Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hope everyone well!
Last two days I’ve been trying to organise myself and find my role within the village. Luckily the dance projects look like they will occupy me allot so that great. I went to Lawson’s high school and met the dance club. They were so shy of me, and there was a mix up with the room situation so we didn’t have a space to practise so ended up in the yard which didn’t help with them feeling conspicuous. They finally bucked up enough to show me a traditional dance from their tribe, Akamba. It was so cool and even more different than I thought. Then I told them about my plans for working with them with the help of their teacher explaining because I think the only English they hear is from Kenyan or American accents so ironically they struggle to understand my English! I want to try and visit a new dance style every week and me learn some Akamba and create a fusion on one performance piece and invite an audience. This might be pretty ambitious as we only have a few hours a week as Sister Frances the principal is pretty strict about giving them time in the timetable. This also might be a challenge as whilst I knew they wouldn’t know any western styles I didn’t anticipate how completely exclusive to Akamba their music and dance experience is. As they don’t have radios or anything else to listen to music from the concept that I would bring my laptop and play tracks to learn a dance to made them actually fall about laughing as all their dance is done to drums, whistles and their singing.
So really going to have to get my thinking cap on the best way to approach new styles. But I kind of also think if everything’s going to be totally new to them it means they should be just as happy to try ballet and contemporary as hip hop and pop unlike all the kids back home!
And today I started a dance club for the primary school with the help of Lillian the village counsellor who does all the singing for the choirs and church. After a really messy start of confusion (the phrase hakuna mata is how they live out here so punctuality is way low down on the list which makes everything run so slow-it drives me and Nicole round the twist but we just need to get used to a more chilled approach) but in the end the club went well and around 40-50 kids turned up which is great! I taught them some really easy dances from Cyprus just to see what they’re like and I keep hearing the sung around the village now so I’m guessing they enjoyed it! Running the club tomorrow for just the older half of the group and teach Joyful Joyful from sister act 2 (I’m guessing this is a safe bet and the sisters will approve and hopefully if we get it good enough we can perform it at mass!) on that note also my idea of what’s appropriate is defiantly different from the village. Mainly the older generations like the Shu-Shu’s (grandparents that look after the children here) are more traditional. They’re so cute they don’t speak any English not even hello so we’ve learnt the greetings for hello in Akamba because every time you pass one they come over and grab your hand and do this special Kenyan secret handshake on you! Then just laugh their socks off at us and walk off. The word for white person here is Muzunga in Kiswahili, so the volunteers are collectively known at the Muzunga’s. It’s not an offensive word, more like the world Muggle in Harry Potter I guess
Any way I could write for ages about all the funny things you come across in village life but won’t turn these into essays. Will wait till something bit more exciting happens next week to write again-I’m starting work with home care on Tuesday after a meeting with the manager today. Was meant to go on a visit today to see a family that might join the village but had the dance club, will find another one later in the month to go on one.
Best wishes to everyone and much love,
Charlotte xxxx
- comments
Amy Suddens My dear friend, I can't believe you have internet in a village in Kenya?! Mine here in Zim has finally been reconnected today after 3 weeks!!! It's wonderful to hear from you, it sounds like you're having an incredible time and will really touch the lives of the people you come in contact with. Enjoy every moment! I love and miss you, and can't wait to see some photos! Take care of yourself, God bless, Love always, Amy xxx
Sally Charlotte your updates are brilliant (especially Harry Potter references)! - you'll love having all these blogs to read when you are old too!! So proud of you for being brilliant :-) Let us know if you want to hear anything from England but at the moment it seems too boring to tell you!! Lots of love xxx
Siobhan Charlotte- Its great to hear about your adventures so far! Im so pleased that your classes are already such a hit with the kids. Like amy i cant wait to see all the photos your gonna have and im looking forward to you showing us this secret handshake the grandparents are doing! Lots of love xxxx
mum Well Done with all the dance projects. You seem to be getting organised-no surprise there- and i can't wait to hear how the Sister Act number will go...You will have to come in to school when you return to do some presentations! love and kissesx
Anne-Marie Sounds amazing Charlotte. You seem have immersed yourself in village life immediately and it's marvellous how you are organising all the dance classes. Didn't realise they wouldn't have heard any western music at all! Will look forward to reading your next blog! Love AM x