Saturday evening

Hi everyone!!!

Today we went on our adventure to the nearby town of Nanyuki. We are learning that the smooth drive we are used to in California is being replaced by the potholed and bumpy roads that cause bruising and discomfort here in Kenya. Nonetheless, we were estatic to make it into town and particularly to breakfast at "The Eatery." The group of us dined on everything from pancakes, to fruit salad, to omelettes, to milkshakes. Although our food desires were temporarily satisfied, parents - be prepared because all of us have lists in our notebooks of the foods we are craving once we get home.

After a delicious breakfast, we wandered the town, which is about the size of San Rafael, to a bunch of souvenier and curio shops where almost everyone found either jewelry, masks, salad tongs, dvd's, and/or belts etc. to buy from the vendors. We all mastered the art of bartering although we still kept in mind that each of the vendors sells their artwork for a living and it does not hurt to pay just a little extra. Before coming home we made it to the grocery store where everyone quickly stocked up on food for our remaining days.

Back at Daraja we had a busy afternoon: for 4 hours there was a rotation of dance, music, sports, and photography. Sumari and I learned some African dance moves and let the girls do some of their own choreography which was performed along with some American dances after dinner. Lizzy, Julia, and Lauren continued their work with a mix of the Swahili song, Choupele, as well as Wade in the Water and Down to the River to Pray - all three of which were also performed tonight. In photography, Jane, Steve, and Jono began their advanced photography course on portrait photos. Sports went well as usual  . . . for most. Erin took a dive playing tag providing a lot of entertainment for the girls - for her family and friends, she is uninjured however dusty. 

Tomorrow, Megan and Alison continue their journaling and creative writing course and Sumari, Lauren, Olivia, Kenia, and others begin their first class of WISH - the women's empowerment course. Jane and Lizzy begin the endeavor of replastering the Shamba Shed,and despite technical difficulties (splintering wood, unruly nails, and dying skillsaws) Jamie and I will once again tackle our third bench. For the outdoor building, we are all anticipating that the girls are passionate and enthusiastic about helping; currently Alison, Jane, and Julian remain veteran wood holders for stability during the sawing,

After dinner, we had a campfire with the girls which was great. Looking forward to continuing all of our projects tomorrow as well as to the Kenyan donuts that are being served for breakfast.

Much love from everyone!

Paige

PS. From all of us, especially Jane, Happy Birthday Will Cavagnero!

The boys help with kitchen supplies

Megan teaches punctuation and formatting rules

Lizzy's WISH break-out discussion group

Steve gives some photo-editing pointers

Breakfast in Nanyuki

Lizzy, Lauren and Julia lead an evening of African and American song

Jono and Teddy share a moment

An impromptu dance following Paige and Sumari leading an African and American dance demonstration

The evening ends with a marshmallow roast!

Friday evening

Hello from Africa! After yesterday's adventure, we were all ready for a very calm day. We went to our three classes and worked on various projects. A group of us worked in the kitchen, cutting tomatoes, peeling potatoes and dicing onions. The Daraja chefs were laughing at us all because our eyes watered due to the onions. They taught us to soak the peeled onions in luke warm water because that way you don't tear up. Another group of us began building benches in the garden. It is long tiring work but giving the girls a place to sit and work outside will mean a lot to the Daraja community. In accordance to the girls' curriculum, Jono, Julian and Paige taught a math class to the form 3's this afternoon. The girls seemed very engaged and interested in what their new teachers were teaching.

During sports time today, Jane and I taught the girls some softball with gear donated by the volunteers from San Diego. When we began our hour practice we had a very enthusiastic group of girls who didn't even know what softball was. We ended with a group of equally enthusiastic girls who are now pros at throwing, catching and fielding.

Another group of kids taught the form 1's how to work a camera for the first time in their lives. Step by step they learned how to turn it on, zoom, take and review their photos. After experimenting with their new skills around campus, they returned with a collection of their first photos that they downloaded onto the computers and learned how to edit. It was a very rewarding experience to watch them slowly understand the technology we take for granted.

