The Value of Education

Breakfast with Lucy

2010-07-23T11:28:00.003+03:00

Welcome to Kajiado

2010-07-22T13:24:00.001+03:00

Having my visitors in Kajiado was so interesting because they are actually Kenyan and speak Swahili, but they were guests in Kajiado and needed me to show them around and help them do things! It was cool to have those roles reversed. I introduced them to all of the children and then we walked into town to eat breakfast at Lucy’s home! Lucy and all of them got along so well! We had a great time just talking and hanging out. It was really cool to introduce them all to each other because they are all so important in my life.

After breakfast, Freddy, Frankie, Winnie, and I got on a bus back to Nairobi. When we reached Nairobi, Winnie came with me to visit my friend Donna. We listened to music, shared a meal with them, and went for a walk through town. It was really cool to be introducing people to each other…I have somehow managed to create friendships for people halfway around the world. It is sad to think though that soon I won’t be here to see them anymore! That day, I got to spend a lot of time with Winnie and she has just become like a sister to me. When we arrived in Kibera, we bought a whole bunch of food for everyone and then watched movies! I worked on the laptop for a little because I was coming to Nairobi to print out pictures for everyone—MGEF, the Childrens Home, and friends.

That night we went to go see some of Freddy and Frankie’s friends. We had a very interesting conversation about the upcoming referendum and Kenyan politics in general. Then I started asking about what happened in Kibera during the post-election violence in 2007. Everyone told me how the violence affected their personal lives, and it was crazy to hear all of their stories. They were so open and honest and I was blown away by how much they trusted me. Then we talked about how you move forward from that, how you reconcile rival tribes. I learned a lot and really enjoyed the conversation.

More Guests!

2010-07-22T13:22:00.001+03:00

When I arrived back in Kajiado, I went to Lucy’s home and we waited for her fiancée, Kevin, to come get us. We were going to his home right outside Kajiado to meet his family! It was very nice to spend time with Kevin and meet his family. I feel as if Lucy is my sister now, so he is part of my family as well! We walked for many miles to get to Kevin’s home and ate lunch with his family. Then we just talked, looked at pictures, and relaxed. I cannot even begin to count the number of homes I have been welcomed into in this country. It truly is incredible and I am so thankful to each and every family that has welcomed me as a daughter, sister, and friend.

Lucy and I walked back to town and then I went back to the Children’s Home. My friends from Kibera—Freddy, Frankie, and Winnie—were supposed to come and visit that night! However, I got a call from them saying that their bus had broken down outside Nairobi. I was worried about them and just hoped that they would be okay while the bus was repaired! While I waited, I got to spend more time with the kids and it was awesome. At one point, I had to go to the restroom (which is on the opposite side of the very dark compound). So I was escorted by 20 giggling girls hahah and then I returned the favor and walked with them where they needed to go. We pushed all of their beds together in their dormitory and made this awesome fort. Then we just sat inside and played hand games all night long. It was one of the first nights when I saw the kids just be kids!! Just have fun and not have to worry about being responsible. It was absolutely incredible!

It reached around 10 pm and the kids had to go to bed. By this point, I was scared for my friends. Diana agreed to stay up with me and wait for them to arrive because she is just such a wonderful friend! I also realized that she is from the same tribe as them so she was excited to meet them and speak their mother tongue! Diana and I bonded so much that night. We just sat and watched movies, listened to music, and talked. It was wonderful! Finally around 12 am Freddy called and said that they were close by! Diana and I put on so many layers of clothes and waited out by the gate with the watchman for them to arrive. When the bus finally pulled up, we were both jumping up and down like crazy people!

My friends were exhausted and hungry by the time they arrived. So we fed them and just hung out and talked for a while and then went to bed! Falling asleep that night, the whole thing just felt so surreal. My three friends from Nairobi had just travelled all night long to see me in Kajiado! They are great friends and it was really awesome to welcome them into my home.

Gloria's Family

2010-07-22T13:18:00.001+03:00

Becoming a True Kenyan

2010-07-22T13:17:00.000+03:00

When Gloria and I woke up this morning, she asked if I would come to her home that night! Of course I said yes! I was so excited to see her family and her life at home. We went to the office and worked on some of her college stuff—printing out forms, going over essays, figuring out SAT stuff, and just planning for the future. We had lunch with Emily and then jumped on a bus to Gloria’s school to talk to her teachers about recommendation letters. In my time here, I have only seen primary schools so it was really cool to walk around Gloria’s high school. We jumped on another bus and then walked for a few miles and finally reached Gloria’s home! Gloria lives her aunt, her sister, and some extended family members. I met all of her family and they were absolutely wonderful! So welcoming and loving. Gloria has a little cousin named Becky who speaks pretty goof English and she just followed me around the whole night. I also was able to help Gloria with her chores and get an inside view on her life. We walked quite a distance to get water and carried it home on our backs, we milked some cows, and we cooked ugali and beef stew. There was a moment (when we were milking the cows) when I just had to stop and look around for a second. I was with my new best friend, standing in the middle of Kenya, wearing traditional Maasai clothes, staring up into the African sky. My life is just crazy right now and I am so incredibly thankful for all of these experiences. We spent that night talking to her family members, sharing our meal, and watching Kenyan soap operas!

The next morning, we took pictures with all of her family members and they gave me all types of gifts. It was so nice of them and they just kept asking for me to stay longer or come back. I hated to leave, but I had plans with Lucy that day. I promised that I would try and find a time to come back. Gloria’s uncle and cousin drove me to the main road and I jumped on a bus back to Kajiado. I will miss Gloria and her family, and I am so grateful for their friendship!

Gloria with the Children

2010-07-22T13:12:00.002+03:00

My First Visitor!

2010-07-22T13:11:00.000+03:00

Today we worked in the office and I was able to meet one of Emily’s cousins whose name is Timothy. I think that in my seven weeks here, I will have met every single one of Emily’s family members! I had asked Gloria a few weeks ago if she would be interested in coming to spent a night at the Childrens Home with me. And today she actually came!! She came to the office and we went around to a few of the schools that MGEF students attend in Kajiado. Then I brought Gloria back with me! She is my first visitor and it was awesome to show her around and introduce her to everyone. I really enjoy her friendship and we had a great time, but the children at the home LOVED Gloria! Gloria stood up in front of all the kids and answered questions about her life, her education, and her dreams. All the kids were clapping for her, asking her questions, and taking pictures with her. She was like a celebrity! I had no idea how incredible the whole experience would be. See, most of the kids at the home are Maasai as well, and they were so inspired by Gloria’s life and her accomplishments. Gloria is usually so simple, quiet, and soft-spoken, but she came to life in front of all the kids! I was so proud of her and honored to call her my friend! After Gloria spoke, I got up and just thanked everyone for welcoming my friend. I also added that I believe each and every kid at the home can be standing in Gloria’s shoes one day. They are all wonderful children and if they work hard, I believe 100% that they can achieve their dreams!

After all these formal introductions, we just went and spent time with the younger girls. Gloria was painting some of the girls’ nails and I was learning hand games in Swahili and Maasai! It was really cool to share this wonderful community with Gloria. I was able to welcome my friend into my home here in Kenya! Now I understand a little more why everyone seems so excited to have visitors here…it’s so amazing to share your home with someone else!

The Kids, Diana, and Me

2010-07-22T11:17:00.002+03:00

The Desire to Learn

2010-07-22T11:15:00.001+03:00

I woke up early and took a bus with Melanie’s son, Matt, to head back to Kajiado. He is a really nice guy and I enjoyed talking to him. He is a university student like me back in the states and it was nice to talk to someone who comes from the same culture as I do! During my bus ride back to Kajiado, I just kept thinking about my future, the next two years of university, and the rest of my life. I really love my work with MGEF and the community I have found here, and it is crazy to think that I am going to have to leave all of this. But a few months ago, I didn’t even know any of this existed! You never know what life has in store for you…and I’m excited to see where the next two years will take me!

Being back in Kajiado was wonderful—seeing Emily and Lucy, riding with my motor bike driver, hugging all the kids! I talked to Lucy and Emily about everything I had brainstormed over the past few days and they loved the idea of having tri-annual student gatherings for all the MGEF students to come together and mentor each other!

That night, I had a wonderful conversation with my roommate! I have mentioned her before, but her name is Diana and she is from Nairobi. She is here working with the students for the month of July. I had talked with her before, but never about very in-depth things. Tonight we just sat and traded life stories and honestly had more in common than I ever could have imagined! She has become like my sister here and I really enjoy her company. She is a strong woman who has been through so much. I feel like every woman I meet here I describe as strong…but I honestly mean that about each and every one of them. They have overcome so many obstacles, faced circumstances I would never wish upon anyone, and yet they still smile, laugh, and continue living. And the most incredible thing is that they all just want to LEARN! There greatest dream in life is just to be educated. Because education leads to independence, leads to control, leads to a better life and hope for the future. That is the power of education for these young women.

I had a great conversation with Sarah, the director of the Children’s Home, that night and then I just spent time with the kids. At one point I had six girls trying to braid my hair…it was just wonderful! As I tried to fall asleep that night, I just kept asking myself questions: How am I going to leave here? How am I going to bring this experience back with me? How can I enable this experience to change me? I don’t want to leave here and just go back to my normal life. I want everything I have seen her, everything I have learned here, everyone I have met here to stay with me. And I want to make sure I consciously think about that before stepping on that airplane.

Caroline and Melanie

2010-07-22T11:11:00.003+03:00

A Taste of Home

2010-07-22T11:09:00.001+03:00

This morning I woke up and had the great opportunity to go to a meeting about starting a merry-go-round in Kibera. A merry-go-round is basically a fund of money that everyone contributes a certain amount to each month and then all of the money goes to one person. Each month a different person who receives the money. This type of fund helps people start businesses, improve their homes, and just access a greater sum of money at one time then they normally would be able to. There was a small group of about 8 friends who wanted to start this merry-go-round and they asked me to come to the meeting and help them work out the logistics. I am learning so much about Kibera—the every day struggles, the sense of community, and the strength and determination of the people.

Today was the day I was meeting with Melanie and so a bunch of my friends walked with me to meet her. It was crazy walking down the street with all of these friends and just feeling so blessed. I somehow managed to immerse myself in this wonderful community halfway around the world in one of the largest slums of the world. These people are my friends, my family…and I really hope that I will be able to maintain my relationship with them after I leave. I had some difficulty finding Melanie and I felt horrible to keep her waiting, but finally we found each other! It was so cool to see her because the first time I met her was in Washington DC before I had ever worked for MGEF.

