I’m certain you’re all waiting with bated breath for “Kenyan Schoolchildren Say The Darndest Things, Part 2″ but I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait a bit longer. My AMERICAN FAMILY is going to be arriving NEXT WEEK (!!!) So I’ve been trying to finish up a few things at the clinic in anticipation of their arrival. I’m taking a proper vacation, my first one since Christmas. I’m rather excited.
In the meantime, I’m going to post a couple pictures for you to ogle and hate me over. High tourist season just started: I’m working on a blog entry about what this means for the local year-round population, which I hope to post when I get some time later in the month. But for now, I’ll just say this: it is the best of times, it is the worst of times. The worst because everyone goes back to assuming I’m an idiot tourist and trying extra-hard to give me the wrong price on everything (transportation, fabric, shoes, food if I’m not buying from my usual sources.) The best because it coincides with the directional shift in the trade winds, which strips the beaches of the thick seaweed that coats them several months out of the year. So if you need me, I’ll be over here wailing and gnashing my teeth at the unconscionable forces that compel public transit drivers to passionately argue that wazungu (“whites”) should be required to pay at least double the correct price for things simply owing to their ethnicity. But I’ll be doing it while sitting at the edge of a perfect sugar-sand beach, watching the cerulean tide roll in from the coral breakers. You are now free to hate my guts.
6 comments
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August 14, 2011 at 6:25 PM
Effy
i am quite jealous of those beaches!
August 15, 2011 at 8:07 PM
Lisa
I’m thoroughly disgusted…that I’m not there! I’m so jealous!
August 27, 2011 at 1:26 AM
Meredith
Hi! I’m a science ed invitee from the upcoming October staging group, I stumbled here from peace corps journals. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, it’s been really helpful for me in this pre-service process to be able to read about others’ experiences… that and getting a little too type-A about stuff like packing lists. Speaking of which…
If you get a chance (and are willing to spare the internet time), I was hoping you would take a survey I put together. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THCL3CM
Basically, I took the things on the official packing list and things from other invitees’ lists and have you rate how useful/culturally appropriate they are. I’m hoping that if I get enough current PCVs to take it that I will have some really useful information to share with my staging group.
These pictures are great!
August 27, 2011 at 9:35 AM
takinthelongway
takinthelongway
(edit)
So I filled out your survey, but I’m going to give you some additional feedback here because I left a whole giant section blank. “Culturally appropriate” is something you’re going to have to gauge when you get to your site because everyone site is different. – the people, the attitudes, the climate. Here, I’m on the Coast, so I virtually never wear long-sleeves, and people are a little more lax on the wearing-a-slip issue during the hot season. But because I live near a tourist zone, I’m expected to differentiate myself from them by dressing EXTRA conversatively: long skirts (ankle-length) and smart button-downs to work, or Kenyan-made clothing. Other people are in more relaxed working environments and can get away with more. As a teacher, this probably won’t be the case, but it’s something to keep in mind. Nota bene: when the packing list says “knee-length,” they really mean BELOW the knee. If someone can see your knee caps, it’s going to be a problem. (And they do police attire VERY heavily during training especially to make sure you get the point.)
If you arrive with gaps in your wardrobe, there will be plenty of opportunities to fill them at second-hand markets. Not to worry.
Also, expect your size to change in your first few months. You may gain, you may lose, but most people aren’t static.
I’m a minimalist packer, personally, and I think it’s particularly beneficial in the Peace Corps when everything you bring is going to have to get lugged to your site on public transportation with little assistance. There’s a LOT of stuff on that list that’s readily available for purchase in Kenya (stationary, plastic containers for food, knives, cooking pots, toiletries, etc) as well as available free of charge, as much as you want, from the Peace Corps medical office (bug repellent, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, OTC medications, floss, etc). If you want to bring a small personal supply of the latter just to get you started, or you want a specialty item like Midol or Dayquil, then by all means bring it. But the people who showed up with the thousand-tablet jars of Tylenol and whatnot felt pretty silly when we were passed our comprehensive medical kits. For the rest of stuff, there are places like “Nakumatt” and “Tusky’s” which are massive Kenyan box stores and basically the same as goingto Wal-Mart. You can buy anything there. Including non-stick Woks.
Clearly, stuff like sports equipment and musical instruments are on the list, but don’t bring it unless you use it in America. Don’t bring a frisbee unless you play frisbee, etc.
August 29, 2011 at 3:22 AM
Meredith
Thanks! this is great! You are basically confirming my suspicions, which is great because although I would like to be a minimalist packer, I have a tendency to be a bit of a boy scout about things (e.g. expect the best, BE PREPARED for the worst)… which means I have a tendency to over-pack. Having a better idea of the typical volunteer experience helps me pare down the “just-in-case” list : )
August 27, 2011 at 9:32 AM
takinthelongway
So I filled out your survey, but I’m going to give you some additional feedback here because I left a whole giant section blank. “Culturally appropriate” is something you’re going to have to gauge when you get to your site because everyone site is different. – the people, the attitudes, the climate. Here, I’m on the Coast, so I virtually never wear long-sleeves, and people are a little more lax on the wearing-a-slip issue during the hot season. But because I live near a tourist zone, I’m expected to differentiate myself from them by dressing EXTRA conversatively: long skirts (ankle-length) and smart button-downs to work, or Kenyan-made clothing. Other people are in more relaxed working environments and can get away with more. As a teacher, this probably won’t be the case, but it’s something to keep in mind. Nota bene: when the packing list says “knee-length,” they really mean BELOW the knee. If someone can see your knee caps, it’s going to be a problem. (And they do police attire VERY heavily during training especially to make sure you get the point.)
If you arrive with gaps in your wardrobe, there will be plenty of opportunities to fill them at second-hand markets. Not to worry.
Also, expect your size to change in your first few months. You may gain, you may lose, but most people aren’t static.
I’m a minimalist packer, personally, and I think it’s particularly beneficial in the Peace Corps when everything you bring is going to have to get lugged to your site on public transportation with little assistance. There’s a LOT of stuff on that list that’s readily available for purchase in Kenya (stationary, plastic containers for food, knives, cooking pots, toiletries, etc) as well as available free of charge, as much as you want, from the Peace Corps medical office (bug repellent, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, OTC medications, floss, etc). If you want to bring a small personal supply of the latter just to get you started, or you want a specialty item like Midol or Dayquil, then by all means bring it. But the people who showed up with the thousand-tablet jars of Tylenol and whatnot felt pretty silly when we were passed our comprehensive medical kits. For the rest of stuff, there are places like “Nakumatt” and “Tusky’s” which are massive Kenyan box stores and basically the same as goingto Wal-Mart. You can buy anything there. Including non-stick Woks.
Clearly, stuff like sports equipment and musical instruments are on the list, but don’t bring it unless you use it in America. Don’t bring a frisbee unless you play frisbee, etc.