I'm not even going to tell you about my last few days, because it's been the same- BUT OH MY GOD today was possibly the most life changing day I've ever had in my entire life. I want to type this is all caps to share how i feel, but I fell like that is a bit absurd. BUT COMPLETELY CORRECT.
I can't even.... I have no words... I honestly don't ever want to leave. I can do SO MUCH here, and actually make a difference, hell I made a huge difference today.... I can't even... ok .... let me just try and explain.
So I woke up at 6am today (yes I'm aware it's a Saturday) to get to the Sarakasi Dome this man Moses, who I share an office with for my internship asked me to come in and see the Saturday classes taught at the dome, and to join in the volunteer yoga workshop..... well it started off that way... and now... well, wow.
So I went into the dome and saw about 50 kids (ages 5-16) boys and girls dancing and playing on the stage. Then I was introduced to the class and they just left me with all of them, I had about 15 minutes and gave them a warm up (kind of like I taught my gymnastics classes)... they literally were just like go for it and well I was in charge all of a sudden.
Also everything is in Kiswahili, but most of the kids understand english they just don't speak it as well. So I taught in english if they didn't understand they just copied everyone else, and the kids are teaching me Kiswahili (well mostly Sheng- the slang).
Then I end up talking with this man James- and incredible man by the way with the cutest 5 year old in the world who didn't want to leave my side- I was then left with half of the group and 3 other volunteers/ teachers and ran another warm up with the half of the kids not in the production they were putting on and taught/ helped them with acrobatic skills (aka tumbling) which was amazing. Then they were given all the circus tricks to practice so i was taught how to juggle, and do these 3 other things that i really can't even describe because I wouldn't know how- but whatever it was awesome.
Then James has me help him take down all the kids' information and we meet in his office after being and playing and teaching the kids gymnastics, and the circus tricks and trapeze for 5 hours! AND IT FLEW BY.
So after we counted the kids we then realized we only had 3000ksh to send over 50 kids back home (they all live in Nairobi slums, and were taken from the slums to try and better themselves through these classes- which only started a few weeks ago). It was incredibly depressing, and then I find out that was the last of the funding for this incredible project.... taking talented kids out of the slums to hone their skills and teach them all sorts of things like discipline, hygiene, awareness, confidence, social skills, you name it, they're learning it- on top of the dancing and tumbling and music, and million other things.
ok so.... as if my morning wasn't incredible and inspiring enough....my afternoon was even better.
there is so much going on inside my head right now I don't even know how to handle it... and in the best way... i'm actually shaking from excitement/ adrenaline/ emotions...i don't even know.
Ok mini preface- so basically what I did today is what I thought I wouldn't be doing for at least 5 years from now after I finish school, have job experience, travel, and finally settle down in a job...but no I am doing it RIGHT NOW. like this moment, i did it all morning... and ohmygod it's beyond incredible, I actually almost cried in the middle of my meeting, and you all know I'm not one to cry ever in front of anyone, let alone strangers in Nairobi. ... ok there is no way I can call them strangers I feel at home with them... everything is so perfect, and it's hard and challenging, but perfect. so perfect.
Ok to my actual story...
So James and I sat down in his office, and he talked about (well I kept asking about) his goals, and what he wants to do with this project. And well without going on for hours and hours, what came out of this afternoon is that I am basically the acting director to help found this program helping these talented kids from nairobi slums, teaching them the arts and acrobatics and life skills and I'm going to be working on organizing everything from teaching individual classes, to creating a name, to helping run staff training's and meetings, and creating the social media, and publicity, and networking and the fundraising, the works. And all of this happened because a man overheard me mention something about gymnastics when I was meeting my internship boss and he asked me to sit in on a class. I can't believe it.
My goal for the semester is to get this project up and running and funded by the time I leave. And I know I can do it, especially with these incredible people also working on and for the project, volunteering their time and skills, and general kindness.
That isn't even the end of my day... in the office I met another volunteer/ teacher at Sarakasi from Colombia who lives near me and gave me a ride on his motorcycle.. which was awesome. We also stopped to get produce, and i tried sucking on sugar cane, which was delicious by the way. And he is from my area and celebrating his birthday tonight, so I'm going out to meet a bunch of other volunteers and people living in kenya, who well, have the same aspirations that i do... i can't wait. people here are so incredible, and open, and just excited to learn and share their experiences with others.
I miss everyone back home, but please don't miss me, know I am having the time of my life, doing everything I love and care about. Also just a shout out, GOOD LUCK TODAY KENDRA HAYES, i cannot believe you're getting married, best wishes, and i love you dearly.
and please
don't forget to smile today!
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