Melanie and I went to her home with two other women whose names are Jocelyn and Jackie. Jocelyn and Jackie have been working and living in Kibera for almost a year now for an organization called Children of Kibera. They had some experience teaching self-esteem and life skills and we wanted to hear their advice. It was incredible to hear about their experiences (the good and the bad) and to just share stories and ideas. Melanie and I also got to talk about MGEF a lot and it was nice to process all of my work with someone. It was also wonderful to meet Melanie’s family and be welcomed into her home! I didn’t realize how much I missed the little things in life—like a hot shower, a bug-less room, and ice cubes! Melanie has a great family and we just spent the night telling stories, laughing, and listening to music. I am so grateful to Melanie for just accepting me into her home and treating me like a daughter!

Timanoi and Her Roomate

2010-07-22T11:02:00.002+03:00

Simantoi

2010-07-22T10:56:00.002+03:00

MGEF Role Models

2010-07-22T10:54:00.001+03:00

Today I had the amazing privilege to meet two of MGEF’s university students! I took a bus to downtown Nairobi and met Simantoi. Simantoi is the first girl that MGEF ever sponsored. She is 25 years old and working as a nurse in a hospital. She is also taking classes at the University of Nairobi and will very soon have her Masters Degree. I was so excited to meet her! She is truly an incredible woman and we just talked and walked together to the University of Nairobi. She showed me all around the school—classrooms, library, buildings, etc. The University is amazing and beautiful! Then we just sat together and discussed some MGEF stuff before meeting with another student. One thing that we have wanted to work on is developing an alumni network to keep the older students connected and involved with MGEF. I also asked Simantoi about the self-esteem/mentoring curriculum we are developing. Simantoi had some amazing ideas! It was awesome to see how involved she wants to be. She talked about how MGEF changed her life and she will do anything to help other girls the way she was helped! She is an amazing woman and a great role model!

Then I was able to meet another student whose name is Catherine Timanoi. She is a first-year student at the university and is studying veterinary medicine. Simantoi, Timanoi, and I went to out for lunch and were just talking and enjoying ourselves. I also discussed with them a lot about MGEF and go their input on how to make the organization even better. After lunch, Timanoi took us back to her hostel so that we could see where she lives. We met her roommate and just spent some time there. I felt so blessed to be in the company of three strong, independent, determined women! It was really cool to spend time with Simantoi and Timanoi because I got to see the huge impact that MGEF has on these girls’ lives. I spend most of my time seeing the younger girls in primary school and they are incredible, but it was truly amazing to sit with these two students and hear them talk about what their lives would have been like without MGEF. They are going to change the world…all because of the chance that MGEF was willing to give them! And they will start a whole new generation of Maasai women—strong women with an incredible culture and a desire for an empowered life.

That night I woke up all confused. I felt upset and frustrated and had no idea why! Then I thought a little harder and realized that I had just woken up from a dream! I had this crazy dream where I was sitting in a room with like 6 of my friends from home and all of my friends were crying. I was trying to help them and ask what was wrong, but they kept responding to me in Swahili. I was frustrated and kept saying to them “I don’t understand you, I don’t speak that language!” I guess then I woke up! It was a crazy dream but I was really excited that I was dreaming in Swahili…I feel like I must be learning some Swahili then!

Donna

2010-07-22T08:21:00.001+03:00

Friendship Bracelets

2010-07-22T08:19:00.001+03:00

Today, I woke up and prepared for my journey to Nairobi. As I was getting ready, one of the guests at the Home told me that she was headed to Nairobi as well. Her name is Donna and she came for the weekend challenge. So, I had some company on the bus this time! Donna and I became great friends on that bus ride and I went to her home when we arrived in Nairobi. I met her boyfriend and some of her family members and just spent the afternoon with them. We shared a great meal, listened to music, played chess, and enjoyed the beautiful view of the city.

Donna came with me on a bus to Kibera to meet Freddy, Frankie, and the whole family. It was really cool to bring a friend to their home and share that experience with Donna. That day I met some more families in Kibera and just had the privilege to spend time with them. Kibera is highly stereotyped by the outside community, but the people I have met are so strong, so caring, so loving. I am very grateful to have met all of them and to know their faces and their stories. I wish that everyone could meet these people before forming that stereotype. I also got to spend a lot of time with Winnie and Cynthia. We were walking to their sister’s house and singing church songs! Later that day, I brought out my friendship bracelet string and everyone in the family was intrigued! I made bracelets for everyone and then started teaching them how to make them. I think the highlight was when Freddy’s uncle asked if I could teach him! He is a great guy and he is just so involved with everything. I was really glad I brought that string because I finally felt like I could give all of them something…thank them in some small way for welcoming me into their home. Usually I have nothing more to give them my presence, my smile, a hug, or an open ear. It was nice to leave them with something tangible. We watched the World Cup game that night and after we Google Earthed my home in Norristown and Vanderbilt! The whole family was crowded around the computer screen soaking in my home halfway around the world. I am so grateful for this family and for the incredible friendship I am forming with all of them.

Children

2010-07-22T08:15:00.002+03:00

A Game of Cards

2010-07-22T08:13:00.001+03:00

Today I woke up and was able to meet some of the guests staying at the Children’s Home. This weekend there is a weekend challenge going on (which is basically a marathon of worshipping!). Several of the students who grew up at the Home have come back and it was incredible to meet them. The Home is their family and it was cool to see the connection they still have with this place. In the afternoon, I walked to town to do some chores. On my way, I got a call from Melanie—one of the staff members of MGEF. Melanie and I were trying to plan a meeting to talk about self-esteem classes for the MGEF students. Self-esteem classes are something that I am very interested in and passionate about, and I would love to help start them here with MGEF. I paused for a second during our conversation and just looked around at my situation. I was casually walking through Kenya, talking on my Kenyan cell phone, and planning my dreams with this wonderful woman in Nairobi. Life is crazy!

I stopped at Lucy’s house while I was in town and spent some time with her family members. I pulled out a deck of cards and tried to teach them all how to play 500 Rummy. It was awesome to sit around the table with these friends and try to share a part of my culture with them. Eventually the game broke down and I decided to try and teach them how to shuffle! They shuffle cards so differently and they were just intrigued by how I did it. Then Lucy and I ended up grabbing a bowl and trying to see who could throw the most cards into the bowl. I feel so comfortable here, so at home. Lucy is an incredible friend and sister and I really hope that I can maintain my relationship with her from halfway around the world!

I also don’t think I have mentioned my wonderful motorbike driver. His name is Vincent and he picked me up from the bus stage one time. He is a safe driver and goes very slow and so I have been using him ever since! After all of these rides, we have become friends! Today on our way back to the Home, we saw camels! Just a herd of camels walking down the road next to where I live. I started laughing and Vincent and I stopped to see the camels! That night, I spent some time with the kids at the weekend challenge and just felt so grateful to be a part of this wonderful community.

District Education Day

2010-07-22T08:08:00.001+03:00

District Children's Office

2010-07-22T08:07:00.000+03:00

This morning we went to see one of the MGEF students who just graduated from college and is now teaching in Kajiado! Then we took a bus to the District Children’s Office in Kajiado. We had a meeting with the office about Osiligi Village, the rescue center that MGEF wants to start. It was interesting to walk through all of the government offices. At the office, we met Sophie who is the Chair of the MGEF Board. I had heard a lot about Sophie but had never met her. She is an amazing and strong woman and she actually is in charge of the Girl Guides in Kajiado. It was very cool to talk with her because I have been a Girl Scout since I was 5 years old!

Our meeting with the District Children’s Office went well! There is a school outside of Kajiado that has some extra land so we met with three of the directors of the school to discuss whether we could use that land for Osiligi Village. It was very cool to sit in that meeting and feel like I grasped the mission of MGEF. I didn’t feel like a two-month intern that was just tagging along to see a meeting. I wanted to be involved, I cared about the outcome of the meeting, and I was able to speak and express my concerns/opinion throughout the meeting. Another highlight of the meeting is when the officer asked Lucy what MGEF does. Lucy and Sophie looked at each other for a second, and then Lucy handed over a copy of the MGEF newsletter before launching into the long explanation of everything MGEF does in the community. The officer was very intrigued by the newsletter and it was awesome to be able to give her something tangible to read about the great work of MGEF. She was so surprised that we were sponsoring so many girls and that we even sponsor them through university! It is amazing how much of a difference a simple piece of paper can make. MGEF has been doing this work for years now, but for some reason seeing all of it together on a piece of paper just blows people away!

After the meeting, we then attended the Kajiado District Education Day. There were speeches given by headmasters and directors and many of the schools had their students perform songs and dances. It was amazing to see some of the Maasai culture come out in the performances! While I was at the ceremony, I saw a bunch of the children from the Children’s Home. I also recognized many of the headmasters because I met them while visiting the schools where MGEF sends its students. It was awesome to feel like I am no longer a stranger in this place! That night I finally took some time to relax, process all of my experiences, and just be by myself for a little bit. Every day here is jam packed with amazing experiences, and I never want to miss a single second with MGEF, the children, or my friends. But I realized that I was running on no energy. So I played some inspirational music, journaled about my thoughts, and just laid in my bed. I never could have imagined a year ago or even three months ago where I would be in life right now. My experiences here in Kenya have really helped me realize that everything happens for a reason…you just don’t always have the privileged of knowing that reason at the time.

Circle of Friends

2010-07-22T08:06:00.001+03:00

Today at work we responded to emails, finalized the newsletter, and figured out a list of email contacts for Lucy! We also prepared for a meeting about Osiligi Village (a rescue center for girls that MGEF wants to start) that we have tomorrow. It was a busy and productive day! It is so weird to feel my days left in Kenya dwindling down. There is still so much to do and I do not want to leave this wonderful place!

Today I just felt surrounded by wonderful friends. I came to the Children’s Home and was playing hand games with Sunday, Econnette, Naserian, Joscelyn, and Helen. I walked into my room and had an amazing conversation with my roommate, Diana, and her friend. I went on facebook and talked to Caroline’s brother who I met when we were taking Caroline to the airport. I also talked to one of my best friends from home! I got a phone call from my friends in Kibera, and then I checked my email and had all these updates from my best friends from home. It was crazy…I felt surrounded my love. I am so thankful, so grateful for these amazing people in my life who now construct my circle of friends!

