Not The Ordinary Life

Last week, on Wednesday the 14th of July, while I was on my lunch break at Happylife, a worker from VICDA (GVN’s partner organisation that I went through for volunteering) named Tracey rung me up and told me something that absolutely gobsmacked me.  My eyes and mouth opened bigger than when I found out 2 weeks ago that Usain Bolt is coming to Kenya at the end of the month as a Guest of Honour for the Africa Athletics Championships! Alright, so anyone that knows me knows what Tracy told me must be an extremely huge deal to me. So…as it turns out, Tracy offered me a job working for VICDA as an intern!! Job titles alone don’t really excite me but the fact that VICDA are giving me an opportunity to be an intern instead of being just another volunteer really flattered me. If I accept the offer, for most of the time I’d be travelling from one volunteer placement to another, either by matatu or a VICDA driver would take me if the placement is outside of the Nairobi City boundary. I’d be checking up on volunteers and seeing if their placement is of quality and if they’re fulfilled in their work. In a nutshell, I’d be the main communication link between VICDA and volunteers, advising and supporting volunteers with any queries or problems they may have. I’d also do things like, assist VICDA in the work that they do in the office e.g. organise and take a leading role at the fortnightly orientations and in some way, assist in the on-going improvement or development of VICDA as an organisation. Once a month I’d organise and attend volunteer social activities/get-togethers. My working hours would be Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm (contracted to work 40 hours per week). VICDA would pay for my food and accommodation and I would be staying with a host family. On top of me not losing any money by working here, VICDA would give me $100USD (140NZD) per week for travelling and other expenses. It’s not a pay check one would gloat about but for an organisation like VICDA I was surprised they would pay that much because that’s 8800 Kenyan Shillings per week! The most I’d have to pay for a matatu ride is 100shillings and that would be a 2 hour ride. So over the 6 months, if I spend a maximum of 1500ksh ($30NZD) per week I could save $2640nzd by the end of my work contract. What’s ironic about all this financing is just the other day, I seen on the news that because a lot of factory and casual workers were complaining, the Kenyan government raised the minimum wage by 10%. It went from 4500ksh (Kenyan Shillings) per month to 4950ksh/month. And that’s working Monday to Saturday, 8am-5pm so it works out to be 23ksh (41nz cents) per hour. It’s disgusting isn’t it?!

So as you can see, in comparison I’d be getting paid really well working as in intern but the only downfall to this amazing opportunity is that the contract is for 6 months which means I wouldn’t be back home until 18th of February 2011. From where you’re sitting and reading this, it may seem like “another 6 months wouldn’t hurt” but ever since I’ve been in Kenya, the 16th of August as been imprinted into my mind as my departure date. That’s had/having a psychological effect on me because that’s the date I’ve unintentionally and subconsciously prepared myself to leave Kenya. Also, for the last few weeks and the 2 weeks that I have left, my return date has been my inspiration, refreshing me with the energy to keep going and finish strong. Volunteering in Kenya for the last 5 and a half months LITERALLY has been a life-changing experience in itself. (notice: sports metaphors coming up) But now I’m nearing the end of my personal marathon in Kenya, I feel like I’m scraping out all the determination I have just to complete this journey. To extend this marathon (volunteering experience) another 42kms (6 months) would be a tough ask for almost every 19 year old. I possibly could go for another 4 to 6 months if i had to, but i feel I’ve given it my all for the last 6 months. So if i were to go any longer I wouldn’t really be able to do my best simply because I’m so physically and emotionally exhausted. I’d more or less just be ticking along and if I’m not going to go into this internship passionate about it or at least ready to give it my best then I’m just  wasting VICDA’s and other volunteer’s times. The other people VICDA are also offering the job to are currently overseas in their different homes so I’m sure they would be more refreshed, excited and raring to go. And frankly, I’m not. That’s the crucial difference and I think those qualities are important to be completely helpful in this job.
I agree with my friends and family…The job would look good on my C.V or résumé but I would never get a job having that as part of my reasons for doing it in the first place. I know that’s how the world is but that’s not really how I roll ay.

