Instruments from Riley Hospital for Children!

I am so thankful for the instrument donations from the Creative Arts Therapies Dept at Riley Hospital for Children!! I've been taking them around with me and have had a great response. The kids at the HIV/AIDS shelter I go to on Wednesdays especially loved them.  They saw me coming with a box and immediately all wanted to know what was in the box. I had them sit down in a row (there were 7 or 8 girls that day, I think) and I explained what each instrument was, and demonstrated how to play it. We had tons of shakers, small drums, a colorful baby rainstick, a triangle, and several others.  I set them out one by one on the table and the girls just could not even wait to grab them. The looks of curiosity and sheer excitement were so heart-warming.  You'd have thought it was Christmas morning--they've never seen such brightly colored, well made instruments before. So after I'd explained how to play each one I said, "Ready, GO!" and let all of them pick one to play.  We proceeded to JAM. I mean, full on JAM session. We sang a ton of the songs that I'd taught them, and also plenty of swahili songs that they've taught me, and it was just so much fun. We would all trade instruments every couple of songs so that everyone got to try out each different instrument.  

These girls are so resilient.  They've been burned by every level of society, and have learned to trust no one.  All of them are HIV positive, and most are or were also neglected, abused, and abandoned.  They have no possessions, and no family that cares for them.  But they have each other, and those are some of the strongest bonds I've ever seen.  Sarah Ellen Mamlin has done an incredible job of setting up this shelter. She has a full time teacher, several women who cook and clean and live there with the women and girls, and Social Workers and other help that check in periodically.  She somehow manages to bring them joy through clothing donations, cookies that she's made in her own kitchen, or new school notebooks here and there.  I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to provide such a fun, inspirational and therapeutic couple of hours to such neat young women. They are so grateful every time I come, somehow I think they're letting me in. So rewarding. Here are a few pictures of the girls and their new musical instruments:

 This mama can PLAY that tambourine, let me tell you!!

Jamming out with our new goodies, I love these girls.


This weekend I ran my first race in Kenya, a 12K. Now, I just have to remind you that Kenyans are literally the fastest runners in the world, in case you've missed the results of every marathon in the last bazillion years.  I went with several other wazungu (white people, or foreigners). We were excited because for 200 shillings, about $2, we got a tank top to run in, race number, and even a water break about half way through the race. So we were told that the starting times were staggered: 42K (full marathon) women at 7am, 42K men at 7:15am, 5K at 7:30am, 12K women (ME!) at 7:45am and 12K men at 8am.  So in Kenyan time, that really means we would start around 8:30 or 8:45, at least an hour later, and we did.  The 4 other wazungu from the Moi University/Indiana University partnership and I were the only white people, and it was just really cool to be surrounded by some of the world's top athletes.  Their bodies are incredible, such lean muscle and very little fat.  Their thighs are the size of my calves, or smaller.  So I've noticed since I've been here that Kenyans stand really close to each other while waiting in line. It was a bit odd at first, to be standing in line somewhere and have someone come up and literally have their shoulders or chest against your back, but I've gotten used to it. Strange though, that this also applies to the starting line of a race. We couldn't believe how close the women were standing to each other! And when the race started, elbows flew, and I saw three women go tumbling. They just got up, shook it off, and sprinted away. Ouch. So, we were left in the dust, quite literally. After running for about 20 minutes or so, I heard and felt this crazy stampede. I turned around and saw an amazing sight: 45 Kenyan men running towards me.  They were the men running the 12K that had started 15 minutes behind us.  There were so many long, lean legs flying and determined faces, I was truly in awe. I got off the pavement and kept jogging in the dirt as all of these ridiculously fast runners flew past me, it was a moment like none other. Running through the villages was also really incredible. People came out of their mud huts and homes to watch the race, but unlike in the US, they don't cheer and yell, they just stare. It was a bit eery, to be honest.  Lots of rubber necking as we went by.  I quickly discovered that if I smiled and waved, they responded and cheered me on a bit. I think I spent so much energy waving and saying, "Habari zeno, watoto!!" (How are you, children!!!) They would get super excited and wave and yell, "Mzuri!!" (Good!)  Then they'd giggle and mutter things about "mzungu" and "America." One of my favorite things was when one of the older adults gave me a few pity claps (it must have looked like a bit of a struggle at that point) and said, "Try, madam, TRY!" It was meant as encouragement, but I just wanted to say, "I AM trying!!!!"

