Mnyenzeni Village People

How darling is she?!

Martha and her 18 month old son.

She cooked for us and kept things orderly.They are making tortilla-like flatbread.Figuring out a way to get the video to work without using the TV.Two of the math teachers, Mr. Jira and Mr. Akida, enjoying rice and beans after our training.Children before school.

Inside the Classroom

Students wear school uniforms.Part of their dress code is shaved heads for both boys and girls. It's a good plan, considering how hot and humid as it is. English is the official language of Kenya, but is the children's third language: the first is their tribal dialect (there are 42 different dialects), Swahili, then English.

I taught a couple of hands-on math lessons: one using tangrams that the students created from patty papers, the other an area lesson culminating in finding the area of a hand.

A couple of students linger after class (missing recess...) to get the seven tangram pieces back into a square.

Before School Starts

IOM, Inside Out Methodology promotes starting the school day with music. These young students are joining the others on the football field for music - they are drawn by the drumming.Barissa engeges the students with music.

Students are "inspected" before class.

Notice the brooms - boys and girls sweep the area between the buildings and the path to the school.

The IOM Team (Inside Out Methodology)

Part of the IOM Team

Back row L to R: Me, Diane, Shamola, Marilynn, Alice

Front row Lto R: Lilian, Evelyn, Alice

Sarah

Barissa

Shamola and Lilian

Evelyn

Alice

Orientation Meeting

The school children, dressed in their uniforms, prepare to greet us.

Sarah explains the music component to school officials, teachers, and parents.

The audience at the IOM orientation meeting. IOM (Inside Out Methodology) stresses problem-solving and critical thinking techniques that can be used with the established curriculum.

I'm chatting with Mr. Chenene, one of the teachers.

Chenene with a colleague.

Our Accommodations

All of us "girls" slept in this dormitory room.

My bed - I slept on the bottom bunk with a sheet I brought from home, stitched up sleeping-bag style. I kept my luggage on the top bunk, and netting kept out the nasty mosquitos away.

I thought I'd pose on my bed!

Our bathroom facilities - two sinks, two showers, one western toilet, one pit toilet. Notice the black container on the roof... That holds the water used in the sinks, showers, or toilets.

To fill the water container, you must first climb the ladder, then pour in the water.

On the Road to Mnyenzeni

Spontaneously growing palm trees.

Women and children at the river.

I'd love to be able to balance big stuff on my head!
High school boys carrying a TV to the community center
for my training session.

The Indian Ocean

I've seen the Indian Ocean! Our fabulous driver, George, with Sarah (Alice's daughter) and Alice. They are drinking cocount milk from the source.

This fort, known at the Jesus Fort, was built by the Portuguese in the Middle Ages.
Muslim womenI love this baby wrapped in the same fabric as the mama's skirt!

Mombasa

Here we are at the Mombasa airport after the 45 minute flight from Nairobi, ready for our trip to the village. (Diane, yours truly, Alice, and Marilynn)Some of the interesting architecture in the city. Notice the cords hanging down - most likely electrical cables. I took this picture for Bryce. Looks like there is a place for optomotrists in Kenya!A typical shop selling typical stuff.I was surprised to see a grocery store like this - it's the Kenyan version of Walmart. Who knew Scooby was an international icon?

I'm in Kenya!

After clearing customs in Nairobi - which was not as scary as either Mazatlan or Denver! - our driver took us to the Fairview Hotel. Marilyn checks us in. It is a beautiful place. Alice and Diane in the Lobby.This is where I will sleep tonight, and I need to get to the business of sleep! I will pull the mosquito netting around the bed. Tomorrow night we will be staying at the village called Mnyenzeni.

Amsterdam airport

The Amsterdam airport had cheese and chocolate shops - what could be better! We saw this delightful cow at the edge of a cheese shop. It is painted like the Dutch landscape.I guess Ronald is everywhere! He is just as creepy in Holland... But he appears thinner. What do you think? We exchanged some US dollars for Kenya shillings - 1 US dollar is equal to about 65 Kenya shillings. So, Math Students, how much US money did I spend for my internet connection which cost 1800 Kenya shillings?