Local Time in Korr, Kenya

Monday, July 26, 2010

To Grandmother's House We Go

(Inkoko and I playing dress up - well, at least I'm pretending. She's the real thing.)

I've traveled around a little bit, and somehow I seem to have met quite a few grandmothers along the way. I've met the grandmothers of some of my friends and some random ones. I've met grandmothers who are the original American grandma, and some who still operate according to their original cultures. (Somo, Inkoko, and me at Saale.)
I've met grandmothers who are spry, and some who have settled permanently onto the couch. Besides the occasional grandmas you find pushing shopping carts down the middle of the road (True story: She yelled at me to mind my own business when I tried to help her and her cart to the sidewalk. Who lets their grandma out of the house in such a condition?!), all of these grandmas have quality characteristics in common: supreme friendliness, hospitality, a pleasant plumpness, and a propensity to talk too much and mention personal details everyone knows, but nobody says... except Grandma.
(3 generations: Inkoko, her son Gerrikero, and his 3 children)
"Inkoko" is the Rendille word for Grandma. It's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it? And, while I'm missing my biological grandparents, a substitute is greatly appreciated. So, a few weeks ago, Somo Chawle (my adoptive brother) took me out to Goob Saale, a good hour and a half walk, to visit with his maternal grandmother. She seems to be a bit of a legend around here because she's the mother of so many beloved evangelists and because she's one of the holders of Rendille tradition. According to Lynne Swanepole, it's Inkoko who knows the old chants, ceremonies, and other traditions that, unfortunately, are becoming polluted with outside influences.

Besides her significance to the community, however, she's also a grandma, and a great one at that. She's got a riotous sense of humor - making fun of our broken Rendille, laughing at our Rendille dance moves, asking what kind of warrior we'd like to marry. She told Alicia recently that even though she's the eldest of us two (we're both Chawles by adoption), she's still the shortest. (Alicia striking a fab pose with Inkoko.)
She's also a wonderful Christian lady who has been instrumental in the evangelism to the Rendille people. On our way back to town from the goob, Inkoko told us to greet everyone at church, her excuse for not coming being that she's probably mid-sixties and not up for a two hour hike in the African bush.


So, Inkoko is one good gramma. The only thing she doesn't do is bake cookies and pies - but then again, who would want to with maize meal and goat butter over an open flame?

Thursday, July 15, 2010

SHOES!!!!!!!!

(Laura presenting the gifts and giving rules about how to use sports shoes, i.e. use them only for sports and they are not to be worn hiking home for a day and a half.)

People can be so clever, and God can have such a sense of humor when supplies get donated around here. A group of Koreans once donated some choos (pronounced cho-z and referring to outhouses) and some other people donated semi-delicate musical instruments to the children of a culture where the words, "Be gentle" and "Careful!" don't even exist. However, we're truly grateful for every gift we receive, it's just that some are more... useful...


However, with a fabulous combination of cleverness, humor, utility, and generosity, one of Laura Propst's friends from the States donated sports shoes to EVERY students (63 of them) at T.S.S. this past month.(SUPER-DUPER excited Joseph!)

It was like Christmas at Grandma's house with all that tissue paper and smiles floating around! Everyone was so excited to get such a fabulous gift and enjoy what this all meant for their sports practices. No more stubbed toes or blisters. Sure, everyone is a little unsure of how to pass the ball with these heavy things clanking around their toes, but overall, everyone agrees that we're pretty smart looking!
(Meshak showing how smart he looks.)

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Conversations from the Schoolyard


Jeremiah: "Madame, look at my injury. It's paining me."
Me: "Jeremiah, where is this scratch from?"
Jeremiah: "Jonathan's nails are so long that when we were playing they scratched me."
Me: "Jeremiah, I'm very sorry, but I don't think you need a bandage, and I'll talk to him"
(We move over to talk to Jonathan. You should know that Jonathan is about a foot and a half taller than Jeremiah, which isn't hard to do as Jeremiah is about 4'7" standing up straight.)
Me: "Jonathan, Jeremiah says you accidentally scratched him because your nails are so long. Let me see your hands."
Jonathan: "Madame, I need them for a toothpick."
Me: "Jonathan, I think it's time for you to cut those."
Jonathan: "Fine, but they will just grow back."
Me: "I know, but right now they should be shorter so they don't injure people."
(Jeremiah throws a satisfied smile towards Jonathan and makes some snide remark to Jonathan who proceeds to say...)
Jonathan: "You be quiet! I'm going to pick you up and put you in my pocket and keep you there all day so you can't bother me!"

(Jeremiah scampers off while Jonathan fumes and Alicia and I hide in the staffroom so we can laugh our heads off.)

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Skype

Skype is a lifesaver. You don't feel nearly as far as you are when you can still chat to girlfriends about the new jewelry they bought, or to Mom about how the dog misses you, or to Dad about how to fix your computer in Africa. You know, the usual conversations you would have at home. Just last night I got to talk to the whole family (minus the girls who were all still asleep) while they were on vacation at the cabin. Everyone was so close, I could even hear Kyle blowing his nose. And Mom blowing hers as well.



Anyways, like I said, it's such a fabulous way to stay close to people you wish were even closer. Just the other day we got to Skype with JAMMIE PANTS who we said "Goodbye" to in May. She was being called back to Texas, so now she's beginning American life all over again while we're still here. Everyone misses her: Us girls, Ingo, her Rendille family... And ever since Ingo (our house help) heard that Abaya (the night guard) got to talk to my Mom and Dad one night via Skype Chat, she was super jealous and kept asking when she could call Siberiyan. Siberiyan did call us on our Friday off of school, and guess who was then able to chat with her and make her practice her Rendille greetings! Ingo was so happy, and I'm sure Jamie was extremely pleased to hear our voices again.

(That's Ingo on the right and Alicia on the right. Ingo caught on to the whole concept of talk/wait/listen/talk/wait/listen thing very quickly!)