Do read monday's posts from bottom to top. There are 4. It makes more sense that way.

A reflection on tourists (or myself)

I felt moved the other day to write about the tourists at the Giraffe center. It turned into something of a big reflection for me. though it may be quite incomplete in the extent of my beliefs.

On tourists (I write this like I've never been one, though I am surely guilty of the same)

Part of my time at the Giraffe Center really bothered me to the core. Maybe some people understand me when I say "I don't want to be seen as a tourist" or just that people who have bad tourist habits really irk me! It's mostly that I want to be culturally and personally sensitive to and aware of the people and things around me. There is a mentality that I choose to describe with the word "taking." Maybe not as a lifestyle or even a majority of the time, but these people only act in a way that they are taking from whatever is around them. They're taking as many photos as possible. They're taking up as much time at a certain thing as they want. They are taking in as many experiences as they possibly can. And those things can be all well and good except when they are not respectful to people, animals, the environment, etc.

Pictures, time, experiences, etc. are all good things. Moreover, it's the way of approaching these that is stereotypical to a careless tourist that I desire to keep a huge distance from. It's being told that the giraffe will head-butt her and still walking up to the railing to get next to it's head so her husband can take a picture. It's reeling back and screaming when the giraffe gives a warning nod and still staying there making the wild animal nervous, poking at it to try to get a picture of her petting it. It's knowing the giraffe has just done this and sending her daughter or some other young girl over to repeat the same sequence even though the Giraffe Center worker stopped everyone to make his point of safety clear. Saturday it was issues of safety, common sense, and thinking for a second before taking from the situation. Other times, it's been other things.

A philosophy of sorts...

I seek to be courteous, respectful, aware when I go to new places. I have to try to understand how things are done. It's not to "live like the Romans" while I'm there. It's to be able to gain something deeper from my experience. I don't think I'm the first person in history to say this, to say that tourists and travelers see two, very different things going to the same location. Especially being in one place for so long, I want to see things as the locals do (if for nothing more than to gain another perspective) even if I don't end up liking things the way they see it. At least I won't be speculating...

I want to know, from the people who've already done something, how to do it. I will not simply go through this world so fast that I only think about how I would do something. I want to continually learn. I want to figure out what it takes to live or be in a particular situation so that I can adapt, so that I can save the energy of struggling against the tide with ways that don't work, so that I won't waste my time beating my head on a door when I simply need to turn the nob, so that I can find success in the way things work I find that being open to other ways allows for fruitful integration and interchange between very different cultures.

I've experienced, genuinely, things that I only used to talk about. I've actually gone out of my comfort zone. Finally! I'm breaking down preconceived notions by having real experiences in places and with people I had only heard about years ago. This is how I am choosing to educate and mold myself.

...though I may fail frequently in ignorance. (I have the hope of the Resurrection, and that changes things)

A bit of peripheral information

(using big words. always encouraged. Expand your vocabulary. =)

This is going to be a blog of other random-ish things that I feel like sharing with you, however incomplete they might be.

Laughter!

Africans love to joke and laugh about everything! It's been such a comfort adjusting to being here.

It's in the warmth laughter provides.

The life it gives to a room.

Healing and comfort.

Relaxation! Joy!

...making a joyful noise to the Lord!

It's fun. enjoying people

because they mean something.

A piece of my spiritual life

I'm quite consoled here. It has, so far, been a time of spiritual feast. I'm happy especially about mass here. I feel like I can relate and connect better than I could in Guatemala. Although I don't always understand the Kiswahili (mostly in the songs), the whole things resonates. It puts the desire inside to learn Kiswahil! The singing, dancing, and people make it so beautiful a celebration. I'm happy to live in a Franciscan guest/retreat house. It's good to be around genuinely good people who happen to be nuns and brothers. I have been so blessed here! I'm reading Proverbs. and Micah. Psalms all the time. 23, 27 and such

This area- Langata

They call it the "small Vatican" or the "little Vatican." It has numerous religious communities. It's kinda out in it's own area as there aren't many people out here who aren't college students, professors, or religious people. It's very rural even though it's right on the edge of Nairobi.

Kiswahili words I know

1. Jambo= hello
2. Asante= thank you
3. sana= much or very
4. mchockosi= troublemaker
5. mcora= gangster/criminal
6. nzuri= (I'm doing) well
7. amani= peace
8. haki= justice
9. sawa= okay/ alright
10. sa sa?= (slang) how's it goin'?

Light Rationing

There is light rationing (tomorrow, I will not have electricity in the building here.) Two days per week, we have no electricity. In Kenya, much of the electricity is generated by hydro-electricity. Right now, there is very little water around because of the whole ' possibly the worst drought in 30-some years' thing, so they need to rotate electrical outages. It's serious business.

