Well, lots has happened since I last updated you. I completed my orientation and training in Kitui and got sworn in as a full-fledged Peace Corps Volunteer last week at the U.S. Embassy. I was really sad to leave my host family, but not sorry to leave Kitui (and the endless miles of walking everyday) and start the new adventure. I shall miss the singing of the bats at night as they flew in and out of the rafters over my head, but I shall not miss the bat dung on my suitcases and mosquito net each morning!
The sounds of rural Kenya include much more than just bats singing. It is chatting of neighbors living in the same or nearby homestead areas as they walk to and from their own homes on the way to the little neighborhood store called a duka or into their garden, called a shamba. It is the sound of women and young girls singing as they go about their daily chores of cooking, cleaning and washing clothes. It is even the sound of the water swooshing with the clothes in basins on the ground as they are scrubbed and rinsed by hand. It is the sound of a matatu, a small van, roaring down the clay and dirt roads in and out of town kicking up dust. It is the steady increase in the sound of a once dry river bed now alive with the torrential rains of the season. It is the huffing breathes and excited screams of young boys playing soccor in the dirt with a homemade soccor ball from scraps of paper, string and whatever else they can find. It is the sound of babies, laughing and crying and their unique musical noises cutting through all other sounds to light a smile of life on faces.
Sounds are not all that appeals to the senses in Kenya. The smells are ever present. They range from every person's own individual smell of sweat,(which can be pretty powerful) to the smell of food cooking in the outdoor kitchens on the jikos, little outdoor stoves. Cooking cabbage, goat, tomatoes, onions and garlic all waft through the neighborhood as the evening meals are prepared. The only food that has no smell, is ugali. Ugali is ground corn that is cooked very much like oatmeal but much more stirring is involved until it cooks up and holds its shape.
It was the smell of popcorn cooking on a jiko after I taught my host family to cook it. It was a smell that pervaded the neighborhood as each person shared the cooking secret with the next neighbor in some sort of chain reaction. Prepared popcorn is very expensive to buy so many people in rural Kenya have never tasted it. They were amazed at the relative low cost to buy the kernals and cook them up at home.
It is the stinky, overpowering smell of diesel fuel from lorries, matatus and other transport vehicles. It looks black and billowy and clogs your nose and lungs! But, it is also the scent of fresh fruits that are in such abundance and the sweet smell of pulmaria and jacaranda flowers in bloom. And, I would be remiss, if I did not mention the ever present smell of the outdoor choo! A latrine is a latrine is a latrine, no matter what native language is used for it!
I am currently in Nairobi, still living out of my suitcases as I work on the business plan for my project. I will actually leave for my new community the 17th and hopefully be settled in before Christmas. And, yes, for those who want to know, Christmas is celebrated in many of the same ways here as it is in the U.S.. Church cantatas, children's school programs, decorations at the stores in the big cities with Santa and Christmas music playing. I even saw face painting last weekend at the Nakumatt. It is Kenya's version of WalMart. In the rural areas, not so much decorating of stores and homes, but still the music of the season is heard and sung, plans for family dinners and get togethers abound and people look forward to a few days off from their normal routines. I will meet up with my host family in Mombasa over the holdiays as well as spend a couple of days with 2 volunteers north of Mombasa.
Keep me in your prayers. I get many reuqests for what kinds of things to include in care packages to me. Now that I have discovered Nakumatt, my list is much shorter. Books are very expensive here so if you read one you like, send it to me. Any kind of nutrition bars are good things to send. The selection here is limited and in small villages and comunities like Mariakani, they are nonexistent. My favorite are Cliff bars and Luna. Individual packs of Crystal Light - all flavors would be nice as well. Remember I have a new mailing address:
Patriica Gillette
Peace Corps Volunteer
c/o Family Health International
Sheetal Plaza, First Floor
Mohdmohdir Road, off Moi Avenue
P.O. Box 16961
Mombasa, Kenya
Any letters or packages should be in padded envelops with some kind of prayer or Bible verse on the outside (a simple God bless you in your work and travels is sufficient) and the customs label can just say books. The scripture and prayers keep others from deciding they want to own what is in the package.
Just as a note, Nairobi is like any other city of 3 million people. Big and noisy day and night with lots of traffic jams and interesting people trying to sell things to car occupants as you wait for traffic to move. Each day brings a new product group. Somedays it is sunglasses, others it is candy or nuts and some days like today it is small metal Christmas trees! Newspapers, magazine and DVD sales are very profitable with stopped traffic.
