Most of today was spent traveling from Nairobi out to my grandparents campus in the rural area of Kenya (AKA "the bush"). The following passage is a reflection I wrote during the 5 hour car ride. As I listened to my music and watched my surroundings change from urban to rural, I had the following thoughts...
Partying, fancy cars, and beautiful women--These are the the themes I'm hearing right now as I listen to American music on my iPhone. But what I'm hearing and seeing right now are two completely contrasting concepts. The drive from Nairobi to the Bush entails miles of poverty, struggle, and hardship. Today, we left the city of Nairobi to head to Kimana, a small, rural town 5 hours outside of the metropolitan area. As we left the city limits and entered less civilized territory, I felt the energy shift from struggle to survival mode. The city folk have a tough life, but seem to be able to make do. They have many more resources available to them. The rural residents, however, are faced with scarcity in all aspects-food, clean water, and any convenience or comfort whatsoever. As we passed miles and miles of dilapidated fruit stands and street peddlers, I pondered how these people got by. I mean, there were SO many of the exact same products being sold. If you were lucky, a truck of travelers would stop at your stand and make a purchase. This has to be one of the most competitive markets I've witnessed. Nonetheless, these people pursue their plight to survive and miraculously manage.
We really live in a completely different world from the people I encountered today. Fame, money, and beauty are prevalent themes in American culture, but here in Kenya that is hardly the case. Yes, money is important, but not as a symbol of status like in the U.S. Rather, money means food, which means survival. That's what these people are concerned with--survival. And miraculously they're achieving it despite all the odds being against them.
Lesson learned today-Someone out there is always going to have it more difficult. Be grateful for my good fortune, because many do not have the same privileges and comfort I enjoy in the U.S.
Partying, fancy cars, and beautiful women--These are the the themes I'm hearing right now as I listen to American music on my iPhone. But what I'm hearing and seeing right now are two completely contrasting concepts. The drive from Nairobi to the Bush entails miles of poverty, struggle, and hardship. Today, we left the city of Nairobi to head to Kimana, a small, rural town 5 hours outside of the metropolitan area. As we left the city limits and entered less civilized territory, I felt the energy shift from struggle to survival mode. The city folk have a tough life, but seem to be able to make do. They have many more resources available to them. The rural residents, however, are faced with scarcity in all aspects-food, clean water, and any convenience or comfort whatsoever. As we passed miles and miles of dilapidated fruit stands and street peddlers, I pondered how these people got by. I mean, there were SO many of the exact same products being sold. If you were lucky, a truck of travelers would stop at your stand and make a purchase. This has to be one of the most competitive markets I've witnessed. Nonetheless, these people pursue their plight to survive and miraculously manage.
We really live in a completely different world from the people I encountered today. Fame, money, and beauty are prevalent themes in American culture, but here in Kenya that is hardly the case. Yes, money is important, but not as a symbol of status like in the U.S. Rather, money means food, which means survival. That's what these people are concerned with--survival. And miraculously they're achieving it despite all the odds being against them.
Lesson learned today-Someone out there is always going to have it more difficult. Be grateful for my good fortune, because many do not have the same privileges and comfort I enjoy in the U.S.
When we arrived at the campus several hours later, we were greeted by eager, smiling faces of students. Instantly, they flocked to our bus and chattered amongst each other about the arrival of the "mzungos" (AKA white people). Not surprisingly, the kids were again fascinated by my hair. I thought the initial curiosity would wear off, but I was mistaken. As the kids showed me around their campus and dorms I constantly felt tugging at the back of my head!
That's excitement if I've ever seen it! This boy, Richard, was so polite and captured my attention immediately. He was very curious and eager to learn about me. Richard was especially intrigued by my freckles. He pointed to my arms and asked me why I had "dots" on my skin. I chuckled at his description and helped him understand why those "dots" were on my arms. |
The kids taught me how to play one of their favorite games this evening, "hoop and stick". Turns out, it's harder than it looks... Maybe I'll get better if I keep practicing with them!