It is the fear of every school child: to be sitting in the lunch
room having everyone laughing at you. This is what I experienced during the
first week of my fifth trip to Kenya, though it wasn’t as painful as it would
have been 20 years ago. Rather, it was oddly enjoyable. The subject of jeer: a
peanut butter sandwich!
I went to two primary schools (Grades 1 – 8) during the last
week to introduce the older students to a Lego EV3 Robot and document the
students’ problem solving skills. Kenyan
students are primarily taught using memorization techniques and I wondered how
they would respond to puzzles.
However, it was during the breaks with the teachers that
were the most memorable. There I was, in
a concrete building with a corrugated, tin roof, concrete floor with a light
dusting of dirt, the only source of light coming in from the door and solitary
window, sitting on plastic lawn chairs behind big wooden desks. This was the
staff room, teacher’s office, administration office, and break room.
The 8 teachers, mostly in their 40’s, were eating heaping
mounds of rice and vegetarian stew. I was sitting there with a dry, sad peanut
butter sandwich, unable to stomach the water that is used to prepare their
dishes and thus unable to join them in their sumptuous meal. Trying to explain
why I couldn’t eat their food was a tricky task, as it was certainly rude
(anywhere) to bring out my own very different meal when such a delightful, warm
dish was offered to me.
After my explanation, a roar of laughter erupted and furious
conversation where I could pick out the occasional English words: stomach and
peanut, and the Swahili words: maji (water) and mzungo (white person). It was
at that moment that it dawned on me that had this event occurred 20 years
earlier, I probably would have burst from the room in tears, but after 5 trips
to Kenya, I was accustomed to this reaction to the differences in our cultures.
However, having spent a few days substituting in Canadian schools,
being in the staffroom does not feel completely unfamiliar. The teachers
enjoying private discussions in separate groups around the room, while I’m
eating quietly, keeping to myself. Occasionally a question is directed towards
me, to which all groups look over for my answer.
All in all, it was successful week. The children responded
well to the puzzles and robots, and it was interesting to see how they attack
problems. Meanwhile, the rest of our team was on an airplane, leaving Wed
evening and some not getting in until late Saturday night. All have arrived
safely and are on their way to Mikinduri, where we will begin our preparations
for 9 days of medical, dental, and vision clinics. Last year we saw 6000 patients in that time
and hope this year will be as big a success. You can find more information at www.mikinduri.com
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