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)

tuko pamoja (we are together)

"Goat meat roasting on an open fire
 Sweat beads running down my nose
 And though it's been said, many times, many ways
 Nawatakia heri katika Christmasi na Mwaka Mpya!"

And so Christmas has come and gone.

Recap:

I visited another volunteer a few days before Christmas. We attended a wedding on Christmas eve. It was my first African wedding, but since it was a Christian wedding it wasn't very different. The photographer saw that I had a camera and suddenly I became his apprentice and he had me follow him and stand in the aisles and take pictures of everything. So hopefully I can get a few of those pictures up during this holiday season.

By the way, the wedding was about a 2 hour walk in the hot sun and so I got a pretty good sunburn. Its safe to say that this was my first Christmas with a sunburn. Christmas eve night almost looked like Michigan, because Kenyans were bundling up in heavy coats and hats because it dropped below 55 degrees F, and then they sang some African carols.

Christmas morning we got up bright and early for the goat slaughtering. I did not participate, I just took lots of pictures. After the slaughter the goat was hung from a tree and then butchered. I've got some beautiful shots of the goat in the foreground and some mountains in the background. Some sausages were made with the intestines and blood and no part went unused. That was really the highlight of the day.

Currently I'm on my way to the coast to spend New Years there ... on the beach! No Dick Clark for me this year, but I think it will still be rockin'.

How are you spending YOUR holidays?

... and the pickles.

WARNING: The following post is best read under the influence of a full bottle of cough medicine.

I think it is not uncommon, when removed from a culture that is familiar, to have certain cravings for what you left behind. Family and friends is the obvious longing. But you also crave food, music, and entertainment. It starts out simply enough: you want pizza, the latest from Sanctus Real, and the new season of Lost. As time goes on your cravings start to change as drastically as a pregnant woman. Last week I desired chow mein noodles, the theme song from This Old House (Bob Vila was a Peace Corps Volunteer by the way), and an episode of Murder She Wrote. I would have been absolutely thrilled to receive any of these things. It does concern me though. I wonder what I'll crave a year from now?

A thought occurred to me the other day: how will I know if I have a fever? If I was perfectly healthy and somebody asked me if I had a fever I probably would say yes.

I wonder: are the mangoes and fruit that I'm eating really as good as they seem, or is it such a stark contrast to the mostly starchy, bland food that I usually eat?

I've learned recently that I prefer my water with a hint of chlorine more than a hint of smoke. This stems from the fact that I have two options for sterilizing my water: chlorine tablets or extreme boiling. I could always combine the two and get some smoky, chloriny water.

Breaking News: The other day, for the first time in my life, I went a whole day without socks or shoes. I know there is stunned silence with those reading this, but its true. It was just the virgin feet (which I'm not sure I can call them that anymore) and my brother's old sandals. I didn't really notice a difference, I only did it out of laziness.

I would suggest to anyone lacking in a sense of humor, but who has always dreamed of being a comedian, to come to Kenya. Normal conversation is extremely funny to Kenyans. They can't believe some of the stuff we have or do in America. Just mention snow or, if you're feeling really crazy, skiing and you'll have them on the floor in no time. However if you try to say something witty, a real side splitter, a pun, a play-on-words, you will get no reaction. It just doesn't translate over.

On a related topic, I cherish the moments when I pose a question or ask for an opinion of a Kenyan in English, and the response I get is, "Yes, I see, thank you sir." It always helps to start a question with the phrase, "I have a question," just to get them prepared. I wonder how many times this happened when I was talking to international students at WMU? Its interesting being on the other side.

I like my site. The people are great and friendly, but there is one glaring drawback I have decided. The biggest bummer is that I live sort of in a complex with other people. 'What's the big whoop, Matt?' you may be asking. The problem is not the people, my neighbors are great. The big whoop is that I don't have the freedom to go out to my backyard (I have no yard) and relieve myself if I have to without having an audience. That, as I see it, is the whoop kubwa.

A curious thing happened last week. Ever since we arrived in Kenya people have been on the lookout for animals. Anything. And finally place we ended up the closest to animals was in the heart of Nairobi at the Ambassador's house. There were monkeys climbing on his house and his trees right above our head. It was great. If I can ever get more pictures up I will show them.

The holiday season is upon us, and this is shaping up to be, not surprisingly, the most unique Christmas I have experienced. I actually forget that it is the season, because it goes contrary to what I'm used to: it's crazy hot, there is no snow, no decorations, no endless Christmas songs on the radio ... this goes back to the cravings I talked about earlier. I want to see Rudolph and Mickey's Christmas Carol on TV. I want to watch family videos of Christmas past (and watch the best parts over and over and over ... much to my mom's chagrin). It is very clear dreaming of a white christmas is as close as I will come to the real thing unless I visit Mount Kenya.

I hope you have enjoyed my random thoughts, observations, and questions. I blame having large amounts of time on my hands and Dave Barry (that lovable humorist, who writes things, dare I say 'stirring enough to rouse the American eagle from its crag and set him to shriek exultantly while he hurls his arrows at the aurora bourealis' [taken with liberty from the Philadelphia Tribune ... and the guy from Music Under the Stars]) as the catalyst.

Happy Holidays!!