To everyone I know...have a very Happy Christmas!
I'm off to Lamu, to work on my tan.
M.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Happy Christmas
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Voi
Last weekend was spent in Voi, visiting Chris. It was very chilled.
This is Chris our host for the weekend. He hopes to have a career as a Nike model in the future.
Walking up to Chris's house. Red dust gets everywhere.
Chris explains why we shouldn't climb that particular mountain. Apparently it is covered in posionous snakes.
View from a Hotel Lodge in Voi. Chris had to go to a work social so we chilled here and had a few Tusker.
Voi is cool. It is what I had in my head when I imagined what volunteering in Africa would be like.
Next blog will be from Lamu. Whoo Hooo!
M.
Cultural Learning
30-60 minutes late for a meeting is perfectly on time in Kenya.
This is Chris our host for the weekend. He hopes to have a career as a Nike model in the future.
Walking up to Chris's house. Red dust gets everywhere.
Chris explains why we shouldn't climb that particular mountain. Apparently it is covered in posionous snakes.
View from a Hotel Lodge in Voi. Chris had to go to a work social so we chilled here and had a few Tusker.
Voi is cool. It is what I had in my head when I imagined what volunteering in Africa would be like.
Next blog will be from Lamu. Whoo Hooo!
M.
Cultural Learning
30-60 minutes late for a meeting is perfectly on time in Kenya.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Jamhuri Day
Dec 11th
Kenya gained their Independance from Britian on December 11th 1963, and formed a Republic the following year. They celebrate it every year as Jamhuri (Republic) day. Nothing much happens. A few politicians make a few speeches is all. I'm off to Voi to see where Chris lives so will spend he day in transit.
I found Monday tough this week. Felt like I was chasing people around the place and moving from thing to thing getting nothing of much consequence done. But as usual another urgent request came from above and Wednesday and Thursday were mad busy. I got my holidays approved for Christmas by the boss man so I'll have Christmas and New Year week off.
News from home is that the Duggan clan have bought 2 goats. One is off to Malawa (Uncle John) and the other Kenya (The rest of the family and significant others). I'm not sure what I'll say when the mother asks what I'm feeding the goats! Just kidding ;-) I kind of got misty eyed when I heard. I feel it was a real statement of support. (Although, seriously Ma, I don't actually get the goats).
The building manager James finally sent someone around to cut the grass (What with the rain it's been growing at a savage rate). All done by hand of course. I took the Lad out a cup of sprite on my break. He is now officially my best mate. I better get on and start packing for Voi. Planning to do a bit of hiking so better pack my factor 50.
Later,
M.
Kenya gained their Independance from Britian on December 11th 1963, and formed a Republic the following year. They celebrate it every year as Jamhuri (Republic) day. Nothing much happens. A few politicians make a few speeches is all. I'm off to Voi to see where Chris lives so will spend he day in transit.
I found Monday tough this week. Felt like I was chasing people around the place and moving from thing to thing getting nothing of much consequence done. But as usual another urgent request came from above and Wednesday and Thursday were mad busy. I got my holidays approved for Christmas by the boss man so I'll have Christmas and New Year week off.
News from home is that the Duggan clan have bought 2 goats. One is off to Malawa (Uncle John) and the other Kenya (The rest of the family and significant others). I'm not sure what I'll say when the mother asks what I'm feeding the goats! Just kidding ;-) I kind of got misty eyed when I heard. I feel it was a real statement of support. (Although, seriously Ma, I don't actually get the goats).
The building manager James finally sent someone around to cut the grass (What with the rain it's been growing at a savage rate). All done by hand of course. I took the Lad out a cup of sprite on my break. He is now officially my best mate. I better get on and start packing for Voi. Planning to do a bit of hiking so better pack my factor 50.
Later,
M.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Getting Touristy
Dec 5th to 7th
Saturday morning I was up and out early. Time for my first real tourist outting, to Haller Park, a former Cement Quarry whose natural ecology has been restored (by a German lad called Haller). The wooded paths and scenic lakes provide a quiet and relaxing backdrop to feed Giraffes, and spot Crocs, Hippos, monkeys and gaint turtles. The lake is full of birds, like pelicans, crowned cranes and such like. Some of the fully grown male monkeys have bright blue balls. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
The ex-Amdahl boys had a caption competition with the last set of pictures I put up. It got me to thinking. There have been very few comments on the blog recently. So, I have decided to run a caption competition. I'll buy a pint for the best caption. Of course you'll have to wait till Oct next year, unless you come to Mombasa to claim the prize.
Sunday morning I went to Church. Down the Docks there is a Seafarers mission with an Anglican service, much like our services at home. I have avoided the local ones here as you can get pestered with all sorts, and the fact they go on from 9am-1pm. This service was 10-11. Afterwards, over free tea and coffee, I talked with an elderly Lady, Meg, who runs a Theology college and has been looking for ways to diversify their curriculum. We talked about IT skills, Business acumen and entreupeneurial support type courses. Meg reckons I could be very useful to her. I reminded her that I already had a very packed schedule but would think on what we had discussed.
The afternoon was spent in the Blue Room (icecream!) and in a terrace top bar...a real locals place. Diana, Emma, Abdu and muggins, caught up on the week and talked about plans for Lamu. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!! Abdu, who was just two weeks here, was shocked at how apparent the poverty on the streets was, compared to Nairobi. The street is lined with beggers. Seems to be worse on Sunday morning. Mostly old or crippled people. One boy with no arms or legs had been placed on a corner. They always shout 'Jambo/Mambo' when a Mzungo walks by. I have no idea what Kenya's Urban poverty reduction strategy is. I have only read about rural projects. Maybe there is something Bombolulu could get involved in. I shudder to think what happens to the mentally disabled here. This morning a young woman stood naked on the main st in Mombasa remonstrating with an unseen nemisis. It was a disturbing site.
This time my Sunday trip home on the Matatu was fun filled. The money collector was a toe rag. He tried to charge me 40 bob. I laughed in his face and he got aggressive. I said, in Kiswahili, that I was a worker in Bombolulu workshops and that the price was 20 bob. Then he continued on to a young Lad beside me. The lad, maybe 16, didn't have enough fare. The matatu stopped and they had a kicking competition as he was thrown off. Just Handbags really.
Friday is Kenyan Independance day so a four day week ahead. Another busy week awaits...
M.
Cultural Learning
When going to Tourist attractions always carry your Kenyan ID card. The tourist rates can be 3 times the residents rate. It cost me 600 bob to get in Haller because I forgot mine. Doh!
Haller Park - Beautiful place.
Saturday morning I was up and out early. Time for my first real tourist outting, to Haller Park, a former Cement Quarry whose natural ecology has been restored (by a German lad called Haller). The wooded paths and scenic lakes provide a quiet and relaxing backdrop to feed Giraffes, and spot Crocs, Hippos, monkeys and gaint turtles. The lake is full of birds, like pelicans, crowned cranes and such like. Some of the fully grown male monkeys have bright blue balls. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
The ex-Amdahl boys had a caption competition with the last set of pictures I put up. It got me to thinking. There have been very few comments on the blog recently. So, I have decided to run a caption competition. I'll buy a pint for the best caption. Of course you'll have to wait till Oct next year, unless you come to Mombasa to claim the prize.Sunday morning I went to Church. Down the Docks there is a Seafarers mission with an Anglican service, much like our services at home. I have avoided the local ones here as you can get pestered with all sorts, and the fact they go on from 9am-1pm. This service was 10-11. Afterwards, over free tea and coffee, I talked with an elderly Lady, Meg, who runs a Theology college and has been looking for ways to diversify their curriculum. We talked about IT skills, Business acumen and entreupeneurial support type courses. Meg reckons I could be very useful to her. I reminded her that I already had a very packed schedule but would think on what we had discussed.
