PCV in Kenya: Week 39

Monday

I taught my two morning lessons then got on a matatu for Kisumu at 11AM. I was in Kisumu by 1PM and did some grocery shopping before going to the veterinarian to pick up Nala’s flea and tick medicine. Frome here, I got on a matatu to go to the training center. This matatu got a flat tire about halfway through the journey. Thankfully, we were all quickly transferred to other matatus and I was soon to where I needed to go. I checked in to Sosa Cottages then went straight to the gym to enjoy all of the amenities 😊 After a workout, I went to dinner and caught up with the other resource volunteers staying here tonight. We then had a quick education training meeting before calling it a night.

Tuesday

I was at breakfast before 7AM so I could enjoy the delicious food at Sosa. We left soon after for our first day and the trainees first day of being at their training schools. My school for the day was Muhaya Secondary School. I met Evans, the group’s Language and Culture Facilitator (LCF), and the four trainees working at this school. I spent the day with them until about 1PM. The goal of the day was to build relationships with everyone at the school. I think it was a very successful first day and it was so nice to meet new people and see a new school. At 1PM, a Peace Corps car picked me up and took me back to Sosa. Mike and I then ate lunch at a hoteli around the corner and it was fun chatting with the hoteli’s owner. We also ran into a woman working with Serve a Village. They were making a library nearby and doing a sanitary pads project so it was interesting to talk with her a bit. After this, we headed back to Sosa and I did a workout followed by a swim in the pool. A storm kicked me out shortly after jumping in, so I went to the room and watched “House” before eating dinner.

Wednesday

It was a great but busy day today. I packed up my bags this morning because I needed to leave to go home after lunch. I enjoyed an omelet for breakfast and then we headed out for the day. My first stop was at Mama Margaret’s house 😊 The training village for this group is the same as ours was last year, so I was able to see all of the people that supported me during my time in training. I then walked over to Mama Linda’s where the Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs) were having a combo language and clothes washing lesson. After about an hour here, we headed over to the education training center (a local church) for our debrief of yesterday. Mike and I helped facilitate this discussion and then we headed back to Sosa. At Sosa, we met up with Savannah and got lunch from the same hoteli as yesterday. It was good to catch up with Sav 😊 Back at Sosa, I collected my bags and hopped in a Peace Corps car that was heading back into Kisumu. They dropped me at mainstage and I got on a matatu that left pretty quickly. The ride home was great and I was soon in Aram. Douglas took my things back to my house so I could walk home luggage free. When I got on the compound, I picked up Nala and her things from Sammy then got to work making dinner. I was able to make mac and cheese with the cheese powder Sarah brought for me 😊 I was also able to talk to my dad who informed me that he received an email that my grant was approved and now open for fundraising! It was such great news and a great way to end the day. 

Thursday

I took my time getting ready for the day because my first class didn’t begin until 9AM. I taught until 1PM and then organized our second teacher technology workshop. The goal of this workshop was to connect a laptop or a computer to a projector or the TV. It was another successful workshop and we had more attendees than last time 😊 After this, I went to the market for some weekly produce and then went home. At home, I worked on creating social media posts to send out about our grant. You can find more information about the grant and find the links to donate on my social medias or this blog. After this, I treated myself with pancakes for dinner before calling it a night.

Friday

I was at school very early for my first lesson and then I taught until noon. I then headed to the house to eat lunch and rest for a bit before going back to school for our third Grassroot Soccer (GRS) lesson. My favorite part of this lesson was the kids learning how to do the dance for “Cotton Eye Joe”. Each lesson begins with an energizer, so this was our energizer for the day 😊 It absolutely poured down during the last moments of our lesson, so I walked the long way home to avoid as much mud as I could. I made shakshuka for dinner before going to sleep.

Saturday

I spent the morning catching up on GRS paperwork before heading to school. I spent a few hours marking biology and chemistry notebooks before going back home. At the house, I rested and watched some of the new episodes of part two of “Emily in Paris”. I also successfully gave Nala her flea and tick medicine as well as her deworming pill. You can see Nala helping me read the medicine directions in the pic below! We only have to do this every three months, but Nala is a very bad patient, so I am so happy she successfully took everything 😊 I talked to my parents and my grandpa while warming up dinner then watched “House” while I ate. I got ready for bed and watched “Uglies” to end my Saturday night.

Sunday

I woke up and started my day off with breakfast while watching “House”. I then swept and tidied up my house. After this, I worked on a bracelet. For lunch, I made avocado toast and popcorn. I tried adding pepper to the popcorn and I really like this new addition! In the afternoon, I continued to work on a bracelet then did a workout. After this, I made dinner and talked to Andy and Kurt. We talked for almost four hours. It was great to catch up and it was a great end to my week.

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