What's on the News in Kenya?

The Mau Forrest complex- There are recent settlers in Kenya's Mau Forrest (10 years or more ago). They've settled illegally, and the news is that they are being evicted because of that and they are destroying the forrest. The only reason, it seems to me, that anyone cares is the water shortage here. The Mau is apparently one of, if not the, last or best "water catch" in Kenya. It keeps water from just running off into Lake Victoria or the ocean. The desire is to reforest where the settlers have cleared down trees and everything to farm and graze the animals.

The Water Shortage- It used to seem to me that Eastern Africa was always in a drought. Before too recently, all the news I had ever heard of this area of the world was of its droughts. Now they are happening more often. I've heard that this drought could be the worst since 33 years ago. A huge problem (aside from the lack of food) is that Kenya depends on hydroelectric power. Thus there is very little water. They have to ration light, water too in places. During the two days without electricity, we just do other things. Luckily all the cooking is done without the electricity. CUEA has generators powered by diesel gas that keep the university online.

Police Bribes- The news the other night showed hidden camera tape of how the matatus bribe the police, and how they have to in order to get by. Police can make 30,000 Kenyan Shilling per day (almost $400USD).

Kibera Apartments- People want compensation for their houses before they move out. They say that they have property rights. The government has built many apartments for Kiberians to move into in an effort to start to get people out of the slum. People have gotten used to it though. Some have grown up there and desire nothing better. It sure is light on the pocket book to live there.

Do let me know if you enjoy information like this! I journal about it anyway, but if it's not worth blogging about, I can write other things! I hope you're all swell!

love you!!

Something worth relaying to YOU

When I saw people in the spring blogging every day or so, I simply stopped reading because I felt like I could never keep up with everything. I hope my blog doesn't turn into that because I can see how easily it happened to me. I hope to put enough interesting, new stuff up with varying amounts of infrequency as to keep it interesting! I have a feeling that I'll start getting busy and my blog might lag again. We'll see. I pray that God would keep helping me to stay organized and make this blog worth-wile.

The First weekend, and such

Monday it is! and we still aren't seriously in classes. Not another student showed up to our first class this morning (Human Rights), and the other professor told us we didn't have class until next week because of scheduling conflicts (5 students attended this class). We received our syllabus for Human Rights and it looks very similar to the class I took last fall with Ron Pagnucco, so I'm going to see if I can switch it. The only problem is working it in with other classes and the internships. We're supposed to meet about the internships on Wed. at 10am. Martha and I get to take two matatus to get there!

Thursday afternoon, I went to Kibera(I'll devote a post to Kibera soon, don't worry.). Fr. GianFrancesco took us to his friend Richard's house in Kibera's Olympic Park. From there, we walked most of Kibera. Before that though, wee arrived at a government recognized and funded, St. Vincent De Paul (SVDP) rescue center for children in very bad situations: orphaned (by HIV, TB, or other reasons) or abuse among other things. We sat down and talked with the people there. I wish I had remembered their names (It's okay, I'll be going back)! The place was intended for 3-12 year olds, but depending on a number of things, some stay longer. Some of those children had the most beautiful faces I've ever seen!

After leaving the rescue center, we stopped by the SVDP Kindergarden. It was just like our classrooms (more on these ideas later...). It seemed that they were being given a superb start to education! After we toured the empty school building (as they are on holiday until Sept.), we just walked right through the slum over to Christ the King parish. We walked down "main street" and the "highway" aka the railroad. The golf course was so close, I had to ask if there are any pro's coming out of Kibera. One could literally shout over the wall to a golfer. It was that close. (more reflection on the walk in a future blog) We arrived and went up to the Library. It was so silent, but amazingly powerful to see it. It's great to see something realized that I've been even a small part of. We had to hurry back, but talked a bit before we had to return to the house. I'm excited to return, to delve deeper. (there's plenty more to say, and more will come, in time)

Friday night, Martha and I were to make dinner for the Africans. Pene with tomato veggie sauce, baked potatoes, cheese and garlic bread! I came back late from CUEA from trying to register, so I didn't help as much as I wanted to help with making dinner. We were happy to invite Nora and Maureen (her daughter), Fr. Gichure, and Francis (although a little offended that he never joined us). I ate so well that night! Apple Pie too!!! We cleaned up afterward, and Fr. Gichure drove us to Park Place.

