The trip of my lifetime has started!
It seemed that way.
I, Holly, will be writing this journal entry.
November 2007
Shraddha Ashram, India
I sat down as the meditation started.
The swami that had instructed me and a lot of other people for the past week told us to breathe in and out. He told us to rid our minds of all thoughts and of all worries.
I couldn't do it.
Even though I came here for spirituality, all that I had gained was being even more antsy.
During the silent meditations, my thoughts would always wander to random thoughts. I couldn't even calm myself down!
I had thought that my trip to the Shraddha Ashram would bring me peace and spirituality inside of me, but it was the exact opposite.
My mind was determined to go through this, but my body refused to.
After going through the the first session of meditation and yoga, I finally met up with Amanda and Jen. I had a different schedule than them after all. They just signed up for this thing for a week.
When we went to sit down on bamboo mats for breakfast, we were talking about what we were going to eat when we got out. We couldn't really eat meat. We were strictly on a vegeterian diet. This day was Amanda and Jen's last day, so they were pretty excited to get out of the Shraddha Ashram.
Unlike me, Jen was actually glowing a little. She looked healthier than she had been throughout our whole trip. Not only did her skin glow, but my skin did too. I could have sworn I lost weight too. I guess being in here had good results (excluding the fact that I can't relax).
After breakfast, I had to go do work. The work I had to do was cleaning the bathrooms. I have no idea how cleaning bathrooms is supposed to make a person feel purified or relaxed, but I did it anyway.
After going through my day, I met up with Amanda and Jen again. This was their last day and I wanted to say good-bye to them. It was sad, because we hadn't been apart since we returned to New York. When I was separated from them, it was like losing a part of me. I had to accept their departure, because I was the one who wanted to stay here for a month.
After saying our good-byes, I decided to toughen it up to try to find spirituality.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Southern India/Shraddha Ashram
After our little trip in Northern India, Holly, Amanda, and I went to Southern India.
Jen will be the one telling of the exciting and spiritual journey for now.
November 2007
Southern India/Shraddha Ashram
After hours of traveling by train, we finally arrived at Trivandrum.
We came to Trivandrum to travel to the Shraddha Ashram, one of the many spiritual centers in India. This was practically Holly's dream and Amanda and I knew she was as excited as I was when I first arrived in Kiminini, Kenya.
Holly signed up for about a month to stay in the spiritual center. It was her dream, so of course she was going to go over the top and stay for thirty days! Unlike her, Amanda and I decided to just stay at the spiritual center for a week. Then, Amanda and I would go to Goa, India to relax and have fun by ourselves while Holly stayed at the Shraddha Ashram.
After traveling for an hour in a taxi, we finally arrived at the Shraddha Ashram.
As soon as we reached the entrance, there was nothing but silence. It was a contrast to the bustling place outside of the walls of the Shraddha Ashram.
We entered the building and went to the front desk. After putting our signatures on the many forms we were given, we received our schedules. At first glance, the schedule didn't look so bad (but that was bound to change soon).
It was actually quite refreshing and beneficial the first few days of our spiritual retreat. I enjoyed the yoga and loved the meat-free meals. I was beginning to obtain other-worldly spirituality.
Jen will be the one telling of the exciting and spiritual journey for now.
November 2007
Southern India/Shraddha Ashram
After hours of traveling by train, we finally arrived at Trivandrum.
We came to Trivandrum to travel to the Shraddha Ashram, one of the many spiritual centers in India. This was practically Holly's dream and Amanda and I knew she was as excited as I was when I first arrived in Kiminini, Kenya.
Holly signed up for about a month to stay in the spiritual center. It was her dream, so of course she was going to go over the top and stay for thirty days! Unlike her, Amanda and I decided to just stay at the spiritual center for a week. Then, Amanda and I would go to Goa, India to relax and have fun by ourselves while Holly stayed at the Shraddha Ashram.
After traveling for an hour in a taxi, we finally arrived at the Shraddha Ashram.
