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| Mt Meru... my mountain |
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| Maasias |
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| The director of the rehab center for the disabled... showing me the walkers. They reminded me of my little girl! (Look Z!) |
"Development demands bold transformation." Joy. Kindness. Learn. Motivate. Need. Opportunity. Process. Quite. Read on...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Under the African Sun
This week has been going pretty well. It has its ups and downs as everything in Africa does! I really like Tanzania.
I've been moving around with the AIDS team here. It has been a good time. Today I went to a home for children with disabilities, where they rehab them and enable them to return to normal society. It is really beautiful. I worked with the director to help her get some ideas for partnerships with hospitals, peace corps and others. I've been working every day with Sr. Bahati in the communication dept, helping her write some proposals for funding various projects. I find that I am doing a lot more "consulting" work than service. This is hard because it is not what I want to be doing, but it is something that I can do. The places I have been recently aren't really set up for me to be able to jump in and be really hands on.
Yesterday I met with an AIDS group and was actually really able to give them a lot of input and tell them about the conditions of HIV/AIDS infected in the west. That was really gratifying. I am gaining a lot of knowledge through this visit... a lot of ideas for working with HIV/AIDS victims. I am glad for this because it will be part of my work in Mbarara.
I went back to the tailor yesterday to get my dress and it was all wrong. This was very frustrating... I tried and tired for a 1/2 an hour to explain what I wanted. I might have been successful. Maybe. The language barrier is huge here. I am a bit annoyed at GVSU for not offering Swahili (they claimed it was a "slave language"... what, is the WHOLE population of Tanzania in slavery???)
I've been antsy here because I am ready to get on the road home (to Mbarara). But that has settled a little, now that I am actually working. I'll visit more groups tomorrow and home visits on Friday. Then to Mt. Kilimanjaro on Saturday!! Woot.
This place is beautiful.
Today, the woman who runs the center I visited asked me if I had been in TZ before. I said no. She said she thought I had because of how I speak Swahili!!! That was really encouraging. I have just tried to jump in and have learn about 5 things and use them whenever I can. I am very nervous to start Runyankole, but I just have to go for it!
Photos tomorrow!!!
I've been moving around with the AIDS team here. It has been a good time. Today I went to a home for children with disabilities, where they rehab them and enable them to return to normal society. It is really beautiful. I worked with the director to help her get some ideas for partnerships with hospitals, peace corps and others. I've been working every day with Sr. Bahati in the communication dept, helping her write some proposals for funding various projects. I find that I am doing a lot more "consulting" work than service. This is hard because it is not what I want to be doing, but it is something that I can do. The places I have been recently aren't really set up for me to be able to jump in and be really hands on.
Yesterday I met with an AIDS group and was actually really able to give them a lot of input and tell them about the conditions of HIV/AIDS infected in the west. That was really gratifying. I am gaining a lot of knowledge through this visit... a lot of ideas for working with HIV/AIDS victims. I am glad for this because it will be part of my work in Mbarara.
I went back to the tailor yesterday to get my dress and it was all wrong. This was very frustrating... I tried and tired for a 1/2 an hour to explain what I wanted. I might have been successful. Maybe. The language barrier is huge here. I am a bit annoyed at GVSU for not offering Swahili (they claimed it was a "slave language"... what, is the WHOLE population of Tanzania in slavery???)
I've been antsy here because I am ready to get on the road home (to Mbarara). But that has settled a little, now that I am actually working. I'll visit more groups tomorrow and home visits on Friday. Then to Mt. Kilimanjaro on Saturday!! Woot.
This place is beautiful.
Today, the woman who runs the center I visited asked me if I had been in TZ before. I said no. She said she thought I had because of how I speak Swahili!!! That was really encouraging. I have just tried to jump in and have learn about 5 things and use them whenever I can. I am very nervous to start Runyankole, but I just have to go for it!
Photos tomorrow!!!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Arusha, Tanzania: Imagine a really nice city in the middle of Africa.
Friday was good. Had a brief orientation, made up a schedule for next week, and worked some with Sr. Bahatti in the communications office on some funding requests.
