I miss wifi

This blog post is one I wrote last week but haven't really had a chance to post it yet so here it is! I'll have another one up about Machakos and everything :)

     I am currently in class listening to a lecture about all of the different tribes in Kenya. The tribe I was assigned to research, which is the tribe of the majority of the population in Kitale where my site is, just so happens to be the tribe of my favorite bartender in Kenya. So obviously I got pretty lucky and didn't have to do much research, just talked to him! This week has been pretty boring, I think we are all getting demotivated. PST is quite a tiring experience.
     On the other hand, my host mama is pretty awesom. I'm not sure if I have really explained her that much and I am too lazy to go back and look but she used to be a public health advisor, and now she leads women's & youth groups and HIV/AIDS support groups. Her youth group invited me last week to be a part of their group, and they had just begun to build a greenhouse and a drip line irrigation system in a plot of land in front of our boma. It is so cool! The project has been completely funded by Amref and this specific loan program that insures everything too. Last night the group finished the majority of the building process and installation and so obviously there was a celebration and they killed a goat for the party. It was... smelly. I'm not much of a meat eater here at all, even in the U.S. I was on and off with it. However, I tried to be open because I knew it was a big deal for everyone as far as the project goes and killing a goat is a pretty big deal so I tried some... stuff. I don't really want to talk about it... haha to be honest it was all fine but they did all of the cleaning and everything right outside of the house and I could smell it allllll night long.
     So anyway right now my host mama is in America at the National HIV/AIDS Conference in Washington D.C. giving a presentation on HIV in the Maasai community of Loitokitok. The Maasai are one of the largest tribes in Kenya, and specifically occupy the area around LTK, so we see them a lot during training. Traditionally the Maasai wear very elaborate beads they make themselves that usually includes a lot of red. They wear beads around their neck (a lot) and in the form of very elaborate earrings, sometimes resulting in a look similar to someone in the U.S. who gauges their ears. I bought myself a Maasai cape that I love... though I'm constantly asked if I can fly people to class.
     We just had an Outward Bound party last night (Sat, July 21). It was pretty fun. We had a keg and everyone brought food. Me and Dave made chili, it was supposed to be vegetarian but then we found meat in the githeri which was okay- we just picked out the big fatty pieces. We had other people who made spicy peanut butter noodles, spaghetti, chicken, salsa, guacamole, fruit salad, and chipati! It was all pretty stinking delicious. The keg was done by like 10, no real surprises there. Luckily most everyone brought extra alcohol to supplement. We even found a whole bottle of gin this morning, though no one really wanted to dive into it right away.. hah.
     Tomorrow, July 22 we are leaving for Machakos for our HIV/AIDS training and we are staying in a hotel and we get to go out to nice restaurants for dinner! We are there until next Friday (July 27) then we come back to LTK. Next we have the LPI, the language exam for real this time, the next Friday (Aug 3), then a week and we head to Nairobi to swear in! It's scarier the more I think about it, leaving all of my friends here... it will definitely be hard to be away from them and not talk as much, but I am really excited for Machakos.
That's all for now kids :)
<3

I never thought I would miss sunshine in Africa.

       Well today is Monday, the beginning of a new week. I am finally feeling really comfortable here in Loitokitok, or at least I am getting used to the stares haha. We had our Mock LPI (the language test you have to pass in order to be sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer) this past Friday, and everyone scored well. The real LPI is in 2 weeks on Friday, but I'm not really worried. We study Kiswahili so much, if we are at the right level currently in 2 weeks we should be fine to pass with flying colors. Obviously after the mock we all went out to the usual spot... no comment on that. It really is nice to have a place we all feel safe to go, because all of the other bars in Loitokitok are... questionable. Regardless, the weekend went by and was pretty uneventful.
     We went to market on Saturday, which is like a huge farmer's market except it is every Tuesday and Saturday here and they sell everything from produce to clothes to random tools... you can find anything there. Except for good American food, that I still haven't managed to find. The market is what really made me realize I am starting to feel comfortable here. I was walking around and didn't feel out of place despite the fact that market days are like a huge cluster with a billion people screaming numbers in kiswahili. However, I have even managed to buy a few things at market! In Kenya it is customary for women to wear skirts below the knee, at least in more rural areas. Since we are trying to integrate into the community we are pretty much required to wear skirts most of the time, and in the market they sell fabric to tie around your waist like a lasso. I bought 2! I love the patterns. I also bought myself a Maasai cape, which everyone loves to make superhero references to, but I wear it anyway.
     I am hoping to get more packages this week!!! I think I have 3 on the way from my calculations.. it really never gets old getting mail here. I am currently getting ready to send about a bajillion letters because in my move from my first host family I lost a few things, one of which was a bundle of letters that I just found this week! So now I have more added to them and will be sending them today. I am also continuously thanking the Lord that my mother decided to send me BWW Caribbean Jerk sauce because... well suffice to say I am eating it on everything- hellooooooo FLAVOR hallelujah!
     I was able to borrow my friend's modem this weekend because also, new exciting fact, my computer decided to start working again! I plugged it in on Friday and it started right up... poor thing just needed some time to adjust, I wanted to just shut down when I first got here too hahah. We also had a girl leave training last week... it was surprising to have someone seemingly come out of nowhere and go home, but I think we all are glad that she made the right decision for herself, and I think we bring her up at least once a day. This is definitely not as easy as I thought it would be, nor can I really describe it on a blog. If you're thinking about Peace Corps, really try to understand what you're giving up. It's not just American food and friends, but a lot of simple communication. Despite being with people who are in the same boat as you (to an extent), its hard to not feel lonely sometimes. Also, you're giving up cheese. So just think about that.
    On to more positive things! This weekend we are planning our first celebration together as a full group- its a combination of Fourth of July (yay America.), Rae's birthday, Mike's Birthday, Britnee's birthday, and my favorite couple ever (Britt and Brett)'s anniversary! Soooo we are getting two kegs and trying out our first African potluck... not sure how it's gonna go because its all of our first time cooking here really, so it definitely won't be an American barbecue. BUT there will be alcohol so we will make it work :) I don't think I'm the only one who is hoping Charles and Joseph will crash the party, they are part of the training staff here, and we've heard they have played beer pong in the past.
I think that's all I've got for now :) I'll write again in a week or so.
Love and miss you all, as usual!