My prayer for all of you is that God blesses you richly this holiday season and that you pause to remember in your prayers those who struggle for their daily bread in these developing African countries. Each day in Kenya is a new day for me. I am always learning something new about life here; the struggles, the joys and the enormous barriers that people have to overcome to not just survive but push forward into the 21st century. I love you and miss you and wish you all a very joyous Christmas season and a wonderful New Year.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Patty in the Peace Corps
Patty in the Peace Corps
Habari gani? What's the news is the typical Kenya greeting. The typical response is nzuri (good- the news is good) – if you respond “jema” (okay) it is polite to find out why.
I am living with a wonderful host family. Baba Keolongi and Mama Waua are very kind to me and their neighbors. By our standards they have little, but they have generous hearts. They share food with several neighbor children and keep a watchful eye on them as well.
I am taking an in-depth, learning by using, language class for Kiswahili and will be required to pass at the intermediate level a proficiency test. Scary for me since I have been working at learning Spanish for several years and still talk like a 3 year old.
Mama Waua helped me kill and dress and cook a chicken. It was a tasty stew. The activities of daily living here are very different – not better nor worse – just different. Bathing must occur two times a day. Morning and evening- from our buckets. And, the “choo” is a hole in the ground in an out building. While there is no seat or other amenities, it is kept clean and as insect free as possible (if they see one it is not only killed, but removed.) The choo is also the disposal for any unwanted trash. Anything close to edible is given to the very effective garbage disposal sysetm – the kukos (chickens), paca (cat) and the goats. Waste not want not is a way of life.
Thank you to my work team for the radio and torch (flashlight) that operates without batteries. Mama and the children thank you as well. They have been a focus of attention and entertainment.
My wish list includes small bottles of sanitizer, lotioned kleenex, USA stamps (I get these duty free for the first 3 months), tupperware (large for clothes), and lots of prayers. I have been taking my “chill pill” and am managing to adjust.
Kwahari and Salama.
Goodbye and peace to you!
Patty
Habari gani? What's the news is the typical Kenya greeting. The typical response is nzuri (good- the news is good) – if you respond “jema” (okay) it is polite to find out why.
I am living with a wonderful host family. Baba Keolongi and Mama Waua are very kind to me and their neighbors. By our standards they have little, but they have generous hearts. They share food with several neighbor children and keep a watchful eye on them as well.
I am taking an in-depth, learning by using, language class for Kiswahili and will be required to pass at the intermediate level a proficiency test. Scary for me since I have been working at learning Spanish for several years and still talk like a 3 year old.
Mama Waua helped me kill and dress and cook a chicken. It was a tasty stew. The activities of daily living here are very different – not better nor worse – just different. Bathing must occur two times a day. Morning and evening- from our buckets. And, the “choo” is a hole in the ground in an out building. While there is no seat or other amenities, it is kept clean and as insect free as possible (if they see one it is not only killed, but removed.) The choo is also the disposal for any unwanted trash. Anything close to edible is given to the very effective garbage disposal sysetm – the kukos (chickens), paca (cat) and the goats. Waste not want not is a way of life.
Thank you to my work team for the radio and torch (flashlight) that operates without batteries. Mama and the children thank you as well. They have been a focus of attention and entertainment.
My wish list includes small bottles of sanitizer, lotioned kleenex, USA stamps (I get these duty free for the first 3 months), tupperware (large for clothes), and lots of prayers. I have been taking my “chill pill” and am managing to adjust.
Kwahari and Salama.
Goodbye and peace to you!
Patty
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Ready To Go
Well, I am 6 days and counting from departure. It has been a very emotional September. Saying goodbye is hard. Everyone keeps asking how I am feeling about everything and the answer is easy - sad and excited.
Saying goodbye to close friends and my family is very painful. The days have been full of tears and emotion as I make my last rounds to see family. There have also been quiet times, lots of laughter, good conversation and times of reflection. My son, John, tells me to keep thinking about it like I am going off to college. I know there will be visits, telephone calls and email when possible and, of course, snail mail. It is really not goodbye, just so long for now.
The exciting part is that I am actually leaving. I depart from Philadelphia, then to Amsterdam and then on to Nairobi. I will not know where in Kenya my orientaiton will be held until I get to Philadephia. I will get some inoculations and basic safety training in Philadelphia for a day and half before leaving for Amsterdam.
I continue to work on the packing. My pre-departure checklist arrived from the Peace Corps and I had a new list of things I need to gather together - strange things, too, like 12 passport pictures.......and normal things as well. A good kitchen knife was on the list and one good fry pan! This weekend will be my final opportunity to actually get myself down to the 80 pounds I am allowed to take with me. Lots of clothes will have to go by the wayside. There are some basics I will find a way to cram into the 80 pounds, like 21 sets of underwear,my gore-tex rain jacket for the rainy season and some good books.
