The Mystery Injury

I just wanted to give a quick update on my visit to the hospital on Tuesday. First of all, I went to a much much much nicer hospital called Aga Khan. I barely had to wait to see the doctor too. I first talked with a senior doctor, who referred me to a physiotherapist. She didn't think that I have a vascular problem, but wasn't exactly sure why I am having the pain. The physiotherapist used a machine to calm the nerves near the bottom of my tibia, gave me a painful calf massage, and did an ultrasound on my calves. She told me to do some stretches on my toes and heels also. I will be going back to see her a few times, including this friday. Today I am still having pain, especially on the inside on the bottom of my tibia, but I am hoping for the best. I won't be able to play for a while...

Patience For The Patient

Thursday was probably the worst day I’ve had here yet. I traveled alone to Nairobi West Hospital to see the specific doctor to whom I was referred. I was supposed to see her between nine and ten in the morning and the hospital administration kept telling me that the doctor was on her way from another hospital. I sat in the waiting room for over four hours before I was told that the doctor was not coming. I was really disappointed since I had to go through a lot to get there and I was hoping for nothing more than a solution to this leg pain. I was told that I could come back on Saturday at nine and meet with the doctor, so I gave them another chance… only to be disappointed again. After traveling all the way from Athi River again, the doctor wasn’t there, so I left.

I decided to go downtown to the University of Nairobi to relax and watch the guy’s soccer game. On the way there I asked a man a question about directions to the campus. It turned out that he was also headed there, so we walked together. After a horrible start to the morning it nice to talk with Bernard. Raised Muslim, at the age of 18 he became a Christian, a conversion that is almost unheard of. He now has a small church in the slums of Kibera and he runs a Christian school in a Muslim Somali community on the other side of Nairobi. He told me about the challenges of the school, the progress church and about his young family. We exchanged contact information and he invited me for a visit some time. What a blessing.

I’m just around campus now, getting ready for another week of classes. I talked with one of the soccer captains and he suggested a different hospital for me to go to in Nairobi, which is very nice and actually treats their patients well. I’ll go there on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Hope all is well back at home. Stay in touch. Peace and love.

The Gate of Hell

My lack of posting makes me wonder if I'm lazy, busy, or intimidated by this blog. Haha. Actually, I am quite busy and this past weekend I traveled to Naivasha. On Saturday I went there by public bus, which is about four hours from school, with Monica and our two friends Nelson and Reagan. We stayed with some of Reagan's friends for the night. During the day we visited Hell's Gate National Park and hiked through the deep gorge, that was formed mostly by intrusive rocks (as a result of volcanic activity). Luckily, I took geology last year and had to memorize a zillion rocks, so I was able to identify the common obsidian and pumice rocks. (What a nerd?) Eventually we arrived at hot water springs, mostly flowing from the sides of the gorge and through the middle. The volcanic activity, and hot water is where Hell's Gate got it's name. Afterwards, we climbed to the very top and had a view of the entire area, which reminded me of the time I awed at the Grand Canyon. On our way out, we drove through the game area of the park and saw buffalo, warthogs, a young giraffe, zebra, and antelope. You know, the usual. Haha.

Back at school, this week has been going okay. On Tuesday Monica and I went to Nairobi to meet with Wiclif, our friend from Kito International with whom we are volunteering. Since the organization is still in the very early stages, we are hoping to help him with some research on micro enterprise and youth-friendly loans. Also, he is looking for an office space, so we will help him set that up too. Next Tuesday when we meet, Wiclif is going to take us around the slums where he lives and works: Kangware. Kito's programs will target rehabilitated street boys/men. Beginning with a smaller group of men, they will spend one year taking classes on life skills and entrepreneurship, working in a business (which funds the organization), and giving back to the community by working with other street boys. Upon completing the year, the men will ideally take out a low-interest loan (which we are researching) and start their own business. Wiclif currently works alone in Nairobi as program director (well, now he has me and Monica) and partners with others in California, such as Maria who we met at the brunch. I'm excited to see what is to come.

Last night I left soccer early due to unbearable shin-splint and calf muscle pain that has been progressively getting worse. I went to the school health clinic and talked with the doctor. He thinks that the calf muscle isn't getting enough oxygen and isn't removing the lactic acid efficiently. He referred me to a cardiovascular doctor in Nairobi. If all goes as planned, I'll be going to see him tomorrow. I hope it isn't too serious.

Well, I'm off to my African Literature class. Enjoy the photos of this weekend. There are more on facebook.

Scenes From The City

It’s easy for me to write about the similarities between Kenya and the United States, but when it comes to the differences and everyday adventures, I struggle to blog. I have to admit that I am envious of skillful artists and writers. What they possess, that I don’t, is the ability to recapture images and describe experiences respecting their deserved value. I feel practically mute with my inexpressive record keeping. I hope to work towards a voice that accurately conveys what I’ve seen and expresses what I’ve felt.

I’d like to share some stories and images from Nairobi, which seem impossible to describe to someone who has never been here. (“We” refers to Monica and I, as we shared many of these experiences) Here is my attempt…

1) I touched an elephant foot that a man had in his home. It was hairy.

2) The street boy begged with glowing eyes, torn clothes, and dirty hands. I gave him a mango.