The afternoon was spent in the Blue Room (icecream!) and in a terrace top bar...a real locals place. Diana, Emma, Abdu and muggins, caught up on the week and talked about plans for Lamu. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!! Abdu, who was just two weeks here, was shocked at how apparent the poverty on the streets was, compared to Nairobi. The street is lined with beggers. Seems to be worse on Sunday morning. Mostly old or crippled people. One boy with no arms or legs had been placed on a corner. They always shout 'Jambo/Mambo' when a Mzungo walks by. I have no idea what Kenya's Urban poverty reduction strategy is. I have only read about rural projects. Maybe there is something Bombolulu could get involved in. I shudder to think what happens to the mentally disabled here. This morning a young woman stood naked on the main st in Mombasa remonstrating with an unseen nemisis. It was a disturbing site.
This time my Sunday trip home on the Matatu was fun filled. The money collector was a toe rag. He tried to charge me 40 bob. I laughed in his face and he got aggressive. I said, in Kiswahili, that I was a worker in Bombolulu workshops and that the price was 20 bob. Then he continued on to a young Lad beside me. The lad, maybe 16, didn't have enough fare. The matatu stopped and they had a kicking competition as he was thrown off. Just Handbags really.
Friday is Kenyan Independance day so a four day week ahead. Another busy week awaits...
M.
Cultural Learning
When going to Tourist attractions always carry your Kenyan ID card. The tourist rates can be 3 times the residents rate. It cost me 600 bob to get in Haller because I forgot mine. Doh!
Haller Park - Beautiful place.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
National Shopping Holiday
So Monday (8th) the towns will be overrun with Country bumkins doing there Christmas shopping. Limerick, Dublin and all the major towns. Here, nothing. Not a dicky bird! As much as anyone I dislike the fact that the commerical Christmas starts so early but I also enjoy from about now on. There is a social buzz and the week/weekends are packed with shopping and meeting up with friends. I hear the credit crunch is worsening so it will be a more subdued this Christmas. No harm. Have a think about buying a goat or a cow for Bothar or giving SVP a few bob. Many Charities have suffered badly this last year with people struggling to readjust to new economic realities. I don't have a morgage, and I ain't got no kids so it was easy for me to swan off to Africa. But honestly the only possesion I miss is a washing machine. It is now in my top 5 of the best inventions ever.
Last weekend was busy so I am looking forward to a quiet one this weekend. Have got in the habit of falling asleep when I get home from work and then struggling to get to sleep at night. I have so many balls in the air at work that my mind refuses to quiet... Raw material data cleansing, Production scheduling and planning, Product design and costing, donor reports and budget applications. I worked late on Wednesday evening but the meeting I was working towards never happened. Still hasn't happened. The Kaizen project has lost momentum. The next management meeting can't come soon enough. For now I have decided to concentrate on what I'm good at, Data manipulation and information flow (it's not all glamour!).
One of the more interesting things I have been asked to help with is defining our policy for piecework e.g. 35 bob per bracelet made. I have read that “Civilized nations have moved away from paying by the piece.”. By law the workers have to make at least a basic wage. Some employees work themselves hard until they make thier target income for the month and then sit back and relax or don't bother showing up. Quality can vary according to how fast an employee works. Their is a high risk of overproduction. Just think what might happen if programmers got paid for the number of lines of code they wrote. The only previous experience I have of piece work is a summer spent footing turf, getting paid by the line. One day we hit a water logged area and my earnings halfed. I went home dejected. Trust and open communication between employees and employer seems to be the key to making piece work viable. Quite civilised.
I have gotten over my coffee addiction. In APC I was drinking maybe 4-5 cups a day. Here it has been mostly water and sprite. Soft drinks are extremely cheap here. 20 bob (20 cent) from the local shack, as long as you return the glass bottle. Sometimes I buy it down at the Cultural centre but have to remind Mercy (the waitress) that I am on staff rates. 'Mimi si Mtalii' (I'm not a tourist).
Lamu is booked. For a week at Christmas I WILL be a tourist. Christmas dinner will must likely be BBQ chicken by the pool. I believe ye are freezing your butts off at home. Ho, Ho, Ho.
M.
p.s. Keane has stepped down. I admire him for accepting he hasn't met his own high standards. At least his dogs will be happy of the company.
Cultural Learning (open to interpretation)
Alex, the Kaizen manager, out of the blue this morning walked into my work area and repeated three times "I am the champion!". I replied "Yes, you are!". He is a good lad in fairness.
Last weekend was busy so I am looking forward to a quiet one this weekend. Have got in the habit of falling asleep when I get home from work and then struggling to get to sleep at night. I have so many balls in the air at work that my mind refuses to quiet... Raw material data cleansing, Production scheduling and planning, Product design and costing, donor reports and budget applications. I worked late on Wednesday evening but the meeting I was working towards never happened. Still hasn't happened. The Kaizen project has lost momentum. The next management meeting can't come soon enough. For now I have decided to concentrate on what I'm good at, Data manipulation and information flow (it's not all glamour!).
One of the more interesting things I have been asked to help with is defining our policy for piecework e.g. 35 bob per bracelet made. I have read that “Civilized nations have moved away from paying by the piece.”. By law the workers have to make at least a basic wage. Some employees work themselves hard until they make thier target income for the month and then sit back and relax or don't bother showing up. Quality can vary according to how fast an employee works. Their is a high risk of overproduction. Just think what might happen if programmers got paid for the number of lines of code they wrote. The only previous experience I have of piece work is a summer spent footing turf, getting paid by the line. One day we hit a water logged area and my earnings halfed. I went home dejected. Trust and open communication between employees and employer seems to be the key to making piece work viable. Quite civilised.
I have gotten over my coffee addiction. In APC I was drinking maybe 4-5 cups a day. Here it has been mostly water and sprite. Soft drinks are extremely cheap here. 20 bob (20 cent) from the local shack, as long as you return the glass bottle. Sometimes I buy it down at the Cultural centre but have to remind Mercy (the waitress) that I am on staff rates. 'Mimi si Mtalii' (I'm not a tourist).
Lamu is booked. For a week at Christmas I WILL be a tourist. Christmas dinner will must likely be BBQ chicken by the pool. I believe ye are freezing your butts off at home. Ho, Ho, Ho.
M.
p.s. Keane has stepped down. I admire him for accepting he hasn't met his own high standards. At least his dogs will be happy of the company.
Cultural Learning (open to interpretation)
Alex, the Kaizen manager, out of the blue this morning walked into my work area and repeated three times "I am the champion!". I replied "Yes, you are!". He is a good lad in fairness.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Everybody comes to Bombolulu
28-30th Nov
After work on Friday I headed straight out to do shopping. I was tired and grumpy. Got into the wrong Matatu and was asked to "get down". Everyone else in the Matatu started laughing like a pack of hyenas. I was vexed. Got in the right Matatu and had to argue all the way over price. "Hapana, Kumi bob" (No it's not, it's 10 bob"), i repeated until he eventually gave up. By the time I got to Nakumatt I was spitting bullets!
I sat and had a sprite in the restaurant and steadied myself. An array of expletives were running through my head. I let them pass and then started shopping. Tomorrow I would have guests. VSO Coast meeting in Bombolulu.
Diana arrived around 8:45 and Hannah and her boyfriend, fresh from the airport, soon after. Had some coffee and bacon sandwiches. Cocky (the Coast volunteer chairwoman) arrived around half nine and we headed up to get settled into the board room for the meeting. One by one the volunteers arrived. Chris from voi, Anique from Mtwapa, Geri from Malindi, and all the other Mombasa based volunteers. The newest volunteer Abdu was introduced to all and then the meeting began (with a silent prayer).
We had a quick round table to catch up on how everyone was doing. Biggest challenge (spreading myself to thin) and biggest success (Traidcraft visit last weeK) since the last meeting. We complained about VSO a bit but generally everybody is doing well. After that we reviewed the minutes from the last meeting in July. Lively discussion and good humor permeated the boardroom.
