jo in africa

KILIMANJARO 5859 !FEEZING COLD

2006-12-04T01:16:00.001-08:00

OUT OF AFRICA

2006-12-04T01:16:00.000-08:00

I am trying to prepare my self to leave this place, butit has become so familiar and I have gotten used to the daily routines here and wakeing up to the view of the Kilimanjaro, it will be hard to leave. only have a week left and then I am out of here, but will have a couple of days in Nairobi before i fly out on the 15th.Leaving the sunshine behind, but still smiling becasue i will see my family and friends again.

KILIMAJARO ninakupenda sana!

2006-11-20T01:53:00.000-08:00

I MADE IT! Just come down from a 5 days hike up the tallest freestanding mt in the world! Was suck a fantastic walk and an awsome mountain. Will tell you all about it later, and hopefully show some pictures, but now I am of to celebrate!!!!!!!!

100% sure of my status,and I know what to do to keep it that way :)

2006-11-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

An important part of Kiwakukki's work is AIDS education and testing. We have joined them on the streets encouraging people to come to the office and get tested so they know their sero status. But i was faced witha callenge when a man asked me if I had been tested myself. Since I could not confirm that I felt that I had to do it myself before advicing anyone else to do it. It was also a good chance for me to know how it was for the clients to go though the prosses of pre counceling and know the information they got there. I think that this is department that produces most behaviour and attitude change after having to reflect once situation and nervously wait for the result. So now I can boldly tell everyone to get tested.

Moshi is no longer a safe city

2006-11-10T04:37:00.000-08:00

This week found ourself on a spontanious trip to the foot of kilimajaro to spend the night at a friend's cabin. Unfortunately we were too close to the national park ot use bullets, but we spent the afternoon shooting at bottles with a pelletgun.Now we are all ready to hunt down that squreel that is messing ut out store.:)who said that living with a profetional hunter would not influence us? Now he got us all hooked and ready to test out out skills on other things..

LIttel italy in Tanzania

2006-11-10T04:28:00.000-08:00

I have gotten to know this really cool and crazy swiz lady in church who has been in Tanzania for a lifetime and we have lots in common. and we both love to cook. She used to run a hotel and her mother was Italian so so is an exelent cook and i learn a few trick from her. And she is trying hard to teach me to enjoy red wine,itallians you know... It is funny how I am in Tanzania and lean to cook and enjoy italian food.

Water in the wrong places

2006-11-10T04:15:00.000-08:00

I guess I should not complain that the streets are flooding when the skyes litteraly opens here,becasue I know the winter is cicking in back home. But a hot shower can make anyone feel better on a wet day. But a flooded house certainly does not brighten you mood, or waking up finding the pipes empty for water the 3rd day in a row is not fun either. I had my first hot shower in almost 2 months when we first mooved in,but i only had the pleasure of that hot experience before we got trouble again.It would be nice if the water would stay in the places we want it too, but at least we have blankets and candlelights and can pretend we are at a cabin:)

Norwegain weekend

2006-11-10T03:58:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we all went to Arusha to meet up with Eivind Johannes to celebrate his birthday. I am in on any excuse to eat ethiopian food. Got to spend some time with Thana, and played squash with him and Eivind Jaatun.My first time, but it was fun.We all stayed at the scripture mission and it was so nice to sleep in norwegain beddings and eat dark bread for breakfast,funny how you miss certain things.We also had time to visti the marked and church before heading beack, it was a nice little getaway weekend.

New Residential

2006-11-10T03:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know what to call it, too me it looked like alodge the first time we came in the gate, but one thing is clear, I don't think i will live in such luxury again. It is ironical becasue we moved from the other small house becasue the rent was too high, and we got the offer to rent at a friends new house. So for half the price we get twice the comfort.He hunts for a living and likes to have a nice place to come back too after weeks in the bush. But the house in itself gives a feeling of not being in Africa, the lack of electricity, the bugs in the shower, squreels in the kitchewn and flooding quickly brings you back to reality. But we are not complaining we are far better of in this new place.