After working and finishing a second bench in the garden, a few of us began the task of replastering the Shamba Shed using plaster made from clay, sand and water. This is a project we will be doing this weekend with the girls, led by Jane and Lizzy. The girls first built the shed with MA alumni Cora Went, using permacultural techniques of cob and adobe bricks. The girls all light up when they talk about the shed and you can tell by that, how proud they are of it. We are very excited to build upon the hard work of Cora and the Daraja community.

Tomorrow we are going to Nanyuki, the closest town to Daraja. We are all discussing what American breakfasts and lunches we will be consuming, French toast, hamburgers and milkshakes to name a few. Sumari, jumped for joy, doing a toe touch with excitement upon hearing of the upcoming shopping day. It should be very fun.

Sincerely,

Lauren

Twala women's village: Masai men play all day while the women work

Cute!

Interested in the mzungu visitors

Kids playing hide and seek with us under their mom's souvenir table

Masai home within the village palisade

Ps. Hi Miles M!

Thursday evening

Hello All!

Today was one of our earlier days- we met at 6:20 for a verrrry early breakfast. But it was ok, because we had PB&J's! It was thrilling for all of us. After breakfast we headed to the baboon walk.

We were packed into colorful vans with tight seats called Matatus for the 40 minute drive. Probably the bumpiest ride of my life... It took conscious effort not to smash your head when the matatu hit every rock and hole in the dirt road. We saw giraffes gazelles, elephants, and dikdiks on the drive!

After the bumpy journey, the baboon walk was incredible. We hiked a ways and scrambled up rocks and boulders to find the troop with our guide, Jonathan, and two other men who know the troop very well. Then we spent a long time taking photos to all our hearts' content. One baboon came within 5 feet of me! The trek down was filled with cactus needles and acacia thorns, but we all got down eventually- some of us with few scratches though!

Then back to the Matatus to the Masai village. As soon as we arrived we were taken by the hands of the Masai women dressed in bright beautiful cloths and full beaded jewelry (including the earrings that stretch he ears). We followed along to their dances and songs (some of us better than others). Then we were shown the lives of the Masai. First, the men who play Mancala ALL day. The men really don't do much else. Then we saw how the Masai make fire by literally rubbing sticks together. Then we saw their homes (built by the women, of course), made of branches and cow dung. And then my personal favorite, the beehives. They have 80 hives! Apparently honey is a major part of most Masai ceremonies. The women were excited to have us, and even though it felt a little uncomfortable taking so many phtos, this village is suported a lot by tourism and sharing their culture. after seeing the village, we were allowed (the girls were more set loose) to buy beautiful beaded work and jewelry from the women. the profit goes towards suporting the Masai women specifically so it is very empowering, and 10% goes towards Masai girls' education. I was excited to show my 1 through 10 in Swahili to the Masai women (who speak little or no english). I know they were very impressed...

Our field trip was really amazing, and when we got back to Daraja after lunch we were all exhausted, and I for one took a long nap as soon as I reached my bed. The rest of the afternoon was relaxing, WISH or sports, designing a mural, dinner, and then study hall. Jono fell off us a desk in study hall trying to avoid a flying bug. Also Paige, Megan, Erin and I are sharing our rondoval with mouse that chews our thatch roof, who Jono named Ratatouille. All in all, a wonderful day.

Much Love,

Alison

Wednesday evening

Habari Friends and Family,

7:00 AM meeting, wake up at 6:55. That's the life of the Tre Js (Jamie, Jono, Julian). Every morning is an arduous and calf-burning trek down from our 2-story mansion banda hut located in the far upper corner of campus. The walk is so long that we were able to eat the remnants of a giant chocolate madeline (courtesy of Papa Steve) from the previous day before we even reached the halfway point.

At our meeting, we received our schedules for the day. Each MA student chose three classes to focus on and attend for the remainder of our time at DaraJa and the time not spent in class was to be used to begin proJects (shamba shed, bench-building, photography, music etc). After an atypical breakfast of uJi (porridge), watermelon, and eggs (a heavenly breakfast at DaraJa), the day began.

