My 1st Halloween in Kenya

Why does a blog post take so much energy? I send countless emails with responses far longer than any blog post I have ever written but yet when I think about blogging I cringe, shudder, and procrastinate. Today, however, it’s raining outside and I’m holed up in my room eating cornflakes and milk and the thought of blogging sounds just perfect!

Today is Halloween and I’m not doing anything. Well…I fib. I spent the morning at a Math Tournament hosted by a PCV in a neighboring village. I taught a class there before on Event Planning and the students wanted me to come back as a judge for the competition, so I obliged. The tournament was on the 24® Game and was incredibly intense. These students had been practicing for months and were gunning for the prizes.

My contribution to the tournament went beyond just giving of my time. I also donated a special prize to the best performing female. The community is predominantly Muslim and the education of females is still a contentious topic. I would never force someone into school against the wishes of their family but for those young ladies already in school I would do anything to foster an appreciation for education. It was so encouraging seeing those ladies competing side by side with the young men and exceeding all expectations. In fact, all 3 of the competing ladies made it to the semi-final! Although they didn’t make it to the final it was a morning of healthy competition and a fun time was had by all.

So…the tournament took all of 3 hours and now I have a whole day to kill. The rain precludes traveling to the Halloween parties with the other volunteers so I’ll just be here at home…watching Katt Williams…and reminiscing on this time last year. I was dressed as Cindy McCain (Trophy Wife) and prepping to hit the streets of DC. I was in my heels and makeup without a care in the world. Seems like a lifetime ago…

Help 2 Communities in Kenya

There is a volunteer in Eastern Province, Kenya doing some exciting work in his community. His name is Nemo Curiel and he is trying to bring some important technological advancements to the people there, in an effort to offer them opportunities for a better life. Check it our here! Your help is most appreciated!



There is also another volunteer in Eastern Province, Nick Dominguez, who is trying to make some lasting changes in his community. The KVDC or Kilisa VIllage Development Community is looking to speed up development in Kilisa Village by building a social enterprise. They are going to build a steady income through small businesses and agriculture exports and then use that income to do community enhancement projects. Your contribution will help fund the start up costs of their small businesses so they can jump start their efforts to earn their own income. Check it out here!



Feel free to share with family and friends who might also be able to help!




Thanks!

FYI

Yesterday, I received some unsolicited…and frankly unwelcome…comments on my last blog post. The comments have since been deleted but they prompted this current post and an added comment moderation feature. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.

I want to be very clear to all my readers…my blog represents my views and my views alone. It is an outlet for me to publicize my experiences. I am fully aware that my experiences may differ from others and some people may be offended by what I write. However, my experiences are real and will not be closeted to spare offense (or is it offence as the Brits prefer).

I welcome constructive criticism and feedback but tolerate, under no circumstances, insults or derogatory comments. If you are reading an adult’s blog (mine) leave an adult comment. Childish and puerile rants should be taken to Facebook or, better yet, kept in the diary under your bed.

This post is not for you, my faithful reader or you, my respectful commenter. This post is intended for those anonymous posts I received yesterday and have deleted. I’m sure those I am referring to know who they are.

Thanks again, all.

Black In Kenya: The Exposé

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be black in Africa…when you aren’t African. I’d like to go a bit further and address being black in Kenya when you aren’t Kenyan. After almost 10 months of this exposure I now think I am justified and experienced enough to share some of this with you.

I think, for the first time in my life, I am having an identity crisis. I have never in my life thought of myself as African. It is true that I acknowledge that I am a person of African descent and some of my ancestors once roamed this beautiful continent…but I was always very aware of the distinction between myself and them. Having said that, I didn’t think I would be as offended as I now am at being ‘accused’ of being Kenyan. I say accused because I am usually being mistaken for a Kenyan who lives in the city and thinks she is better than those in less urban settings. It is usually said in a tone meant to hurt…meant to make me feel ashamed.

You might be asking yourself, “What is so wrong with being called a Kenyan anyway? That helps you blend right in and feel at home!” My friends…this is one situation where you do NOT want to blend in. Many Kenyan females are still viewed as the property of their husbands and their behavior is scrutinized very closely. What is perfectly normal for an American (Bajan) female to do with her friends is not acceptable here. For example, when I go clubbing with other volunteers of Caucasian descent they are seen as people having a good time and I am seen as a commercial sex worker (prostitute). Surely, that can’t be fair.

Also, being mistaken as Kenyan means I am subjected to shoddier service and even ignored at times. As an opinionated female I have an extremely difficult time managing that. What makes it harder is that though I can see this as unfair and unacceptable, this is only because I have been exposed to an environment where my rights matter. Here most people don’t fully understand their rights as a citizen of Kenya…and as a world citizen.

Of course no situation is 100% bad. I do enjoy the benefits of anonymity and don’t suffer under the fishbowl complex* so many of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers face. I am not usually seen as a walking dollar sign and, when I feel like using my Swahili, can ‘pass’ for a Kenyan. However, as a fellow African-American volunteer said to me, why would you want to ‘pass’ for a Kenyan when you are proudly an American (Bajan). The reverse discrimination is just as bad as regular discrimination.

Who would have thought I’d come to what black people call ‘The Motherland’ to feel like I don’t quite belong.

* Fishbowl complex - feeling like your every move is scrutinized and observed, much like a fish in its bowl swimming around. You are in the room with everyone but still viewed as separate.
P.S. I gave blood last month and have the most common blood type (O+). I probably saved your life. What have you done lately? (Red Cross, Kenya Red Cross, America's Blood Centers)

Just a quick note...