On the road again

2006-10-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

Morogoro was not only work, being on the road we enjoyed ourself too, well I cannot speak for my friends who have created a hate relationship to the bumpy busses in this country..anyway my point was that even though morogoro town has little to offer, it is surrounded by beautiful mountains and i had to hike them of course. The scenery and peeks reminded me of Pokot and it was almost like being back, especially when we cooled down in the cold river with waterfalls.
On our way home we stopped by Dar-es-salam and had a day of sun and sand on an island just of the coast. Went snorkling among the fish and ship whecks and read books all day... can't complain.

Morogoro and amani centre

2006-10-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Last week we were on exchange to morogoro where 2 other girls from out college has their feild placement. They live and work at a day centre for mentaly disabled children and we joined them in their talsks. None of the chiildren have a more specific diagnose than mentally disabled and it is more like baby sitting than anything else, wich is a shame becasue they have enough volenteers to stimulate them inividually, but they don't have the expetice or knowledge. But on the other hand they are very lucky compared to other children who are keept hidden and not treated as human beings. It was very hard to visit a 15 year old boy who had marks from rope because he had been tied to a bed all his life, and he had almost lost his sight because he was never outside. Horrible, but at the same time inspiering to take him for a walk and see how things were changing not only in that home but in the whole community because of the work that was being done.

The People of Moshi

2006-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have always said that one of the best things about Africa is her people, and Moshi makes no exception. I am not talking about the annoying sellers on the streets, that is for sure. But the People working at the KIWAKKUKI office are so welcoming and nice,withhte typical african practice of spening the first 30 min in the morning in prayers,praise and hand shaking. I am still having to get used the very respectful way of greeting an older person that the Tanzanians are very found of. In Kenya they are not nearly as formal. But their genuine hospitalyity is the same in both countries, and neighbours invited us for tea the day we moved in. The "white" residents of Moshi definately have adopted that custom, and they have all been more than willing to help us settling. Once you know one, you get to know the friends and before you know it you have been introduced to all of them, especially when you attend the international church. There is a pot clock and organzed hike tomorrow after church and besides that you get to know all the events of the week and even where people are planning to go out and eat :) So Moshi is not the biggest city, but it has it charm thanks to it's people. And I am allready loving it here.

Introduction to KIWAKUKKI

2006-10-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

The first two weeks at KIWAKKUKI is over, but I still feel that I only have an overview of what the center is doing in the community. The office in town where our practical pacement is based is more the administrative and coordinating part of an organization that started with women who wanted to create awarness about HIV and AIDS. Last week we were lucky to be able to participate in a research at an Orphanage in marangu, to compare mental ability and development amongs AIDS orphans in instituions with those who are taken care of by the community. This week we have been following the education programe more closely and joined them on the streets for dramas and condom promotions. Today the whole staff was envolved in a Streetshow to inform on spread and prevention on the street. It is a very different approach then what we are used to in Europe, but it is very interesting, at least for me. The others are not able to communicate with people because of the language barrier, and miss out on what is happening.

Power cuts and african timing

2006-10-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, the situation i Tanzania is not making it any easier for me too keep you all updated. There is a shortage of electricity and the government has cut down on the power supply. I am not saying that I am suffering badly, but it beyond me how a whole nationa with cooperations and trade can survive without electicity from sunrise to sunset. Well I do get effected in the way that my showers are always cold, food is always luke because the fridge is never cold and the stove is never hot :) I shouldn't complainbecasue it gives you a good excuse to go out for a bite instead of cooking at home, but then again, finding internett acces can take all day, so please forgive me if I am not writing so freqently in the future.

Working on the streets in TZ too

2006-09-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

I got so inspired working with the kids in Kenya, don't feel like going back to school at all.There is so much to engage in here. Today we were out on the streets with a drama group, just stoped by some people under a treee, asked if they would like a preformance and then afterwards answered their questions about aids and the spread. They had such direct questions on condoms and everything, don't know if it would ever have worked in NOrway, but here it seemed so normal. and it was so cool to be able to informe people and make sure that they protected themselves you know and working against stigma towards the infected. not just putting up posters, but interacting with them.

