Wednesday June 18, 2008

Last day at Tangaza

Today we turned in our papers. I wish that I could have heard a report from the other students, what they investigated and what they learned. I did talk to one person who wrote on colors in African culture. It sounded vaguely interesting, I would day blue or blue green.

Then we heard several concluding lectures and saw a presentation from one of the classes on the issue of leadership. Then we met in small groups and talked about leadership in the African context, what they look for in leaders, what they want leaders to do.

After it was over several of the American noticed how different we thought the conversation would have been if the group had been primarily American. The Africans seemed to value listening to the needs of people and helping people as the key elements of leadership. We went around the room and described a leader from our perspective (an African Leader). No one mentioned, vision, inspiration to move ahead, challenge, the future, goals. Nor did they mention moral leadership that moved counter to popular opinion. It was one of the places I felt that we really at two different places. I think we believe leadership should move us to the future; it appears the group I was with thinks real leadership focuses on the present and the past.

After lunch I we said a brief round of good-byes and I was off to complete my Nairobi journey.

Karen Blixen House

Since I knew how to ride the busses around I jumped on the #24 and headed to Karen Blixon's House which was only a few miles away. Made famous by the movie, Out of Africa, the farm house is a national museum.

I was the only one touring the building and had an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable. The building is furnished with original furnishings that were sold at auction when she went bankrupt and had to return to Europe. Since the movie, people have been donating her things back to the museum. Some of the other furnishings were props from the film that they donated to the museum.

The school she started still exists, as does the church she began. The area is named for her and her reputation for caring for the African people is very high. They said that she continued to send money to the people the rest of her life, though she never returned to Kenya.

At the end of class at Tangaza one of the teachers said, "Everyone bring joy to others, we just have to decided if we will bring it when we come or people will find it when we leave." Life with others is about making that decision.

Ngong

The road to Tangaza is called Ngong. Out of Africa begins with the line, "I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills." The tour guide told me and then showed me the hills. He said the word Ngong is a Massai word that means knuckels. They say that when God gets angry with the Massai this is where he pushes down on the world.

The robet Redford character was buried at the crest of the second hill. This is a view from the Blixen backyard looking straight at the area.

Bus rides

After finishing the tour I went out to get a bus to Karen (a town) and then a different bus back to Nairobi. It was so weird sitting on those busses and reflecting on how much confidence I have now in my ability to navigate the city. I understand the money, the routes, where to sit, how to buy a ticket, how to tell them you want to get on, and how to tell them you want to get off.

I met a professional runner who travels the world running in long distance races. He trains in the high country. He was lean as a rail. He was reading a Christian book and we had a great conversation and exchanged emails.

Most people are very curios about me. Why am I on the bus? What do I think of Kenya? How long have I been here? Will I vote for Obama? Do I know the person they know that lives in the US? If you get in a bus and sit right next to a person you know that even if it is just for a little you are sharing life. You are on the same journey. It is one of the most equalizing feelings in life. I try to start a conversation eve time I sit down. Just to see whom (or is it who?) God will lead my way.

Preparation for the next leg

I dropped by the YaYa and sent off email, got some money to pay my final bill at Flora and set aside some for the Taxi ride to the airport. Then got back to the room and read my materials for the next couple of weeks and wrote out a daily schedule to make sure I get everything done. I have started thinking about packing, but haven't actually put anything into bags yet. My tidy little nest has to get all back into two equally balanced bundles. I was spot on with weight, so the little I have added will have to go in my carry on bag.

A Nutritious Dinner (Click on Cabbage to see article)

There was a new face at Flora, so as the rouving ambassador of the eating hall, I sat with him so that he would not be alone. He is a computer science teacher from Prauge, Czech Republic. He has taken a one year assignment at an Opus Dei College here in Nairobi. We struggled a bit to communicate, but had a good time. One of my friends from Tanzania came and joined us. We talked about his foot and his plans. The man from Prauge said, "Are you here together?"

"No," said the man from Tanzania. "He just (pointing at me) meets everyone at all the tables."

Just then a woman sat down at the table (also new to Flora).

"Where are you from?"

"New Zeland"

"And what do you do?"

"I'm a nutritionist."

"Really?," I say with too much excitement in my voice. We know that nutrition is one of the things we have to help with in Bantu. We just don't know how we are going to accomplish it. We don't know the plants, we don't know what they will think of the idea. We are just shoot in the dark on this one.

"Who do you do that for?"

"Well, I mostly do contract work. I work with NGOs in developing countries to help people with sustainable and local methods to increase people's nutrition. I've just come from Indonesia and am working in Tanzania, but hoping to get into Uganda. Nutrition is so important."

We then have half hour discussion about nutrition in low income, rural areas. She talked about nutrition gardens that help supplement people's diets with the vitamins they need. She talked about clean water being the foundation on which all other developments have to depend. She talked about hand washing. She is going to bring me contact information in the morning.

I really do believe God was in that moment at that table. I've been praying for just such a contact.

New Friends

I met with Ouma Owina, the AIDS educator. He was scheduled to speak tomorrow, but someone canceled so he presented today and then will speak again tomorrow. He is going to get me a visitor badge and I am going to go with him on Friday morning to the conference and listen to a couple of talks and visit the information booths and materials to see if there are resources we might need in Ethiopia.

We talked about his day and his dreams of finishing the Baptist School he had to leave because of finances. I could find worthy people to help here everyday.

This is the thing that will tear a person's heart out of their chest. We have access to resources that most of the rest of the world can only dream about. There is no way that it is fair. There is no way to make it fair. There is no way to fix this part of the world. There are no promises that can be made. There is just the lingering sadness.

When I said good bye to Maurice he said, "I hope we will meet again in this life."

And I responded, "If not in this life, then certainly in the one to come."

Mind the Gap