So many new impressions!
Door: Johanneke Huijben
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Johanneke
04 Mei 2016 | Kenia, Mumias
Jambo Jambo, how are you all?!
Already 1,5 week ago since I’ve posted my last (or fist ;) ) message! And also already one week ago since we’ve arrived in Mumias, our home for the next few weeks. On one hand the time is going incredibly slowly, but on the other so many days have already passed since we’ve left the Netherlands.
Last Thursday we left our hostel really early in the morning to catch the bus to Mumias. Though it would leave at 9, we were picked up at 6 to be sure that we would be on time ;). “Traffic in Nairobi is crazy!” said the taxi driver John repeatedly, so we agreed on going really really on time hihi.
Once we were at the bus station we had to wait for quite some time before we could “board” the bus and leave Nairobi. Though this was comfortable and time passed quickly so before we knew our journey was really about to start!
Pretty soon the city surrounding maked place for a lot of green trees, small houses and a lot of animals. During the ride we’ve stopped several times for those who were at their place of arrival. This track does not have many bus stops so for example the driver stopped 5 times in one hour in certain areas.
After a journey of about 10 hours, with amazing views, seeing zebra’s and a lot of curious people along the way, we arrived in Mumias. Just in time before it got dark.
Madame Sellar & Martin from the EARC (where we will be working the next few weeks) welcomed us warmly and brought us to our new and temporary home. The place is really comfortable and has everything we need. Now we are neighbors with some sisters (nuns) from the Church, which is also next to our house, who also welcomed us very warmly with a delicious meal and who where willing to help us with anything.
And there we were.. at first the place seemed to be really far from everything, especially Nairboi, and home. Since we’ve had no internet connection (not even a café or anything with a wifi connection) and a whole weekend (4 day’s!!) off because of Labor day on Monday. The first few day’s weren’t that easy, I started to feel homesick and really was in some kind of cultural shock. Even a tour around and in the village didn’t helped me at al. Thank god after some really helpful phone calls, a lot of tears, some internet data and skype opportunity’s, i started to get used to everything!
This place and it’s people are amazingly beautiful! Our house is also really close to the EARC, where we will be working, so we can have a really nice morning and afternoon walk every day!
We are some kind of attraction now in Mumias, as two “Muzungu’s” walking around every day, though we’ve seen more of us “Muzungu’s around!
After we’ve had a good Sunday, where one of the sisters brought us to a hotel with swimming pool nearby to relax a bit and get out of doors, work started last Tuesday! I was really impressed by the centre, the facilities and all the employees! This first day we’ve seen a lot of children, mostly coping with cerebral palsy, and talked to several mothers which was very interesting. It seems that our research, about how we can provide a better communication between primary care givers and parents (grandparents) about child development skills, is very relevant and needed!
Though we didn’t expect it, working day’s finish around 3 here. Specially now in rain season when people mostly come in the morning because of the rainy afternoons almost every day.
Today we had a very busy day in which we did 5 interviews and some assessments as well. Means we were really comfortable with these working hours ;).
I think we will be incredibly busy the next few weeks with interviewing, analyzing and working on a intervention. For now we have a lot of new experiences, impressions and met so many new people already!
To end my story i would also like to mention that we've noticed today that good shoes are really needed in this area. Specially for those with dificulties in development of the Leggs and feet! So if anyone has a (old) pair of children shoes which they would like to donate!!! Please save them for me and i will arrange some plan to get them here!
Asante and until the next post from Mumias, Kenya!
Already 1,5 week ago since I’ve posted my last (or fist ;) ) message! And also already one week ago since we’ve arrived in Mumias, our home for the next few weeks. On one hand the time is going incredibly slowly, but on the other so many days have already passed since we’ve left the Netherlands.
Last Thursday we left our hostel really early in the morning to catch the bus to Mumias. Though it would leave at 9, we were picked up at 6 to be sure that we would be on time ;). “Traffic in Nairobi is crazy!” said the taxi driver John repeatedly, so we agreed on going really really on time hihi.
Once we were at the bus station we had to wait for quite some time before we could “board” the bus and leave Nairobi. Though this was comfortable and time passed quickly so before we knew our journey was really about to start!
Pretty soon the city surrounding maked place for a lot of green trees, small houses and a lot of animals. During the ride we’ve stopped several times for those who were at their place of arrival. This track does not have many bus stops so for example the driver stopped 5 times in one hour in certain areas.
After a journey of about 10 hours, with amazing views, seeing zebra’s and a lot of curious people along the way, we arrived in Mumias. Just in time before it got dark.
Madame Sellar & Martin from the EARC (where we will be working the next few weeks) welcomed us warmly and brought us to our new and temporary home. The place is really comfortable and has everything we need. Now we are neighbors with some sisters (nuns) from the Church, which is also next to our house, who also welcomed us very warmly with a delicious meal and who where willing to help us with anything.
And there we were.. at first the place seemed to be really far from everything, especially Nairboi, and home. Since we’ve had no internet connection (not even a café or anything with a wifi connection) and a whole weekend (4 day’s!!) off because of Labor day on Monday. The first few day’s weren’t that easy, I started to feel homesick and really was in some kind of cultural shock. Even a tour around and in the village didn’t helped me at al. Thank god after some really helpful phone calls, a lot of tears, some internet data and skype opportunity’s, i started to get used to everything!
This place and it’s people are amazingly beautiful! Our house is also really close to the EARC, where we will be working, so we can have a really nice morning and afternoon walk every day!
We are some kind of attraction now in Mumias, as two “Muzungu’s” walking around every day, though we’ve seen more of us “Muzungu’s around!
After we’ve had a good Sunday, where one of the sisters brought us to a hotel with swimming pool nearby to relax a bit and get out of doors, work started last Tuesday! I was really impressed by the centre, the facilities and all the employees! This first day we’ve seen a lot of children, mostly coping with cerebral palsy, and talked to several mothers which was very interesting. It seems that our research, about how we can provide a better communication between primary care givers and parents (grandparents) about child development skills, is very relevant and needed!
Though we didn’t expect it, working day’s finish around 3 here. Specially now in rain season when people mostly come in the morning because of the rainy afternoons almost every day.
Today we had a very busy day in which we did 5 interviews and some assessments as well. Means we were really comfortable with these working hours ;).
I think we will be incredibly busy the next few weeks with interviewing, analyzing and working on a intervention. For now we have a lot of new experiences, impressions and met so many new people already!
To end my story i would also like to mention that we've noticed today that good shoes are really needed in this area. Specially for those with dificulties in development of the Leggs and feet! So if anyone has a (old) pair of children shoes which they would like to donate!!! Please save them for me and i will arrange some plan to get them here!
Asante and until the next post from Mumias, Kenya!
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04 Mei 2016 - 22:09
Maarten:
Wat fijn dat jullie nu lekker aan de slag kunnen en heerlijk om te lezen hoe het jullie vergaat! -
08 Mei 2016 - 10:48
Johanneke:
Zeker heel fijn! Lekker hard werken, ik hou daarvan :)
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