Yesterday, Saturday, I took the day in Arusha. Now that I am staying in Africa I need to get some various things to put my life in order.
I wandered the main street and discovered that here they have a working postal system!! Imagine that. This city makes me really happy. They have nice electronics, stationary, really beautiful fabric and clothes, all for reasonable prices. There isn't an insane amount of traffic, like in Kampala. Here you can cross the street and not fear death every time!
I enjoyed my day wandering, I got a little lost, but Arusha is not very big. As long as you keep walking you'll find you way! My best purchase was a jar of RASPBERRY jam!!! I was soo excited, I paid the fairly high price (in TZ standards) for it. But when I got home and tried it... it is seriously HEAVENLY. Possibly the best raspberry jam I've ever had, and a small taste of home!
Because of the Jam, I went of the great Raspberry hunt. I wanted the real berry! After a looong and drawn out search, during which I managed to seriously confuse a large number of Tanzanians, I did not find raspberries. But the adventure was pretty momentous! (it involved the local markets, weaving in and out of stalls, trying to communicate... crazy)
But the whole adventure proved one thing to me. You can grow raspberries in Africa. And I fully intend to do it!
Arusha is a tourist starting point, a place from which many people go on Safari. But it is also very diverse in it's population. There are a lot of people from the Indian subcontinent. I met a very nice Indian lady at a lovely (not crazy priced) stationary shop. It was so nice to have kind, humanly interaction! We had a nice chat
The one major draw back in Arusha is that they all seem to think I am a Rosta. Dread locks in Africa are often associated with Rostafarianism (sp??). It hasn't really been a problem, until now. The thing that gets really annoying is not the men who just yell at you, but the ones who decide it is a good idea to follow you. Yesterday, this happened twice and I got super in their faces about it. I really really don't like being followed. It makes me really uncomfortable. My reaction was sufficient to scare them away... though I did have to seek shelter in a shop at one point and felt obligated to buy something.
My favorite people here are the Masi. They are beautiful. These are people who still live a traditional life style, generally are semi nomadic cow herders. They have totally refused to conform to current norms, and even speak their own language. What has surprised me the most is the number of YOUNG Masi I have seen. They wander town in traditional dress, the men with their sticks, the women with their amazing, awesome, huge jewelry. When we look at each other it is with a mutual semi awe!
I have become friends with a Masi mother and her small child. I discovered today that they are staying in a small store room in my hostel! Which is why I've been seeing them so much... The mom is pregnant, and perhaps is due soon. There is a hospital close to my hostel. We can't communicate at all, I don't even know if they speak Swahilli. But the little girl loves me, and the mother always smiles at me. Today I got a hug from the little one. She is sooo sweet!!
I have become good friends with the kitchen staff... as usual! Yesterday, they took me to the tailor to get my first dress made. I'm excited. He charged me a good price and I think we had semi effective communication as to what I want. We'll see the out come! I will probably get one more dress (more casual) and a skirt made while I am here . I like their fabric better than in any other country I've been in and they have good styles for dresses. It was super cute... Heppy, the cook, as we were walking, said that she really likes me (in broken, unsure english). I love African Friends!
Because I am living here long term now, it is important that I start looking "smart". Africans put a lot of importance on personal appearance, though I have no idea how they manage to stay SO smart and clean, considering how they live! But because I'll be in a position of leadership from Sep to Dec, I think I need to up date my wardrobe. Besides, my clothes are disintegrating. USA clothing is not use to brutal hand washing! So I am going to do a bit of maintenance here in TZ, because I don't know how much time I'll have when I get back to Uganda.
I think that's all for now! More when I start working with the AIDS team!
Yesterday, Saturday, I took the day in Arusha. Now that I am staying in Africa I need to get some various things to put my life in order.
I wandered the main street and discovered that here they have a working postal system!! Imagine that. This city makes me really happy. They have nice electronics, stationary, really beautiful fabric and clothes, all for reasonable prices. There isn't an insane amount of traffic, like in Kampala. Here you can cross the street and not fear death every time!
