Dagoretti

This past week I stayed in the community of Dagoretti. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, as I was feeling as if I had many things to do at home, but once again by the end I did not want to leave! Dago is a slum area of Nairobi -- it is the setting for 'The Constant Gardener'. The trains only come on the weekends, so mostly the track is used for walking. I often wonder where all the people are walking to! We arrived towards evening, and driving through the market place felt so "African." People walking home from work, dogs running around, vendors selling charcoal, glowing of bare bulbs in the shops that were still open...
Sister Eleanor (aka the awesome Scottish Sister) is the Superior there, and also runs the VIDES Kenya (I'm in VIDES US) program. There was a catechism camp this week with VIDES Kenya volunteers and also one VIDES UK member who had come for weddings.
In the morning the children had catechism classes, so the VIDES UK member, Darrin, and I were able to go to the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) Forum at Bosco Boystown (nearby community of Salesian Fathers). I had actuallywanted to go to it, but by the time I realized it was too late to sign up, so I was really lucky that Sr. Eleanor was the organizer! The SYM was very well planned, and tons of fun. It is for secondary students and some college students, so I could really participate in and get something from the sessions. There was tons of energy and singing (my new favorite: Glory Train) and since the participants are leaders in their parishes everyone really joined in fully. It's so wonderful when you don't have to push for participation. The theme was "Be a hero, shine" so there was a lot about discovering your inner hero (one presenter played the Enrique Iglesias song...hmmm). I think it has renewed the Spirit in the young people to bring back to their youth groups, and also the spirit of giving rather than receiving.
The catechism camp was also very fun! This was more for the younger children (ages 4 - 14, mostly around 10 years I would say). In the afternoon they had games and activities. I taught them the Bugaloo (anyone who has been to Girl Scout Camp likely knows that one). On the last afternoon they had something a bit like a carnival, and the games were fun and the children who won games got a ticket to receive a prize (some got a pencil, others toy cars, some clothing; they were all donated prizes -- although someone had given a toothbrush that you get on the airplane, and it wasn't in it's original packaging...) The next morning many were looking smart in the shirts they had won!
The children in Dagoretti are very friendly and loving. I had such a wonderful moment with one 10 year old, John, who is "not quite normal." We went to the church basketball courtish thing while they prepared the games for the carnival, and John was throwing rocks at the other children and at the kennel of what sounded like a very large dog (it kept jumping at the roof which did not look nailed on so tightly!). I was with a lot of small children, and keeping them all occupied was definitely a test of my skills (I was running out of songs to sing) so I did not have a lot of time for discipline. Warnings didn't help, so I made John my "friend" and had him come stand next to me etc. The next morning, when he walked into camp he came straight over and sat by me (I wasn't even sitting with his group) and the whole time he kept looking at me and smiling this beautiful smile and holding my hand. I could not believe the change from the day before.
The closing Mass was also a neat experience -- there were baptisms and first communions. The best part was after each baptism the clapping and cheering and ululating! People are so involved in Mass here -- when they sing they are really singing. The whole church seems to sway with the beat.
It was also really nice to meet other volunteers! Darrin was great to work with, and really knew how to work with the children. I got many ideas from him. The Kenyan volunteers are mostly university students, and they come back year after year mostly to do the big camp in August, but some were helping out now this year. It was fun to live with them and in general talk to them -- and of course to make new friends!

Embu

I have been able to visit a couple nearby communities in the last few weeks. Even though they are both less than two hours from here (in opposite directions, however) they are quite different than Makuyu.
In Embu, the Sisters run a girl's boarding secondary school and a boarding technical (dressmaking and hair) school. The students come from various parts of Kenya, and even a couple from Tanzania. I went to help with the closing of the school. Since the students stay there, it gives it a different atmosphere than the high schools I'm used to. Closing time is fun, because while the teachers are given time to correct exams, the students get to do fun things. We played games, watched movies, had competitions, sang Christmas carols (I taught them "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas") and since there is a keyboard there I was able to play along to many of them. I am learning "Silent Night" in Kiswahili! They also have many Christmas songs in their mothertongues and Kiswahili. Each evening there was a program where the girls could perform. One night was "gospel" and the last night Christmas themed (including dramas which included a dancing pregnant Mary!) The Sisters prepared a surprise for them, and dressed up as the three kings and led them around eventually to the dining hall where they had little cakes and hot chocolate.
The dorms the students stay in are divided into "cubes" of 12 beds, there are pit latrines for bathrooms and each week the students get 1 egg and one meal there is meat. Otherwise, they have porridge for breakfast every day, and alternate ugali, githere and sometimes rice for the other meals. Definitely not luxurious!
The mission is on the outskirts of town, so there is a beautiful field, and even cows! 2 evenings in a row there were rainbows in the sky. I had a lot of fun being there -- the Mother Superior is a delightful woman who is very welcoming! I even got to bake a cake for my departure :)
I helped with various projects there, and of course assisting in the activities for the students. I really enjoyed talking with the girls who were very curious about how we dance and sing (they find it strange Americans don't have many song and dance numbers), and American culture in general. They are wonderful dancers! In the evenings it was so fun because they would turn on music while waiting for the program and just dance outside!
It was really interesting to see how different the school was from ours, however. Very structured timetable (they get up before 6 am to have study time! Required Mass isn't even until 6:30) and regulations, but it does not feel stifled. There is a great sense of community and comraderie. For example, when they performed at the programs, they would cheer loudly for EVERYONE, not just the popular students, and even the mediocre acts were rewarded with clapping just for getting up there. It was interestin however, that right at the end of the song or dance or skit they would run off "stage" (they have stairs outside they sit on and an open space at the bottom where performers stand) practically while still finishing their number.
Overall, I definitely had fun, and the 5 days went by so quickly!

A couple things...

First, if you should be so inclined to write me a letter, my address is Lauren Dwyer
C.O. Salesian Sisters, Don Bosco Catholic Mission
P.O. Box 231 -- 01020
Kenol, Makuyu, Kenya

I love to get mail -- it takes about 20 days to get to me.

Second, my family is coming at the end of March to visit!!! If anyone is interested in also coming, let me know!!!!

Third, if you have any topics or anything you want me to write about -- just post a comment and I will definitely answer.

