On Sunday we went to the Masai Market market to buy souvenirs and such and I got to use my bargaining skills!-- Well it was my first time ever bargaining, so I think I was pretty successful. So basically when I came into the shops the shopkeepers thought we were Muzungus (white people/ people from west), so obviously they would quadruple the price of EVERYTHING in the store. lol. But since I went to Mombasa before coming to Nairobi, I said that I just came from Mombasa and that they couldnt rip me off because I wasnt a tourist-- so that cut the price in half. lol And then I started reallllly bargaining-- having watched my mom bargain, I must say I have picked up a few tricks. I think my biggest accomplishment was bargaining the price of a necklace down from 5000 shillings to 600shillings!
After we went to the Masai market we went to a nearby theater and watched.... drum roll.... HARRRY POTTER! It was so good! The theaters here are so tiny compared to the HUGE ones in toronto, I think this theater had a max of 20 rows and the screen was pretty tiny, but the amazingness (yes I know thats not a word) of the movie made up for the tiny old theater, lol.
Its so interesting though how there is such a huge difference between the huge western mall that the theater was in and the slums! Its quite sad really! Makes me feel a guilty that I went and enjoyed a good movie whilst my friends in the slums were probably working hard fetching water from a bore hole or other such strenuous work... They seem like two completely differnt worlds! How could we have left these people to live in such conditions whilst we are enjoying our posh lives =/ I hope I never forget my trip and that I can help improve the lives of the people here!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Letter from Lavender
Today this girl named Lavender came up to me and gave me a beautiful letter that she had written for me! Basically she said that she loved me and was so glad that we had come to her school and had taught her new games and she was so happy to be my friend and that she loved my smile! Isnt that so sweet!!?!? I must write a letter and give it to her tomorrow!
All of the kids here are so cute and sweet! I want to take all of them home with me! lol. My friend was like "No wonder Angelina Jolie just comes to Africa and adopts all these kids, they"re so adorable!!" Its so true!!!
All of the kids here are so cute and sweet! I want to take all of them home with me! lol. My friend was like "No wonder Angelina Jolie just comes to Africa and adopts all these kids, they"re so adorable!!" Its so true!!!
Green Pastures Parents Day
On Saturday there was a Parents day at Green Pastures School. The Parents day started off with the little scouts marching, doing a little dance, raising the Kenyan flag and leading the national anthem. Then each class went one by one and did a little presentation. The pre-unit class (pre-schoolers) went up and did a little song about what they want to be when they grow up. So basically each kid in the class went up and sung a verse of the song-- it was something along the lines of -- when i grow up i want to be a ___ for my country Kenyaaaaa--- well thats a shortened version =P I videotaped it, so I will show it when I get back!
And another class did a song about how they love MATH!!!!!!!!-- say whatt!?!?! I doubt theyll have any desire to sing that song after taking calculus!!!
The 8th graders did a play-- It was a bit disturbing I must admit-- It was about teenage pregnancy, child prostitution, drug abuse, child abuse and there was a funeral in the play!!-- And the parents were laughing--- I asked one of the teachers later why all the parents were laughing and he said that these things are part of their daily life so the parents were laughing because they see themselves in the play-- apparently the point was to get parents to stop such behavior.-- Its sad that such problems are so common in this society!!
Then after the presentations were finished the principal of the school gave a speech. The speech was directed at the parents of the students and some of the things that the principla said were realllllllly shocking!!! Apparenntly most of the kids are beaten at home by their parents and the principal was saying that beating your kids will only harden the hearts of your children and they wont respect or love you. And then she said that one parent of a pre-school student had gone so far as to cut off the fingers of her child because he had stolen something!!! It is sad that such backwards parenting still exists in this world!!! I asked our group leader why the mother had not been reported to the police! She said that there is no child services here, so the mother would probably go to jail and the child would be left without anyone to care for them, so they were trying to change the behavior of the parent rather than punish them. That is so sad! The principal was also telling other stories about how some of the students had been kidnapped and hurt and was warning the parents to be careful of their kids and not send them out alone in the slums and such.
Its so different from the parents nights we had when I was in elementary school--- at those all the teachers did was praise the students, but I guess if such horiffic problems exist in the community, this is the teachers only chance to try to change the behavior of the parents..