Crazy safari

2006-09-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

Had quite a travel to Dar es salam.After only one hour of sleep I left at 6 in the morning.I woke up on the boarder,totally out of it, and some guys got me into fooled me and got me to their little shack office to exchange money where they "acidentaly" forgot to add a 0 to the amount, I woke up by then and got mad, but they jsut smiled and asked for tip for helping me to find the office. And before I even got the stamp in my visa another one tried to convince me that the sim card I was buying was allready filled iwth credits. I was so tired, confused and worst of all in desperate need of it too get a hold of the girls that were going to tell me where I would spend the night, so I had to continue the trade. So frustrated, even the busdriver was in on fooling me when i asked him if it was true, but I finally got him to admitt that it was emptey, and then I had to pay for the credits. By then I was very awake of anger:) But that was not the end of it, now my phone was out of battery,and everywhere we mad a stop the electricity was out. After about 6 hours i finally found a guy who would lend me his phone thoug, God bless him, but then the girls would not pick up the phone.
Ok, it seems that my time is up here, but to make a long story short I got a hold of them and they came in a taxi and picked me up, and I slept at ywca after 16 hours of travel. Tanked God for getting there safely. and thank you for prayers

I hope I will stay free of this kind of pets

2006-09-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

I have written most dull things on my blog, but I just need to brake that trend to show you what can happend to you in africa if you don't take care. SOme bring back soverniers, others.like my brother bring back pets in form of a worm that has been under his skinn for 6 weeks living of his flesh and blood.Qiute something huh, I guess that is why he has been all over the news the last days.

KATI AND HER NEW FRIEND

2006-09-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Trying to post some pictures, but I only have digitals from when Kati and Christina were visiting, but at least you get to see something from Kenya.

Adress

2006-09-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd give you all my adress so that you could send me a birtday card for the 30th of September:)

KIWAKKUKI Women Against AIDS in Kilimanjaro
Mankinga Street
Po box 567 MOshi
Tanzania

Kisumu town

2006-09-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

Kisumyu is a very charming city on the shores of lake Victoria. It is the 3rd largest city in Kenya, but the city centre in it self is not very big,mostly concisting of Indian shops and snall markeds allong the main roads. It hardly has any trafic jam and it has a very relaxed feel to it concidering it bein a Kenyan city it is very cland, but the High reate of AIDS infected parents has made the number of Streetchildren rice to 600. Despite there is not much crime, and i can walk arround town on my own during daytime.

A day at the centre

2006-09-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

The streetchildren rehabilitation centre is not an establishd centre yet, but the backyard of the INTERFEL offices serve as classrooms, a outdoor kitchen adn a corner that serves as a laundryplace. They admitt about 50 boys each january, but many drop out of the program or are not able to attend becasue they still sniff clue, so currently 25 boys meet up ever mon, wed and friday outside the gate at 8 sharp.We start of the day with singing and prayers before they change into clean clothes and wash their own. They prepare porrige before "school" starts. We have school books and try and toter them in english, swahili and maths according to the class they were in when they dropped out of school. Their favourite part of the day is when they get to play footbal on a field near by. Tehy rotate on the duties of sweeping, cleaning and cooking as a way of teaching them basic skills. They activities after luch vary. But friday is the day to preform meoryverses, raps, songs, dances and dramas. The dramas are usually about what life is like on the streets and how they are treated there, and it gives me a lot of insight in their world appart from what i see just walking in town talking to them.