There is a VSO fridge doing the rounds and we eventually decided that Hannah would be next to take ownership. The girl is craving breakfast cereal but can't keep milk in her house. The "Fridge policy" was read, a comprehensive guide to rules and responsibilities to owning the fridge. Good laugh.
I had been asked by the VSO International staff that visited to promote the new Online VSO community site. We all agreed to get registered and to have a look. Currently most volunteers use Facebook to keep in touch.
At 1pm we broke for lunch. There was a wedding going on in the restaurant so we had dinner el fresco beside the massai hut. Mataha (potato with green veg) and beef stew, at staff rates, thanks to Stephen, the Bombolulu procurement manager. Paul was going to give us a guided tour, no charge, but first the Bombolulu dancers performed and then got all the volunteers up dancing. See pictures below. Mighty craic. (Yes, that's me getting involved!).
After a tour of all the tribal huts, given by Paul (in wheelchair, Katana standing), and a stop at the shop we went back to the boardroom to talk about Global Education. The main focus is responsible tourism i.e. stop exploitation of children as sex workers. An intense discussion let to agreement that the target audience and key message needed to be solidified. We aim to work towards a large rally next September.
When the meeting ended we all headed back to my place to chill out and have a few beers. The craic was great and some stayed for an hour, some all evening. We sat out the back of the house and traded stories and laughs, a totally comfortable laziness settling around us. I demonstrated my doorbell (toot-toot-toot OPEN THE DOOR!) and we organised lodgings for the evening. Chris, Hannah and Dan at mine. Abi at Emma's. Then off out with us to a Chinese restaurant and then Tembo.
I had been there once before but we arrived earlier this time so the number of sex workers there was very apparent, and lots of older white guys with good looking young black women. As the place filled it was less noticeable. We had a few beers; some danced, some talked. I nattered away to Emma, Abi, then Cocky for most of the evening but tiredness set in around 1:30am and we headed for home. Matatu and short walk then, comatose till 10:30am the following day.
Sunday went into Mombasa and Abi and Dan headed back to Likoni. Hung around Mombasa for a while and had a walk around and lunch. Chris headed back to Voi. On the Matatu home a local girl tried very unsubtle-ly to "pick me up". I was polite but dismissing. "Come sit with me". Pretty girl. Thanks, but no thanks.
I met Guma and his Mum on the walk to the house and Guma decided to walk back with me. Crossing the football pitch we were joined by a couple of Guma's friends and one of the kids next door (Chris, 2 Naomi's, Harold and a little one called Chrysanthemum I think). We all sat on the porch, drank juice and told each other our names and ages. Once the juice was gone I sent them all home. It was time to cook dinner and wash clothes.
M.
Cultural Learning
Dec 1st was World Aids awareness day. Over 1 million people are infected wih HIV/AIDS in Kenyan (population is around 35 million).
Relaxing in a traditional Swahili house (Cocky got a chance to play my Swahili wife)
Picture of Bombolulu Gardens
After work on Friday I headed straight out to do shopping. I was tired and grumpy. Got into the wrong Matatu and was asked to "get down". Everyone else in the Matatu started laughing like a pack of hyenas. I was vexed. Got in the right Matatu and had to argue all the way over price. "Hapana, Kumi bob" (No it's not, it's 10 bob"), i repeated until he eventually gave up. By the time I got to Nakumatt I was spitting bullets!
I sat and had a sprite in the restaurant and steadied myself. An array of expletives were running through my head. I let them pass and then started shopping. Tomorrow I would have guests. VSO Coast meeting in Bombolulu.
Diana arrived around 8:45 and Hannah and her boyfriend, fresh from the airport, soon after. Had some coffee and bacon sandwiches. Cocky (the Coast volunteer chairwoman) arrived around half nine and we headed up to get settled into the board room for the meeting. One by one the volunteers arrived. Chris from voi, Anique from Mtwapa, Geri from Malindi, and all the other Mombasa based volunteers. The newest volunteer Abdu was introduced to all and then the meeting began (with a silent prayer).
We had a quick round table to catch up on how everyone was doing. Biggest challenge (spreading myself to thin) and biggest success (Traidcraft visit last weeK) since the last meeting. We complained about VSO a bit but generally everybody is doing well. After that we reviewed the minutes from the last meeting in July. Lively discussion and good humor permeated the boardroom.
There is a VSO fridge doing the rounds and we eventually decided that Hannah would be next to take ownership. The girl is craving breakfast cereal but can't keep milk in her house. The "Fridge policy" was read, a comprehensive guide to rules and responsibilities to owning the fridge. Good laugh.
I had been asked by the VSO International staff that visited to promote the new Online VSO community site. We all agreed to get registered and to have a look. Currently most volunteers use Facebook to keep in touch.
At 1pm we broke for lunch. There was a wedding going on in the restaurant so we had dinner el fresco beside the massai hut. Mataha (potato with green veg) and beef stew, at staff rates, thanks to Stephen, the Bombolulu procurement manager. Paul was going to give us a guided tour, no charge, but first the Bombolulu dancers performed and then got all the volunteers up dancing. See pictures below. Mighty craic. (Yes, that's me getting involved!).
After a tour of all the tribal huts, given by Paul (in wheelchair, Katana standing), and a stop at the shop we went back to the boardroom to talk about Global Education. The main focus is responsible tourism i.e. stop exploitation of children as sex workers. An intense discussion let to agreement that the target audience and key message needed to be solidified. We aim to work towards a large rally next September.When the meeting ended we all headed back to my place to chill out and have a few beers. The craic was great and some stayed for an hour, some all evening. We sat out the back of the house and traded stories and laughs, a totally comfortable laziness settling around us. I demonstrated my doorbell (toot-toot-toot OPEN THE DOOR!) and we organised lodgings for the evening. Chris, Hannah and Dan at mine. Abi at Emma's. Then off out with us to a Chinese restaurant and then Tembo.
I had been there once before but we arrived earlier this time so the number of sex workers there was very apparent, and lots of older white guys with good looking young black women. As the place filled it was less noticeable. We had a few beers; some danced, some talked. I nattered away to Emma, Abi, then Cocky for most of the evening but tiredness set in around 1:30am and we headed for home. Matatu and short walk then, comatose till 10:30am the following day.
Sunday went into Mombasa and Abi and Dan headed back to Likoni. Hung around Mombasa for a while and had a walk around and lunch. Chris headed back to Voi. On the Matatu home a local girl tried very unsubtle-ly to "pick me up". I was polite but dismissing. "Come sit with me". Pretty girl. Thanks, but no thanks.
I met Guma and his Mum on the walk to the house and Guma decided to walk back with me. Crossing the football pitch we were joined by a couple of Guma's friends and one of the kids next door (Chris, 2 Naomi's, Harold and a little one called Chrysanthemum I think). We all sat on the porch, drank juice and told each other our names and ages. Once the juice was gone I sent them all home. It was time to cook dinner and wash clothes.
M.
Cultural Learning
Dec 1st was World Aids awareness day. Over 1 million people are infected wih HIV/AIDS in Kenyan (population is around 35 million).
Relaxing in a traditional Swahili house (Cocky got a chance to play my Swahili wife)
Picture of Bombolulu Gardens
Friday, November 28, 2008
Fair Trade
Nov 27th
Second day of lunchtime meetings. Today the Fair Trade people were in checking progress on all the proposed improvements to the stores, kiln, production etc. Alex (Kaizen PM) and I gave them the tour and they made some keen observations about safety and operation issues. Smart folks. They were impressed with the approach and the speed the changes being made. Of course it had resulted in a shed load of more work. They want to be able to apply our learnings to other company's that they work with and have requested we "storyboard" our journey. Also I have to put an IT infrastructure requirements document together. Them things don't write themselves you know.