Before I was offered the job, I said to a few friends here in the last month or so, that if someone sponsored me to volunteer i.e. pay for my living expenses I could and would keep volunteering for another 6 months! But after my 5th month milestone, I’ve allowed myself to think about home and making a mental list of ‘the first things I’m going to do when I get back’. That got/is getting me emotionally ready to come home because at night before I go to sleep and the moments I day dream at work, i think about catching up with my friends and family, getting back into church and Revolve Youth, playing sports and all the ‘outings’. Although I’m not here anywhere as long some of the people that I’ve met but some days I actually get sick of being the ‘minority’ in my environment. Having random strangers feel my hair or my leg hairs on matatus is fine because I know they’re so fascinated by straight hair, but having to negotiate the price for almost everything I buy just because I’m white gets really tiring. Some Kenyans think white people are walking ATMs and they just see dollar signs when they see us. Then again, I can’t really say ‘us’ or call myself ‘white’ when most people call me Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, shout out “Hey Ching Chong!” or quickly mumble a sentence similar to “Chao pa ching pei ya maaaa” as they walk past me. It used to be all fun and games but in the last month I’ve become more impatient because it’s happening every single day at my new place! Besides that, I’m just really looking forward (probably a little too much) to little spoilt-ish things like eating McDonalds and banoffee pie, using a washing machine, not hand washing my clothes and watching a rugby game live, not 1 or 2 months delayed. These things as well as a whole pile of others have made me miss home and really look forward to coming back.

I talked to Tracy (the lady that offered me the job) at church on Sunday and she said I could just work for 4 months if I wanted to because they don’t have a high demand for volunteers over mid-December to mid-February anyway. I was almost ready to decline the offer but when Tracy told me that, it really made me ‘sit on the fence’ about it all over again.  It would mean I could be home for Christmas with the whanau, New Years with the boys and I would still be able to go ahead with my plan of backpacking around New Zealand’s beautiful South Island over the summer months of early 2011. Even though I think it’s unlikely but i also thought ‘what if i get that GVN scholarship?’ I’d accept the offer but then have to pull out because I’d have to be back in N.Z for the 7 day ‘Be The Change’ course in Taupo…

After the hundreds of thoughts, opinions/advice from friends and family (that were highly appreciated) and the possible outcomes ALL clustering up in my head, I decided enough was enough and stopped ‘beating around the bush’ about the whole matter. I pushed aside ALL the external factors influencing my decision and just asked myself the big and important question…”Do I want this job?”…

In conclusion…unless I have an unlikely change of heart before Sunday, I’m going to decline the offer. Sorry to all those Palmy peoples that hoped they wouldn’t see me for another 6 months but as the 16th of August draws closer, the more ready I am for home. I honestly can’t wait for when it’s ‘jandal weather’ again in N.Z…I’m gonna wear them and no one is going to care or look surprised to see a white person wearing jandals out. It’s gonna be meeeeean!! :)

After spending 5 months here in Kenya, I’ve realised that helping others and giving them hope is and always will be a huge passion of mine. So recently I’ve given it a serious thought to save up money when I get back to N.Z in a month’s time and head off to Nepal or Peru (South America) early next year for 3-5 months. I know “there’s work to be done and people wanting help even in your home country”. Like mate, N.Z still has the highest teen suicide rate in the world! Nevertheless, I feel my life has changed so much from living in East Africa so I could really benefit from experience what it’s like in another country. “So why Nepal?” 2 main reasons…Reason #1, Nepal is also a struggling country but it has one of the lowest amount of volunteers in the world, hence the highest need for them! and Reason #2, the children’s home I could work at is really close to the foot of Mount Everest! Imagine opening up your curtains every morning to be greeted by the picturesque sights of the tallest mountain in the world!