Despite the gruesome stories that the principal told, the parents day was so much fun and the kids are all so inspirational and have such high aspirations for their futures!! I hope that the dreams of every single one of them will come true!!
And another class did a song about how they love MATH!!!!!!!!-- say whatt!?!?! I doubt theyll have any desire to sing that song after taking calculus!!!
The 8th graders did a play-- It was a bit disturbing I must admit-- It was about teenage pregnancy, child prostitution, drug abuse, child abuse and there was a funeral in the play!!-- And the parents were laughing--- I asked one of the teachers later why all the parents were laughing and he said that these things are part of their daily life so the parents were laughing because they see themselves in the play-- apparently the point was to get parents to stop such behavior.-- Its sad that such problems are so common in this society!!
Then after the presentations were finished the principal of the school gave a speech. The speech was directed at the parents of the students and some of the things that the principla said were realllllllly shocking!!! Apparenntly most of the kids are beaten at home by their parents and the principal was saying that beating your kids will only harden the hearts of your children and they wont respect or love you. And then she said that one parent of a pre-school student had gone so far as to cut off the fingers of her child because he had stolen something!!! It is sad that such backwards parenting still exists in this world!!! I asked our group leader why the mother had not been reported to the police! She said that there is no child services here, so the mother would probably go to jail and the child would be left without anyone to care for them, so they were trying to change the behavior of the parent rather than punish them. That is so sad! The principal was also telling other stories about how some of the students had been kidnapped and hurt and was warning the parents to be careful of their kids and not send them out alone in the slums and such.
Its so different from the parents nights we had when I was in elementary school--- at those all the teachers did was praise the students, but I guess if such horiffic problems exist in the community, this is the teachers only chance to try to change the behavior of the parents..
Despite the gruesome stories that the principal told, the parents day was so much fun and the kids are all so inspirational and have such high aspirations for their futures!! I hope that the dreams of every single one of them will come true!!
Green Pastures School
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tumaini = Hope
Every morning when our matatu (= van) drives into the mathare slum we are greeted by the smiling faces of young children. And of course the frequent call of "muzungu", which means white people or rich people. lol. Anyway it never seizes to amaze me how happy everyone in the slums is!! And how the eyes of all the children are filled with so much hope! When I think of the streets of Toronto, I think of the way everyone is so busy and running everywhere and no one ever has time to smile!!-- Seeing the cheerful faces of the people here definately confirms the fact that wealth is not related to happiness!
I've been reading this book called "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff"-- its a really good book that my aunt gave me and one of the things it says is to smile at random people as your walking along the street--- when I initially read that I was like everyone will think im some sort of creep if i do that--- seriously next time your walking on the city-- look for people smiling at strangers-- you wont find any! Anywayy point being that after seeing how the people here smile at complete strangers and how good it makes you feel, I will definately try that once I get back to Toronto!-- And you should too! lol
I've been reading this book called "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff"-- its a really good book that my aunt gave me and one of the things it says is to smile at random people as your walking along the street--- when I initially read that I was like everyone will think im some sort of creep if i do that--- seriously next time your walking on the city-- look for people smiling at strangers-- you wont find any! Anywayy point being that after seeing how the people here smile at complete strangers and how good it makes you feel, I will definately try that once I get back to Toronto!-- And you should too! lol
Visiting a patient who has HIV
Yesterday we went to the house of an HIV patient. The mother passed away 6 months ago and the father was raising four kids on his own-- two of which had HIV. Their house was a tiny little shack made of metal sheets. They slept on the floor b/c they only had one tiny matress which the baby used and they relied on government aid for food b/c all of the fathers money went towards paying for treatment for the children with HIV. It is such a sad situation!!! But luckily the giraffe project is paying for the schooling of the kids so the father said that he hopes they will have a better future! The man was so grateful that we visited and his optimism was truely inspiring!!! Before I came to Africa I was reading an article by a girl who went with the charity to Nairobi last year and she said after visiting the slums you "lose the right to complain about your life after seeing how the people in the slums live" and after seeing the home of this family and hearing about the way they live, theres no better way to describe how I feel.
O and one thing I forgot to add the the post below is that I got to give a tetanus shot to a patient (by myself!!) and do an HIV test-- which was thankfully negative!
Miss everyone back home! Cant wait to get back-- have so many stories to tell!
