Today is Friday…my last day left in Mombasa, Kenya until I
return for a second time (which I WILL be doing). I think it is best for me-and
fair for you who have been reading- to reminisce on the many adventures,
struggles, and opportunities I have had. I have found it difficult to put my
thoughts and what I have actually been seeing into words for this blog, so I’ve
been doing my best to post pictures to give you a better picture. The problem
with pictures…is it is just that…a picture of a certain millisecond frozen in
time. You don’t get to hear the sounds, smells the scents, or anything else
besides simply see the pictures. So I’m going to take this time to do my best
to portray my African experience with you, obviously never doing it justice.
I’ll start with the food…because everyone is always
interested in food. The night before I left for Mombasa I was in my apartment
in Peoria visiting with my close friends before I left. They were asking me all
kinds of questions like “What are you going to eat?” “Are you going to get
sick?” “Are you going to come back 50 lbs lighter!?” (which would be nice…but
unfortunately that didn’t happen). And I guess…poor planning on my part, I
couldn’t really give them an answer. I had absolutely no idea what kind of food
I was going to be eating. So…now that I have been over here for 4 weeks, I am
sad to report…I’ve only lost 7 lbs…which probably has something to do with the
fact that I have been walking everywhere. Uglai is Africa’s staple food. It is
a mixture of maize flour, water, and…well just that. And they eat it with
anything really…a mixture of greens, beef, chicken, stew…etc. Rice and stew is
another thing I have eaten…nooooonn stop. It’s good…but everyday…everyday of
rice or potatos…carb overload. They eat these heavy foods with very good
reasoning though. Most dishes are very heavy—due to the lack of funds for
eating as much as we are used to in America. Also, they are constantly working
in the sun and using their bodies because there are so little machines that do
the work over here they need the energy from the food and for it to actually
fill them up. My favorite item of food, which isn’t really a good, is their
tea. I have been on a tea binge and drink at least 4 cups a day!! Chapatis is
also a famous dish which can be eaten with almost anything like the Ugali…and
you have read about the making of chapatis so I won’t bore you with that story
again J.
“Turns out not where but
who you're with, that really matters.”
The People…
I know I have said it a
million times…but every single person I have met has been nothing but wonderful
to me. The workers at the house—Dollas, my house mother, Silvanis and Benson—they
do miscellaneous things around the compound during the day, and Aijah and Frank—the
night security guards. These people are so great and have taken such good care
of me. I could have never had as much fun or had the experience I had if it
wasn’t for Isaac and Phares, our program coordinators. Well actually Phares is
our coordinator and Isaac is an intern. But that doesn’t really matter because these two are wonderful and I
like to consider them very, very good friends of mine. Everyone say a couple
prayers for Phares, as he is having a baby in the next month sometimes…and
throw in a couple for Isaac getting offered a full time job with Elective
Africa. When I came over I realized working at the hospital was going to be
different from anything I have ever seen…but I guess I didn’t really think
about what challenges I was going to be faced with. The lack of supplies,
staff, and poor conditions of the hospital—yes, I was semi-prepared for that…but
I (being clueless) didn’t even consider the language barrier! The hospital I have
been working at deals with mostly all patients who can’t afford basic life
necessities, let alone health care. It would be fair to assume most of them
haven’t even been in what we would consider high school—and it would be a fair
assumption (from the assumption HA) that the English language is not a priority
in their life. I was LUCKY if they spoke Swahili (because not only do Africans
learn Swahili and English, but they know their Mother Tongue best-which is
originated from what tribe they come from)…which I could get by with the 6
words that I could confidently pronounce. Most all of the patients I cared for
were so great to work with…even with the language barrier and having the only
white girl in the department care for them—probably because they wanted me to
get that baby out of them as soon as possible ;). The nurses, doctors, interns,
and students are the reason I had such a great experience in the hospital. They
were so welcoming and patient with me—and unfortunately I know that isn’t
always the case in the States. Nurses and doctors get so caught up in what they
are doing they don’t take the time to explain to others (why or why not) they
are doing something a certain way…which generally leads to that person
observing making a mistake…and then that same doctor or nurse chewing them out
(which if you think…if they had the time to chew them out….they could of turned
that time into the time to explain what was happening in the first place).
Anyways, enough about my rampage, more on the fact that the people I worked
with at Coast Province General Hospital were superb. I, as most people in a
foreign country would, came attached to certain ones that became my favorites…and
I hope I never lose contact with them. And I REALLY hope my friend, Kimani,
gets into grad school in the states—he is just way to intelligent not to become
a doctor like he dreams of. I don’t know if you recall me mentioning earlier in
the blog…the name Abigail is a real hit over here. They all tell me it’s a “strong
name”—of course they are referring to the biblical reference and not just on
the basis of thinking that I am a strong women, haha. But it would be nothing
for me to be walking down the hall or sitting in a room (and someone pokes
there head in the window) and just yells “Abeegail”-because that’s how they
pronounce it, and the next thing I’m getting a hug-from a (normally) big
African women who is about 4 foot 9. And I would always say “remind me of your
name”—because really if I didn’t work with them every day or at least 2 days in
a row…they all look and sound the same and are wearing the exact same uniform.
