Good ol pat on the back

This is going to sound like I am tooting my own horn. I don’t mean it. And I am sorry if it does, I just want to talk about volunteers and volunteering. I think volunteers are a special breed of people. I am not sure what instills the good in a person, but most volunteers have ‘good’ by the truck load. It takes a lot of determination to leave home, leave a good job, leave family, friends, your comfort zone, your entertainment, your life. Save money, stress about flights, safety and danger. Spend money on travel gear, placement resources and language guides. All to help someone less fortunate. I know from personal experience I kept thinking I live a very good life with a loving family, my dream job and living in my dream destination. Do I want to leave all that and am I ruining my chances of living my dreams in the future. Raising money is not easy feat either. Some people just do not donate, others are skeptical and some are just plain old absolutely generous (Thank You!). The more I talk to other volunteers, the more I realize the sacrifices both big and small, they make. I am not naïve enough to think that it is all just about helping others however. Volunteering also helps you. The fulfillment, satisfaction, gratification one receives. The smiles, the hugs and appreciation given from those that you help. The learning curve you go through. Flexibility, creativity and initiative are a must. But what happens when you feel like you’re not making a difference. You don’t have lots of money to more heaven and earth for those you want to help. A friend told me it doesn’t matter how little an impact you think you are making, you are making a big impact to the lives of the people you meet. I realized this when I met some very old mamas in their humble mud hut home. They were so proud that a white person chose their home to visit. That they were able to have a conversation with me (I didn’t understand a word they were saying, I just smiled as big as I could) and got to shake my hand. Everywhere you walk, children want to hold your hand, adults want to talk to you. Some just want to know about Australia and the world that we live in. Sometimes just being in the thick of it is enough.

Short Stories

Here are a few short stories for your brain.

- Recently there has been a crack down on the abductions of Albino African children. The albinos are taken and sold to witch doctors in rural areas where their genitals are then cut off and used in rituals.

- A man has been stoned to death by the community for stealing a mobile phone. This is very common. There is very little faith the police and justice system, so the community takes matters into their own hands. Every day in the paper there is at least 3 cases where the community has killed a suspected criminal.

- A hippo was killed for being disruptive to the community. Around 3000 people showed up when the word got around for free meat. Nothing was left.  

- There were 2 lion attacks. One involved 2 females being attacked by two lionesses. Another was 5 lions attacking cattle of the Masai tribe. They hunted the lions down and killed all five with spears.

- There was a shooting in Yala some time ago. A group was suspected of robbing a shop. Police shot dead the suspects, one believed to also be a police officer.

- Every time we go past a police check in the matatu’s we bribe our way through with 100 shillings.  

- It is not common, but some Kenyan’s bleach their skin to make them look lighter.

- For a Masai warrior to marry, they must go off into the savannah and bring back a lion’s head. They are only allowed their club and spear. If they do not return with a lion’s head, or refuse to go, they are seen as not courageous and turned into a slave for the community.

- Circumcision of boys still occurs in some areas. In the Kakamega forest, a tribe takes the boys into the forest where they live for a month. An elder goes with them to teach them the way of the forest and circumcise them, often using a knife up to 50 years old.

- Unplanned pregnancies, often due to rape are a major issue amongst the female youth's. 

I'll update you with a few more in time

Bits and bobs

Hi guys and gals...it has been a long time between drinks and I apologize. I have been a very busy beaver of late. I have had some requests to write about our weekends and adventures. I'll give you a quick insight of what we have been doing other than our placements and volunteer work. Yala is a beautiful town and so incredibly green, yet so densely populated. As many mornings or afternoons as we can bear, we go on a trot into the villages. We are huffing and puffing, then an 80 something year old mama will coming running next to us in a dress and bare feet. Children will line the dirt track waiting for high 5's or to run with us, or sometimes just to feel a 'white' hand or your hair. It truly feels like your a rock star at times. Josh and I went swimming in some of Kenya's finest drain water. I think I have an ear infection, but other than that we are fine. The locals thought we were crazy. We adopted a pet turtle called Tiny Trevor, we feed him carrots. We have been on weekends away to a village on the lake where Fred was from. We rode a motorbike the whole way there no map just kinda knew the towns to pass. Only took a few hours and made it safely. Absolutely gorgeous country. Went to Uganda, but that is a whole new blog story. Highly recommended. Visited Lake Naivasha and had a boat ride with thousands of pink flamingos. Walked with giraffe's, buffalo, zebra's etc at Crater Lake and Hell's Gate National Park. Walked in a giant gorge, saw where Mufasa died in the Lion King, shed a few tears. Played with monkeys, walked in bat caves, and watched the sunrise over Kakamega forest. Had supply runs to Kisumu and visits on the lake, crossed the equator many times, eaten some local cuisine, visited Yala waterfalls and that is all I can think of for the moment. Our home life isn't that interesting. It is actually quite difficult at times being a volunteer. Come 5:30-6:00pm, you are locked in your house because you cannot be out at night. It is simply too dangerous. There is limited freedom to go and do the normal things we do back home. Jump in the car, visit friends, get takeaway, watch a movie, go for a ride, surf etc. When we do go out we say hello to at least 30 people. Children want to constantly play, people are always staring and watching, you are never inconspicuous. But that is also part of the charm of Kenya. Our daily routine normally follows something along the line of; wake up early, normally to a baby crying, breakfast (weetbix or toast) and off to placement. Come home walk around the corner for some fresh produce (avocados, tomatoes, onions are the staple), cook tea (usually rice and beans or pasta and beans). Play with our African family, talk to the volunteers and bed time. Maybe some guitar or reading plopped in there somewhere. So that is the general run down of what has been going on. We are working so hard in Kenya, but also having lots of fun and meeting many smiling faces. I fear we will definitely miss this place when we leave.