I enjoyed my day wandering, I got a little lost, but Arusha is not very big. As long as you keep walking you'll find you way! My best purchase was a jar of RASPBERRY jam!!! I was soo excited, I paid the fairly high price (in TZ standards) for it. But when I got home and tried it... it is seriously HEAVENLY. Possibly the best raspberry jam I've ever had, and a small taste of home!
Because of the Jam, I went of the great Raspberry hunt. I wanted the real berry! After a looong and drawn out search, during which I managed to seriously confuse a large number of Tanzanians, I did not find raspberries. But the adventure was pretty momentous! (it involved the local markets, weaving in and out of stalls, trying to communicate... crazy)
But the whole adventure proved one thing to me. You can grow raspberries in Africa. And I fully intend to do it!
Arusha is a tourist starting point, a place from which many people go on Safari. But it is also very diverse in it's population. There are a lot of people from the Indian subcontinent. I met a very nice Indian lady at a lovely (not crazy priced) stationary shop. It was so nice to have kind, humanly interaction! We had a nice chat
The one major draw back in Arusha is that they all seem to think I am a Rosta. Dread locks in Africa are often associated with Rostafarianism (sp??). It hasn't really been a problem, until now. The thing that gets really annoying is not the men who just yell at you, but the ones who decide it is a good idea to follow you. Yesterday, this happened twice and I got super in their faces about it. I really really don't like being followed. It makes me really uncomfortable. My reaction was sufficient to scare them away... though I did have to seek shelter in a shop at one point and felt obligated to buy something.
My favorite people here are the Masi. They are beautiful. These are people who still live a traditional life style, generally are semi nomadic cow herders. They have totally refused to conform to current norms, and even speak their own language. What has surprised me the most is the number of YOUNG Masi I have seen. They wander town in traditional dress, the men with their sticks, the women with their amazing, awesome, huge jewelry. When we look at each other it is with a mutual semi awe!
I have become friends with a Masi mother and her small child. I discovered today that they are staying in a small store room in my hostel! Which is why I've been seeing them so much... The mom is pregnant, and perhaps is due soon. There is a hospital close to my hostel. We can't communicate at all, I don't even know if they speak Swahilli. But the little girl loves me, and the mother always smiles at me. Today I got a hug from the little one. She is sooo sweet!!
I have become good friends with the kitchen staff... as usual! Yesterday, they took me to the tailor to get my first dress made. I'm excited. He charged me a good price and I think we had semi effective communication as to what I want. We'll see the out come! I will probably get one more dress (more casual) and a skirt made while I am here . I like their fabric better than in any other country I've been in and they have good styles for dresses. It was super cute... Heppy, the cook, as we were walking, said that she really likes me (in broken, unsure english). I love African Friends!
Because I am living here long term now, it is important that I start looking "smart". Africans put a lot of importance on personal appearance, though I have no idea how they manage to stay SO smart and clean, considering how they live! But because I'll be in a position of leadership from Sep to Dec, I think I need to up date my wardrobe. Besides, my clothes are disintegrating. USA clothing is not use to brutal hand washing! So I am going to do a bit of maintenance here in TZ, because I don't know how much time I'll have when I get back to Uganda.
I think that's all for now! More when I start working with the AIDS team!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tanzania: 100 dollar sun set
I decided to go to Tanzania on Wednesday.
So I made my arrangements, paid for my tent, and took a taxi to the bus stage.
Right as we pulled away from the bus stage, the conductor tells us it costs Americans 100USD to get into Tanzania. Myself, and the 2 other americans on the bus had a bit of a freak. I don't generally carry that much money on me!
So we got to the Kenya side, found out it is indeed 100 USD, and ONLY USD will be accepted! I had a small cash of Ugandan shillings, which were my savings to start my life in Uganda... those were converted as well as ALL my Kenyan shillings. I almost didn't have enough. It was stressful.
It is hard to explain just how FAR 100 USD goes here. My stay in the tent cost half that... in Nairobi! I haven't spend 100 dollars in ages! That is the yearly income of many citizens of this country.
