Since that conversation, Kenya has become somewhere I want to go and stay for a while. The way of living, the food, the natural landscape, and the music allure me. Though I have visited other countries through which the equator passes, I have still yet to set foot in the African continent. Lucky for us, former English teacher in Korea turned blogger Natalie over at Live Teach Alaska has written up a guest post all about her time in Kenya. Here she shares her stories from her time volunteering in the Muhuru Bay area in Western Kenya. Take us into the bush, Natalie...
After six hours of driving over the uneven dirt roads of the Great Rift Valley, my team and I arrived in Muhuru Bay, Kenya, in the dark of night. Our van pulled into a tiny compound with three mud huts on the shore of Lake Victoria. Sleepily, I grabbed my suitcase and headed into my designated hut. I turned on the light, which was but a small, dim bulb at the apex of the triangular straw ceiling, and watched in horror as a carpet of insects scattered towards the walls. Shooting towards me was a creature several inches in length that closely resembled a white scorpion (though I still don’t know what it was). I screamed, my husband raced in, shouted, “Oh my God!”, and attempted to squash the Godzilla bug with a broom.
This
was my first experience in the Eastern African Bush. After finally settling in
that night, I was destined for one week of plastic bag showers, second degree
sunburns, and toilet troubles. However, I can confidently say it was all worth
it. My trip to Muhuru Bay truly changed my life.
I
traveled to Kenya with eight family members and family friends to volunteer at
Mama Maria, a fledgling clinic in Muhuru Bay. On our second day in the village,
we were unexpectedly invited to a funeral. Despite our protests, we were seated
as guests of honor and watched as family members of the deceased mourned by
openly wailing.
After the funeral, we sat down at the feasting table and shared
a plate of ugali with the people of the village. Children
hid behind trees and rocks, staring and smiling at us.
A plate of ugali: maize cooked with water
The
next day, we took a small fishing boat to visit a village on the other
side of the lake. Despite the very poor living conditions, the villagers flocked
over to greet us and show us around. A little girl took my hand as we were
shown inside the huts of several of the village people who proudly showed off
their pots and pans.
Later
that week, we traveled to the only school in Muhuru Bay to teach a lesson about
dental hygiene. Because the people in Muhuru Bay brush their teeth with tree
bark, standard dental care was foreign knowledge. We passed out toothbrushes,
toothpaste, and floss and showed them how to properly clean their teeth with a
toothbrush.
A few
days before the end of our trip, we heard about two girls who had fled Tanzania
with their father to live in Muhuru Bay. The two girls we met had albinism and
were forced to escape from their home because witch doctors were hunting them
for their arms and legs. In Tanzania, it is a widespread belief that albino
limbs have magical healing powers. The two little girls, ages 3 and 5, were
scabbing all over their bodies due to terrible sunburns. We drove out to meet
them and brought hats, sunscreen, and two goats for their family.
Although
my first trip to Kenya wasn’t glamorous, it was extremely eye-opening and has
changed me in so many ways. Witnessing a different culture, getting out of my
comfort zone, volunteering, and giving to others made for a trip I’ll never forget.
If you ever have the opportunity to travel to the African Bush, I would highly
recommend it. I assure you, you will walk out of the experience a different
person.
You can follow Natalie’s adventures in a native
Alaskan village at: http://www.liveteachalaska.com/
Or join the conversation at: https://www.facebook.com/LiveTeachAlaska
