This is basically the same entry as the one ive just put on Bebo cos up till now this wasnt working! Ho hum! So... if u read it there...stop now! This is really just for my mum n Dad and ne1 who doesnt use Bebo!


So, news so far! Monday was our second day of orientation nd also the day we had to leave Mama Massai's! The four of us were sooooooo upset. i miss her so much plus it was very hard to leave little Regina, apparently she said to Mama in Swahilli that she was going to come with us! Anyways before we left Mama had a surprise for us! She had pulled out all of her tribal Massai gear and she dressed us all up in it! It was hysterical... the beaded necklaces r sooooooo heavy (around 20 kilos. Regina got a bit upset when we left.. as did we and Mama and Doris have made us promise that we will go back and stay with them and that we will write! so, we got on the bus with everyone else and set off. We went on like a kind of mini safari walk (basically it was a zoo but we're not allowed to call it that!) then we went into Nairobi to the GVN/ VICDA offices to sort some stuff out AND Sarah (girl i stayed with at Mama Massai's)and i booked our Safari WOOOHOOO! On Friday we leave for a 3 day trip around the Massai Mara to see whats known as "The big 5" : Elephants, Giraffes, Lions, Rhino and Cheeta.... plusloads of other stuff!

Anyways after that we got loaded into our various car and minibuses and set off to our hosts and programmes! On the way we got a chance to go to the orphanage im working at (Elshaddai) and meet the children. What i should probably also mention is that this is in the middle of an incredible thunder and lightning storm (i know! Kenya! Go figure!) and because we r in sch rural area the roads r red dirt/sand... so as u can imagine this is lots of fun in torrential rain! Anyways we made a run for it and got into the home.

I cant really describe what it felt like ot see the children. The minute we walked in there was a stampede to shake our hands, gve us hugs and jump up on us with constant cries of "Jambo" "Hello" and "MZUNGU" (white person!)they are the most incredible little people ive ever met in my life and they are all absolutely gorgeous. Stephen and Beatrice who run the home are just amazing people. They look after these 80 children soooo well in such harsh conditions and treat each and everyone like their own!

So, first proper day at the orphanage was yesterday and it was amazing. Stephen said this was to be our "rest day" to give us time to settle in so we spent the day getting to know the younger residents of Elshaddai: Mercy, Milka, Gibby, Simon, and Faith who are aged between 1 and 2. Had so much fun with them... they r sooooo full of energy ( so much so that it took me around and hour to get Faith to fall asleep in my arms as she had been yawning and grisly for ages!) Mercy is a little Diva who will only wear dresses, Milka cries if any of the other kids have ANYTHING, Gibby is around 18month and a complete rascal and Simon has the biggest smile ive ever seen and giggles non-stop!

Yesterday was also the day that i took all of the stuff i had brought from home to the orphanage. This was great! There were constant cries of Woohoo and Yahoo from Stephen every time we opened a new case. We haven't give much of the stuff out yet... Stephen wants ot give me the opportunity to do that and most of the kids were at school yesterday. The younger ones did get some stuff though and we had lots of fun with that... especially when Mercy took one of the barbies and asked to have it tied onto her back with my headscarf like and African woman carrying a baby! I took lots of picturesand videos whichiwillno doubt show u all. (please excuse what i look like in them.... i am in Africa)

Ooooh, forgot to mention! Im staying in a place called Githunguri with a retired couple called Elizabeth and Samuel who are great! Im living with two other volunteers who are also w working at Elshaddai called Jennifer and Alison and we have a good laugh! Obv as u can see we do have some internet access up here.... i just have to get up at stupid o'clock to use it! We also have electricity and running water at home WOOOOOOOOOOO AND... AND.... vaugley warm thats right warm water! AAAAHHH! It was amazing to have a shower that didnt make me wanna throw up lol! Only thing is Githunguri seems to b like Spider central...eeek and its a lot cooler here than in Nairobi... i miss the heat!
.

Anyways better head off and catch a matatu and see my wee ones!

Love to everyone!

X

P.S Sorry if this has been difficult to understnad.... the keyboards r awful here!

Kwaheri!!

Karibu Kenya!

Hiya everyone, finally found time to get myself to an internet cafe!
Where to start?
Well, obv im here, got here no problem at all, luggage and everything which is pretty amazing! Have to admit had a bit of a cry at GLasgow Airport ... suddenly hit me how scary this whole thing is, but i got past it! Flights were fine and Nariobi airport was pretty easy to navigate. 

Im currently staying with a temporary  host family until i begin my placement. Im staying with 3 other grils who are from the US. We're living with "Mama Massai" and her family. They are all from the Massai tribe and we've learnt some amazing things about their culture. We've also all been given Massai names, so i dont get called Kirsty at home.. im Nanngu (pronounced Nang-You). Ive learnt to respond to it pretty well. LOL!

So much has been happening i dont have time to write it all. Ive discovered Kenyan Chai tea which is amazing (Mum you would love it! ) The people here are just indescribable.... they  have so much warmth and spirit and they make you feel so welcome.

The place itself..... i really dont know how to describe it. Where we're living is pretty nice... we even hav e ELECRICITY and sometimes running water! But we'rve also seen a bit of the Kibera slums which are just horric... really like you wouldnt imagine. Dorris (part of the family we're staying with) took us all to Nairobi centre yesterday WHOA!!!!!! Scary place! We  went there by matatou which is like a kind of minin van u just hail down and barter with the driver for the fare. Driving here is mental... they have road lanes but theyre more suggestions than rules. 

Also in our family is little Regina who is 3 and the sweetest little girl on the planet. She only speaks Swahilli and up until not long ago lived with the tribe in Massailand. So far ive taught here to say "Scotland" and "Glasgow" Woohoo!

Today was out first day of training and i met some increidble people from all over the world.... most of whom got very excited when they heard my accent and one guy jus refers to me as "SCOTLAND" 5 hours of trainig later we got taken to a beautfiul hotel for lunch! Last bit of luxury before we get transfered to placements tomorow

Having the time of my life but missing you all incredibly.

Love you all very much

Tatuonana!

X

So, six days to go and i thot i would start writing.
Ive just finished watching the Jeremy Kyle (dont laugh!) special which he did from an orphanage out in Kenya and it surprised me how upset i became. I worry a bit that i wont be able to handle what i see out there. 

Just in case people hadnt realsied btw, my user picture is one that i took in the lecture theatre on the fundraising fancy dress day. I want to take a second just now to thank everyone who helped me that day. We raised a fantastic amount of money which has gone towards buying everything from tootpaste to glitter glue, headlice treatment to pop up play sets for these kids. We had sooooooo much fun that day..... but i hope that it doesnt even come close to the amount of fun these kids will have with all the stuff im taking out to them.

My Swahili phrase book arrived on Thu, so had become essential reading over the past few days. Here's what i know so far... (or what im reading from the book in front of me):

Jambo/Habari ~ Hello
Tutaonana ~ Goodbye/See ya!
Tafadhali ~ Thank you
Pole ~ Sorry
Sielewi ~ I dont understand
Mimi ninataka chakula- I want food!!!!
Nitakukosa- I'll miss you
Nakupenda- I love you
Toka!! - Piss off!!
Jina langu ni Kirsty - My name is Kirsty


I should get by!

Tutaonana!

X