I personally indulged myself in mathematics, chemistry, and religion where we studied sequences, alkynes, and idolatry. The in-class participation from MA students is momentous. Paige, Julian, and I contributed heavily in our morning math class and are to teach the next math class on arithmetic series. And while we contribute heavily, we also learn new things in every class; I myself was able to read and analyze a verse from the bible for the first time.

Between classes, MA students spent their time hauling iron wheelbarrows (which somehow didn't have circular wheels) with clay across soccer fields, stone paths, rough terrain, and bumpy roads from a corner of campus down to the garden. Paige and Jamie created their first bench (nicknamed Skinny Pete) and Julian and I created designs for a desk to be built on Friday.

After all the classes were finished, it was laundry time. And by laundry time, I mean hands and soap vs dirty laundry. While Megan, Erin, Paige, and Alison spent time washing each individual piece, the Tre Js Just didn't have the patience. Instead, we filled a large bucket, poured in mountains of soap, and threw in our respective  loads of laundry. Working in unison, we were able to emulate the rotation of a laundry machine and we quickly and efficiently washed our clothes in a tenth the time it would have taken us without our problem solving skills (or laziness). Had Jamie not emptied the soap bucket into the waste pond of black, dirty water, not realizing there was a sock left at the bottom, it would have been a perfect and casualty-free  success.

And then there was dinner. Pilau is a spiced rice dish with beef and thus, we had meat for the first time in a week. According to Lizzy, it was the longest some have gone without eating meat in their lives (probably just her, though). To Jirwin's dismay, we did not have ugali – the most hated dish in the school. A meeting detailing our trip to the Twala Masai Manyatta and the Baboon walk tomorrow and a few hours in study hall concluded our day.

I'm so happy to be back at Daraja and I'm enjoying every moment of it.

Lala Salama,

Jono Disenhof

Tabasamu kila wakati

When not in class, the projects continue...

...the first bench for the shamba shed...

...seeds were planted...

...and seedlings replanted...

...a group effort...

...including work on the compost bin.

Buddies...

...what was once called "computer" - bean sorting...

Study buddies

The group prepares for Thursday's baboon walk

Wait! What!??? We have to climb up there???

No way!

Really? All the way up there?

Even higher, but way worth the climb!!!

Just a preview of some of the 100's of great pix of this trek!

Awwww....

Tuesday evening

Our day began at the crack of dawn – we had to wake up at 5:45 to be at the soccer field by 6. For some of us, it was closer to 6:05 (the boys). We began the day with stretches on the field and then we played a game with our Daraja group on one side and the girls on the other (we won 1-0, but not before Jamie nearly killed himself while flinching/trying to jump away from Paige's shot). 

By 6:30, I was fully awake after exercising. We then helped the girls with their morning duties. This included everything from cutting the weeds to scrubbing the bathroom floor. Luckily, the girl I shadow doesn't do morning chores, so I was able to take a (freezing) shower. We then all met in the dining hall for a hot breakfast at 7:30. 

At 8:00 we walked up to our first class of the today. I continued to be incredibly impressed with the dedication each girl has when it comes to her school work. After 9 classes, I was ready for bed, but there continued to be clubs and laundry washing. 

Although most of us were tired at the end of the day, these small activities that we do with the girls gives us more chances to converse and hear their stories. We are truly bonding with them on the deepest of levels and each one of them is truly unique and leaves me looking at my life in a whole new way.

Kenia Cobb

P.S. DINNER WAS CHAPATI!!! BEST NIGHT EVER (from Jono)

Lizzy and Julia lead a music workshop...

...while Paige and Sumari teach some American dance moves!

Daraja students receive their Bay to Breakers medals at a special ceremony!

7.5 miles completed by all

Daraja girls sing for a group of touring ultra-marathoners who will be competing nearby in a 75 km race. The race supporters chose to support Daraja as part of their efforts.

Jamie dons his headlamp to find his shoes before our before-sunrise sports program

Paige and Lizzy lead morning exercises

One, two, up, down...

Mark plays defense for the MA futbal squad

Surprise, the MA folks are good at the world's most popular sport!

