an Esther to really figure out if I HAD TO go there. I was freaking out, and apparently, Chelsea did not get anything from' I have noticed that' so I relied on Esther's glare. And with a hand gesture from Esther I stood up and pulled Chelsea with me. We walk to the front of the chapel and without a microphone there we were: facing 50 people filled up with faith and love, anxiously waiting to know who we were.

Smiley Victoria and her cool bike.

After a minute or two, we were both back at our seat. With our hands shaking like crazy from the adrenaline that it was standing in front of that tiny crowd and expose ourselves. After that, the feeling I had was gone, and Victoria was there with the same smile looking to me with admiration and curiosity.

These two hours at church were really intense and full with shapes and feelings that I will never forget.
Faith.

So, lets start from the beginning!

WHERE AM I STAYING: in Esther's house. She is a cook! And believe me, her cookings are simply amazing. She has two children: Naomi (aka Boi) and Jane (aka Soni). Soni is the youngest with 3 years old, while Boi is 7. There is a third girl in the house and her name is Jane (aka Jane). She is Esther's niece, and is here to help her with the kids and the house. Jane is 12 (and a half) years old.

The kids go to class early in the morning and come back by 16h. Esther works either a day shift, from early in the morning to 19h, or the night shift, during all night till the sun comes up. The husband works 7days a week all day around... I have barely seen him.

Now, here are some pictures!

in order: Soni, Boi and Isaac. Walking to the bus stop!

Jane and Chelsea - New friends! @ garden

Fully charged!

Nothing like a spontaneous experience to awake the soul and desires within me (and you).
Nothing like sharing all of those desires with people I love (and love me).
Nothing like feeling alive each morning I open my eyes to see (and feel) the sun on my skin.
(...)

For memories and desires.

1:42 am of Day -1.

VISIT MY WEB SITE! --- CLICK HERE ---


Today was the day that I left my family in Luanda and flew to Johannesburg to spend the night before going to Nairobi to actually start the Kenya Experience! Yeah, that's it. Let's call it from now on the KE :)

So. Yesterday, me, my sister and both my parents, drove from Benguela to Luanda to attend to my Grandfather's B-day
(83 years old and still like a kid inside! Keep it up Vovô!!!)
We ate A LOT! Food was marvelous and OHHH! The deserts were amazing!

Well, today, after saying goodbye to my grandfather, his partner, my uncle, aunt, little cousins and mom and dad, me and my sister finally went inside the aircraft with final destination: O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa.

I'm staying the night in a hotel right next to the airport (and not in my sister's house due to the simple fact that I have an early morning flight tomorrow).

So my plan was:
1- Check in the hotel and drop my luggage in the room
2- Change from shorts to jeans (the night in Jo-burg is not that warm!)
3- Have dinner with my sister and her housemate
4- Come back to the hotel
5- Have a cup of coffee
6- Organize the links on kenyaexperience.net
7- Write and share this post
8- Sleep

Hence, you guys can see that right now I'm at number 7!

Though, with so many expectations and ideas for this month ahead of me, I do not think that I will be able to sleep well tonight
(or maybe I will. Let me just turn off the lights and we will see ahah)

Kenya will be a Dream Come True. For a long long loooooong time I have been thinking about being a volunteer. And I couldn't be more grateful for that sudden feeling that took control of me and from one moment to another I had everything on the way to go to Kenya.
(ohhh how I love being so spontaneous)



With my two bags filled up with (not that much) clothes and (lots of) schools stationaries and toys, I am ready for departure!

Flight no: SA184
Departure: 09h40
Destination: NAIROBI!

My loyal Passport and his cheerful friends - Mr. Bag and Mrs. Bag.

It is suppose to be someone at the airport with a tag with my name on it. I just have to find that person and head to VICDA's headquarters in Nairobi. Then I'll meet my KE's colleagues and supervisors. For two days, we will have Orientation to elucidate us about our mission and other specific aspects that we should be aware of. This will also be the time where I will discuss HOW and ON WHAT I ish to spen the funds (we) raised, but more or that when the time comes.

For now, not much more can be told.
I already miss my mom and dad (without their LOVE, this wouldn't be possible)

Let me sleep so that I get to Nairobi FASTER!

Keep in Touch!
CHEERS PEOPLE,
be happy!

