Rift Valley Camping

On Saturday I headed to Iten with a friend named Joey. Iten sits  at over 7,000ft in elevation, and  is 1 hour north of Eldoret. Iten claims to be the Home of Champions due to its production of many Olympic mentalists and marathon winner. Its also situated on the edge of the rift valley also making it home to amazing views.

On the way to Iten our taxi took us to Kreuger Farms to see the family of giraffes who reside here. We then hiked up the Sergoit hill to the top where there was an amazing view of the surrounding farms. We were then dropped at my friends farm to eat lunch and help with some farming. After lunch and tea we all got into a truck and drove over to Lelin Campsite for dinner.

At Lelin we enjoyed a wonderful dinner overlooking the Rift Valley. The dinner included a cooked rabbit which one of my friends ran over the day before, chicken, cabbage, rice and chapati. After a long night of eating, drinking, laughing and being afraid of the spiders crawling around the wood hut that we were eating in, Joey and I headed to our already set up tent for some sleep. The tent was 750KSH ($7.50) a person.

The next morning we woke up had a breakfast of hard boiled eggs, bread and chai we headed off on a hike up the Rift Valley. We were guided to the trail head by a campsite attendant which required traversing local farms and saying hi to many children who ran towards us as we hiked.

The hike was steep at many parts, most of it was exposed to the sun until we reached the top, so make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen. As you hike up the hill you pass by a waterfall where people are swimming in the water and cooling off. As you climb higher you begin to see and hear monkeys in the trees around you. The trail begins to thin out and at some moments the trail will fork or even disappear. You push through bush to follow the trail hoping that spiders and other bugs don't fall on you.

We hiked up to where we saw a hut and some guys who were cutting wood, to the right we saw a rocky outcrop. We headed once again through the brush for the rocks. Once we arrived we were astounded by the view. A group of local children were playing with machetes on the rocky outcropping. We made friends quickly and ended up sharing chips (fries) and soda with them at the campsite.

We then called out taxi to head back to Eldoret. The taxi there and back was 5000KSH ($50) which is a bit excessive for this trip. Hopefully we get some better rates next time.

Ready, Set, Action for the Pocket Square Project

Today I was on set of the new promotional film for the Pocket Square Project. The Pocket Square Project is a fashion meets philanthropy group. They support HIV positive youth support groups in Kenya. These support groups provide a safe place for HIV positive youth to share their stories, hear from other HIV positive individuals and learn about how to overcome challenges.

HIV positive children face many unique challenges while growing up. Some of these challenges include adherence to medications and sickness that comes with not taking medication regularly. The issues of disclosure is a huge barrier for children who don't yet know their status. Many parents and caregivers keep their status a secret due to social stigma and these children grow up not knowing they have HIV. The Pocket Square Project has created a space for kids to talk about these challenges and take each one in a positive way. 

Today I was helping on the promotional film for the Pocket Square Project.  We interviews a couple young adults who had benefited from the support groups as well as some counselors and peer group coordinators. I enjoyed hearing the stories and was reminded why I am here in Kenya. I am excited to help out more with the Pocket Square Project.

Thanks to our filmmaker Thomas Lewis who had dedicated his time to this project. Visit his site to hear his stories and watch his films at untitledevent.wordpress.com and watch his previous films about kids living with HIV vimeo.com/album/2505522

Learning about Tumaini - Street Kids Program

Today I visited Tumaini Drop-in Center for street kids in Eldoret. I spent the day playing soccer and cooking food for the kids. Of course I arrived back home covered in dirt and soaking wet.

Tumaini in Swahili means hope. The Tumaini center gives refuge to the street kids of Eldoret. It empowers street youth, offers vocational training, feed them, gives them a roof over their head and gives them an alternative to living on the streets. You can visit their website at: tumainicenter.org

Today I accompanied two girls who live near me to the center down dirt roads to the Tumaini Drop-in Center. Upon arriving I quickly was swallowed into a soccer tournament. Of course no one was keeping score, but I am pretty sure I was the worst player. The kids ran smiling up and down the field most barefoot others wearing flip-flops and beat-up sneakers.

The Photographers

While catching my breath on the sidelines I let two of the kids, probably aspiring photographers, use my iphone camera. They took some interesting photos and videos of the soccer tournament.

I met the resident dogs, one of them named Malaria and played on the monkey bars and swings. I was also shown a snake by some of the boys (they thought I was going to be scared). Don't worry readers it was a small garden snake.

Waiting patiently for food

After the in-prompt-to soccer game we grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and fried up some chips (french fries). We gathered in the dining room sans-electricity. The kids sat quietly waiting for food, many of them wanting to help serve. We chowed down on the food in the dwindling light, using our cellphones to find misplaced condiments and children.

The kids thanked us immensely, giving us hugs, fist pumps and handshakes. As they retired to their bunks we drove back along the dirt road to our home. I plan to return next week for another game of soccer. Maybe I will be better after a year of playing with these kids.

You can visit the website to learn more and donate to this awesome cause: tumainicenter.org

Hey Mzungu!

As I start my second week of living in Eldoret, Kenya I reflect over the last week. I have learned many things about the culture in Eldoret but its just the tip of the iceberg. I have learned new traditions of eating and drinking as well as many new Swahili words. One of the first words I learned was Mzungu.

Why did I learn this word first? Mainly because that is what I am referred to as I walk around the streets of Eldoret. Mzungu means white skinned person. I compare it to the work gringo used in Latin countries, but it is much different. Mzungu is not a derogatory term but merely a way to get your attention. Often foreigners will use it to refer to themselves. "The other Mzungu's could not come for lunch." or while bargaining "Is that the Mzungu price?"


As I have wandered the streets of Eldoret I am becoming more familiar with getting around by foot. I am still getting used to the cars coming from opposite directions. The weather has been fantastic, its rainy season, but has not rained much in the last couple of days. Kenyans consider this time winter. During the day it ranges from 65-75F (20-25C) which for me feels like perfect t-shirt weather. Around me the locals are wearing puffy snow jackets and scarves.

The markets are busy on Saturdays where large crowds squeeze through narrow passages between wooden shacks piled with second hand cloths and hanging fruits. As you walk through hands reach out and grab you attempting to direct you into their shop. Others shout at you "Mzungu Mzungu welcome please come!" If you find something you like you begin to bargain until you reach a price that you would pay. I always have a set price in my head before beginning to bargain, I start lower than that price, so when we reach a common price its closer to what I was willing to pay.

Besides the street life I have also learned much about the night life. Its common for people my age to spend Friday and Saturday dancing at one of the many clubs in Eldoret. I have been to 4 one one, Spree and Signature. These nightclubs mix local African beats with popular American hip-hop and Latin dance music. Men are very forward and the whole night you constantly spend running away from men attempting to sneak up behind you. Many are relentless chasing you halfway around the club despite your efforts to shoo them away.

Dress code for these clubs are liberal. Many women wear short skirts and crop tops but with the touchy crowd most Mzungu's opt for long pants and nice blouses. Even with conservative dressing you will still be chased around.

I am excited to learn more Kenyan culture and learn more Swahili. I have finished my first week in Kenya and I have 51 more weeks to learn. Make sure to follow my adventures in Kenya.