O and one thing I forgot to add the the post below is that I got to give a tetanus shot to a patient (by myself!!) and do an HIV test-- which was thankfully negative!
Miss everyone back home! Cant wait to get back-- have so many stories to tell!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Welcome to the slums!
This morning we started out the day by taking a tour of the slums and the schools that the Giraffe Project (the charity i volunteer with) supports. The slum we visited today was called Marathe North (i think thats how you spell it). The first school we visited was the old Tumaini school. Basically its this old building made of metal sheets without any lighting. There are about 50 primary school kids in the tiny little building working away. The first class was the year 1 class and they were singing "head and shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes.." They were all so cutee!!! And when we came in they all stood up and said welcome to their school and thank you for coming. They were all just too cute in their little uniforms!
The next School we visited was the second Tumaini school building that the Giraffe Project bought. This school was a bit bigger and had some older kids, but the state of the school still wasnt that great. The third school we visited was the new building! Yep thats what all the money raised from the 20K races and bake sales and the cupcakes4education fundraiser went to! So thank you so much to evevryone who supported this cause, you really have made a difference in te lives of these kids. The new building is amazing. It has 4 floors and was built over the last 2 years and final construction is being done on the top floor. We went around the school and visited all the classes! They are all so friendly and have the cutest smiles!
Then we went on a tour of the slums! The schools are at the tip of the slums in the good area, so at first I thought, hey the slums arent bad at all, but then we got to see the real slums.. And let me tell you I was beyond shocked! The living conditions of these people are attrocious! They live in tiny little metal shacks and barely have any food to eat. Yet the think that truely amazes me is how happy all of them are! I didnt see a single person in the slums with a frown on their place! These people really know how to make the most of their situation and i really admire them for that!
I am about to lose my internet, so i will post tomorrow.
xx
The next School we visited was the second Tumaini school building that the Giraffe Project bought. This school was a bit bigger and had some older kids, but the state of the school still wasnt that great. The third school we visited was the new building! Yep thats what all the money raised from the 20K races and bake sales and the cupcakes4education fundraiser went to! So thank you so much to evevryone who supported this cause, you really have made a difference in te lives of these kids. The new building is amazing. It has 4 floors and was built over the last 2 years and final construction is being done on the top floor. We went around the school and visited all the classes! They are all so friendly and have the cutest smiles!
Then we went on a tour of the slums! The schools are at the tip of the slums in the good area, so at first I thought, hey the slums arent bad at all, but then we got to see the real slums.. And let me tell you I was beyond shocked! The living conditions of these people are attrocious! They live in tiny little metal shacks and barely have any food to eat. Yet the think that truely amazes me is how happy all of them are! I didnt see a single person in the slums with a frown on their place! These people really know how to make the most of their situation and i really admire them for that!
I am about to lose my internet, so i will post tomorrow.
xx
Arrived in Nairobi!
Yesterday I arrived in Nairobi! My first impression was wow this is really different from Mombasa! Nairobi is really developed-- well the city is. When your in the middle of the city you could easily think you were in Brussels (well except for the Matatus-- Matatus are these african van-like things). And the roads are all properly paved and they're HUGE!I slept most of the car ride to Ruiru (the town that we are staying in)-- I woke up when we arrived by the outskirts of ruiru-- thats where the smooth payved roads disappear and you start to see the "real" african roads! There is a huge difference between the city of Nairobi and the outskirts!-- they're worlds apart!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Food Distribution
Every week on Fridays my great-uncle distributes food at his house. Its a type of cornmeal used to make "Seema". 100s of people come to get a bag of flour. Its so amazing what they do to help these people b/c a bag is enough to last them for almost a whole week (when supplemented with fruits and veggies).
I made a friend at the food distribution today! A little girl named Nameela. She was soooo cuteeee And even though she barely understood my broken swahilli she had the most amazing smile! <3
And when I got home the maids at my aunts house were eating seema. And they made me some to try! Its pretty good! Its like a thick whit porridge-like thing. They make it and roll it into balls in their hands and then dip it into curry.
I made a friend at the food distribution today! A little girl named Nameela. She was soooo cuteeee And even though she barely understood my broken swahilli she had the most amazing smile! <3
And when I got home the maids at my aunts house were eating seema. And they made me some to try! Its pretty good! Its like a thick whit porridge-like thing. They make it and roll it into balls in their hands and then dip it into curry.