The ride through the desert at sunset was beautiful and frightening. The driver went quickly on sand covered roads. But in the twilight of the sinking sun, I saw the unmistakabel outline of a giraffe, fairly close to the road! :D Yes, a 100 dollar giraffe.
Today I went exploring, and to get some money and food. I am sad because Bahati isn't able to come... the accomidation and food is too expensive. :( But I will leave TZ a bit early so that I can have a few days with her in the west.
Apparently I have orientation tomorrow and start working monday... I really hope!
So I made my arrangements, paid for my tent, and took a taxi to the bus stage.
Right as we pulled away from the bus stage, the conductor tells us it costs Americans 100USD to get into Tanzania. Myself, and the 2 other americans on the bus had a bit of a freak. I don't generally carry that much money on me!
So we got to the Kenya side, found out it is indeed 100 USD, and ONLY USD will be accepted! I had a small cash of Ugandan shillings, which were my savings to start my life in Uganda... those were converted as well as ALL my Kenyan shillings. I almost didn't have enough. It was stressful.
It is hard to explain just how FAR 100 USD goes here. My stay in the tent cost half that... in Nairobi! I haven't spend 100 dollars in ages! That is the yearly income of many citizens of this country.
The ride through the desert at sunset was beautiful and frightening. The driver went quickly on sand covered roads. But in the twilight of the sinking sun, I saw the unmistakabel outline of a giraffe, fairly close to the road! :D Yes, a 100 dollar giraffe.
Today I went exploring, and to get some money and food. I am sad because Bahati isn't able to come... the accomidation and food is too expensive. :( But I will leave TZ a bit early so that I can have a few days with her in the west.
Apparently I have orientation tomorrow and start working monday... I really hope!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tanzania...
Things are not working out in Nairobi.
Did I mention that I am going to Tanzania? I can't remember if I wrote about this when it happened or not.
But I am going to Tanzania! Either later this week or next monday... my friend Bahati from the west of Kenya is coming with me! I am so excited to have a travel buddy, for the first time! I might go to the West of Kenya and spend some time with her before we go to Tzed, or we will meet there.
We'll be working with AIDS victims and children whos parents are in prison. The work is already set up... I just need to tell them I am probably coming early. This actually might be good because it means there will be less of a rush to get to Uganda in early September.
I am really excited to go to Tanzania. I'll be in Arusia, which is near Kilimanjaro. Woot. I hear it's a great country... add it to the list!
Bye Nairobi, I won't miss you.
Did I mention that I am going to Tanzania? I can't remember if I wrote about this when it happened or not.
But I am going to Tanzania! Either later this week or next monday... my friend Bahati from the west of Kenya is coming with me! I am so excited to have a travel buddy, for the first time! I might go to the West of Kenya and spend some time with her before we go to Tzed, or we will meet there.
We'll be working with AIDS victims and children whos parents are in prison. The work is already set up... I just need to tell them I am probably coming early. This actually might be good because it means there will be less of a rush to get to Uganda in early September.
I am really excited to go to Tanzania. I'll be in Arusia, which is near Kilimanjaro. Woot. I hear it's a great country... add it to the list!
Bye Nairobi, I won't miss you.
Monday, August 16, 2010
THE NEWS! What I am doing this fall...
Hello Partners in this Journey!
I hope that this email finds all of you well. I am currently sitting in down town Nairobi. I am on my way back to my accommodation after getting pages added to my passport at the American Embassy.
Nairobi has not been what I had hoped it would be. It has been very expensive and very boring. I've watched a lot of movies and read some books, and done some looking around the place. But there isn't much to do in Nairobi. I had planned to work with a school and human rights organization. However, things have not really panned out. I spent last week in the slum of Kibera, waiting to be put to work.
However, the human rights office did say they will have work for me this week. So tomorrow I will hopefully be more active! I like working in Kibera and really want to be of use. If they don't have work for me tomorrow, I will leave Nairobi Wednesday or Thursday and move on with my trip. I don't like Nairobi.
But I am not writing you about my time here in Nairobi.
