Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
delicious ambiguity
I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.
~Gilda Radner
For the past 3 weeks my students have been practicing for games; running, exercising, throwing rocks, speed walking, and sitting around telling stories. Since we have so few children we weren’t really able to participate in any team sports but then one of the teachers decided to invite the Deaf unit from another school to join us and learn a dance. So for the past 2 weeks the other students have been sleeping at my school and their PCV has been staying at my house. I’m enjoying the company and storytime with my kids may actually be more productive than some lessons. Tomorrow we’re headed to the district competition. School’s over April 3rd and I have a month off. I may be going to the Nationals competition if my students make it or going to visit other PCVs. I have In-Service Training in Nairobi and then all the non-coast volunteers want to do some swimming and eat amazing Italian pizza.
I’m getting really excited about decorating my house. My little palace! It may not be the biggest place any volunteer has, but it’s also not the smallest. And what I lack in rooms (which aren’t necessarily a good thing because then you’d need to furnish them) and privacy is insignificant when you consider my western toilet and shower that skyrocket this place into amazing! While searching for a place to make a cushion for the bench in my kitchen I discovered a really nice fabric shop that sells all kinds of lesos and other Kenyan wraps. The cushion turned out really cute so now I have a bunch of ideas about making pillows and blankets out of lesos. Lesos are pieces of fabric (about a yard long) that Kenyan women wear wrapped as skirts or dresses, use as baby slings, coil up to pad the 50 lb basket of mangoes balanced on their heads, hang as curtains, and so much more. I’ve only just started my leso collection but I have a feeling it may rival the weight of the couch I want to send back to American when I’m done. Ha!
So I’m definitely settling in and now that I’ve received some packages of school supplies from Mom I’m looking forward to teaching again.
I’ve also received some amazing packages and letters from family and friends! Thank you so much! I love you all!
~Gilda Radner
For the past 3 weeks my students have been practicing for games; running, exercising, throwing rocks, speed walking, and sitting around telling stories. Since we have so few children we weren’t really able to participate in any team sports but then one of the teachers decided to invite the Deaf unit from another school to join us and learn a dance. So for the past 2 weeks the other students have been sleeping at my school and their PCV has been staying at my house. I’m enjoying the company and storytime with my kids may actually be more productive than some lessons. Tomorrow we’re headed to the district competition. School’s over April 3rd and I have a month off. I may be going to the Nationals competition if my students make it or going to visit other PCVs. I have In-Service Training in Nairobi and then all the non-coast volunteers want to do some swimming and eat amazing Italian pizza.
I’m getting really excited about decorating my house. My little palace! It may not be the biggest place any volunteer has, but it’s also not the smallest. And what I lack in rooms (which aren’t necessarily a good thing because then you’d need to furnish them) and privacy is insignificant when you consider my western toilet and shower that skyrocket this place into amazing! While searching for a place to make a cushion for the bench in my kitchen I discovered a really nice fabric shop that sells all kinds of lesos and other Kenyan wraps. The cushion turned out really cute so now I have a bunch of ideas about making pillows and blankets out of lesos. Lesos are pieces of fabric (about a yard long) that Kenyan women wear wrapped as skirts or dresses, use as baby slings, coil up to pad the 50 lb basket of mangoes balanced on their heads, hang as curtains, and so much more. I’ve only just started my leso collection but I have a feeling it may rival the weight of the couch I want to send back to American when I’m done. Ha!
So I’m definitely settling in and now that I’ve received some packages of school supplies from Mom I’m looking forward to teaching again.
I’ve also received some amazing packages and letters from family and friends! Thank you so much! I love you all!
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