Nyali Beach
Today my aunt took us to Nyali beach! Its one of the most well-known beaches in Mombasa! And it is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the sand is pure white and the ocean is sooo clear and clean!!!
Aggghhh idk why i cant post my pictures here =/ I will have to post them on facebook!
the sand is pure white and the ocean is sooo clear and clean!!!
Aggghhh idk why i cant post my pictures here =/ I will have to post them on facebook!
Anatomy lesson in the market!!
Today my cousins took me to the Somali market. Its basically this market and they sell like every single type of fruits and vegetables you could possibly imagine. They also have a meat market which my cousin convinced me to go into--- lol.
Anywy so we walk in and there are all these brains and organs EVERYWHEREEEEEEEEEE. There was this yellow coiled up thing so i went and asked the shop-keeper what it was. It was camel intestines!!!! He then went on to show us the camel's heart, pancreas, brain, leg... and on and onn. might as well have just had an anatomy lesson.
On hearing that I was from canada, he made me hold a goats head-- apparently its a delicacy here-- you buy and eat whole goat heads!-- I must post pictures-- O and the shop keeper was playing with the goats mouth to make it seem like it was talking!!!
O and i used my bargaining skills today!! I bargained a necklace that was 400 shillings down to 250 shillings-- pretty good considering that he knew i was a tourist. lol.
Anywy so we walk in and there are all these brains and organs EVERYWHEREEEEEEEEEE. There was this yellow coiled up thing so i went and asked the shop-keeper what it was. It was camel intestines!!!! He then went on to show us the camel's heart, pancreas, brain, leg... and on and onn. might as well have just had an anatomy lesson.
On hearing that I was from canada, he made me hold a goats head-- apparently its a delicacy here-- you buy and eat whole goat heads!-- I must post pictures-- O and the shop keeper was playing with the goats mouth to make it seem like it was talking!!!
O and i used my bargaining skills today!! I bargained a necklace that was 400 shillings down to 250 shillings-- pretty good considering that he knew i was a tourist. lol.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Updateee
Sooo alhamdulillah my flights were good and after a very tiring journey i am enjoying mombasa!
Pic of me looking exhausted on the plane!!!
When I got to Nairobi airport I had to stand in line an wait to be fingerprinted and then I got my visa.
Then I had a 2 hour wait in Nairobi airport (which is pretty sketch--lol).
Then I got my flight to Mombasa and when i arrived my cousins were waiting there to pick me up. Mombasa airport is sooo cuteee-- it looks like a little resort-- all the walls are white and there are little windows and its super cuteee.
So everyone keeps asking me what my first impression of Mombasa was-- truthfully i was like o woww i just landed in a ghetto--- the outskirts of mombasa near the airport are pretty sketch. But once you get used to it, the city is so beautiful!
Their way of life is so different than life in North America and Europe!! Everyone is so chill and relaxed. They have 2-3 hours off for lunch and everyone goes home for lunch. Their "traffic" is like 2 cars on the road. lol.
Anywayyy so my cousins have a hugeee mansion by the ocean!! I fell like I'm at a resort!!! When I wake up in the morning the first thing i smell is the smell of the ocean breeze coming through the window =D
So my first two days here in Mombasa, my cousin Summaya and I took a Henna application course which was pretty cool! In he morning we went to the course and in the evenings we just chilled out and went to the beach and stuff.
The course we took was in the middle of the old side of mombasa. My aunt showed us where my grandma used to live and where she grew up and stuff. It amazes me how they adjusted from this african culture to canada!!
O and omg we have to sleep under mosquito nets! they're so cool!! but they kind of faill at keeping me out of reach of the mosquitoes b/c i have bites everywhere!!!
Yesterday (thursday) in the evening my cousins and I walked along the ocean and we went to get some "mogo"-- a local specialty here--- I think in english its called casava.