Shariq (VSO volunteer) called over around 11am to drop off some stuff for the other volunteers. He is off back to India for the Christmas and won't be around Saturday for the VSO meeting. Finally got down to preparing the house for my visitors. I scrubbed and cleaned for 2 hours. Washed bed sheets and sweep out all the dirt and dead insects that invariablely build up on the floor. Tomorrow evening I'll go shopping and stock up on food and booze. I am unreasonably excited about the weekend. I really need to get out more!
The brother printed off the blog and showed it to the mother. She got a kick out of it. Thanks for keeping me updated on all the horses Ma, you're very good. I'm happy out so no need to be worrying.
M.
p.s. Thanks to all the people who have been sending emails. I'm doing my best to reply to them all.
Cultural Learning
In Kenyan, to start school, you used to have to be able to touch your left ear with your right hand. (Well of course YOU can do it. You're not 8 anymore you knoW! Hee Hee)
Second day of lunchtime meetings. Today the Fair Trade people were in checking progress on all the proposed improvements to the stores, kiln, production etc. Alex (Kaizen PM) and I gave them the tour and they made some keen observations about safety and operation issues. Smart folks. They were impressed with the approach and the speed the changes being made. Of course it had resulted in a shed load of more work. They want to be able to apply our learnings to other company's that they work with and have requested we "storyboard" our journey. Also I have to put an IT infrastructure requirements document together. Them things don't write themselves you know.
Shariq (VSO volunteer) called over around 11am to drop off some stuff for the other volunteers. He is off back to India for the Christmas and won't be around Saturday for the VSO meeting. Finally got down to preparing the house for my visitors. I scrubbed and cleaned for 2 hours. Washed bed sheets and sweep out all the dirt and dead insects that invariablely build up on the floor. Tomorrow evening I'll go shopping and stock up on food and booze. I am unreasonably excited about the weekend. I really need to get out more!
The brother printed off the blog and showed it to the mother. She got a kick out of it. Thanks for keeping me updated on all the horses Ma, you're very good. I'm happy out so no need to be worrying.
M.
p.s. Thanks to all the people who have been sending emails. I'm doing my best to reply to them all.
Cultural Learning
In Kenyan, to start school, you used to have to be able to touch your left ear with your right hand. (Well of course YOU can do it. You're not 8 anymore you knoW! Hee Hee)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Strike
I wrote a blog at the weekend and managed to lose it somehow. Needless to say it was full of wit and sparkling repartee. But now it so last week. Also Blogger.com is refusing to upload some pictures so I may have to put them on flcker. (got 3 pictures up only)
The weekend was good. Went out to Kilifi on Saturday to see Cocky's girls playing in Coast finals. Watched some of the under 13 girls play. Impressive talents displayed with one Maradonna style goal from a solo effort starting at the backline. Then got biked into Kilifi market on a back carrier. 30 bob (shilling) a go.
Spent some time relaxing in an old members club restaurant that has seen better days but has a great view over the river. On getting back to Mombasa, Diana and I went for a few beers and an cheap Indian dinner. Nice.
Spent most of Sunday chilling and doing a bit of shopping, a bit of clothes washing, a bit of cleaning. Proper house proud I am. Paul called around later. Apparently there was trouble among the workers. Some have been informed that are being moved to production because the shop and cultural centre are quiet. There was a sit-in in progress in one of the manager’s offices.
Tomorrow should be interesting.
I left the house at 8am. The shop was still closed. The Cultural Centre was closed. The jewelry workshop was closed. The workers were on strike. Thankfully the most of them were gathered around the APDK offices rather than the Bombolulu offices so I didn't have to cross a picket line or nothing. Head down, say nothing. Through out the morning there were impassioned speeches, all in Swahili, and then all the parties went into meetings.
The following day all the workers were back to work but there are still a number issues near the surface. By Kenyan laws the strike was illegal. There seem to be a number of political forces at work that I know very little about. Thankfully, management seems to be focused on employee education and is looking at ways to remove the "them and us" mentality. Time will tell. We will all need to pull together if Bombolulu is to survive and prosper.
Workwise I'm flat out. Monday I analyzed product costing data. There was steam coming out my ears by lunchtime. Spent Tuesday helping to draw up a floor plan for the new kiln for drying out wood carvings. Was in the kiln for over an hour and it was like doing hot yoga. (I only ever did hot yoga once, honest! It was a phase, i'm over it now.) Wednesday was spent putting down floor markings for the Stores and packing areas. I was so knackered by finishing time.
Then, off up to Nakumatt with me. Had dinner out. Chatted for the evening with Diana instead of doing shopping. I should really be getting things organized for the weekend. Chris is up from Voi and Abi is going to stay at mine as well. There is a VSO Coast volunteers meeting, and a big night out planned after. Might even be some dancing. All the discussion will be around Christmas and New Year's plans. There is talk of a trip to Lamu, an island to the North.
News from home is that the Uncle's horse won in Chepstow. My brother Paul has been working the horse so there is great family excitement. Last week Cnoc on Ein (Birdhill in Gaelige) won in Ireland. The Uncle's on a roll.
In Kenyan, my life has a bit of rhythm back now. It's nice after a so much change.
M.
Cultural Learning
Every formal meeting starts with a prayer. Christians and Muslims praying together. Most people routinely talk about their relationship with God in general conversation. I'd be classed as a liberal Christian (I blame the dancing).
The Bird next door
Marking the Packing Area with Alex (standing)
The weekend was good. Went out to Kilifi on Saturday to see Cocky's girls playing in Coast finals. Watched some of the under 13 girls play. Impressive talents displayed with one Maradonna style goal from a solo effort starting at the backline. Then got biked into Kilifi market on a back carrier. 30 bob (shilling) a go.
Spent some time relaxing in an old members club restaurant that has seen better days but has a great view over the river. On getting back to Mombasa, Diana and I went for a few beers and an cheap Indian dinner. Nice.
Spent most of Sunday chilling and doing a bit of shopping, a bit of clothes washing, a bit of cleaning. Proper house proud I am. Paul called around later. Apparently there was trouble among the workers. Some have been informed that are being moved to production because the shop and cultural centre are quiet. There was a sit-in in progress in one of the manager’s offices.
Tomorrow should be interesting.
I left the house at 8am. The shop was still closed. The Cultural Centre was closed. The jewelry workshop was closed. The workers were on strike. Thankfully the most of them were gathered around the APDK offices rather than the Bombolulu offices so I didn't have to cross a picket line or nothing. Head down, say nothing. Through out the morning there were impassioned speeches, all in Swahili, and then all the parties went into meetings.
The following day all the workers were back to work but there are still a number issues near the surface. By Kenyan laws the strike was illegal. There seem to be a number of political forces at work that I know very little about. Thankfully, management seems to be focused on employee education and is looking at ways to remove the "them and us" mentality. Time will tell. We will all need to pull together if Bombolulu is to survive and prosper.
Workwise I'm flat out. Monday I analyzed product costing data. There was steam coming out my ears by lunchtime. Spent Tuesday helping to draw up a floor plan for the new kiln for drying out wood carvings. Was in the kiln for over an hour and it was like doing hot yoga. (I only ever did hot yoga once, honest! It was a phase, i'm over it now.) Wednesday was spent putting down floor markings for the Stores and packing areas. I was so knackered by finishing time.
Then, off up to Nakumatt with me. Had dinner out. Chatted for the evening with Diana instead of doing shopping. I should really be getting things organized for the weekend. Chris is up from Voi and Abi is going to stay at mine as well. There is a VSO Coast volunteers meeting, and a big night out planned after. Might even be some dancing. All the discussion will be around Christmas and New Year's plans. There is talk of a trip to Lamu, an island to the North.
