Climbing Mountains, Teaching Kids

Last Thursday, I had a truely eye opening experience. A few of my friends had previously gone to volunteer at a school in Kibera, and I finally joined on Thursday. Kibera is the second largest slum in Africa, and is rumored to be home to something like 1,000,000 people. The school was fairly deep into the slum, which seemed to be covered by a layer of garbage, and was rundown and overcrowded. The students were crammed into classrooms smaller than my bedroom at home, with little light and no ventilation so they were very hot. I could never imagine learning in such an environment. Yet, these students, most who had torn and tattered uniforms, worked so hard and were so smart. I helped 5th grade students review science, the respiratory and disgestive systems, and I was so impressed with how much they knew, and how polite and studious they were. Its hard to remember they're just young kids sometimes, but luckily I got the chance to play some singing games with them too, and they were so full of life and energy despite being stuck in such an awful situation. It really makes you value your education and the opportunities you get just being an American. I really am so lucky and blessed, and I know its something I often take for granted. Later this week, I will hopefully be able to go back. Me and another girl are going to talk to some middleschool ages girls about female health issues and sanitation because they male science teacher said he was a little unconfortable doing it. It will hopefully go well!!!

On a lighter note, this past weekend was a real fun adventure. We all went up to Ngong Hills where one of our staff member's family had a camp resort. It was a ton of fun. Wehiked down to our campsite area the first night, and had a bonfire where we danced to music and looked at the amazing stars. The texts were awesome, big with comfortable cots. The next day we hiked all the way down the hill to Simon, our hosts, families house. He is Masaii and it was so interesting seeing a more traditional family. His family lived on a small compound with several small houses, animal pens, kitchens, and a small farm. Simons father was away with the cattle, which is traditional of Masaii. Masai's are polygamistic, and Simon's mother and his father's two other wives and his grandmother (each had their own house) were busy doing beadwork, shelling peanuts, and caring for children. Simon is himself married and has a child, but his father's 3rd wife is younnger than him, so Simon's half siblings running around were all young children. They were so adorable! They came up to us and grabbed out hands, and had a blast playing with our cameras and geting thrown up in the air and carried on our backs. We also all bought some gorgeous beadwork from Simon's family, who do it as part of their traditional activities. Later that afternoon, a few of us set out with Simon on a "hike." This actually consisted of hiking down the hill again till a seasonal river, now a dry riverbed, started, and we perceded to climb up the river basin to the top of the hill. This was not just hiking, it was bouldering, and even rock climbing (eask rock climbin, but a little scary since there were no safety nets). At the end, looking down at the river bed, as it weaved through the hills and into th valley and the savanah beyong was so picturesque. When you think of African beauty, this was truely it. The adventure was put to a fitting end when we to boda boda's back from the campsite to the town, where we caught a matatu home. Boda Bodas are motorcycle taxis that go about as fast a vespa. They are pretty small, but you still put a driver and two passengers on it. Riding the 15 minute trip over the crazy Kenyan roads in the fresh air was such a fun experience. I really enjoyed how much closer you felt to everything and to everyone when your riding with your hair in the wind on a motorcycle! It was overall, a really fun and exciting weekend. As I head of to camp at Hells Gate National Park this weekend, I hope there is more of that sort of adventure in store!!!