Habari Yako?

So I've decided I'm going to title every blog post a different swahili word that I learned that day. Today, one boy came over to me while I was talking to some other guys, and said habari yako about five times, before finally one of the boys said excuse me madam, this boy is trying to ask how you are. And of course I felt bad and gave him an answer right away, nzuri, meaning I'm fine.
Today was the big walk and I BARELY survived. We decided it was 15 kilometers, not 10. And this is not your regular 15 k walk. It was HOT hot hot, and super dry. Oh and we're at 6,000 feet if i haven't already mentioned that so the oxygen supply is a little low. We drove down to Kasarani, the slum where all of the students at St. Andrews live, at 9 this morning to begin. When we got there, there was "police detail" waiting for everyone to come together. The police detail was a great group of guys (and one girl) who were the security teams from two local flower farms. We parked the car, then got ready to begin. I had my backpack with two big bottles of water and my camera, the only necessities for a walk like this. Suddenly we heard drumming, and we turned around to find the "Kenya Scouts", the african version of boy scouts marching towards us. It was about 10 of the boys who go to St. Andrews, and they look VERY official. The best part was the 5 or 6 little kids trailing behind marching along. I'd say they were between ages 2 and 5. When they got closer to us all of the little guys ran towards me yelling "howahyou" which is the only english they know. When I knelt down to talk to them some of them jumped back and I was so confused. Later, I realized that they could see themselves in my sunglasses because they have a metallic finish, and they scared themselves. That was a big relief for me. Here are a few pictures of the little kids who LOVED seeing pictures of themselves on my camera.

this guy just looks so sad

Alright so the actual walk. Kenyans walk FAST. And the roads are all dirt and are full of pot holes. But I'm really glad I did it! I spent most of the walk with a group of 5 guys who had lots of questions about America, and lots of interesting answers to my questions about Kenya. One of them offered to carry my back pack which was very sweet and it was great to not have to carry it. At the half way point I was convinced I wasn't going to make it back because my toes were in so much pain, and my hip flexors started hurting big time. Oh and I was STARVING. One of the teachers gave me a little packet of biscuits which was a heeeuge help. All of the students kept coming up to me and asked if I was tired and I'd always say yesss I am and I'd ask them the same and they said oh no this is not a long walk. Many of them do this walk every day to get to school, or just to get around. In my lessons I told my students that in solving conflicts it is very important to put yourself in the other ones shoes. Today I did just that and it was really good for me. I had one my fancy running shoes, and many of the students either had simple flats, or shoes that clearly didn't fit them at all. On November 5th St. Andrews is having a Harambee, which is a fundraiser where everyone presents the money that they have raised for a certain event. All of the money that is raised from the walk will be going to building a new classroom, because they are expecting another 80 students next year, but they don't have anywhere to teach them. The money will also be going towards school fees for students who can't afford to pay. My goal is to raise at least $250, hopefully closer to 500. If anyone wants to support me, it's pretty easy. Send the money to 84 Old Sudbury Rd, Lincoln MA 01773, and if you are writing a check write it out to John Snell. He will collect all of the money, and then write out one check to St. Andrews, which my aunt, who is coming at the end of October, will bring over for me to present at the Harambee. Even $5 can really go a long way over here, so any donation is really appreciated by the students. If you are a student at LS and want to donate, you can give money to my sister.

Now I'm going to share with you some of the responses I got from my students yesterday. 

The first set of questions are answering this question. "Write down any questions you have about the topic conflict resolution, or personal conflicts you have" These are just a few of the 180 responses I got.

1) Every time our school teachers send me home for school fees, but I have nothing to do. So sometimes I feel myself that I am abandoned and then I have been thinking of taking my life. Please help me to solve the feeling and control myself because I still need to live. What can I do?

2)  Why do politics like seeing people dying when they have the right to solve it?

3) How can you make conflict resolution with a person you don’t talk to, because he/ she can not listen to you. He will be proud and feel like he/she is more valuable than you and will mistreat you. He will be making fun of you know that after all, you can’t afford to lose him/ her which is very bad.

4)  I sometimes quarrel with my mom but I know I was right. I can’t tell my mother she is wrong because she is an elder. It hurts me inside to know that I am right but someone can’t accept it because I am young. What should I do?

5)  How can you resolve a conflict if you are not involved. You have come home from school and find that your father is abusing your mother either language abuse, physical abuse etc. What is your first step in resolving.

After reading all of them I sat and tried to soak it all in. My first thought, was wow I am in way over my head. These are questions for a trained counselor, not an 18 year old right out of high school. I realized that I need to keep telling myself I am not here to solve all of their conflicts, I am here to teach them how THEY can solve conflicts themselves. It was good to see what I'm dealing with within these students and I think it was a good way for them to share concerns that they have probably kept inside for a long time. 

On a more happier note, I asked some of the students to give me feedback, and these were some of their responses.

1)  I like your teaching. New and marvelous. Bravo!

2) You are perfect, interesting and understandable. I just like everything in you. I love you

3) Molly Snell you are the best teacher, and friend I have ever came across. Your teachings, explanation and examples you give us fits your topics.

4)  I think you are so cool molly. I like the way you are teaching us. We understand you better madam.

This is the last thing I promise. (Just to prove to everyone that I really am teaching them) I asked one class to write down one thing they learned, and these were some responses. 

1) I have learned that I don’t have to disagree with anyone or anything because of nature.

2) I’ve learned to understand other people as the best way to solve conflicts between me and others. 3) Communication needs someone to cooperate, concentrate, ask questions, talk to each other and use eye contact

The last two questions I asked warmed my heart and filled me with confidence to continue teaching. Many of the students have come up to me to thank me for sacrificing my time to be here with them, and hearing that from students themselves really makes me feel like I am making a difference in their lives.

Hopefully this will be a relaxing weekend, because I'm not sure I'll be able to walk tomorrow. Who knew walking could make this so tired! I'm sure there is something I forgot to write about, but oh well. OH here's a picture of me walking today!

I was mid-wave which is why my arm looks funny