I am writing you to let you know the official news that I am staying in Africa!
I have been offered a position with Yesu Ahuriire Community, where I spent 3.5 weeks in Uganda. They are located in Mbarara, Uganda which is fairly far west. I have been offered room and board to come and staff their leadership training school (called DTS: discipleship training school). This is a 4 month program for Christian young people to get trained in leadership and receive good character formation. I will be on staff, so I will be mentoring and teaching during the school.
After the DTS has finished I will be starting an "internship" with Ahuriire Development Organization. The Yesu Ahuriire Community has a branch which does development work! This work is for anyone who needs assistance, and often works with the poorest and most vulnerable people in the area. I will be working with them on many projects and am excited for this chance to start doing real international development work on the ground! One of the projects I am most excited about is developing Character Development programs for their schools and non formal education programs. These programs will help their students become well rounded individuals who are successful and motivated and know how to be productive members of society.
After my 4 month internship with Ahuriire Development, I hope to travel to Europe for 2 months. There is an Organizational Leadership Course (called L5, meaning Leadership 5), which I hope to attend. It is a 5 week intensive training program for people who are working at different levels of international organization. It will be held in Ireland this year and begins in May. I think that the information and training I will receive from this course will be very helpful as I work in Africa. After the training program I will take a few weeks of rest with friends and family in Europe.
I am then planning on returning to Uganda in July 2011, and possibly starting development work among the poorest of the poor in the far western region of Uganda.
It looks like I may not return to the United States until 2012, depending on how things work out.
I hope that all of you will stay involved in my work. I will continue to do my blog posts and email updates. Also, we will continue to accept donations through the Word of God Community throughout this next year. More support and communication information will follow in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement during this summer of travel, exploration, and discernment. I am excited for this new opportunity. We will see where it all goes!
I move to Mbarara, Uganda on September 5th.
Asanti Sanna! (Thank you very much!)
Noelle Gornik
I hope that this email finds all of you well. I am currently sitting in down town Nairobi. I am on my way back to my accommodation after getting pages added to my passport at the American Embassy.
Nairobi has not been what I had hoped it would be. It has been very expensive and very boring. I've watched a lot of movies and read some books, and done some looking around the place. But there isn't much to do in Nairobi. I had planned to work with a school and human rights organization. However, things have not really panned out. I spent last week in the slum of Kibera, waiting to be put to work.
However, the human rights office did say they will have work for me this week. So tomorrow I will hopefully be more active! I like working in Kibera and really want to be of use. If they don't have work for me tomorrow, I will leave Nairobi Wednesday or Thursday and move on with my trip. I don't like Nairobi.
But I am not writing you about my time here in Nairobi.
I am writing you to let you know the official news that I am staying in Africa!
I have been offered a position with Yesu Ahuriire Community, where I spent 3.5 weeks in Uganda. They are located in Mbarara, Uganda which is fairly far west. I have been offered room and board to come and staff their leadership training school (called DTS: discipleship training school). This is a 4 month program for Christian young people to get trained in leadership and receive good character formation. I will be on staff, so I will be mentoring and teaching during the school.
After the DTS has finished I will be starting an "internship" with Ahuriire Development Organization. The Yesu Ahuriire Community has a branch which does development work! This work is for anyone who needs assistance, and often works with the poorest and most vulnerable people in the area. I will be working with them on many projects and am excited for this chance to start doing real international development work on the ground! One of the projects I am most excited about is developing Character Development programs for their schools and non formal education programs. These programs will help their students become well rounded individuals who are successful and motivated and know how to be productive members of society.
After my 4 month internship with Ahuriire Development, I hope to travel to Europe for 2 months. There is an Organizational Leadership Course (called L5, meaning Leadership 5), which I hope to attend. It is a 5 week intensive training program for people who are working at different levels of international organization. It will be held in Ireland this year and begins in May. I think that the information and training I will receive from this course will be very helpful as I work in Africa. After the training program I will take a few weeks of rest with friends and family in Europe.