As soon as we reached the entrance, there was nothing but silence. It was a contrast to the bustling place outside of the walls of the Shraddha Ashram.
We entered the building and went to the front desk. After putting our signatures on the many forms we were given, we received our schedules. At first glance, the schedule didn't look so bad (but that was bound to change soon).
It was actually quite refreshing and beneficial the first few days of our spiritual retreat. I enjoyed the yoga and loved the meat-free meals. I was beginning to obtain other-worldly spirituality.
Northern India
After our heart-warming trip to Kiminini, Kenya, Amanda, Jen, and I are finally on the move again. This time, we're heading to India!
I, Holly, want to be the first one to write a journal entry on India. It was my idea to spend time in India after all.
October 2007
Northern India
I couldn't believe what I had just seen. A car in front of us had swerved and hit a man, a woman, and a baby that were all on a motorcycle. The car had swerved to avoid hitting a cow. It couldn't be helped that cows were sacred here in India.
Amanda, Jen, and I were watching the scene unfold as we sat in our taxi cab. We were all protesting how we should have helped them, but the driver told us not to.
We were relieved to see that the man, woman, and baby were unharmed, but the person who was driving the car who hit them wasn't so lucky. Everyone around us dropped everything and started to crowd around the unlucky driver who swerved to avoid the cow.
Our driver, Sunil, had explained to us that the driver would receive punishment from everybody around them for hitting the man, the woman, and the baby. I totally saw that as wrong, but it wasn't my place to say anything. This was India and not the United States. Our driver said that the other driver had a chance to drive away and run off, but it was too late. The driver was going to get punishment.
A few days before that, we had arrived by plane in Delhi, India.
After checking into our hotel, we decided to go around for a walk. Seeing three white women walking by themselves was not normal for India. A bunch of guys had bumped (purposely) into us.
After we had gone to a tourist office and obtained maps, we met Sunil and he took us to the Taj Mahal. You couldn't go to India without seeing the Taj Mahal!
The builder of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, had built the Taj Mahal in honor of his wife after she died. He loved her best and wanted to do something to honor her existence.
As we arrived at the Taj Mahal, we were met with many homeless children who asked for food and money. There were a lot of children who were trying to sell us things like postcards and souvenirs.
After my encounter with Esther in Kenya, I couldn't help but buy something from this little girl. After I bought something from her, I immediately went back to my group and didn't want to attract any more attention from the many children who were selling souvenirs.
What really confused us the most was why all the natives here in India wanted pictures with us. Sunil then answered that seeing white people in India was rare. If an Indian took a picture with a white person, that Indian would kind of be famous with his/her friends.
After our eventful trip to the Taj Mahal, Sunil had taken us to the Baha'i House of Worship.
We entered into the temple without our shoes. We had made sure to buy floor-length skirts when we were shopping around the streets of Delhi. We wore those skirts with shawls that covered our shoulders. We wanted to respect the culture as much as any other Indian could.
After a long time of meditating to ourselves, Amanda, Jen, Sunil, and I all quietly left the temple.
After that, Sunil had taken us to a street filled with street vendors. After many failed attempts of trying to brush off vendors, we finally got the correct way of brushing them off.
All we needed to say that we had to ask our husbands if we could buy whatever the vendors were selling and the vendors lightly backed off. It was amazing how one sentence could make a vendor back off so easily.
The culture of India was so different. When Indians were nodding their heads, they meant no. When they shook their heads, they meant yes. It was the complete opposite of what we were taught!
Also, girls couldn't sit next to guys. That was considered too intimate for an unmarried woman.
Our first few days in India already proved to be amazing.
The reason why I wanted to come to India wasn't only for sight-seeing though. It was for a spiritual journey.
Indian Pop
Northern India
I, Holly, want to be the first one to write a journal entry on India. It was my idea to spend time in India after all.