Peru would be awesome because I’ve always wanted to go to South America. Well not always, but watching Season 3 of Prison Break sure did ignite that desire to visit the beautiful continent. The thing is if i went to Peru, i wouldn’t be able to go all the way to South America and only volunteer in Peru. I would have to head up north and spend at least a month each in Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Puerto Rico and finish with at least 3 months in Haiti. And while I’m there, I’d beat myself up if i didn’t go on a little holiday to the neighbouring country, Jamaica as well! So as you can tell, it would be at least 10 months overseas so it would cost ALOT of money! Peru is a dream, an accomplishable dream but still a dream…for now. :) Nepal on the other hand is achievable and better suited because all I would need to do is raise $5000NZD “What the heck?! Where are you gonna get 5 grand from man?!” that may be some of your reactions. Haha apart from the obvious of getting a job, 5 grand actually doesn’t sound that much when all you ask from one person is 20 dollars. I don’t think it wouldn’t be that hard to get 250 people to donate 20 dollars each. I’m sure i could get a hundred donors of the ‘green note’ between my family, my church and teachers from my old high school. I’ve told 2 people of my idea and the first person (Daniel Whitaker) said “I’ll give you a 20 bro…Nah I’ll even give you a 100” and the other (Christine Grimwaters) said “I’ll give you 20 bucks…oh and Ant, my husband, will give you a 20 as well. So boom $140 and I haven’t even officially started fundraising. :) Although I would more than love and appreciate any donations for my trip to volunteer in Nepal in 2011, this blog entry wasn’t intended for marketing purposes. It’s to tell you of “a great opportunity” that’s popped up for me…

On the first of July, in the monthly Global Volunteer Network newsletter, I was so surprised and excited when I read that for the first time ever, GVN together with the World Wealth Foundation were offering 5 $5000USD (7000NZD) volunteering scholarships. The scholarship includes $1500 for a volunteer placement of your choice, $1500 for travelling expenses, and $2000 for a 7 day ‘Be The Change’ course held in Italy, Canada or good ol’ New Zealand. There’s a lot of things one learns from the ‘Be The Change” course but generally its designed to impact your life in such a significant way that you can come out fully prepared and equipped with the tools and skills needed to make a big difference in the world. Some of the people that went on the BTC course have now started their own non-profit charity organisations. One lady now has made a huge change, especially in the lives of women and children in her successful Anti-Trafficking Organisation. So I checked out the scholarship website, made an account and had a look at the criteria and what they’re looking for in a scholar. The application requirements are a video application and to fill in the written application. There were only 10 questions but they were pretty challenging questions because the answer you give could contribute to determine whether you were granted $5000USD or not. I felt the pressure a little but over the week, I made a video application and answered the 10 questions in the written application as honest as i could. To me, there’s no point in greasing up to the judging panel because you’re changing who you are and as a result, they’d pick you on you who pretended to be not who you really are! You can check out my profile on the site at: http://www.gvnscholarships.org/profiles/kentmcilraith/723  

It’s got my video app. posted along with the non-private and less sophisticated questions they asked me. The deadline was yesterday (15th July) and there were 106 applicants. I checked out a few of the other applicants profiles and it’s a pretty international scholarship with scholars from all over the world, yes even Africa. I’m one of the youngest and the oldest is a lady who’s over 65. I’ll be on holiday in Zambia with my Mum and my older sister, Kei when I check my emails and ‘face the moment of truth’. Surprisingly, I’m actually really excited about it.  

I think the reason why i’m excited and not actually nervous is because regardless of if i get the scholarship or not, I’m not gonna get upset because they way i see it is…right now, I don’t have a scholarship. And after the 10th of August (the day i found out), if i still don’t have a scholarship then I haven’t lost anything. I guess that’s what it means when people say ‘there’s no harm in trying’. And like I’m gonna let the judging panel stop me from pursuing my passion of helping others and travelling the world ay! :)

