Kenya Dig It?

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Photos

here are a few photos (that i mostly took) around Nairobi, for your viewing pleasure. (you can click them to enlarge- just FYI Aunt Mo).

emily & i at AU abroad going away dinner

graf in town

matatu artist

matatu repair yard

on a bus/matatu

bus/matatu

on a bus/matatu

Eastleigh

Nairobi downtown

Nafsi feeding program at Mlongo Kubwa for street kids/youth

The Nafsi Team, a while back

me and Ezekiel, one of the kids in town i visit!

me, lefty, and Ezekiel

All photos after here, i stole from Lefty. and by stole i mean he put them on my computer for me.

hanging with Mandi

Ian being silly

Ian and Sabrina

when i visited home!

Lefty and I grocery shopping.

view from my home

lefty with Shakina and Sabrina

lunch time.

Kariobangi (my neighborhood)

the usual. going to sell bananas.

Sorry i haven't written anything in a long time. as you know i've been crazy busy. and when i do relax, the last thing i want to do is go back and think about how busy i've been.

but after the event this saturday i promise for a detailed update!

don't forget to smile today!

Monday, 2 July 2012

Oh man...

So much to do, and so little time to do it.

As always I've taken on quite a lot, but it's a good thing. Gotta keep busy!

So Nafsi work has been a bit slow, with a lot of people traveling there isn't much for me to do as far as paperwork goes. And my Saturday class kids are as great as ever, they are always a ton of fun.

But the BIG news:
I've been teaching at this organization called Kibera Fruitful, a combination Women's group that runs an informal orphanage and school in the Kibera slums and a performing arts youth group. And Jojo, or George, who is in charge of the youth group had this brilliant idea to host a huge peace event in Kibera. Well not only has it turned into a reality, but a HUGE event. And guess who is the Event Coordinator- you guessed it (maybe)... me! Our goal is to get around 3,000, yes you read that right, 3,000 people there. We have huge Kenyan artists performing, a plethora of organizations helping out, a movie screening, civic education, etc. happening for an all day event July 28th at the Kamkunji Ground in the Kibera Slum- If you're in Nairobi and reading this more details on facebook, search 'Kibera Community for Peace hosted by Kibera Fruitful'

pretty much I'm spending all of my time organizing this event, going to meetings, meeting artists, organizations, etc, etc.

I'm beyond excited, this is going to be a huge thing. it is also promoting this Kenya NI Kwetu movement, which advocates for youth representation in policy and legislatiion in Kenya. Youth make up 75% of the population in Kenya and have ZERO representation anywhere. It is promoting peace and civic education about the new constitution and promoting the importance of voting in this next election. After the election is will be fighting for youth representation in policy and legislative procedures.

So as always, I have my hands full. And am working my butt off to make this event successful, wish me luck!

oh and an update on the cockroach situation, i've eliminated many. but they keep creeping back in. but i refuse to accept defeat, so bring it!

don't forget to smile today!

Friday, 15 June 2012

I think i'm about to go to war

all out war with these cockroaches. updates to come... unless i'm losing.

Onwards my friends!

So after a short stay at home, and seeing my beautiful sister walk at her high school graduation, off i went on my travels.

First of all I spent a night in Amsterdam- with my Kenyan friends!

background story: a team of Nafsi members are currently touring Europe/ meeting with sponsors etc etc, but they are based in Amsterdam and since that was where my layover was BAM i got to see them.

number 1. it was strange being with my Kenyan friend in Europe.

number 2. turns out i can't ride a bike. OK DISCLAIMER i couldn't ride any of the bikes available because the seats were too high for me and i don't think i've sat on a bike since i was about 9 years old.

number 3. my butt was really sore from sitting on the back of a bike every time we traveled.

number 4. i had an amazing time i got there early in the AM and ended up crashing (aka napping) for a few hours then i went with the Nafsi team to a park in Amsterdam where they were training for their next performance. I did some stretching of my own and a handstand or two. and damn was i sore the next day. i guess this means i need to start working out before AU Gymnastics season starts. whoops.

number 5. after that we toured around Amsterdam for a bit, and grabbed some food.

number 6. went back to Stevos place where Patrick had cooked an awesome dinner then talked with their Polish roommate for a while (PS all the people i was with were circus performers/ teachers... so yes i spent 24 hours in Amsterdam with acrobats, jugglers, tight rope walkers, and clowns. and yes it was as awesome as you would think).

number 7 i then slept very very well and caught an early flight back to Nairobi

here are some fun photos :)

me Kenneth, Samuel, Patrick, and Stevo in a park in Amsterdam

Samuel, me, Stevo, and Kenneth on top!

me and Stevo, Kenneth and Samuel!

Now that i'm back to Nairobi I've been moving into my new place. One small problem. Cockroaches. everywhere. it's gross. i thought i bought the store out of insecticide. but oh no. they're still here. little buggers. literally. so working on that. and getting furniture. once the place is all finished i'll upload pics!

don't forget to smile today!

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

you are all i need- ALWAYSSS

that is actually a line from this hit song on the radio in Kenya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inb2IrBrr40

that is currently suck in my head.

So I've been home for a little less than two weeks. And I'm dying to go back to Nairobi. I don't know how I'm going to do it in August for good. So I apologize in advance if I'm anti-social for the month of September, I may just spend my time eating at Ethiopian restaurants and cooking eggs to eat in my apartment. Really my life will probably center around food.

Speaking of, I'm starving.

don't forget to smile today!