News from home is that the Uncle's horse won in Chepstow. My brother Paul has been working the horse so there is great family excitement. Last week Cnoc on Ein (Birdhill in Gaelige) won in Ireland. The Uncle's on a roll.
In Kenyan, my life has a bit of rhythm back now. It's nice after a so much change.
M.
Cultural Learning
Every formal meeting starts with a prayer. Christians and Muslims praying together. Most people routinely talk about their relationship with God in general conversation. I'd be classed as a liberal Christian (I blame the dancing).
The view from my house
The Bird next door
Marking the Packing Area with Alex (standing)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Deadly buzz
Nov 16th
Another hectic week. Spent the week trying to finish off all the half finished stuff I had on e.g. floor plan for the store room, request quote for point sale software upgrade, write up production timings and observations etc.
The engineering work had been done on the punch machine so me and the Kaizen PM, Alex, walked down to workshop to test it out. 2 hours later will were still taking it apart and designing a slide rule to minimize raw material wastage. The punch machine is used to make shapes out of coke/fanta cans for use in brooches and custom jewellery. Very satisfying work but not really what I was here to do.
I have had a number of conversations with the management and have agreed that in 2 weeks I will be focused fully on Information systems. For now I was to get an understanding of how things worked.
The week was over before I knew it.
Then Saturday, Shariq, an Indian volunteer was organizing a craft fair in the local polytechnic, so I went along to support. A number of the VSO volunteers were there with there organizations. SOLWODI (Emma), Moving the Goalposts (Cocky) as well as Camara, the Irish educational computer equipment supplier. A couple of others VSO’s also came to support the event. I spent most of the day doing social networking. The Camara guys had a great welcome for me…”Conas ata tu?”. I tried the keepy-uppy(or ball juggling) at the Moving the Goalposts stand but failed miserable in the sandals I was wearing. Scarlet I was!
Some of the VSO’s agreed to meet for dinner and the cinema after (Quantum of Solace). After a deliciously cheap Indian we went to a ridiculously expensive movie (Euro 4.50). One of the ads at the start was hilarious.
--------------------------------
“Having trouble paying your rent?”
Visual – Tenant getting a dressing down from irate Landlady
“Is your fridge totally empty?”
Visual – close up of empty fridge
“Don’t worry.”
Visual – Man worrying
“Pawn direct shop is for you”
Visual – Man with quizzical look, changing to cheesy grin
“CD players. Jewellery. Electrical equipment. Cameras.”
Visual - Man ransacking his house
“What have you got for me?”
Visual – Pawnbroker to Man
“How much will you give me for this?”
Visual – Man gives stuff to Pawnbrokers
“50,000 shillings”
“Get some cash in your back pocket”
Visual – Cash goes into Man’s back pocket
“Where is my rent?”
Visual –Man paying rent to previously irate Landlady
Visual – Man taking champagne from fridge
Visual – Man drinking champagne with Landlady and random friend
“Pawn direct- IT’S FOR YOU!”
Visual – Man with Landlady and random friend pointing at camera
----------------------------
By the end of the ad I was in a ball laughing. Whatever lad came up with that was neither a marketing or economic major.
The movie was good and after someone suggested a beer. After a quick one in Bob’s, a compound with blaring loud music, and Murphy’s Irish bar (yes I did, and no it isn’t) we moved onto Tembo disco. Anique, Diana, Emma and I danced our socks off . The girls got chatted up by various punters, mostly unwelcome and at one stage we were moved off the dance floor for an acrobatic show (preceded by the playing of a commercial – yes you guessed it - our friend the economic expert from Pawn direct).
Up in the bar area there was a sectioned off area called ‘lollipops’. The name was vaguely familiar. Then I realized were I remembered that name from. It’s the name of a famous Pole dancing club in Bangkok. The girls had a good look and got a great laugh out of it. I was too busy polishing my halo.
At 3ish we headed home; although the place stayed open till 9am. Deadly night out, but not likely to be a regular feature on VSO wages.
This evening I had my first guests for dinner. Paul, one of the Bombolulu tour guides, and his wife and son (5 years). We had a good laugh and I learned some Kiswahili and Muslin customs. I wrote this blog and now I’m going to bed. La La Salama (rest peaceful).
Mike.
Cultural learning
Kenyans dance like no one is watching even though they hope someone is.
Another hectic week. Spent the week trying to finish off all the half finished stuff I had on e.g. floor plan for the store room, request quote for point sale software upgrade, write up production timings and observations etc.
The engineering work had been done on the punch machine so me and the Kaizen PM, Alex, walked down to workshop to test it out. 2 hours later will were still taking it apart and designing a slide rule to minimize raw material wastage. The punch machine is used to make shapes out of coke/fanta cans for use in brooches and custom jewellery. Very satisfying work but not really what I was here to do.
I have had a number of conversations with the management and have agreed that in 2 weeks I will be focused fully on Information systems. For now I was to get an understanding of how things worked.
The week was over before I knew it.
Then Saturday, Shariq, an Indian volunteer was organizing a craft fair in the local polytechnic, so I went along to support. A number of the VSO volunteers were there with there organizations. SOLWODI (Emma), Moving the Goalposts (Cocky) as well as Camara, the Irish educational computer equipment supplier. A couple of others VSO’s also came to support the event. I spent most of the day doing social networking. The Camara guys had a great welcome for me…”Conas ata tu?”. I tried the keepy-uppy(or ball juggling) at the Moving the Goalposts stand but failed miserable in the sandals I was wearing. Scarlet I was!
Some of the VSO’s agreed to meet for dinner and the cinema after (Quantum of Solace). After a deliciously cheap Indian we went to a ridiculously expensive movie (Euro 4.50). One of the ads at the start was hilarious.
--------------------------------
“Having trouble paying your rent?”
Visual – Tenant getting a dressing down from irate Landlady
“Is your fridge totally empty?”
Visual – close up of empty fridge
“Don’t worry.”
Visual – Man worrying
“Pawn direct shop is for you”
Visual – Man with quizzical look, changing to cheesy grin
“CD players. Jewellery. Electrical equipment. Cameras.”
Visual - Man ransacking his house
“What have you got for me?”
Visual – Pawnbroker to Man
“How much will you give me for this?”
Visual – Man gives stuff to Pawnbrokers
“50,000 shillings”
“Get some cash in your back pocket”
Visual – Cash goes into Man’s back pocket
“Where is my rent?”
Visual –Man paying rent to previously irate Landlady
Visual – Man taking champagne from fridge
Visual – Man drinking champagne with Landlady and random friend
“Pawn direct- IT’S FOR YOU!”
Visual – Man with Landlady and random friend pointing at camera
----------------------------
By the end of the ad I was in a ball laughing. Whatever lad came up with that was neither a marketing or economic major.
The movie was good and after someone suggested a beer. After a quick one in Bob’s, a compound with blaring loud music, and Murphy’s Irish bar (yes I did, and no it isn’t) we moved onto Tembo disco. Anique, Diana, Emma and I danced our socks off . The girls got chatted up by various punters, mostly unwelcome and at one stage we were moved off the dance floor for an acrobatic show (preceded by the playing of a commercial – yes you guessed it - our friend the economic expert from Pawn direct).
Up in the bar area there was a sectioned off area called ‘lollipops’. The name was vaguely familiar. Then I realized were I remembered that name from. It’s the name of a famous Pole dancing club in Bangkok. The girls had a good look and got a great laugh out of it. I was too busy polishing my halo.
At 3ish we headed home; although the place stayed open till 9am. Deadly night out, but not likely to be a regular feature on VSO wages.
This evening I had my first guests for dinner. Paul, one of the Bombolulu tour guides, and his wife and son (5 years). We had a good laugh and I learned some Kiswahili and Muslin customs. I wrote this blog and now I’m going to bed. La La Salama (rest peaceful).
Mike.
Cultural learning
Kenyans dance like no one is watching even though they hope someone is.