Thanks for your interest!
--Lauren

Religion

Perhaps a better title for this would be faith. The people of Kenya have such a great faith! When the future is tentative, everybody says "We'll do this, God willing." If bad things happen to a family, they don't seem to question, but again consider it "God's will."
A large part of the population is Christian, and another large part Muslim. The two do not seem to get along with each other. I get really frustrated when I hear people say "those Muslims" because they think that every one of them is radical. However, the radical Muslims preach openly against Christianity in an attempt to spread hatred towards them. Really it goes both ways. Before I left I met with a Sister, Sr. Toni Rausch who lived in Tanzania for many years and she gave me a brochure on Christian/Muslim relations. As you may know, I am "pro-love-and-acceptance" and don't understand all the animosity as they are worshiping the same God.
Catholicism is the most prominent Christian Religions, but I am still surprised at the number of Kingdom Hall's of Jehovah's Witnesses. In the north, there was one non-denominational church that was gaining followers by promising camels if you became baptized. In the Catholic church, at least, there is a lack of priests. The parish here has 16 "outstations" where the priests rotate between. The outstations have Mass 2x per month and otherwise have a prayer service. Each one has a trained Catechist who leads this. There is one Mwalimu (teacher) in the primary school here who walks 45 to Mass each day (and when there is no school 45 minutes back as well). Sisters and Fathers are generally well respected.
It is interesting the combination of traditional African customs and traditional Christianity. For example, at the moment there are about 40 boys young teenage secluded in the school who have just been circumcised and are basically having their initiation time. (They knew what they were coming for, but they didn't know when the actual circumcision would happen -- how weird is it to know when someone will be circumcised before they do! )
Some of the elderly still follow traditional Kenyan religion -- mostly believing that God lives on Mount Kenya. I think I mentioned that in the desert we encountered people who believe the devil lives inside of them, which keeps them from going to Christian church. In the day time the Fathers go and visit them and take tea in their houses (they are not bad people) but at night when they drum is when the ceremonies happen and people will even swallow hot coals. Really interesting.

Is Ignorance Bliss?

My answer? Maybe, but it's not a bliss I want. I was very surprised one day when I was about the difficulty of a visit I just made to a very poor family to hear the superior of the community say "Sometimes it's better not to see." She's from Colombia and has been a missionary for many years, and if you don't want to be with the needy why become a Sister? Anyway, that's not the point of this. I wonder what it would be like to live in a bubble and have no idea the world has problems. I feel like a sense of something bigger would still be there. Plus, regardless of social status everyone experiences difficulties, so there is no such thing as a perfect bubble world. Much better to live in the real world and worry about things that matter more than whether a pair of shoes matches a handbag.
I often hear about people who "left their heart in Africa." I don't think I'll know where mine is staying until I leave, but it has been broken into a million pieces so many times that I can't imagine some little piece hasn't fallen out. Just the other day a woman came to the mission carrying a beautiful 4 month old baby. However, the child was born without arms or legs. The woman had come from a decent distance because she was told one of the Fathers could help her. Her husband refused to accept the child, and since she would not abandon her baby he and his family kicked her out. This woman had so much love for her little girl, it was beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time.
I get bits and pieces of the story of the student I work with from the orphanage, Millicent. She is 20 years old, but a freshman in high school. She came to the Sisters when she was in class 6. Before, she was basically like a Cinderella in her brother-in-law's home. Even for holidays she stays with a host family or the Sisters because she has no relatives that can provide a safe situation for her. It is likely she was abused in the past. Despite this, she has a wonderful spirit, an it honestly is the highlight of my day spending time with her. She is trying hard in school, but was so sad after she got her exam grades from this term and had failed most of the subjects. It is not that she is unintelligent, it is because she does not have the proper knowledge base. To me she is like a toolbox that is ready to be filled, but so far is missing most of the tools. Millicent is worried that her sponsors will no longer pay for her to go to school, and even seems to be losing hope.
The little girls in the childrens home mostly have situations that are somehow similar. Yet they show so much love. When I greet them I always give them hugs and kisses. At first they were a bit hesitant, but now they have started giving me kisses when I am holding their hand or they are sitting on my lap.
One of the students in the techincal school was hit by a bicycle, and after being inintensive care for many days he passed away. The hospital would not release the body until the bill of 300,000 shillings was paid. The mother is aging and on her own with no way of getting that amount of money. A "harambee" was held, and the members of the community all came together to raise enough funds.
So, yes, these situations are hard to see, and they don't happen just in Africa. But, in each one there is something incredible also, a sense of tenacity, or love, or support. Despite the hardship of these, and even the hardship of observing them and feeling so powerless to remedy the situations (a lot of times what I can do seems like putting a band-aid on broken arm -- although it really is true that every drop creates a ripple), you can see so much good in the people who are enduring bad things, and it is beautiful and heart-breaking at the same time. Would I rather be ignorant and not know that these things happen? No! I want to be here and share my blessings and in turn learn so much about the big world which may be small after all.

My name is not "Mzungu"

"Mzungu" is the East African equivalent of "Gringo." Depending on the context, it can be either neutral or negative. Regardless, I don't like to be called "mzungu." When the children in the school address me as such, I either ignore them, or ask them "What is my name?" They are starting to learn that, especially when they are angry, pleading with "mzungu" will get them absolutely nothing.
While the word is not always meant to be used in a derogatory manner, I feel it takes away my individuality. I am not all white people -- nor are all white people the same. This seems to be something that happens everywhere: people who come from a different culture are thought to be just like everybody else from their home.
Also, if you are white, many things are assumed about you. Mainly that you have money flowing out of your pockets. Anyone who has been a volunteer certainly understands that this is not the case!
Basically, the point is that my name is Lauren, and I preferred to be called by my name, and not anything else --- I think most people would agree with me.

What do I do?

I realized I haven't really given a description of what I do here!

On weekdays, in the morning, I teach an English class to the Aspirants and Postulants (Sisters-in-Training). I then go to the Primary school and help the teachers mark English compositions, or make teaching aids. I come back to the "Mother house" and teach a piano lesson. We eat an early lunch, and then I go to assistance at either the technical, secondary or primary school -- I have a rotation set up. Basically we talk to the students while they eat, and in the primary then we go to play. In the afternoon, I go back to the school to help out. I teach another piano lesson, and by that time the day is ending. At night, I go to the orphanage to tutor. This is my favorite part of the day! I love the student I work with most, Millicent, and all the little girls also. They run up to me and I give them hugs and kisses -- something they don't get enough of!
On Sunday, I go to "Oratory" with the Postulants and Aspirants. They are assigned to three different places, so rotate among the three. This is sort of like Sunday school -- we arrive and attend Mass, have organized games, then the children have a lesson, they eat porridge, and then have time to play.
I of course help to do dishes and other general things. I type documents on the computer, help the Sisters with e-mail, and search for information. I occasionally will cook (see the section on Banana cake). I also sometimes "guest teach" primary school classes, and am hoping next term to have a class of my own there.
The days go by very quickly running back and forth between the school and the house!