Anywayyy so we walked down these cliffs to sit by this water and these two chinese dudes come and sit by us and they're like "can we take your picture? you're so beautiful? I want to tell my friends that your my girlfriend"-- i was soooo creeped out and was about to leave but then my cousin Sabera decided to talk to the dudes-- well one of them the other didnt speak english. So the dude came from china to mombasa "to start a business and find love"... creeeeeep much!? And then he's all "I'm single"-- And then the other dude started singing chinese love songs to us-- bahhahahaahahaha and then we left... o and he gave us his business card, his name was Frank Ghao or something. lol.
im now covered in mosquito bites, better go hide under m mosquito net!!--- hope the malaria pills workkk!!! =/
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Custard Apple
Here in mombasa they grow fruits and veggies in their backyards!
they grow pomegranates, mangoes, green oranges and all sorts of cool stuff!
Yesterday my aunt made me try a custard apple... it first i was all no thanks.. then i tried it an omg it tasted amazing!!!
Sorry i haven't had anytime to post pics or anything!-- but since i had a few seconds thought i shld share this random tidbit =P
o and btw the fruit tastes exactly like custard!
they grow pomegranates, mangoes, green oranges and all sorts of cool stuff!
Yesterday my aunt made me try a custard apple... it first i was all no thanks.. then i tried it an omg it tasted amazing!!!
o and btw the fruit tastes exactly like custard!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Mombasa
I am in Mombasa. Unfortunately the internet signal here is really weak, but hopefully i will blog soon about Mombasa and post pics!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
1/2 way there
In Paris..Halfway(ish) to Mombasa still have a stop in london and Nairobi.
First time back in Europe after moving to Toronto.. seems like much hasnt change since i left. lol
First time back in Europe after moving to Toronto.. seems like much hasnt change since i left. lol
Friday, July 1, 2011
Day 1
Who: Ailya
What: Is going to AFRICA!
When: Tomorrow.. Well its 3am so actually today in the evening!
Where: AFRICA
Why: To volunteer in Nairobi, Kenya and to visit friends and family in Mombasa.
So for those of you who don't know, I am going to Nairobi to volunteer with the Giraffe Project! The Giraffe project is a children's charity with a mission to educate children in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya so that they can "Walk tall into their futures"!
I have been working with the Giraffe Project for the past 4 years, fundraising and raising awareness about the plight of these children. Now alhamdulillah I am getting a chance to visit Nairobi to see what work has been done on the projects and to physically help out!
For the past 2 months in order to raise money I have been doing a fundraiser called Cupcakes4Education. So basically I have been baking and selling cupcakes to raise money for the Giraffe Project. Alhamdulillah this Fundraiser has been a great success! Through cupcake orders and generous donations I have raised over $700!! And sold over 300 cupcakes-- yep thats quite a lot of cupcakes! lol
Anyway if you want to see pics of the cupcakes check out the fundraiser facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cupcakes-4-Education/136049476470501?sk=wall
For all the donors and cupcake-buyers/ cupcake-eaters ;) I will be posting pictures and updates about the projects so that you can see exactly where your money is going!
So anyyyywayyyy hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I will be posting updates and pics from my trip on the blog so be sure to check them out. =D
xx
Ailya
What: Is going to AFRICA!
When: Tomorrow.. Well its 3am so actually today in the evening!
Where: AFRICA
Why: To volunteer in Nairobi, Kenya and to visit friends and family in Mombasa.
So for those of you who don't know, I am going to Nairobi to volunteer with the Giraffe Project! The Giraffe project is a children's charity with a mission to educate children in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya so that they can "Walk tall into their futures"!
I have been working with the Giraffe Project for the past 4 years, fundraising and raising awareness about the plight of these children. Now alhamdulillah I am getting a chance to visit Nairobi to see what work has been done on the projects and to physically help out!
For the past 2 months in order to raise money I have been doing a fundraiser called Cupcakes4Education. So basically I have been baking and selling cupcakes to raise money for the Giraffe Project. Alhamdulillah this Fundraiser has been a great success! Through cupcake orders and generous donations I have raised over $700!! And sold over 300 cupcakes-- yep thats quite a lot of cupcakes! lol
Anyway if you want to see pics of the cupcakes check out the fundraiser facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cupcakes-4-Education/136049476470501?sk=wall
For all the donors and cupcake-buyers/ cupcake-eaters ;) I will be posting pictures and updates about the projects so that you can see exactly where your money is going!
So anyyyywayyyy hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I will be posting updates and pics from my trip on the blog so be sure to check them out. =D
xx
Ailya
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