I am then planning on returning to Uganda in July 2011, and possibly starting development work among the poorest of the poor in the far western region of Uganda.
It looks like I may not return to the United States until 2012, depending on how things work out.
I hope that all of you will stay involved in my work. I will continue to do my blog posts and email updates. Also, we will continue to accept donations through the Word of God Community throughout this next year. More support and communication information will follow in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement during this summer of travel, exploration, and discernment. I am excited for this new opportunity. We will see where it all goes!
I move to Mbarara, Uganda on September 5th.
Asanti Sanna! (Thank you very much!)
Noelle Gornik
Saturday, August 14, 2010
I LOVE Highspeed!!!
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| Kabale Lake, in the Mountains... through a car window |
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| Lake side view, we had a soda and enjoyed the good view |
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| Very BIG and cool flower |
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| Evelyn and Me... One of my best friends at Yesu Ahuriire Community. She is one of the housekeepers where I stayed, and an awesome person! |
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| Sisters preparing flowers for the priestly ordination |
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| Bishop John Baptist, Masaka Cathedral |
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| Traditional Dancer at the Cathedral fund raising event |
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| Me and my Goat!!! (I was given it as a political stunt) |
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| Culinary Class at St Agnes vocational school for orphans and needy children |
Thursday, August 12, 2010
swollen feet, moving tents, and hummus
It is winter in Kenya. We are right on the equator, so that doesn't really matter. However, Nairobi is HIGH so that means is it very cold. So today I put on my tennis shoes for the first time this WHOLE trip. And I walked a lot today. I like walking. It saves money, gives exercise and lets me get a feel for the city. But my feet hurt now. I noticed within the first few days here that me feet were swelling because my chacos were tight. So I fixed the straps and they were fine. But my shoes are really tight on my feet... they are STILL swollen... 3 months after coming to Africa. My goodness. Oh well.
Today I went back to my back packers place after being in Kibera to find my tent gone. They had moved it to another spot but it was a funny moment to come home and see a big empty space instead of your nice tent on a pallet. My tent is comfortable, though my mosquito net is a bit big for the small space!
I am going to do self catered meals most of the time now to save money. Or Kibera meals (which are insanely cheap and really gooood... chapate... hmmmmm) So I went shopping in a market today and at a grocery store. They have hummus at the grocery store!! It is about the same price as in the states... a little more maybe. But I think I am going to get some. Hummus and bread, avocado and banana for dinner. Home made peanut butter (I got for 50 sh, which is about 75 cents) banana and bread for breakfast... chapate for lunch. Yes. That is living cheap, in a tent. And it tastes good too.
I met some nice Mexican girls at the office today. It was nice to hear about what they are doing here and to see the vocational center that is run near by. A distressed client came into the office today, it was good to see how the Human Rights office works to assist people with problems.
I didn't go back to the office after lunch because my matatu broke down and I would have been late for the class I was going to go sit in on. I wasn't really needed and I would been a big disruption for the class if I had come in late. So I am just trying to get some things settled and together before the weekend.
Tomorrow I will take the day to see a bit of Nairobi. Then the weekend (and monday) will hopefully with be an America NGO, Carolina for Kibera. They do sports camps and leadership work with kids in Kibera. Then Tuesday back to the office. They promised to have so much work for me I'd cry... haha... I said "please! I want to cry!" The people at the office are great fun. :)
Nairobi isn't too hard to get around... you just have to get use to getting onto moving buses!
Today I went back to my back packers place after being in Kibera to find my tent gone. They had moved it to another spot but it was a funny moment to come home and see a big empty space instead of your nice tent on a pallet. My tent is comfortable, though my mosquito net is a bit big for the small space!
I am going to do self catered meals most of the time now to save money. Or Kibera meals (which are insanely cheap and really gooood... chapate... hmmmmm) So I went shopping in a market today and at a grocery store. They have hummus at the grocery store!! It is about the same price as in the states... a little more maybe. But I think I am going to get some. Hummus and bread, avocado and banana for dinner. Home made peanut butter (I got for 50 sh, which is about 75 cents) banana and bread for breakfast... chapate for lunch. Yes. That is living cheap, in a tent. And it tastes good too.