October 2007
Northern India
I couldn't believe what I had just seen. A car in front of us had swerved and hit a man, a woman, and a baby that were all on a motorcycle. The car had swerved to avoid hitting a cow. It couldn't be helped that cows were sacred here in India.
Amanda, Jen, and I were watching the scene unfold as we sat in our taxi cab. We were all protesting how we should have helped them, but the driver told us not to.
We were relieved to see that the man, woman, and baby were unharmed, but the person who was driving the car who hit them wasn't so lucky. Everyone around us dropped everything and started to crowd around the unlucky driver who swerved to avoid the cow.
Our driver, Sunil, had explained to us that the driver would receive punishment from everybody around them for hitting the man, the woman, and the baby. I totally saw that as wrong, but it wasn't my place to say anything. This was India and not the United States. Our driver said that the other driver had a chance to drive away and run off, but it was too late. The driver was going to get punishment.
A few days before that, we had arrived by plane in Delhi, India.
After checking into our hotel, we decided to go around for a walk. Seeing three white women walking by themselves was not normal for India. A bunch of guys had bumped (purposely) into us.
After we had gone to a tourist office and obtained maps, we met Sunil and he took us to the Taj Mahal. You couldn't go to India without seeing the Taj Mahal!
The builder of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, had built the Taj Mahal in honor of his wife after she died. He loved her best and wanted to do something to honor her existence.
As we arrived at the Taj Mahal, we were met with many homeless children who asked for food and money. There were a lot of children who were trying to sell us things like postcards and souvenirs.
After my encounter with Esther in Kenya, I couldn't help but buy something from this little girl. After I bought something from her, I immediately went back to my group and didn't want to attract any more attention from the many children who were selling souvenirs.
What really confused us the most was why all the natives here in India wanted pictures with us. Sunil then answered that seeing white people in India was rare. If an Indian took a picture with a white person, that Indian would kind of be famous with his/her friends.
After our eventful trip to the Taj Mahal, Sunil had taken us to the Baha'i House of Worship.
We entered into the temple without our shoes. We had made sure to buy floor-length skirts when we were shopping around the streets of Delhi. We wore those skirts with shawls that covered our shoulders. We wanted to respect the culture as much as any other Indian could.
After a long time of meditating to ourselves, Amanda, Jen, Sunil, and I all quietly left the temple.
After that, Sunil had taken us to a street filled with street vendors. After many failed attempts of trying to brush off vendors, we finally got the correct way of brushing them off.
All we needed to say that we had to ask our husbands if we could buy whatever the vendors were selling and the vendors lightly backed off. It was amazing how one sentence could make a vendor back off so easily.
The culture of India was so different. When Indians were nodding their heads, they meant no. When they shook their heads, they meant yes. It was the complete opposite of what we were taught!
Also, girls couldn't sit next to guys. That was considered too intimate for an unmarried woman.
Our first few days in India already proved to be amazing.
The reason why I wanted to come to India wasn't only for sight-seeing though. It was for a spiritual journey.
Indian Pop
Northern India
Kiminini, Kenya
We've posted a lot about Kiminini, Kenya, but don't worry. This is the last journal entry for Kenya.
Since going to Kenya was my idea, I'll be the one to end the journal entries of Kenya here. Jen Baggett will wrap this up.
October 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
I had learned a lot of things here in Kenya. First of all, I learned how to wash my clothes with just buckets of water. It took a while by watching Joshua's wife do it and by practicing it myself.
After days of practicing the play Amanda, Holly, and I wrote for our boarders, they all finally memorized their lines and performed perfectly. We felt like proud parents. We were happy that we made such a difference in the lives of these boarders. Even if we just spent time with them, we made a huge impact. The shy girls were becoming bold and everyone was friends with everyone else. No one was left out, and everybody got along well.
The night before we left for our next country, we decided to cook a meal for Joshua, his family, the boarders, and all of the staff that helped with all of the cooking. We decided to cook tacos.
We were used to the bugs around and didn't freak out when we saw a cockroach or two.
