Successful first week in Meru for Nutrition Team 2011

It was a week Tuesday since we left, and in some ways it seems short, but in others it seems like I am in another world, a parallel universe!
Tuesday we went to Ruuju again to talk to the women from the Ruuju women’s group. Christina and Kaylynne were following up from last year, asking them how they found the nutrition seminars from a participant perspective. Yesterday they had spoken to the leaders of the groups, the ‘champs’: women who were good cooks and good farmers who actually prepared food for the seminars and explained how the women could make their traditional food healthier.

This was the first time that I experienced using a translator. It was quite an experience. The students (or Colleen) pose a question, the interpreter translates it to Kimeru the local dialect and then we sit and listen to them jabbering away in Kimeru. Then the poor translater tries and boils down the laughing, the speaking to each other, etc and tell us what was said. It went really well, although it was difficult at times. We are asking sensitive questions about food security and hunger and how people cope. The women talked about stress, and worrying, praying and being unable to sleep because they didn’t have enough food for their families. Heartwrenching. Yet they could turn around and make a joke and laugh. Amazing women. I videotaped a lot of this since it will be so valuable in my teaching in my nutrition courses.
We are amazed at the difference in the shambas (gardens) between Muchui and Ruuju. Muchui is so dry, and the maize is yellow and dead-some has been replanted but is still short. Ruuju School garden is amazing and lush: Freda who is in charge of the garden is doing a very good job here. As I learned last year, water means everything. And the drought this year underscores that point.
We have been walking almost every morning, which is fun when I have a gang to talk to. And the scenery here is beautiful- tall trees, lots of flowers, people walking to work, children going to school (at 730). On Tuesday, we walked for an hour this morning, sort of by accident. Motua the dear house man that Jennifer Murogocho employs takes us for walks. His English is sketchy, and he didn’t understand that we needed to be back in about 30 min. He took us on this very long route and we ended out by the main road in Meru- a very long way from Jennifer’s. I got a huge blister on my foot (stupidly wore Crocs and no socks) and had to wear Christina’s flip flops and she took my Crocs. We both ended up with blistered feet by the time we got home, but I got 10,000 steps that day (wearing the pedometer).
We have cooked every night since we got here with Mama Jen and lots of helpers! She and I are becoming quite close and last night she sat on my bed looking sad. She finds the house lonely when we go. I can only imagine. These 4 students are jabbering, laughing, exercising and just bringing life to everything in the house. We introduce ourselves to the women as ‘sisters’: Kenyan Jennifer and Canadian Jennifer. And I always say, “Don’t we look exactly alike?” The women find this very funny as we stand arm in arm laughing.
We have had a Canadian night (we chose recipes from the Canadian Living cookbook we brought Jen) which included sweet and sour chicken (with an entire fresh pineapple), spaghetti and meatballs and ice cream. Everyone loved it, and even the neighbour David came and ate with us. Shaad, who is a lovely man who does the horticulture work with Farmers Helping Farmers, said he is coming every May to Jennifer’s for Canadian night! We have tried to cook something Kenyan every night so that Harrison and Amy get familiar with the food. They need to give seminars on how to make recipes healthy so it is important that they see how they are made and how to add extra greens, pumpkin etc to the dishes to make them more nutritious. There are problems with micronutrient deficiencies here (iron, vitamin A etc) so it is good strategy to use with the women. Last night we made chapatis which was a lot of fun- captured all on video so I could see how Jen makes them. She pulled out a can of fat we had fried the chicken in and used that to fry the chapattis on a big cast iron chapatti pan. There were a few wrinkled noses among the students at using ‘chicken oil’ but they were very tasty. And we made a huge pot of githeri, or stew with garlic, onions, tomatoes, dried maize and beans (soaked), 3 kinds of greens, including kale, sweet potato, green peppers, curry, Royco seasoning (like beef boullion)and I don’t know what all. She uses a huge round bellied pot and there was lots of stirring and tasting. Delicious vegetarian meal, and a githeri that many would not be able to afford here.
Today is the final ‘work day’ for the week as we head to the final two schools: Kinyenjeri and Kamuketha. We have been there before but need to introduce the new project to the head masters and Kaylynne and Christina want to review their work from last year. Tomorrow we move to the Sisters in Kirrua (about 20 min drive) and then head to the Sweetwater game park. Everyone is excited since it has been a busy week. And the lack of internet has been frustrating for me- others are able to get on but not me.
I get a bit lonesome at night for my family and the kitties..but I am kept so busy in the day that I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. And I keep reminding myself what a privilege it is to be here. Few get the opportunity to go to Africa with students and try and make a difference…and have my costs covered.
Next post will be from the students!