I met some nice Mexican girls at the office today. It was nice to hear about what they are doing here and to see the vocational center that is run near by. A distressed client came into the office today, it was good to see how the Human Rights office works to assist people with problems.
I didn't go back to the office after lunch because my matatu broke down and I would have been late for the class I was going to go sit in on. I wasn't really needed and I would been a big disruption for the class if I had come in late. So I am just trying to get some things settled and together before the weekend.
Tomorrow I will take the day to see a bit of Nairobi. Then the weekend (and monday) will hopefully with be an America NGO, Carolina for Kibera. They do sports camps and leadership work with kids in Kibera. Then Tuesday back to the office. They promised to have so much work for me I'd cry... haha... I said "please! I want to cry!" The people at the office are great fun. :)
Nairobi isn't too hard to get around... you just have to get use to getting onto moving buses!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
No Stars in Nairobi
Phew. I have finally arrived in Nairobi, and for the first time am feeling ok.
Monday and Tuesday were hell, and I am not exaggerating. I totally lost it last night. Complete breakdown. I am so grateful for Rebecca Cobern... she called me and let me totally vent, and yes... cried. I am safe, and no physical harm or robbery happened... just a lot of logistical craziness.
Thankfully today, things got a bit better.
Africa can be HARSH. And Nairobi is not my type of place. I don't like really big cities, I like medium cities. Nairobi is HUGE. It is the London of Africa. And I really don't like London.
I really don't know anyone here, and the people I am in contact with are nice, but not super helpful. There were issues with my accommodation last night. The place I stayed the first night was full, for one night. After a lot of crazy run around I ended up having to spend 4,000 Ksh on a room... that is about 60 dollars! AHHH!! That is WAY out of my budget for sure. And that was just for a room and breakfast. I only ate a small breakfast yesterday... that was it. I guess it was a fast day. This morning I ate a ton at the hotel all you can eat breakfast.
So Nairobi is crazy. But today I feel a lot better about things. I took public transport alone and it was fine. I also got to actually DO something at the Human Rights office, instead of just sitting. I went with Patrick who works in the office to check out so work being done in Kibera.
I love Kibera. It is my kind of place. The people are beautiful, the life is really simple. Hard, smelly, and terrible... but beautiful. I'm getting good at jumping steams of sewage. I met a lot of people and laughed, and listened to the beat of the place. I had lunch in a little restaurant where we watched Gospel music videos and drank water out of coffee mugs. I really like Kibera. I am hoping that there will be more work for me soon, but today was good. Kibera is the type of place I want to be.
You look into the people's eyes and you see their worth. You look around and you see how they have created a like inside of a hole, and that life is actually good. People refer to the people who live in Kibera as "Slum dwellers"... I really don't like that term. It sounds so sinister, so gross. But these are PEOPLE. Human being, so laugh and cry and love. And they are really wonderful people.
I am glad to be seeing an office which is struggling to empower these beautiful people.
So I am now staying at a backpacker place. Not the sort of place I was expecting to end up. But I think it is where I am suppose to be. I'll be staying in a tent, I finally get to use my sleeping bag (with the blankets provided... it's REALLY cold here in Nairobi!!) It's a place for white people really... there are loads of them. But that's ok. I'll survive. Nairobi is expensive... but I am trying to be as cost effective as possible.
I'll hit a grocery store after here and buy a little food so I don't have to buy things at the back packers place. Thankfully everything in Kibera is SUPER cheap... 2 of us had lunch for about 80 cents. Hopefully it won't kill me. ;)
Outside of Kibera, Nairobi could be ANY city. It is so western and ... normal. It is weird. I am glad I am learning to use public transport because taxis are expensive, though sometimes really helpful.
So I am here.. .I am a live. I am ok. So sorry about the lack of updates. The computer I had access to wouldn't let me do very much. Hopefully this cafe will work well for the next few weeks.
Asanti!! ...thanks for reading.
(There are no stars in Nairobi... too much light. Sometimes I don't like development, sometimes it takes away beautiful things.)
