One Year Down

One Year. Twelve Months. 365 Days.

That’s how long its been since I started this… this…. thing. I’m not sure what to call it. Adventure doesn’t sound right since sometimes I’m as bored as I’ve ever been in my life. Job isn’t right because, well its not enough work and not enough pay. Trip isn’t right because that’s too temporary. Well whatever you want to call it, I’ve been doing it for a year. What have I done in that year? Well, funny you should ask. Here’s a list of some of the highlights.

Learned a little bit of some new languages

Today’s Lesson: Dealing with matatu touts, street children, and bothersome prostitutes.

Through 8 weeks of pre service training I received a little bit of Kiswahili training and Olutachoni (a rare Luhya dialect). One of my favorite phrases, one I used in my language test translates to “You’re a thief.” As my language instructor looked at me confused, I simply explained in Olutachoni, “Because you stole my heart.” Passed it.

Touched a lion

This one is pretty self explanatory, and awesome. The one in the picture is the lady lion, a lioness, she was pretty chill. The male who looked liked Scar from the Lion King was not as nice. Nearly took my friends finger off when he tried to touch his paw. Probably still pissed over losing his throne to Simba.

Got a tribal name

I don’t have a picture for this one. My name, if you ask most of the people in my village is Wafula. Its pronounced wa-foo-la. It means born during the rainy times. Considering I call what is known as one of the most rainy regions of the US home, I find it very fitting. Wherever I am in the world, rain makes me feel at home.

I fixed a computer

The first tangible thing I did at site. After some testing and scrounging and cannibalizing some of the broken computers at the village primary school, I got one working that hadn’t been in years. I even got their printer working too, which promptly broke the next day. C’est la vie, or perhaps c’est la Africa.

Taught some classes

Probably my most easily recognizable contribution to my village, I’ve been teaching. I teach a subject called “Business Studies,” which is kind of an amalgamation (see, I am a teacher, I use unnecessarily big words) of what we call Accounting, Finance, Economics, and Business Administration. I teach what is called Form 2, Form 3, and Form 4. That would be Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors in high school. But since kids have to pay school fees, which means they may start late, or take breaks when their families can’t pay, the ages may be way different. Just taught you something. Bam, teachered.

Taught some kids some new greetings

Sick of hearing “How are you?” all the time as the only greeting. I made a point to teach my kids other ways of saying hi. When I got back from being away once, one of my students saw me and very quickly and naturally said, “What’s up?” Teachered.

Taught some guys how to make websites

The guys who teach at the local computer skills center asked for some help on how to design websites. I had a whole legit presentation and everything. I mean I taught them real HTML code and stuff. Teachered.

Learned monkeys are jerks

They look so cute right? Like they would be great little friends or butlers right? Wrong. They steal food, block traffic, make loud noises at night. Generally, they are jerks.

Got my group’s fish pond project back on track

Through some poking and prodding and asking about our fish pond. I got my CBO to start feeding the fish, something we hadn’t been doing before my arrival. Since now we had someone going to the pond daily, we found out there were some young guys stealing our fish. We then built a fence. We are now paying a lot more attention to the pond, and this next go I think we’ll be having much higher yields.

Swam in the Indian Ocean

Another pretty self explanatory one. Part of my awesome trip to the Kenyan coast. I’ve now swam in three of the world’s oceans.

Expanded my cooking repertoire

Previously I had a few things I could cook pretty well, but now I can cook many more and from scratch. This includes many Kenyan foods and baked goods too.

Camped in an equatorial rainforest

For my 24th birthday, I spent the weekend with 5 of my best friends camped out in the Kakamega rainforest. We hiked around, had some drinks, swam in a waterfall, saw some wildlife and generally had a good time.

Went back to school

I’m back in school, not just as a teacher. As mentioned in earlier posts, I’m working on my Master’s. So about the time I wrap up Peace Corps I’ll have a MS in International Negotiation and Dispute Resolution from Creighton University.

Was accepted into an awesome Kenyan family, twice

So I have been extremely fortunate with the families I’ve stayed with. My family in Loitokitok was amazingly welcoming. I spent many hours watching football with my baba and cooking with my mama. Then I got lucky again and am now staying with another amazing family in Sipala. I love witnessing parallel conversations that I’ve seen my American family have like arguments over American Idol/Tusker Project Fame, or So You Think You Can Dance/Sakata, or seeing the patriarch picked on by the girls of the family. I am truly lucky, lightening struck twice for me.

Lost 40 pounds

From this…

 

To this…

Makes not having all my favorite foods and delicious treats more bearable knowing its made me drop a fifth of my body weight. Excerpt from a recent text from my host family little sister in Loitokitok, “I am praying for you to gain some weight.” Yeah, eating less and walking a lot more have made a huge difference for me. My Sounders jersey that used to be a bit snug, is now actually a bit loose. Screw any diet fad, join the Peace Corps. Now if I could just get a tan.

Made Amazing Friends

 

To me what I’m the happiest about, what has meant the most so far, is the amazing friendships I’ve made. Without these people, I would go insane. Well more so.

 

Here’s to 14 more months. Lots more to do.