Friday, January 15, 2010
Preparing for the feast
I love this photo, it was the morning of friday Nov 7 and my friend Shine and I were helping to prepare for a feast/celebration. So Shine spent the morning slaughtering a goat which i helped and in this photo he is preparing the meat to make goat stew and a roast. A great day and celebration. Pole sana (very sorry) for those who are vegetarians...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
October 14, 2009
The last 3 days have been hard work. I have been plastering on the inside of the house that was built last time with sand, clay, and water. I have also been making clay bricks for our orphanage house. I have been digging a trench for the house. Also I have been making some mosaic art work on the widow sills of the office on the farm.
On my free time I have been learning to milk the mother cow that the farmer has, which is a lot harder than I thought! But fresh, hot milk, local too tastes amazing especially before bed. I have also been playing football with the children that always stop by to say hi and swing on the swing. We have been playing uder the big mango tree as the sun goes down. Also when the children go by we have been teaching the children English, meaning me and the grade 3 teacher(Sheila) and we don’t think the children go to school so its been good to give them some education. The family here are so nice and loving and love their energy.
We are out of town on a farm and its been beautiful! I have been growing my mustache and beard out and theirs no mirror which has been nice, not to also think about how I look. Also apparently the powers out in the main town and someone was complaining and the grade 3 teacher – Sheila says who cares we doint even need to worry about that. We have figured that the sun goes down about 6:10pm and we read that it says in north west Africa its like God turns off the light switch which means by 6:30 its dark and the stars come out by 7:00! The beach we have swimmed at the water is very nice and warm and on a Sunday afternoon – 4:00 o clock hundreds of people come out to walk the beach or go for a swim. The next people do not know how to swim which is really funny and have already given two girls swimming lessons which I used to be a swim teacher.
There are lots of mango tress which the mangos are not ripe at this time, but kids and people, mostly kids will either throw sticks or climb the trees to get the mangoes and eat them which they taste very sour and gross which they should wait 3 months til their ripe! Everything is cheaper here, you can get a beer which only comes in 500 mil which is a good size for $1.50. People here try to give you bad deals because your white and theirs even a name for it called “Mzungu”.
On my free time I have been learning to milk the mother cow that the farmer has, which is a lot harder than I thought! But fresh, hot milk, local too tastes amazing especially before bed. I have also been playing football with the children that always stop by to say hi and swing on the swing. We have been playing uder the big mango tree as the sun goes down. Also when the children go by we have been teaching the children English, meaning me and the grade 3 teacher(Sheila) and we don’t think the children go to school so its been good to give them some education. The family here are so nice and loving and love their energy.
We are out of town on a farm and its been beautiful! I have been growing my mustache and beard out and theirs no mirror which has been nice, not to also think about how I look. Also apparently the powers out in the main town and someone was complaining and the grade 3 teacher – Sheila says who cares we doint even need to worry about that. We have figured that the sun goes down about 6:10pm and we read that it says in north west Africa its like God turns off the light switch which means by 6:30 its dark and the stars come out by 7:00! The beach we have swimmed at the water is very nice and warm and on a Sunday afternoon – 4:00 o clock hundreds of people come out to walk the beach or go for a swim. The next people do not know how to swim which is really funny and have already given two girls swimming lessons which I used to be a swim teacher.
There are lots of mango tress which the mangos are not ripe at this time, but kids and people, mostly kids will either throw sticks or climb the trees to get the mangoes and eat them which they taste very sour and gross which they should wait 3 months til their ripe! Everything is cheaper here, you can get a beer which only comes in 500 mil which is a good size for $1.50. People here try to give you bad deals because your white and theirs even a name for it called “Mzungu”.
Mosquitoes
October 13, 2009
The mosquitoes I really dispise, as they are eating me alive and will probably catch malaria and die soon. Thankfully “Im on the pill” meaning anti-malaira drugs and will hopefully prevent it enough.
The mosquitoes I really dispise, as they are eating me alive and will probably catch malaria and die soon. Thankfully “Im on the pill” meaning anti-malaira drugs and will hopefully prevent it enough.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Fire
October 10th, 2009
Wow things can move very very slow in Africa. On October 10 was very very windy, and a fire started somehow which the wind took it and started a forest, bush, tree, grass, bush fire that wiped out almost the whole farm. The other volunteers took down their tents ready to evacuate if needed, it got that bad.