This is probably my final post until I arrive at my orientation site or maybe even later than that. Continue to pray for me as I learn the language and the culture of the people I will serve. I am absolutley sure I will be utterly and absolutuely homesick for each of you. I am also confident I will be learning and growing each day I am away. My love to you all. Email or post comments to me. I will be looking forward to them!
Saying goodbye to close friends and my family is very painful. The days have been full of tears and emotion as I make my last rounds to see family. There have also been quiet times, lots of laughter, good conversation and times of reflection. My son, John, tells me to keep thinking about it like I am going off to college. I know there will be visits, telephone calls and email when possible and, of course, snail mail. It is really not goodbye, just so long for now.
The exciting part is that I am actually leaving. I depart from Philadelphia, then to Amsterdam and then on to Nairobi. I will not know where in Kenya my orientaiton will be held until I get to Philadephia. I will get some inoculations and basic safety training in Philadelphia for a day and half before leaving for Amsterdam.
I continue to work on the packing. My pre-departure checklist arrived from the Peace Corps and I had a new list of things I need to gather together - strange things, too, like 12 passport pictures.......and normal things as well. A good kitchen knife was on the list and one good fry pan! This weekend will be my final opportunity to actually get myself down to the 80 pounds I am allowed to take with me. Lots of clothes will have to go by the wayside. There are some basics I will find a way to cram into the 80 pounds, like 21 sets of underwear,my gore-tex rain jacket for the rainy season and some good books.
This is probably my final post until I arrive at my orientation site or maybe even later than that. Continue to pray for me as I learn the language and the culture of the people I will serve. I am absolutley sure I will be utterly and absolutuely homesick for each of you. I am also confident I will be learning and growing each day I am away. My love to you all. Email or post comments to me. I will be looking forward to them!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Contacting me in Kenya
Dear Friends and Family,
I received the following letter from the PC office and share it with you so you will know how to contact me and what to expect in the way of communication.
Greetings from the Kenya Desk in Washington, D.C. It is with great pleasure that we welcome your family member or friend to the Peace Corps. During the past year we have received many requests regarding travel plans, relaying messages and mail, etc. We would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance by providing specific examples of situations and how we suggest they be handled.
Irregular Communication
The mail service in Kenya is not as efficient as the U.S. Postal Service. Thus, it is important to be patient. It can take three to four weeks for mail coming from Kenya to arrive in the United States via the Kenyan postal system. From a Volunteer's post, mail might take 1-2 months to reach the United States. Sometimes mail is hand carried to the States by a traveler and then mailed through the US postal system. This leg of the trip can take another several weeks, as it is also dependent on the frequency of travelers to the U.S.
We suggest that in your first letters, you ask your Volunteer to give an estimate of how long it takes for him/her to receive your letters and then try to establish a predictable pattern of how often you will write to each other. Volunteers have had good success in receiving their mail in this form. Also, try numbering your letters so that the Volunteer knows if he/she has missed one. Postcards should be sent in envelopes--otherwise they may be found on the wall of the local post office!
Volunteers often enjoy telling their "war" stories when they write home. Letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc. While the subject matter is good reading material, it is often misinterpreted on the home front. Please do not assume that if your Volunteer has been ill that he or she has been unattended. Peace Corps has a doctor and two physician's assistants on staff in Nairobi. Through regular contact, they monitor the health of the Volunteers. In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer comes to Nairobi and is cared for by our medical staff. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Kenya, he/she will be medically evacuated to South Africa or the United States, depending on the medical care required. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
If, for some reason, your communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your Volunteer for three months, you should contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470. OSS will then contact the Peace Corps Director and ask her/him to check up on the Volunteer. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS or our weekend and off hours Duty Officer (202) 638-2574 immediately so that the Volunteer will be informed as soon as possible.
Telephone Calls
The telephone system in Kenya is relatively good. Service to the United States is somewhat reliable, phones exist in most larger towns and Volunteers can often plan to be at a phone on a certain date to receive calls from home. This usually works, but there are also innumerable factors that can make the best-laid plans fall apart. (I plan on having a cell phone if possible, so this should be easier!)
The Kenya Desk communicates to the Peace Corps office in Nairobi daily. However, these calls are reserved for business only and we cannot relay personal messages over the phone. All communication between family members, friends and the Volunteer must be done via international mail.
