Comments on: A Little Taste of Nairobi

By: Return to Revolution

Return to Revolution — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:48:49 +0000

By: FortitudineVincimus

FortitudineVincimus — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:50:40 +0000

penguin2, You are correct, the difference in attitude of the Kenyan children and US children is striking. I just read that Obama is suggesting that American kids are at a disadvantage because they spend too little time in school. I would respectfully disagree. It’s not that we don’t have enough time in school, it’s that we’ve created a culture that does not value education. You could write a whole book on the reasons for that loss and I don’t intend to go into it now, aside from saying that Entertainment has become an all-powerful ethic.

It was amazing how these young children were often self-led. One of them would get up in front of the others and lead them in song or recitation. No or little prompting by the instructors. We saw this in the orphanage and at all the elementary schools we visited. All the orphans we worked with had visions about what they wanted to be when they grew up — pilots, doctors, engineers, a district development officer, and even the President of Kenya. How inspiring that someone cares enough about these little ones to give them hope beyond the present reality of having no family to take care of them.

By: abbynormal

abbynormal — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:49:51 +0000

The flowers are reminiscent of those we enjoyed while living in Hawaii and Guam, and I’d enjoy reading about your eperience in Kenya.

By: kyle8

kyle8 — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:25:37 +0000

you are always an interesting read.

By: jeannieology

jeannieology — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:37:12 +0000

and take pictures of his shack…I heard that it is right down the street from Kumbaya Hall and across the street from I’m My Brother’s Keeper Cafe

www.jeannie-ology.com

By: ocleverone

ocleverone — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:28:58 +0000

The shadowless picture was very interesting.

I vote for a serious post on Kenya when you return. For now, enjoy the scenery.

By: penguin2

penguin2 — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:15:17 +0000

One can’t help but feel uplifted by such natural beauty. And as you noted the contrast between industrial development and the older, simpler agrarian world is striking. It does stop and remind us to enjoy simple beauty for beauty’s sake.

Fortitudine, your observation of the joy and excitement of the children, despite their poverty, is striking. There is a difference between those that have so little in the underdeveloped countries; yet have incredible appreciation for what they do have, and can find joy in their lives. In developed countries, those that have so much still seem to be unhappy and without joy.

Skanderbeg, I look forward to your writing further about these travels and events. We are concerned about the effect of our current policies on the international stage.

Stay safe.

By: FortitudineVincimus

FortitudineVincimus — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:50:04 +0000

Wow! The pictures of the bogenvia really brings back great memories from my trip to Kenya last month! Here in California I’ve only seen it as a bush, but in Kenya I saw huge trees of it. Beautiful! Perhaps it’s a different species?

While in Kenya I spent several weeks about an hour outside Machakos, which I believe was the British headquarters before it was moved to Nairobi. A team from my church went to assist one of the local pastors in constructing an orphanage. What an amazing experience — carving the bricks with a hammer and chisel, carrying sand for the cement up from the riverbed on our backs, playing with the orphans, and just interacting with the people who were so friendly. At the dedication ceremony for the new building a number of local government officials attended — the DDO (district development officer), chief, and several others I can’t remember the names of. They definitely had a focus on development of their region.

As you mention, the coexistence of the “1st world” and “3rd world” in Nairobi was very interesting. One of the most striking sights was the scaffolding around any new building going up. It is all made of small trees instead of metal or milled wood such as 2x4s.

It was definitely sobering to become friends with people who may only eat once every few days. We were told many of the children at the elementary schools we visited would come without eating, yet they always seemed excited and joyful.

Kenya was beautiful, I made many friends, and I would love to go back. I’m looking forward to the remainder of your report.