Habari zenu Cambridge? (literally: what news of Cambridge?)
I have learned a lot of kiswahili this week from my lessons with Lydia. The story goes that kiswahili was created by children of Bantu women and Arabic men who were in Kenya as traders. Because of this, everyday words such as kula (to eat), kunywa (to drink), kupika (to cook), and kupenda (to like/love) are from Bantu origin and words associated with an absent father such as kusafiri (to travel), kusahau (to forget), kusameke (to forgive), and kurudi (to return) are from Arabic origin.
I have been going to Calvary Zion, the orphanage, after lunch at home. It is about 15 minutes by foot and you have to walk on the street while trying to avoid all of the matatus (the local form of transport). At Calvary, the other volunteers and I play with the younger kids who entertain themselves with a few dolls and some little cars. We also help take care of the two babies who were both abandoned at a hospital and who are suffer from malnutrition. Jane, the woman who runs Calvary, picked them up from the hospital this past week and within a month they should be back to normal. Kaleb is around 2 months, very small and only likes to be held if you are walking around. Destiny is probably around 7-9 months and sits very quietly while looking around at everyone. The older kids are leaving for boarding school on Sunday but will be back in November. Today I helped cut up a huge tub of kale for the children's dinner (think big like laundry basket big).
Starting next week I will be working at Calvary on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and at Mwokoeini, a school in a nearby slum, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
People here are very friendly and laid back and are pleasantly surprised when you respond to their "jambo" with a real greeting. Unlike in Cambridge, it is starting to get hotter here as their "winter" is ending right about now.
P.S.
If you are trying to send anything my mail, the address is:
Njeri Wathika
PO Box 82056
Mombasa - Code 80100
Don't put my name on the envelope as it will be lost more easily.
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Eleni,
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing such a long post. it is good on this side of the ocean to hear about your learning and your work.
Pretty grey here and after all the shots that Clio and I got yesterday at the Travel Clinic, I feel pretty lousy. I am also impatient to travel to Mombasa, and see Kenyan cows - I doubt the Harvard Yard one was of any interest.... or maybe is her milk academically enriched?
Maman
Sending you a post without logging in is actually working!
ReplyDeletemaman
Bon ,nous suivons aussi ton voyage a partir de Paris,nous te souhaitons donc plein de decouvertes passionnantes
ReplyDeleteEvi and co
Eleni, You are bringing me into the 21st century, as I've never posted on a blog before. I tried by clicking the "Share" icon and wrote a message there, that was shared..but whoknows withwhom, or where it is...so I'll retry here. I love to read the new words you are learning, and the story of their origins based on association with male or female spheres... The orphanage work sounds like it will fill your heart.How big of a city is Mombasa? Do you take bus to get to the orphanage? walk? I cannot really imagine what it is like for you, but do enjoy reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteLove, gros bisous,
Anna
Hey Eleni,
ReplyDeleteI too have never posted on a blog. I am in awe of what you are doing. I love your posts. Are there other Americans? Europeans? working with you in the program.
All is well here in Rhode Island
Love, Sarah (Dinklage)
OK, puisque mon ordi ne me permet de poster que "anonymement", je vais continuer de cette maniere. il a plu toute la journee, le block party a ete reporte a demain, Clio s'est mise au Swahili et Larry Rosenberg qui est venu diner te remet son grand bonjour. Et, qu'as-tu fait ce weekend?
ReplyDeleteJe t'embrasse, Maman
Hi Eleni,
ReplyDeleteRobin gave me you blog address. I'm excited for you and your trip--what a great thing. Red Sox won a double header against the Rays on Sunday, we still have a chance at the Wild Card. Must go walk Alice--she sends her love.
Take care,
Kit
Eleni,
ReplyDeletece que tu dis du temps confirme bien qu'il faut etre dans le pays ou la langue est parlee pour en comprendre toutes les implications culturelles. Je ne sais pas comment je vais m'y retrouver quand nous irons te rendre visite!Est-ce que vous dicutez de toutes ces differences avec ton proif de Swahili?
Voici quelques idees pour ta classe, trouvees avec david ce matin:
- les chants: "The wheel on the bus" et puis tu changes avec les wipers, le driver, les babies, les parents...
"Down by the Bay" ou tu invites des rhymes avec le nom des animaux. La premiere etant "Have you ever seen a lama in pajama?"
- ABC
- autre chose: chaque semaine tu pourrais leur apprendre une nouvelle lettre de l'alphabet avec des images, des histoires: ex "B", baby, banana..
Autre idee serait de contacter Bigelow. Gerlinde est sur facebook a Gerlinde Hossain-Endl. Elle suit ton blog et la fille de Karen est allee au Kenya plusieurs fois. Tu peux les contacter sur facebook et/ou je peux aussi leur telephoner pour leur demander si elle pourrait faire une liste d'idee. Elles sont tres interessees par ce que tu fais.
C'est quand meme choquant de lire qu'il y a des enfants dans le monde qui n'ont pas le materiel pour apprendre. Dis-nou si tu veux qu'on t'envoie quelque chose.
Je t'embrasse,
Maman