Great day

Hey everyone. I left school at 3:30 as opposed to 4 today so I could get home before dark. Yesterday we left this internet cafe at like 6:30 and cut it pretty close walking through the village right when it was getting dark. Also, my matatu rides from work were much faster. They dont leave the towns until they are full. I take one from my school to Kiambu. In Kiambu it sits until it is full and luckily today I was the 18th passenger (ya these things should have like 9 people in them) so it took off right when I got in.

Today was an awesome day. Once again I woke up naturally, or by the sound of animals, I guess that is naturally...at 5. Tommy and I go to bed at 8:30 or so every night so waking up this early is not so bad. I actually really love getting up and it still being dark. I grab a cup of tea and watch and help Carolyn the young girl who helps around the house cook and stuff. Then I take a splendid bucket bath and head to work.

My school day started off by helping Steven carry the schools daily supply of water into the school. Buckets and Buckets at a time. Kenya's biggest problem has got to be the water situation. No one has water and you see people all over driving and walking long distances to get it. Luckily there is a well in Steven compound, the compound I live in so he brings the school water every day.

When school started Kimani did an hour long science lesson. From there he left and I took over. I find it incredible how much responsibility I am getting at this school. It really makes it clear that these schools need help since I just got here and I control my own classroom. I couldnt be happier though because I know I am actually doing a lot in the little time I am here.

We were supposed to finish up solving equations today (x-5 = 7 what does x equal etc). However, the kids could not even understand negative numbers. They are fifth graders. I taught them it a bit yesterday but it didn't really stick. Today I FINALLY got them to understand that 3-7 is negative 4 and not positive 4. It made me feel really good because that is obviously ridiculously important for understanding math. It really bothers me that they have gone through years of school and do not know things like that. I think I know why they do not though. Kimani and one other teacher I have watched teached do this thing where after every point they make they ask "Isn't it?!" very aggressively. All the kids answer "yes." I know many many times they do not understand what is going on and have just been programmed to say yes. I noticed that happening when I was watching so I really made a point to make sure they understood and did not just say they did.

I just read a couple of comments from my blog yesterday and surprisingly today answered a lot of the questions and comments people had. For instance John and my Aunt said something about playing soccer with the kids. Well, today during lunch the little town by Waskam school realized white boy could play soccer. The kids were playing right outside the school during recess. I intercepted the ball and started juggling and all that. A couple local kids maybe around my age or a little older saw me and came over with their own ball. I was showing them some tricks and suprisingly with work shoes on, dress pants on, and not having played much soccer lately, I was doing some awesome tricks. This developed into them asking me if I wanted to buy the ball. I said no because I was leaving in 2 weeks. Then they told one of the teachers that I wanted to buy it. To make a really long story short, most of which is me standing there while the teacher bargained with the locals in swahili and then finally telling me that I should just buy a new one cause the locals might just steal it right back. Basically, I will be buying the kids at my school a new soccer ball either today or tomorrow. I had not even thought of this myself for some reason but after today I realize it would be the perfect gift. Some of these kids are good but they are playing with a really old ball.

Also, I learned some Swahili today. I can officially count to 19 in Swahili. I am proud of myself.

I come home from work so so dusty and dirty. This place is so dry and it is dusty everywhere. Plus, playing soccer today did not help the cause. I am filthy

So today I realized one of my favorite things about Kenya. Driving to work makes me smile because all over the town and on every road there are little kids walking to school. There are literally 3 and 4 year olds walking to school BY THEMSELVES! I swear. And you all said Kenya was dangerous. They are the cutest things walking down the road just following the path they were taught in their school uniforms.

Also, I still havent gotten over the fact that when little kids see me they yell Mizungu and chase after the matatus I am in. On my way home today I was in a matatu with like 17 people and 20 kids were all clearly staring at me and following the matatu as far as they could.

Riding in a matatu might be the craziest/coolest/scariest experiences ever. Each one has some "hip" 20-30 year old dude that hangs out the side wearing an American baseball cap. He bangs on the side of the van to tell the driver to stop to pick someone up. Taps coins on the window when a passenger wants out. It is just one of the many many things here you wouldnt understand or believe until you saw it.

Well thats all for today. Thanks as always for reading. I am working on the pictures. I tried yesterday but it just was not happening on these connections over here. I will try this weekend when I have more time.

-Kevin

P.S.

For those who were interested, the weather here is about 50 degrees in the morning and night and gets up to 75 during the day. It never really feels very hot though. This is their coldest month of the year. It is pretty funny how everyone is freezing here because its 55 degrees.