A Trip to the Dispensary

I will never again complain about waiting at the doctor's office!
My stomach had been bothering me for a few days, so I decided it would be best to go to the dispensary (clinic) to make sure I didn't have amoeba or something of that nature. It was quite a different experience from going in the U.S.
When you first arrive, you wait in line to see the doctor/nurse. Because I live with the Sisters I did not have to wait in this line. I felt bad going ahead of people, but the workers were the ones who brought me to the front. It is "first come first served." When the person in front of you comes out of the office, you go in. The doctor/nurse asks you about your problem, and writes this in a notepad that you bring containing your medical records, basically (for me they used a piece of paper). There is no form about history or anything like that. The doctor/nurse then gives you your notebook to take to the lab. You wait until the lab techs are handing out testing equipment. For sample that are "self-collected" you take the container, and then bring it back. Then you wait for the test to be finished. The lab techs write the result in your notebook, and then you wait in line again to see the doctor/nurse. When you see the doctor/nurse, they write in your notepad the medicine you are to get. You then pay and wait in line at the pharmacy window. As you can tell, it takes a long time to go through this entire process, and when most people go to the doctor here they are quite sick. Also, the total cost of my visit, including the lab test, was about $3. Cheap by U.S. standards, but quite difficult for many of the people here. You do not pay to see the doctor, just for tests or medicines. Some families who cannot afford medicine come to the Sisters for assistance, but the medical care you receive, especially in Nairobi, really depends on how much you can pay.

Update

I know it's been a long time since I last wrote -- but I've had a busy couple weeks. Last Saturday I went on a field trip with the 8th graders to Nairobi (the class's first field trip ever). We went to the of the Kenyatta International Conference Center, a circular building with an open top. The strangest thing happened; there was another school group there, and one of the students asked if he could take a picture with me. Of course I said yes, and so they took a picture of me shaking his hand. Immediately after all the other students also wanted a picture with me. I had to take on many poses, and now somewhere in rural Kenya there are about fifty pictures of me with students! My sister says this will look good if I ever run for president. We also went to the "SafariWalk" (a bit like a zoo but you get closer to the animals). For the life of me I could not see the leopard, no matter how much people pointed. I did see a "muzungu" zebra -- one that is tan and white instead of black and white. We had lunch of a mini loaf of plain bread each, which wasactually quite good (sandwiches are not really made). We also visited a public park where the children could watch small airplanes land and take off. Finally, we went to Bomas Kenya, where traditional dances are performed. It was neat to see, even if it is a bit touristy. I am excited that soon I will have my residency card so I will be able to go places without paying a fortune (the tourist price can be 16X as expensive as the locals!) On the bus ride home I had an intense discussion with one of the teachers about the capabilities of women in science, and this also turned into talking about the roles of men and women in society. He was telling me that culturally there are jobs for men, and jobs for women, and that if the sink is leaking some women will wait two weeks for the husband to come home instead of fixing it themselves, because that is a job "for a man." Very interesting. When I was mentioning some of the things I had heard about how Kenyan men often times poorly treat their wives, the female teachers were non-verbally encouraging me -- it was almost as if this is something people know, but are not allowed to say. Of course the teachers in the school are very good people who believe moreso in equality, but just watching the reactions of the female teachers versus the male teacher was fascinating.
The next day I had to come back to Nairobi in order to renew my visa on Monday. I was able to meet up with a volunteer, Serena, who I met on the airplane coming here. She lives in Nairobi and is pretty much on her own, so it is nice for both of us to have company. Her office happens to be in the area where the sisters' house is, so she showed my around. Monday morning I renewed my visa without any problems (I was very blessed that the sister who is a secretary came with me since she knows all about these things). They took all 10 of my fingerprints, some twice! After, I took a bus and matatu home all by myself. I was very proud. As you wait for the matatu to fill up, people walk by the windows trying to sell you things. The first time I waited, I ended up buying a really cool tool set (if you are wondering why, so am I)(in my defense the things are quite cheap) and this time I "ended up" with a calculator. The students don't have them, and the one I use in the school is breaking, so it is something useful. I am just worried what I may come home with next time! A side note, I am comfortable calling Makuyu my home now.
Thursday I went to the town of Isiolo, towards the north of Kenya. Sister Pat had to go to help another Sister with a grant proposal, and since it's about a four hour drive it is better to have company. Also, I have some experience in writing projects, so I was able to offer assistance. The day before, the people had burned the marketplace in Isiolo (we confirmed it was safe before going, of course). It appears to be tribal conflict from the outside, but in reality I've been told that it's being spurred by the government wanting certain pieces of land to make Isiolo into a resort town. While we were meeting with the Sister, the nurse came in to tell her that one of the students was quite sick and needed to go to the hospital. The hospital in Isiolo has no ultrasound machine so she could not go there. The nearest town, Meru, is about an hour away. The girl ended up having to take a matatu to the hospital because the school has no vehicles.
So that's a little bit of the extra things I've been up to latey. More to come soon!

What do people need to know? That the chemical formula for table salt is one part sodium and one part chloride (NaCl)? Probably not. That mountain barriers contribute to weather patterns? Maybe. That impure water leads to illnesses such as cholera? Definitely. Education is the best way to reduce poverty, but I am not sure what type of education is the best.

In Kenya, there is primary school which consists of nursery through class 8 (like preschool or kindergarten through eighth grade) and secondary school (the equivalent of our high school). In 2003 primary school became free to attend, but is not required, nor is it really free. Children must still pay for uniforms and books, plus there is the lost opportunity of helping their parents in the garden. Secondary school is significantly more expensive, as are the technical schools where students learn a trade. The education a student gets depends a lot on how much money they have.