When we finished cooking, everyone crowded in to taste our cooking. They loved it! Everyone kept asking for more of the guacamole that Amanda had cooked. We all laughed and played. The boarders danced and we all cheered for them.
I had never imagined that leaving them would be so difficult. The thought of leaving them always wanted to make me cry, but I had to stay strong. We made a difference in all of the boarders' lives and they made a difference in ours.
I was glad that I brought along Holly and Amanda. I was glad to have met all of these wonderful people in Kenya. I was so happy to finally have reached my dream.
Since going to Kenya was my idea, I'll be the one to end the journal entries of Kenya here. Jen Baggett will wrap this up.
October 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
I had learned a lot of things here in Kenya. First of all, I learned how to wash my clothes with just buckets of water. It took a while by watching Joshua's wife do it and by practicing it myself.
After days of practicing the play Amanda, Holly, and I wrote for our boarders, they all finally memorized their lines and performed perfectly. We felt like proud parents. We were happy that we made such a difference in the lives of these boarders. Even if we just spent time with them, we made a huge impact. The shy girls were becoming bold and everyone was friends with everyone else. No one was left out, and everybody got along well.
The night before we left for our next country, we decided to cook a meal for Joshua, his family, the boarders, and all of the staff that helped with all of the cooking. We decided to cook tacos.
We were used to the bugs around and didn't freak out when we saw a cockroach or two.
When we finished cooking, everyone crowded in to taste our cooking. They loved it! Everyone kept asking for more of the guacamole that Amanda had cooked. We all laughed and played. The boarders danced and we all cheered for them.
I had never imagined that leaving them would be so difficult. The thought of leaving them always wanted to make me cry, but I had to stay strong. We made a difference in all of the boarders' lives and they made a difference in ours.
I was glad that I brought along Holly and Amanda. I was glad to have met all of these wonderful people in Kenya. I was so happy to finally have reached my dream.
Kiminini, Kenya
Hello readers of all the world. That's right. Amanda, Jen, and I are still in Kenya. All three of us couldn't help but each write about our experiences in Kenya. Kenya was probably the most important place for us.
Holly's here reporting our time in Kenya for now.
September 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
Joshua had told us to come visit this group of women called the Masaba widows' group. The group consisted of women who lost their husbands from diseases. Most of the women had those diseases as well. They started up a business from their group, so they could let their children go to school.
Joshua wanted all of us to see all the programs that he was in control of. He wanted to show us that we didn't come here for nothing.
The women of the group invited us to eat and gave us huge helpings of food. Some told stories of how their husbands died. Some even said that their husbands had another wife while their husbands were still married to them. That was how diseases spread. Diseases also spread if the husband died and the wife was given to the husband's brother.
The widows' group gave awareness to be careful of those diseases (like HIV and AIDS).
The women asked me, Jen, and Amanda if we had any kids. We all answered no and they were surprised. In their culture, the more kids a woman had, the more respect she would have.
Joshua then sent us to visit a nun who ran a clinic. Her name was Sister Freda.
I gaped as I saw a long line of people waiting in front of the clinic. As we entered the clinic, we learned that the people in line were sick and needed treatment.
As we came in and Sister Freda greeted us, she told us about how she earned money by growing crops like avocados and bananas. She said that she wanted to help those who had diseases. The government didn't help the clinic survive at all, but she said that she and the clinic still made it through.
As we continued to talk and walk through the clinic, a little girl of about three years old ran to me and hugged me. I suddenly felt attached to this little girl. I suddenly felt like I knew her my whole life. I smiled and hugged her back. I held her up in my arms as we continued our tour of the clinic.
Her name was Esther. She was less fortunate than I was. A woman had dropped her off at the clinic and left her there. She was sick with malaria and was deformed. Sister Freda did all she could to help Esther. Esther became healthy again as the years passed by.
