It's only been a few days since my last post, but it's my second night alone in Kitale and I have nothing better to do so you people are getting a blog post. Also there's a sweet coffee shop with free wifi, so here ya go. Someone once told me (that's how every good story always starts out right?) that you learn a lot about yourself in Peace Corps, namely during your first three months after Swearing In because you spent the entirety figuring out your village by yourself. What I've learned about myself so far is that I am extremely selfish and not nearly as good of a person as I would like to be. I hope that some of my fellow Volunteers are reading this, because I mean it when I say that they are some of the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. They are also, every single one of them, batshit crazy. But I mean, what other kind of person could just drop everything or- God forbid actually PLAN to volunteer doing who knows what in a third world country for two years? The people here range from 22 to 72, but the common denominator is definitely that the abnormalness. I'm not saying that I'm that great of a person, like I said I definitely have work to do. My parents would disagree, but I pay them (Christmas/Bday presents). I mean the people in Peace Corps really are the ones that love and want to help other people. They are nice and they want to invoke positive change. I hope that my first three months here also show me that I am confident and proud to call myself a part of that group.
As a newborn Volunteer I also hope to learn a lot about my community, which is technically about a 15 minute ride (+ a 5 min walk) to Kitale town (aka the town center). Rather, my house is about that far in a village called Namanjalala, and the center of Namanjalala is about 5 minutes from my house in the opposite direction of Kitale. Namanjalala is like an outer suburb of Kitale with a population of about 26,000 people... I know, not a village right. So far I have learned that there are probably 5 orphanages within close walking distance from my house, and there are that many or more in all of the surrounding villages of Kitale (of which there are probably 10)... yeah, let's think about that. They have a high HIV/AIDS mortality rate, and little to now electricity or running water throughout the community. Kitale, however, is a fairly large city, in fact, I even managed to find Ritz crackers and Oreos (with the help of 2 of my favorite neighbors, Ryan & Lussia who live a 40 min ride away and oh so graciously came down to show me around the town; seriously, I LOVE them!) not to mention anything else I will need. There might be some things only a Nakummatt will have, but I am very lucky to be so close to so many resources. Which is another reason I am so happy to be working with Namanjalala Community Partnership, all of the Community Health Workers are so knowledgeable about the area and its problems. I am very excited to start my CNA (Community Needs Assessment) and determine the definite statistical scope of the problems.
One of which is circumcision. In Kenya, while female circumcision is illegal it still happens, and male circumcision is still practiced as well. I mention this because as I am writing this I am hearing a circumcision ceremony being performed... I am not sure which one it is, but it is almost midnight and I was told yesterday not to be scared if I was awoken by singing (/chanting?) and drums because it is just the ceremonies this time of year. I am unsure of my opinion because the children are currently on break from school, and I know female circumcisions are done on even-numbered years and during break so that the girls have time to recover given how painful the process is (not to mention life thereafter). But, either way, I guess I honestly just hope they're using a clean knife.
That is definitely one thing Peace Corps has taught me; to try and be aware and open to other cultures. That first part is important because if you aren't aware of the other cultural practices or why they are done, you won't understand why they're cultural in the first place or why you should be open to them. Which you can hopefully then subtly disagree with by stating medicial/scientific/economic reasons that negate said cultural practices. Yep, I think that's pretty much Peace Corps in a nutshell.
Anyway, I'm still getting settled into my house. I was planning on putting some up today but I wasn't resourceful enough with my energy yesterday and my phone died before I could take pictures so they'll have to wait. My house is in a compound of a family that works for the organization I will be working with, and it's just two fairly small rooms (maybe 15x15?), a bedroom and living area. I have to put my kitchen stuff in the living room because I don't have a separate kitchen space. I still need to buy a table/counter space for my kitchen and a dresser for my clothes, and a bedside table. Otherwise I think I pretty much have everything. I am also going to look into a solar panel or something to convert the energy and charge at least my phone.
Well I think that's all for now folks! Just in case you were all wanting to send me something, please wait for just a little bit until I figure out what my new address is in Kitale- I'm not sure of the PO Box and I don't want it to be stuck in Nairobi. Thanks so much! Love you allll!
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