A few days ago, while I was eating lunch at the hospital, I was talking with a few other staff members about my life in America. We began the conversation talking about my favorite food in Kenya compared to what I like to eat back home. I was then asked how I get my food in America. I briefly explained that I buy all my food at a market that is close to my house. This idea was met, however, by shocked faces, and only begged the question: “Well, what do you farm?” I responded that I did not own a farm, and therefore must buy all my food from the market. This only further prompted the question: “But, what do each of your parents farm?” After explaining that my parents did not own farms either and that I live in a very congested city in America where there is no room for farms, one of the women quickly replied: “Oh. You are rich.”
I have not been able to stop thinking about this conversation since. I knew that coming to Africa would be an incredible, eye-opening experience for me and allow me to appreciate many of the things I take advantage of back home. Despite all that I have experienced so far – optimizing my technique while I bathe in order to not waste any water, electricity going out at least once each night, walking the couple miles to church because the bus driver tried to rip my family off by ten cents – this conversation is the one that I can’t seem to get out of my head. All of the other experiences I have gotten used to with time (and thank god I brought a flashlight!). Never would I have thought that living a life that does not entail being a farmer would be qualified as rich. (If so, America needs to seriously reassess its poverty line…) This made me realize how the majority of the food that I have been eating has been locally-grown: the milk I drink at each meal is from our cows that moo all day and night; the avocados I have been eating are from the avocado tree that has finally ripened; the chicken I eat for dinner is the one and only chicken walking around the backyard; and the ugali I eat almost every day is made from the corn in my homestay mom’s garden. I wish I could say that I have been eating healthy because of this “organic” diet, but Kenyans do not strive as we do in America for a balanced diet. Instead, my diet has been carb-overload (if only Atkins could see me eat). I have been on a steady meal plan of bread for breakfast, rice for lunch, and ugali or fried potatoes for dinner. However, dinner is usually served with meat, but I’d almost prefer if it wasn’t since they eat it chopped into small pieces with the bones and fat all in one delicious bite. They also love to give me more food past the point that I say I am too full to even walk (both at my homestay and at the hospital). I must say – Kenyans do love to eat! And, also, to “take tea.” We take tea about three times a day, served with either bread or donuts. In addition, later in the conversation, when asked what the “staple” food is in America, I had trouble explaining that we do not have one, but after awhile, resorted to saying “chicken” (since that is essentially my staple food).
I truly enjoyed this conversation we had over lunch. It is these conversations that will stay with me when I return back to America. Many of the experiences I have had in Kenya so far I have gotten used to with time, and can laugh at how inexperienced I once was (I will almost need to get used to using a toilet when I get back to America!). These conversations are the ones that are the most eye-opening and heartfelt. These are the ones that will truly make me appreciate the life I live back home.
In other news:
- I have finally finished conducting the 100 Client Satisfaction Surveys. This was after realizing that I was unable to conduct even one because the majority of the patients cannot speak English so my supervisor found four volunteers to help me. (When asked how he found these random people, he proudly said, “I can mobilize.”) The next few days I will be analyzing the results, and on Thursday, presenting them to the rest of the staff.
- I have finally figured out my work plan for the next 6 weeks at the hospital! I have submitted the official document to the FSD supervisor and am waiting for his feedback/approval. I am very excited for my project and can’t wait to share once approved. Also, I am going to start a fundraising campaign! Would love if you could donate :). More to come about that later, though.
- I skipped out on church yesterday and went to Kisumu with the rest of the interns instead. Was asked at the hospital today where I was yesterday. Whoops…
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