The ceremony was on the beach in California.
Don't they look beautiful?
Sunday, May 15, 2011
California!
Sorry for the lack of posts last week. Two of my dearest friends were getting married so I went back to the states for the wedding.
The ceremony was on the beach in California.
Don't they look beautiful?
The ceremony was on the beach in California.
Don't they look beautiful?
Saturday, May 7, 2011
An Imani Thank You
Many of you will remember my post about the Imani Workshops sale that took place during the winter holidays. The sale was a success so thanks again to everyone who came and supported. I hope that you are all enjoying your purchases!
As promised, I did not simply donate the money raised to the workshops because I really wanted to make sure that it went to something that would be useful and sustainable.
After much discussion, the Imani Workshops leaders and I finally decided on....
a paper shredder!!
Let me explain...
Popular paper products like journals, cards and bookmarks are made from handmade paper. Imani receives recycled paper from the hospital and then this paper is cut, mixed with papyrus, pressed and dried into Imani paper.
The rate limiting step to this entire process was the paper cutting. Previously, several people were assigned to cutting the hospital paper into small pieces with scissors. As you can imagine, this task was incredibly tedious and these workers were only able to collect 1-2 bags of small paper pieces per day. Unfortunately, the workshop was unable to keep up with some of the paper product orders because it was impossible to speed up production.
The paper shredder purchased is an industrial 15 page paper shredder which will hopefully triple or quadruple daily shredded paper production and increase the number of employees available to help further down the assembly line. This should increase paper product production which will lead to increased profits, increased salaries, and the ability to higher additional employees!
I delivered the paper shredder last week and to my surprise, the event will probably be one of my top 5 memories from the entire year. As I walked in with the huge box, all of the women started to get up and they all started clapping. Before I knew it, they had bursted into a Kenyan song, joined hands and were dancing around me. It was absolutely beautiful, and I wish that all of you who purchased Imani items or made donations could have experienced the moment with me.
It also made me realize that we should all do a bit more celebrating about things that we probably take for granted. I'm going back to the states for a wedding this week, and I think I'm going to make a conscious effort to do this. Perhaps I'll break into song when I drive on a paved and painted highway. Or maybe I'll celebrate the dryer in my mom's house and the fact that I don't need to wait 3 hours for clothing to dry.
Here's an attempt to share the Imani moment with you...
Dancing and singing
The paper department and the shredder
Demonstrating how the shredder works...
The paper department went right back to work to finish a bookmark order
If you are interested in making any additional purchases to support Imani, please contact me at Szkwarkd at gmail.com.
Here is an album of some of the products available.
As promised, I did not simply donate the money raised to the workshops because I really wanted to make sure that it went to something that would be useful and sustainable.
After much discussion, the Imani Workshops leaders and I finally decided on....
a paper shredder!!
Let me explain...
Popular paper products like journals, cards and bookmarks are made from handmade paper. Imani receives recycled paper from the hospital and then this paper is cut, mixed with papyrus, pressed and dried into Imani paper.
The rate limiting step to this entire process was the paper cutting. Previously, several people were assigned to cutting the hospital paper into small pieces with scissors. As you can imagine, this task was incredibly tedious and these workers were only able to collect 1-2 bags of small paper pieces per day. Unfortunately, the workshop was unable to keep up with some of the paper product orders because it was impossible to speed up production.
The paper shredder purchased is an industrial 15 page paper shredder which will hopefully triple or quadruple daily shredded paper production and increase the number of employees available to help further down the assembly line. This should increase paper product production which will lead to increased profits, increased salaries, and the ability to higher additional employees!
I delivered the paper shredder last week and to my surprise, the event will probably be one of my top 5 memories from the entire year. As I walked in with the huge box, all of the women started to get up and they all started clapping. Before I knew it, they had bursted into a Kenyan song, joined hands and were dancing around me. It was absolutely beautiful, and I wish that all of you who purchased Imani items or made donations could have experienced the moment with me.
It also made me realize that we should all do a bit more celebrating about things that we probably take for granted. I'm going back to the states for a wedding this week, and I think I'm going to make a conscious effort to do this. Perhaps I'll break into song when I drive on a paved and painted highway. Or maybe I'll celebrate the dryer in my mom's house and the fact that I don't need to wait 3 hours for clothing to dry.
Here's an attempt to share the Imani moment with you...
Dancing and singing
The paper department and the shredder
Demonstrating how the shredder works...
The paper department went right back to work to finish a bookmark order
If you are interested in making any additional purchases to support Imani, please contact me at Szkwarkd at gmail.com.
Here is an album of some of the products available.
 |
| Imani |
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Ukrainian Ugali?
Continuing with the Ukrainian blog post theme, I thought I would share with you some pierogy making that happened in Kenya today. (I think that I can bet money on the fact that we were the only people in all of Kenya making pierogies!)