The students learn by rote memorization. In a way, they are forced to as everything depends on two national exams: one after class 8 and one after form 4 (last year of secondary). The form 4 exams take nearly a month, and the students do two tests a day in various subjects. The “marks” they earn throughout the rest of school (including at midterm) are also determined by standardized tests rather than homework or projects. The tests are all multiple choice, with the exception of composition. The teachers correct all of the tests, so I’m not sure if some schools misreport grades (I know there is rampant cheating, however and that some schools have teachers who help write the exams and others don‘t). Also, the tests and answer keys contain mistakes. The teachers go through them to check for mistakes, and I have noticed in the English exams many poorly written questions with ambiguous answers. In math there is no partial credit, and other subjects it is really about what facts you know. The teachers must teach to the exam in order for the students to pass. Class size is usually around 40 (even in Kindergarten) but can become as big as 60. I feel for the teachers of the lower grades who must control a class that big.

Also of note is that religious education is taught in every school, including government run ones. There is a choice between Christian and Muslim religious education.

Terms are set up differently than the U.S.-- they have three terms of three months each separated by a one month holiday. School runs from Monday - Friday but class 7 and 8 and secondary students come on Saturday mornings for “tuition” (like review of certain subject areas). During the long holidays some students also come for tuition.

Primary school teachers go through two years of “teacher’s college.” Government schools pay more than private, but teachers generally do not have large salaries. Apparantly in some places it is a major issue that teachers run businesses instead of teaching. Classes are mostly taught in English, although there is also the subject of Kiswahili. I’m not sure how I feel about the language -- the students would perhaps have an easier time learning if they could use their mother-tongue, yet it is important for them to learn English and Kiswahili if they want to have future careers. In the secondary school students are beaten if they are caught speaking anything but English. While corporal punishment is fairly uncommon, I still see teachers with sticks they may use to hit the pupils’ hands. I am completely against this.

Despite the problems, more and more children are coming to school (although attendance does decrease during planting seasons) and the opportunities for higher education are increasing. In Don Bosco, the mission run school where I work, has a fairly well-rounded education and I can see the teachers really care about the children.

Clothing

The style of dress here (as you may have guessed) is a bit different than in the U.S. While I am still able to wear pretty much all of my clothes, I have made some modifications. For example, I (well... my mother really) shortened the straps on my shirts before I left -- even the ones bought from the "old lady" section. If I wear a skirt I often wear leggings underneath to ensure it is long enough. Occasionally I will see people wearing tight clothes, but they never show their knees or their shoulders.
The Leso/Khanga is a staple part of attire for women. It is a thin piece of cotton cloth that you wrap around your waist and it covers your skirt/pants to keep them from getting dirty. They have every kind of decorations, and many have Swahili sayings like "Getting pregnant isn't work, raising the child is!" or "A child is always a child to her mother." They have showed me how to tie mine many times, but I can never seem to get it to stay so I "cheat" by tucking it in.
Otherwise, the women generally wear skirts with blouses, often colorful. The female teachers in the school wear suits and the male teachers wear a button down shirt and nice pants. The clothing is very colorful and has fun patterns.
In Makuyu people only wear traditional dress for ceremonies and celebrations. But, in the Northern Part of Kenya you see people out tending their herds wearing many many beads and draped fabrics. The Gabbra men have something called a "shuka" which a patterned piece of material that feels a bit like a shower curtain sewed into a tube. They wear it like a skirt (or maybe more like a kilt). The Masaai beadwork is absolutely incredible, and symbolic -- it can show whether you are married, the oldest child etc. Some women only wear beads on the top, although this is becoming less common.
The hair is also important. In the primary school all the children are required to shave their heads as allowing long hair causes divisions between the rich and poor families. Intricately braided hair with decorations shows wealth. The older girls have many styles of braiding, and weaves and extensions are very popular. I am hoping to go to the "saloon" school here soon (they call hair stylists saloons and bars salons!) and have my hair done. It is quite amazing what they can do!

What is Poverty?

Just before I left for Kenya there was an article in the Star Tribune about the poverty line in Italy being around 10,000 Euros/year. While living is more expensive there than in Africa, having the equivalent here you would be considered quite fortunate.
Children in the primary school are given time at teh end of the day to do their homework, because their families are so poor that they do not have a single light/lantern at home so once it becomes dark the children could not see to study. It costs 300 shillings a year to go to the primary school (direct exchange $4.00), and this includes lunch of githere (for some that is the only meal they get a day), uniforms and books. Many cannot afford this fee, so the parents have the option of coming on a couple Saturdays to work in the school to pay the tuition. Some of the 7th and 8th grade students do the work instead of their parents since their parents cannot or will not come. The Sisters provide milk also to the children who are HIV positive because at home they get very little food.
Absolute poverty is considered to be living on less then $1 per day, adjusted for purchasing power parity (i.e. what you could buy is equivalent). Angeline, a teacher in the technical school who is 22 (my age) is currently the sole provider for her entire family. Her parents live some hours away, and sold all their cattle in order for her to be able to go to school. She has younger siblings, and she is the one who pays for them to go to school. Her brother has just finished and she is extremely happy that he has found a job. In her hometown the drought is extremely bad and the parents are unable to grow any food and are unemployed because there is no work. Without their garden growing the parents and younger siblings have nothing to eat. She sends them the money she can to help them to be able to have food. What really surprised me though is how fortunate Angeline feels. She says and truly means she is incredibly blessed to have a job and be able to help her family -- many people in her home are dying because there is no water and some families have no one with a job. At the end of the month Angeline makes very little and spends hardly any of that little bit on her needs.
I know in the U.S. many families struggle, but here being poor is the norm. The government provides little help to the people. While primary school education has been free in government schools since 2003, it still costs becasue of the uniforms and books. Some people here literally have nothing. I saw a little boy yesterday who was playing with a car made of an old milk carton and pop bottle caps.
It is difficult to see that there are a few people here who are very rich, and have no interest in helping those around them.