More package ideas!

Here are some more package ideas- I realize I have a lot of wonderful family members sending me things so I didn't want anyone to feel left out ;) hahaha
Q-tips
Deodorant! Always useful
A little pocket mirror... I didn't bring one with me and I go like a week without seeing myself and then I forget what I look like, it's weird.
Envelopes
Ghardettos
Notebooks
Pistachiooooss
A sketch book- but not a huge one, just like a notebook size
Portable ipod speakers- someone told me you can get them for like $20 at Target or walmart or something
Popcorn cheese! White or sharp cheddar! yum!
White Cheddar Cheeze its... or any other cheeze its, I love them
A big flashlight and some extra batteries for it
Bath soap
Linen pants! My friend got them hers from REI, they are great at looking "business casual" but are sooo comfy. We can't wear traditional jeans very often so linen pants are great- or any similar material. They don't have to be from REI, I'm just not sure where else to find them... maybe target has some cheap linen pants. Size 4 tafadhali! (that's please in swahili)
I think that's it for now- I'm going to put up a more interesting blog post later this week :)
Love you all!

Another day another...shilling

It has been wayyy too long since I've posted and I don't really have any excuses. I know a lot of people have been waiting for this, it's just so easy to not get on the internet when it isn't at your fingers all the time.We just got back from shadowing current volunteers and I traveled with 3 others to Chebunyo, which is about 9-10 hours travel time from Loitokitok.We had an excellent time! I am very lucky to have had excellent travel partners and excellent host volunteers. Otherwise my time here has been spent in training, which is halfway over I am happy to say! I enjoy being with the other trainees and learning about Kenyan culture and the language, but it's hard to concentrate on anything else when you know where your site for the next 2 years will be- all I want to do is research it and start working! Anyway, we have class beginning at 8:00am every day and going usually until 4:30 or 5pm, but it's not as grueling as it sounds. We get a long lunch break and everything is usually pretty laid back. On the weekends we have class on Saturdays sometimes, but we get to hang out with eachother a lot. We play ultimate frisbee (thank the Lord for some exercise because all of this starch would kill me otherwise), and other normal things in Kenya, like shop at the market which is awesome. I actually haven't bought anything yet except for a blanket because at night it's frickin freezing... like 40 degrees. It's crazy, I never thought I would be cold in Kenya. But tomorrow I am definitely going to buy a wrap or scarf or something :) Kenya is definitely very different, and I am eager to learn more about certain behaviors, but I'm trying to wait until getting to site before I really think about all of that stuff. So my site in Kenya is in a city called Kitale- it's in North/Western Kenya, at the base of Mt. Elgon and only a few hours from the Ugandan border- WHICH I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT!!! It's supposed to be seriously beautiful and green and situated on a lake. Everyone should google it and if you find something awesome tell me because I get so distracted on the internet here and can hardly do anything productive but write the random blog and facebook post- then I realize I've been on for an hour and dnoe like nothing... aka right now. Anyway in Kitale I will be working with HIV/AIDS support groups and in an orphanage! PERFECTO. Thank you Peace Corps for understanding what I want to do in Kenya! I am verrrryyy excited, and can't wait to contact my group for more information. Don't know about electricity at my house there yet but I'm sure I'll still be pooping in a hole- you really get used to it. Now for the good stuff- here's what you can send me!
Starbursts, Gummy Worms, MAC AND CHEEEESSEEE, Bacon Salt (yes it exists, at Target OF COURSE), dark chocolate nature valley granola bars- HELL YES, Kellog's fruit snacks (like the strawberry, blueberry, raspberry ones), fruit smileys (from walmart), packets of chicken or tuna so i can get my proteeeiinnnn, crystal light peach tea packets!, a headlamp and a nalgene!!! Also hair ties or hair thingies in general, nutelllaaa please and thank you and oh mylanta would I appreciate some Rosemary and Olive Oil Triscuits, and cheese its!
I think that's all for now, I'll try to write a more organized one soon :) Love you all so mcchhhh