An interesting thing that happened today is that Lucy, Emily, and I walked into the office and found a huge pack of condoms in the bathroom. Emily found them and came back laughing hysterically, and then Lucy and I started laughing as well. We had no idea how they got there or what to do with them. Looking back at how we handled the situation, I understand on a much deeper level why HIV/AIDS work is complicated. All three of us reacted immediately in an embarrassed way. We didn’t want the condoms there because we didn’t want people to get the wrong impression about us. We removed the box, but later we found out that it was an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign that was distributing the boxes all over Kajiado. The point was to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. We decided to give the box back to the organization, but we realized that by doing so we were limiting the access to condoms. It was an interesting situation that gave me a lot of perspective on the complexity of HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns.

Children

2010-07-08T22:02:00.001+03:00

Cliff, Naserian, Sunday, and Maria

Dreams Do Come True

2010-07-08T22:01:00.001+03:00

Today was an amazing day! There is an MGEF student, named Caroline, who is going to the United States to help fundraise! Caroline is 25 years old and a nurse here in Kenya. I had the awesome opportunity to meet her today for the first time. Caroline came to the office and we talked about the flight, what she should expect, and what her plans were in America. She was so excited and yet so nervous! Another MGEF staff member, Melanie, came to pick her up. It was really nice to see Melanie because I had met her in the US before coming to Kenya. We all went to lunch and then we talked online with Barbara. It was really nice to talk to her…we all miss her very much!

Ken came to drive us all to the airport and it was really nice to see him. Ken is the man who picked me up from the airport when I first arrived in Kenya…he is the first person I met here. I haven’t seen him in about a month and it was nice to say hi! I could tell that Caroline was feeling slightly overwhelmed and nervous about flying so I gave her this special elephant keychain that I have. It was given to me by the Sisters of Charity in Norristown and I have taken in with me every time I have flown somewhere. Some of my friends have even taken it with them to different parts of the world. I explained the whole journey of this elephant to Caroline and it seemed to calm her down a bit that all those people had flown and been okay.

On the ride to the airport, Caroline and I talked about MGEF. Caroline talked about the power of having your education sponsored by someone. She said that she is so grateful to all the people in her life…and that she owes the person that she is to those people. I realized during that conversation why I feel so connected to the work that MGEF is doing. I know exactly how powerful it is when someone sponsors your education—that is what the Ingram Program is doing for me. That sponsorship reminds you that someone saw potential in you…that someone believes in you. When you start to question yourself, you can remember that person who reached out to help you. Sponsorship also challenges you to do your best and make that sponsor proud. It was wonderful to discuss all of this with Caroline.

Emily, Lucy, Melanie, Ken, and I went to dinner with Caroline’s family before going to the airport. This was a huge day, not only for Caroline, but for her whole family! It was the first time that someone in their family was going to step on a plane…the first time someone would go to the US. It was HUGE! There were over twenty family members that came from all over Kenya to say goodbye! Caroline had a whole pack of people escorting her to the security line in the airport! It was so incredible to just share that experience with them. Caroline’s biggest dream in life is coming true! It was such a refreshing moment that made me step back and think…how lucky am I? How lucky am I to grow up in the country that every person on this Earth dreams of visiting? How lucky am I to be born as an American citizen and have that advantage from the very start? It is not something that I will take for granted any longer.

There was also another MGEF student named Lucy who came with us to the airport, and it was very nice to spend time with her. I met her once before and she is just so sweet! We all went home after the airport and I am just hoping that Caroline arrives safely in the United States. Today, MGEF helped one incredible woman and her family achieve their dreams!

Caroline!

2010-07-08T21:57:00.001+03:00

Friends

2010-07-08T21:49:00.003+03:00

Lucy and Emily!

2010-07-08T21:38:00.002+03:00

Living Simply

2010-07-08T20:55:00.000+03:00

Today was a busy day in the office, catching up on emails and just putting finishing touches on everything. Hours in that office fly by like minutes…its crazy! We also got the news today that one of the older students is pregnant and will have to leave school for this year. It was wonderful to see Lucy handle the situation. She basically explained that yes, it is bad timing, but no it’s not the end of the world. The student can have the baby and then go back to school and finish her studies. It was wonderful to see the real support system that MGEF has created for these girls. Some organizations may hear that a girl is pregnant and then give up on her or refuse to sponsor her anymore…but not MGEF. Life goes on and there are always complications, but there is never any reason to give up on a young woman!

After work today, one of Lucy’s friends stopped by the office. Her name is Emily and she is a teacher. I really like her and we have a great time together. Today we listened to music and she tried to teach me more Swahili. I think I received the biggest compliment of my life today…it really touched me. Emily and Lucy were sitting there and together just said, “Michelle, we like you because you are so simple! You are just fine with anything and we appreciate that.” I was completely blown away. Coming from Lucy and Emily, two of the strongest people I know who never complain about anything. They live so simply and selflessly. I was very touched by their words because that is the person I try to be…but often I think I fall short. I start to crave some of the comforts of life. Their compliment renewed my spirit and touched my heart.

When I arrived back at the Children’s Home, I had the privilege to meet a new girl whose name is Naserian. Naserian is an orphan and was abused by her uncle. Luckily, she somehow ended up in the care of the Children’s Home. I heard the story of Naserian’s life before meeting her in person. I expected to see this downtrodden young girl with a broken spirit. But when I finally got to give Naserian a hug…she was one of the most lively and spirited girls I have ever met. Her smile is amazing and she is just so happy. Meeting her just threw me into this weird place. These children are so strong. I am living every day with 80 heroes. 80 children who have somehow figured out how to keep living, keep loving, keep laughing, keep smiling. People tried to break them…but they are too strong. It was an awesome humbling feeling, but I also felt such anger in my heart. Naserian did not deserve that…no 10 year old girl deserves to suffer in that way. I can’t even imagine losing both my parents and then being abused. But then I looked at her face again…and realized that she is not angry. She has moved on…and I must move on as well.

It was nice to just spend the night with the children looking at pictures, playing games, and talking. I feel like I make a new friend here every day! It is really cool to see some of the children gradually warm up to me. There are certain kids who just instantly wanted to be best friends and then there are others who take some time to develop trust. I am so glad that I am able to stay here long enough for them to trust me. It will just be so sad when I have to leave!

Proud Maasai Women

2010-07-08T20:53:00.002+03:00

Today, when I arrived at work I was greeted by Kevin…who is Lucy’s fiancée! He is a great man and it was so nice to see him again. That morning I worked on the MGEF student roster and proofread some proposals. It was really cool to go through the list of students and recognize most of their names. Just a month ago, these were all just foreign names to me, but now I feel such a connection with and love for all of these girls! Around lunchtime Gloria came to the office!! I was so excited to see her and we were able to celebrate the news that she might apply to colleges in the US! Gloria, Emily, and I talked a little about the US, and then another student, Naserian, came into the office! Naserian is just finishing her second year of university…and we are right around the same age. It was such an honor to meet her.

That day, a man came into the office and started a conversation about how he has never seen a Maasai girl create change in the community. It was an interesting topic of conversation since we were sitting in the MGEF office…an organization founded to help girls create change. I wanted to yell at him and tell him to leave the office, but instead I sat back and watched Lucy, Emily, Naserian, and Gloria handle the situation. I was so impressed with the four of them—how they defended themselves, their culture, and MGEF. I think the part that blew me away the most was when Naserian stood up and declared, “You can criticize my culture and traditions as much as you want, but my clothes, my necklaces aren’t holding me back from doing anything. I will wear what I want and respect my culture…because I am proud to be a Maasai woman. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want my people to make progress.” Lucy and Emily threw out example after example of girls who are making change and doing great things with their lives. Gloria smiled so big and said, “I got an A on my national exam and now I may apply to US schools.” I was in the presence of four strong, confident women who could hold their own, and I was very honored to consider these women my friends. If these are the type of women that MGEF is helping to develop, then I think the model of this organization should be used all over the world!

I also was able to work with Gloria on the college process today. I think that I completely overwhelmed her by talking about SATs, common applications, financial aid, recommendations, essays, etc. But it was great! We sat down and figured out a plan of what I could work on and what she could work on. We looked at the different essays on the common application and she was excited to see that one of them talked about the diversity that a student can bring to a college campus. Gloria has such a different perspective on life and unique life experiences that I feel any college would be lucky to have her as a student. It was really cool to see her recognize what she has to offer. She talked about wanting to write her essay on how different her life was growing up and how she wants to share her life experiences with others. I think my favorite moment was when she looked at me and asked, “Like can I talk about how I had to work…like really work hard…in my home?” I smiled at her and just laughed…yeah I don’t know too many college students who have ever done the types of “chores” that are a normal part of Gloria’s life.

Gloria is also just becoming a great friend of mine. I think that she may come and visit me at the orphanage and spend the night!! I may have a guest! That night after dinner, I took out all the pictures of my friends and family to show the children. It was CRAZY! The children were everywhere and the pictures were everywhere and it was so cool that they were so interested in seeing my life at home. Another awesome moment of the night was during night prayer when someone forgot their Bible. The child was about to get in trouble, but one of the older boys stepped in for him and said a Bible verse that he had memorized. Then another boy stood up and did the same thing. It was so cool to see them protect each other, stand up for each other, CARE about each other. The Kajiado Children’s Home really fosters a family for these children, and that is incredible. That night I just kept picturing in my mind what these children will be like when they are older. I think they will be mature, respectful, independent men and women thanks to the Home.

That night was my sister’s birthday…and I got some of the girls on the phone to say happy birthday to her! The girls were so excited to have talked to my sister! It is so nice to be able to share my family, my life with these children.

Michelle Is Taking Me to America

2010-07-08T20:52:00.002+03:00

I decided to visit my friends in Nairobi this weekend. So I caught a bus to Nairobi, and the bus ride gave me some much-needed processing time. Staring out the window of the bus, I just kept thinking of how much I have changed since a year ago. I never could have guessed a year ago that I would be where I am right now in life. It’s crazy how fast everything can change! When I got to Nairobi, I met my friends at Nakumat…which is like America in Kenya. It is this huge chain store that is all over East Africa. I think it’s probably the equivalent of a Walmart or Target in the United States, but everything is very Westernized and expensive. I had lunch at my friend Skippy’s house and then went to meet the family of my friend Steve. I met Steve’s mom, 4 sisters, aunt, and grandmother. I spent the rest of the day just hanging out with my friends and their families and it was nice to feel so welcomed. Everyone had questions they wanted to ask about the United States, and I was able to ask them questions about their lives in Kenya.

