Student description of our first full day here

July 3, 2009

Our first night at the Rosa Mystica was quite relaxing, except for the dog that insisted on barking from 3:00 to 4:00 in the morning. We explored our showers (some of us didn’t find the switch to turn the hot water heater on) and our bug nets.

Most of us had no idea what our plans for the day were, except for the fact that we did not get to sleep in. We woke up for breakfast at 7:00AM, where fried eggs, toast and hot chocolate and instant coffee was the order of the day. We met our bus driver for the trip, Boniface Kamao (we call him “Boni”) and we were on the mini-bus by 7:45

Our first stop of the day was a tea factory about an hour north of our hotel. Tea seemed like relatively bland subject matter initially, but after spending an hour in the factory going over the intricacies of the processing tea, everyone was enthralled. From collecting tea from local farmers to the multiple fermentations to the final testing of different grains, the tour of the Maramba tea factory proved to be an energizing start that made our early morning worthwhile. Filled with enthusiasm for this process, much of the group was compelled to buy tea (or practice handstands in the grass).

Next we headed to a coffee plantation called “Paradise Lost,” where we toured caves used by the Mau Mau during the wars for British decolonization. We also paddled on a lake, and learned the many processes coffee beans go through before they are roasted and ready to reach your local Starbucks.

On our way to lunch were mobbed by legion of elementary school children, who waved and smiled and chased after us with tremendous enthusiasm. Everyone in the bus shared a sense of appreciation for our new bus chasing friends; we were awed by their enthusiasm, while scared for their safety as they tried to hitch a ride on the back of the bus (one succeeded at latching on to the ladder; no one was hurt).

Lunch was an expedited affair at a coffee shop near the United Nations Headquarters. Even given our speed eating, we were still late to our appointment with the Red Rose School children. This was our loss, as our late arrival kept us from spending more time with them.

We crossed the whole of Nairobi to reach Red Rose; many of us took the hour bus ride to catch up on sleep lost on the plane the day before. I (Therice) was expecting a scene from the movie “Slumdog Millionaire,” but Kibera on first glance surprised us with its cleanliness and seemly ordered nature. Perhaps our perception was off, as we only really skirted the edge. As we passed the corrugated metal walls of shanty homes and shops, we saw spray painted signs on the walls that served as evidence from the post election violence of December 2007 (“No Raila No Peace”) 225 as well as efforts towards reconciliation (“PEACE NOW”). The Raila reference is to Raila Odinga, Kenya’s first prime minister.

We pulled up to an alleyway in Kibera, and about 20 feet down the alleyway, we walked through the entrance to the school for the first time. Some of us were moved close to tears at the sheer joy conveyed by the faces of the children at our coming. In each classroom we visited, from the 2-3 year olds to the fifth graders, the students recited poetry and songs to welcome us. We were all surprised by the economical use of space in the school, where seven classrooms, two lavatories, a computer lab/library, and a central courtyard all inhabit a space smaller than the goalie box of a soccer field.

After many introductions and interactions we all gathered in the central courtyard (which was no bigger than four or six dining room tables – we had to press against one wall to make room to give the performers space). There, we were treated to a presentation by some of the oldest members of the school. As we watched the watched a skit about violence between brothers, some of us made a connection to the post war violence of the past year. We were floored by the realization that each of these children probably knew someone who was killed in that violence; they were impacted enough by it that the one main message they wanted to welcome us with was “peace.”

We then left Kibera and headed – in one of many odd contrasts that Nairobi presents on a regular basis – for the shopping at Junction Mall located literally across the street from Rosa Mystica Guest House, where we are staying. Enormous, clean and strikingly similar to a Walmart at home, the main store in the mall, Nakumatt Junction, is where we spent most of our time; we loaded up on what we considered “essentials”, such as pillows and chocolate.

Dinner was from 7-8, and then we shared our reflections for about 45 minutes. It was quite a first day.

During our reflection time, these were some moments/images that various members of our group found particularly powerful:

The dancing welcome we received at Red Rose

The power of a wave – the kids go crazy if you wave; kids will chase after the bus and run up a ladder

The stark difference between the wealthy Kenyan houses and Kibera’s slums

Children in general so happy, optimistic, and welcoming and confident -- belting out their names when they introduced themselves to us.

Everyone in Kenya has been bright and nice and happy and kind

Troubling image -- driving by polo field and 100 yards later is Kibera...