Random Funny Things

Being in a new place naturally brings some awkward, yet funny experiences. Here are a few things that have made me laugh!
Kenyans are very picky about having everything meticulously ironed (hence my complaints about having to press nunderwear), so when one night at dinner one of the aspirants was saying something about "crease brown" I was thinking I accidentally had wrinkled something I was wearing (they mention sometimes how the last volunteer occasionally had wrinkled clothes -- eek). Finally I figured out she was asking if I know Chris Brown, the musician... This particular aspirant, Linda, has had a lot more exposure to pop culture than the others, but I was still particularly confused another time at dinner when she was asking if we had "summer party." After getting a brief description, I realized she meant Spring Break!!!
It was time to clean my room, and I needed a RAG for cleaning. Here they have certain rags to clean certain places, so I asked the sisters in charge of cleaning if she had an extra rag. She asked another sister who gave me a large, new, somewhat plush rag. I put it in my bag, but because it was so nice I asked someone else if this is really what they use for cleaning. Turns out I had gotten a RUG. (They call rags wipers).
Kenyans call white people "Muzungus," and so if I hear the word muzungu I automatically know they are talking about me. One day I was walking in town, and some children were yelling "muzungu muzungu" so I turned and waved to them. Every few seconds they would yell "muzungu" again and I would have to turn and wave again. I think I waved to them about five times before they were satisfied. When I first started going to the primary school, some of them children would sneak up behind me and touch my hair and run away again. They also are fascinated with my skin, and immediately notice any tiny mosquito bite or scratch and inquire "what is that, what is that?" I usually tell them "It is the same as yours, just a different color." Explaining sunburn can also be a funny experience! They ask when I get too much sun if I "have a sickness on my skin."
We sit with the students for lunch so the teachers can have a break, and I was talking to the seniors in high school one day. They have many questions and really want to come to America. One of the boys, George (who is actually older than me), was saying "I want to marry the youngest in your family and move to US." I said okay, but that the youngest is a boy. He responded with "okay, then the youngest girl." I said that was me, and they insisted the next day I bring my phone number for them. They were somewhat joking, fortunately. On a side note I think some of the elementary school students might actually believe that I'm related to President Obama...
Incidentally, I only use my phone here for calling home (I don't really have a lot of people to call) and so when people ask me for my phone number I legitimately tell them I don't know what it is. I should probably learn. On one of my first days here someone called my number by mistake, and was talking hastily in Kiswahili. I was worried that it was one of the sisters at first, but after I realized it was wrong number had an incredibly difficult time explaining that to the caller.
It is also difficult for me to explain which tribe I come from! (As we don't have tribes at home so much...or at all). The teachers have are surprised to learn that English is my "mother-tongue" and that is why I am able to speak/read it so well.
As you may know, one of my top 3 fears in life is insects. Well, one night I ran back to my room to get something and there was a huge (in non-Lauren terms, a fairly big) spider on the wall. I tried to whack it with my shoe but missed and it ran directly to where my bed is. I went back to the main house and casually asked if the spiders here are poisonous... turns out some of them are. It ended up that two of the aspirants came with me to my room, took about my entire bed (even some of the slats) and looked in my suitcases which were kept under my bed trying to find the spider. They were able to see it next to the leg of the bed and tried to spray it with insect killer, but they didn't really know how to use it so the spider ended up running, when he stopped they squashed him. I stood frightened in the corner for this episode. I feel bad for the spider, but it might have been out to get me! The aspirants even helped me make my bed. In North Horr I had a scorpion in my room! (It is not "scorpion season"). Since it was night I couldn't call for assistance, so I took my biggest shoe and tried to squash him. I missed once, but thought I had got him on the second try. I wasn't sure how well scorpions squash and didn't want to lift up my shoe to see if I had got him (if I hadn't and he had run away I think I would have stayed up all night on scorpion watch!). I left my shoe there until the next morning when I was finally brave enough to lift it up. The scorpion was under there.
People have many misconceptions about Americans, just as Americans do about Africans. For example, I have been told (not asked, told) that all American boys wear shorts all the time and all American girls wear trousers all the time. People look quite surprised when I wear a skirt, and I am almost hesitant to because of all the commentary! Here almost all the women wear skirts all the time. Also, some people seem to think that with all the negative influences in our media it must be nearly impossible to remain a Christian.
That's all I can think of for now, but I hope this had made you smile.

Food

Before I came I thought that we would eat beans and rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was quite mistaken! Beans are actually rather expensive, although rice is quite prevalent.

“Ugali” is one of the other main foods. It is made from maize flour is a thick, gooey dough. Usually you put some kind of sauce on top, like tomatoes and “sakumawiki” -- a spinach-like plant.

The Sisters have a beautiful “shamba” (garden) where they grow bananas and tons of vegetables. They harvest various things year round, although things come in seasons.

Right now it is avocado season. Big avocados cost the equivalent of 13 cents! Trying to use up all the avocado is what is difficult. People try to “trick you” into eating avocados, not unlike wrapping zucchini in a baby blanket and leaving it on someone’s doorstep. I am holding out for when the mangoes become ripe.

The volunteer who was here before me, Kate, used to make banana cake, and assuming (they think all Americans are the same) I also knew how they asked if I would make some also. Of course I said I would. I took the old bananas from the dining area, enough for at triple batch of banana bread and was halfway through making the cake when one of the aspirants brought me about 25 more bananas! One can only have so much banana cake, so I made a version of banana pudding and a recipe for baked banana “pudding.” The next time I made the banana cake there were enough bananas for a quintuple batch… Here there are big bananas, small bananas, bananas for roasting, bananas for cooking (there is a dish called “methoke“ that is bananas and potatoes cooked together), bananas for eating etc.

The children at school are provided lunch, and they are given “githere,” a mixture of beans and maize.

In general Kenyans have a fairly healthy diet. Few things are processed, and I was more shocked than I expected to see the roosters being slaughtered (I just prefer not to have seen my food alive). Milk is delivered every morning, and then poured through a strainer and boiled. I asked one of the aspirants why they strain and boil the milk, and she said “it has only been milk since today.” One of the sisters in the northern part of Kenya had bought an ostrich egg to cook the next morning for breakfast. When she got up the next day, she heard a strange sound coming from the kitchen. The egg had hatched overnight and she had a baby ostrich!!!

Also in the north they eat lot of goat. For our lunch one day there we had a “suferia” of rice and goat -- a big plate that everyone shares from. There was no silverware, however, and I sincerely enjoyed being able to eat with my hands (although my parents may have thought differently).

For breakfast, one of the aspirants makes me toast (yum!) and there is peanut butter, jelly, blueband (like ‘I can’t believe it’s not butter’ and used with everything) and a sesame seed paste, all of which are very good. I look forward to breakfast every night at bedtime J Also taken three times a day is tea. The tea is mixed with milk and sugar and is actually quite good. I have to be careful about having too much caffeine, however.

Lunch and dinner consist of some of the dishes mentioned above. They drink hot or room temperature water with meals and find it very funny that I like to put mine in the fridge.

