Event at the Prison

This week I've been fairly quiet. I was in court again on Tues 22nd however due to the proc lawyer being ill my case has been put back until next Tues, 29th, same place, same time. Jerry will be there by then and it will be great to have his support and, as with Glenn, he is also someone in all of this that I can totally trust.
Today was interesting. Glenn has been working on a project to build a court at the Mombasa Prison - this means that remand prisoners can appear in court on the prison compound instead of busing them into the court in the centre of Mombasa and then having to keep them in those dreaded cells until 5pm when they get bused back. So today was the grand opening. Lots of important people where there - I met the British High Commissioner from Nairobi who introduced me to the Deputy Justice Minister - the Hon Richard Onyonka. Richard listened to my story with great interest and has promised to help - so all good.
I also saw an exhibition of 'goodies' taken from Somali Pirate Ships that had been boarded by Kenyan police off the coast of Kenya. Lots of rifles, small arms, etc. Kenya is working hard with the West to fight the Somali Piracy problem - Mombasa is losing millions of Kenyan Shilling per year as a result of cruise ships being reluctant to sail through Kenyan waters to berth in Mombasa - the tourist revenue is very important to the economy so they are very keen to work with the West to resolve/reduce the threat of piracy.
An interesting point was made that the root cause of Somali Piracy is political - Somalia is in a bad way politically and economically and individuals will do anything to survive. The pirates are just one part of a huge money laundering circle - I was amazed last week to see a group of Somalis on the street in Mombasa changing money - they need to get rid of this currency as soon as possible - so effectively changing dirty money into clean. Trainers - that's a wee story for your Financial Crime Session lol
What else? Grace and I bought some material in Mombasa last Saturday - the equivalent of 90p a meter - and we took it to a local fundi (tailor in this case) on Monday past. He took our measurement and we pick up the dresses today - how's that for service. He took fifteen pounds to make two dresses - Next and River Island eat your heart out!! Although I haven't tried it on yet so the proof of the pudding and all that.
I think I mentioned on FaceBook that I had a visit on Monday from the two boys Nixon and George (Lucky) that I hosted in 2007. George is called Lucky because apparently before he was born times in his family were particularly hard however improved around the time of his birth so his Grandma christened him Lucky. It was great to see them, Nixon boards and was home on half term, George goes to school locally.. George is a good footballer and plays for Shanzu, he is keen that Jerry come watch him play. I have a feeling it is going to cost us the price of new football boots but that's OK.
Nixon and I spent Tues together - we had a lovely time. We bought some things for school and he took me to meet his family. Nixon made me a lovely wooden boat out of a suger cane to take home. Nixon is an artist and very creative, he is a lovely boy who works hard at school and at looking after his mum and his two younger siblings. His father left some time ago and Nixon built his mum an adobe house - only three sides - on a small piece of land where his aunt and uncle live.

OK that's it for now. Waiting for Tuesday and wish this was finally all over.

A very Challenging Week

For those of you on FaceBook you will know what has been happening to me over the last week. Last Tuesday 5 men from emigration came to the school and asked for me. I was sharpening pencils at the time in one of the classrooms. I met with them in Grace's office and they asked why I had come to Kenya. I explained a combined holiday with an opportunity to learn about the Charity I supported, meet the children and understand what else I could do to help out. At that point I was told it was an offence/crime to lie to emigration officials. Teaching was mentioned - to be honest it is all a bit of a blur now possibly as a result of what followed. I explained I was not a teacher and they confirmed with me that I worked in a Bank. I was asked for my passport which I didn't have with me so was escorted to my little house in their van. One of the officials came in with me whilst I got my passport. They asked me to accompany them to Mombasa however by this time the headmaster and chairman of the school had arrived and told me to wait at home whilst they went instead to try to understand what was happening.
An appointment was made for me at Emigration on the Wednesday morning at 8.30am.
Wednesday morning I was questioned and asked to write a statement of why/when/what I was in Kenya plus all of my activities since I had arrived. This lasted for approx 4-hours before I was asked to turn up on the Thursday at 8am.
Thursday at approx 8.30am I was taken to court and charged on three counts:

• working without a permit
• illegal entry into Kenya
• not conforming to the terms of my permit (which I didn't have according to charge 1)

I had decided to plead guilty to working without a permit for although I am not a teacher and in fact had not delivered any teaching as such but had simply supported the teachers, sewn on some badges on school dresses, played with the kids etc I understood that if I accepted the charge I would be fined and hopefully get my passport back.