The same Easter egg making family from last week had also asked me to make Ukrainian food with them before they leave Kenya on Sunday. Since I've never actually made pierogies on my own from scratch, I figured this would be a perfect time to start!
My mom sent me the family recipe and luckily we had all of the ingredients. They were a great success!
Here are some pictures...
potatoes, onions and cheese...yuuum
one of my wonderful little helpers
this was my favorite part as a kid
folding
Almost done
Voila!
The Kenyan cooks asked what we were making, and when I told them 'pierogies' they looked totally confused. So I explained that pierogies are the Ukrainian equivalent of Kenyan ugali (ugali is a staple food in East Africa made from maize or cassava flour). They seemed to like this explanation because there isn't a Kenyan out there who doesn't love ugali. I guess every country has it's own beloved staple starch!
The same Easter egg making family from last week had also asked me to make Ukrainian food with them before they leave Kenya on Sunday. Since I've never actually made pierogies on my own from scratch, I figured this would be a perfect time to start!
My mom sent me the family recipe and luckily we had all of the ingredients. They were a great success!
Here are some pictures...
potatoes, onions and cheese...yuuum
one of my wonderful little helpers
this was my favorite part as a kid
folding
Almost done
Voila!
The Kenyan cooks asked what we were making, and when I told them 'pierogies' they looked totally confused. So I explained that pierogies are the Ukrainian equivalent of Kenyan ugali (ugali is a staple food in East Africa made from maize or cassava flour). They seemed to like this explanation because there isn't a Kenyan out there who doesn't love ugali. I guess every country has it's own beloved staple starch!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Aberdare National Park
A group of us headed out to Aberdare National Park for the 4 day Easter holiday last weekend. The weekend was perfect and I would go back in a heartbeat if the park wasn't so far away!
It took about 6 hours to drive from Eldoret to the park entrance.
We arrived at our first campsite on Friday just in time to set up and make dinner. We brought along some homemade chili so it made for an easy and delicious meal.
The next day, we hiked 17 km to see Karuru and Gura falls. Both of these have been claimed to be the tallest waterfalls in Kenya. Karuru had 3 drops: 383 feet, 84 feet and 427 feet. We were only able to see the first drop from our lookout point since the other two drop deep into the valley.
Karuru Falls
hiking
After the hike, we packed up to go to another campsite. Our guide told us that this site would be completely 'in the bush' and he was not lying!
A video that my friend made of the campsite...
Our campsite and our campfire
On Sunday, we hiked Satima peak which is the third highest peak in Kenya (after Mt. Elgon). It took us about 7 hours to hike the 20 km. We definitely slowed down closer to the peak because of the 13, 144 feet altitude!
On our way
Beautiful Scenery
Satima Peak...If you look closely you can see one of my friends already at the top. She is one of the most fit individuals I have ever met (she has two ironman triathlons under her belt!). She ran up to the top because apparently altitude doesn't affect her. :)
Almost there!
At the peak...
More Pictures
It took about 6 hours to drive from Eldoret to the park entrance.
We arrived at our first campsite on Friday just in time to set up and make dinner. We brought along some homemade chili so it made for an easy and delicious meal.
The next day, we hiked 17 km to see Karuru and Gura falls. Both of these have been claimed to be the tallest waterfalls in Kenya. Karuru had 3 drops: 383 feet, 84 feet and 427 feet. We were only able to see the first drop from our lookout point since the other two drop deep into the valley.
Karuru Falls
hiking
After the hike, we packed up to go to another campsite. Our guide told us that this site would be completely 'in the bush' and he was not lying!
A video that my friend made of the campsite...
Our campsite and our campfire
On Sunday, we hiked Satima peak which is the third highest peak in Kenya (after Mt. Elgon). It took us about 7 hours to hike the 20 km. We definitely slowed down closer to the peak because of the 13, 144 feet altitude!
On our way
Beautiful Scenery
Satima Peak...If you look closely you can see one of my friends already at the top. She is one of the most fit individuals I have ever met (she has two ironman triathlons under her belt!). She ran up to the top because apparently altitude doesn't affect her. :)
Almost there!
At the peak...
More Pictures
Friday, April 22, 2011
A Ukrainian Easter in Kenya
One of the long termers and her 4 children love Easter and they had asked me last December if I could introduce them to Ukrainian Easter egg making. I brought the supplies back from the states in January and earlier this week we had a wonderful arts and crafts afternoon!
I have not made Ukrainian Easter eggs since middle school and wow did this bring me back. Everything from holding the stylus over the candle to the smell of the beeswax made me remember the many years of Ukrainian school, Ukrainian girlscouts, and Ukrainian church. It also made me feel grateful for the traditions, language, and sense of community my family instilled in me so early on (often against my will!!).
Here are some pictures of the finished products!
my egg...I was and never will be very artistic :)
My friend's egg...isn't it beautiful?? I told her that Ukrainian Babchias everwhere would be thrilled with this.
