Ngai, But Krees, Ah'm So Tyahed!

So, I feel as if it's been a little while since I wrote anything. I feel like talking about my experience running with the kids over here. I remember first talking to people about the Hope Runs program, and how Heather and I were going to help coach the Kenyan kids to run. I do believe that the most common response I received was,"Ha! You all are going to teach Kenyans to run?" Again, more often than not, there were squinty eyes and a smirk behind the question.

First of all, I was usually careful to say "help coach," and not "teach." I do understand my limitations as a 35 year old former real estate attorney. Second, yes, many of these kids are fast. Real fast. One of the Grade 8 kids ran an 18:30 five kilometer race last year as either a 12 or 13 year old. That's crusing along at about a 5:58 per mile. There's another kid who ran a 9:47 in the 3000 last year when he was 16. That's around a 5:14 per mile average. Um, yes...again, I say this is fast. As in, "Damn.....did you see how fast that kid is?" Third, and I think what most everyone, including your humble blogger, forgot is that these are kids. I don't care what country you are in, there are kids who will hate to run, especially when it is mandatory.

I'm going to give you an example. This Christmas, my inlaws were unbelievably kind, and gave me a Garmin GPS trainer. I'm using the thing non-stop. (Except for last week, when I caught a stomach bug/worm or microbe). Here are two workouts I've done in the past few days on the exact same trail. One is with the kids, and one is by myself. Guess which one was with the kids. Remember, it is the exact same trail.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details

Garmin Connect - Activity Details

You may first note that on one map, my route shows thicker in some areas, indicating that I was running back and forth repeatedly over the same trail. Or, you may have noticed that while one trail was 4.59 miles, the other was 5.7 miles. Again, for the same trail. Others of you may have noticed that one trail took approximately twice as long to complete. Finally, the more adept of you may have seen that I entitled one Big Loop by Self, and the other Big Loop with Kids.

Anyway, the point is that we are working with children. As a result, while some kids may be flying through the workout, I'm at the back hearing, "Ngai, but Krees, Ah'm so tyahed. " I hear this a lot. Ngai is Kikuyu for God, by the way.

Obviously, all of this is said jokingly. It is interesting, though, that across cultures, kids are still kids. And, these kids just started their running training right when we got here. Over the last month, the kids at the back have dropped about a minute and a half to two minutes from their mile times. Even those that don't want to are improving in spite of themselves. Makes me feel good about our time here :)

As usual, here are a few pics.
Kasper


My feet post-run. Please note the redish hue and stubby toes.

Heather's feet post-run. Please note the redish hue, but dainty ankles and shapely calves.

The Kenyans like to eat a tortilla-esque flatbread called "chipati." It is really good. Unlike tortillas, it is cooked in oil. The kids made a batch of it a few days ago out of this torso-shaped mound of dough.
Cooking of the chipati.
Our good friend Elizabeth, tired from getting 30 kids to cook the chipati.

The Kenyan Diet

I'm not saying that this is country wide, because I don't know. In our area though, we are eating a lot of bean, rice and corn based meals. A lot of runners asked me to write about the diet, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. For a couple that ate meat most meals of the day (an occasional burger for breakfast is nice), we have transistioned to a mostly vegetarian diet. The three main meals we have eaten are:
1. Githeri - This is kind of like a stew without the broth. It is made primarily of beans, corn, potatoes, kale, cabbage, and carrots. It is boiled in water. I belive, just barely covering the food. The water boils down, then let simmer. It has been served hot, and in something of a paste form. Not bad with hot sauce. I'd kill for a bottle of Cholula. Seriously.
2. Ugali- Maize (corn) flour boiled in water. Once it becomes firm, you eat it in pieces. Kind of like a large potful of a corn dumpling. Yummmy. Kinda tasteless.
3. Porridge - I still cannot figure out the name of the porridge. It is chock full of stuff though. Mix maize flour, wheat flour, soybeans, sorghum, water and milk. Boil it and serve in a cup. Mmmmmm. Kinda tasteless.

Here's a few more pics for you.
Drying out the running shoes. I have found that kiosks make the best dryers.
My new desktop.

The farmer's market. Word is Whole Foods is going to buy them out. I mean that in all seriousness.

This is Robert.
This is Lucy and Ann.

Let's talk again soon.
Kasper

One Week

One Week 1-13-10
Our first week in Kenya has flashed by. We are stilling dealing with jet lag, and are still frequently waking between 4:30 to 5:00 a.m. The internet has been down our entire stay so far, so forgive our lack of postings.

Back to our arrival - Another driver took us on the 3-hour drive from Nairobi to the home. As I mentioned in the last entry, he was a couple hours late in arriving. The drive was relatively easy, though, with the only traffic and obstacles being in Nairobi. Neither of us really knew what to expect on our arrival at the home. What did the home look like? How are the kids going to react to us? How will our proposed programs be implemented? The kids were in school as we unloaded our things, giving us some time to look around. The Tumaini home was constructed in 2003, so it is relatively new. The house and grounds are meticulously maintained by both a small staff and the children. The day before we left, we found out that a large portion of the yearly budget was cut as donations have decreased due to the poor global economy. A number of the staff was let go prior to our arrival. Additionally, a number of older kids (between high school and college) had to find other living accommodations. You would not know it by looking at the home; sadly, this may actually work to their detriment, as people would naturally assume that the home does not need the money.

The children started to drift in from school, and we began introductions. I believe that Heather’s name must only be used in America, as we have not yet been in another country where it can be pronounced. “Heavah…..Heevah…….Heehhaah.” The kids are getting better with it. My name, on the other hand, sounds so much cooler in other countries than it does in America. “Krees.” Drag out the e’s a little. Krees.

Heather has held 2 art classes so far, and they have been a large hit. The kids are really enjoying them. I began running with the kids a couple days ago, so I don’t yet have a feel for it. I am still getting to know the two coaches – Titus and Douglas. Titus has a 2:16 marathon under his belt, and Douglas is currently trying to make the Kenyan national team. Obviously, they are a wee bit above my level, and appear to be watching how I relate to the kids first. My other intended program was to pair as many kids as possible with a pen pal in the States. I’ve got a few things working against me on this one. The internet has been down the entire week that we have been here. The budget cuts make paying for normal post impossible. Finally, very few kids are allowed on the computers, making this hard to sustain once Heather and I leave. We will see. I am discussing ideas with the manager, matron, and our extraordinarily helpful friend, Zach. Zach is a fellow American who spent 8 months here last year, working to implement an introductory business course in the high school.

I will post some pics later when the network here isn't so funky.
Kris and Heather