Things have gotten a little interesting lately...I am now the only volunteer at th school and still no teacher. To be honest...it isnt so bad because I love the students. This week it has only been Martin and Collins because the other students are in wheelchairs and it is very hard for them to get to the school...Kibera isnt exactly a nicely paved place. Im only at the school for three hours a day and sometimes I wonder if really making any sort of difference being there but then I remember that if I wasnt there with the boys...no one would be and also I think Im here to be impacted by the people I meet rather than the other way around. Ive discovered that Collins can count to 100 and today he started counting without my prompting and barely messed up, I dont think I have ever been so happy ..I cant really explain it but these boys bring me so much joy! Martin usually likes to takes naps and he gets jealous when I focus on Collins but once I talk to him he is better and this week he has been dancing up a storm...safe to say we know how to have fun in the slum:) Other than school...things have been good minus the fact that power and electricity were out almost all last week...didnt shower for a solid four days! Thank goodness for my curly hair staying semi presentable. Ive also decides I do laundry like a Kenyan men....Kenyan men cant do laundry...but at least my clothes smell relatively clean? I dont have tooany big updates really...probably becauae Im getting more used to life here...playing human frogger when crossing the street, walking through Kibera everyday, etc. I did, however see a man riding a camel through Kibera....yea interesting sight to say the least! Ive been enjoying my walks though because since its just me, I have time to observe the people more as well as my surroundings. Kibera has been much muddier lately and the smell of garbage and human fesces has been exceptionally strong lately but Ive started to get used to it...surprisingly enough. Ive also seen more dogs with missing akin and bites marks which makes me sad but the reality is that there is not much I can do but recognize the culture around me. Being here is no peaches and cream...just because I love my students and Kibera doesnt mean it is easy for me to see how they live. Just today Collins told me his mom tells him she wants to kill herself because she cant handle him anymore. That isnt fun to hear...neither is the fact that Collins hears voices and it is a possibility that he could have a seizure...fall in the water near Kibera and never be found...so yes I worry. I also know that there are many many families who want their disabled children to come to the school but there is physically no space for them and there is no teacher...just me. I dont mean fpr this to be a depreasing post...I just want to make sure my words are truthful. Dont get me wrong....I wish I was here for more time and I grow from these experiences but in no way is this all fun and games. All I can do is absorb all that I can and make sure Martin and Collins only see me amile and see how blessed I am to be with them.
