Hillside Girls High School - 1st Feb 2011

So the day finally arrived and it was time to take my girls to school... As planned we got up very early to ensure all was ready in time. We were quite lucky actually as a friend of Juliet offered to take us in his taxi - which is quite a thing because the school is quite far away (over 1 hr drive - and on a matatu much much longer) and we had 2 big metal boxes and 2 buckets to carry...

My girls are ready for school :)

We still needed to take a bus first and I was quite surprised to see the girls falling asleep (I mean I know we hardly slept for 2 nights running but it was 1st day in high school so the curiosity and excitement should have kept them awake...;) but when we met with the taxi driver - Tony and set off for Kiambu all of a sudden they became much more energetic and kept looking out the window curiously.

Daniel helping Juliet to carry her box

Before getting to our destination we stopped at the nearest town and I bought them some sweets, salt, sugar, peanut butter etc... so they could have some treats in the next 2 months :) I really hope the matron allowed them to keep it.

We arrived at the school and completed the formalities - I was very worried as we have not paid anything towards the fees, we only had enough money to pay for the uniforms... The director however was fine with that as she knew we were really struggling but we had to promise to pay at least part of the outstanding amount soon.

On the way to school - very excited :)

After that it was time to say good bye to the girls who were met by the Form 4 students to help them carry their boxes and to show them to the dorms... The girls were really sad to see us go and Juliet didn't want to let go of me - she didn't cry though which was great as otherwise I would have probably started too ;)

I really wanted to take a photo of my girls in their new uniforms but the skirts were too big for them and needed to be adjusted to the right size... Hopefully I will be able to go and visit them and take some photos then...

Eveline & Juliet were welcomed at their new school by Form 4 girls

So now I am on my own - it seems really strange - for the first time I had nobody waiting for me at the bus stage and was walking home alone... Even the guys selling cakes etc along the way were asking me if I took the girls to school and that's why I was alone...

I still have a task of getting the fees - which adds up to £300 for 1st term (for both of them) and I also need to find some funds for a boarding school for Hamza - Juliet's brother, who was also staying with us... I am going to visit a school next week and I was told that the fees for that particular primary school is just £60 for whole year (on top of that he will need some personal items & uniform, just like the girls) so the expense is much lower as it is primary school not a secondary one... I believe that a boarding school would be good for him and he is very excited about this. In the meantime I am arranging for him to go to a day school) as I dont want him to just sit at home while he could be studying.

If any of you are able to help with my quest to educate my 3 children, please do get in touch with me, we are really struggling at the moment...

Me and my two daughters :)

Getting ready for school

The day of reporting to school was approaching very fast and I was getting very stressed as I did not have any funds for the shopping (before going to boarding school there are many items that need to be bought, i.e. blankets, buckets, shoes, tracksuits, etc... and of course books). And now it was not just Juliet who was supposed to start school but also Eveline (I think it would be absolutely terrible to just take one of them and leave the other one out...). The sponsors we originally had for Juliet have not been in touch for a very long time and the funds that were left from what they sent few months ago were only enough to buy 2 sets of uniforms... So I am so grateful to Stephen and Janet for their continuous support of my efforts here - a week or so ago they transferred some money to help out with running expenses and I decided to use it on the most urgent matters, which of course was the school expenses for the girls.  On top of that I also received more money from Pam which was heaven sent as it meant I had enough money to at least get all the items the girls needed to take with them.

THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS

your help has been invaluable to me & my girls

On Monday morning we got up really early as we knew it would be a very busy day. The girls were supposed to wash their clothes on Sunday (I don't really like doing this sort of work on Sundays but this time it was necessary) however, there was no water here that day (where we are staying there is a big problem with water supply - again today there's been no water) so before setting out to town there was some housework that needed to be done first.