Monday and Tuesday were hell, and I am not exaggerating. I totally lost it last night. Complete breakdown. I am so grateful for Rebecca Cobern... she called me and let me totally vent, and yes... cried. I am safe, and no physical harm or robbery happened... just a lot of logistical craziness.
Thankfully today, things got a bit better.
Africa can be HARSH. And Nairobi is not my type of place. I don't like really big cities, I like medium cities. Nairobi is HUGE. It is the London of Africa. And I really don't like London.
I really don't know anyone here, and the people I am in contact with are nice, but not super helpful. There were issues with my accommodation last night. The place I stayed the first night was full, for one night. After a lot of crazy run around I ended up having to spend 4,000 Ksh on a room... that is about 60 dollars! AHHH!! That is WAY out of my budget for sure. And that was just for a room and breakfast. I only ate a small breakfast yesterday... that was it. I guess it was a fast day. This morning I ate a ton at the hotel all you can eat breakfast.
So Nairobi is crazy. But today I feel a lot better about things. I took public transport alone and it was fine. I also got to actually DO something at the Human Rights office, instead of just sitting. I went with Patrick who works in the office to check out so work being done in Kibera.
I love Kibera. It is my kind of place. The people are beautiful, the life is really simple. Hard, smelly, and terrible... but beautiful. I'm getting good at jumping steams of sewage. I met a lot of people and laughed, and listened to the beat of the place. I had lunch in a little restaurant where we watched Gospel music videos and drank water out of coffee mugs. I really like Kibera. I am hoping that there will be more work for me soon, but today was good. Kibera is the type of place I want to be.
You look into the people's eyes and you see their worth. You look around and you see how they have created a like inside of a hole, and that life is actually good. People refer to the people who live in Kibera as "Slum dwellers"... I really don't like that term. It sounds so sinister, so gross. But these are PEOPLE. Human being, so laugh and cry and love. And they are really wonderful people.
I am glad to be seeing an office which is struggling to empower these beautiful people.
So I am now staying at a backpacker place. Not the sort of place I was expecting to end up. But I think it is where I am suppose to be. I'll be staying in a tent, I finally get to use my sleeping bag (with the blankets provided... it's REALLY cold here in Nairobi!!) It's a place for white people really... there are loads of them. But that's ok. I'll survive. Nairobi is expensive... but I am trying to be as cost effective as possible.
I'll hit a grocery store after here and buy a little food so I don't have to buy things at the back packers place. Thankfully everything in Kibera is SUPER cheap... 2 of us had lunch for about 80 cents. Hopefully it won't kill me. ;)
Outside of Kibera, Nairobi could be ANY city. It is so western and ... normal. It is weird. I am glad I am learning to use public transport because taxis are expensive, though sometimes really helpful.
So I am here.. .I am a live. I am ok. So sorry about the lack of updates. The computer I had access to wouldn't let me do very much. Hopefully this cafe will work well for the next few weeks.
Asanti!! ...thanks for reading.
(There are no stars in Nairobi... too much light. Sometimes I don't like development, sometimes it takes away beautiful things.)
Monday, August 9, 2010
Update from Noelle (via her sister)
Greetings, friends of Noelle!
I heard from Noelle that her internet access has been minimal (for almost two weeks) in her current location. She is leaving for Kenya today - please pray for her travel! While in Kenya, she will be working in the slum of Kibera, one of the largest urban slums in Africa. She will be connecting with a school and a human rights organization while in Nairobi. We will try to keep you updated as we hear more from her!
Hannah Gornik
(sister and temporary updater - joyofthejourney at gmail dot com)
I heard from Noelle that her internet access has been minimal (for almost two weeks) in her current location. She is leaving for Kenya today - please pray for her travel! While in Kenya, she will be working in the slum of Kibera, one of the largest urban slums in Africa. She will be connecting with a school and a human rights organization while in Nairobi. We will try to keep you updated as we hear more from her!
Hannah Gornik
(sister and temporary updater - joyofthejourney at gmail dot com)
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