Kenya TIP reflections

Rachel Walsh:

It is truly hard to believe that six weeks have gone by since I
boarded the plane in Detroit, Michigan and headed to Nairobi, Kenya.
Though the physical sings of time passing are there, my hair is a
little longer and my skin a little redder, mentally I find myself
shocked that I am approaching the last week of my homestay and
teaching.   I think this is mainly due to the fact that each day has
been fillled with exciting new adventures and challenges.

My Community.
I have been placed with a delightful family in the village of Ivuyi
which is just a five minute walk to the neighboring village of
Kwirenyi where I have been teaching at the Salvation Army Kwirenyi
Secondary School.  I live with my host mom and three host siblings,
Griffins age 4,Iyvone age 6, and Kelvin 21.  However, I feel that I
have been welcomed into a family that is much larger.  The first
weekend was spent meeting as many neighbors as I could.  Each one of
them excited to meet the new muzungu in town and thrilled by my feeble
attempts to learn Kiswahilli and Kiluya.  The most curious by my
arrival were the children. However, they were the most skeptical as
well.  Groups as big as ten would come to greet me, but once they were
close they would run away and giggle.  Knowing very little english, if
any at all, made it difficult to communicate, but within a week the
neighboorhood children became some of the most important people to me
in Kenya.  I have learned that the simplicity of childs play only
needs the universal language of laughter.  Being so warmly welcomed
into this community has had a major impact on my journey thus far.

The Salvation Army Kwirenyi Secondary School
I have had the pleasure to spend the past couple of weeks teaching
math, english and lifeskillis in the Salvation Army Kwirenyi Secondary
School.  This is the second community that has warmly welcomed me to
Kenya.  Global Routes sent two interns to Kwirenyi which has been a
gift to be able to closely share this expereince with another student
from the United States.   Kwirenyi is an upcoming school about to
complete its third year.  It is currently staffed by one principal and
eight teachers who have yet to attend University.  The school is
rapidly growing and will have all four years of secondary school
starting in January.   Most of the teachers have recently graduated
from secondary school themselves giving the students a unique
opportunity to learn from someone who can easily relate to their
position.  The staff room is always filled with lively conversation
and is a great place to learn about Kenyan culture through the eyes of
young adults.  If there is one thing I have learned from teaching at
Kwirenyi it is the value of education.

Our Leader: Geno!
I could not imagine a more perfect person to lead a group of teaching
interns to Kenya, or anywhere in the world.  Geno is passionate,
open-minded and wise. I believe she has the unique ability to relate
and connect to people of every variety and make them feel comfortable
which has been invaluable.  Geno is constantly teaching us while at
the same time giving us room to grow and learn in our own unique ways.