After we came back to our temporary home, Joshua had emphasized how the girls in this country were worth as much as his cows. We were then reminded of how the women here didn't have as many rights as the women in the United States.
The next day, Jen and I decided to go back to Sister Freda's medical clinic. By that time, Esther had already found me and Jen gave the medicine that she promised to buy for Sister Freda. Sister Freda thanked her graciously.
Then, I told Sister Freda that I wanted to be Esther's sponsor. I wanted to pay for all the necessities Esther needed. I wanted to pay for her school supplies, medicines, and other things that she needed. Esther graciously thanked me as well. I was happy to help. I knew that we came here to change these children's lives, but I think Esther had changed me.
Holly's here reporting our time in Kenya for now.
September 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
Joshua had told us to come visit this group of women called the Masaba widows' group. The group consisted of women who lost their husbands from diseases. Most of the women had those diseases as well. They started up a business from their group, so they could let their children go to school.
Joshua wanted all of us to see all the programs that he was in control of. He wanted to show us that we didn't come here for nothing.
The women of the group invited us to eat and gave us huge helpings of food. Some told stories of how their husbands died. Some even said that their husbands had another wife while their husbands were still married to them. That was how diseases spread. Diseases also spread if the husband died and the wife was given to the husband's brother.
The widows' group gave awareness to be careful of those diseases (like HIV and AIDS).
The women asked me, Jen, and Amanda if we had any kids. We all answered no and they were surprised. In their culture, the more kids a woman had, the more respect she would have.
Joshua then sent us to visit a nun who ran a clinic. Her name was Sister Freda.
I gaped as I saw a long line of people waiting in front of the clinic. As we entered the clinic, we learned that the people in line were sick and needed treatment.
As we came in and Sister Freda greeted us, she told us about how she earned money by growing crops like avocados and bananas. She said that she wanted to help those who had diseases. The government didn't help the clinic survive at all, but she said that she and the clinic still made it through.
As we continued to talk and walk through the clinic, a little girl of about three years old ran to me and hugged me. I suddenly felt attached to this little girl. I suddenly felt like I knew her my whole life. I smiled and hugged her back. I held her up in my arms as we continued our tour of the clinic.
Her name was Esther. She was less fortunate than I was. A woman had dropped her off at the clinic and left her there. She was sick with malaria and was deformed. Sister Freda did all she could to help Esther. Esther became healthy again as the years passed by.
After we came back to our temporary home, Joshua had emphasized how the girls in this country were worth as much as his cows. We were then reminded of how the women here didn't have as many rights as the women in the United States.
The next day, Jen and I decided to go back to Sister Freda's medical clinic. By that time, Esther had already found me and Jen gave the medicine that she promised to buy for Sister Freda. Sister Freda thanked her graciously.
Then, I told Sister Freda that I wanted to be Esther's sponsor. I wanted to pay for all the necessities Esther needed. I wanted to pay for her school supplies, medicines, and other things that she needed. Esther graciously thanked me as well. I was happy to help. I knew that we came here to change these children's lives, but I think Esther had changed me.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Kiminini, Kenya
Hi everyone! I'm Amanda Pressner. I've been busy with freelancing for writing and sending in articles to my editors. I finally have a chance to write about our exciting adventure in Kenya!
Holly, Jen, and I are still in Kiminini, Kenya of course, but I wanted to write this journal article.
September 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
I jolted up from my bed and was surprised to find a chicken at my feet. I screamed and kicked, and finally the chicken ran out of our temporary home.
When I went to go talk to Irene about the chicken, she only laughed it off and explained how we were staying in the chicken's home. The chicken only came in there to lay an egg every day. It kind of ticked me off how we were staying in a chicken's own house, but Holly and I couldn't complain.
Other than the chicken problem, we were pretty much adapted to the life-style here. The only thing that I was confused about was what were supposed to do to help.
We imagined that we would be building houses and doing a lot of other hard labor, but we've done nothing.