Almost everything I like, and it did not seem too different from home until one night I made macaroni and cheese. I could not believe how happy it made me! I also prepared some “pasta in a bag” (the kind that all you do is boil milk and water and mix it in and it has all the spices etc.) and everyone was saying “oh this is so nice, it must have been very hard to make, etc. Again, food does not usually come packaged.

I will come back with many recipes, but here is an easy one for a type of jelly. Puree one part pears and one part green tomato, and ½ part sugar and boil. It is surprisingly good.

On a side note, the drought is affecting many people. Where there are no sources of water it has to be hauled in, and this water is generally not sanitary leading to outbreaks of cholera. Children are especially at risk, and thousands of herd animals such as cattle have died. Rain is hopefully expected in October, but there are a lot of people struggling right now. In Makuyu there is enough water for drinking, bathing etc., but because the hydroelectric plant does not have enough water flow electricity is rationed. For people who work in factories they are only able to work three days a week since they need light etc. for their jobs, and are only getting paid for three days a week. Please pray for them!

Learn Kiswahili with Lauren

Kiswahili is just the Swahili word for "Swahili." Most Kenyans speak a dialect of Kiswahili, while "pure Kiswahili" is found in Tanzania and on the coast. The language sounds a bit like Spanish to me: the 'r' is pronounced like a flipped 'd' and the inflections are similar. The words in reality, however, are quite different. I've been learning just by asking people and during dishes we pick a letter each day and learn words that start with that letter. There is no 'x' or 'q.'
Here is a brief sampling of some of the words/phrases I have picked up so far -- just to get an idea of what the language is. I was very pleased after I greeted someone they mentioned that my accent was so good they almost spoke to me in Kiswahili!!! (At the time that was the only word I had learned!) Words are pronounced the way they are spelled.

Habari yako/zenu: How are you? ---This is the standard greeting, singular/plural
Mzuri: Fine --- This is the reply
Lala Salama: Goodnight

Nataka: I would like ---"Please" is only used in formal situations, so this is how you ask for things

Tu: Let's --- Like tuombee (let's pray), tucheze (let's play), tuende (let's go)
Kuja: Come --- You hear this a lot
Wewe: You
Mimi: Me
Naitwa nani?: What is your name?
Karibu/Karibuni: Welcome ---Heard often when you arive from either a short or long trip, singular/plural
Asante: Thank you

Ndize: Banana
Ncarte: Bread
Chai: Tea with sugar and milk
Jiko: Stove or grill
Kisu: Knife
Mesa: Table

Sawa sawa: okay okay

The numbers 1 - 10: moja, mbili, tatu, nne, tano, sita, saba, nane, tisa, kumi

I have yet to figure out how the grammar works, as sentences do not translate well grammar-wise -- i.e. "me is tired" would be a literal translation. The sentence structure varies depending on what you are saying.
The mother-tongue in Makuyu is Kikuyu. The small children learn Kikuyu first, Kiswahili second and eventually English. Kikuyu is a Bantu language. I'm afraid I do not know much more than that...yet.
It is fun here because the aspirants and postulants are from different places so I hear some Arabic and a couple other languages as well.

Politics

Kenyan politics fascinate me! I haven’t really figured out how exactly they work, and I think in order to truly understand you must be Kenyan.

Prior to 2007, their system was basically the same as the British. They had a president, Ministers of Parliament (MPs) etc. However, the 2007 elections caused huge amounts of gory post-election violence. It has just been decided that the trials will involve the Hague. This is very good news otherwise the outcomes would go in favor of the highest bidder. As far as I can tell, the elections were rigged to begin with, but in order to quell the violence now there is a president, vice-president, prime minister, and deputy. The prime minister and the president have similar amounts of power.

Everything, however, is corrupt. Everyone knows this, and it is okay to say. The newspaper contains fierce editorials and is definitely biased not in favor of the government. Currently there is a big uproar over the reappointment of the chair of the anti-corruption board. Many believe his reappointment by the President was illegal and are fighting the decision. Even the anti-corruption board has corruption issues! Positions tend to be bought, even those such as census enumerators. The taxes on the poorest of citizens are outrageous, and governmental officers do not pay any taxes.

People, especially men, like to sit around and discuss politics, not unlike U.S. citizens chatter about football. Many people have asked flat out if I voted for Barrack Obama. Usually they first ask me my name, and then if I like Obama. Lots also find it hysterical to ask if I am related to him. Some walls have “Obama” written on them and there is lots of apparel with “Yes we can” on it. The people also have no shame in saying that Obama will not visit Kenya until the corruption lessens. They aren’t happy about it, but they seem to understand. They are extremely proud that the U.S. has a president of Kenyan descent.

Despite the many problems with the political system, people still love their politicians. A visit is a big deal and people still cheer even though they know many of the promises are false. I think that is human nature, however, to be excited about anyone famous.

On a side note, Kenya is divided into 7 provinces. Within these provinces there are “district headquarters” which can best be described as the capital of a county. Government offices in a town are very good because they provide job opportunities and ensure that there will be a dispensary (clinic) and school.

Transportation... AIEEEE!

Pictures: Changing a "puncture" (flat tire), riding in the back of a desert car, herd of goats crossing the road, and locals hitching a ride on a "lorry" (semi)

Kenyan transportation can only be described in one way: terrifying.
On being picked up from the airport my first night, I was sincerely concerned when the "driver" kept turning around and talking to me. I later realized that not only do they drive on the opposite side of the road, the driver is also on the opposite side of the car (in my defense I had been traveling for 20 hours).
Driving in Nairobi is much like driving in any other big city -- many cars, people, honking etc. In larger towns, some of the roads have two lanes, but that is it; there is no shoulder or painted lines. In general, roads are not maintained. Paved roads have HUGE potholes and people drive on whichever side of the road is in better shape. It is not uncommon to see a car barreling down directly at you only for the other car to pull back into its lane at the last second. Oh, and seatbelts are only required for the front seat. People drive fast! In some places there are speedbumps, but if the nearby citizens feel traffic is still moving too fast they will dig trenches across the road. Some roads are also lined with rocks to keep people from driving on the places where people walk. Donkeys, goats, sheep and cows are ubiquitous and have no fear of vehicles. What amazes me most is the people who pack so many things on their bicycles you can barely see them. I have no idea how they balance.
In the country, the road is a bit like a cross between Peter and Rose's driveway and Pat and Jeanne's road. For those of you who do not know the reference, it is basically very bumpy. After it rains in the desert, the roads are completely gone. There are no fixed routes, and whoever drives a path first makes the road.
Matatus are the method of public transportation. They are basically twelve passenger vans, but often have up to 25 people inside. They have a sliding door and the person who collects the money hangs out the door even after the vehicle has started moving. There has been a major issue lately with drunk matatu drivers.
Police set up spikes in the road for random stops. They don't usually stop you, but if they do (especially towards the end of the month) they try to find a violation. Then, instead of taking the ticket you are expected to bribe them. The more pocket money they need the more violations you probably have. The bribe is usually the same amount as the ticket would be, but you avoid hours in court. Fortunately, with the Sisters there is usually no problem.
Kenya is also known for the "Lunatic Express" the railway from Nairobi to Mombassa. I hope to ride it someday.
Driving is scary, but it is also an exhilarating experience!

