Lean on Me

Quick update:

I've been enjoying my break from school by hanging with other volunteers at some training sessions. First, was back in Kitui (where it all began) for the Diversity and Peer Support (DPS) group training. It was basically a training in counseling. Volunteers that are DPS trained are invited to Pre-Service Training to be an ear if any of the new volunteers have any issues they need to talk about. They also might visit volunteers when they first arrive at their site to kind of check in with them. It was a good training and by the end of it I found myself on the Core Committee. There are five members on this Core Committee and my official title is 'The Lean-On Guy', which means I do whatever the Chair tells me to do. I can do this.

It was also nice being back in Kitui, because I'm so much more comfortable with Kenya at this point. I walked around confidently, throwing out my Kikamba phrases, not a care in the world, feeling safe and at home. I also got to see my home-stay family again. It was a surprise meeting, but it didn't take long for Mama to whip up more than enough food. I was stuffed and had food to carry with me after my time was up. Just like old times.

Following that, it was off to Nairobi for my training group's In-Service Training (IST). It was a time to get the group back together again, share frustrations and ideas and get ready to go back to site feeling more confident. I'm not sure if all objectives got met, but it was nice to see everyone again and have some good times. I won't go into any more specifics.

Well, school starts again in a couple weeks, and I hope to have some student-teacher conferences at the beginning of the term to get some one-on-one time with the students. I hope it helps.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more adventures!

It's Bah-ngladesh, not Bang-ladesh!

My first term as a Kenyan teacher has come to close. Exams were last week and we compiled the results and officially closed the school two days ago on Tuesday. How were the results you might ask? Chemistry - great. Biology - not so bad. Physics - the students did well considering the class. Geography - not as good as expected. Math - well, it's math...it's never what you want.

I think this term was somewhat of a crashcourse in the Kenyan education system and I feel more prepared heading into next term. I also have a better comraderie with the students and know their strengths and weaknesses.

The end of the term also marked possibly the last time the principal would be with the students and staff. Believe it or not I don't really enjoy change (I know, I know, yes I basically changed everything in my life by coming to Kenya, but I like stability and tradition). The principal was the person that brought me to the school, filled out the paperwork for the Peace Corps, was my supervisor. I will miss him.

Last weekend, inbetween giving exams and grading them, I ventured to Nairobi to take the Foreign Service Exam. This is the exam all Foreign Service Officers (those hip cats that work at the embassies all over the world) must take and pass. I was taking the first part, the written exam. If you pass you move on to the oral exam which is only offered in the U.S. If I pass I am not flying back to the U.S. Why did I take it knowing that I would go no further than the written exam? Honestly, I just wanted to take a test. I haven't been tested like that since college and I was missing it somewhat. I enjoy knowledge and I enjoy being tested. Keeps me sharp. It's also supposed to be one of the hardest tests in the world. I read that somewhere. I don't know if I agree. By taking the test I am also gaining familiarity in case I ever decide to do something like the Foreign Service in the future.

While in Nairobi for the exam I stayed the night in the homes of embassy workers. Yet another reason why joining the foreign service might not be so bad. I was offered Doritos, Hershey's Kisses, fresh-brewed coffee, Cracklin Oat Bran (with cold milk! from a refrigerator!), home-made pizza (HOME-MADE!). I watched a brief amount of SportsCenter and MTV on the tube. I took hot showers, bounced on a trampoline, played basketball (we didn't play h-o-r-s-e, we played j-a-m-b-o), played the accordian, used a microwave, basically lived a different life. Also these embassy workers were married and had children so I felt like part of the family, just one of the kids. Good times, yet life isn't so green on the other side of the razor-wire fence.

So school is on break until May 9. During the break I have a couple trainings and conferences to attend and some relaxation to attend to. I hope life is splendid on the other side of the 'pond'.

As a reminder my current information is as follows:

P.O. Box 163
Nzeeka, Kenya

phone:
011-254-736-543-139

I will be in places with excellent phone reception from April 16-26 so if you want to call that would be a good time. Those of you in Michigan there is a 7 hour difference. 12 noon there is 7 PM here.

Word

Peace