Part of the way through the race a random man off of the street dressed in everyday clothes came and ran with me. He wasn't registered for the race, and at first I thought, "What the heck, is he seriously going to hit on me? NOW?!" But he was really nice. He'd say, "Sawa? Una choka?" (You okay? Are you tired?) And I'd say, "Hamsini, hamsini, sawa." (I'm so, so, I'm okay.) Then he'd say, "Sawa, TWENDE!" (Okay, let's GO!) And he would increase my pace just a little bit. I realized after several miles that he was really helping me. He'd go with my pace, then push me ever so slightly. He actually finished the race with me, and I learned afterwards that he's not a big runner, but he's a boxing instructor. He made a great motivator and running partner. So anyway, I finished the 12K, 7.3 miles, in 1 hour and 9 minutes. That's probably a PR for me, it's about an 8 min 40 sec mile pace. And two of the other white people finished after me, so I wasn't even last! It was a great morning.

My running partner and motivator.  Don't even know his name, but he was great!

All I want for Christmas

Hi all,

            As the Holiday season is quickly approaching, I wanted to give you an alternative option for gift giving this December.  In years past, I've often been overwhelmed by the American way during the Holiday season: I think too many times we rush around during the week before Christmas trying to find the perfect gift for those we love, as if showing our love requires a material object. While I love giving (and receiving!) gifts as much as the next guy, I have a different perspective this year. Although I haven't spent a Christmas here in Kenya before, I can guarantee you that things will look a bit different.  The amount of poverty and suffering here takes my breath away, and has changed my life in just the short amount of time I’ve been here. 

            Please consider making a donation this holiday season.  One-time donations are always welcome. Here is an estimation of how much money is needed for what:

           

            $30 will buy 2 girls’ packages for a year (24 sanitary napkins, 8 pairs of underwear,               and soap) 

            $50 will buy one school uniform and one notebook

            $100 will buy five children a pair of school shoes

            $500 will buy textbooks for approximately 3 students in Primary school, grades 7 and 8

            $800 will buy approximately 10 children a Christmas package including several pairs                        of clothes, shoes, cookies, a toy, etc.

            $1,000 will assist a college student with yearly tuition fees, accommodation, and food  for 1 year

            If you are interested in making an ongoing commitment, one of the most effective and needed ways to donate is to sponsor a child so that they can go to school.  It costs approximately $350 for a child aged 6-13 years to go to Primary school for one year, three terms.  It costs approximately $450 for a child aged 14-18 to go to Secondary school for one year, three terms. However, it would be devastating for a child to be sponsored for just one year of school, only to be put back on the street when the money runs out.  For this reason, if you decide to sponsor a child, it is necessary that you agree to sponsor them for several years.  You can decide which aged child to sponsor, and for how long.  For example, if you want to make a 4 year commitment, you can sponsor a child for Secondary school (equivalent to 4 years of high school in the US).  

            Taaluma Program is a local NGO here in Kenya that Joe and Sarah Ellen Mamlin work with to distribute international donations to children in need. As some of you know, my parents are visiting me in Kenya at the end of December.  I'm volunteering them to bring checks and monetary donations directly here, so as to avoid fees associated with wiring money and the like.  If you are interested in making a donation, please make a personal check out to Mrs. Sarah Ellen Mamlin and Mr. Sonak.  A fund has been set up in their name to avoid unnecessary fees through the Kenyan government.

             I hope this hasn't been too overwhelming of an explanation and plea. The bottom line is, there is SO much need.  ANY amount of money you can afford to donate will be put to good use, and you can determine where your money goes. 

           

            Please consider giving a gift that will change the life of a child here in Kenya.  If you’re interested in making a donation, please contact me for my parents’ address. They will collect checks and bring them to Kenya in December. 

Sincerely,

Kathleen O'Donnell

Kathleen.s.odonnell@gmail.com

Halloween....and Kenyan Body building.