The Chalbi Desert, or Living the Bible

Pictures: Traditional manyatta; the groom; Lucy in the back of a desert car; the desert, dry bones

For the last three weeks I traveled to the Chalbi Desert to assist in running Vacation Bible School type camps. The Chalbi Desert is in the northwestern part of Kenya. The first night we made it to Marsabit, the last town of any size before you reach Ethiopia. The next day we drove to North Horr, where there is a Catholic Mission. On the way we had many “punctures” (flat tires). Where we stopped to fix them you can literally see nothing but sand in most directions. Even though it is the coolest time of year right now, the sun beats down on you.. We had to stop in a nearby town (1.5 hours away) and have the Father in North Horr come and pick us up since we were out of spares. I felt like I should be in an Indiana Jones movie riding (or I should say bouncing around) in the back of a land rover packed full of stuff on a sand road through the desert.

North Horr and the surrounding areas are inhabited by the Gabbra people -- nomads who have kept many aspects of their way of life. It is a little funny, however, to see someone in traditional dress talking on a cell phone.

The children and youth here have never had any type of camp, and were very excited. In fact, they would not leave when it was time for them to go home! Even the older youth who were supposed to be animators (like counselors) were not helpful because they did not want to miss their opportunity to have camp. The young children spoke only Gabbra, so we had the nursery teachers from the school work with them. The older youth spoke some English, but I mostly helped with arts and crafts because of communication difficulties. I did love to sit with the little girls though and let them braid my hair.

After a week in North Horr we went to Dukana. Dukana is very rustic: no running water, electricity or communication to the outside. Dukana is considered an outstation of North Horr, even though it is a 2 hour drive away. In the mission there are 3 Fathers for 20 outstations, all of which take a decent amount of driving to get to.

We also spent a couple days in Kalacha, a place much like Dukana, but the youth leaders had not spread the word about the camp so we had very few participants. Also, the Census was going on at this time so everybody who was educated was working for that. They were supposedly going to count at night, although there are no lights and the manyattas (traditional homes) are the same color as the bush… we aren’t sure how or if they counted them.

At the time we were in North Horr, the Parish Priest, Father Anthony, had his nephew and two of the nephew’s friends visiting. All of them are from Germany so it was fun for me to practice my German and have other people to go see things with. They were very welcoming and including of me. We went to some little towns, such as Gus (sometimes spelled Gas J ), Molobot which is known for the singing wells of Molobot as the people sing as they fetch water and also took a sunset trip to a sand dune. It was soo fun to run and jump over the edge to a very pleasant landing. It’s like snow, except hot. We also briefly visited the outstations of Wormo and Kurau. Here the people are devil-worshippers, but only at night when they drum. During the day they are very kind people and the Fathers can even take tea in their homes. But, when they are invited into church they say “Father I can’t I have Iyana in me.” When someone gets sick the demon calls for them to slaughter a goat or even eat hot charcoals. There are many “listeners” there (people interested in becoming Christians) and the only baptized person is one of four wives.

While the Gabbra people have many beautiful traditions, there is a lot of work to be done in raising the status of women. The older girls in the camp would not even talk in front of the boys. The girls have little opportunity for education, even up to finishing middle school. If the mission was not there no school (or hospital) would be in North Horr. Boys are allowed to run around before marriage, but if a girl gets pregnant out of wedlock she is forced out of the community. Angela, a Lay Missionary who has been in North Horr for nine years, (and basically runs the place, when she leaves they will need four staff people to replace her) adopted a little girl, Grace, who otherwise might have been killed. Once married, however, sleeping around is acceptable. This did not make any sense to me! Even at camp the boys were much more respectful when a Father was present and the girls asked Sophia, a Salesian Aspirant, how she could be so brave to present in front of boys and tell them what to do.

We were lucky enough to be able to attend a traditional wedding. The Gabbra can only get married on two days out of the year, depending on the moons. A couple must do the traditional wedding even if they are married in church or have another arrangement (for example this couple had essentially already been married for a few months). The groom was a pharmacist from Nairobi in his late 20s or early 30s and the girl was about my age. It made me angry at first seeing that an educated man would take such a young bride -- marriages are generally arranged -- but we later found out it was both of their choices. It is not uncommon for a man to marry someone 20 years his junior. The first, and most important thing to many, is the bringing of the dowry to the bride’s family. No matter the wealth, three camels, 2 male and one female, must be given. After this is properly worked out, the wedding can continue. It was funny because the groom clearly did not know the traditions, and the elders were instructing him. He must be shaved from head to toe, cut his nails and give away his clothes. This is symbolic of when he was born. Then, he walks into the bush to find a special type of tree which he will make into a stool. He then starts a fire using only sticks. Meanwhile, the bride must stay inside during all of the festivities and listen to the elder women give advice on how to be a good wife. She cannot even get up to go to the bathroom! The catechist who was showing us around the wedding ceremonies was somehow related to her so we were able to meet her. She looked terrified, but beautiful with many henna tattoos. The women do all the work while the men aside from the groom sit, drink and watch. The women take part of the mother of the groom’s manyatta and build it into a new one. They move and set it up once symbolically, then lay the pieces in a circle. The family members of the couple then take a mixture of oil and milk -- which they must taste first, yuck judging by the looks on their faces -- and pour it on the house. There is music and dancing all night, and at 6:00 AM the bride is brought to the groom. For four days they sit on opposite sides of the new manyatta, separated by two youth, and stare at each other. They are not allowed to talk. After this, they are considered married. It was really neat to see some of the things they do, and we were lucky enough to be able to take photos. In this area many people believe that photos will steal the soul of the animals or make them get sick.

