Week Two at IcFEM

Today has been quite hard work. It just shows how lazy iam really because iv not done much at all. I haven’t done a good days work for a few weeks, and I am knackered. Although Iv still got a few excuses to help defend my case. So ill give them a go. Firstly, it is boiling hot, I have to ware pants/ overalls etc, work was taking place at a higher altitude than I had worked at before, I didn’t really know what I was doing and everyone else was speaking in a totally different language.

The work I did get done was quite enjoyable, later in the day I especially enjoyed the mudding of the walls, but after all this did come after I had eaten. I also did some hammering and stamping of mud, this was real hard work, and you can actually feel the altitude. It is also hard when others are speaking in a totally different language. But overall the whole team did a good job, and now the house will be completed within at least 3 days, if not already, instead of the 4 to 5 days that were scheduled.

It is also good to see that Kenyan health and safety is sound. I think this was best highlighted when I went down to collect some mud, and found that a spade was careering down, just a few inches from my hand. But there is a nice relaxed atmosphere. It was also astonishing to see that one man even turned up on both days in a suit to help build the house. This is also the man that escorted us back to the main road on Tuesday and seemed to think that we had never been out on a road before, nor had we seen a bike, and neither did he grasp the fact that Mathew had been here for over 14 months and therefore had a fair idea on life in Kenya.

Apart from all this hard work I did find time to give myself a little break. But at one point I lost track of time, when I was messing around with the kids and when I turned back a fair bit of work had been done. The kids were nice, although I don’t think some realized that I didn’t have a clue what they were saying, so that is why I couldn’t answer what ever they were asking. They also loved my camera and having their picture taken. So when I took that out it was not the wisest decision I have made, I m sure they would have played with it forever. But it was good fun and I actually got some decent pictures for once.

The morning was also good, as we went to the primary school in Mishiku, to tell them about our cricket coaching and also to ask if we could use the field for this, The head teacher had great enthusiasm about this, and gathered all the kids in the school outside, so we could speak to them and tell them about the coaching and try and see how many would like to participate. I am guessing about 30 to 40 put their hands up to say they would, this is good, but I m not too sure how many will actually turn up, and so we will just have to wait and see. The head of the Mishiku unit also seems really enthusiastic and is, jokingly, determined that his unit will win; therefore he is lobbying for a trophy to be bought for when they win.

We also had a nice, quite trip home after a good days work, although the matatu managed to gain a flat tyre on the way. For once we hardly had any hassling, to buy anything, or even to use someone’s mode of transport. Although we did have to walk for a distance, and a downside to this is that there is a constant chorus of children asking “how are you?” At one stage there was even a small group of children that even sounded as though they were singing it.

There are things that are starting to tire me on this trip, and these are the constant hassling, and people looking, and in some cases starring at you, and also little kids asking how are you. It got to a stage today, where some little kids ran out to the road side, and I just braced myself for them to ask “how are you?” but, thankfully, they just had a good look as we walked past. Another thing annoying me is when you just hear the locals speaking Swahili, and “musungu” just pops up in the sentence. Unfortunately this is one of the few Swahili words I know. But I am now starting to sound like an old man, and I probably just need to get some sleep and enjoy these experiences and just take them on the chin.

So…… the house was finished, as far as we could do, within 2 days, and so this gave us a day of preparation for the holiday club, and cricket sessions in the next few weeks, on the Wednesday. This was another tiring day, as it always is when you are not too busy and you don’t get a lot done. I found myself getting quite a few games of solitaire in, but it is much harder on the computer than it is on my ipod, so I m just getting into it, I think much to the frustration of Mathew. But I found my new supplier of bananas, just a few hundred yards from the office, so I had a bunch of them on my way back to the office. The evening was spent watching a DVD, and with no one else around I had to lock up on my own for the first time, which was real fun!! It really is pitch black at night, and as I was told before I came, you really cannot see your own hand right in front of your face in the dark.

Thursday morning I had to do some washing, as the time since I last did some has past so quickly I had forgot all about it. I got up at 6 to get it done! But with my great washing technique I was still at it after breakfast and up until about 9!!! But now I m used to it and I know what to do, I think ill just leave it to the guesthouse staff. Especially as I later found out that I had not been particularly successful with my attempts! Just as I had finished I got a text off Mathew saying they were nearly ready to go so hurry up. So I did hurry up, forgetting that I was actually in Kenya and so there is no such thing as hurrying. On my way I saw Ken, who was coming with us, so he gave me a lift, but we had to stop at his house before going to the office. Then once at the office I had time to have a drink, have a look at my emails, and for the car to be swapped again and then sit about and have a few bananas. By the time we actually set off it was about 11 at least.

We set off on our way back to the house we had been helping to construct during the week to hand it over officially to the new owner. When we arrived I was helped down the slight slope to the house, by a little boy as though I was an old man with a walking stick. But I was grateful. When I arrived at the house it was a bit of a shock, because I had thought, maybe stupidly, that some more work may have been done in our absence, especially with all the helpers we had. But only the window and door had been added, which left a second mudding, the floor and the interior wall to finish. I think ill admit that I wasn’t particularly proud of our work, maybe harshly, but I had to ask Mathew if it was good work, and he assured me it was, and the people seemed happy so all seemed ok as far as others were concerned. I just hope the rest of the work is done well, otherwise id have to admit that I wouldn’t want to be living in it, and Id suggest the lady maybe better off living in her old house, even with one wall missing. This could be a bit hash on everyone, as the woman seemed pleased and everyone was grateful and happy that they had been able to help in this situation.

The handing over was attended by around 60 people, and was a joyous occasion, but it was mentioned that the attendance was a little disappointing. Once again we had Ugali and Chicken, which this time I managed to spill down myself, which at least gave the dogs a good meal!!

Friday was another day in the office, doing preparation work! So I had the opportunity to sharpen up my solitaire skills! No I m only joking, we did get a lot of work done, and are now ready for whatever questions the kids can fire at us about the game of cricket. I hope they understand……. We shall see!

The evening was really interesting! At the end of every month the staff and members of the community join for prayer and fasting. So they fast from Friday through Sunday morning and have a good session of pray through the weekend. So Friday evening we went into the Friday session of prayer. We got there about 8 and were home for 11. This was a first for me, and it is really loud, with people singing and praying, there is even a microphone, although I m sure it is not totally necessary, or maybe it is so they can be heard above everything else that is going on. I m also ashamed to say that I have not attempted the fast this weekend, although I believe we are missing Saturday’s evening meal, o no!!!!!!!! But its nothing compared to the people involved for the full weekend, so ill have to cope!

On Saturday we went for a trip to Webuye Falls and dinner in Webuye and then back to the office to get some work done!