We first went to get the photos done for Eveline (we needed 2 for the school admission form - I did Juliet's when we were in town on Saturday). I had an important meeting at 12pm about my new project so we had to rush but we still managed to get the school shoes, the sport shoes, blankets and majority of the other items from the list before running for the meeting. We were very lucky as I was able to leave all of the shopping with Jane at her office so we didn't have to carry the huge bags across town with us, especially that after my meeting we had to go to yet another area to get the medical check for the girls (another requirement for the school - mainly to have a confirmation that girls coming to school are not pregnant). As normally this is done for a fee, we went to our friend's small clinic (a charitable organisation run by a retired Kenyan nurse) as she offered to do it for free. By the time we were finished there, it was already after 3pm. We had less than 2 hrs to complete the shopping and collect the bags from the office before it closed. We really had to rush as there were still some items we needed to get, like books, tracksuits, bedsheets, metal box (to keep all of the items in - every boarding school student must have one to keep their belongings in it). At that point I was sure we would get the tracksuits in one of the shops we went to in the morning but when we went there again they no longer had the size for Juliet (she is very petite). That really put the spanner in the wheel for us as it was 4pm and we had very little time to find all that was still missing. We were almost running trying to find the tracksuits but we were not lucky - they were either far too big or of very bad quality... We walked (actually - run) for miles across town but we did not find it. All that time I also kept thinking that we must get to the bookshop by 5pm otherwise we would really be stuck. We just made it there but they did not have one of the books... It was almost 5.30 when we finally got to Jane's office to pick up our shopping - by that time I was so exhausted from all the running I wasn't sure if I could continue. The girls were just as tired... But we still needed the tracksuits for Juliet, the English text book, some t-shirts and other small items... And we also needed to collect Eveline's photos... We had no choice but to start moving again. We all had to carry a huge bag each filled with stuff - it was all very heavy and we had to carry it on our backs. I felt like I was the Father Christmas ;) The girls were laughing that I was really becoming a Kenyan carrying my shopping this way and people on the streets were really staring at me as it is not very common for a white person to carry such amount of stuff and walk with it - I'm sure they were wondering why we were not taking a taxi... ;)

We walked for a bit but the bags were really heavy - I decided to stop at a chip shop, got some food for my girls, left them to look after the bags and went to collect the photos as I did not want to carry all the bags there and back again as it was not on the way to get the bus home. On the way I noticed that the book shop I was hoping to get the missing text book from was already shut - it was 6pm... That also meant that if we didn't get the bus very soon, we would not get back home before dark...

When I collected the girls, I decided to head for the bus stage. We really needed to get back home soon. Luckily, there was another book shop on the way and I got what we needed from there. Before reaching the bus we also found the rest of the missing items, including the tracksuit which was a real relief for me. As I was really stressing over the missing stuff, I even forgot to get some food for me... It was 6.30pm and I did not eat all day... I just had about 1l of water - which also wasn't enough and my head was hurting as a result. I was happy though that we got what we needed - the mission was almost accomplished, we just needed to get a metal box for Eveline (I already promised Juliet to give her the one I was using in Ruai).

We were all shattered but happy as we sat on the bus waiting for it to fill up. However, all of a sudden everyone started to get off and I noticed that there was another bus next to ours offering a cheaper fare which is why everyone was switching... We had to do the same as it would take ages for our one to fill up since the ticket was more expensive. We jumped off and run to the other bus (you have to be fast so you can get to it before it fills up). Juliet is very skillful in "wiggling" her way through the crowd and very soon she was already on the bus. However, Eveline and I did not manage to get on and the bus started to move - I got very worried that it was full and it was about to drive off with Juliet on board with no money so I was shouting to the conductor that my daughter was there with no money for the ticket, hoping that either he would let us on or at least let Juliet get off... People were looking at us funny as obviously they were wondering how my daughter could possibly be on the bus as there was no other white person there! ;) Then the bus stopped and more people were getting on - at that point I was determined to get on and again I had to push some people off, telling them to allow my daughter (this time it was Eveline) to get on. Again - even more funny looks but I didn't care - at least we were all on the bus and I really wanted to get home as soon as possible as we still needed to pack, cover the books etc...

Unfortunately we did not reach home until almost 9pm because there was a huge traffic jam on the way out of town... In one way I was happy I could just sit for a while doing nothing and get some rest but on the other I knew that we still had so much to do and we did not get Eveline's box... And I still haven't eaten or drunk anything... Also, the manager from the orphanage where we are staying was waiting for us with few boys at the bus stage for ages... I felt terrible because of that - I really don't like to make people wait, especially if they are trying to help me - there is no way we could have walked back home alone (and it was really great to share some of the bags so carrying them home was much easier :)

While I was sitting on the bus I was laughing to myself about the looks we were getting while carrying the huge bags as well as the way we got on the bus and people wondering who my daughters were :)

Juliet and Eveline were really happy with the shopping trip though - I did try to economise but at the same time I wanted to get good quality items to ensure that they last them for long time, especially shoes (they were quite expensive for Kenyan standards - they cost £10 each for real leather - and the girls really like them - the shoes are from Bata - the main footwear manufacturer in Kenya with a very good reputation).
The same thing with the blankets - I didn't buy the cheapest as the girls will be washing them often and I want them to last and keep my girls warm (at night it gets pretty cold in some parts of Nairobi and where the school is it will be even colder).