Park Place is the closest pub/club to the university. Apparently it's pretty popular for the students. The student body president invited us, so we met up with him. He was already buzzed ("Stop at buzzed" is what I told him that we have a group on campus that makes those advertisements). We sat in the lounge chatting until we moved down to seats on the edge of the dance floor area. Jacob and I were the only ones to go dance. Jacob likes to drink White Cap. It's what the president drinks! He introduced me to a CUEA first-year, who was Kenyan (first-years here are many ages, but those "on track" as we would like to think of it are either 20 or 21). She was a bit surprised and upset when she learned that I had enjoyed my visit to Kibera and wanted to go back. That conversation ended quickly...haha!

We went to the Giraffe Center on Saturday with Sr. Eddie and her friend... I forgot my camera... whoops! I was paying for everyone and the lady at the front desk gave Martha and i the Kenyan price. (hmm, moral questions come up. We'll be going back, and i'm sure we'll pay the 'non-resident' rate= 7 times the local rate. I'm not going to let it tear me apart) we got right up to the balcony and started feeding the giraffes. It was great! Martha kissed one, and we both hugged them. They sure are huge! It's fun to get so close.

I felt bad that we were feeding them so much until I learned that they eat somewhere around 60 kg per day (I weigh 80 kg, so 3/4 of me). That may sound impressive, but when you have 23.5 to 23.9 hours per day to be awake, you will find plenty of time! Seriously, they sleep 5 to 30 minutes every day! (Kay, maybe you'll sympathize?) I think that is why Martha likes them so much! If she could normally sleep that little, she could get so much more done!

Sunday, we decided to stay in after mass in stead of going to Bomas, which is a tourist place where there are a whole bunch of different kinds of traditional Kenyan/African dance groups. We'll go soon. Today (Monday), we went to get registered, tried to attend class, and bided our time at home for the afternoon and evening now. Martha really wants to get out and do things. I'm glad she's here to get me off my butt sometimes!

Hope you enjoy the other parts of this blog too!

Itinerary: long-term, and yes, very vague!

Hello everybody, There's more actually writing to come, but I just wanted to clarify my general itinerary.

(This post should have gone with my snail mail address!)

• Nairobi, Kenya - August 14 - December 14, 2009
• Kampala, Uganda - December 14 - 22 or 23(?), 2009
• Masaka, Uganda - December ~23, 2009 - the second week in January, 2010 or so
• (Kigali, Rwanda - Maybe? - the second or third week of January)
• Port Elizabeth, South Africa - January 21 - June 15, 2010

That's about as accurate as I can see it from here. I hope that makes things a bit more clear!

-still love you guys!

First Photos!

I hope to provide photos more frequently here, in Africa, than I did in Guatemala. I have internet in my room, so it should be easier, for now!

I'm also putting together videos that I've taken. Maybe that will come up here too when I have time... and enough footage to make something respectable.

I arrived early enough to sit with Martha in the Chicago airport!

(not sure if she'll appreciate me posting this picture on the internet or not...)

The sun setting on the past...

...we're on to something totally new.

Clouds over Africa

...we passed over so many cool places from London to Nairobi. Paris, Genoa, Rome, Khartoum. you know...

The desk in my room with a nice window. The rest of my room is too boring to show you pictures of. I'll just say that it's really nice. Think single hotel room in the US (with free internet...kinda).

On my bed in my room, mosquito net and all.

Note the gobs of blankets. It's "winter" here...

Upcoming photos could possibly include: Kibera, the Giraffe Center, traditional dancers, the "nightlife," or just some CUEA school action.

Take care! Sending blessings and love to you all!

Afrika!

It's always been tough to decide if I should just relate the events or how I feel about them. I'm going to try to tell you what I've done and then react. We'll see if I like this way best. I have no clue. I do know that I'm just not good at writing. Oh well...

I left Denver on Thursday the 13th about mid-day heading to Chicago first. I sat next to a nice lady named Danielle who was on her way home to a funeral in Connecticut. I arrived early, so I was there in plenty of time to catch the flight to London with Martha. We got food, but this was where I started having a harder time eating. The plane was full, and I couldn't sleep over the night, not enough room. We arrived in London and walked a good mile or so before we found the security check! ha oh boy! Anyway, we got on the airplane and there were a good 200 seats open, so we got an isle with a lot of leg room. After a bit we took our own rows to lay down in, and we slept all "day." For us, Friday had about 8 hours of sun, weird. Fr. Gichure is in charge of Academic Linkages, which is organizing our student exchange here. He picked us up at the airport with a driver.

