neno juu (word up)

Let's talk schools (Kenyan style).

Secondary Education is divided into 4 years much like America but instead of the usual Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior we say Form I, Form II, Form III, and Form IV.

The day begins for the students at 6:30. They are expected to be at school for morning preps, completing homework and studying. At about 7:30 They clean the school grounds: sweeping classrooms, sweeping the pathways, dusting, picking up trash, and the like.

At about 7:45 the students assemble for the morning assembly. They stand in rows by Form with the prefects to one side. Usually on Monday and Fridays the flag is raised by the Scouts and the national anthem is sung. Following the flag raising is the singing of two hymns and a prayer. Following this, the students are addressed on certain issues. They are addressed by the following people in this order: the prefects, then the teachers, then the teacher on duty, then the deputy, and finally the principal.

The first lesson of the day begins at 8:00. Each lesson is 40 minutes long. The schedule is as follows: 3 lessons then a 20 minute break, 2 lessons, 10 minute break, 2 lessons, 50 minute lunch break, 3 lessons. The lessons end at 4:00.

After lessons the schedule is MondayWednesdayFriday - Games, Tuesday - Clubs, and Thursday - Debate. This lasts for one hour. The day ends at 5:00.

As i have noted before it is the students who remain in the classroom and the teachers who move from class to class. This makes things interesting especially since there is no break inbetween classes. When the bell rings (manually rung by a Form II student) that is the teachers cue to wrap things up and move out so the next teacher can enter. But you find that teachers don't really mind taking your class time and will continue the lesson for another 20 minutes. It can be frustrating.

Also staff meetings are usually planned during class time, so you miss lessons. Students are punished during class time. When they should be in class they are out digging a hole or something and missing the information. The teachers seem unfazed by this saying that the Kenyan government allows punishment during class time. I try to explain my disagreement with the policy as it creates more work for the teacher in reteaching concepts.

Enough about structure for now.

Lately this is what has been happening:

I had a friend come visit from another part of Kenya. He couldn't believe how hot is was and he said he's never leaving his mesa again. Yes, his mesa.

My principal is planning his retirement party. Which meant he had a meeting in which he attended and we had to elect a chairman and co-chair for the party, also three secretaries, a treasurer and about 10 members. It was all in Kikamba and so I mostly zoned out and raised my hand when it appeared we were voting on something.

I attended a games competition yesterday for my school. It was basically a track meet only very less organized. I was able to see the high jump, shot put, and 100 metre dash before I had to go. Our students were actually doing quite good. I'm anxious to know the results.

Most people are not happy with the principal right now because he has not gotten the results of the national exam yet. He is the only person who can do it and everybody is so anxious. So people are not speaking to him until the results are in.

National exam fever has swept the nation. This year a record number of students, 57000, have qualified for admission to the university. This is good news. However, there are only 9000 spots available. This is bad news. There are not enough options for Kenyans after secondary school.

I must end there.

Peace out

isyitwa yakwa ni Mumo (my name is Mumo)

The title is actually in Kikamba not Kiswahili and Mumo is my Kamba name. Everybody calls me Mumo.

Well, its been a long time hasn't it. And how have you been? This appears to be the new schedule, updating about once a month. The nearest internet is at the Post Office which is not open on the weekends. Since I teach during the week its impossible to come when it is open. Today, I happen to be picking up some medication...for malaria...prevention. My ammount ran out so I was allowed the day off to go pick my supplies. But enough of that. What's been happening?

The school year has been in full swing for 4 weeks now. The first week or two were spent waiting for students to scrape together school fees and come to school. This is no easy feat since there is a drought happening in Kenya. School fees are hard to come by. Also, the first year students did not arrive until last week, because they were waiting to see if they would be excepted into the more distinguished, reputable secondary schools. There is a trickle down effect: the best students to national schools, then provincial, then district. I am at a district school, and a very new and rural one at that.

I am now teaching Biology and Chemistry Form 1, Math and Physics and P.E. Form 2, and Goegraphy Form 3. It is quite an assortment and some I haven't taken since I was in secondary school.

Last week, during our morning assembly an animal entered the grounds. The principal stopped the assembly and said to the students, "Can anybody tell me what that is? Is it a...hyena?" And the students took off running after the animal to stone it to death. Just another day in Kenya.

Also last week, 3 teachers quit. They were disgruntled over their pay, which is admittedly very low. The end of last week was very bleak. But the teachers were enticed to return this week with a modest increase in salary and they were told to 'think about the students'.