My girls - very tired but happy with their shopping

We stayed up until almost 2am preparing everything. And the alarm was set for 6am following morning - the day of going to school...

The only MUZUNGU in the area

We have settled in the new place pretty well, even though it is only temporary... On Tuesday I'm taking the girls to the boarding school and then I will start looking for land for my new project. I still have to work out what I should do with Juliet's brother who is also staying here with us. Originally the idea was for him to remain in a children's home but after all I have seen so far I don't want to leave him behind. I am actually considering the idea of a primary boarding school somewhere at the coast (that's where he is from) but it will of course depend on how expensive it is as I still don't even have enough money for the girls' fees.

It has been almost 2 weeks since we arrived here and we have all been much more relaxed these days... Juliet is absolutely fantastic in looking after me when I am busy running to one meeting after another - going to town every day is really draining my energy, especially when I get stuck in traffic on the way back... I know I should be teh one looking after her and I am really doing my best but she is a star for making sure that most of "housework" is done every day (I'm saying housework but we only have 1 room and share the same bed ;).

Eveline is helping out with the kids that are staying here and Hamza - Juliet's brother - is just drawing and playing which I am very happy about (he does wash his own clothes though - he really is a very good boy).
In turn, I make sure that they have what they need and we all talk a lot every day. Lately we have started cooking together (as I cannot eat what kids here are eating because of my stomach) and we have a lot of fun in the process. The kids are all very eager to help us - and surprisingly it is boys, not the girls, that want to stay in the kitchen with us and help with chopping, bringing things, running to the shop and tidying up. For all their help I always make sure that they also share the food that we make, so that means that in last week on most of the days some boys had eaten their supper twice :)


I just realised that on most pics Im wearing the same clothes! LOL

Yesterday I bought bread & milk and this morning all kids had bread with jam or honey and tea for breakfast - they were all really happy as normally they just have porrige. When I came back from time they also got sweets - they now know that normally when I go to town I bring sthg small for them also. As there are only 17 of them plus the 3 that arrived with me, it is not expensive to spoil them a little :)

I love to make children smile...

 

Kids enjoying their Sunday breakfast

I am used to the area now and I am sure I am the only white person around here. We have been here almost 2 weeks now and I have not seen any other muzungu around. By now people recognise me on the streets, we have made few friends, i. e. the man that sells cakes, I buy few cakes from him almost every day (they cost less than 5 pence each) and now he got to know me and Juliet he even brings what he doesn't sell at the end of the day for the children here :) There is also the woman that sell chips, the couple that sells samosas and the boys that sell mandazi :) I do try to support the local people trying to earn their living.

The most annoying thing about being the only muzungu is that for some people it is still a novelty to see me around and they never stop trying to get my attention, either by saying sthg in kiswahili (that I cannot understand anyway), calling me funny names like Paloma, Corrine, Wanjiku ( a Kikuyu name) or Msupuu (apparently that means beautiful in Kiswahili ;), all that I can tolerate but what I really dont like is when they try to grab my arm or touch my hair - I have no problem with children doing that but the grown ups should really know better...

Despite all those people that are really friendly to us, I still would not want to walk around here after dark - every day I go to town I make sure that I am back before sunset. Only on one occassion when I got stuck in jam for ages I got back here when it was dark - it was still quite early (around 7.30pm) but I would not risk walking home alone and Juliet came with the boys to meet me, which I really appreciated.

On Thursday was Juliet's B'day. I got her the English dictionary and the bible as a present (this is what she is going to need for school) along with some chocolates and a lip gloss (after all presents are meant to be fun not practical ;) I also got some sweets and cakes for her to share with the other children here. I waited until midnight to give her the gift as I wanted to be the first one to wish her happy birthday as the following morning I had to leave early and didnt want to wake her up so early on her b'day.