I have been called Mr. Cow, and Kylow as Kyle is hard to pronounce! Lots of people know how to dance! Like really good even the little kids. Also everyone plays soccer or football which is true they are really quite good.
Wow things can move very very slow in Africa. On October 10 was very very windy, and a fire started somehow which the wind took it and started a forest, bush, tree, grass, bush fire that wiped out almost the whole farm. The other volunteers took down their tents ready to evacuate if needed, it got that bad.
I have been called Mr. Cow, and Kylow as Kyle is hard to pronounce! Lots of people know how to dance! Like really good even the little kids. Also everyone plays soccer or football which is true they are really quite good.
Bagamoyo: The Coast of Africa
Sept 27, 2009
I am on the plane to Amsterdam and we should be leaving very soon. After waiting six hours in the Seattle airport, I am very anxious to leave and get to Africa. This plane is very big, very warm, lots of people. The guy beside me kinda stinks and is reading a book called “how birds migrate” like he’s a interesting guy. I got the window seat. I am on my second and last plane ride and feel like shit! This has not been a fun experience. I am not looking forward to another 10 hrs cramped, squished and had having to use the washroom.
I have spent my first night in Africa, what an amazing place and I haven’t even left the hotel room yet! But I look outside my window and it looks like a beautiful day! The smell is amazing and it reminds me of Mexico smell. I had a shower it felt nice even though it was cold water! Breakfast was great, well all it was, was 4 pieces of white bread and tea, but the tea was very nice. This must be a 5 star hotel because it has AC, tv, and electricity! Can’t wait to explore outside today. Also I just saw a bug crawl out from under the bed. I guess he’s waken up too.
Wow my day was incredible out here in Bagamoyo, I have met with Elke and we are staying at the Baobab home. I met our cooks/neighbors and they are very nice. The beach is beautiful. Tizo the cook and I went to the festival last night, it was amazing, the girls are the best dancers I have ever seen! I also messed up last night by not using a mosquito net! I couldn’t put my together so I didn’t bother! I woke up like at 5am and heard mosquitoes buzzing around me! I haven’t gotten back to sleep since, I hope I didn’t catch anything! How stupid of me! We also have a security guard at night, apparently maasai people are great security guards lol!!!???
I am on the plane to Amsterdam and we should be leaving very soon. After waiting six hours in the Seattle airport, I am very anxious to leave and get to Africa. This plane is very big, very warm, lots of people. The guy beside me kinda stinks and is reading a book called “how birds migrate” like he’s a interesting guy. I got the window seat. I am on my second and last plane ride and feel like shit! This has not been a fun experience. I am not looking forward to another 10 hrs cramped, squished and had having to use the washroom.
I have spent my first night in Africa, what an amazing place and I haven’t even left the hotel room yet! But I look outside my window and it looks like a beautiful day! The smell is amazing and it reminds me of Mexico smell. I had a shower it felt nice even though it was cold water! Breakfast was great, well all it was, was 4 pieces of white bread and tea, but the tea was very nice. This must be a 5 star hotel because it has AC, tv, and electricity! Can’t wait to explore outside today. Also I just saw a bug crawl out from under the bed. I guess he’s waken up too.
Wow my day was incredible out here in Bagamoyo, I have met with Elke and we are staying at the Baobab home. I met our cooks/neighbors and they are very nice. The beach is beautiful. Tizo the cook and I went to the festival last night, it was amazing, the girls are the best dancers I have ever seen! I also messed up last night by not using a mosquito net! I couldn’t put my together so I didn’t bother! I woke up like at 5am and heard mosquitoes buzzing around me! I haven’t gotten back to sleep since, I hope I didn’t catch anything! How stupid of me! We also have a security guard at night, apparently maasai people are great security guards lol!!!???
Welcome to Africa
Hello everyone, I've just spent three months in Africa in three different countries and I'd like to share my experiences of the journey. I will be posting photos, videos, and journal excerpts to hopefully give you a sense, a feel, a taste of the african experience.
Please join me on this amazing journey, and I hope you enjoy!
Please join me on this amazing journey, and I hope you enjoy!
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