Today my brain is as cloudy as the Loitokitok sky

Not sure what witty things I am going to come up with in this post. I have been introduced to a few difficult things in Kenya the past few days. A few days ago when I was at the hospital visiting an HIV/Aids support group I was actually able to understand parts of the conversation, which was entirely in Kiswahili! It felt like such an amazing accomplishment. The group then showed us to the room where they perform HIV tests and the doctor in the room invited us in. Of course there is no such thing as HIPPA (the rules that keep your medical information confidential in America) in Africa. So our group of 4 enter the room where the doctor is sitting with a small child. She appeared to be 11-12 years old and the doctor explained that this "mother" was raped a few weeks ago, is now pregnant, and getting tested for HIV. Words can't even describe the sad/distant look on her face and we were all at a loss for what to do next... other than leave the room with tears tugging at the corner of our eyes. On our way out of the hospital an expectant mother was being rushed in from an ambulance about to give birth. This "mother" also couldn't have been over the age of 15 or 16. I think we all had heavy hearts that day.

We have met several serving peace corps volunteers throughout training and I met one yesterday who is from Seattle! I don't think I have ever felt homesick before, but he showed me a Blue Scholars music video filmed in Seattle and I found myself with damp eyes for the second time this week! I got a photo album in the mail from Adam with pictures of everyone at home and I know I expected to miss people at home, so I felt more joy than sadness with those pictures. I think it was something about the views of Seattle that made me so sad because it was a depiction of my LIFE in Seattle and in America. Even my hardest days in Seattle seem insignificant compared to my bucket-bathing-pooping-in-a-hole-without-any-cheese-or-coffee life in Africa.

I think Africa must have known I missed Seattle, because its cold and cloudy today. Hehe. On the brighter side of things, i'm not sick of it yet! There are small victories and moments every day that make me happy to be here. I cook dinner over the fire for 2 hours with my host mama every evening and her limited English is as good as my limited Swahili, but I feel like we are finally able to have meaningful conversations about life. I also feel completely Kenyan because I ordered Githeri and Chai for lunch today (beans and corn mixed together and a cup of tea). I can't wait to show you all pictures of what I do and where i've been. I miss you terribly, but I will continue to miss you from my new home in Kenya!

Swahili and Swanglish

     I have had several tests this week on my Swahili skills and as I was walking up the hill to my one-on-one verbal test this morning I realized there were so many funny parts of the Swahili language that I want to share with you all. I'd like to start by saying that I scored "novice-high" in my proficiency, which is one step below the "intermediate-low" that we have to obtain before week 8 of training. I'm hoping to get that score by monday if I study well enough this weekend!!
     Swhahili 101: when in doubt, just add an "i" to the end of any english word. For example the swahili word for "cheese" is "chezi" (pronounced cheesy). The Swahili word for "shirt" is "shati" (pronouced shirti but with a british accent). Some words are not this easy however, for example, the word for green pepper is "pilipilihoho" and watermelon is "tikitimaji." These have been fun words that we throw around just for shits and giggles.
     Gusa: My last name is very simple for Kenyans to say and remember because the word "Guza" means touch in Kiswahili and its pronounced the same as my last name. You can also use the word "kupunguza" which means to bargain, "kuuguza" which means the act of being a nurse, or "kuuza" which means to sell.
     One last thing that I absolutely must comment on is the way Kenyans use the english words "smart" and "sweet" for everything. I have gathered enough information to realize that if something is "sweet" it literally means that it is good. A very salty food is considered "sweet" if you like the way it tastes. My host mama and sister ask me constantly if things are "sweet" and were very concerned that I wasn't going to eat any of the food because for my first few weeks I told them that nothing was sweet (and that is because it was literally salty.) oops. The second word "smart" is used for anything but typically about dress. Not a day goes by that my mama doesn't say my skirt is smart, or my hair is smart, or my shoes are smart. Last weekend she even told me "the smart market doesn't start until 10am."
      Last but not least, I think you will all be tickled to know that my host family's last name is Kariuki and it is pronounced Karaoke. I desperately attempted to explain Karaoke to my family and i'm sure they still don't understand what i'm talking about. That's all for now! Enjoy the Swanglish!

Vyakula cha Kenya (Foods of Kenya)

     Each time I sit at the internet cafe I can never think of how to summarize my life. I think I hit the basics in my first post, and now it is time for specifics. Chakula means food and Vyakula means foods in Kiswahili. I have learned that food is the heart, soul, life and being of Kenya. I remember hearing all my friends saying to me "eat as much as you can before you leave because you are going to loose so much weight in Kenya!" Well if any of them had actually seen the portion size of a typical Kenyan meal, they probably would have held their tongues. For example, last sunday afternoon my 10 year old host sister ate approximately 3 cups of cooked rice covered in what would amount to a large bowl of potato and banana stew. It was like she ordered a meal at "Claim Jumper" and finished the whole thing in a matter of minutes. I will also mention that she is the tallest/leanest 10 year old I have ever seen.
      Food here in Kenya consists of the same staple ingredients. Rice, spaghetti noodles, ugali (tasteless blob of cooked corn meal), chapati bread, beans, beans, beans, lentils, stewed cabbage, stewed spinach, beans, mystery meat, boiled root (various sorts), potatoes, plantains (or green bananas),and beans, all served with a healthy dose of lard. I'm sure weight watchers will never include these ingredients in any of their meal planning. I have had the misfortune of eating cow intestine soup (wantam) and I have also had the experience of a daily "bean or chapati baby" in my belly.
     Chai. Those four letters have been a sore subject for those in my group with lactose intolerance issues. Chai is made with whole milk straight from the cow teet, water, and tea leaves boiled together and drank several specific times throughout the day with ,if you are a true Kenyan, a whole cup of sugar per cup. My host Mama insists that I have at least 2 cups of chai with breakfast, then another few immediately upon returning home from class. I am not allowed to touch my homework, study, bathe, or change my filthy clothes until I have thrown back a few cups of chai. I have developed a love for this warm tasty beverage and I find myself craving it at breakfast, 10am, lunch, 5pm, and with dinner as most Kenyans drink it. My mama even throws in a little tangaweze (ginger) when she makes tea in the afternoons. Its a rare treat when I get the tangaweze tainted chai.
     There is no shortage of carbohydrates and fat in my life, but I would do just about anything (within the rules of Peace Corps) for some cheese. Hell, i'd even eat a block of velveta at this point! There is literally no cheese in this entire country. None. I would also do just about anything for a real cup of coffee. Believe it or not, but every bean grown in Kenya is exported. I am left with the most awful instant coffees known to man. So if anyone has some free time, please send me a french press and maybe to return the exported coffee beans back into Kenya for me to consume. Until next time! hugs and kisses from Kenya.