Camels are very important to the Gabbra, and one person even said that (although he didn’t believe this because he was educated) to men the order in their life is God, Camel, Wife. It is a good thing he did not see things this way or there might have been trouble… But, camels symbolize wealth and status. People will even starve to death before selling their camels. Camels do not do anything, really, except carry the house when it is time to move. Very rarely will someone eat camel meat. Caring for the camels is the one thing men do. They take them in search of water. This year there has been no rain and it has been very difficult to find enough water for their camels, who incidentally can drink 114 liters in ten minutes! The women do everything else -- they cook, clean, build the houses, raise the children etc. -- yet they are considered lower members of society. This makes sense how?

Alright, this was a long post but I had a lot of adventures! It really does help to think of these things as adventures, otherwise I’ve noticed people tend to get quite angry. If all you want to do is go back home, that is all you will think about and you will not enjoy the experiences you are having.

Ahh and the reason for the title… The stone here look a lot like loaves of bread (think the temptation of Jesus), we saw some VERY dry bones (Ezekial), and we crossed the barren desert but we did not die of thirst (Isaiah).

Struggles

I like it here, but the first week has not been easy. The first two days were great, when everything was new, but these last couple days were quite difficult.
Loneliness
I am the only volunteer at this site, and I have so far not been able to leave the compound on my own. There are some young people close to my age, the Aspirants (people who have recently decided they would like to become Salesian Sisters) but they have been together since February and have a fairly set routine. The time difference makes it such that I cannot call home whenever I would like, plus the phone is very expensive! Using Skype is much cheaper, but since the internet is slow the connection is not good. Also, I am only allowed limited time on the internet so all in all the "instant gratification" communication I am used to is not available. I am hoping I will be able to meet some other volunteers or even people in the town to be friends with soon. As for now, I will have to wait until camp is over and I can figure out how to take the Matatus (12+ person vans) around.
Language
English is the language spoken among the Sisters, yet my English is very different than theirs and we have a hard time understanding each other. Swahili does not have most of the vowel sounds English does, and so native Swahili speakers pronounce many things differently. Lauren is an incredibly hard name for them! They do not really have the "eh" (is that sound called a schwans?? it's the 'en' part of my name) sound, and "ell" are "r" are indistinguishable. My name often comes out "Lahleen" (or they think it is Florence).
If we speak slowly enough we can understand each other, but there is currently no chance share a sense of humor or have in-depth conversations.
Confusion
I have not yet figured out the scheduling here so am often unsure of what is happening. Also, general culture shock and stress is to be expected. I am not trying to complain, but more explain what is difficult.

P.S. -- A random note, yesterday I went into town and saw one other person who was white --- it was a mannequine.

Technology

One thing I have noticed here is the difference in technology. Kenya has pretty much everything we do, but it is all a few years behind. Some examples: instead of I-pod stereos they have CD Players; most people still use film cameras; cell phones are all by prepaid minutes; there is hot water, but you must turn on the heater for 15 minutes to let it get hot.
The internet has been in their newspaper a lot -- they recently got a broadband cable (the one at here is dial-up I believe... or something else very slow compared to what I am used to). Many people were skeptical about this cable. They had a big opening with many reporters and for a second it flickered out which led some people to believe this was another scam. By the way, this was front page news.
The electricity here is fine, it flickers every once in a while, but not enough to cause major problems.
In economics we learned about "leapfrogging" technology, in which developing countries adopt more recent technologies and hence their development is quicker since they did not have to go through all the stages. For example, they can just use cell phones instead of first having to create a landline infrastructure. So far I am not convinced either way about whether this is true: certain Kenyans certainly do have many modern things, yet they are (naturally) hesitant to give up the old reliable way. As with the broadband cable, it seems the people here are worried new things will not work and would rather not take the risk of trying them without a backup plan.
P.S. -- I will be going to the Chalbi desert for 3 weeks to do a camp and there is absolutely no internet there. It is the "forgotten part of Kenya" according to the Sisters and from the description I've heard it seems to be the stereotypical Africa portrayed in the movies.

Publish Post

I made it!

I have made it to Makuyu, Kenya. Makuyu is a small town a little ways out of Nairobi. I do have internet access, but it is limited and quite slow, so please forgive me if I don't respond right away! Also, I'll add pictures to this as soon as I figure out how.

The people here are filled with loving joy. I can't count how many times I've heard "Karibu" (Welcome). Today I took a tour of the compound, and it is huge! The area where I am staying has the Sisters' House, a technical school for girls, a secondary school, and a primary school where I will be working. Then there is a Children's Home for orphans, then the Salesian Fathers have a technical school for boys, a parish and a clinic.
When I met the nursery school kids (about 3-4) I honestly felt like a celebrity. ALL of them jumped up and wanted to shake my hand. I had about ten children hanging on either arm. I was introduced and all the kids repeated (shouted) "Mees Laureen." They sang for me and it was so wonderful. They have so much love!
A couple funny things I have encountered: I knew they drove on the left side of the road, but I didn't realize that the steering wheel was on the opposite side too! Gave me a scare when I thought the driver was not paying attention.
A postulant asked me if I had ever worn a skirt before.
I was expecting a Sister to pick me up at the airport, as they told me to look for someone in a habit. However, they sent a couple young men as it was nighttime so this is safer. The young men had a sign with my name on it, but I was slightly worried that I should not go with them. It was fine, of course. They were definitely not wearing habits.
The lunch bell is ringing, more to come soon.

Welcome/8201 Miles

Hello!
As you may already know, I will be spending several months in Makuyu, Kenya. Makuyu is 8201 miles away from my home in Cold Spring, Minnesota. This is certainly the farthest and longest I have been away and while I am quite nervous to leave tomorrow, I am also extremely excited. Another American volunteer, Katie, spent 9 months there and says everyone is very welcoming, but that the first week is the hardest. In fact, every long-term volunteer I've talked to says that the first week they cried every night and just wanted to go home. So I figure if I plan on being miserable the first week that will make it more bearable :) As a Resident Advisor (yes I can't believe I am using those skills) they taught us about the "Critical 6 Weeks" -- this refers to the time it takes to fully adjust and determine whether a student will 'make it or break it.' So, I'm going to try very hard to establish a regular routine and get fairly involved within that time period.
My year of service is with a fantastic program called VIDES+USA. VIDES is run by the Salesian Sisters and is an international program in which volunteers from all over the world travel all over the world. The website is www.vides.us and contains a lot of great information if you want to learn more about the program.