On Sunday, I was woken up by my friend’s 5 year old nephew…he grabbed my hand, pulled me out of bed, and started packing my things. He told everyone that I was going to take him to the United States to go to church and then he was never coming back home. It was adorable and precious…and finally he settled for me simply going to church with him in Kenya. So a bunch of us went to church. On the way to church, we passed a short-term prison. It was very interesting to see a prison in Kenya and I was able to ask my friends questions about how the criminal system works in Kenya. Church was wonderful…like all my other church experiences here in Africa…and after we went to my friend, Grace’s house. Grace is the sister of my friend, Freddy, and I visited her house with her two younger sisters, whose names are Winnie and Cynthia. I had an incredible time with Grace, Winnie, and Cynthia. They taught me how to cook ugali and chapatti—which are two staple foods here. We listened to music, danced, and just had a great time. On the way back to their house, I had a really good conversation with Winnie about her life and her dreams. Winnie is 15 years old and about to enter high school. She wants to be an accountant, loves to sing, and really enjoys reading. Her and Cynthia are two of the most amazing young women I have ever met. They have so much responsibility in their household, but they carry out all of their chores with a smile on their face. In the time I have known them, they have never once complained. Winnie and Cynthia even got to talk to my dad that night and they were so excited. They couldn’t believe that they had just talked on the phone with someone in the US.

That night, I helped cook dinner…I really enjoy cooking here! And then I went to play video games with my friend Frankie. Frankie is Freddy’s younger brother and is right around my age. He is awesome and I really enjoy spending time with him. Whenever we have a free second, he always asks me to tell him a story of my life…and then he tells me one from his! Frankie killed me at soccer, but it was fun! Then we had dinner and I was showing everyone pictures of my friends and family. The next morning, I jumped on a bus back to Kajiado to return to work!

A Little Family

2010-07-08T20:51:00.000+03:00

Since today is Friday, there was no electricity. We worked in the office in the morning—answering emails, going through receipts, and finalizing budgets. Then Emily had to take her nephew to the doctors and all three of us (Emily, Lucy, and I) were all feeling sick. I know that it is very hot at home and when you think of Africa, you don’t think cold…but it is actually cold/flu season here because it is winter time!

We went to Lucy’s home for lunch and got to meet her cousin, Jeff, who is working for the referendum committee. Jeff’s job is to get everyone registered to vote. The referendum is something I haven’t talked a lot about, but it is a huge deal in Kenya right now. The vote for the referendum will be on August 4th and the citizens will vote either yes or no to pass the constitution. In the past week, rallies and campaigns have popped up everywhere…and people are even wearing red (for no) or green (for yes). It was nice to meet Jeff and he and Emily taught me more Swahili phrases!

That night, we went to Lucy’s house to watch the World Cup games! In between the games, we listened to Kenyan music and Lucy and Emily tried to teach me how to dance. It was awesome! Then I put on some American music and taught them the few dance moves that I know. We also made a facebook for Emily so that she can keep in touch with everyone. We stayed on facebook for a while and just looked at pictures of each other’s lives. Then we watched Ghana lose, which was very disappointing. I spent the night at Lucy’s house and fell asleep feeling so lucky to have found such great friends halfway around the world. Lucy, Emily, and Jeff are like a little family!

Education Is A Weapon

2010-07-06T22:24:00.000+03:00

This morning I woke up to some horrible news. I found out that one of the women who works at the Home had lost her husband and her brother had been mugged in Nairobi. This woman is incredible and always smiling, and it just hurt my heart to think of all the pain she was experiencing.

It was very nice to go back to work and be in the office with Lucy and Emily. While the two of them took care of some students’ school fees, I put the finishing touches on the MGEF newsletter! It was so incredibly exciting to have something tangible completed. It was also so cool to see how happy Lucy and Emily were. We all had put a lot of time and effort into making that newsletter, and when the president of MGEF said that she loved it, it was just such a great feeling! Lucy and Emily were smiling and I could just tell that they were so proud of themselves! Lucy and Emily also talked about how they want to put out another one in the fall. This is something that I was going to mention before I left, but I didn’t even have to say anything. They are two very intelligent women who can easily run with an idea, and I am so excited to see their newsletter in the fall.

I also heard back from Barbara about Gloria applying to colleges in the United States. Barbara said that it was completely fine for her to try!! I gave Gloria a call immediately and that phone call was absolutely amazing. I told her everything that Barbara had explained to me, and she sounded so excited and grateful. Right before she got off the phone, she said that she had been waiting for this phone call all week. I arranged with Gloria for her to come to the MGEF office sometime next week so that we could talk and plan in person! I was so excited for her…and very glad that I hadn’t fueled false hopes!

While working on some things today, I came across a speech given by one of the MGEF students named Caroline who actually is going to the United States to help fundraise! Caroline is an incredible woman. In one part of the speech, Caroline encourages her fellow students: “Let’s do our best because we are the role models that our society is hungry for! When we go up the ladder, let us always remember where we came from.” Another line that really moved me was this: “Our education is a weapon that we can stand on, no one can beat or intimidate us anymore.” Our education is a weapon…education as a weapon. It is a phrase that will not leave my mind. This phrase completely summarizes the mission of MGEF. The organization is giving girls the power to fight back, the power to make choices, the power to fight for what they deserve. Caroline puts it so beautifully…what MGEF girls leave with is an ability to protect themselves, stand up for what is right, and defend the other girls in their community. MGEF is giving girls a weapon to create change! I discovered a whole new level to the value of education.

After work today, I got to spend time with a bunch of the children at the home. Each day, I think I teach Miss Mary Mack to a few more children! Some of the younger girls also taught me a game today that is kind of like hopscotch…it was great! I also made great progress today with getting to know some of the older boys. They always say hi, but then usually just keep walking but today I stopped them and asked how they were doing, etc. It is so nice to come home to this type of community after a wonderful day at work! As I was lying in bed tonight, I just kept thanking God for everything and everyone who has come into my life. I am so grateful for the experience I am having here!

Home Sweet Home

2010-07-06T21:48:00.000+03:00

I remember the first day I left Kajiado to travel to Nairobi. That two-hour bus ride felt scary, exciting, and long! But after all of my travels, the bus ride from Nairobi back to Kajiado felt like a piece of cake. It was so interesting how much perspective I had gained during my travels. One of the things I appreciated the most is that I felt much more competent…like I could take care of myself and deal with any situation that came my way. In many ways, I wasn’t so scared anymore. I feel very comfortable and at peace in this part of the world…in many ways I felt like I was travelling home! I am so thankful for the amazing people that have entered into my life and created this home for me halfway around the world.

As soon as I stepped into the Children’s Home, some of the young girls came running screaming my name! It was incredible to see that they had missed me as much as I had missed them! I also was able to meet my new roommate! Her name is Diana and she is right around my age. Diana will be volunteering for the month of July at the Kajiado Children’s Home. Diana is an incredible young woman who actually grew up in Kenya and is an orphan herself. She is so strong and has so much to offer the children. I am honored to spend the next month learning from her!

I went to go see Emily and Lucy and it was like I was reunited with my two African sisters! I told them all about my travels and they caught me up on everything I had missed while I was gone. I spent the rest of the night catching up with the children and trying to prepare myself to go back to work. I think I gave out thousands of hugs that night hahah and I was able to share stories and pictures with the children. I also just sat for a while and tried to figure out in my head how I bring everything I have learned from my travels into my work with MGEF. Yes, I had an incredible time travelling, but I also learned a lot. I experienced more of African culture, met people with diverse perspectives, and got to spend some time with various NGOs. I wanted to bring all of this to MGEF…to use it to make a greater impact for these Maasai girls who are fighting hard to receive an education. Images of my travels flashed through my mind…standing in the slums of Kibera, crying at the Nyamata Memorial in Rwanda, discussing politics with my motorbike driver in Uganda. Amazing memories, so many lessons learned…now it is time to bring it all together and do something with the experiences I have gathered.

Ingram Reunion in Kampala!

2010-07-06T21:37:00.003+03:00

Kigali, Rwanda

2010-07-06T21:29:00.002+03:00

My friend, Kirsten!

2010-07-06T21:23:00.003+03:00

This is the wonderful friend who I travelled with!

Journey Home!

2010-07-06T21:19:00.000+03:00

Kirsten and I took a bus the next morning from Rwanda to Kampala. It was a long bus ride, but again I had some time to reflect, appreciate, and just stare out the window. I still can’t believe that I just travelled through Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. It was an incredible experience that I am just so thankful for.

We spent that night in Kampala and went to dinner. This was Kirsten’s last night in Africa. It was so nice to be able to spend it with her. It was weird to think that her trip was ending, and mine was just beginning. I feel like such a different person already, and I still have over a month to spend here! The next morning, I got on a bus to Kisumu to see my friend Julia from high school. Julia is working in Kisumu and it was her birthday!!! It worked out so well that I was able to give her a birthday hug! When I finally found Julia in Kisumu, it was just so crazy. I just casually showed up on her birthday halfway around the world! Julia and I kept staring at each other and repeating “We are in Kenya right now!” to remind ourselves of how crazy the whole thing was.

My time with Julia was incredible. I am so incredibly proud of her and the work she and her friend Patricia are doing. It was awesome to walk around her work and meet all the people and see all the places that mean so much to her. All of the people Julia works with are incredible. We even had the opportunity to eat dinner with 4 Dominican Sisters who are just amazing! In true Michelle fashion, I of course was only able to stay for a few hours so we jammed all of these experiences into one afternoon and then I got on a bus back to Nairobi.

I spent that next day in Nairobi just processing everything that I had experienced—all the people I met, all the things I learned, all the stories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I also was able to see some of my friends in Nairobi. The tour guides that Kirsten and I had met—Freddy, Frankie, and Richard—introduced me to a bunch of their friends and it was awesome to hang out with everyone.

Finally, it was time for me to get on a bus back to Kajiado. I felt like I had been gone for months. I also felt like I was going HOME! I was so excited to see Lucy and Emily and continue my work with MGEF. I was also excited to see the children again and share my journey with them. It is crazy that a place I had only lived in for about two weeks could feel like home to me…but I am so thankful for the amazing community of people I have been blessed with in Kajiado.

Rwanda

2010-07-06T21:18:00.000+03:00

After spending time in Fort Portal, Kirsten and I hired a car to take us to Rwanda! The ride to Rwanda was incredible. I could ride through Africa for the rest of my life and probably never get bored. Our driver was really cool and was playing all types of random music—Celine Dion, Ugandan hip-hop, American Christmas music hahaha. I also had a lot of time to just think while we were driving. It was crazy to think of all the pain, all the struggle, all the heartache mixed in with the community, love, and beauty of Africa. I also just tried to make myself remember that I was crossing into Rwanda. As a child, I watched the movie Hotel Rwanda and promised myself that I would go there one day to see the country with my own eyes. And then just last semester in school, I wrote one of my final exams on the Rwandan genocide. Today was the day that I would stand in Rwanda with my own two feet! I was trying to let it sink in and appreciate the once-in-a-lifetime experience I was about to have. I found myself with my eyes glued to the landscape…trying to remember every detail of the African hills. I felt like I was searching for answers. Like if I stared long enough at the landscape, I would somehow understand the challenges and struggles of development and globalization in East Africa.

