Valuable Information

Just another day in the life of a health volunteer. I went to a Lori’s site last week to assist her with a small HIV workshop she set up at the technical institute next to her compound.  It went off really well, with over a third of the school in attendance! We had videos (in Kiswahili) about HIV and its pathology, slide shows and posters on STI’s and we were able to give out free condoms and family planning (birth control pills) to the students who were interested. We were also able to test almost thirty people, which was awesome! I was really glad to help out at the day and it made me realize a lot of the innate or easily accessible knowledge we as Americans have. I had brought over a huge amount of birth control pills that I had received from the district for my HIV day to give out to the college students. These students who were my age, or more often older than me, had no knowledge of what birth control was or how to use it. I gladly taught them individually or in small groups so that I was sure they had received the message, but it made me think about how common this knowledge is in America, and how easily you can access the information you need if you wanted it. Knowing to take one each day at the same time was a concept I had to repeat several times to the same group, and for most people at home this is something they hear about all the time. Here, the students have never had this type of information taught to them, or had media to get the information, such as television ads, or easy access to Internet. This was the case for the other topics as well that were taught that day, but because I was specially dealing with family planning, it became more apparent. This was something I’ve known since being here, but once you are really sitting down and teaching it, and knowing the information you are providing is really valuable, that’s when it starts to sink in. I guess it’s just something I wanted to put out there, be grateful for the knowledge and opportunities we are given, whether you utilize them all or not, the access to such information is not available everywhere.

And it is not just the information revolving around family planning and HIV, but so many other topics can fall under this unfortunate umbrella, in many areas besides Kenya. Being the teacher, and not the coordinator of the event really put me at the level to appreciate what was being done, and seeing the students understand what I was telling them was really a rewarding experience. I’m excited to help out again with Lori at this school because she has planned a school-wide event there in May that will hopefully capture all the students. 

This is a picture of Lori and the students, as well as Mama Margaret in the front in her scrubs. I'm taking the picture, because all the other ones were coming out blurry haha =P

As for me for now I am still working with my health clubs, doing lessons most recently on STI’s and this week on drug abuse. I am also still working on my event for World Malaria Day.

I still miss you all and hope everyone is well!

I am currently reading Zeitoun by Dave Eggers and have not really delved into any particular show right now!

With love and African sunshine,

Lindsey Rae

Consolidation and More

March 17, 2013

It’s the middle of March and I finally find myself back at site after a long but very fun consolidation period. As you may or may not have known the Kenyan presidential elections were held on March 4^th. Due to the post election violence that occurred during the last election period in 2007-08, Peace Corps brought all the volunteers together in a safe location in case anything were to happen this time around. Fortunately the elections were a peaceful process, and although there were some delays in counting, violence was minimal and not significant enough to send us home. For the volunteers this consolidation period, although racked with uncertainty till the end, was also a great time for us to get to know everyone from all sectors and training classes. We were able to all come together in a way that is not common for most Peace Corps volunteers. We had sessions with Peace Corps, but also were able to plan activities for ourselves, such as an Olympics, trivia night, talent show, and Peace Corps Kenya prom! In fact during the talent show my friend and lovely roommate Cassidy took second place for our rendition of the Cups song from the movie Pitch Perfect, which I hear is a big hit in the states right now haha! All in all it was an awesome couple of weeks, where we got to know the other volunteers better, the staff better (and let me plug here we have an AMAZING country director), as well as remained safe from an uncertain issues during the election process.

Now I am back at site, and although it has taken a couple days to get back into the swing of things I have started a list of what I want to do next and am planning activities both for work and play. I am looking into writing a grant to get funds to do an outreach for jiggers as well as having another HIV/AIDS day. World Malaria Day is also coming up at the end of April and myself along with Breezie, Joy and Lori are looking into doing an activity for that.  I am excited for things to come and hope that everything goes smoothly work wise, but I am keeping my expectations low, as you should when you live in rural Africa!

Unfortunately the elections are technically not over, because of a judicial process going on regarding a petition that on of the candidates has put in place, asking for a review of the process and a potential recount or revote. The courts will be hearing the case in about 9 days and then we will see where the process will go from there. I hope and believe that whatever the outcome the Kenyan people will remain peaceful. Afterwards, hopefully this issue can be put to rest for the remainder of my service. I have really come to love my home here in the village, and will no doubt be saddened if I am unable to remain here.

On a happier note, Happy St. Patty’s day to all back at home! I wish I were there to share a green beer or two with you =). Also, some shoutouts are in order. To my littlest sister who’s birthday is in three days, Happy 18^th!  Don’t go too crazy, which goes for Rach too, who will finally be 21 on April 6^th! And of course Happiest of birthdays to my amazing grandmother on the 21^st of March, and cousin Brooke who happens to share the same awesome birthday date with my sister Rach! And last but not least sending a big “Break a leg!” to those in the production of Hello Dolly! who I know (which is really just my sister and her friends haha.) I know it’ll be amazing, and I can not tell you how sad I am that I can’t see it in person! Honestly, ask my mother, I was renting the film version (with the amazing Barbara in it) since I was about seven years old from the library.

TV fix: Consolidation gave me new episodes of Glee, Homeland, and New Girl. No worries, they’re all completed now, but I wish I had more!

Reading: Just finished reading The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason. And by just finished I mean actually two hours ago. Thinking of reading Night Circus next, but the choices of a nook can be overwhelming!

For now all is good in Chebukaka, Kenya. I hope the same for you all wherever you are. As always, missing you all, and sending you sunshine and love from Africa.

Xoxo

Lindsey Rae

P.S. Snail mail is always welcome! And I’m sorry if you’ve sent something and I haven’t responded yet, with the whole consolidation thing it was a bit hectic here. I promise to get back on track! <3