Juliet and I after our trip to town for b'day pancakes :)

As we didn't have a proper birthday cake, on Saturday the 2 of us got dressed up (we did our nails teh day before - my only day in the whole week that I was actually able to stay at home) and we went to town. Of course we had to go to Java (Ena and Kate - if you are reading this I am sure you are laughing ;), by now I also got Juliet to join me in my love for Java cakes and juices :) We had strawberry pancakes (BTW - Ena, Java took the strawberry crush off the menu! how could they?!?!? It was the best juice there!), we went to Masai market and got some jewellery - in short, we had a really girly day and we both really enjoyed it :)

Today we were cooking together again (it was a very nice day in general actually) and we really did have a lot of fun. The kids find it very funny when they speak in Kiswahili to me and I don't understand them, and here they also speak Kikuyu most of the time which to me sounds very funny :) This time we cooked so much that there was enough for everyone to have at least few spoonfuls - the kids really like it when I share my food with them and it is the same for me, I love when they like what I make :)

Having fun with kids while making supper :)

Disappointment in Court

The day after leaving Motherly Care we had to be up very early as it was a day of Juliet's case in court. We were really tired from the move and the events that preceded it... However by 5am we were up and got ready. As we were in a new place I didn't even know where we needed to go to get the bus. Luckily the teacher here - Daniel offered to walk with us and to ensure we got on the correct bus. I was very grateful for that. We were supposed to arrive at the court by 7.30am (the court does not start until 9am but we needed time for Juliet to go through her statement as it has been quite few months since the case begun and we didn't even have the copies of her statements). Unfortunately, when we got on the bus after very short while we were stuck in terrible traffic jam... We were getting more and more stressed as the time was ticking by and we were moving very, very slowly... On top of that I forgot my mobile so couldn't communicate with John to let him know that we are delayed. But I had to get in touch with him somehow so I decided to act like a Kenyan and asked the guy sitting next to me to let me use his phone. I offered to pay for the call but he was really nice and helpful and did not want it - instead he was trying to explain me how we can get to the court, as we needed to take another bus once we arrived in town.

In the end we got to the court for around 9am but it all worked out quite well as Juliet's case was one of the last ones... But that's where the good luck stopped.

Once the magistrate arrived, she went through all the cases due for that day and postponed them all except for one. It was very disappointing for us as coming to court is really stressful for Juliet. What's even worse is that they moved the case back to 13th of April... So we have to wait another 3 months while the person we are trying to prosecute is walking free... The law in Kenya is really different than that in Europe - the guy just paid around £1000 bail (yes, he is quite rich for Kenyan standards) and he is free, nobody really cares he probably continues to do what we want him to be jailed for.

My Italian friend was also with us at the court as she is the one completing Juliet's documentary - she hid her camcorder to get some more material for the film but we didn't get anything. It was a complete waste of time coming all that way just to be told we have to come back in April.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by the prosecutor's attitude towards us (obviously we went to complain about postponing the case for such long time), he really took time to answer all of our questions (not sure of it was because he is really symphatising with Juliet's case or because we were 2 white women and he didn't want any problems). He also got us copies of all statements submitted to court which means now Juliet can prepare herself better for April.

I am really hoping that in April we will actually get the result we are looking for. By then the case will have been going for over 1 year and nothing really has been done so far...

New beginings?

On 18th Jan we moved from Motherly Care... It all happened pretty fast and because of that I had to find somewhere to stay even if it was going to be sthg temporary... I had an option to stay with my friends but in the end I decided I should stay with the children, especially after everything that happen and because soon girls were going to the boarding school and I would not see them for 2 months. We found shelter at another children's home, a very small establishment with only 17 children and very basic facilities. However, as long as I knew my kids were OK I was fine with that.

When we arrived at our new location the children here were really happy to welcome us into their home - they are all very young - the oldest ones are in STD7. There are only 2 workers here - the teacher/manager and cook/matron.

As usual, my fear of being alone at night took over and since the day we arrived here Juliet has been sleeping with me (in one bed, as there are no other beds to spare). So far we have not had any issues with security though, despite the area being pretty rough.

I am the only white person around here - everyone keeps calling out to me as I walk around, children want to touch my hair and my hands... It is quite funny when the adults also start behaving like kids... And at times pretty annoying also...

My room is very basic but we are coping just fine.