When we crossed over the Rwandan border, Kirsten and I sat in the car listening to the soundtrack from Hotel Rwanda. I guess I expected the landscape to change…I was looking for signs of genocide, struggle, and sorrow. But it looked exactly like Uganda and Kenya. Rwanda was beautiful and peaceful. When we finally got into Kigali (the capital city), I was completely blown away. Kigali was actually the most developed city I had seen in East Africa. The level of development was so weird to me because I was just blown away by the fact that genocide had happened just 16 years before.

We met up with one of Kirsten’s friends from high school who was working in Kigali for the summer. She was amazing and let us stay in her apartment! We went to lunch with her and then went to see the actual hotel that the movie, Hotel Rwanda, is based off of. Standing at that hotel was one of the most interesting moments of my life. That movie had such a huge impact on me…and I had somehow gotten myself to Rwanda, to the very hotel that inspired such compassion in my soul. After the hotel, we went to the Nyamata Memorial. This memorial is a church where 10,000 Tutsi people were murdered during the genocide. That memorial shook my soul and broke my heart. I was standing in a room full of the clothes of the people who had died…and it just all seemed too much. 10,000 people is more than the population of Vanderbilt University. All dead at one time. I can’t even begin to imagine the suffering, the sorrow, the pain. I was confused when I first left the memorial. I kept asking myself how these people continue with their normal lives…how was I supposed to walk out of that memorial and just start laughing and talking again? How does a nation recover from genocide? How do people learn to trust and forgive? But life goes on…and 14 years have passed. I have so much respect for the forgiveness and the development that the Rwandan people have been able to achieve. The memorial was overpowering, haunting, evil, and yet provided me with a hope for the future…a hope for humanity.

That night, Kirsten and I found a restaurant to eat at and watched the World Cup. The United States lost to Ghana…and even though I was disappointed, it was really cool to see the celebration of the people. Dinner was also great because I got to reflect a little with Kirsten and process our tour of Africa. It was great to see so many places and things, but we also were both overwhelmed with experiences and emotions. I am so happy that she was there to just process, laugh, and reflect with.

Uganda

2010-07-06T21:17:00.000+03:00

After Nairobi, Kirsten and I got on a bus to Kampala. It was a thirteen hour bus ride, but we enjoyed every second of it. My eyes were just glued outside the window…staring at the African countryside. We crossed the border into Uganda and the whole thing just felt so surreal. It was nice to spend some time with Kirsten and debrief the experiences that we had both had in Africa up to that point. I think a highpoint was right as the sun was setting. Kirsten and I were just staring out the window and listening to inspiring music. It was one of those moments when I realized that I am living my dreams here…and it all just sunk in! When we arrived in Kampala, Kirsten and I met up with two Vanderbilt students who are working there, Nick and Michael. It was crazy to just show up in a city in Uganda and have friends waiting with open arms! We went to dinner with Nick and Michael and just shared stories of our experiences.

Kirsten and I spent the next morning in Kampala just exploring and experiencing the city. I was completely mesmerized, the city is crowded and busy and beautiful! We then got on a bus to Fort Portal—which is the city where Kirsten was working in Uganda. The drive was gorgeous. Fort Portal is in a very rural part of Uganda and it was so different there. I got to see the school that she worked at, meet all of the teachers, and just spend some time appreciating this place that Kirsten loved. The school is called Kassisi School and there have been several fundraisers held at Vanderbilt for it. It was crazy to just sit and remind myself that I was in Uganda visiting this incredible organization. We rode motorbikes (called boda bodas) back to where Kirsten was staying, and the ride was absolutely gorgeous. The sun had set, there was a full moon, and I just felt so grateful for the incredible experience I was having in the middle of Africa with one of my best friends!

Nairobi, Kenya

2010-07-06T21:16:00.000+03:00

After work on Tuesday, June 22nd, I took a bus to Nairobi and went to dinner with a graduate student from the University of Nairobi named Megan. Megan is studying international development and I had contacted her several times while planning my trip. It was amazing to meet Megan and I went with some of her friends to an Ethiopian Restaurant. The conversation over dinner was amazing. It was awesome to hear her perspective on development in Kenya and to share my experiences as well. After dinner, I went back to the hotel and meet up with my friend, Kirsten! Kirsten goes to Vanderbilt with me and had been working in Uganda. It was so amazing to meet up with her halfway around the world and to just see a familiar face! I introduced Kirsten to the two Vanderbilt graduates, Marubu and Ken, that I had met on my first night in Nairobi. It was a wonderful night full of laughter, smiles, and great conversations.

Kirsten and I spent some time in Kibera, which is the largest slum in East Africa. I had learned about Kibera in one of my sociology classes and promised myself that I would go and see it while in Nairobi. We went on a “tour” of Kibera with an organization called Kibera Tours. This organization was started to bring tourism into the small businesses of Kibera and to reduce the negative stigma attached to the slums. The tour was led by three residents who had spent their whole lives in Kibera. The tour was eye-opening and amazing. We saw several NGOs that are working within Kibera and got to talk with many people. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget. After the tour, Kirsten and I went to the Giraffe Center and got to pet giraffes! Giraffes are my favorite animal…so I was pretty excited! On the way back from there, our taxi driver started talking about Kibera and the people who live in the slums. It was interesting to hear his perspective on the people and the community—it was such a different perspective than what we had heard that morning. It was very nice to be able to sit in that cab and picture the faces of the people I met, the people who shared their lives with us. I was very thankful to be able to put individual faces to the people in Kibera rather than simply blanketing all the residents into one stereotyped group. That night, Kirsten and I watched the USA beat Algeria in the World Cup…it was wonderful! And the three tour guides…whose names are Freddy, Frankie, and Richard…watched the game with us! It was awesome to be halfway around the world surrounded by great friends!

My apologies!

2010-07-06T21:15:00.000+03:00

Oh my goodness…it has been two weeks since I posted an update! I apologize profusely. For part of this time, I had the incredible opportunity to travel throughout East Africa, meeting people and learning so much along the way. The rest of the time, I have just been so busy. Work with MGEF is going incredibly well and when I am not at work, I have been trying to spend as much time as possible with the children from the Kajiado Children’s Home. But today I have decided that I need to take a break and reflect on the past two weeks. I will try to quickly catch you all up with where I am today!

Regina

2010-06-21T22:02:00.002+03:00

This is the young girl I talked about in the blog post called "Beautiful Surprises" :)

Gloria and Lucy

2010-06-21T21:50:00.001+03:00

Sunday!

2010-06-21T21:28:00.001+03:00

Dreaming Together

2010-06-21T21:22:00.001+03:00

Today I woke up and was walking to work with my backpack when all of a sudden I heard this screeching sound coming from inside. I ignored it for a few minutes, but then realized that something alive was in that bag. I opened the bag and out popped two grasshoppers and a cricket! Okay, popped as in they were forced out after 5 minutes of me emptying the bag, turning it upside down, and shaking it! These bugs are just a little too friendly. I am not kidding when I tell you that I feel like the man who wrote “A Bugs Life” lived in this town in Kenya. You know “Hopper” and his gang of grasshoppers? Well they actually exist in this place. The bugs are crazy!

When I finally got to work, I shared this story with Lucy and Emily and of course they were on the ground laughing. They don’t understand why there are always bugs all over me. Lucy, Emily, and I worked on the financial stuff in the morning and I think we are finally all caught up!! It was a very exciting moment.

A highpoint of my day is that I got to meet one of the older MGEF students named Gloria. Gloria just graduated high school with a grade of an A-. This is a HUGE accomplishment!! However, Gloris dreams of becoming a doctor and you need an A to be accepted into that university here. It’s such a shame. I was able to just sit and talk with Gloria for most of the afternoon. We talked about Kenya, school, the United States, etc. She seemed so shy in the beginning, but then she just started asking all kinds of questions. She asked me to show her my university and I brought up pictures of Vanderbilt. She asked me, “How do I apply to this school?” I laughed and proceeded to show her pictures of my family and friends and she appreciated them. But as soon as I was done, she asked again, “Seriously, how do I apply to that school?” At first I didn’t know what to say, but then I went to the admissions page and started showing her the application process for international students. We looked up financial aid stuff, SAT information, etc. It was so exciting to see her face light up! I was getting worried though that I was creating a dream for her that may not be what MGEF wanted. When Lucy walked back into the office, I brought the idea up simply. She replied, “That’s a great idea! It can’t hurt to try right?” Because in the United States, Gloria could still study to be a doctor. She also could go to many other places, but the US is what I am familiar with.

After that conversation with Lucy, it was incredible to just sit there and dream with Gloria. We looked at all sorts of colleges and the application processes involved. We looked at scholarships, financial aid, and things that could make that dream into a reality. It was so awesome to just be a part of that with her. It was like she realized for the first time that the world is hers to conquer. I just hope now that I can help her…either to get into a great program here in Kenya, or a medical school in Uganda, or a university in the United States. It was cool that she is willing to shoot so high! She is an incredible young woman!

Lucy, Emily, Gloria, and I had lunch and then Lucy and I worked more on the newsletter. Barbara sent us the pictures that we needed and it looks so good with the pictures of everything we talk about! I also was able to see Elias again—he is the man who conducts the workshops for chiefs and elders. Emily played me some Kenyan music as well and it was nice to just sit and work and listen to the music. I walked home and spent some more time with the children. Just laughing and playing around and taking pictures. I am leaving tomorrow to travel around with my friend, Kirsten! And I am so excited :) We are going to spend some time in Nairobi, then travel to Uganda and see where she works, and then maybe even go into Rwanda for a little bit! I am excited to see all these places and to spend time with her!! I also am going to miss everyone here so much though. I told the children that I was leaving for a while and they kept asking “but why?” And I wish I could take Lucy and Emily along with me. But I will still have over a month here with them when I get back!You won't hear from me for a little while, but I will update as soon as possible!

Miss Mary Mack

2010-06-21T21:21:00.002+03:00

I woke up today exhausted. I don’t know why…I just felt like I hadn’t slept in days. I had breakfast and then went to church with the girls. Pretty soon I am going to know these Swahili church songs better than English church songs. It was so nice though. The children asked me to come up and speak and they also were so excited to show me how they danced and sang. I never thought I would say this…but I really enjoyed sitting through the three hour service!