After meeting everyone here in Kenya, we were set off to do whatever we pleased. We weren't given any instructions on what to do to help. All we did was play with the boarders.
We finally asked Joshua what else we could do to help. He told us that us being here was enough help for the boarders. If we were making them happy, then that was enough.
Irene had told us that if we wanted to do something for the kids, we couldn't just wait for orders from Joshua. We had to stand up for ourselves and think up of something for the kids.
As much as I wanted to help the kids and think up of a project, I just couldn't. I was already so busy writing from abroad to my editors. I know it was ridiculous for me to be working when the reason why we took this trip was to get away from work. I just couldn't let go. I had to get my work done.
As we spent more time with the girls at the Pathfinder Academy, I found out that they acted just like normal girls. They weren't any different than the girls back in America.
One day, we were playing with them when they had mentioned that they liked American music. I immediately went to my bag and grabbed my iPod and portable speakers.
After I plugged in my iPod and portable speakers, everyone started dancing and singing. We all laughed and had fun. I started to do this dance move of mine and everyone told me to show them how to do it. They started to copy me and danced the same way that I just did.
The dancing stopped when the girls were called to go to dinner. They made us promise that we would show them some dance moves tomorrow. They made us promise to teach them how to dance for the rest of the time we were here.
For the next couple of days, we taught the girls dance every night at six. We decided to make a play for the girls and we did. We were going to hold auditions for who was going to play what part.
Jen had told Holly and I that we could use the free time that we had before the auditions at six to do whatever we wanted. I decided to use the free time to send in some articles to my editors. Jen looked at me seriously and told me not to be late for the auditions. I agreed.
I finally got my articles sent in to my editor and went to the place where the auditions for the play were held. All the girls were relieved that I was safe. The problem was that they were already finished with the auditions for the play.
I was shocked. How could I be so late? I could have sworn that only took me a couple of minutes, but it turned out that I was an hour late to the auditions.
This really hit me hard. I really wanted to be here and see all the boarders audition for the part that they wanted, and yet I wasn't here. I was busy doing work.
Even though I knew deep down inside of me that the girls and their auditions were the most important to me, I still worked and missed their auditions.
I suddenly wanted to change.
Holly, Jen, and I are still in Kiminini, Kenya of course, but I wanted to write this journal article.
September 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
I jolted up from my bed and was surprised to find a chicken at my feet. I screamed and kicked, and finally the chicken ran out of our temporary home.
When I went to go talk to Irene about the chicken, she only laughed it off and explained how we were staying in the chicken's home. The chicken only came in there to lay an egg every day. It kind of ticked me off how we were staying in a chicken's own house, but Holly and I couldn't complain.
Other than the chicken problem, we were pretty much adapted to the life-style here. The only thing that I was confused about was what were supposed to do to help.
We imagined that we would be building houses and doing a lot of other hard labor, but we've done nothing.
After meeting everyone here in Kenya, we were set off to do whatever we pleased. We weren't given any instructions on what to do to help. All we did was play with the boarders.
We finally asked Joshua what else we could do to help. He told us that us being here was enough help for the boarders. If we were making them happy, then that was enough.
Irene had told us that if we wanted to do something for the kids, we couldn't just wait for orders from Joshua. We had to stand up for ourselves and think up of something for the kids.
As much as I wanted to help the kids and think up of a project, I just couldn't. I was already so busy writing from abroad to my editors. I know it was ridiculous for me to be working when the reason why we took this trip was to get away from work. I just couldn't let go. I had to get my work done.
As we spent more time with the girls at the Pathfinder Academy, I found out that they acted just like normal girls. They weren't any different than the girls back in America.
One day, we were playing with them when they had mentioned that they liked American music. I immediately went to my bag and grabbed my iPod and portable speakers.
After I plugged in my iPod and portable speakers, everyone started dancing and singing. We all laughed and had fun. I started to do this dance move of mine and everyone told me to show them how to do it. They started to copy me and danced the same way that I just did.
