Sunday, September 17, 2006

Straight Up

I thought I would write a little but about cultural things that are interesting. Well first of all, here at Ebenezer the students are on a very strict schedule and are very disciplined. They work so hard! They wake up at 5 and do “preps” for two hours, which is homework. Then they have devotions in the chapel, where they sing so I can hear them every morning in my room. They wash all their own clothes by hand, and have maybe two outfits. They each where a white button down shirt, with a navy blue tie under a blue v-neck sweater. The girls wear gray skirts and the guys trousers. Each meal is generally one item, like a bean dish or ugali (which is a sort of corn and flour all mixed up). They also have 10 periods of class! It is crazy. Sometimes I feel like when I am in the Shalom house I am in Korea, and outside is Africa. Also all the materials in the Special School is donated from Korea, so everything is Korean. It is so interesting. And confusing. The other day I went running, which is hilly and beautiful around every turn, but it was definitely an experience. Everyone stares, first of all. The little kids will say mzungu mzungu! (which means “white person”) and want me to wave at them, and when I do they either run away or giggle a lot. I say “habari” which is a general “how are you” to everyone, and then their awkward stares turn into a smile. But they still literally stop and stare. It was weird to run by a women and a few small children carrying huge loads of sticks on their backs, as I am doing this to stay in shape and feel good and this is their everyday life. I don’t know what to think about that. At one point their were children running after me. It was all very strange.
On Mondays and some other days I get to go to town, where we buy all the groceries for the week. It is a stark contrast of dusty roads, tons of people, dirty animals, and displays of rusty store signs and old posters against the landscape of mountains and valleys, green and flourishing. Women lay out their displays of fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, etc for us to pick out which looks the best. The grocery store, if you will, sells only non perishables for the most part. No refrigerated section. People are everywhere-from men in suits to men in tattered clothes and women in tailored outfits to those in ill-fitting skirts selling their goods. I notice that I can probably tell how a person lives by their feet. Some are in close toed dress shoes, but many have sandals they look decades of years old, as the worn feet within them have grown to their shape. It is all very interesting to watch.
On Saturday the Special School went on an outing to learn about buying and selling. This was so cute, because they were so excited to go out. We walked two by two down the road until we reached a place to have chai and mandazi. They ate and drank it like they have never eaten before! It was so cute to see them all holding their coffee cups of tea. The walk there is just beautiful, such amazing views of the valley below. However occasionally I held my breath when we passed stanky cows chomping grass on the side of the road, or when a matatu drive by the black exhaust leaving a trail behind. After the chai we walked to a little store so they each could by a bisquit and some candy. The store sells everything from sugar to pens to clothes, all in a 10ft x 6ft area. So tiny! As we approached the store, a familiar tune rang out. It is Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up” song. I wonder if she knows she is still a hit in a little town in Kenya.

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