All of our creations.
Happy Easter!!
I have not made Ukrainian Easter eggs since middle school and wow did this bring me back. Everything from holding the stylus over the candle to the smell of the beeswax made me remember the many years of Ukrainian school, Ukrainian girlscouts, and Ukrainian church. It also made me feel grateful for the traditions, language, and sense of community my family instilled in me so early on (often against my will!!).
Here are some pictures of the finished products!
my egg...I was and never will be very artistic :)
My friend's egg...isn't it beautiful?? I told her that Ukrainian Babchias everwhere would be thrilled with this.
All of our creations.
Happy Easter!!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
TB Screening at Tumaini
On Monday, we conducted our third TB screening at the Tumaini Children's Drop-In Center. Two kids died last fall from what was thought to be TB related causes so the center collaborated with the TB Projects Office to organize TB screening.
This is how the screening works:
Two cough monitors who are assigned to the Eldoret community come to Tumaini and lead a sensitization talk about TB. The children usually ask questions after the talk regarding TB symptoms and transmission.
Then the cough monitors are stationed in a private room so that children can meet with them individually. They are asked a 6 question questionnaire (eg Have you been coughing for more than 2 weeks? etc) and the cough monitor can then decide if the child is at risk and needs to provide a sputum sample.
Here are some pictures from past screenings...
Talking about TB after the morning assembly
One of the cough monitors screening a child
Another cough monitor doing screening
Entertainment while waiting to be screened
This is how the screening works:
Two cough monitors who are assigned to the Eldoret community come to Tumaini and lead a sensitization talk about TB. The children usually ask questions after the talk regarding TB symptoms and transmission.
Then the cough monitors are stationed in a private room so that children can meet with them individually. They are asked a 6 question questionnaire (eg Have you been coughing for more than 2 weeks? etc) and the cough monitor can then decide if the child is at risk and needs to provide a sputum sample.
Here are some pictures from past screenings...
Talking about TB after the morning assembly
One of the cough monitors screening a child
Another cough monitor doing screening
Entertainment while waiting to be screened
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Chai Break
At around 10:30am at AMPATH, workers drop everything to have an obligatory chai (tea) and snack break.
Waiting room with 40 patients? Sorry, we are having chai!
Need to quickly pick up something? Yup, you'll have to wait until after chai!
8 months ago the chai phenomenon made me crazy. And I mean, rip my hair out of my head, CRAZY.
How can you leave all of those patients in the hallway while you all take a 30 minute tea break 1.5 hours before the 1hr lunch break?? Where is the sense of responsibility?
I sometimes asked...did you know that in the US we sometimes miss lunch completely or just eat on the run if we have a lot of patients??? (blank stares and jaw drops followed)
Fast forward 8 months later and wow have things changed. I LOVE chai break! I have come to respect this tasty and relaxing cultural tradition. The Kenyan chai is made with lots of milk and way too much sugar...just enough to give you an extra energy boost until lunch. Pair it with a mandazi (a sort of donut) or a beef samosa and life is perfect.
Yes, there are still some workers who choose to have a chai break that's just a little too long (eg when a chai break runs right into the lunch hour...). However, I think that some Americans could definitely benefit from a chai break - or maybe a proper 1 hour lunch break - on a regular basis. It's good for the brain to just stop for a few minutes, sip some sugary goodness, and reflect on the day! Here's to bringing chai break back to the states with me!!
My chai and samosa yesterday in the office. My desk is the one directly behind the thermoses.
Waiting room with 40 patients? Sorry, we are having chai!
Need to quickly pick up something? Yup, you'll have to wait until after chai!
8 months ago the chai phenomenon made me crazy. And I mean, rip my hair out of my head, CRAZY.
How can you leave all of those patients in the hallway while you all take a 30 minute tea break 1.5 hours before the 1hr lunch break?? Where is the sense of responsibility?
I sometimes asked...did you know that in the US we sometimes miss lunch completely or just eat on the run if we have a lot of patients??? (blank stares and jaw drops followed)
Fast forward 8 months later and wow have things changed. I LOVE chai break! I have come to respect this tasty and relaxing cultural tradition. The Kenyan chai is made with lots of milk and way too much sugar...just enough to give you an extra energy boost until lunch. Pair it with a mandazi (a sort of donut) or a beef samosa and life is perfect.
Yes, there are still some workers who choose to have a chai break that's just a little too long (eg when a chai break runs right into the lunch hour...). However, I think that some Americans could definitely benefit from a chai break - or maybe a proper 1 hour lunch break - on a regular basis. It's good for the brain to just stop for a few minutes, sip some sugary goodness, and reflect on the day! Here's to bringing chai break back to the states with me!!
My chai and samosa yesterday in the office. My desk is the one directly behind the thermoses.
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