I’ll find some time

Coming Soon-ish

Coming soon

The first weekend of June bought Alex, Daniel (new kiwi volunteer friend I met at his orientation) and I an awesome weekend at the annual International Safaricom Rugby Sevens tournament. So on Saturday morning, us 3 kiwis, coincidentally all from the lower North Island headed to the close by East Africa Rugby stadium at 9ish. Moments after we entered the stadium, Daniel says “That’s not Ponsonby from Auckland that’s playing is it?” “Nah no way! Well… I doubt it ay, it’ll be another Ponsonby or something” I replied. Seriously what are the chances that a small suburb from N.Z would come all the way to Kenya? It didn’t matter because sure enough here was a team from Ponsonby, Auckland in action against Uganda and thumping them, literally too. A few of those Kiwis were introducing the Africans to the ‘shoulder’ and putting in those big hits, borderline using their arms in the tackle. As we got closer to the middle of the field, I was filled with a strange feeling but as soon as I figured out what it was I told Alex and Daniel. “Oi that’s the first Maori and Pacific Islanders I’ve seen in nearly 4 months!” After being surrounded by Africans 95% of the time, just seeing them and overhearing them talk to each other in that ‘beautiful’ Kiwi accent reminded me of home and made me miss hanging with my mates. To top that off, here standing in front of us was the expected Guest of Honour, The New Zealand Rugby Sevens Coach, Mr Gordon Tietjens himself. He was fresh from Edinburgh, the last leg of the International Sevens Circuit and dressed in all his free Adidas gears. Sitting so close to him reminded me of when he was sitting in front of me at the Kia Toa vs. College Old Boys local club rugby game in Palmerston North last year. At times, I actually forgot I was in Kenya, it was a weird feeling to say the least.

Gordon Tietjens in Kenya

I don’t know why but I get star stunned really easily so I went all shy and didn’t wanna go ask Gordon for a photo or anything. I knew there was all today and tomorrow to work up the ‘courage’ as well. As the day went on, the stands, including the new end-on stand specifically put up for this tournament slowly filled with people until there was almost 15,000 spectators. There were 20 teams all up, most of the European teams were provincial teams from England and France. The majority however were African teams from countries like Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Rwanda. There were some big name teams like Argentina, The Emerging Springboks and of course the Kenyan National Team! Some awesome and really close matches were played with the crowd getting behind a different team each game. I witnessed once again how Kenyans can blow the crap out of those vuvuzelas. Next to the stadium, the Safaricom Sevens festival was running at the same time with heaps of tents and stalls and even a huge stage put up for the after party. At lunchtime, I went and got my fellow Kiwi mates and I some Chicken & Chips. On the way back a big solid Pacific Islander guy stops me and says “Hey mate, I see you’ve got a Warriors top on, are you a Kiwi? “Yeah” I replied excitedly. “Ohh my names Timo Tagaloa and I’m one of the ambassadors for World Vision”…We talked for a few minutes and he gave me his card and told me to come over to the World Vision tent after lunch. As I’m walking back to the grandstand, I look at his ‘player’s card’ and it’s got an action photo of a younger Timo Tagaloa wearing the ‘Black Jersey’ and holding the old leather type rugby ball. I flip it over and sure enough, he played for N.Z sevens and for Samoa at their awesome run to the semi-finals at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. More inspiringly, he’s got a little blurb about his rise to fame and because of his superficial motives of solely wanting glory and praise from other people as the foundation of his aspirations in rugby, he was struck with depression and the emptiness and sadness it can bring. It’s also written about how he was cured and his walk to getting Saved. Feeling really inspired, after lunch Daniel and I head over to the festival and meet up with him. We got talking to Timo and he introduced us to a few really cool people working for World Vision and we all had a game of ‘walking touch rugby’. It was really cool to talk with Timo because although it’s been a while since he was up there on the big stage (he played with the likes of Xavier Rush and Buck Shelford with Wayne Smith as his Sevens Coach) but he knows what it’s like to be a famous rugby player and the happiness or sadness that comes with it. Besides all the jaw dropping facts, he really inspired both Daniel and I to keep doing what we’re doing and to stick with the church, it was awesome because he reminded us about the important things and the big picture in life. He’s so crack up but so full of faith and just such a down to earth guy! He gave me his card (his actual business card) and we’re going to catch up when I’m in Auckland next. :) Timo told us that Chester Williams was here so i made it my mission to find him! Chester is an Ex-Springbok from the winning 1995 Rugby World Cup team. For all of you that have seen that pretty average rugby movie Invictus, Chester was the only black guy in the Springbok team that all the South Africans seem to love. But the real player of course, not the actor!