OBAMA, OBAMA!
Nov 7th
They are all delighted here that Obama is President elect. His father is from Nangza province, in western Kenyan. Today has been declared a public holiday. They are calling it Obama day. All conversations start with and end with talk of the first African (-American) President. Uganda has declared a 2 day holiday to celebrate it but as we all know they are a bit crazy (so say all the Kenyans).
So, I started the day with a lay in. Nice. Then I met Emma for lunch in Nyali. (Missed my stop so had to go to into Mombasa and come back out). A caffine/sugar fueled affair. Abi and Hannah joined us after a while. They are living in Shelly beach which is less developed and more rural than Nyali. (Mob justice is quiet popular there i.e. they burn thief's to death). Nyali is the main tourist area with white sandy beaches and a cool breeze. We let lunch settle while relaxing on the beach. Not long before one of the locals engaged us in conversation. Unfortunately you always have to be on your guard for chancers and con artists but some just genuinely want to talk and share the celebration of Obama day. This guy was a bit shifty so we moved on.
After a quick goodbye I headed back to Bombolulu (via Bamburi because of a thick headed Matatu operator who deliberately got me into the wrong Matatu). There was a football game just started...ould lads against young lads. (The pitch is 10 meters from my front door). I played the second half at right corner back. We won 4-3, and I was only responsible for one of the goals. After my shower I heard the doorbell go (well the door bell actually talks, “open the door” it says – must be set up for the hard of hearing). It was Kevin the electrician (centre back). He handed me a bottle of sprite. There was one for all that played. He waited while I poured the sprite, because the glass bottles would be sent for recycling, for a profit. The Sprite had the sweet taste of a good day, Obama day!
Had a call from Chris in Voi (my roommate from Nairobi). He is in Mombasa for the weekend and will be staying in my place. Time to get the beers in.
Mike.
Cultural Learnings
I don't remember learning anything today.
They are all delighted here that Obama is President elect. His father is from Nangza province, in western Kenyan. Today has been declared a public holiday. They are calling it Obama day. All conversations start with and end with talk of the first African (-American) President. Uganda has declared a 2 day holiday to celebrate it but as we all know they are a bit crazy (so say all the Kenyans).
So, I started the day with a lay in. Nice. Then I met Emma for lunch in Nyali. (Missed my stop so had to go to into Mombasa and come back out). A caffine/sugar fueled affair. Abi and Hannah joined us after a while. They are living in Shelly beach which is less developed and more rural than Nyali. (Mob justice is quiet popular there i.e. they burn thief's to death). Nyali is the main tourist area with white sandy beaches and a cool breeze. We let lunch settle while relaxing on the beach. Not long before one of the locals engaged us in conversation. Unfortunately you always have to be on your guard for chancers and con artists but some just genuinely want to talk and share the celebration of Obama day. This guy was a bit shifty so we moved on.
After a quick goodbye I headed back to Bombolulu (via Bamburi because of a thick headed Matatu operator who deliberately got me into the wrong Matatu). There was a football game just started...ould lads against young lads. (The pitch is 10 meters from my front door). I played the second half at right corner back. We won 4-3, and I was only responsible for one of the goals. After my shower I heard the doorbell go (well the door bell actually talks, “open the door” it says – must be set up for the hard of hearing). It was Kevin the electrician (centre back). He handed me a bottle of sprite. There was one for all that played. He waited while I poured the sprite, because the glass bottles would be sent for recycling, for a profit. The Sprite had the sweet taste of a good day, Obama day!
Had a call from Chris in Voi (my roommate from Nairobi). He is in Mombasa for the weekend and will be staying in my place. Time to get the beers in.
Mike.
Cultural Learnings
I don't remember learning anything today.
Busy out!
Have been getting around to all the offices and workshops asking lots of questions...my forte. The IT support guy is good so that has left me free to concentrate on looking at the Information Systems and process improvement. Because they are implementing KAIZEN all meeting are in the GEMBA (workshops), often very noisy and distracting but good in that it is very hands on. I have a list as long as my arm of things to do.
I met Paul when I was walking by the Cultural centre. He was with Edison, the gardener, and another lad in a Man Utd top, who asked if I wanted to play soccer. They had a training session that evening. They have a game every Sat and Sun. But not this Sat because Man U are playing Arsenal. The guy in the Man U top, Katana, was actually an Arsenal supporter. That's the way it goes here. I have declared myself a Man U supporter. Who knew eh!
I suffered through the warm up in the humid evening, although the actual game was grand. All the lads mostly under 25 so I'm glad I didn't make a fool of myself, even though a young lad of no more than 15 skinned me twice. The footballers are mostly sons of the disabled workers.
I've just had a cold shower (is there any other kind) and a vegetarian rice dish for dinner so feeling much recovered. I have to cook for myself every evening here so will have to learn a few more recipes. Rice, pasta, noddles, fruit and veg are my staples. Meat is a luxury, although the guy next door sells chickens (kuku) for 200 shillings (2 euro) a pop. One of the Ladies in the Craft Shop has promised to show me how to cook Ugali (local tasteless stuff made from maise), which looks like congealed rice pudding, with souesiqui (spinach like stuff I think).
The kids still shout Muzugu (white man) at me but most are realizing that I'll be around for a while and are making a real effort to make me feel at home. I find some of the evenings long but reading, writing and learning Swahili fills most of it.
Looking forward to meeting all the volunteers on the coast on Sunday...all 12 of us are meeting up to trade stories and drink a few bevvies.
Mike.
Cultural Learnings
Matatu drivers are just plain crazy. I think some have death wishes.
I met Paul when I was walking by the Cultural centre. He was with Edison, the gardener, and another lad in a Man Utd top, who asked if I wanted to play soccer. They had a training session that evening. They have a game every Sat and Sun. But not this Sat because Man U are playing Arsenal. The guy in the Man U top, Katana, was actually an Arsenal supporter. That's the way it goes here. I have declared myself a Man U supporter. Who knew eh!
I suffered through the warm up in the humid evening, although the actual game was grand. All the lads mostly under 25 so I'm glad I didn't make a fool of myself, even though a young lad of no more than 15 skinned me twice. The footballers are mostly sons of the disabled workers.
I've just had a cold shower (is there any other kind) and a vegetarian rice dish for dinner so feeling much recovered. I have to cook for myself every evening here so will have to learn a few more recipes. Rice, pasta, noddles, fruit and veg are my staples. Meat is a luxury, although the guy next door sells chickens (kuku) for 200 shillings (2 euro) a pop. One of the Ladies in the Craft Shop has promised to show me how to cook Ugali (local tasteless stuff made from maise), which looks like congealed rice pudding, with souesiqui (spinach like stuff I think).
The kids still shout Muzugu (white man) at me but most are realizing that I'll be around for a while and are making a real effort to make me feel at home. I find some of the evenings long but reading, writing and learning Swahili fills most of it.
Looking forward to meeting all the volunteers on the coast on Sunday...all 12 of us are meeting up to trade stories and drink a few bevvies.
Mike.
Cultural Learnings
Matatu drivers are just plain crazy. I think some have death wishes.
Orientation
Nov 2nd
My first day off! Diana and Emma, and Diana's friend Kathryn called out to Bombolulu for a look around. We met Ali, one of the tour guides and he kindly offered to take us on a tour. We ended up the shop were the girls bought a few items and we bumped into Paul, a tour guide also. Paul suffered from polio in his youth and is wheelchair bound. It was the first time we had met so Paul promised to call over later for a chat, as we are neighbors.
We headed out of Bombolulu and got a Matatu to Mombasa's central, Digo street. From there Emma took us to a small restaurant. I had the special with beef...rice, beef stew and a bread yoke (naan bread type thing). Then we headed for the Likoni ferry to the southside of Mombasa, to Shelley beach to see were two new volunteers were working.