And the temperature goes up, up and up!

News FALSH!

I finally got the confirmation of acceptance on the Teaching Volunteer Program in Kenya! I am so glad I took this decision. It makes me feel more alive than ever!

For one month, right after the holiday season, exactly staring on 15th of January, I'll be flying from Angola to Kenya, carrying my backpack and an aura brighter than ever! I already feel it becoming warmer with love ready to be shared.

For a long time I've been waiting for the right argument to do this volunteer thing. I tried to talk some friends on board of this idea, tried to overcome the monetary issue, and also tried to figure out if I was ready, or better, if I could carry on with the task of being a Volunteer.

Enough is enough. I got tired of waiting for the right moment, and decided to create that moment myself, without divine intervention that would come as I pleased... Three days ago, I came across the GVN web site. I loved it! Everything about it, and the simple fact of being reviewed by trusted sources (Bill Gates and CNN), gave me the spark that I was looking for!

In a pure spontaneous act of deliberation I clicked the 'Apply Now' button on the bottom of the page. And now, roughly 72h later, I got the answer that brings the temperature up, up and up! I feel alive and happier than ever! Tomorrow I'll go surfing for celebration, both of going to Kenya and the end of the semester (officially - no assignments until March!)

... I just hope the World doesn't come to an end in December... That would be very inconvenient.

Day 53.

The only real failure is the failure to try. And the measure of success, is how we cope with disappointment, as we always must.
We came here and we tried, all of us in our different ways.
Can we be blamed for feeling that we are too old for change? Too scared of disappointment to start it all again?
We get up in the morning, we do our best. Nothing else matters.

But it is also true, that the person who risks nothing, does nothing. Has nothing.
All we know about the future is that it will be different.

Perhaps what we fear is that it will be the same. So we must celebrate the changes.
Because, as someone once said:

Everything will be alright in the end.
And if it's not alright, then trust me... It is not yet the end.

Keep dreaming.
by: StinaPersson @ http://www.stinapersson.com/portfolio/watercolour/

Oops, I did it again!

After promising to myself that I wouldn't 'forget' about writing in this blog... Well, 'Oops I did it again'.

Although now I promise once again that I will not neglect the existence of this blog ever again!

So, here are the news:

Went to New Zealand;

and

Committed to a surfer life.

Here are some pictures to prove it!

Me. Happy. Taking a stroll on Fox Glacier.

@ Lake Tekapo.

Posing for the camera @ Russell.

My board buddies and the instructor @ Manly beach.

The surfer life.

Uma verdade.

A cada dia que passa vejo e aprendo mais e mais, e a cada dia que passa fico com mais perguntas por responder...

Vejo-me confrontada com a realidade em que vivo e não gosto do que sinto! Deixem-me contar-vos uma pequena história; Estávamos em Dezembro de 2005 e pela primeira vez eu e a minha família fomos passar a quadra natalícia em Angola, terra natal do meu pai. Eu estava super entusiasmada, visto que desde criança que sonhava com esse momento de visitar as raízes da família! Já me tinham avisado para estar preparada para ver Pobreza em primeira mão e eu, na minha inocência de 16 anos, julgava que o que as revistas e os livros da escola mostravam sobre o assunto era mais que suficiente para me preparar. Nada disso. Confrontei-me com tantos episódios de pobreza total que alguns casos levaram-me as lágrimas ao olhos, desde crianças a banharem-se em águas de esgoto na rua até um sorriso de uma menina quando lhe demos uma boneca para as mãos; boneca essa que devo confessar com alguma vergonha, nunca foi das minhas preferidas. Daí ter optado por pôr dentro do saco de brinquedos Para Dar.

Nunca me faltou nada. Comida, brinquedos, família, alegria, jogos, consolas, TUDO! Eu tive tudo! E tenho de agradecer aos meus pais por me terem proporcionado uma infância onde ser feliz era a única coisa que me preocupava.

Agora que cresci, olho para tudo aquilo que me rodeia e sinto... Raiva! E vontade de fazer alguma coisa!

Acabei de ver um documentário sobro a produção de cacau na Costa de Marfim. Estou chocada como as grandes companhias não abrem os olhos (ou melhor fecham os olhos) a estas realidades... Exploração infantil não é um caso sem remédio! Por amor da Santa, façam alguma coisa, não olhem somente para os lucros e deixem de lado o capitalismo medíocre e o materialismo absoluto.

