Body Parts

We had a Swahili test today set by Joash, the friendly teacher. His co-worker ‘Wolf-Features’ (Hosea) was also there chipping in with any terms that Joash couldn’t quite remember.
Part of the test was on naming parts of the body (viungo vya mwili), but somehow contained some things that we hadn’t learned. This didn’t seem to bother Joash, as he explained that through the test, we had now learned new vocabulary: armpit (kuapa) and navel (kitovu).
He also was telling us that he will secretly teach us about the names of the private parts, although he himself didn’t even know them as talking about things like that is a very discreet thing here. Interesting lessons ahead, then…

Emma was very encouraged this week with her school resources that she has been making. She took with her some finished resources to show a community orphans nursery out in the sticks which she has contact with (Orongo). Her bottle-top abacus was an instant hit with the teacher there as she starting using it to teach the nippers about number values up to 10. The teacher then left to go and breast-feed her 4 month old leaving Em in charge of the class. Florence, in charge of the orphanage set-up, is really keen on Emma’s ideas of using locally available material to make resources for the kids to encourage their learning.

Emma's Abacus helps with number learning

Emma's number chart getting used

Emma and baby Inga (named after a Swede)

My week has been interesting as well. I am learning a bit about a permaculture concept being introduced by Harry, a mzungu (white guy) from England out for a few months. One of the concepts is of a key-hole garden, so called because of the shape. It is designed for those with limited space to grow vegetables and herbs near their home, Down the centre, your compost is thrown which adds to the fertility of the soil and feeds worms within the garden. Harry is also bringing in the concept of producing electricity from a small windmill, used to charge up a battery. I am hoping to learn how to do this too! When a nuclear disaster occurs and everything gets destroyed, I will be prepared to be self-sufficient!

Harry's Keyhole Garden

This week, I was also out in the field visiting Mahanga (somewhere in the hills north of Kisumu). We visited a lady called Roda and another called Rispa. One of the exciting things about Mama Rispa is that she is the proud owner of Dr Roger, the goat, named after Dr Roger the man, my boss. He was pretty stubborn, though and wouldn’t let me get a proper shot of him. Roda showed us around her small farm and had a variety of local medicinal plants she told us about. One of the ferny bushes caught my imagination. Supposedly, it is meant to attract customers to your business when it is hung above your shop entrance.

The matatu trip

Rispa and her husband with the REAP team

Dr Roger, the old goat

Roda in her farm showing off her plants

The fern that will attract customers

Tomorrow, we are supposedly meeting a friend, George Abura to visit his church in the shanty town area which starts at 8am and probably goes on for another 5 hours so I better get to my kip…