3) Two Saturdays ago, we spent the day at a children’s home. I was very impressed with the arrangements: two house mothers and a social workers for fourteen children under the age of fifteen. It seems that this home, sponsored by a church, was sufficiently providing for the children. They were well behaved, friendly, and happy. One nine-year-old boy, Lawrence, organized a time of prayer for all the children. He asked them to sit down with their legs crossed and hands folded. Each child genuinely prayed and thanked God for the individuals in the home.

4) We couldn’t understand the words of the man in the street who was high on glue.

5) Just a mile from the largest slum in Africa, I enjoyed a cup of almond flavored steamed milk in a coffee shop/cafe that was equivalent to a Starbucks in America. During that hour, I forgot I was even in Kenya. Sick reality of unequal distribution of wealth.

6) We met Wiclif, a former street-boy, who is developing a nonprofit organization that helps rehabilitated street boys start businesses. Internship for Monica and I.

7) I frequently enjoy a huge and very delicious fruit salad with mango, papaya, watermelon, pineapple, avocado, and banana for just one dollar.

8) The absolutely pathetic library in Nairobi contained very few books, most of which from the 60’s.

9) Three times in one day, we were called “brown skin,” by men in town… and I’m not even noticeably tan.

10) We found a small art museum, which displayed portrait photography from Nairobi through the decades. How interesting.

11) We saw a restaurant called "Wimpy Burger." Appetizing. Notice, I only SAW the restaurant.

12) I always look the wrong way when crossing the street... they drive on the left side of the road. Fortunetly for me I have been lucky to not get run over by one of the thousands of public buses that drive like maniacs.


Stay tuned for more.

Pictured above: Half-time photo from our game in Nairobi on Saturday, Goodness and I, and Kibera slums outside of Nairobi

"I Thought You Had A Skin Condition," She Told Me.

My fingers look pathetic. I would take a photo, but I'll spare your eyes. No, I don't have a disease, just scabs and that kind of cool stuff on the tops of my fingers. It's called: handwashing my clothes. Haha... I don't mind hand washing, but it is time-consuming and since my hands aren't used to the wear and tear, they bleed if I wash too much. Now, this wouldn't be such an issue if I didn't have to wash white socks covered in red dirt from soccer. I will be solving this complaint by buying black soccer socks asap.

I want to share a little bit of my Sunday with you. Monica, my good Canadian friend, and I were invited to Paula and Kurt Tjossem's home in Nairobi for brunch with some of their other friends. I didn't know Paula and Kurt, but I was connected to them through a friend-of-a-friend kind of deal, which was really random. Monica and I matatu-ed (public transportation buses for 14 passengers are called matatu's) our way to their home for an afternoon that proved to be a very unique and exciting opportunity for us. Let me describe some of the people we met: Kurt is the regional director for International Rescue Committee; Maria is working with a developing organization in Nairobi, which helps street boys start businesses; Kelly works with Nobel Peace Prize winners to raise funds for an NGO that promotes women's development; Another woman was the director of the World Bank in East Africa. Get the idea? How did Lora and Monica manage to end up there? Haha, only through the grace of God, I'd say. Everyone at this small gathering was friendly and very experienced in his or her field.

This networking will hopefully open some doors for Monica and I as we continue searching for internship/volunteer opportunities. We are hoping to meet with Maria and her Kenyan friend, Wycliffe (?), this week to talk about the possibility of helping with the street boy outreach that they are launching. I am overwhelmed with the opportunities before me. It would be a shame to come all the way to Kenya for a year and just stay on the university campus, especially as a Social Work major.

Six Giraffes Later

I can officially say that I've seen a family of giraffes... and they weren't in the zoo. In fact, they were about a half mile outside of the entrance to Daystar. I was on the bus heading back from Nairobi as the sun was setting. We turned off from the main road onto the dusty dirt road towards Daystar and saw lots of zebra and wildebeest, which wasn't unusual. Then I saw a giraffe near the road followed by a group of them and I was so excited because my friends and I like joke about seeing a giraffe, and finally we did. Besides the cats wandering around campus, there are monkeys and other rodents, both of which I do not know the specific name. One day I was reading a book in the middle of campus and little fruits kept falling from the tree above me. I couldn't figure out what was knocking them off (and practically chucking them at me), until I saw the monkey leave the tree. Haha.

Enough of the animals... and now to a real topic: soccer. haha. okay, so Goodness and I are on Daystar mens soccer team. They didn't really have cuts (at least not yet) but surprisingly we are really well respected and welcomed by the coaches, captains, and players. We attend practice and we will be at the games too. Obviously, we are not as strong or as fast as the others, but we work hard and most importantly enjoy it. I am enjoying getting fit again, although I am sore.

Here is my address in Athi River, if anyone ever decides that snail mail still exists. The other address I posted earlier can still work, but this one is better.

Daystar University
Lukenya Hills
PO BOX 17-90145 Daystar
Machakos, Kenya

PEACE AND LOVE! Loraaaaaaa

Photos

the center of campus

some of my friends

Goodness and Raphael, who I play soccer with. They are from Cameroon. And that isn't my hat. haha. i am just posing.


Hello! I just wanted to let you know that I put a bunch of photos on facebook, but for those of you who don't have facebook, I'll put a few here. Peace.