Day in the Life

For my 1 month anniversary in Kenya, I thought it appropriate to write about what I actually do here. It has been quite the journey. I spent 2 weeks in Nairobi doing odd jobs, then I continued to float around for an entire week in Embu. This past week, I was able to live out a schedule (Alleluia!). My mornings are rather unexciting, but any time to interact with the students is wonderful. After exams/ break, I will get to teach form 3 PPI, which is apparently a class about life and faith...so a Bible study!! Also, when the students return from break, I will commence a program to teach leadership to the prefects.

6:00 wake up--usually to the sound of goats, birds, roosters and 280 girls getting ready for the day
6:30 daily Mass--even early in the morning, the girls are energetic singing the songs for Mass
7 breakfast--Alwina made jam with papaya, mango, passion fruit and horn fruit (and she kindly gave me a jar:)
7:30-11 work in the school--my jobs are administrative and repetitive, such as: stapling exams, filing, covering books. it gives me a chance to play little challenges with myself in efficiency (all that sociology of work research resurfaces)
11:30-1 production unit-- I help make school uniforms by sewing on buttons, ironing & cutting material
1 lunch with the sisters/ volunteers--we are uber diverse: 2 Germans, 1 Brit, 3 Kenyans, 1 Pole and me!
2-4:20 more work in the school
4:20 join the girls in their afterschool clubs, movements, debate or games (aka sports)
5:30 rosary with the girls
6 dinner/ rec--sometimes in the crazy dining hall. if a student 'convinces' me to sit with them, they'll escort me to their table with cheers. a bowl, spoon and stool appear from nowhere & they all chip in some of their food to share with me. hospitality at its finest :)
7-8 Madame Librarian--basically, I just sit in the library so the students can come in & study
8-9:30 introvert time

As I start to form relationships with the girls, I find myself wanting to watch them grow and mature. Overall, they are very welcoming, energetic and fun. I am still overwhelmed by how I'm treated like a celebrity, but I pray I may be able to form real relationships with them. Can't wait to see it all unfold!

During rec time, the girls all swarmed together to have their picture taken!

The north side portion of the school. It was so quiet during the exams!

Emmelda & I felt like prisoners this week since we worked on printing out thousands of exams!