Wednesday, May 28, 2008.
At breakfast I met my friend from Spain (I thought eastern Europe, but was confused). His leg is already better and excited to leave here the middle of next week. I hope we will share some more meals together.
I ate fast, not because I needed to hurry, but because it just didn’t take long. Today it was bread and bologna. Well it looked like bologna, but didn’t smell as good. I had a piece of bread, jam and a cup of tea. Then I took pictures while I waited for the matatu (van) to pick me up at my front door. What a joy.
Traveling on public transport I have been advised to not carry anything that looks like it has value. They recommend wearing no jewelry, no watch, and no backpack. Keep your head down, down make too much noise, and blend in.
At breakfast I met my friend from Spain (I thought eastern Europe, but was confused). His leg is already better and excited to leave here the middle of next week. I hope we will share some more meals together.
I ate fast, not because I needed to hurry, but because it just didn’t take long. Today it was bread and bologna. Well it looked like bologna, but didn’t smell as good. I had a piece of bread, jam and a cup of tea. Then I took pictures while I waited for the matatu (van) to pick me up at my front door. What a joy.
Traveling on public transport I have been advised to not carry anything that looks like it has value. They recommend wearing no jewelry, no watch, and no backpack. Keep your head down, down make too much noise, and blend in.
There is a banner in the courtyard that they must have hung knowing I was coming, “Whatever is good must be done well and quietly.” Do you know how hard it is for me to blend in?
Today, I was thrilled because I could take my camera and get some shots of the school and people. I also wanted to take some shots of the Flora Hostel and my room so that I could put them on a blog I was hoping to start.
Van to Tangaza
I packed up my camera and went to be near the gate at 7:30 AM which was 15 min. before I was told to be ready, but I didn’t want to miss the bus. At 7:45 AM I was pumped. At 8:00 AM I was concerned. Class starts at 8:30 AM and my best time to Tangaza has been 1 hour.
Today, I was thrilled because I could take my camera and get some shots of the school and people. I also wanted to take some shots of the Flora Hostel and my room so that I could put them on a blog I was hoping to start.
Van to Tangaza
I packed up my camera and went to be near the gate at 7:30 AM which was 15 min. before I was told to be ready, but I didn’t want to miss the bus. At 7:45 AM I was pumped. At 8:00 AM I was concerned. Class starts at 8:30 AM and my best time to Tangaza has been 1 hour.
At 8:15 AM I abandoned my watching post, put my camera back in my room and headed for the bus. I walked on to the 111 immediately, but the traffic was worse than ever.
It took 24 minutes to the Karen. I jumped into the first Matttu I could find, but they will not leave until they get a full bus, so I walked on to campus at 9:15 AM (45 minutes late).
I was told that the driver got in trouble with the police. No one knew so we all just stood waiting and independently all of us made the decision to get to Tangaza the old way. I was the last to arrive, as I am the farthest away. I’m not sure why this is the case, but everyone else seems to be staying at some weird place that they have a connection to through their work in Africa. I constantly seem like the odd duck.
Because I was late yesterday, I missed the assignment I was supposed to bring today. I missed this morning and asked what I missed, but got little information. I bet I will find out tomorrow when I am unprepared for something else.
African Culture: An Overview
Dr Michael T. Kalola is my instructor. He has a beautiful English accent over a Swahili mother tongue. I thought at first I would not understand anything, but after about 10 minutes I got into the groove. We took notes like crazy. He is bright, funny and very helpful. They still have so much British influence that we stop mid morning for tea every day. Then we went back to class. We went steady until noon.
The class focused today on culture, what it means, and why people tend to think their culture is the best. I took five pages of tiny writing notes. My hand was tired. My brain was stretched and I’m still trying to deal with some of the implications.
Teeth
One of the weird examples he gave of culture had to do with recognizing significant biological events; in particular, the loss of first teeth. I immediately thought of our weird traditions with the tooth fairy. He asked the group if they could tells us their traditions. One group takes the teeth and the child must toss it backwards between their legs. In another group they take the first tooth and toss it toward the sun. Still another group is not interested in what happens to the tooth, but where it comes. If it is a top tooth, then they must marry a person whose first tooth also came in first in the top.
The question is which is better? Western society has often claimed that its ways are better, but in this game who has the upper hand? Can’t they all be equally valid? This then begins to apply to lots of opinions we have of Africans and African culture. I think this is going to be an area where I am going to be stretched.
Prayer
We had prayer together outside. This was so great. What a collection of more than 70 people from all over the world standing together praying. There were Christians of every stripe. I loved it. It was lead by one of the African assistants. It was so genuine and passionate. Heaven practice.
Lunch is a brief affair and modest, but not many onions so got a high score from me.