Daniel and I chatting with Timo Tagaloa

Before Daniel and I went back to the grandstand, I took him where I had been earlier that day, the ‘Players Only Area’! Earlier that morning, I talked to the security guard nicely and asked him for a look inside and I’m guessing because it wasn’t busy he let me in. This time there were 2 completely different security guards but i just told Daniel we’d try our luck. The security guards thought i was a player coming back in from the festival and Daniel was just with me. So in we went and within seconds we were surrounded by all the players as they ate, recovered or got changed. Man talk about GUNS! 

Argentina team in the ‘Players Area’

Day 2

With the stadium well over its maximum capacity, Day 2 saw our much beloved Ponsonby team win themselves past the quarter and semi-finals to the Bowl (2nd division) final,. There were definitely over 20,000 packed into the stadium. Daniel and I arrived there after church and it’s good there are no real O.S.H or Health & Safety regulations here because a lot of people including Daniel and I didn’t have a seat so we just squished up on the stairs. It became a race not to find a seat but to find a spot to stand. It reminded me of what it’s like on the matatus and their motto could actually apply…“11 people minimum, NO MAXIMUM!” Nevertheless there was a great atmosphere, the exact definition of ‘Fever Pitch’. The swarming sound of a hoard of buzzing bees from the hundreds of vuvuzelas, the loud but tuneful chants raving away and the odd random comment from one of the noisy and drunk spectators. Ponsonby came out on top against a team from France in the typical nail-biter final to take that 2nd division trophy home to Aotearoa. For the main final, the dark clouds showered us with its heavy rain so Daniel and I had to climb a few rails and stairs to the top of the grandstand just so we could watch the game without getting completely soaked. The final was an awesome game with both of last year’s finalists, Kenya and the Emerging Springboks drawing at the end of regulation time 12 all. The Kenyans ran a fast break and scored in the dying seconds of extra time to win them a back to back 1st division title. Just as well because i think there may have been a riot if Kenya lost and i wouldn’t want to be a part of that. Regardless, there was an all-out field raid with the crowd running onto the pitch and sliding on the grass and getting completely soaked and muddy. It was a funny sight but i didn’t want to get wetter or dirtier than i already was because i still had to catch a matatu home.

Field raid after the final

So at end of it all…I didn’t get a photo with Tiejens (I should have asked when i had the chance) and I couldn’t find Chester Williams but I did get into the Player’s Only Area both days and got a whole pile of freebies like a huge finger, a free hat and some Kenya Rugby Sevens cushions. Meeean weekend!

Looking back, June was and probably will be the most amazing and exciting month of my trip. Here’s the first of many highlights…

The very first day of the month i was due to go talk to the new GVN volunteers at their orientation. John and Gladis (the GVN workers) had asked me to go and share my experience and give the new volunteers advice last month but i was busy. Nah I’m not going to lie i just couldn’t be bothered :P. So on that fine first day of June, a GVN worker picked me up and took me to where the orientation seminar was being held. I got that ‘De Javu/trip down memory lane’ feeling as i walked into the Harlequins Hotel because i remember just 3 and a half months ago I was 1 of the new and slightly nervous volunteers sitting in this exact seminar room. In mid-February, there were 5 people in my orientation group but here i was about to give a talk to 22 volunteers, a majority of them from America and in their mid-20s. My close friends and family will know that generally, I’m a pretty casual/informal type of guy especially when it comes to conversations and speeches. So I’m sitting there upfront next to the GVN workers with my hurriedly scribbled talking points in my pocket. I’m wondering how these very sophisticated looking bunch of people are going to handle the politically incorrect speech that was brewing in my head. Meh! I thought. My goal was to tell new volunteers how it really is in Kenya not how the media or GVN workers tell them it is because firstly, The workers have to tell them this information because its protocol and if something happens at least they did warn the volunteers of the unlikely yet possible dangers. And secondly, i know general society live in that ‘mainstream media hype’ and get frightened and influenced easily about what they see on T.V, internet or read in the newspapers. So as a result, a lot volunteers (including myself) come here not knowing much about what developing countries like Kenya are really like. 20 out of the 22 volunteers were here for 1 month. I told the volunteers about how it took me about 4-5 weeks to ‘click’ and realise how I was going to make more of a positive and permanent change as opposed to just playing with kids every day and giving certain people financial help. I also told them that i think the reason why it took me this long to click is because i had to analyse the situation and I actually came to Kenya unprepared and uneducated in this department and also just a bit naive in general.  I do believe that one should be careful when they’re in countries like Kenya but not to the point where they’re so paranoid that it limits the amount of possible adventures and life changing experiences in their trip. I tried to tell them that if you really want to experience and understand the real Kenya you have to take risks and go out of your comfort zone. Because high risk has the possibility of high reward and when you’re out of your comfort zone, you’re in your growth zone! Now imagine me trying to tell them all this but it came out as pretty informal and all over the place, saying things like “Ohh don’t listen too much to what GVN tells you, they’ve admitted it’s protocol, generally it’s not as bad as you think, just don’t be a meow (pussy) ay, it’ll limit how much fun and adventure you have, Your only here for a relatively short period of time so get up early and go to bed late, you can rest when you get back home. That way you’ll know you made the most of your trip!” 

