Hello
again wonderful friends and family!
It is a
beautiful Monday evening as I sit here eating my dinner…which may or may not
consist of an entire pineapple, peanuts, a pawpaw and hot chocolate (I don’t
have punch in my house so I couldn’t finish off the alliteration)…and this blog
is going to be about food, glorious food J
After my
last post, Sarah, my sister, asked about the food the kids eat and how it is
prepared as well as the food I eat…and so now I’m going to fill you all in as
best I can!
The students
here eat porridge every morning for breakfast. It isn’t like any porridge I’ve
had before but it’s quite delicious and it what I eat most mornings for
breakfast as well. It is a fine mix of maize flour, finger millet, soya flour
and then depending on the brand it might also have skimmed powder milk,
amaranth, sorghum and extra vitamins/minerals added. I have tried 3 different
types since being here and each one is good but different in thickness and
flavor. You cook it similar to grits and it is always served in a mug/cup.
Also, as with grits, you add your own flavoring and most commonly it is sugar
and milk though I often also add cinnamon and a chopped up banana-yum! The
label specifies that it is especially good for children and the elderly and since
I majored in youth and seniors, I think drinking a lot of it is good for me ;)
It is tasty and since I have issues drinking enough water it is also a great
way to get liquids as well as nutrients! Score!
The
teachers then get a cup of chai tea at 10 and a banana while the kids have a
break time.
Lunch for
me is always ugali (maize flour mixed with water and cooked) with either cooked
cabbage or kales and a few chunks of beef. The cabbage always reminds me of the
casserole that Omi cooks which is awesome. The children eat a dish called
‘githeri’ which is beans and maize. They eat this every day except for 1-2
days/week when they get ugali, kales and meat. They also get a fruit a few
lunches/week-I haven’t figured out if it’s every lunch or just a few days/week.
Snack
time is right after classes end at 3:20 unless they get changed quickly and run
first but that happens once in a blue moon. Usually they are too hungry and
slow to change that they all eat right before running. Snack is always 2 mug
fulls of porridge and the teachers get a cup of tea.
For
dinner, I am not often around when they eat since I am cooking my own but I
believe it is usually ugali with kales/cabbage. The students like the meals
here and even though the variation isn’t wide, they enjoy it. My dinners often
involve veggies, pasta and fruit. I am gradually trying to expand my dinner
menu but it’s slow going, just like Kenyan time. I did successfully make chips
(french fries) last week and on Fausnaught Day I made myself donuts! The donuts
wouldn’t have won any beauty contest but they sure did taste good with sugar
and cinnamon on top! I make cookies probably on average once every week and
half and it is so much fun to experiment by adding various fruits to the
mixture. I also made chocolate cookies this past week and gave every student in
my classes one for Valentines Day and they were a big hit!
The
school has a garden in which it is basically all kale. I believe the school
gets most of the kale from the garden but it also must buy some. The garden has
a few squash plants and passion fruit trees as well but the majority of the
small plot is all kale. The school also has maybe 20 chickens, 3 cows and a
heifer. The cows are the schools lawnmowers and keep it looking nice. They also
make living on the school compound feel more like home having their smells and
sounds everywhere. I’m not sure when the students eat the eggs or drink the
milk but they are involved in the students meals somehow.
Other
news is that I recently found out there is a track at the hearing primary
school next door and during a PE class last week I went for the first time with
the kids! I had no idea it was there and don’t know how long they keep it
painted but at least during term one when they’re training for competition, you
can see it! It’s not your average track that you might think of in America, it
much more authentic! They have spray painted with black paint maybe 6 or 8
lanes on a large grassy field behind their school. There is a nice little
pathway connecting our two schools and so our kids can use their grounds. It is
pretty uneven, very grassy and on a slant but it is 400 meters, right next door
and we’re allowed to use it so it’s perfect! If the kids can run fast on this
track, they’re ready for anything! Our kids have gone over there for PE class
twice now to run around it and practice running 400 meter dash, 100 meter dash
and the 1600 meter relay. They have their games competition in about 2 months
and we have to prepare them for track and field/football (soccer)/netball/volleyball
as well as drama. I have been running with them daily and they have started
practicing after school as well as practicing with them during PE. It’s a good
time!!
Lastly,
presidential elections are coming up on 4th March and politics are
about the only thing people talk about anymore…though it’s mostly in
Kiswahili/Kikuyu with bits and pieces in English so I only know the topic.
Kenya had it’s first presidential debate ever on the 11th of
February-pretty historic-where 8 candidates gave their opinions on t
everything
for 2-3 hours….I only watched the first 15-20 minutes to see the introductions
but it was interesting. School is closed during the week of elections so
everyone can travel to their home and vote. Peace Corps Volunteers have an
in-service training during that period since there is no school. It will be
great to see everyone, catch up and get much needed teaching advice.
I hope
everyone is having a fantastic February! Please keep me updated on all of your
lives as it is always grrrrrreat to hear your stories!! See, I’m trying not to
live under a rock here like my boyfriend has a tendency to do ;) hahaha but it
can be difficult and updates on anything are appreciated!
Love to
all and Happy President’s Day!
Zabet