However when the evidence was read out I disagreed with one point - emigration officers came to the classroom and found me delivering a lesson - I explained this was not in fact true and that the emigration officers hadn't come to the classroom and had they done so they would have seen I was sharpening pencils.

Well it all went downhill from there!! The magistrate changed my plea from guilty to not guilty and I was placed on remand with a bail payment of one hundred thousand Kenyan shilling - approx one thousand pounds - until tomorrow at 8.30am when I will appear in court again. I was then taken to the remand cells where I would have stayed until 5pm and then moved to the main prison overnight.

This was possibly the most frightening experience of my life so far and I rate it well over and above my experiences of the early troubles in Northern Ireland in the late 60's, however you know you can always find humour in every situation. I was walking behind the court police man to a woman's cell when I heard "teacher, teacher." Three local Shanzu boys had been arrested for selling to tourists on the beach - effectively tresspassing as the Kenyans are only allowed on the Public Beach and not beaches that are attached to hotels. They recognised me from the village and as I was attached to the school I was given my title of 'teacher' lol Considering what had just happened in the court room this was not what I wanted to hear - or rather wanted anyone else to hear!! Anyway they conned me into buying them breakfast before I was placed in a cell with another six women.

Thank God for small miracles - as luck would have it an Australian professor with the UN was in my court by mistake - he thought he was going to hear a Somali pirate case and ended up with me - he is working on a project that involved prison reform in Kenya and has a lot of contacts within the main court, etc. Through the efforts of this amazing man Glenn I was removed from the cell and placed in the walk way that ran between the cells -he also provided water and a couple of prison guards he knew to look after me. Within two hours I was released - this kind man even went to the bank and raised the money needed for my bail - I was also allowed to retain my mobile phone (very unusual) which enabled me to contact Marion and arrange for money to be transferred to repay my bail. What can I say other than a big thank you to everyone who supported me through those horrific two hours. I also met a guy from Leeds who is working in Kenya as a social worker and has been on remand for two weeks - another passport issue. Unfortunately all his money is going to pay a lawyer so he wasn't as fortunate as me and is taken to prison each night and brought back to the remand cells in the morning.

Now I have a lawyer and will appear in court in the morning. Naturally I'm worried about the outcome, I will plead guilty again and this time keep my mouth shut whatever the evidence is (thank you Marion for that piece of advice - if I manage it, it will probably be the first time in my life I have managed to shut up lol ) and hopefully receive a fine and get my passport back.

So what did I do at the weekend?? I went shopping in Mombasa with the little girl I sponsor to get her some clothes including school shoes. We went to a big second hand clothes market - the clothes there are clothes donated in the West - possibly you have filled a bag left at your door and collected later - we got school shoes, a school bag, a Barbie denham jacket and a waterproof jacket for approx ten pounds. We then had chicken and chips for lunch and made out way home.

Sunday was church - the Redeemed Gospel Church - I didn't make the English service 8am -11am, but managed to get to the Swalhili service -however the pastor delivered it in English just for me - with a translator. I love this man, he is a real character, he will stop periodically and roar "somebody say Amen!" and when he is trying to make a point he will pause and say "Hullo??" and "are you getting me?" I hope I am able to listen to him next Sunday again - I also have a wedding to attend (another one!!) on Saturday so I am hoping that the verdict tomorrow allows me to go to both.

Thanks everyone for your good wishes. Hopefully I will be able to update you all soon and if not I know that Marion is my point of contact on FaceBook - I am hoping that this is a job Marion will not need.

That was a week that was!!

It's been over a week since I last posted - I did walk to the local Cyber Cafe last week but it was closed for some reason.

A lot has happened in the last eight days or so, a couple of sad stories, one with hopefully a happy ending and one with a very tragic ending. I have also had the privilege of attending a Kenyan wedding and been to church again to listen to some fantastic gospel music and some passionate preaching.

First the stories - both concern children.

Stella, one of the KG teachers has a lovely little girl of nine months - Jemima. Stella noticed that Jemima wasn't eating well and seemed listless. After a couple of days Stella was really worried and rushed Jemima to the local government hospital. She waited there for what seemed like hours however no one was interested in having a look at her baby. Eventually in desperation Stella got the name of a private hospital and took Jemima there where the baby was put on a drip and given some injections. That was early last week, Jemima is still in hospital but gradually recovering from dehydration and a chest infection. Grace and I went to visit Stella and Jemima on Wednesday night, the baby was poorly however I'm really pleased to say that she is slowly getting better. Thank God. Can I also say that I will never criticize our national health service again - even though Jemima is in a private hospital facilities are extremely poor, however the main thing is that the staff were able to help Stella - this is going to be a real struggle for Stella to settle the bill however that is secondary to her baby's health.