The first night, I forgot to use my mosquito net... whoops. It had a huge hole in it anyway though. I sleep sideways in the bed. We live in a house run by the Franciscans. It's kinda a guest house, but there are offices here too. We can walk to CUEA in 10 minutes. It's maybe 3 blocks away, dirt road, ya know. The Franciscans here are awesome ladies. Sr. Teresita is older, totally acts like the best grandmother you could ever think of, and makes the funniest comments under her breath. She left on Sunday for a conference. I can't wait for her to come back. Sr. Edwina "Eddie" is young, cheeky, and very talkative. She has been a great host here for us. Nora is also a lay Franciscan, and she takes care of the house and cooks our meals. She is so awesome and fun! Her daughter helps her.

The first morning, I went to the ordination of two Carmelites. I only mention it because hearing the choirs here made me cry, seriously. Soooo amazing! The dancers were really really good too. Amazing dancers!

Soon enough, I got a SIM card and some post cards! whew! We had a great dinner and Fr. Gichure answered a lot of questions. I felt like I adjusted to jet lag well on that first day, but I've woken up at 4:30 am every morning since. Luckily, I've been able to go back to sleep.

Talking with Kenyans hasn't been the easiest thing. American english is so different than African english, which has been influenced by British english. Many times I will explain something in a totally foreign way to them. It's tough, but I find that I'm speaking a lot more like the Africans now. So they can understand me better now! You might think I talk funny though...

Sunday, we went to mass and Gichure showed us around the campus. We met Emmanuel and his family who are from the Kilamanjaro area of Tanzania. He stayed here at the guest house with his sister and mother on his way up here to send his sister to college. He said we could come to stay at his house when we come there, and he will drive us to the mountain when we want to climb and pick us up when we get down! 6 days(4 days up and two down) He said when it's cold like it is now at a lower elevation, it's hotter at the higher elevation (like on the top of the mtn), which means this is the best time to climb. We have plenty of time cuz it'll be cold for a while, I guess.

Whew! a long post. I hate reading these. sorry! I'll reflect some other time...

An Italian Franciscan priest works in the office upstairs, which is a peace and justice office. He is great to talk with and he is organizing a trip for Martha and I to go to the Kibera slum tomorrow, Thursday. Martha and I consider this a big deal and we're trying to prepare ourselves for it. Sometimes I feel that we can never be fully prepared for everything...

We caught a "matatu" into town to go to the market. All I got was a shoe brush and some bananas. The matatu is exacly like the "micros" in GUATE or, as I've heard, Chile and stuff. Though, here they are a bit smaller. Their music here is much much louder though. I'm sure I'll tell more of matatus later on.

The other night, Sista Eddie, Nora, and I stayed up late talking after dishes in the kitchen. The topic was racism basically, and I learned that Sista actually told her superior that she would rather leave the religious life than go to the US. Sista had heard all the worst about racism and the white man looking down on Africans. We had a talk about Obama's election, MLK Jr., and a lot of other things. She told me that she thought I gave an honest picture of the world, and that eventhough she may have some bad experiences, now she really wants to come to the US to study nursing because it's in her heart to be a nurse. Her face just lights up!

It's been tough to think about considering anything but my own needs since I've arrived here, since there has been a lot to adjust to. I guess I've learned that I can only truly work on one thing at a time. I know I haven't been the best travel partner or friend to Martha. We're working on it, though, and trying to look past ourselves. It has given me a true reflection of a worldly reality though. I've had needs that haven't been met, so I would seek those things for myself before I could look past my own situation. It's so easy for me in the US to look at problems in the world and theorize on what might be done to move forward, but to be in a situation where I need to be okay before I can move forward gives me a profoundly new perspective on it, even though my struggles have been small and clearly overcomable (It's a real word. I looked it up!) Praise God! What a blessing of wisdom and understanding the Lord has given!

Our lunch table today was filled with people from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Italy, Germany, and the USA. This was not planned or organized. It's simply the makeup of the people who were around the house at lunch time today! Amazing to me! Such a blessing! We had a very rich conversation! oh the riches He provides...

We sent some postcards this afternoon and stopped at the Nakumatt (supermarket). Later, dinner was quiet with just Martha, Sista Eddie, and I. Sista got a call and walked out of the dining room. Immediately, Martha poured her glass of papaya juice back into the pitcher. She just couldn't handle it. We are both still sick, and there was very low energy in the room. Once she did that, I couldn't help but laugh and laugh. Oh the etiquette here in Africa!!!

We seem to have this week off of classes as mostly all the students will not move in until the weekend, so we sit. Thus I have the time to write a blog! Take care everyone! Thank you for reading this whole thing!!!!! Shorter posts to come, I promise! Please Please Please write me as often as possible! I love you all!

Snail Mail Address !!!

Chris Morgan

P.O. Box 15155- Code 00509
Langata, Nairobi
Kenya

Do write me! Maybe you will soon get a postcard from me... very exciting!!!

...a real blog coming soon to a computer screen near you.