Kenya has been all abuzz lately with football. It's in the newspapers, on television, much as it was in America. Except I'm talking about soccer. It is the African Nation's Cup. Two places in the market area have generators that they run at night to power televisions to watch the games. When there are no games the watch cheesy action movies starring Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Arnold Schwarzenneger. It's good fun.

A scorpion entered my house. I jumped up on my chair. Then I dropped a roll of duct tape on it. Then I swept it out of the house.

The following day I found a scorpion in the toilet area. I should have knocked before entering. It's so embarassing to walk in on somebody in the bathroom. I thought of relieving myself on it, but decided not to provoke it, plus I would have had to clean up the mess. Instead, I did my business and allowed it to continue its own business.

I think I shall climb Mt. Kenya in April.

That's it for now, but next time I want to shed a little light on the structure of Kenyan secondary schools.

Until then, peace out.

P.S. You can thank my brother for the updates to the pictures and the captions that describe them.

A Year in Review

What can we say about 2005? It lasted about a year.

The year started off with me anxiously awaiting the start of my internship at Delton-Kellogg High School (Go Panthers...maybe, I can't remember the mascot, but Panthers sounds like a winner). It was my first opportunity to spend an extended period of time in a classroom in the capacity of a teacher. I definately learned a lot and taught some pretty sweet students who even still drop me a line here in Kenya.

It was during my internship that I was told I was nominated for an assignment in Africa with the Peace Corps. I had to go through the lengthy process of having a physical exam, dental exam, bloodwork, and lots of paperwork.

Oh, and then I graduated. It was a bit surreal to realize that my time at WMU had come to an end. Man, I really love WMU. I have such great memories and friends there. I could go on and on about that place and its people...but I won't, not today.

Following graduation I searched for a job for about a month, to no avail. So I had to exercise my backup plan: buildings & grounds at Bedford Public Schools. (Sigh) Back to exhaust fans. I got to hang with Chris again, which was fun. But during this time I was filled with longing. I desperately wanted to know when I was leaving and where I was going in Africa.

My answer finally came. Kenya. September 19th. My mom's birthday.

Also during the summer we had my Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary and my friend Nathan married his bride Jessica who may or may not have been blushing.

And then, it was time to leave. Just like that. It happened fast. My birthday seemed strange, my farewell visit to WMU didn't seem like it, and my goodbye party just seemed like a fun time to see people from all aspects of my life. But then I was at the airport with my parents on my Mom's birthday saying goodbye. Goodbye for over two years. It didn't completely set in, but it was emotional. I was leaving into the unknown. Everything that was familiar would be challenged. I didn't know what to expect from the moment I stepped on that plane.

It was exciting. I love being in new situations and experiences and meeting new people. My group of volunteers were/are pretty sweet.

I was amazed at how fast I became accustomed to the Kenyan lifestyle. In a short amount of time it became natural. I felt relaxed and at ease. Sure there are some things that I miss (washing machines), but others are a welcome improvement (at most restaurants and homes they come around with a pitcher of water and basin to wash your hands before you eat).

Lets just fastforward to today (I've never been good at these self-reflective writings). I've been at my site for about a month as an official PCV. I'm starting to learn the local dialect Kikamba. It's a tonal language so its a bit difficult. I spent Christmas with a friend and after that I visited another friend on the coast for a few days. I went snorkeling for the first time. It was way harder than I thought it was going to be. For 23 years of my life my brain and lungs and body have been in agreement that it is not a good idea to try to breathe under water. So it took a little persuading for me to adjust. But I saw some sweet coral and fish. Got a lot of sun. Saw some slave caves.

After that we came to Mombasa, one of the largest cities in Kenya and a popular tourist destination because of its great beaches. A group of us spent New Years there. We went down to the water and saw some fireworks. There was no ball dropping or Dick Clark to let us know when it was officially 12:00 so different groups of people started celebrating at different times. Hakuna matata.

New Years day we relaxed, I ate some pizza and we watched King Kong. It is a really good movie. It was also long, especially with an intermission. And King Kong was played by the same guy who played Gollum in Lord of the Rings. Right? It's a story of friendship. A friendship that defies all odds. That's my review.

So I'm heading back to my site with school starting in about a week. I'm almost in the same position I was in at the beginning of 2005. Anxious about starting a new teaching experience. I've been brushing up on my Kenyan geography since I'm supposed to teach it. I'm excited to finally begin what I came here to do. Here's to a successful 2006 for everyone!

I love you all!

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P.S. Check out the 'Evidence' tab for new pictures!
P.S.S. I took off the Snapfish link, because all the pictures have been moved to the 'Evidence' tab. So check out the 26 new pictures that begin The AuntJanette Educational Series. -- Dan (or, as I like to use on blogs, PungentAroma)