this week i've been up to some fun
stuff. On tuesday me and two other guys from the group went to play
with the kimende fc soccer team. It was lots and lots of fun, and
it's possible that they were mocking me and the other white guy, but
they seem really cool and we've returned a few times since then to
play again. Either way, it's worth the enjoyment we get out of
playing soccer to be mocked in a language we can't understand. And
i'd say we match and even surpass the skills of some – though some
of the guys we played with were ridiculous. And kenyans can RUN!
The week before we had a controversial
learning day on gender equality. Some very interesting discussions
took place, and in some ways i feel i can better understand what life
may have been like during the 50s in canada. All the men in the team
from kenya believe that women cannot be equal or above men. The
opinions of some may have offended the feelings of others. Hopefully
no long lasting conflicts emerge from the emotional day.
Work has been good, simple and maybe
not as productive as it could be, but it keeps us busy and i'm still
very happy with my choice of people to work with. Working with three
mature, generally openminded kenyan men with a sense of humor has
been really awesome, and i am getting very interesting perspectives
on topics such as the elections, women, careers, education, and much
more.
On sunday sylvan and i went for a hike
and sat down in a clearing near a wooded area, and after about half
an hour of lying in the sun i saw a branch move up in the trees. It
was too large to have been a bird landing, and sure enough! It was a
monkey! My first monkey sighting in kimende (i saw some baboons like
the ones in the cartoon movie tarzan when jane is drawing the baby
baboon and then the whole colony chases her) since i've arrived! And
then after seeing the first one, more followed. It was really
amazing. And after about fifteen minutes of gawking up in the trees
some kids wandered by with three adorable puppies. It was such an
awesome little moment in the woods.
Life at home is good too. The host
family is really cool, i have a host brother who's 16 and loves
messing with me. He even claimed he was the one who put the lizard in
my sheets a month or so ago. I mess with him too. Last night i washed
my hands and wiped the water on his face when i came into the house,
and told him it was urine. Great reaction. For those judging me, he
deserved it. And i'm sure he'll just get me back anyways.
So there's only three full weeks left,
it's sad to think of leaving but i'm excited to come home too. In the
next few weeks i plan to organize a few more poker games with the
group, play soccer more often, and read at least one more book. Next
monday me and patrice are going to plan a mini olympics for the
group, including potato sack racing and three legged racing. It'll be
good times i think :)
that's all folks!
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