My temporary home among the homeless

2006-09-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

For a month now a cottage in the backyard of the founder of interfelk has been my home. And for the second time in my life i find myself rooming with a 60 year old widow who is also a volenteer, only this time I am better of. I don't have to sleep in her kitchen, ut have my own room. But just like last time I couldnt help but admire and love her from the start. Ann Lisbeth is from Norway and has been like a grandmother to the Streetboys for the last 13. months.Her love for the Lord and the Boys is a real inspiration to me. She is not the steriotype granny, she is full of energy and loves suprising people by acting crazy, so we have a lot of fun together. But i also learn alto from her, if she had not been here, it would have been diffucult to know what my daily talks would be, since there is no program for the volenteers here. When the boys leave the centre her and another kenyan volenteer called steve sometimes takes me to different programs that are run here in kisumu,or we go for homevisits caring for the AIDSsick. Your work is not really done untill you are out of energy or money ;) Every day brings new chakkebges and new adventures, so there is no time to be bored (Or for writing emails for that matter, ;)just kidding )Though the days at the rehabilitation centre has a rutine to it, I get to know more of the background of the boys every day, and it is so encouraging to se how some of them bould a total diffrent trust to us once we have visited the places that they ran away from, and know that we are serious about helping them. The street made so many of them tough on the outside, but when you get a glimse of the what they have been though, you understand why they act the way they do. The soscial worker that is leading the reabilitation centre has a way of comunicating both dicipline and love, which makes them pay attention to what he says. Even though there has been some stealing while i have been here, so many of them have really changed their ways.

???????????????????

2006-09-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

My Kiswahili and even my lou (the local tribe language) is improving, but my english is getting worse by the hour because I so easily pick up on the african english they speak here. And I know that many of my e-mail needs intepretation, because I always write in a hurry and never go back to correct my mistakes. So I hope that the combination of those two factors will not make these comments too hard to understand, just bear with me and use your imagination :)

Giving up the right to call myself a blogger

2006-09-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, I don't even know where to start, and that is a sign that I have not written in a long time. In fact,I have to admit that I have neglacted my blog, and for those of you who have visited it and not found any update, I am sorry, but I don't think that I am able to keep up with the rest of the bloggers. Some of you know that I have really tried for years to get used to writing text messages, but I think once a bush baby, always a bush baby, I am not able to cahnge it. It is embarrasing to first write to about Kisumu when I only have one week left here,but the circumstances are not really making it easier for me to get online.But at least I can try and give you an update now.

Internship in Tanzania, September till Desember

2006-08-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

Women against AIDS in Kilmanjaro, (Kiwakkuki), TanzaniaIn 1990, Women against AIDS in Kilimanjaro (Kiwakkuki) was set up by a group of women in the town of Moshi. Since then the organisation has attracted over 700 volunteers who work with communities in the Kilimanjaro region. Kiwakkuki uses a number of activities and approaches to achieve its aims of sensitising and educating communities about HIV and AIDS. These include: The Moshi HIV and AIDS Information Centre The Orphan Support Programme A Volunteer-Counselling and Testing programme A home-based care programme The centre of HOPE for people living with HIV and AIDS Many of the volunteers at Kiwakkuki are HIV positive and most have completed their own Memory Books to share with their families and use as examples for other families in the community. In recent times the work of Kiwakkuki has expanded from focusing on the mother and child relationship to involve other carers. Often a child’s first point of care is a grand-parent, who may be unaware of issues involved with HIV and AIDS, Kiwakkuki is finding ways to include grand-parents in their educational work.Kiwakkuki’s approach involves working with the large number of orphans in the Kilmanjaro region. Early on in the implementation of Memory work the organisation set up children’s clubs. These clubs have proved invaluable for children, allowing them to share their experiences with one another. They provide children with the chance to communicate in a supportive environment. This helps to dispel the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS.One Memory work trainer tells the story of a child who participated in a training programme: "One day when she was sitting alone thinking where there was a good place she could hide and hang herself, a mother from Kiwakkuki went there and talked to her about the Memory book and that she could participate in a training...during the workshop she disclosed her pain to me."The children in the club are an inspiration for others in the community and are creating demand for Memory work by sensitising the community around them about the project. For some children this has been the only outlet they have had to share their sometimes painful and personal experiences.