The dancing stopped when the girls were called to go to dinner. They made us promise that we would show them some dance moves tomorrow. They made us promise to teach them how to dance for the rest of the time we were here.
For the next couple of days, we taught the girls dance every night at six. We decided to make a play for the girls and we did. We were going to hold auditions for who was going to play what part.
Jen had told Holly and I that we could use the free time that we had before the auditions at six to do whatever we wanted. I decided to use the free time to send in some articles to my editors. Jen looked at me seriously and told me not to be late for the auditions. I agreed.
I finally got my articles sent in to my editor and went to the place where the auditions for the play were held. All the girls were relieved that I was safe. The problem was that they were already finished with the auditions for the play.
I was shocked. How could I be so late? I could have sworn that only took me a couple of minutes, but it turned out that I was an hour late to the auditions.
This really hit me hard. I really wanted to be here and see all the boarders audition for the part that they wanted, and yet I wasn't here. I was busy doing work.
Even though I knew deep down inside of me that the girls and their auditions were the most important to me, I still worked and missed their auditions.
I suddenly wanted to change.
Kiminini, Kenya
It's Jen here.
Amanda still hasn't written?! It's okay. I wanted to write this journal entry anyway.
After our adventure in South America, we decided to go take about a two week break back at home in New York. That amount of time flew by though. We were already on our way to Kenya before we knew it.
September 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
It was actually my idea to come to Kenya. I had always wanted to volunteer in Kenya. It was a dream of mine since I was really young. I just hoped that Amanda and Holly would come to love this experience as much as I have already loved it.
We joined an organization called Village Volunteers to volunteer for about a month. Since all three of us wanted to help with children's education, we joined a program inside of the organization called the Common Ground Program. The program didn't involve the government and had a primary school that gave homes to many children. Those children had no parents or at least one of their parents had died from illnesses.
After we had gotten off our plane, we traveled to the house of our volunteer leader, Joshua Machinga. He invited us in his house and introduced us to his wife and five kids.
When we came into his house, there were already three people sitting in his house. They were medical students. They told us that the program we were involved in was actually pretty well off. I was surprised at that, because there was no plumbing or electricity in Joshua's house.
After we were all introduced, Joshua and his wife prepared for us a big meal. We all ate happily and talked with each other.
That was when we all heard voices from outside the house. Then, fourteen girls walked into the house. They danced and sang with us until Joshua said it was time for them to go to bed.
Kenya Pop
Those fourteen girls were few of the children that stayed in the primary school, so we guessed that most of them had lost one parent or both parents. They were called boarders since they stayed at the dorms at the boarding school.
Since it was my idea (and my dream) to go to Kenya, I decided to let Amanda and Holly bunk together in one room and I would stay with another one of the volunteers, Irene. It was only fair.
The bathrooms were a little less than tolerable. They were outhouses with only a hole for you to do your business in. I couldn't be complaining though. I knew this would happen. The only people whom I was worried about were Amanda and Holly.
After we slept for a good couple of hours, we woke up and Joshua led us through the Pathfinder Academy, the school that the boarders stayed in.
That's Holly there in the picture with Joshua and the boarders.
When we entered the school grounds, a flood of children rushed in to not be late to class. They all greeted Joshua since he was practically the principal of the school.
I asked if there was any way that we could teach the children, but Joshua said that all the children already had teachers. He said that we could help some of the kids here by sponsoring them and paying for their supplies for school. He asked us if some of our friends and family back at home could sponsor some of the kids as well. We all happily agreed to ask our friends and family to sponsor these kids.
Joshua had explained that most of the girls stayed in the dorms at school, because there was a potential risk of rape if they walked to and from school. He explained that they wouldn't be able to do anything and that it was normal for girls to get raped. I wondered why the girls didn't fight back. Joshua had talked about it like it was common and that it couldn't be changed. I wondered about that.