Overall though, it was a pretty funny speech, they all cracked up but some of the girls had that ‘who is this guy’ look on their face at some of the other things I said. It was priceless! Nothing was lost though because it was actually a really good and much needed learning experience for me. Because honestly at first, I was kind of disappointed that most of them were only here for 1 month. I did actually get a bit frustrated because i thought most volunteers came to Africa to make a change in the lives of the people in their new environment and (possibly) as a result, a change in themselves. You know, so i really thought, how does one do this in 4 weeks while going on holiday to places like the glorious Mombasa and a Safari in Masai Mara as well? Wouldn’t it just be a vacation with a bit of work in between? Either way, after thinking and talking to people about it I realised 2 things, unlike unemployed bums like me, a lot of volunteers that come here have other commitments such as jobs or universities so they can’t stay here as long. Also they don’t have enough money to be able to afford the costs of volunteering here for a longer period… Wait! … But they have enough money for nights out at the clubs/bars or $600 weekend safaris or even a 7 day $1500 Mount Kilimanjaro climb? And couldn’t they save up more money before committing to volunteer and making the huge trip to Africa? Wait! … But if I’m wanting to make so much of a change, aren’t I sometimes spending too much time on the internet or on my laptop, or sleeping in too many days of the week just because Kenya’s culture is really relaxed about time schedules. Hah! You see so that was the important lesson i learnt! Everybody is completely different and we all have different values and limits. Yeah we have the freedom of speech and ability to judge, but is it for us to do so? Depends on what you believe in but for me naah not at all but that’s something I’m obviously crap at, God help me on this ay! I just think maybe instead of judging, we could help each other to become better people ay. In the wise words of Mahatma Ghandi “Be the change you want to see in the world” :)

The trip to Mombasa in mid-May with Rob and Alex had a lot of similarities to my first trip in March. For one, we stayed at the same little backpacker and unintentionally even in the same room. Secondly, we chilled at the same Forty Thieves beach bar and caught the N.Z rugby sevens team in action once again. However, one thing that was completely different was our discovery first hand that the glorious Mombasa is not exempt from Kenya’s crazy rainy season. We arrived at the backpackers at 7am in the pouring rain but after snoozing for a couple of hours, we woke up to see the baby blue sky out of our ‘mosquito-proof-wired’ windows. It wasn’t as hot as last time but it was still pretty humid and sticky.
Friday played nice but Saturday was torrential rain the whole day! We didnt let that stop us from going to Mombasa town. We crossed the river with the usual ferry and had to jump a few river like puddles along the way. Eventually i just took my jandals off and walked through the puddles in bare feet. Quite a lot of Kenyans kept looking at me, they were probably surprised to see a white person ‘roughing it’.

