Life with them... (S. E.)

I decided to write a letter home every week…

The school closing ceremony has come (13th November) and it lasted for six hours... I was already on the verge of giving up but instead, I chose to occupy myself, taking pictures of the children with their certificates and awards for their study accomplishments. All kinds of high-ranking representatives came from the region to hand over the awards. During the event, donations were collected for the scouts, to cover their trip to the next competition, to which they would leave for at the weekend. The money collection progressed as follows: one of the representatives was urging the children – in Swahili – pointing out whom they should address, from whom they can get money … When the representative began talking in my direction, and everybody turned towards me – well, it began to dawn on me that this bit is now addressed to me.
He talked for a fairly long time.
Everybody laughed for a fairly long time, too. And so, I was fairly well embarrassed.
By sheer luck, I had some money, otherwise the situation would have been more than painful:/. At the end of the event, they invited us to a meal: I think I probably hook-line-and-sinker ate some kind of beef, a “hard tack” which was impossible to chew through, let alone swallow – but I enthusiastically ate the tomatoes next to it...

Another day, we made a boat out of all kinds of plant fruits and seeds, and let them float, engaging them in a competition in the brook running along the back of the garden. We had to practically hunt the tots down to prevent them from wading into the brook, while of course, Sister kept her eyes on us. Since in the meantime, the schoolyear had ended, we had to keep them occupied, or else the 42 kids would have taken the house apart. So, they were scheduled to take turns helping with the jobs around the house. I brought them an American football to get them to like this game. And sure enough, they were not interested. They were trying to use it like European football – with little success. Yet this was the football that survived them. As for the traditional footballs, they “amortized” one in a week. Once, I started out to the field with nine children to play American football. I was so proud of myself. I arrived back home with 12 children. I was told to pay attention to them, since they would disperse all over the place, finally getting the chance to play. I understood that to mean I can’t leave anyone behind. Thus, at the end, I ushered everyone up into the orphanage, not even letting the children who weren’t orphans but had families in the village go home. Of course, later they all set off for home, nice and quiet, with a smile on their face: well, well, another enthusiastic mzungu. I have to say in my favor that I have a very weak name and face memory.

We finally found time for cleaning, as well, with all the things “abounding” in the volunteer’s room … afterwards, I poured the disinfectant onto myself with great satisfaction. We also aired the children’s clothes upon Sister’s request, since they, too, did not have a pleasant smell. I’m getting used to the Mass order, but since the liturgies are two hours long, I decided that even if it only happens in a “knight’s move”, I will attend them. There is something relaxing about hearing them sing, talk, dance during the Mass. They are entirely different from the Masses we are used to. Somehow, they appear to be more human, even if I have no idea what the sermon’s message is for that day. Unfortunately, we too heard the news here about the Saint-Denis terrorist attacks in Paris, just as I was beginning to plan my visit to Kibera, Kevin’s family.

We are and the children are slowly getting used to each other: they are already calling me Eszter and not Enikő (the previous volunteer), merely smiling at me when I attempt to wash a week’s laundry in the bucket or when I mop the floor on all fours. But I’ve already given up being clean. When they eat with their hands, or poke into in the drain, or just “snizzle” into my face, sneezing just like that – since even now, there is nothing wrong with me, I don’t mind any more. Which is quite surprising for me, for sure.

One day, we had such a downpour that we submerged underwater (since I got here, it has been raining a lot. Here, people are very happy about the rain; after all, they live off their land, and this weather put an end to a rather long dry season. And I’m slowly getting used to Ben 30 as a deodorant …