Streeet Children in West Kenya, August and September

2006-08-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

The project was started by a Norwegian guy through the organisation International Fellowship Kenya (interfelk) It has now developed into bigger minestry:1) Street children centre2) Jan's Academy (primary school)3) Work among AIDS-sick people in Kisumu4) Work among the Masai tribe5) Work among the Ogiek tribe
I will be working maninly at the Street Children Centre. 3 days a week I wil help out a norwegian lady an a Kenyan man with the 30 boys that are in the centre at the moment. Once a week we will do a "streetwalk" and tlak to other streetchildren and on the weekends we will do home visits to AIDS victims.
I stay there from mid August till mid September, and I will be sharing a house with the Norwegian lady.sting assistance to set up their own income-generating activities and interest in vocational training.

Kisumu er nordmannen Jan Kristensen primus motor for organisasjonen International Fellowship Kenya (INTERFELK). De driver et meget godt og omfattende arbeide som for øyeblikket inneholder følgende deler:1) Gatebarnsenter2) Jan's Academy (primary school)3) Arbeid blant Aids-syke4) Arbeid blant Masaiene5) Arbeid blant Ogiek stammen
Det begynte for noen år siden med gatebarna. De hadde ingen som kunne få dem vekk fra gata og fra limsniffinga der, så etterhvert så INTERFELK dagens lys. Etter en stund med gatebarnsenteret så de en utfordring - hva med barna etter at de hadde gått igjennom programmet på senteret? Å vende tilbake til gata og livet der var et dårlig alternativ. Ok, da var det bare å klemme igang å bygge skole. Etterhvert var Jan's Academy en realitet. Det var i utgangspunktet tenkt som en skole for gatebarna, men etterhvert gjorde elevene der det så bra at også barn som ikke kom fra gata ønsket å gå der. Og nå er det snakk om å bygge en videregående skole...
Dette arbeidet finansieres gjennom norske sponsorer. Man får et "fadderbarn" som man betaler en hvis sum for i måneden. For de som er skeptiske til den type organisasjoner og om pengene virkelig går til barna og hele den pakka der, kan jeg i alle fall for INTERFELK sin del si at det ikke er noen grunn til bekymring. Det er nå mitt tredje besøk i Kisumu og på senteret og det jeg ser er at arbeidet drives av meget dyktige, kloke og gjennomført ærlige mennesker med store hjerter som ikke er ute etter å bli rike. Å se hvordan gatebarn som kankje har levd hele sitt liv på gata, kommer seg på beina og til og med får seg skolegang er utrolig. Men det er tøft, og det er mange nedturer - men som Jan sier er det hver gang et gatebarn kommer seg videre i livet verdt alle nedturene og alt slitet.

Travel scheduel

2006-08-04T05:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday 8th of july: Oslo-.London 07.40-9.15
london-Nairobi 10.15-20.50
Staying at the Norwegain community School in Nairobi
11th of July: Safari to MAsai mara. two nights at a lodge! Never done that before,almost like tourist!
13th of July: Returning to Nairobi and renting a Landcruicer there.
14th of July: Driving 420 km nothwest across the quator to West Pokot. HOME SWEET HOME!25th of July: Returning to Nairobi
27th of July: Heading for the Diani Beach in Mombasa01th of August: Returing to Nairobi0
4th of August: Family Myra return to Norway and I stay behind

Ready for take off

2006-08-04T05:41:00.000-07:00

I'm neither an expert nor a frequent user of blogs, so don't get your hopes up for anything fancy. It's just that it can come in handy when trying to keep you all updated while I am gone. It's easier to write one comment than writing all of you, no offence. But the circumstances are different down there and I am not sure how often I will have internett access. One thing I am sure of howerver is to eperience a lot of breake downs on the computer and powerlines, so I am hoping that a blog will let me get though to you inspite of that. And hopefully it will be better than a mass e-mail because you can choose the posts that interests you and you can view some pictures too.

http://jo-in-africa.blogspirit.com/