Our Time in Bogani

Day 1-dec 21

Today we left Nairobi and took a plane to the Mara. The plane ride was super cool. It was a 12 seater and the pilot was a little bit crazy. Zach drove the plane for a bit- it was pretty bumpy but very fun. We flew right through a dormant volcano hole which was pretty sweet. We also saw some zebras on the plane ride too. At the very end of the ride we did this crazy turn and the wings of the plane were pretty much perpendicular to the ground and then we landed on a grass field- all you could see were some cows, bushes, trees- otherwise, there was hardly any sign of civilization. After that we went to our new home- The Bogani Cottages. They are absolutely amazing! The rest of the day consisted of getting to know our new home- we found the dining hall where we had lunch and a Swahili lesson! Then we drove out to the village and saw all the people- village people in Swahili is kijiji watu! pretty cool! We got to see lots of people along the way, and some cows blocking the road. Every person we drove by waved to us and one kid was screaming JAMBO at us- which means Hello. We went to one of the schools Me to We built and got to sit in an old classroom which was made of sticks and dung/clay. At this point it started to rain like I have never seen before. It rained for quite some time, we ran to the new school and sat in a classroom there to see the differance. It started to hail at his point and it wasnt letting up. We got some umbrellas and quickly went to check out the library. It was also so fansinating. After that the rain finally started to die down and we got back in the cars to drive home. There was so much mud though that getting from the school to the main road (the main road is just a bunch of small-ish rocks put together to make a road) there was lots of mud and we were sliding around like crazy- it was worse than snow! Our African friend named Felix came with us and he called the mud "snow mud" since they don't get snow. We finally got back to the cottages and rested and warmed up for a bit. We had tea and cookies and then had dinner. After that we went to bed and to our surprise- we found a nice hot water bottle at the bottom of our beds! -Anita


Day 2- dec 22

Today was our first full day at Bogani.  After breakfast we drove to a small village to see what a traditional home looks like and to learn about the day to day activites here.  The ride was super crazy because it was so muddy out from the rain yesterday! Anyways, when we got there we were introduced to two mamas. The one who spoke to us was named Jane.  Jane took us to her property and showed us around.  Jane has two houses...a new and old one.  She is super proud of her new house because she has been using the merry go round money that she recieves from free the children each year to build it.  It was pretty cool to see the pride she had in her new home.  She also showed us her traditional home that she has been living in for more than half her life. It's a circular hut. The kitchen is the bedroom is the livingroom is the dining room!  It was small and dark in there.  Jane also showed us all the new improvements in her home that make for a better, more healthy life.  These include a bathroom, a clothing line, a drying rack for dishes, a hand washing station, shower, rubbish hole, and a kitchen garden.  These are the 7 pillars of health.  Before free the children came, families here had no idea to even hang their clothes on a line instead of laying them on the ground (where bugs are).  Next we walked down to the river to fetch water in 10 and 20 litre cans.  There we played with a bunch of local kids. They are so cute its not even funny!  After playing for a while, we each placed the rope that holds the water jug on our heads and carried the jugs on our backs behind us.  Jane was pretty happy we helped her out because she normally does this chore 5 times a day.  Then we went back to camp for lunch where Jane joined us.  After lunch, she spoke again about what life was like 50 years ago and what is it like today (marriage and day to day living).  Some of the stuff we learned was pretty interesting.  We then set out to start building the library in another town.  We sorted a bunch of stone, but it began to rain again and we had to stop because you can't mix the concrete in the rain. Instead we went to the new medical clinic in the village.  Free the children has done an awesome job with the clinic.  It was very impressive.  It's probably the nicest structure in the whole town. We then ate dinner where we were joined by a new family from new brunswick. A busy day! We learned a lot! -Michelle


