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!
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