Storm over paradise

Sunday was the day that took my weekend from being just good to blimmin awesome. Just after lunch, I noticed a few locals playing a bit of touch rugby on the beach but i didn’t have enough energy to go and play. Later on, Rob (probably unintentionally) persuaded me into joining in with them. We noticed a pretty old white guy who looked like their coach, refereeing them. I thought oh this is serious but the coach was happy for us to join in. We played for 20 minutes or so then it was the end of their training so Rob and I headed back up to the beach bar. About 10 minutes later, I see the same coach having chat with a few people. He walks over to us and says “Can i buy you gentlemen a drink? After doing all that hard work”. “Um i don’t drink but I’ll have your T-shirt” was my reply. lol I even surprised myself when i said that as opposed to just the usual no thank you. He had a cool shirt on that said Diani beach touch rugby KENYA. To my surprise he said “yeah i can get you one, I’ve got a spare back home.” Conversation continued and turns out this “coach” is Mr George Barbour himself. The proud yet humble owner of Forty Thieves bar, The famous Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant and Flamboyant Hotel. Even though he wasn’t a celebrity, i was still a bit awestruck to meet the man behind all the success. George asks me to play for his team in the international 5-a-side beach touch tournament in mid-June. It turns out that it’s his tournament and he’s entering a few locals in a team. When volunteering in a beautiful place like Kenya, one has to get that balance right between volunteering and vacationing. I told him i couldn’t afford to come for another weekend but he said he didn’t mind taking care of my accommodation. It was settled, George I’ll see you and the team in 2 weeks.

2 weeks later…

I thought “I’ll (George) take care of your accommodation” meant he could find a bed for me to sleep in for the weekend. I was completely wrong! Instead, as soon as i arrive at the Forty Thieves beach bar. A waiter walks me down 100m to greet George at his beach side 3-story house, WHAT! After a short catch up, George shows me to my room, its on the 2nd storey with air conditioning and even a double bed! He then says to me “When you’re ready just come down to the bar and order some lunch and tell the waiter to put it on me”. The little kid inside me was giggling but almost peed’ his pants when George told me that over the whole weekend, all players have 5 buffet style meals and unlimited bottled water! This was all included in the 20,000 Shillings (400NZD) team entry fee which George has already paid for, for our team. So for the first time since i don’t even know when, I ate meat for all 3 meals for all Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Baked beans, bacon and eggs for breakfast and oh you can imagine the rest!

Mr George Barbours house :)

I met up with the team on the Friday afternoon and we had a little training before our first game at 7pm. We had to play our games when it was low tide so it was either in the morning from 9am to 12pm or at night from 7pm to 10pm. There were 20 teams all up there including a team from France and 2 others from England. At times it got really frustrating because my teammates were so fast but just lacked that game knowledge. If i didn’t rationalise the situation i would have probably just lost my cool which i’m really glad i didnt because after all, it is ‘just a game’. :D It was a pretty well run tournament, we made it to the quarter finals for the 1st division out of 3 but were knocked out by a team from Sussix, England 2-1. They ended up winning the whole tournament so it was all good. We racked up 5 wins and 2 close losses (only a point in each). George asked me to ref some games so I did. I chuckled every time a player would call me sir, especially the guys from Kenya Navy and team from France and England. Man talk about a whining bunch of sore losers! Haha being a ref was really cool especially because that meant another free T-Shirt. Thats 5 in total now! Cheyah!!

All of the Competitors at the beach touch rugby tournament

I made friends with lots of really great people, some from places like Mexico and France. Over the 4 days, the only thing I had to pay for was my bus ticket so to say it was an awesome weekend, doesn’t really describe it!

It’s my last week at Day Love before transferring to my new placement next Tuesday (June 22nd), it’s gonna be an emotional but awesome week, after all i am having my 19th birthday party in Africa with a whole bunch of Kenyan kids. Who would’ve thought?! :)

  

According to the extensive research (just Google) by America’s leading scientist’s (nah just me)…Nairobi, the capital of Kenya is 1728m above sea level. Through some more Googling, I found out that the summit of Mount Tongariro is 1968m. Where i have been living for the last 4 months is about 100m further up hill, in a remote suburb called Gachui. I knew the oxygen was a bit thinner up here but i didn’t realise i was pretty much living at the same altitude as my ‘summit moment’ in early 2009 on a class trip to Mount Tongariro. :O

During the climb on Mount Tongariro 2009