That night, we all hung out in the room that Irene and I were staying in. Amanda had her laptop out and she was uploading the pictures that we had taken so far. The fourteen little boarders from the other day had popped into our room and asked what Amanda was doing. She was saying that she was uploading pictures.
Amanda then asked if they had ever seen a movie. One of the girls, Naomi, answered yes. She said that they had seen a movie when a previous volunteer had come and brought one. Amanda then popped a movie into her laptop and everything and everyone became silent. We all watched the movie in awe and wonder. Then, the girls started talking to us and played with our hair.
Holly and Amanda were having fun too. I was happy that they were starting to adapt to the life here.
Amanda still hasn't written?! It's okay. I wanted to write this journal entry anyway.
After our adventure in South America, we decided to go take about a two week break back at home in New York. That amount of time flew by though. We were already on our way to Kenya before we knew it.
September 2007
Kiminini, Kenya
It was actually my idea to come to Kenya. I had always wanted to volunteer in Kenya. It was a dream of mine since I was really young. I just hoped that Amanda and Holly would come to love this experience as much as I have already loved it.
We joined an organization called Village Volunteers to volunteer for about a month. Since all three of us wanted to help with children's education, we joined a program inside of the organization called the Common Ground Program. The program didn't involve the government and had a primary school that gave homes to many children. Those children had no parents or at least one of their parents had died from illnesses.
After we had gotten off our plane, we traveled to the house of our volunteer leader, Joshua Machinga. He invited us in his house and introduced us to his wife and five kids.
When we came into his house, there were already three people sitting in his house. They were medical students. They told us that the program we were involved in was actually pretty well off. I was surprised at that, because there was no plumbing or electricity in Joshua's house.
After we were all introduced, Joshua and his wife prepared for us a big meal. We all ate happily and talked with each other.
That was when we all heard voices from outside the house. Then, fourteen girls walked into the house. They danced and sang with us until Joshua said it was time for them to go to bed.
Kenya Pop
Those fourteen girls were few of the children that stayed in the primary school, so we guessed that most of them had lost one parent or both parents. They were called boarders since they stayed at the dorms at the boarding school.
Since it was my idea (and my dream) to go to Kenya, I decided to let Amanda and Holly bunk together in one room and I would stay with another one of the volunteers, Irene. It was only fair.
The bathrooms were a little less than tolerable. They were outhouses with only a hole for you to do your business in. I couldn't be complaining though. I knew this would happen. The only people whom I was worried about were Amanda and Holly.
After we slept for a good couple of hours, we woke up and Joshua led us through the Pathfinder Academy, the school that the boarders stayed in.
That's Holly there in the picture with Joshua and the boarders.
When we entered the school grounds, a flood of children rushed in to not be late to class. They all greeted Joshua since he was practically the principal of the school.
I asked if there was any way that we could teach the children, but Joshua said that all the children already had teachers. He said that we could help some of the kids here by sponsoring them and paying for their supplies for school. He asked us if some of our friends and family back at home could sponsor some of the kids as well. We all happily agreed to ask our friends and family to sponsor these kids.
Joshua had explained that most of the girls stayed in the dorms at school, because there was a potential risk of rape if they walked to and from school. He explained that they wouldn't be able to do anything and that it was normal for girls to get raped. I wondered why the girls didn't fight back. Joshua had talked about it like it was common and that it couldn't be changed. I wondered about that.
That night, we all hung out in the room that Irene and I were staying in. Amanda had her laptop out and she was uploading the pictures that we had taken so far. The fourteen little boarders from the other day had popped into our room and asked what Amanda was doing. She was saying that she was uploading pictures.
Amanda then asked if they had ever seen a movie. One of the girls, Naomi, answered yes. She said that they had seen a movie when a previous volunteer had come and brought one. Amanda then popped a movie into her laptop and everything and everyone became silent. We all watched the movie in awe and wonder. Then, the girls started talking to us and played with our hair.
Holly and Amanda were having fun too. I was happy that they were starting to adapt to the life here.
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