Sharrif

Today was one of those magical days that restores one's faith in humanity. All of my most challenging days in Kenya have been erased by this one beautifully simple, yet perfect interaction with a Deaf man named Sharrif. I was walking along the beach with a friend when we came across a small “hoteli” (restaurant). There were a few locals that my friend knew so we walked up to say hello. Sitting in the sand was a man playing with some string. He looked as if he was maybe in his late thirties early forties. As we greeted everyone he did not look up. Laura (my friend) informed me that this man was Deaf. Being so excited to use my KSL (Kenyan Sign Language) I quickly switched gears from “laid back beach Sara” to “KSL Deaf teacher Sara.” The man looked up as I started signing to greet him and his face lit up as he understood that he had someone to communicate with. I soon came to realize that this man knew very little KSL and that he had not gone to school. He was so starved for language and communication that he was waving his hands around, scribbling in the sand and making the typical vocalizations that Deaf people make, especially when they get excited. Of course those around us were stunned to see someone let alone a “mzungu” woman no less, signing!

I led him inside the little beach hut hoteli where we sat down at a table and he began to “sign” his life story to me. I use “sign” in quotations because he was not using a formal sign language, but more informal, exaggerated, self taught signs, which resembled more of gestures than an overall signed language. I learned that he was born hearing and when he was two years old he got sick and became Deaf, which is the case for most Deaf Kenyans.

My heart melted for Sharrif. I wanted to so badly to teach him everything I knew in one afternoon. I wanted to take him to Gede and have him meet my students and the Deaf teachers. I wanted to show him that he did not need to spend the rest of his life struggling to communicate. Recognizing my own personal anxieties arising I knew it was not realistic to teach him everything in one afternoon. So we started with the basics; we learned the alphabet. He ran to get a pencil and paper and when he came back he had several friends with him. We all sat the table and learned how to sign the alphabet in Kenyan Sign Language. I drew him little pictures and helped him with his hand formation. We practiced signing his name and everyone else's at the table. Everyone was laughing and clapping. I watched Sharrif go through a gamete of emotions. At first he was excited, then shy, then frustrated, then proud, then embarrassed finally he ended up clapping his hands and running around showing off his new skills to everyone in a five meter radius. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever been part of.

We finished our lesson and I promised to bring him some books from the school. I also promised to print out an alphabet poster for him so he didn't have to look at my horrendous drawings! As we said our goodbyes some of the locals thanked me and patted me on the back. I gave Sharrif a firm hand shake and assured him that we would meet again. As Laura and I were walking out the door he ran up behind me and gave me high five. I know how cliche it sounds, but he had tears in his eyes, I swear he did. I walked away with my heart swollen with utter joy and I smiled to myself remembering why I came to Kenya in the first place.

Also total side note not related at all I am posting some pics.  Two birds with one stone eh!

Me trying to get the coconuts down with the pool cleaning thingy! It didn't work out... I broke the thingy.

My dive boys.

Sian- dive partner extraordinaire!

Moi!

Ocean Sports- the hotel I spend my time at when I'm not at Gede.

Brian Lees- big boss man of OS... he takes good care of me.  He calls me Sara Boomerang!

The dive shop.

 

Update

So its been a while and I must admit I am not much of a blogger... obviously. But I did want to give everyone a quick update and let you know that I am doing fine.  I have been exceptionally busy these past few months.  I have started working on a small IGA (Income Generating Activity) at my school to help support some of the children with school fees.  We are making bracelets and jewelry which will be sold at local hotels and in front of the school.  I have also been creating a pamphlet to educate "voluntourists" who come to the school wanting to "help" the "poor African child".  Even though most of the tourists' intentions are good they have no idea how their presence is viewed by the children and the withstanding effects of their visits.  Many times they portray the image of the "rich white man". They throw toys and candy at the children without understanding the repercussions of their actions. Their actions reinforce a lifestyle of depending on others for survival; this behavior makes the Kenyan believe that it is ok to never have to work for something because the "white man" will always be there to help them.  I am desperately trying to stop that mindset or at least show other options. 