Day 3-Dec 23

Morning:
The day started a bit earlier than usual today, around 8am. We started with some breakfast in the dinning area and then headed right away to the school build site called Matony. It was necessary to start a bit early today because we got rained out yesterday. I know right...crazy that it is raining in Africa but its true. It has been raining ever afternoon since we arrived at around 3, for about an hour. It is amazing that even though we do not have technology to tell us the forcast the native people of this area who are working with us are able to tell the forcast perfectly. It makes you wonder why we need all these peices of technology when it is obvious that the human body and mind is capable of performing the same tasks.
Building time:
Finally we made it to the school build site after a bumpy ride in the land rovers arcoss the Kenyian country side. These drives are so beautiful because of the secenery as well as all the adults and children who enthusiastically run up to the cars to give us a wave and a loud "Jumbo" (meaning hi in swahili). Amazing people and very cute kids! The building is the time we were all waiting for and it was wonderful. It think we were all eager to get things done because of the Western cuture we come from which is so much about getting the job done. We quickly found out that this building project is not an easy or quick task. Although we were at the site for over 3 hours we were only able to get one layer of bricks put up around a classroom (8th layer) and two layers (8th and 9th layers) put up on the school library. The buildings are made of rocks and mortar which are built up into layers of rocks with the mortar filling in all the joints. Each building is 10 layers high not including the roof. Pretty hard work...but a good workout picking up all those heavy rocks! Jody our friend from Me to We mentioned that even those couple layers are so important because it will be helping so many people for many, many generations. One of the highlights for many people was the time we spent playing with the kids who had came to the school to watch us work. These kids are the most friendly people you will even meet! We spend 30min straight swinging them, laughing with them, and listening to their sweet voices sing. eading lesson and Masi village:
In the afternoon we went to a Masi village. The Masi are a certain group or tribe of people who are known especially for their beautiful bead work which is done by the "mamas" or the mothers of the village as a hobby. However, since Free the Children has enter their lives they also use their bead work as a source of income which they sell locally and worldwide. The whole sum of their sales goes back to the mamas which they use to pay for school fees or food for their families. For our beading lesson we made a key chain out of colourful beads and a little piece of leather. I was in my element at this point because I am a pretty artistic person but the funniest thing was that I was sitting around 3 boys who are not. At one point all of them at the same time where asking me for help. I just looked up from my beading and started laughing at their confused faces...I eventually helped them :)
Highlight of the day:
It is tradition for everyone at dinner to go around and state their heighlight of the day, so here is what I said tonight...
As we drove up to the Masi village we were welcomed by the whole village singing and the children mulling us and giving us hugs and high fives. Everyone was there from the oldest to the youngest person. This was such a thought sparking moment because right away I thought...'this would never ever happen at home!' There is no way that you would ever be able to get a whole community of people together the way this Masi community did.  Even a church group may only be able to get a fraction of their community out to an event. These people do not have any way of communication other than word of mouth. To me it is amazing that the whole community was present even without any way of technolgy.
-Natalie





Day 4 DEC 24TH/ 2010  Christms eve

I got up today at 6 am to go on hike with Sanke the Masai Warrior. Adele and Michael came along as well. Another couple, Terry and Heather from Toronto came along
also. It was the second hike for me. We happen to see a dik dik (a smaller deer) we also saw some Impala's, from a distance. Had breakfast at 8 o'clock. After breakfast we went to the school site to add some more bricks to the library. Everybody was working very hard to reach the top of walls. It is amazing how many people working together can accomplish alot in a short amount of time. We had pizza for lunch today. The food has been very good.
After lunch we went to a medicinal garden where we did some more work in the garden. We then had a tour of the new high school for girls. It will open in January 2011. It will be a private school for 40 girls. Girls in this region typically only go to school for elementary. Then they are married off. This school will give girls a new found opportunity to receive a high school education. Free the children will be funding most of the tution for now. However scholarship money is the next step. It has rained every afternoon since we have been here. It's like clock work. Around 3 o'clock the skies get dark and it starts. Today was hardly anything. After getting out of our Landcruiser we starting walking back to our cottage and saw a monkey sitting on the trail. He was eating a branch full of leaves and scratching his leg at the same time. We got a little closer then he climbed the huge Acacia tree. There was a family high up in the same tree. They are very funny to look at. Well it's time to have a shower. I stink! It's hard to believe that tonight is Christmas eve. We are very blessed to be here with Kenyan people that are so friendly and warm. They are also away from their families. So tonight will be very different. I miss all our family back in Vancouver. Merry Christmas to everyone. We love you so much!! Hugs and Kisses to everyone. Bruno


Day 5 Dec 25th/2010 Christmas Day

Christmas in Kenya!! Who would of believed it. We started the day with an awesome breakfast. The mango juice was a fruit explosion in your mouth. We phoned our family today from the deck of the dining hall. It was great to hear their voices. The morning was sunny and warm. We got in our trucks around 9 o'clock to go to church for Christmas mass. We arrived their in time but had to wait for people to show up. They all have to walk. Their was many children and all were so beautiful. The singing from the choir was uplifting. Their voices are full of happiness and joy. The priest was not present for mass. The deacon had a very long homily. However he did invite Michael up to the pulpit to say a few words about our families, and where we were from. We thought we were finished but the deacon wanted everyone from our group to stand up to be introduced by Michael again. They wanted us to come back again for Sunday mass tomorrow. He wanted us to be at home. Many children and adults came up to us and wished us a Merry Christmas. All with huge smiles. Their teeth are so white. The children were very interested and wanted to be close to us. We departed after talking to the deacon for a while. We had a smoother ride back to Bogani. In the afternoon we took a little hike up to an open field. The Masai warriors were going to give us a bow and arrow lesson as well as learning how to throw a conga. The conga is a weapon the masai use to kill animals. Everyone had a chance to have a go it. Needless to say is was very comical. The Bogani crew even brought wine and snacks for everyone. Everyone had a stool to sit on. It was one more of those unexpected surprises. After warrior training, the masai gifted everyone a Suka. A suka is a blanket type shawl that is part of their uniform. We were lucky that it did not rain this afternoon. Evening dinner was at the youth mess hall. We arrived only to find yet another feast. After dinner the whole crew at Bogani sang for us Wilson the Masai warrior lead the train of people singing at the top of his lungs. Chanting this song about the train to heaven. The music was enpowering. They made us a farewell cake. Lina brought some torrone from Vancouver. Flo and Mary cut up the torrone for everyone to enjoy. The whole evening was outstanding! What a Christmas in Kenya!!  I will miss the hot water bottle at the foot of my bed. -- Bruno