Hannah would be working with TWAAYF – Total World Against Aids Youth fund, an organization setup by street kids for street kids. 16 children and 4 men in their twenties lived in cramped conditions but provided education and youth activities as well as a secure environment for them to grow. They were very welcoming and a joy be around. You could see that Hannah was already getting attached to the kids, and them to her. Abi's house wasn't ready (no water or electricity - the employer was messing about) so she had to live with a local family. First evening she was asked for money for the dinner they gave her. Abi was moving in with Hannah for the next few days but her place was very basic and not satisfactorily secure. I appreciated how lucky I was having Bombolulu as an employer. Hopefully they will get sorted soon.
At 4:30pm we headed for home as we didn't want to be out after dark. The girls got off at there stop and I was on a Matatu for the first time on my own, standing out like a sore thumb. On the short walk back up to the Bombolulu workshop I bumped into Paul and his wife. I walked with them as they shopped in the market and was invited to visit with their extended family. The youngest, only 18 months, took a while to warm to me but in the end shook hands. I invited them for coffee and tea at my place and we sat and talked for 2 hours about Bombolulu, work and family. I learned some Swahili...and Paul is convinced I will be fluent in 3 months. He is a kind and funny man, and a good teacher to boot.
I had a shower to wash the dust and grim of Mombasa away, and at 9:30 I was ready for bed. Tomorrow is the start of my first full week in Bombolulu. Or at least I thought it would be a full week.
M.
Cultural learning
The Swahili clock: 7am CET, is 1 o'clock Swahili time (saa moja)
p.s. I will load more pictures soon. I know some of you only look at the pictures ;-)
My first day off! Diana and Emma, and Diana's friend Kathryn called out to Bombolulu for a look around. We met Ali, one of the tour guides and he kindly offered to take us on a tour. We ended up the shop were the girls bought a few items and we bumped into Paul, a tour guide also. Paul suffered from polio in his youth and is wheelchair bound. It was the first time we had met so Paul promised to call over later for a chat, as we are neighbors.
We headed out of Bombolulu and got a Matatu to Mombasa's central, Digo street. From there Emma took us to a small restaurant. I had the special with beef...rice, beef stew and a bread yoke (naan bread type thing). Then we headed for the Likoni ferry to the southside of Mombasa, to Shelley beach to see were two new volunteers were working.
Hannah would be working with TWAAYF – Total World Against Aids Youth fund, an organization setup by street kids for street kids. 16 children and 4 men in their twenties lived in cramped conditions but provided education and youth activities as well as a secure environment for them to grow. They were very welcoming and a joy be around. You could see that Hannah was already getting attached to the kids, and them to her. Abi's house wasn't ready (no water or electricity - the employer was messing about) so she had to live with a local family. First evening she was asked for money for the dinner they gave her. Abi was moving in with Hannah for the next few days but her place was very basic and not satisfactorily secure. I appreciated how lucky I was having Bombolulu as an employer. Hopefully they will get sorted soon.
At 4:30pm we headed for home as we didn't want to be out after dark. The girls got off at there stop and I was on a Matatu for the first time on my own, standing out like a sore thumb. On the short walk back up to the Bombolulu workshop I bumped into Paul and his wife. I walked with them as they shopped in the market and was invited to visit with their extended family. The youngest, only 18 months, took a while to warm to me but in the end shook hands. I invited them for coffee and tea at my place and we sat and talked for 2 hours about Bombolulu, work and family. I learned some Swahili...and Paul is convinced I will be fluent in 3 months. He is a kind and funny man, and a good teacher to boot.
I had a shower to wash the dust and grim of Mombasa away, and at 9:30 I was ready for bed. Tomorrow is the start of my first full week in Bombolulu. Or at least I thought it would be a full week.
M.
Cultural learning
The Swahili clock: 7am CET, is 1 o'clock Swahili time (saa moja)
p.s. I will load more pictures soon. I know some of you only look at the pictures ;-)
Kaizen
The guesthouse was great. It had a fridge, a cooker, a cold shower, even a water dispenser. Even better the rains had come so it was cooler than normal, still hot though, 24 C. Stephen called for me about 8:30am and we went to meet the bosses, Mr Seifeit and Mr Kivulli, and the rest of the Bombolulu gang who were all at a Kaizen meeting. Kaizen is a Japanese manufacturing methodology based on continuous improvement. We spent the morning reviewing the approach and reciting the Kaizen creed….because I was new I was honored with the task of reciting it and having the others repeat. We were divided into task groups. I would be working on stores/inventory improvements.
The rest of the day was spent in the storeroom moving inventory, red tagging old inventory and reviewing the inventory analysis tools with one of the Kaizen guys. They needed a summary of the last 12 months consumption so I spent until 7pm with Stephen working on getting the information from Sage to Excel and into MS Access for analysis.
The following day, Saturday, was more of the same with a wrap up meeting in the evening to review and set improvement activities for the next month and beyond. It was all very intense and I wasn’t yet sure were I fitted into the operation.
I strolled around Bombolulu and tried to properly orientate myself. There are a number of workshops, jewellery being the biggest, with tailoring, wood carving and leather. Also there is a cultural centre, with a stage for the cultural show, a restaurant, and a number of tribal huts from all over Kenyan and Africa. Near by there is a showroom/shop stocking Bombolulu and other Kenyan made crafts. APDK (Association for People with Disabilities Kenyan), the mother organization, also have offices on the compound. Behind the shop was the football pitch, and just beyond that was the Zimmerman guesthouse, my home for the next year.
As I cooked up a storm (pilau rice and vegetable curry) I felt a pang of homesickness. I’d be calling Johnny or Chicken man about now to see if they were around for a few pints. I thought, “I could fry an egg on the rocks, if I had an egg”, and laughed to myself. I was most probably dehydrated.
M.
Cultural Learning
When you go to shoot a goat sometimes you find a better target. – Swahili saying, badly translated by me.
The rest of the day was spent in the storeroom moving inventory, red tagging old inventory and reviewing the inventory analysis tools with one of the Kaizen guys. They needed a summary of the last 12 months consumption so I spent until 7pm with Stephen working on getting the information from Sage to Excel and into MS Access for analysis.
The following day, Saturday, was more of the same with a wrap up meeting in the evening to review and set improvement activities for the next month and beyond. It was all very intense and I wasn’t yet sure were I fitted into the operation.
I strolled around Bombolulu and tried to properly orientate myself. There are a number of workshops, jewellery being the biggest, with tailoring, wood carving and leather. Also there is a cultural centre, with a stage for the cultural show, a restaurant, and a number of tribal huts from all over Kenyan and Africa. Near by there is a showroom/shop stocking Bombolulu and other Kenyan made crafts. APDK (Association for People with Disabilities Kenyan), the mother organization, also have offices on the compound. Behind the shop was the football pitch, and just beyond that was the Zimmerman guesthouse, my home for the next year.
As I cooked up a storm (pilau rice and vegetable curry) I felt a pang of homesickness. I’d be calling Johnny or Chicken man about now to see if they were around for a few pints. I thought, “I could fry an egg on the rocks, if I had an egg”, and laughed to myself. I was most probably dehydrated.
M.
Cultural Learning
When you go to shoot a goat sometimes you find a better target. – Swahili saying, badly translated by me.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Karibu Mombasa!
So, I'm landed to the airport at 4:15am by the taxi after a memorable send off from my friends at the Instruments of Peace. I met a few of the other volunteers traveling out in Heathrow. They has the red VSO t-shirts on so were easily recognizable. From there we had an 8 hour flight to Nairobi, were we met more volunteers. We were now 7 in all, 1 Scot, 3 English, 2 Canadian and moi. We were met by VSO drivers and deposited at the Methodist Guest house (no smoking/no drinking!). The air was cool (19 degrees) and as we checked in it was explained by Lucy (VSO Kenya office) that we would have to share rooms due to budget constraints. I would be sharing with Chris, an easy going London boy. After a quick meal we collapsed in a heap. Tomorrow, Swahili lessons.