After lunch, I took a much-needed nap. I woke up to children knocking on my door and screaming, “Michelle, you’re gonna miss the game!” The boys were playing soccer against another school that afternoon and I had promised to go. I walked to the field and cheered for the boys! It was very fun to watch them especially because I have a harder time bonding with them. They appreciated me just sitting there and trying to remember their names! I spent a lot of time with Mary at the game and was able to talk to her even more about life in general. I can’t explain to you how amazing it is that they speak English…it feels so good to be able to communicate with her.

I also spent time with four younger kids today named Simon, Naserian, Jocelyn, and Sunday. I taught them how to play Miss Mary Mack and they absolutely loved it! Now I can’t step outside my room without Sunday coming running ready to play again. There was no electricity today, so we all just sat outside under the stars and played game after game of Miss Mary Mack. It was a great way to spend some time with the younger kids who I can’t talk with as much. When the lights came back on, I helped Mary with her homework and then went off to bed!

My funny moment of the day was when I was sitting at the soccer game with six or seven of the girls. We were all squeezed on one bench and I stood up to get some water. When I went to sit back down, I misjudged the distance from the bench and went flying over the back. My legs went straight up in the air and I had nothing to grab on to. Finally, I reached for Milka and Sharon on either side of me…but then they started falling down with me. The end result was a pile of me, Sharon, and Milka on the muddy ground. All the other girls were screaming and laughing and trying to help. Once they realized we were okay, we all just laid on the ground laughing hysterically. It was great…I’m glad my klutziness is good for something :)

Crashing a Wedding

2010-06-21T21:18:00.002+03:00

On Friday, Lucy asked me if I wanted to attend the wedding of one of her friends from church. Originally I said absolutely, but then I thought a little more and felt like I would just be crashing the wedding. Lucy insisted though, so I got up early and got ready…wearing the most respectable clothes I brought hahah. While waiting for Lucy, I went outside and played catch with a girl named Pannena. It is amazing what these children use as make-shift balls. A pair of rolled up socks…a bundle of trashbags…anything they can roll into a ball. It’s just so simple and they don’t complain at all.

I met Lucy and walked into the church for the wedding. I was the only white person there and everyone was staring. My favorite was when someone asked me how I knew the bride and groom—I just smiled and nodded my head hahha. The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. The bride and groom were so happy and everyone was dancing around praising the Lord for bringing them together. During the six hour wedding ceremony, I met lots of people and had the chance to talk to Lucy about so many things. It was crazy to feel so welcome in a place where I probably should have felt like an outsider.

When I came back from the wedding, I showed pictures to the girls and told them all about it. It turns out that they knew the groom very well! Small world here in Kenya :) I showed them pictures of my family and friends from home, and they each started taking out albums of their own families and friends. Each of the kids at the orphanage has a sponsor, and it was awesome to hear them talk about their sponsors as if they were their own parents. It was a fun night of just hanging out, talking, and sharing life stories.

Three of the girls—Agnes, Mary, and Milka—walked me back to my room. I sat outside with them and just stared at the stars. I started asking them to teach me the Swahili word for moon, stars, sky, etc. That turned into them teaching me every Swahili song that they know (including the one about seeing the hand of God heheh). The girls then started asking more personal questions…about life and friends. I started to hold back a little bit, but then thought to myself that they deserve more than that. They have welcomed me and shared their lives with me, and maybe one day something I tell them will help them make sense of the world. We just sat there and talked about all kinds of things, and it was truly incredible. I am very glad that I decided to open up about strengths and weaknesses, highs and lows because the girls’ answers and questions were thoughtful and mature.

When it got very late, I went to say goodnight. Agnes started giggling and I asked why. She said that she remembers the first night that I slept here. I didn’t remember this, but Agnes was the girl who found me screaming about the grasshoppers!! We laughed and bonded over my fear of African bugs and it was wonderful. I also called my family today and they got to talk to some of the girls! The girls were so excited :)

"Sunday"

2010-06-21T18:37:00.000+03:00

Today, when I arrived at work I found out that my oldest sister is having a baby girl!! It was so exciting to find out that news and it was cool to be able to share it with Lucy and Emily. They were both so excited for her  We didn’t have any electricity today, but it actually worked out well because we had a lot of work to do that wasn’t on the computer. We were able to separate all the receipts for each MGEF student to make the financials simpler. Faith, the treasurer, also stopped by and we spent some time talking with her. She is getting her degree in commerce and she was telling us interesting things that she learned in her classes.

Emily and Lucy taught me some Maasai and Swahili words. They also walked me back home and I gave Lucy my copy of “I am Nujood: Age 10 and Divorced.” It was awesome to talk to Lucy about this book and realize that she feels just as passionately about the issue as I do. Lucy has devoted her life to fighting for the rights of women. I also was able to show Lucy and Emily my room and all of my pictures from home. It was nice to have guests come and visit!

I played soccer and monkey in the middle with some of the children. I also taught Mary and Milka how to play concentration. It is so wonderful to just laugh and smile with them. They asked to see pictures of my family and they were so interested to learn about everyone in my life. We all then went to a church service that night.

That church service (which I thought would be like an hour) lasted for about 5 hours. It was crazy, wonderful, and healing all at the same time. I don’t know if I have explained this already, but church here is so different. There is singing, screaming, jumping, dancing…you can’t just passively sit at one of these services. At first it scared the crap out of me. I didn’t know what to do or how to act. But after a few hours, I got the hang of it haha. I think the highlight of the night was around midnight when I was jumping up and down, holding hands with a beautiful young girl named Sunday, and screaming “I see the hand of the Lord” in Swahili at the top of my lungs!! It was crazy, but it brought me so much peace. There was something about being in a room full of children who have lost everything and seeing them have so much faith in God. It was truly inspiring. And I will always remember the feel of Sunday’s hand in mine as I let loose and just started dancing with hope for the future.

Forward Ever, Backwards Never

2010-06-21T18:36:00.001+03:00

Today, I spent a lot of time working and talking with Emily. We counted the students and made tables for the schools they attend and the districts they live in to use for the newsletter. I thought it would be so inspiring to tell the stories of Lucy and Emily in the newsletter because they are two Maasai women who overcame so much to complete their education. Who better to run MGEF and encourage these students then two strong women who have lived that life? I asked Emily about her background and we launched into a two-hour long conversation about her life, her culture, and her dreams.

Emily is the only one of her siblings to be educated. She snuck out of the house to attend school when she was very young and dressed in shabby clothes. She had a desire and passion to learn that carried her all the way through business school. She now is working for MGEF and carries the financial burden for the rest of her family. When I asked her if she ever lost hope, she replied that she had a simple motto that got her through hard times, “Forward ever, backwards never!” She said that she just always looked forward with hope and never let herself look back with pity or anger. She also explained that her brother helped put her through school because he never wanted her to blame someone else for not finishing her education. Emily is an incredible, strong dynamic woman and I am honored to work with her.

Lucy and I then sat together for a while and worked on the newsletter. I was able to sit there and ask her what made her love MGEF, what made her get out of bed in the morning to work there? Because that is what we want a newsletter to capture. Yes it is full of logistics and time-consuming tasks. But the point at the end of the day is to capture for the public why MGEF is so incredible. Lucy and Emily’s faces lit up as they explained success stories of MGEF girls. It was wonderful to hear them talk with such pride about the organization. And it also made it very easy to decide what to capture in the newsletter. I explained that all you have to do is think of what you are most proud of that month, that year and put it down on paper. Write it in a way that a random reader will understand the power behind this organization. It was wonderful to work with Lucy and learn from her. She has a lot of experience and many great ideas. I think that we work very well together as a team. Laughing, smiling, and getting lots of work done!

When I arrived back at the children’s home, I was greeted by a little boy named Simon who speaks zero English and just says “yes” to everything I say, but who has the biggest smile I have ever seen. I ate dinner with the children, played on the swings with them, and even got to meet some of Sarah’s other children. I am very thankful for the community that Kajiado Children’s Home has welcomed me into. I am never bored or lonely. When I come back from work, I feel like I am truly surrounded by a loving family.

Beautiful Surprises

2010-06-21T18:33:00.001+03:00

Today I arrived in the office and worked more on the financials with Lucy and Emily. I then spent some time looking up organizations, both in Kenya and internationally, that may be interested in the work MGEF is doing. Several of the organizations I had heard of before—The Girl Effect (www.girleffect.org), Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation. Others were very interesting. For example, V-Day (www.vday.org) is the organization that sponsors the Vagina Monologues but it is actually an international organization that works to prevent violence against women. Also, the NoVo Foundation works towards the empowerment of women and girls. Finally, the Coalition for Adolescent Girls (www.coalitionforadolescentgirls.org) is devoted to empowering young women around the world. These are amazing organizations and if you are interested in women’s empowerment, you should check them out!

I had the privilege to meet some of Emily’s family members today—her sisters and brothers. Emily’s brother baptized me with a Maasai name. So my new name here is Naserian…which means blessings and peace! Emily is such a strong woman and she is very selfless. Everything that she earns, she shares with her family. As the last born in her family, she is supporting all the older siblings. I also got to meet Faith, the treasurer of MGEF and Winnie, one of the students that MGEF sponsors. Winnie is a great young woman and I talked to her a lot about her dream of being a journalist. We took out a map and talked about all of the places she could possibly travel to one day. Winnie told me that she is so thankful to MGEF because, before she was an MGEF student, she never dreamed the type of dreams that she has for herself now.

Later that day, we walked to AIC Primary School where a few of the MGEF students go. I had the amazing privilege to meet one of MGEF’s newest students. Her name is Regina and she is twelve years old. At age 11, Regina’s father was planning on marrying her off because he was in debt to another man. This man had married Regina’s older sister, but the sister ran away. Regina’s father was offering Regina as a replacement wife so that he didn’t have to pay back the dowry. When MGEF heard Regina’s story, they immediately sponsored her to go to school. Regina is now 12 years old and attending nursery school. She had NEVER stepped into a classroom because her father did not believe in educating girls. It was crazy to stand in front of Regina and see her huge smile and innocent face. Her laugh is beautiful, she is so eager to learn, and she has a vibrant personality. It broke my heart thinking of what she had been through and what she was saved from. Her story is so similar to that of thousands of other child brides around the world. It is the same story of Nujood…the first childbride to win a divorce in Yemen. Only Regina never had to be married off, never had to experience that pain and abuse because of MGEF. Because of the incredible, life-changing work it is doing.

