Food, Glorious Food

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 4^th 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 11^th 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