The other story doesn't have a happy ending unfortunately. Grace's 4-year old nephew took ill at the beginning of last week. At first her sister thought it was just a cold however by Wednesday she became concerned. The family live in a rural area where there is no hospital and no main road. Grace's sister carried her son for several miles until she reached a main road and managed to get a lift from a lorry driver. Unfortunately be the time she reached the hospital the little mite had died in her arms from malaria. Infant death are not unusual in Kenya and so tragic. The use of a mosquito net can reduce malaria but sometimes ignorance on the part of the parents means that these nets which are given free to new mothers are not used.

Sorry everyone for such sad tales however they do underline the need for support and western aid to Kenya. We can all do our bit.

By the way - it occurred to me last week that one of the reasons African ladies have fab legs and a great bum is because they walk everywhere - so cancel the gym membership, leave the car at home and walk more - and the fifty pounds a month you save would help you sponsor a child - and you would have a lot of change lol

On Saturday I attended a Kenyan wedding - pics on Facebook. I have never experienced anything like this - 12 bridesmaids, 10 flower girls, 4 pageboys, 4 best men, 100 guests and food for everyone - pilau rice with lamb and wedding cake. We had a great day. There were many guests from Nairobi plus a visiting pastor as the bride was a Nairobi girl. I found it funny to watch the Nairobi guests eating with a spoon whilst the Mombasa guests (including myself lol) ate with our hands - I'm an expert now at turning my thumb and forefinger into a scoop lol

I also learned that in Nairobi they speak a slang version of Swahili which is not understood by the Kenyans who live on the coast - the Nairobi Pastor needed an interpreter during his part of the service which was great for me as he spoke in English which was then interpreted into pure Swahili.

So another week - week five. I can't believe the way the time is flying in and I'm starting to panic at the idea that I will soon be packing up and coming back from this amazing place.

That's about it for today, hope everyone is great at home and you are getting some sun - if not I can try to send some over! lol

End of another week - Saturday 5th June 2010

A spelling error correction first of all. For any of you trying to use Google Earth to figure out exactly where I am I'm not helping with my constant spelling errors of the places around here. So you may remember in a previous blog I mentioned the town nearby that Grace christened Sodom and Gomorrah - OK that is Mtwapa - not sure how I spelt it previously but I know it wasn't correct lol I should also add that when I mentioned white men with beautiful Kenyan girls I should have emphasised old white men! Anyway enough of that.

Story worth mentioning - those of you on Facebook will have heard this one already however def worth a mention again.

Walking home from the Cyber cafe this week when I was stopped by a Boda Boda man (found out that is the name for the motorbike transport around here- thank you Maureen) Boda Boda man to me: "hi Madam Jo-An, would you like a ride home in my fully air-conditioned taxi" - you have to admit the guy had style - you know my lack of fondness for this mode of transport however how could I refuse that line!! And no Maureen - not just so I could hang on tight........ Well, not completely lol

George the taxi driver who took me shopping this week is now top of my Xmas card list!

George:
"Are you English Jo-An?"

Me:
"No George - well it's complicated. I live in Scotland but I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, so that makes me an Northern Irish Woman"

George:
"Ah - Jo-an, Manchester United, George Best, do you know this man?"

Me:
"Fantastic, just about the best footballer who ever lived" (indulge me here - Belfast hasn't produced many world famous footballers - and he was gorgeous lol)

George:
"So what is he doing now?"

George and I then discussed the demon drink and how it's misuse contributed to the too early demise of Mr GB.

Good news on the Visa/Permit story. The emigration official that the school chairman has been dealing with has advised that I don't need to do anything. I'm not teaching, more interacting with the children and helping out where I can so it's all good.

This week has been fairly quiet, I have continued to support one of Obadiah's class, Betty, by listening to her reading, and again I have 'baby sat' KG1 a couple of times whilst Grace was busy on School business. I've mentioned KG1 before on my blog, I love being with them, they are so much fun, full of mischief. My biggest success so far with the wee ones has been to teach them 'ring a ring a roses' which we sing in a large circle everyone falling on top of each other at the end!

I'm at Whitesands again today - thought it may be quiet as this is 'low' season in Kenya however I do believe all of Atlanta Georgia has just pulled up in several buses so that's the end of my quiet day. Lots of mint julups being ordered at the poolside bar then!

Nothing much else to report at the moment - oh one thing. I found a shop that sells Nutella chocolate spread - heaven!! I've been eating it out of the jar with a spoon - so what's different I hear some of you say lol

Still no water back in my little place so I am going to enjoy today and make the most of all that Whitesands has to offer - including dinner.