In her book, Nujood has a wonderful quote, “Compared to dreams, reality can be truly cruel. But it can also come up with beautiful surprises.” Standing in front of Regina, I was blown away by her optimism, by her ability to just be happy. These young women are suffering so much, but they never complain…they just move forward and see the good in all the bad. Regina is truly a role model for all young women in this world.

I was able to just sit with Regina and read a book with her, play tic tac toe, and draw funny pictures. I wish that I could have explained to her how much I respect her, how strong she is, how proud I am of her. But sometimes you don’t need words to explain those emotions…sometimes a quick hug and some silly games can portray all of that. It was also amazing to see the girls at AIC interact with one another. One of the older girls took Regina aside with a book and started helping her learn how to read it. MGEF is truly providing a family, a support system for these girls.

Lucy, Emily, and I walked back to town. I love just walking with them. We laugh and joke and smile and simply appreciate each other’s company. Lucy brought me to see her home and meet her younger sister, Kate, who is about my age. I also saw a picture of Lucy’s fiancée, Kevin. I am so excited for Lucy and proud of her. It was wonderful to be welcomed into her home and into her life.

Back at the Kajiado Children’s Home, the children had attended a music festival. Some of the older girls were dressed in traditional Maasai clothing and I was able to compliment them and take their pictures. I played outside with some of the children and just felt surrounded by love. These children each have faced horrible things in their lives, but they keep going, keep smiling, and keep dreaming. They have faith that life is full of beautiful surprises.

When Our Hearts Are Full

2010-06-15T21:32:00.002+03:00

Today, I could not get the lyrics “Because when our hearts are full, we need much less” out of my mind. Living here with these children and seeing the work of MGEF has just proven the truth of this statement to me. If I explained the situation of the children at this home or the stories of the girls who MGEF sponsors, you would probably picture lives of suffering and sorrow. However, these children are some of the most amazing and fun children I have ever met. Being here has made me see how distracting material things and stuff can be. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we want and what we want to achieve in life that we forget to step back and appreciate the simple things in life that are so beautiful.

I woke up this morning, took a bucket shower, and walked to work. The walk is about twenty minutes long and I enjoy every second of it. The landscape of Kenya still takes my breath away. It was so nice to be welcomed by Emily and Lucy. Today we worked some more on the financial stuff and then began working on a newsletter. I also was able to meet Elias, the man who helps conduct life skills workshops for the Maasai chiefs, elders, and boys. These workshops are held to educate Maasai men on the value and rights of Maasai women and girls. Lucy, Emily, and I then went to visit another nearby school called the 7 Day Adventist School and Rescue Center. Seven MGEF girls attend school there and it was wonderful to meet them. We sat in a classroom and helped them write letters to their sponsors back in the United States.

I also had the honor of meeting the director of the school and rescue center. She is a strong and amazing Maasai woman. She explained that when she was growing up, she was the only girl to graduate in her primary school class. All of her friend dropped out of school before grade 7 to get married. Back then she swore to herself that she would try and bring change. And here she is today running a rescue center that girls can come to in search of help or refuge. It was crazy to look around the room and see this woman, Lucy, and Emily. I was in the presence of three world-changing women and I was very honored.

Walking home from work was when I had another one of those “holy crap” moments. It’s crazy to say, but I often forget where I am and what I am doing here. Looking at the beautiful sky, I was able to remind myself that I am in Africa working with incredible people and organizations. I wave of gratitude came over me. I am thankful to so many people for where I am today…people who believed in me, people who opened my eyes, people who challenged me to, people who loved me. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am very grateful.

After work, I spent some time with the children and just talked with them. I played a game with a few of them that is kind of like monkey in the middle but different. It was so so so cool because this is a game that I play with Jeannette back in Nashville :) I often forget how close I am to where she grew up and how similar this place must be. I am very excited to share all of this with her when I get back. Some of the older girls asked me what I do with MGEF. It was really cool to sit down and explain MGEF and its work to them. The one girl asked if MGEF could come and talk to them because she wants to hear more about the rights of women in society.

Today I was overwhelmed by a feeling of gratefulness that organizations like MGEF and the Rescue Center exist in this world. They truly are a beacon of hope for these young women. Here are some of the difficulties they have overcome. One girl was eleven years old and living with a husband and not allowed to attend school. One walked 50 km by foot carrying her baby because she wanted to go to school and get away from her husband. Another is 12 years old and has never stepped foot inside a classroom. These young women DESERVE better than this. And organizations like MGEF are giving them back their right to live, to chose their path in life, and to find true happiness. One awesome book that I have been reading lately (and that was a gift from a wonderful friend) is called “I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced.” Every single person should read this book. It is about the first child bride in Yemen to win a divorce. Hearing these stories makes me remember that I cannot be content with my own rights or take them for granted. I must appreciate the freedom that I am privileged to have and fight so that every other girl in this world can grow up with the power to CHOOSE.

1st Day of Work

2010-06-15T21:30:00.000+03:00

This morning I woke up and walked to my first day of work with a woman named Josephina. Josephina works at the Children’s Home. We talked about MGEF while we walked and she told me that she herself was married at the age of 14. This woman lived a hard life, but she truly made the most of her situation. I learned an important lesson during that conversation…that it takes a lot of strength to stand up for yourself and refuse to be married but it also takes a huge amount of strength to make a forced marriage work and find happiness each day. She is a wonderful woman.

I was so excited to see Lucy and Emily and start my first official day of work! I worked on creating a contact list for all the sponsors of the girls and then helped Lucy and Emily with some of the financial stuff. I think the highpoint of the day was when we had been crunching numbers for about two hours and finally we got the numbers to all match and we all screamed in unison “IT WORKS!” We also got to talk to the grandparents of one of the MGEF students. It was very cool to see how the Kajiado office operates halfway around the world from the DC office that I spent some time in. After this work, we walked to a school nearby called Kajiado Hills and met 6 of the MGEF students. As soon as the students saw Emily and Lucy, they came running and gave them big hugs. It was amazing to see the relationship that they have with each of these girls. Emily and Lucy are role models, sisters, and mothers to these girls. They give these girls something very precious…hope! We talked with the headmaster and several of the teachers, and then I helped the students write letters to their sponsors.

One of the students that we met was the first student that Barbara ever sponsored. It was crazy to look at this young girl and think of how she sparked this whole entire program. I then started picturing in my head where all of these girls would be without an organization like MGEF. It was scary. I thanked God that such amazing people exist in the world to care enough about these young women halfway around the world. I don’t think I truly understood the power of going to school and getting an education until meeting these girls. An education opens so many doors of opportunity and allows these young women to be independent and stand up for themselves. In essence, it gives them power in a society in which the power usually lies in the hands of men.

After work, it was incredible to walk back to the Children’s Home and really feel like I was walking home. I played on the swings with some of the children and then they taught me a game. The children then started to sing and dance and I was able to learn some traditional dances! Later, I just saw in the dorms with the girls and read my book while they were doing homework and reading. One of the girls asked to borrow one of my books the other day and she was almost finished! She asked if I had any more books and I took her to see the stack of books I had come with. She laughed at me and then looked at my suitcase and was like “did you pack anything else?” I really love just being with the children and feeling like I have 70 more brothers and sisters. It also was nice to just reflect for a minute on where I was and what I was doing. I am in Africa, surrounded by amazing children, working with two of the strongest women I know, and promoting women’s empowerment. I don’t think that my eight-year-old self would have believed that I would be doing this at 20 years old. I have so many people to thank for who I am, where I am, and what I am doing with my life. It was cool to just sit back and try to connect the dots.

Keep Your Head Up

2010-06-15T21:29:00.000+03:00

This morning I woke up and had breakfast with Sarah, the director of the Kajiado Children’s Home. I was able to talk to Sarah about the children and the difficulties they have faced in the past. Sarah gave me the background of the home and explained that many of the children lost their parents to AIDS. Also, I found out that twenty of the children just came to the home in April! After hearing all of these stories, my mind flashed back to the smiles and laughter of the children. They seem so happy, so innocent, so mature. Behind those smiles, these poor children are carrying around ghosts and burdens that I cannot even begin to imagine. They are very strong, very brave, and very inspirational. These children have learned to keep their heads up, look at the positive, and just keep living each day.

After breakfast, Lucy came to pick me up for mass. We went to a Pentecostal Church and it was extraordinary. The first hour was full of lively music and worship. Everyone just seemed so happy to share each other’s presence and give praise to God.
After church, I spent some time with three of the girls—Grace, Mary, and Pannena. They asked if they could do my hair and just spent an hour combing, braiding, and twisting. The girls all have their heads shaved because it is so much easier to maintain that way so they were fascinated with my hair. I brought out my camera and caused a HUGE commotion. Everyone wanted to take pictures, use the camera, see their picture. Up to this point, I had mostly gotten to know only the girls…but the camera changed all of that  After taking every possible picture imaginable, we just ran around and played tag. It was amazing to just be and forget about everything for a moment…to just appreciate the fun of the moment.

I also had the opportunity to talk with one young woman who I have a lot of respect for. She asked if I missed my family, and I gathered the courage to ask about her family. She told me at first that if she thinks about them, she will cry. But then went on to explain a story that brought tears to my eyes. I wish that I could take all of her pain away, all of her suffering but I also know that without going through all that she wouldn’t be the strong, amazing young woman that she is today. I explained this to her and told her that her family will always be with her in her heart.

I went to say goodnight to everyone and it was fun to just spend some time in their dorms. They wanted to show me all of their stuff and have me just sit on their bed. One of the young girls came in crying and again this feeling of just wanting to carry all their sorrows for them overwhelmed me. These children have been through so much…and I don’t want them to suffer anymore. It was amazing to watch all of the girls swing into action. They cried with the girl, hugged her, talked with her, and just took care of her like a little swarm of family members. It was amazing and awesome…and it made me rethink the typical idea of a “family.”

MGEF students

2010-06-15T14:25:00.004+03:00

These are six MGEF students who we met on Monday. They are wonderful girls! Emily, an MGEF staff member, is also in this picture.

More children!

2010-06-15T14:09:00.003+03:00

Kajiado Children's Home

2010-06-15T13:54:00.003+03:00

Some of the wonderful young women :)

Bugs Bugs Bugs

2010-06-14T18:24:00.000+03:00

A funny side note: My first night of trying to sleep here was interesting. I have not yet mastered the use of the mosquito net or the technique of not attracting bugs into the room. I walked into my room around 9:00 and went to lift up my covers and BOOM eight scary-looking bugs flew out into the room. They were huge and scary and had long bodies. My reaction was to scream and run outside, but then I realized that I was living in an orphanage and had just scared all of the children! A few of the older girls came running and just kept asking what was wrong and if I needed help. I was embarrassed and ashamed to tell them that I was so scared of a few bugs, so I just said thank you and hesitantly walked back into the room.

