Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been a while since my last update and honestly there hasn't been too much going on here that's news worthy. Shadowing was a great time of which I experience about every emotion that you could think of. I was happy for so many reasons:to see a different part of Kenya(Machakos is great but it was getting old), get out of my Family's house and feel like an adult again, to actually see my job for the next 2 years instead of constantly talking/hearing about it, and as much as I love my fellow PC trainees we were all starting to drive each other up the wall so a break was much needed. There were a few times when I was truly sad during my shadowing experience when I watched most of the teachers in this school give less than 50% effort in teaching these students, when I saw how badly these kids wanted to be loved(they would just run to you and hug you/touch you/try to sign to you-and then I understood very little sign language),when I heard about how many of the students start school so late because no one cares to educate the deaf child-there were children age 4-12 in the nursery class(what would be considered Pre-K in the US), and when I heard about how many of the girls in the primary schools are sexually active and not very well informed on sex, protection, hiv/aids, pregnancy, you get the idea. There was a little fear/anxiety that came along with traveling without the group for the 1st time(traveling in Kenya is a headache). Pure bliss when I found out that it was possible to make a 3 layer cake and icing all from ingredients in Kenya and a Jiko oven. And many, many other experiences and emotions but Im sure Im boring you with this so I will move on...
      After shadowing there were 2 pretty boring weeks of training which included routined KSL in the morning and Technical sessions in the afternoon. And class on Sats because we needed more language time...boo!The 2 trainees who usually walk to school with me are teaching in secondary schools while the rest of us are teaching in primary so they spent one week with the math and science secondary ed group in Loitoktok which means I spent a week walking to school alone:(. This started off a little scary and boring all at the same time, but ended up being pretty relaxing and a time of the day that I really looked forward to. Once they came back we all found out we were going to Loitoktok the following week for an HIV/AIDS workshop and to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with the other half of the group.
      Which brings me to where I am today. Thanksgiving day. In my own room in a little cottage that we were assigned to this week. We each share a cottage(I call it our pretend apartment) with two other trainees- Im with Rachel and Cindy and theyre pretty great. The 1st two days were all HIV/AIDS information beginning with what it is/how its contracted then going to AIDS in Kenya info and how to teach about it in the Classrooms.We also learned about organizations for teachers with AIDS, addressing the deaf community about HIV/AIDS awareness, getting tested, etc. All very informative stuff. Weds we met volunteers from different groups the PC has here in Kenya and we talked about gender development. And today we did fun(NOT!) simulations on events that may occur during our time in Kenya(being harassed at a bar, bargaining and being harassed at the market and getting a matatu and you guessed it possibly being harassed on a matatu. We also took a little exam on schemes of work and lesson planning, lighting a latern and identifying foods and making a balanced meal at site. I'm sure you can sense all the excitement as you read this. After lunch we really did have a treat(all sarcasm aside), PC arranged for dancers from Taff Kenya to come in and show us dances from different tribes around Kenya. It was great to see all of us dorky Education trainees dancing along with these very talented dancers. And it was just fun to see these people dance, I know you can watching African dances in the US-Ive seen a few at my universities. But to see these people who know so much about these tribes, who's ancestors can actually be traced back to these dances and traditions..its just I dont know Im at a lost for words haha. As a African American who knows very little about their history/culture because of slave trade and all that jazz it just gives you a sense of belonging or possibly understanding even if only for a moment.
      During the intermission of the dance we went out back and killed 2 turkeys-legit cut the heads off of two turkeys(2 of the trainees did it-not me) so we can eat tomorrow. Well after that experience we took a group pictured and walk home(no mud today because it didnt rain for the 1st time this week) and we saw 2 rainbows off in the distance. It just made the people that I was walking home with so happy. So yeah it was pretty much the perfect day.
        Because we had class today we are actually celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow. We are all pitching in to cook a little something something(I'm chopping carrots:). The math and sci trainees are under the impression that PC wouldnt let us stay an extra day and they think we had to go home today so tomorrow we are surprising them. Yay!!
       Loitoktok itself is quite amazing. Its about a 45min walk to the foot hills of Mnt Kilimanjaro which is where our classes have been all week and the scenery of the walk is simply breathtaking. I have tried to take about 20 pictures to capture the beauty but its just impossible. There have been so many times this week when I think OMG I must be dreaming. My life, this experience, this view, these days are too good to be true. Though the hike up these hills is through the deepest and stickest mud Ive ever seen and I end up super sweaty and eventually super cold once I get to my classroom and sit down with my sweaty cold shirt on Im so happy in the mornings because this place is so beautiful and you couldnt be anything but happy with life.
       When we return on sat its back to our homes to relax for the weekend, no class this saturday and then Model School all next week. We will teach 2 classes a day, observe a few classes by current volunteers, spend a night at Machakos school for the deaf to observe what teachers on duty do. So pretty much everything that we've learned the past 8 weeks will be put to the test! Let's see what else...

Homestay family is still great. I was super sick last week(vomitting and other things:) and they took great care of me and were legit worried about my health.It made me feel very loved and happy that I truly have family away from family. I feel very fortunate to have them.
 
We had a mock language proficiency instruction exam(LPI) and I did ok. I have no sign language experience and scored along the same level as those who have had years of asl(ksl is a totally diff language though)experience so I'm content.
 
2 more weeks of training! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! It has been a longgg training and I cannot wait to swear in.
 
Ive decided to put up all the pictures ive taken during training when we are back in Nairobi and have decent speed internet.
 
Im still having an amazing time...no extreme home sickness, no tears(yet), just taking it one day at a time. Really I still cant believe Im here and doing this.
 
I miss my family and close friends dearly. Times like this-when I have down time/quiet time is when I truly start to think about how much I miss them because sometimes I just say it but never really think about what it means but today is Thanksgiving!Thats crazy to me!Although my family isnt the type to have a huge family feast I find myself thinking about the gathering that we do have and traveling to see my close fam and the what this time of the year means to me. Its pretty weird to not have them around right now but I am very thankful for my PC family and my Kenyan host family because they all make me feel very loved and appreciated- I know I have a space and purpose here and that feels good.

So yeah all is well on my side of the world...I hope this was enough of an update to keep everyone satisfied and to make up for all this time although im sure no one is thinking about me right now as they stuff their faces with delicious pies and mac and cheese(we dont have good cheese in kenya lol), and all kinds of yummy things that I can only dream about. All I can say is eat enough for me! And if youre reading this send me a letter! Ive gotten many great letters so far and let me just say on rough days they have def been a pick me upper. Look for another update around time of swear in/moving to site(Mid Dec). Happy Holidays Everyone!