E agora... O que posso eu fazer? Eu quero realmente deixar um mundo melhor para quem vier a seguir a mim. É uma questão de ter orgulho no que é meu! Chamemos-lhe um patriotismo elevado ao nível máximo.

Ah, como era bom que com um estalar de dedos, fosse possível alterar a maneira como as pessoas pensam. Aqueles políticos corruptos, os ignorantes, os estúpidos, os conflituosos, os invejosos e os gananciosos! Todos, de um momento para o outro, mudam de idealismos e filosofias.

Ah, como o mundo seria um lugar melhor.

Às vezes até prefiro não ver televisão, ler jornais ou ouvir rádio... A Media infecciosa e contagiante que  alastra a ideia do supérfluo e do materialismo que reina o nosso mundo, poderia também com um estalar de dedos mudar radicalmente. E em vez de haver intervalos para comerciais de fast food, ou grandes negócios de compra de carros, mini documentários sobre a situação actual do mundo ocupavam os excessivos 15min entre partes de programas...

Ahh, como seria possível mudar tanta coisa, se toda a gente do planeta estivesse a remar para o mesmo lado...

The Feeling.

Some time ago I asked some of my friends which movie they would watch knowing that would be the last they'd ever watch.

It's not a random question! Movie pictures are part of our life, now- Everybody enjoys going to the cinema with a bunch of friends or with the especial one alone, and most of the times it's not about going to the cinema, but about watching the movie.

Recently I read something quite interesting, that the Avatar movie cost roughly the same as Curiosity Mission... This is rather revolting than interesting. I feel some influence from this book that I am reading, Mega-slumming by Adam W. Parsons which reports the life in Kibera, Kenya. Poverty is really something much more deserving to attentions than "What movie would you watch", but for some reason I feel like writing about one of the seven Arts.

This is not my first post about movies. I already wrote one about the marvelous work from Walt Disney and Alan Menken.
But this time it's different.

Coming back to the first question, "Which movie would you watch knowing it would be your last?"
Give yourself some time to think about it. It can be rather fun to review and know what kind of movies do you like, or the ones that changed your life.

Do you want to know which one I'de pick?

Sound of Music (Música no Coração).
Yup. That one.

So, if I die tomorrow, or the film industry dies tomorrow, let me watch this movie once again.
There. I said it!
Done.

I can sound strange, knowing that it wasn't a Blockbuster back in my childhood...

I remember the first time I watched the movie.
My dad, the guy that loves technology and fixing up things, bought a DVD player. It was a big thing back then. We are talking in the early 2000's, maybe 2002. The DVD player was metallic blue, and it was great! I loved to join my dad in this kind of things so we putted together the hole machine to enjoy a movie that my mom chose. I didn't know the movie, but it sounded boring just by reading the title and looking to the cover... A women in a hill dancing, happy face and mountains in the back... Pf, not for me. I wanted to watch something more fun like the new Toy Story or other Walt Disney hit.

But well, suck it up!
After everything was ready, we got together and pressed play.

I remember asking my mother why did she picked this movie, and she told me that it was the movie from her childhood. Okay, then - I thought to myself - now you really have to enjoy it! It's important to mom.

Some shortages from a city somewhere in Europe, landscapes and then... THE WOMAN SMILING AND DANCING. Nothing special... Until my mother starts singing with her. Okay, the music is cute, and my mom can sing! Wow... This movie sure is special.

We watched the hole movie, with my mother singing with the woman.
And believe it or not, I loved the movie!  Though I remember that the ending was not satisfying.

And so, after the watching this movie for the first time, I memorized every single song. I sang over and over again (with my mom).

I recently watched this movie once more, and I GOT GOOSEBUMPS! Like, every time the woman (let's call her Julie Andrews, for we have maturity enough to recognize a prodigy when we see them) sang one of those epic songs, my eyes started to shake and I felt like crying! This movie sure is special. The music, the set, the actors (Hurray JULIE ANDREWS!), the story and the message of the movie are just... I don't really know the word, I'm not that good with words, but I am good with feelings. And this movie gave me The Feeling.