I was pleasantly surprised by the standard of the Hotel, equivalent to a 2/3 star in Europe. Our first )few days were filled with Swahili lessons (Jina langue ni Mike. Jina lako ni nani?). The grammar is straight forward enough with less exceptions than English, but unfortunately there is no word for Ireland in Swahili so I had to say I was from Ulingereza (England). Foreigners/tourists are welcomed here. Americans are very popular here as long as they support Obama, whose father is Kenyan. Obama fever has gripped the country and everybody is either directly related to him, or else their Grandmother lived beside his Grandmother etc... (His roots are originally with the Luo tribe of Nyanza province.)
So, I was getting to know the other volunteers. A good few were also heading to the coast. Emma and Diana, 2 English girls had already been in Mombasa 2 months so were able to fill me in more on what to expect...heat and humidity, suspect accommodation, packed Matatu's (mini buses, the main form of commuter transport). I couldn't wait!
(Picture of most of the coast volunteers>>>>>>>>>)
The Employers were due on the Tuesday evening but on Tuesday afternoon I was given a post-it. My employer wasn't coming till Wednesday afternoon and we were leaving first thing Thursday morning. There was an important review meeting in Bombolulu on Friday and I was expected to be there. I would be starting work earlier than expected. The fact that I had been flexible with departure dates so that I could attend the in-country training; and now would miss 2 days of it; and had been informed of this by post-it; had limited information as to why; and there was nobody who seemed to know were the VSO coast coordinator was; I let all this go. I could deal with the uncertainty; it was part of the adventure. (It did take a stressed half an hour to reach this conclusion).
Stephen Ondoro, the purchasing manager for Bombolulu arrived on the Wednesday. Nice chap about the same age as me. His wife lives in Nairobi but he had to go to Mombasa to get work. We had a VSO social on Wednesday evening and left on a bus to Nairobi at 9am the following morning. The road is under construction so the first two hours was fairly bumpy but the last 6 hours were smooth enough. The Bombolulu van (brings tourist from hotels usually) came to collect us in Mombasa central. Simon the driver and Mr Ng'ono, the HR manager were the first to welcome me.
From there we headed out towards Bombolulu with a stop off at the local Nakumatt (think Dunnes) for food and general household stuff. I was advised by Stephen on what to buy. I would be doing all my own cooking. I bought lots of noddles. (Note: Nakumatt is too dear for most Kenyans). Mr Ng'ono gave me his Nakumatt points card to credit the points I earned. I would need to get myself one of those.
By now it was late evening. The minibus turned up a long lane and passed a security barrier. We finally arrived, in darkness, to the Bombolulu compound. I was pouring with sweat. My African adventure had well and truly begun.
M.
Cultural learning:
Kenyans rarely curse, although it is perfectly acceptable for old men to tell dirty jokes. Proper order.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Gayest thing ever
It would have been hard to imagine this a year ago. I'm sitting in a guest house, on a compound in Mombasa, Kenya, after finishing my first days work in Bombolulu cultural center. This time last year I wasn't long back from South East Asia. For those of you who read my previous blog, my Mum made a full recovery. Then she fell and broke her hip and has now made a full recovery from that. She is not long back from a trip to Lourdes so I have a fresh supply of Holy Water to bring with me to Kenya.
It wasn't long after my jolly in Thailand, that the economics of modern living resulted in me taking a contract job with APC, in Galway. I couldn't have asked to work with nicer people but I was in a holding pattern. I was applying for a couple of long term volunteering jobs with either Dharmsala (in India), and VSO international looking the most promising. In the end I was invited for an assessment day with VSO, got accepted, did two preparatory training courses and finally got offered an IT Specialist role in a disabled workshop; Bombolulu Workshop and Cultural Center (BWCC). I will fill you in on more about VSO and the people I met along the way in the course of the next few months. There will be plenty of long lonely evenings to bore you in splendid detail with stories of the last few months.
Leaving this time was hard. I finally got around to visiting all those friends I had been meaning to visit. Mark and Ails in Abbeyliex, Conor and Sarah in Sligo, the college bookclub in Spanish point, the Amdahl boys traditional farewell historical pub tour, etc.... Also I had to say goodbye to all my new and old friends in Galway. Apologies to the tag crew for not being able to make the Liquors v's Underdogs showdown. Sadly, one of my last visits was to Achill for the funeral of the younger brother of a college friend. Sometimes life is just plain unfair.
I spent the last few days with family and friends in Birdhill, England and Dublin. Many times I wondered why I was leaving all this behind. I might have said it before but I am blessed with the family and friends I have, and also I am lucky have 3 wonderful Godchildren; Medbh, Callum and Daire. So why leave?
I am looking for something. My search has taken me to Africa. For now it is were I should be. My heart tells me so. My cousin Mark says to me just before I left “By the way Mick, that blog, gayest thing ever!”. (You'd have to know him). Cous, you ain't seen nothing yet.
M.
P.s. some pictures of my gaff. It is a former guest house so of pretty high standard for a volunteers (I have a fridge and a tele with 1 channel). Some of the others in Mombasa are not as lucky. More on that later. Will upload some pictures of Bombolulu tomorrow.
It wasn't long after my jolly in Thailand, that the economics of modern living resulted in me taking a contract job with APC, in Galway. I couldn't have asked to work with nicer people but I was in a holding pattern. I was applying for a couple of long term volunteering jobs with either Dharmsala (in India), and VSO international looking the most promising. In the end I was invited for an assessment day with VSO, got accepted, did two preparatory training courses and finally got offered an IT Specialist role in a disabled workshop; Bombolulu Workshop and Cultural Center (BWCC). I will fill you in on more about VSO and the people I met along the way in the course of the next few months. There will be plenty of long lonely evenings to bore you in splendid detail with stories of the last few months.
Leaving this time was hard. I finally got around to visiting all those friends I had been meaning to visit. Mark and Ails in Abbeyliex, Conor and Sarah in Sligo, the college bookclub in Spanish point, the Amdahl boys traditional farewell historical pub tour, etc.... Also I had to say goodbye to all my new and old friends in Galway. Apologies to the tag crew for not being able to make the Liquors v's Underdogs showdown. Sadly, one of my last visits was to Achill for the funeral of the younger brother of a college friend. Sometimes life is just plain unfair.
I spent the last few days with family and friends in Birdhill, England and Dublin. Many times I wondered why I was leaving all this behind. I might have said it before but I am blessed with the family and friends I have, and also I am lucky have 3 wonderful Godchildren; Medbh, Callum and Daire. So why leave?
I am looking for something. My search has taken me to Africa. For now it is were I should be. My heart tells me so. My cousin Mark says to me just before I left “By the way Mick, that blog, gayest thing ever!”. (You'd have to know him). Cous, you ain't seen nothing yet.
M.
P.s. some pictures of my gaff. It is a former guest house so of pretty high standard for a volunteers (I have a fridge and a tele with 1 channel). Some of the others in Mombasa are not as lucky. More on that later. Will upload some pictures of Bombolulu tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
VSO Assignment Details
Location:Mombasa, Kenya
Duration:
1 year
Job Title:
IT/Marketing Specialist
Organisation:
Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre
Background:
I'm off to Kenya for the next year to work as an IT specialist in Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre (BWCC) in Mombasa. The Bombolulu workshop is a project for the physically disabled that was established in 1969. BWCC has 4 workshops – jewelry, wood carving, tailoring and leather.
My position is part of the Disability and Secure livelihoods objective of VSO Kenya’s current country strategic plan working to strengthen the Disability organisations addressing income generating activities, which provide economic opportunities and employment opportunities to the poor, especially the persons with disabilities.
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