New Project

After my fist week on my new project I am starting to get familiar with some of the people, kids and daily life of this community. Although so many of them are able to put on a smiling warm face everyday the conditions aren’t pretty and they know it. Kids will be kids knowing no other life, they run and play, sing and dance and adore every minute you spend with them. 

It is just the beginning of the rainy season here in Kenya. The days are hot and humid and the rain starts to poor in late afternoon, sometimes not stopping until morning. The first day I really enjoyed it. Not only did it seem refreshing and cleansing but I they needed the water desperately. After a couple nights of the rain, walking through camp made it more apparent that the rain is much needed for food but also very damaging to the only home they have.

The tents are made out of a thin plastic and tarps. After 3 years they are starting to show lots of wear and tear from the weather. Talking to people they say they haven’t slept in days. They joke about needing a boat instead of a bed. Mothers spend the nights protecting their young from the cold and trying to keep them as dry as possible. Most tents have anywhere from 3 people to a family of 7 or 8 in one, which leaves little room to scramble for the dry spots. 

The house I am living in has taken a little adjustment time. No electricity makes for very dark evenings listening to the rain pound on a tin roof. Mice keep us company during the night. Roosters make for very early mornings and the chickens on the couch make for a great welcoming comity at breakfast. Our house is not closed in so they come and go as they please. Checking to see if this was a normal occurrence, I was informed that they just come in to lay their eggs and go, however that is far more timely that I would have ever guessed. The food is simple but eatable with a Kenyon kick, sugar. 

At the end of the day looking at the difference between my accommodations here making my life at home look so plush, a short distance away I am reminded that I am still living such a large life. I go to bed every night with a full stomach and wake up to bread and tea. I have no worry of water destroying everything I have or taking a toll on my health. I have an education to share with others and at any point in time the ability to change my dissatisfactions. I hate that others live with such rough conditions and suffer so much but love the ability to put things into perspective.