Things at my school have been challenging.  The teachers still don't understand that I am there as an educator and not a donor.  Everyday I struggle with them asking me to give, steal, or "promote" them.  Whether I am dealing with the caning of children or arguing that I am capable of independent thought- even though I'm a woman, I have little to no time alone.  Most of my friends have been moved from the coast do the recent bombings from Al Shabaab and I am pretty lonely.  Its ok though, I have a break in a few weeks and I will be spending most of my time completing a mural of a world map on one of the school walls and diving.  I think that dive season will be my savior for the next term!  I miss home more and more everyday, but when I am teaching all of my worries go away and I know that I am truly happy to be in Kenya doing what I'm doing.  Its crazy to believe that I only have 16 more months left.... ok attached are pictures of me, my kids, the Gede Ruins, and my beading project.  Ill try to send out a video of my signing soon.

Love you all and miss you more than words can describe!!!!

I'm not entirely sure when I last wrote, but I feel that it has been a while.  My time at Gede Special School has been a black hole into another dimension.  Everyday goes so fast that I hardly know where my day ends and where it begins.  In the past few months I have been teaching grades 4-6 English, KSL, PE, Art and Science. My kids are amazing and I love of every moment of working with them and seeing them start to think outside of the box.  The problem with education in Kenya is that it lags behind by about 50 years.  Every child's future is based on two examinations KCPE which is the primary exam and the KCSE which is the high school exam.  If children don't pass the first exam they are eligible for secondary school and if they make it to secondary school they must pass with certain marks to be able to go to college (which is not affordable) or to get certain jobs.  The lowest marks make you eligible to become a teacher!!!  With such a heavy emphasis on passing exams you can only imagine what a classroom might look like and the quality of education that children are receiving.  Some days teachers just don't show up to and other days they just sleep at their desks if the are lucky enough to have one.  I have made it one of my goals to try and differentiate my instruction as much as possible and encourage creative thinking but it has been so ingrained for them to be single minded that thinking outside of the box is nearly impossible for them.  My hope is that by the end of the year they will be 1/10 better then they are now. 

School ended about a month ago and I have been busy with Peace Corps meetings in Nairobi and designing next terms lessons.  Ideally I would like to have a very regimented term that allowed me to do progress monitoring of each of my students so I might be able to make so suggestions to my head teacher about educational changes that would benefit the students.  One of the largest challenges I face is a lack of care and motivation from my counterparts and the educational system as a whole.  Many times I feel like I am just spinning my wheels and never going anywhere.  I'm hanging in there though.

One of my secondary projects is getting an art coop started that will eventually provide jobs for Deaf students who don't make it to secondary school.  We are looking at targeting the tourist community and making original crafts from recycled fabrics, wire and paper.  If you have any ideas let me know.  I'm also trying to get a small library going at my school to give my students some books to read. I'm looking for culturally diverse books that have simple language and lots of colorful pictures. 

I guess it would be nice if  I mentioned myself.... honestly, I feel so overwhelmed  with everything  I need to do that many times I just shut myself inside my house and read or watch a movie.  The beach has been a lifesaver for my sanity and I am happy to say I just finished my Open Water Certification for SCUBA.  Next season I will be going for my advanced!!!  It has been so amazing to escape to 18m below the ocean.   I will have pictures soon enough.  I'm also spending some reviewing a handbook written by a women who is doing a pilot study on Autism in Kenya and the cultural differences that need to be taken into account when diagnosing.  Her husband is one of the founding researchers and doctors at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KMRI).  We have spent some time discussing my options for after Peace Corps and I feel like I might be interested in helping her with her project.  There was one day that she took me to the hospital to look at a little girl she had just rescued.  Her name is Mpenzi and she is five years old.  Mpenzi had been tied to a tree for years and was left outside like an animal.  When Karren found her she barely alive.  Her parents had left her that way because she was "different" then their other children. Mpenzi was born with Cerebral Palsy and was never given medical attention.  After Karren found her she brought her to KMRI and started her special diet and 24 hour care.  Now that she has gained five kilos her mother doesn't seem to be as frightened of her.  Our goal right now is to get her to go my school so she can start receiving and education.

Wow I went off on a tangent there... ok I'm attaching some pictures of my students and myself miss you all!
XO