Library
We got huge amounts of reading assignments and so I went to the library to get the books. I have my new library card, something I always treasure. I got my books and headed to the computer lab.
Internet
The computers had not worked the first time, so it was so good to see them working and working as fast as at home. I read all the emails I got. That was like drinking in sunshine. This has been way harder emotionally than I ever imagined. I think they call it “culture shock.” Kind words went a long way to help right my boat. I had time to create a blog and will be able to add a few picture tomorrow.
Flora and phona
The van drove me back and promised to get me at 7:30AM. I told them I would only wait until 7:45 for a chance to actually make it to class on time. Then I went to get a SIM for my phone. It’s a long boring story of why I don’t have one, but the story of getting one here is brief and interesting. I went to the little shack next to the bus stop and bought one for what I think was $.50 that is fifty cents. Then I bought a calling card to “top it up.” I still can’t figure the money out yet, but I think I spent 5 dollars on that. I tested it and can text Cindy and make local calls. I am going to call he house late on Wed. to see how it works. (It will be 6:15 AM here and I will be getting ready for Thursday).
I was told that the driver got in trouble with the police. No one knew so we all just stood waiting and independently all of us made the decision to get to Tangaza the old way. I was the last to arrive, as I am the farthest away. I’m not sure why this is the case, but everyone else seems to be staying at some weird place that they have a connection to through their work in Africa. I constantly seem like the odd duck.
Because I was late yesterday, I missed the assignment I was supposed to bring today. I missed this morning and asked what I missed, but got little information. I bet I will find out tomorrow when I am unprepared for something else.
African Culture: An Overview
Dr Michael T. Kalola is my instructor. He has a beautiful English accent over a Swahili mother tongue. I thought at first I would not understand anything, but after about 10 minutes I got into the groove. We took notes like crazy. He is bright, funny and very helpful. They still have so much British influence that we stop mid morning for tea every day. Then we went back to class. We went steady until noon.
The class focused today on culture, what it means, and why people tend to think their culture is the best. I took five pages of tiny writing notes. My hand was tired. My brain was stretched and I’m still trying to deal with some of the implications.
Teeth
One of the weird examples he gave of culture had to do with recognizing significant biological events; in particular, the loss of first teeth. I immediately thought of our weird traditions with the tooth fairy. He asked the group if they could tells us their traditions. One group takes the teeth and the child must toss it backwards between their legs. In another group they take the first tooth and toss it toward the sun. Still another group is not interested in what happens to the tooth, but where it comes. If it is a top tooth, then they must marry a person whose first tooth also came in first in the top.
The question is which is better? Western society has often claimed that its ways are better, but in this game who has the upper hand? Can’t they all be equally valid? This then begins to apply to lots of opinions we have of Africans and African culture. I think this is going to be an area where I am going to be stretched.
Prayer
We had prayer together outside. This was so great. What a collection of more than 70 people from all over the world standing together praying. There were Christians of every stripe. I loved it. It was lead by one of the African assistants. It was so genuine and passionate. Heaven practice.
Lunch is a brief affair and modest, but not many onions so got a high score from me.
Library
We got huge amounts of reading assignments and so I went to the library to get the books. I have my new library card, something I always treasure. I got my books and headed to the computer lab.
Internet
The computers had not worked the first time, so it was so good to see them working and working as fast as at home. I read all the emails I got. That was like drinking in sunshine. This has been way harder emotionally than I ever imagined. I think they call it “culture shock.” Kind words went a long way to help right my boat. I had time to create a blog and will be able to add a few picture tomorrow.
Flora and phona
The van drove me back and promised to get me at 7:30AM. I told them I would only wait until 7:45 for a chance to actually make it to class on time. Then I went to get a SIM for my phone. It’s a long boring story of why I don’t have one, but the story of getting one here is brief and interesting. I went to the little shack next to the bus stop and bought one for what I think was $.50 that is fifty cents. Then I bought a calling card to “top it up.” I still can’t figure the money out yet, but I think I spent 5 dollars on that. I tested it and can text Cindy and make local calls. I am going to call he house late on Wed. to see how it works. (It will be 6:15 AM here and I will be getting ready for Thursday).
I took a walk of about 45 minutes. It was part work out and part mission to find soap to wash clothes. I felt like the family circus kid. Every chance I could I took steps sometimes making a circle to do them again. I think people might start calling me “Dances on Stairs.” I seem to be unique in the whole circuit around Flora. I did find soap and rewarded my self with a Coke light and some cashews.
I spent the rest of the night studying. It took me until 11:00PM to finish my homework. I had to write two papers, type the one I wrote yesterday and read multiple chapters from three different books.
I finished editing pictures and writing this about 12:00AM. It feels like graduate school for sure now.
Mind the Gap
Kyle
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