Sending mail during Pre Service Training (PST)
Your name, Peace Corps Trainee
P.O. Box 30518
Nairobi, Kenya
Sending packages
Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to the possible theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try to send inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend that costly items be sent through the mail. Even though Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may use the following address to send letters to your family member at any time during his or her service:
John Doe, PCV
U.S. Peace Corps
P.O. Box 30518
Village Market, 00621
Nairobi, Kenya
We recommend that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more frequently. Custom fees can be quite expensive. For lightweight but important items several services, such as DHL, FedEx, TNT, and UPS operate in Kenya. These services however, are very expensive, and can cost as much as $70 for a letter. If you do choose to send items through them, you must address the package to the Country Director, c/o Peace Corps, Nairobi, Kenya. (The street address of the Peace Corps office in Nairobi is: Grivellia Groove, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya). If you send the item to the Country Director, no liability can be assumed.
We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your Volunteer is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya. We understand how frustrating communication difficulties can be overseas and we appreciate your using this information as a guide. Please feel free to contact us at the Kenya Desk in Washington, D.C. if you have any further questions. Our phone number is 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2324/2323 or locally, 202-692-2324/202-692-2323.
I received the following letter from the PC office and share it with you so you will know how to contact me and what to expect in the way of communication.
Greetings from the Kenya Desk in Washington, D.C. It is with great pleasure that we welcome your family member or friend to the Peace Corps. During the past year we have received many requests regarding travel plans, relaying messages and mail, etc. We would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance by providing specific examples of situations and how we suggest they be handled.
Irregular Communication
The mail service in Kenya is not as efficient as the U.S. Postal Service. Thus, it is important to be patient. It can take three to four weeks for mail coming from Kenya to arrive in the United States via the Kenyan postal system. From a Volunteer's post, mail might take 1-2 months to reach the United States. Sometimes mail is hand carried to the States by a traveler and then mailed through the US postal system. This leg of the trip can take another several weeks, as it is also dependent on the frequency of travelers to the U.S.
We suggest that in your first letters, you ask your Volunteer to give an estimate of how long it takes for him/her to receive your letters and then try to establish a predictable pattern of how often you will write to each other. Volunteers have had good success in receiving their mail in this form. Also, try numbering your letters so that the Volunteer knows if he/she has missed one. Postcards should be sent in envelopes--otherwise they may be found on the wall of the local post office!
Volunteers often enjoy telling their "war" stories when they write home. Letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc. While the subject matter is good reading material, it is often misinterpreted on the home front. Please do not assume that if your Volunteer has been ill that he or she has been unattended. Peace Corps has a doctor and two physician's assistants on staff in Nairobi. Through regular contact, they monitor the health of the Volunteers. In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer comes to Nairobi and is cared for by our medical staff. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Kenya, he/she will be medically evacuated to South Africa or the United States, depending on the medical care required. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
If, for some reason, your communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your Volunteer for three months, you should contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470. OSS will then contact the Peace Corps Director and ask her/him to check up on the Volunteer. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS or our weekend and off hours Duty Officer (202) 638-2574 immediately so that the Volunteer will be informed as soon as possible.
Telephone Calls
The telephone system in Kenya is relatively good. Service to the United States is somewhat reliable, phones exist in most larger towns and Volunteers can often plan to be at a phone on a certain date to receive calls from home. This usually works, but there are also innumerable factors that can make the best-laid plans fall apart. (I plan on having a cell phone if possible, so this should be easier!)
The Kenya Desk communicates to the Peace Corps office in Nairobi daily. However, these calls are reserved for business only and we cannot relay personal messages over the phone. All communication between family members, friends and the Volunteer must be done via international mail.
Sending mail during Pre Service Training (PST)
Your name, Peace Corps Trainee
P.O. Box 30518
Nairobi, Kenya
Sending packages
Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to the possible theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try to send inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend that costly items be sent through the mail. Even though Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may use the following address to send letters to your family member at any time during his or her service:
John Doe, PCV
U.S. Peace Corps
P.O. Box 30518
Village Market, 00621
Nairobi, Kenya
We recommend that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more frequently. Custom fees can be quite expensive. For lightweight but important items several services, such as DHL, FedEx, TNT, and UPS operate in Kenya. These services however, are very expensive, and can cost as much as $70 for a letter. If you do choose to send items through them, you must address the package to the Country Director, c/o Peace Corps, Nairobi, Kenya. (The street address of the Peace Corps office in Nairobi is: Grivellia Groove, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya). If you send the item to the Country Director, no liability can be assumed.
We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your Volunteer is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya. We understand how frustrating communication difficulties can be overseas and we appreciate your using this information as a guide. Please feel free to contact us at the Kenya Desk in Washington, D.C. if you have any further questions. Our phone number is 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2324/2323 or locally, 202-692-2324/202-692-2323.
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