Halloween is not a holiday that Kenyans celebrate. In fact, most associate it with the idea of Americans worshipping ghosts, dead loved ones, and other creepy things. So, it’s not highly regarded in Kenya at all. There are no huge pumpkins on top of costume stores, or signs with “Halloween Costume Sale!” everywhere. There are no college students scantily dressed up as a “sexy” something: Sexy pirate, sexy bunny, sexy schoolgirl…nope. BUT since the Sally Test Pediatric Center was started by an American, it’s become tradition there to celebrate Halloween.  There were several costume donations (from the US no doubt, there’s nowhere to buy a costume in Kenya) that we took home and washed the week before Halloween.  I had prepared the kids with several different songs, but not too spooky of songs, so they were ready to sing. I ran into a stumbling block with one song that talked of “gremlins.”  Nobody knew what a gremlin was! The closest visual I could think of on the spot was that they were similar to the dwarfs in Snow White, which some of them had seen. But really, how DO you describe a gremlin to a Kenyan? I’ve never had to ponder that question before. 

So the kids that fit into the 8 or 10 donated costumes happily put them on and pranced around like ladybugs, lions or princesses. The sad part was seeing the kids that didn’t get a costume. Many tried to squeeze into too-small outfits, only to get stuck half way.  Others just had these huge, sad eyes as they watched the lucky kids that happened to be the correct sizes.  I continue to be impressed by their resilience though, there was not one tear. Imagine what would happen in America.  If some kids got costumes and others didn’t?! Good God, breakdowns and tantrums galore. Heck, there would be meltdowns over who got which costumes even if all the kids GOT costumes. It definitely puts things in perspective.

In the morning we sang Halloween songs and decorated masks out of paper plates.  Then we carved a pumpkin, which was greenish/beige, I might add.  One of the staff balanced it on her head (with a lit candle inside) while we walked through the wards and sang.  How in the world do African women balance so much on their heads? Bowls, wood, buckets, stalks of fruit, you name it. They don’t even use their hands. Anyway, I digress. At least by this point every kid had a mask or a costume, so that made me feel a bit better. It was quite the experience to parade through the wards.  When we came back, each kid got a small paper bag with 4 pieces of candy in it, and a banana. They were ESTATIC.  It was so neat to see their smiles as they opened their candy bags and tore into the bananas.  When I think of this experience as compared to what Halloween looks like in America, it almost makes me sick.  Kids running door to door in expensive, well-thought out costumes….I mean, I remember coming home with BUCKETS o’ candy. Just an insane amount of candy.  Then when I think of how amazing these kids felt to get FOUR pieces of candy…I wish there was a way to help American kids appreciate all that they have. It might as well have been Christmas morning for these kids to get such a treat as candy and a banana. Wow.

 A lady bug and a bumblebee....they were SO excited to get dressed up.

 My favorite lion, Wycliff.

 Hellen, one of my dear friends at the Sally Test Pediatric Center, balancing a pumpkin on her head.

 Parading through the wards in costumes and masks.

Another one of my recent adventures included going to the “Mr. Eldoret” Bodybuilding competition. It was in a conference-ish room at a hotel in town.  There were 5 or 6 different weight divisions, each with anywhere from 4 to 10 competitors.  All competitors in each weight class would come out on the makeshift stage first, and prance around a bit.  They were wearing very little clothing, pretty much a bikini bottom, to be exact, and were all slicked up with soooooo much oil.  The judge would call out different muscle groups that they wanted to see, and each poser would assume the position that best showed off that muscle group, then flex as hard as humanly possible.  I think they were flexin for jesus or somethin.  After this first round, they would ask one or two posers to remain on stage. These guys would get a song to themselves (often times a Celine Dion ballad, WHAT?!) and would do a bit of free style posing.

So after four hours of this, they had a final round of all the winners from each division.  During the downtime, one of the judges came up to our table and asked me to write my name down.  Now, I’ve learned, in my two months here, that Kenyan men are very forward. They’re not shy to ask for your name and number, and if you give it to them, they’ll use it. So I said, “No….thanks. Sorry.” The guy laughed and said, “It’s not for personal use, it’s for the competition.” So I hesitantly wrote my name down, and sure enough, got called on stage to help give out awards and certificates.  There is such a big tada around having a white person present; it almost seems like in this kind of situation it’s an honor? Well anyway, I was already on stage with the finalists, and there was still a bit of downtime, so of course I had to do a pose or two.  Then I helped present the certificates, trophies, and medals to each person…quite the night!

 Kenyan body builders....

 Paul Mwangale, I guess he's a famous body builder from Kenya?

 One of these things is not like the other....

 Just learning a few poses...

And yes, there I am with the sponsors presenting awards to the finalists.