Today I was asked if I did anything good with the day or if I ‘just worked’. I work hard here. “Weekends” aren’t a readily available term in my vocabulary. Friday night is not indicative of any certain activity, behavior, or lack of thoughtfulness. I work hard. I work every day. Saturday and Sunday areContinueContinue reading “working hard”
Tag Archives: Kenya
surrounded by suffering
Some jumbled thoughts on living my days here surrounded by suffering: Throughout much of my time in Kenya, I feel as if suffering surrounds me. Throughout all of my time in the hospital, I feel as if suffering surrounds me. That’s not to say that suffering is all that surrounds me. There is also suchContinueContinue reading “surrounded by suffering”
moses
June 2021 amendment: these were my true feelings at the time that I wrote this. I have since reflected, learned, and held myself to account for what I didn’t know then, and what I chose not to know then. You can read that truth here. Moses. The reason I looked up ‘kwashiorkor prognosis’ on GoogleContinueContinue reading “moses”
inadequacy
I sat with two Americans who are working for the Umoja Project and living in the village for some weeks this summer and reflected on life and living in Kenya, future goals, and current struggles. One said she’s always had a passion for living and working abroad, but then she goes somewhere, like being inContinueContinue reading “inadequacy”
translating care
I’ve been considering prayer. In the past week, I walked kilometer after kilometer over red dirt roads, muddy footpaths, rocky hills, grassy plains, splashing puddles, cracked earth, and over the thresholds of the homes of fifteen of the orphans and vulnerable children, specifically those living in child-headed households, that the Umoja Project supports. And asContinueContinue reading “translating care”
1 week
32 hours of flying. 1 happy tear. 100 (ish) kilometers walked. 26 pieces of white bread. 1100 ml of warm soda. 17 home visits. 33 student interviews. 1 host mama. 4 frigid bucket baths. 13 cups of tea. 2 rainfalls. 3 of 4 Friends episodes watched. 19 bottles of water. 4 avocadoes. 1 package ofContinueContinue reading “1 week”
an ode to my suitcase:
As I pulled out my suitcase yesterday and began to fill it for my upcoming travel to Kenya on Saturday, I thought about all the places we have been together. Together, we have made five trips to four countries in four years. It’s safe to say I’m in love with my suitcase. Not only isContinueContinue reading “an ode to my suitcase:”
the sun it rises, the sun it sets
Today, I am sick. Today, I am stressed. Today, I am a ball of emotions which fleet through my mind and heart a mile a minute. And so when I got home today after a coffee-fueled afternoon of paper writing and apartment scrambling, I could have just gone to bed and taken a nap. ButContinueContinue reading “the sun it rises, the sun it sets”
this all feels connected
Written 21 September 2013 My second day in my homestay was September 11. I mentioned this to my Papa, who said: “this is a big day for your country. This day changed your home.” Today, my friend Caroline was over at my house and we were flipping through channels and found the documentary, 102 MinutesContinueContinue reading “this all feels connected”
on such an anniversary as this, 2013
written August 14, 2013 On such an anniversary as this. Three years ago today I boarded the plane taking me to Kenya and to the discovery of myself. On this anniversary, I am thankful. Thankful for the immense honor and gift it was to live alongside, to learn alongside, my Kenyan family at such aContinueContinue reading “on such an anniversary as this, 2013”
transition(s) and adjustment(s)
In many ways, my life and its surroundings are in transition. In many ways, my life is just smoothing out after eighteen months of constant transition. A list I’ve been making as I reflect on adjustment(s): 1. This is the first time I’ve at all slowed down since before I left for college. Really, sinceContinueContinue reading “transition(s) and adjustment(s)”
confidence in ‘senses of place’
I’ve been feeling self-conscious recently about how much I talk about or bring up my time in Kenya. I worry that I have become the “well, when I was in Kenya…” girl. Potentially this is manifesting itself because three fourths of the junior class at my school just returned from their various study abroad experiencesContinueContinue reading “confidence in ‘senses of place’”
Hellen and Lucy
When I think of success stories of GET UP (Girls Empowerment Team of Umoja Project), I think of Hellen and Lucy. When Mariah and I were planning for our summer working with Umoja Project’s GET UP programs, we knew that we wanted to work with post-secondary Umoja Project girl students. In part, this was becauseContinueContinue reading “Hellen and Lucy”
anniversary
Two years ago on August 15, 2010 I arrived in Kenya with Annie Garau for the four most extraordinary, challenging, life-changing months of my life so far. One year ago on August 15, 2011 I had a panic attack in my mentor’s office about this one-year anniversary of the arrival into what my life hasContinueContinue reading “anniversary”
not an ‘if’ question
Somehow, impossibly, I am in Nairobi and in 7 hours will begin the 3-plane, 22-hour journey home. By 7 AM this morning we took our last breakfast with the family, said goodbyes at the airport, and gone through our first of many, many security clearances. By 11 AM we had flown to Eldoret, then toContinueContinue reading “not an ‘if’ question”
a list to give a glimpse
I was looking through my notebook today and found this list/poem/reflection that I wrote on June 23, about the day of our first GET UP (Girls Empowerment Team of Umoja Project) seminar at Bar Anding’o Primary School. I thought I would share, not because it is high-quality writing or profound, but because it gives aContinueContinue reading “a list to give a glimpse”
i have lived and am living
I’ve discovered that I love to read poetry while in Kenya. Somewhere during my junior year, in AP English, I found the beauty which poetry conveys (although I didn’t dare admit that at the time). During the horrendous ice storm of 2011, when I had recently returned from my semester in Kenya and school wasContinueContinue reading “i have lived and am living”
impossible reconciliation
My heart hurts and my spirit is heavy. These are my peers. These are my friends, my sisters, me. And I am furious. I am deeply, deeply sorrowful. Those who know me well (or who have read my writing) know that the aspect of my experiences in Kenya which has pained me, challenged me, overwhelmedContinueContinue reading “impossible reconciliation”
this business of “being called”
Last week at a meeting the Head Teacher at Mawego Girls Secondary School and a dear friend, Grace Ataro, told the room that it is as if I am “called to be in Kenya.” Just before the meeting, Mariah and I had been talking about the language of “being called” and how, though I don’tContinueContinue reading “this business of “being called””
i mean the words i say
We approach as a parade: first the primary student, then the LINK teacher, Umoja Project volunteer, us. Occasionally we greet others as we pass, speaking mostly to the teacher and volunteer as the students whose homes we are to visit trail behind, nervous and shy. It is the home visit routine, something we do atContinueContinue reading “i mean the words i say”
callie daniels-howell 