When I saw the bugs again I stepped back outside and there were all the girls still waiting for me. They asked “Are you afraid to sleep alone?” “Are you disturbed?” “Do you need help?” I felt horrible being such a baby about the bugs. I can fly halfway around the world and live by myself in Kenya but I can’t fall asleep with a few bugs in my room?? I thanked the girls for their concern…they are already taking care of me. And then faced my fears and walked into the room. After an hour of fighting the bugs off with a flashlight, I managed to get myself in the corner of the room under a mosquito net. I was scared out of my mind and felt like I was at war with these bugs, but then I paused for a second and took a look at my situation. It was hilarious. I was huddled under the mosquito net acting as if these little bugs were monsters. I read a card from a friend back home, mustered all my strength together, and managed to kick the bugs out of my room! I learned a great lesson tonight about keeping the windows closed, the lights off, and the mosquito net on :)

P.S. Just to explain how pathetic my situation was…I was explaining this ordeal to one of the girls here today and she kindly explained that those “scary monster bugs” were actually crickets and grasshoppers. Hahahah Beautiful life :)

Asante!

2010-06-13T05:25:00.001+03:00

Asante means “thank you” in Kiswahili, and I truly have so much to be thankful for today! Today, in so many moments and so many ways, I felt like I belonged here. Halfway around the world, in a little town in the middle of Kenya…I found a little slice of home.

I woke up early at the hotel and had breakfast with an Operation Smile Team that was also staying there. I was able to hear a little about the work they are doing in the slums of Nairobi, and they asked questions about my work with MGEF. I then drove with Ken for about an hour and a half to Kajiado. Ken pointed out landmarks, like the Parliament building, and had many funny stories to share along the ride. We talked about sports, family, food, life. He is truly a great man. It was also just wonderful to look out the window and stare at Africa. I feel like my mind is trying to take pictures every minute in an attempt to remember everything. There is no way that a camera can capture the picture of Africa that I have in my mind.

We arrived at the Kajiado Children’s Home, which is the orphanage where I will be staying, and I was able to meet Sarah, who is the director of the home. It was wonderful to put a face to her after emailing back and forth with her many times. My room here is simple yet wonderful. I have a twin bed and a shower in my little room and then there is a desk and couch out in the main area. After putting my stuff down, I was greeted by Lucy and Emily. Lucy is the director of MGEF in Kajiado and Emily is her assistant. I have been anxiously waiting since October to meet these two women, and it was amazing to just see their faces and give them a hug.

Lucy and Emily are two amazing and strong women. They are both Maasai women around the age of twenty-seven, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with them today. I feel like I bonded with them as co-workers but also simply as friends. They both have this deep passion and commitment to the work they are doing with the Maasai girls. MGEF is not simply a job for them…it brings meaning and joy to their lives. Lucy and Emily also are just so happy…always smiling, laughing, and greeting people. I went to visit the MGEF office with them in Kajiado. The office is on a beautiful compound. It is simple…no unnecessary space or items, and I absolutely loved it. It was amazing to walk into the office and just sit with Lucy and Emily and plan for the next 7 weeks.

Lucy, Emily, and I walked around Kajiado town a little and we had lunch together. Then they took a taxi with me back to the home. Lucy invited me to go to church with her tomorrow. Then both Lucy and Emily reluctantly said goodbye saying things like “I will already miss you” and “Call me if you are lonely.” I was honestly blown away by the compassion of Emily and Lucy. They welcomed me so quickly into their lives and continually made sure that I was okay. I am very excited to work with them, learn from them, and become friends with them.

After Lucy and Emily left, I slept for a while. My sleeping schedule is still not on track, but I’ll get there. When I woke up, I went outside and just walked around the home for a while. There are 63 children living here (both boys and girls) and they were all so shy. They would walk past me and not say a word or scamper past me while quietly whispering “hello Michelle.” Eventually, I met one young woman named Milka who was eager to talk. We just sat and talked for about an hour and slowly more and more children came by to say hello. Asante Milka…thank you for making me feel welcome. By the end of the next two hours, I had met almost every child. They are all wonderful children with an amazing amount of energy and happiness. We were all huddled in a little circle just laughing, smiling, and sharing stories. For a second, I pulled myself out of the conversation and just thought, “How am I so privileged to have the opportunity to just be with these children?” I felt very honored to be a member of the community. A few high points of the conversation were when a young girl tried to teach me how to count in Kiswahili and when one girl handed me a stick and simply said “Brush.” I stared at her for a second and then looked around and saw everyone brushing their teeth with these sticks. They call them “Maasai toothbrushes.” You chew on the inside of the stick and then literally brush your teeth with it. I was hesitant at first, but it honestly worked really well!

One thing that I continued to ask the children was what they like to do. Time after time, I got the same answer. I love to go to school, I love to read, I love to learn, I love to hear stories. When I mentioned school or asked questions about school, the faces of the children just lit up. Also when I explained that MGEF gives scholarships for many girls to go to school, the children were intrigued and asked mnay questions. I think this is important…my first encounter with the value of education here. I would be interested in asking this same question to children in the United States. Education in the US is often viewed more as a requirement than as a privilege.

I sat with the children and had supper with them and then we watched the Nairobi news. After we had a fellowship and prayer service, and I was able to stand up and say thank you to everyone for welcoming me. It was at that moment that I realized how awesome it is that I can speak with and understand the children. Almost everyone speaks English and it just allows me to connect with them so much faster. In India last summer, there were so many things that I wanted to say to the children but the language barrier often got in the way.

A few of the girls took me on a tour of the home. I was blown away by the maturity of the girls and by the amount of love in their hearts. I know that their life stories include some challenges and sorrows, but you would never know by the way these children act. The Kajiado Children’s Home feels like one big family where everyone takes care of everyone else. I ended the day by reading in the main hall with the children while they were studying and doing homework.

I am thankful for so many things today and for so many people. I also feel like I am in a place where I will learn a lot. The children at the home are so eager to teach me Kiswahili and just exchange stories. I feel like I learned more about Maasai culture and Kenyan culture in my two hour silly conversation today then I would have learned by studying textbooks for years. When I told them that I was working for MGEF, one young girl told me that she is from a traditional Maasai family and started describing all kinds of things about her culture. The girls have just embraced me as one of their “sisters” saying things such “You will not be bored…we will share stories” and “Do you miss your family? Don’t worry…you are with us now” and “There are 63 children. Nope actually now there are 64. Why? Because Michelle is here!” I am so grateful that Lucy, Emily, Sarah, Ken and all the children welcomed me so quickly into their lives.

Today left me with such a feeling of excitement. I am excited to work with Lucy and Emily, excited to spend time with the children, excited to learn about the culture, and mostly just excited to BE here. I feel like I have so much to learn and hopefully some things to share as well.

Two Unexpected Friends

2010-06-11T23:28:00.002+03:00

This morning I woke up and successfully figured out how to take the Swiss public transportation to the airport! I boarded my plane to Kenya and sat next to this really cool woman who is starting a job in Tanzania. I hadn’t slept at all the night before because my sleep cycles are all messed up so it was nice to get to sleep on the plane. We flew over all kinds of incredible things such as the Swiss Alps, Adriatic Sea, Italy, Greece, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, etc. I kept getting out of my seat to look out the window…it was breathtaking.

Flying over Ethiopia and Kenya was amazing. This area of the world is so beautiful. When we were landing in Nairobi, I thought that I was going to combust with excitement. I had landed in Africa! It has been my dream since I was eight years old to travel to this continent. Crazy! I met up with Ken outside the airport. It was so nice to meet him after hearing such wonderful things about him. Ken runs safari trips in Kenya and is a close friend of Barbara Shaw, the president of MGEF. Ken and I drove through Nairobi and he pointed out places of interest. He also helped me purchase a USB modem for wireless internet so that I can stay in touch with all of you through email and this blog! :)

It was about a twenty minute drive to my hotel from the airport, and I appreciated every second of it. I talked with Ken about Kenya, Africa, his family, and all sorts of things. We saw tons of World Cup jerseys, posters, and ads on our drive. It’s so cool to be in Africa while everyone is so excited about the World Cup. We got to the hotel and checked in, and I said goodbye to Ken. I was planning on trying to go to bed because we are travelling to Kajiado early tomorrow, but then I heard my phone ringing. I picked up the phone and it was a Vanderbilt graduate (also named Ken) who is living in Nairobi. I had emailed back and forth with Ken and another graduate, Marubu, while planning my project. Ken asked how I was doing and then told me that he and Marubu had come to surprise me at the hotel!

I had dinner with Ken and Marubu and it was truly incredible to meet them in person. They both are native Kenyans who got their MBAs at Vanderbilt. It was crazy to be sitting in a restaurant halfway around the world talking about Vanderbilt professors and Nashville. I was blown away by how helpful and caring these men were simply because we shared a common college. I truly am very thankful for that Vanderbilt connection. The whole situation just caused me to flashback to India last summer when we spent some time with a Vanderbilt Law School graduate there. It seems like I am surrounded by amazing Vanderbilt graduates everywhere I go. Ken and Marubu are both wonderful men who had lots of advice to share about how to be safe and best spend my time while in Kenya. They also were very interested in hearing about the work I will be doing with MGEF. We sat and talked and watched the World Cup for a few hours, and I really enjoyed their company.

Eventually, I had to excuse myself because I thought I was going to fall asleep at the table. I came up to my room and made the mistake of coming out onto the balcony. It is absolutely gorgeous here. There are a billion bright stars in the sky, a chill in the air, and I am surrounded by trees that look like they were plucked right out of The Lion King. It still doesn’t feel real…I am sitting in Kenya! I cannot wait for tomorrow to make the drive to Kajiado and see where I will be working and living. Also, I am excited to see the city during the day.

And so the adventure begins :)

Zurich

2010-06-11T04:04:00.001+03:00

Nairobi tomorrow!

2010-06-11T01:51:00.002+03:00

I safely arrived in Zurich, Switzerland and will be leaving soon for Nairobi. Switzerland was absolutely gorgeous. I spent the day just wandering around and exploring this beautiful city. I am excited to get back on the plane and finally arrive in Kenya! It feels so surreal. After nine months of planning, I will finally be meeting all the MGEF staff members and the incredible young women who, thanks to MGEF, are currently in school.