I'm approaching my forth week (officially starts on Tuesday 9th) I can hardly believe it, where has the time gone.

Grace and I are planning a trip to Mombasa, hopefully next Saturday so I am looking forward to that. Claire - I have the lonely planet guide to Kenya with me this weekend and am planning our day. There is so much to see in Mombasa that one day may not do it but it will be a start.

By the way this is a very interesting time politically to be in Kenya. A new constitution has been drawn up by the Government and a referendum is being held soon (August I think) to allow the people to vote on whether to accept it. Obadiah brought a copy of the document to school this week and we had a read. As with any proposed political change anywhere in the world, there is a 'yes' camp and a 'no' camp and lots of good hearted debate going on around whether to accept or not.

OK - that's it for now. Thanks everyone for your good wishes and for the continued offer of help to the kids out here. You have no idea the difference a few pounds makes to the lives of these children. Anyone wanting to help in anyway please contact Maureen or Yvonne, once again you will get their contact numbers on the website, www.educatethekids.com.

Thanks Tammie and Jerry for sponsoring two of the children - I know Yvonne has been in touch with the details. Fantastic.

love to all, x

Assumptions, Public Beach and Goats

OK this is my second attempt at posting today - I spent about 20-minutes and lost everything due to a very sick PC so this is going to be short and sweet.

Assumptions;

Don't assume that a warning not to leave clothes out at night only applies to hanging them over the back of chairs or on walls. Mme Chorongo's dogs can (apparently) remove clothes from clotheslines where they have been pegged and use them for their bedding during the early hours.. Grace suggested they were simply obliging me by ironing the clothes.. if this is the case then they need to change their ironing spray as it was unpleasant to say the least lol

Second assumption - don't assume when the plumber (or fundi) fixes your water that is the end of the problem - it probably is for one day but that is as good as it gets.

Third assumption - don't assume when you arrange to meet a Kenyan at a specific time that they will turn up - "Jo-an didn't you know you are in Africa?? This is African time" So I am having lots of opportunities to sit at Mme Chorongo's front gate and reflect on life whilst I wait for my 'date' to turn up. lol one-hour is fairly normal. Those of you who know my bad reputation for being on time will be saying 'what goes around comes around!!

Tuesday was a public holiday in Kenya so Grace, Omar, Omar's cousin Pauline, Omar's son Hassan and nine children from the Orphanage set off at 2pm for the Public Beach. A great time was had by all, we walked approx four miles in all to get there and back and the kids, even the youngest at four years was still bubbly and having fun when we got back to the Orphanage at 6.30pm even though the last 30-mins we were walking in pitch darkness, just a few stars. The beach was full of people enjoying the day off and there was also a Christian Crusade being conducted which attracted a crowd. We had fun on the way back as part of the beach was flooded with the tide and we had to get a couple of local entrepreneurs to use their converted paddle boats to get us across - the kids loved the unplanned boat ride.

Even though we walked there and back never once did we hear the familiar (to anyone with kids in the UK going on a trip) "are we there yet" or "I'm tired." Omar explained that the children had no expectations of getting anywhere other than by walking so no problem to them.

Pamela, Omar's sister had dinner ready and afterwards Grace and I got a motorbike home. Now I know you will be sick of my tales of riding on these bikes but I need to add that the only thing worse than riding one during the day is riding one in the pitch darkness. The odd goat wondered on to the road obviously oblivious to the fact that I really need a clear road to have any hope of arriving home in one piece. The motorbike driver (is that what they are called?) asked why I was so nervous. I asked him how he knew. He replied that if he were to tell his girlfriend how tight I was holding him she wouldn't speak to him for a week!!

This week I have been listening to a child in Mr Obadiah's class read - we have been sitting out side in the sun whilst she reads her book to me. Mr O takes primary one and the kids are generally good with their reading in English however there are a few that need a little extra support and I'm happy to help.

Last period I looked after Grace's class. These are the young kids 4-5 years. Grace had to go to the primary school to meet up with Lemy. These kids ran rings round me lol They loved the fact that I couldn't roar at them in Swahili so basically did what they liked. We ended up playing outside. Someone has fixed a wire ring round one of the trees and I tried to get them to throw the ball into the ring - however give a Kenyan boy a ball and it automatically goes to their feet so we ended up playing football whilst the girls fought over the swings - all good fun. I was glad to see Grace return. :-)

The visa/permit. Saga goes on. Everything is ready for the Emigration department in Mombasa however I haven't managed to get there yet. I thought it was happening today but maybe tomorrow - after all this is Africa!! lol