In their case…I’m the only muzungu walking around with legs longer than their
entire body, with a name they love—it’s easier for them!
Culturally…well I’ll
start with the basics of what I have learned (and this ain’t a great history
lesson—I’ll tell ya that!) So Mombasa is essentially an Island…I’m not sure if
technically it is…but basically, it is. It is located on the Eastern coast of
Africa making it a great location to inport and export goods. In some year…which
I can’t recall because our tour guide was terrible and I couldn’t understand
him—and he got very offended when you asked him to repeat himself, The Portuguese
came to Mombasa, by ship, to spread Christianity (and to spread their goods
easier—but mainly for the spread of Christianity). Mombasa became Portugal’s
main trading center. At this trading center the Portuguese built a Fort (take a
wild guess…), Fort Jesus. Well…not only are the Portuguese trading spices,
coffees, and teas here…they are now starting a slave trading business. And
slaves from European countries were captured and then traded to work on these
tea, coffee, and spice farms in really harsh conditions (which I can’t even
begin to imagine…because in my opinion the workers over here now…in 2012 work
in harsh conditions!). So a few years later…which is probably more like
decades, the Arabians didn’t much like the idea that the Portuguese were having
all this good luck with Mombasa…so they decide to attack and take over the city.
Well…that lasted for about 150 years and then the British decided…”hey, lets
take over Mombasa.” (At this point in to the tour of Fort Jesus…I was more
admiring the beautiful view of the ocean and not listening to the tour guide at
all because he was so rude and continually trying to put flowers in my hair.)
But I did learn…in 1963 Kenya gained its Independence. So…that horrible, awful, no good history
lesson—brings me to my point. The 2 main religions over here are Christian and Islam,
Islam being more prevalent. I’m not going to lie…it’s not every day that I’m
used to seem women dressed from head to toe in a black dress only revealing
their eyes…but that’s what you see around here…all the time. From what I have
gathered…there is two different types of Islam dress codes?...If that is even
the right word. Women can wear the entire black dress with just revealing their
eyes…or they can wear any outfit basically and just put a wrap on their head.
Okay…that was an awful explanation so I’m just going to stop murdering the Islam
traditions and just leave it at that. But…I did find this interesting (and I’m slightly
jealous…but again my own opinion.) In secondary school they are required to
take a religion class and they have to pick either Christian or Islam…or if
there is at least 2 Hindu students…the school is required to bring in a teacher
of that religion to teach. Pretty interesting right?—in America they can’t even
barely say the word religion. Anyways…off the religion subject as I have
mentioned before SWAHILI is the main language in Mombasa, along with the
individuals mother tongue. The mother tongue originates from one of the 42
tribes that the person in from in Africa. So basically…all of the workers here
at the compound know their mother tongue, Swahili, and English—pretty cool,
right?! I grew up…knowing ALLLOOTTT of hard working people. I can’t even think
of anyone in my family not working hard to earn everything they have…so
needless to say I get the whole “working hard” thing. Goodness gracious…I’ve
never seen people work as hard as these people. Most of them men are working
with no shoes, women are carrying 5 gallon jugs in each hand—while balancing
one on top of their head, they hand wash all of their clothes, hand pick all of
their fruits, walk, walk, walk, everywhere (well…or ride in a matatu—which isn’t
glorious at all). I mean…of course not everyone is like that in Mombasa…but the
majority and everyone I have met is in that situation. Patience, the teacher
that the school I visited, was probably the most motivating person I have ever
met…and in reality, probably the most inspiring person I’ll ever meet in my
life. It was absolutely heart-warming meeting that women and I’m so blessed to
have had the opportunity to do so. The children were the same—it breaks my
heart to know that maybe one of two will get out of the situation they are in.
The rest will just live in the generational poverty position they are in for
the rest of their life.
The experience…
One like never before. I
am so blessed to have had the opportunity to be able to travel to Kenya and
live in Mombasa for a month. I got to go home with three of what I consider
very close friends of mine—Silvanis, Dollas, and Frank. They all welcomed me
into their home and reassured me that when I come back I must not stay anywhere
but with them. There homes are so different than what we have in America. There
homes are comparable to rooms like we have…each home (or room) has a sitting
area, a sleeping area, and a kitchen area. They rooms make up a compound in
which they share the washroom area. This is called a Swahili home. I
have been able to see so many things and I highly encourage everyone to help,
encourage, and urge your children to do some kind of traveling to Africa. And
yes, I suppose it doesn’t have to be to Africa, traveling anywhere is good for
the soul, but traveling where you know you are doing good and helping people is
one of the best feelings I could have imagined.
So today I will be spending the rest of the afternoon
enjoying my last day (until next time) in Africa. Thank you so much for those
who have been reading and donated money or items to the trip. It was all given
to deserving people and they are so very thankful. I can’t wait to return to
share more of the details with you!!
Xoxo,
Abigail
Ps. Add me on Facebook--when I return I'll be posting all of the picture that I have taken...I haven't been able to put hardly any on the blog because it is so complicated with this website...and uses up loads of my internet!
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