First let me start by apologizing for having not blogged in such a long time. August was a crazy month of trainings and meetings and conferences and I am just so happy that month from hell is over. Who would have thought I would come all the way to Africa to learn how to sit in meetings. Sigh.

The past few weeks I have been thinking of HIV/AIDS almost solely. World AIDS Day is coming up in December and in my town there is an understated need to commemorate this event. As I said before, my organization works with substance abusers and, according to the CDC, this population is one of the most at-risk ones for contracting the virus. Needless to say, I spend all day just thinking about how to go about this…I’m actually consumed by this task.

Apart from that, everything is going really well for me. I just got word of an upcoming Kenya-Tanzania-Nigeria-Egypt trip so donations are very welcome. I think since I blog and share my experiences with you guys this counts as a community activity and I will be accepting donation from all you guys.

It’s almost 10 months since I’ve been in Kenya…that’s crazy! It definitely feels like 6 months or less. Time is going by soooo quickly! This means that all you guys that keep saying you want to come visit me should start planning that asap. I won’t be here forever!

As an aside…I had awesome sushi last night that put me in an excellent mood…such a good mood that I’m actually blogging today. This was an impromptu post so I don’t really know what to write about so I’ll update again soon…well…this month some time.

This is MY Africa

While I was on vacation in Zanzibar I met up with a good friend from university and that is what she said to me in response to me telling her she wasn’t getting the ‘true’ Africa experience. She was on vacation with her family and they were staying in various high-end hotels and resorts having a grand time. One year ago I would have been just like her enjoying my vacations as a spectator, with the locals and their ways of life being the main attraction. Now, after being immersed into said attraction, I see now just how much value is lost when you fail to step off the sidelines onto the stage. As a Peace Corps volunteer you cannot help but become fully engrossed in the daily lives of the people you live amongst and, having experienced this I have one request. I implore you to try on your next vacation…even if just for a day…to leave the touristy areas with their high prices and venture to the real- albeit oftentimes dangerous for a foreigner- places and eat what they eat, see what they see, feel what they feel, live what they live. I assure you that you will NOT regret it.

Moving on…

Zanzibar was awesome, for the most part. I went on a Spice Tour, walked through historic towns, enjoyed great food, and truly relaxed. I even splurged on an awesome resort with a beach-front view to die for! Needless to say I broke the bank, but it was worth it.

On another note, though, I experienced something while in Tanzania that I never experienced (knowingly) before coming to Africa. Discrimination. One would think that when you come to the continent where people have the same skin color as you do you would be treated well. This is not always the case. Oftentimes I am pushed to the side or ignored because I am perceived to be Kenyan (or as was the case in Zanzibar, Tanzanian). Why would one countryman treat their fellow countryman like that?

What is even more insulting is the way I am ignored or mistreated and, in the same breath, my fellow white volunteers are fawned over. Not only is this repulsive to watch but, in my opinion, it is another form of acknowledging (however false I know it to be) the ‘superiority’ of the white race. This not only happens in touristy areas where the people are used to seeing white people throw money around. This happens on the public transport where the conductors will throw locals out of the vehicle to ensure a seat for a white person. Sigh. I know progress is inevitable…I know it…but, damn it, it is taking far too long.

I have learned a lot since being in Kenya. In fact, my Peace Corps experience thus far has been worth its weight in gold…platinum even. I’ve met amazing people, experienced awesome things, formed true friendships, and learned many life lessons…including patience. This is MY Africa…experience.

Love in the time of cholera

Given the fact that never again in my life (I hope) will I be able to discuss relationships while living in the time of cholera I figure I had better capitalize on this unique opportunity. I have been getting lots of knowledge, first-hand and otherwise, on relationships in Kenya and just wanted to share a little of it with you.

Firstly, not all African men are schemers. Yes…I said it. I know many of you have just fallen off your chair in shock at that sacrilegious statement but I assure you this is a proven fact. Even though concepts of fidelity and exclusivity vary immensely across cultures there are some progressive people that have relationship ideals resembling Western ones. This may seem insignificant but I implore you to understand that the HIV/AIDS problem afflicting countries across Africa (and the world) is propelled by the traditional approach to relationships, which includes voiceless wives and omnipotent husbands.

Secondly, all that glitters isn’t gold. Living in a tourism-dependent town it has become abundantly clear to me that people are not always as they seem. Contrary to what others may tell you something that walks, talks, and acts like a duck doesn’t have to be a duck. It can be a turkey. I know I have just shattered years of indoctrination for many of you but it is better this way…you ought to think freely. Just because he seems into you mind, body and soul doesn’t mean he really is…especially here in Africa. I have many people pledge their undying love for me seconds after realizing I’m not Kenyan and have many people shower me with buckets of truly unwanted attention. From the outside one might think it’s because I’m a complete bombshell (which I am..haha) but that’s not the reason. It’s because I am an American and must have money…and because I’m the bastard child of Obama because, as I am oftentimes told here, there are no black people in America…only the Obamas.

Thirdly, much to the relief of the census takers in Kenya…marriage is no longer just an excuse to get into the baby manufacturing business. Slowly, but surely, especially with the young generation, love is becoming a driving force in the decision to wed. Many people are turning up their noses at arranged marriages and traditional concepts of what it takes to make a relationship work and people are becoming much more Western. Unfortunately, I think this is a major problem. With America’s divorce rate at 50% I don’t think we have a successful model for others to follow but, nevertheless, they are following. Let’s see what happens in 20 years.

It’s true that most of what I have written here is not breaking news. A few minutes of research could unearth any, and all, of this information. However, I wrote all of that to say this: don’t knock it until you have tried it. Perception doesn’t even get you out of the starting blocks in life’s race. You need to take it a step further…experience life…experience love…especially in times of cholera. Haha!