Hello from the trip leaders

We thought we would add a leaders' check-in after a week on the road. We've only completed our fifth day at Daraja, but it feels as if we've been here much longer.

Each day has been full of projects, classes, touch-base gatherings and special events. The blogs that our MA students have been writing only scratch the surface of our activities and experiences. The experience is everything we'd hoped it would be - and more.

The MA and DA students have already formed some wonderful connections, deepened in the last two days by traveling the same path from sunrise to sunset. Actually, from before sunrise to well after sunset. Today, for instance, all of the 100 students on campus - and Mark, Johanna, Krista and I, met on the football field half an hour before sunrise for stretching (led by MA students and specifically designed for female athletes) and a sunrise game of football. After chores and breakfast, classes began at 9 and continued until 4, when clubs and sports took place until dinner. Then, this evening, study hall and some of our computer classes were held from 7 to 9:30. Lights out are at 10. A very full day!

After today our MA students will focus a bit more on their various projects while still attending three to four classes of their choice each day. Computer classes continue every evening and photography workshops and projects will fill the weekend.


Mark continues to work with the teachers; Johanna and Krista with a variety of campus projects around the library, donations, etc; and me with the computers, photo, and new Daraja student newsletter.

Tomorrow, Thursday, we're still planning our trip to the Masai womens' village and, weather permitting, the baboon walk. Rain is in the forecast on and off and, as the photo showed, when it rains....wow!

Saturday morning will be our visit to Nanyuki town and, probably on Tuesday, we'll visit the Ol' Pajete Nature Conservancy.

As Jason Doherty observed, this is all a first for Daraja. No student group has ever come and been as involved and integrated with the community. I believe that both MA students and Daraja students walk away from this experience with a deep appreciation of their similarities and differences in many areas - and for many, with connections with friends from another continent that will span both the miles and years.

Asante sana for your support!

-sd

Monday evening

Hello from Daraja!
Today was our first day as students at Daraja Academy. We woke up a little earlier this morning to be greeted by all the girls along with the porridge, bananas and bread that was for breakfast. Imediately after we finished eating we headed outside to flag (which is where they raise their flag and share annoucements with the school). A few groups of girls sang after the kenyan flag was proudly lifted.

Then began our full day of school. Each MA student grabbed a chair from the cafeteria and brought it up to the classroom with them so they had somewhere to sit. We were each following a girl from Form 1, 2, or 3 (freshman, sophomore, or junior).in total we attended 9 of their classes. I personally went to English, Math, Physics, Swahili, Chemistry, Geography, History, Physics AGAIN, and Biology.

These girls are so clearly dedicated to their school works and are so engaged in school. Since they are all taking a test on everything they know from highschool at the end of their four years, a lot of what they are doing is memorizing and essentially studying for this massive test that will determine their future. Throughout the day we had one small snack break and a lunch break.

The Swahili class was particularly interesting. Even though I did not understand a word they were saying it was evident that they had an amazing teacher who kept them interested and talking the entire class.

As soon as we were finished, we went staight to clubs. They have four clubs at Daraja: Drama, Media, Volleyball and Football (soccer). We all chose what interested us the most, and spent over an hour enjoying these activities.

Imediately after we finished clubs it was time for dinner; we had Ugali and cabbage. Finally the girls go to study hall for two hours and finish up by 9 o'clock. Since lights go out at ten, they don't have much of a choice but to finish by then. We did homework with our partners and were able to experience what it is truly like to be a Daraja student.

Tomorrow we have to be out on the feild by 6 in the morning to play soccer followed by chores and another full day of school. Wish us luck!

Best,
Jane Cavagnero

This was the first day of attending classes with the Daraja students...

...classes are from 8 to 4 with just a few minutes' break and lunch...

...following class are clubs, teacher office hours and sports until dinner, then study hall from 7-9+.

We had about 45 minutes of torrential rain in the afternoon. It rained so hard that at least one teacher gave up trying to lecture over the noise of the rain on the tin roof.

This Daraja resident wandered into the office to use the "facilities." When we stopped laughing, we shooed her back outside.