On December 7th, 2013 I went on an OVC trip for interact club. It took place from 9:30 to 12:30 on the Sunday. This was actually only the second time that I'd visited the children (not counting the easter and christmas parties), so I was pretty excited to see it all again. We all met at ISK and collected the food and candy bags that had been prepared. We actually made these candy bags in NHS, and I bought a few bags of candy for them and helped put them together at lunch one day with the other members. After we had all of our gifts we walked down together - the OVC school is just a little ways down the road, but it feels as if you're moving into an entirely different world. Everything contrasts so drastically with what we have available at ISK, and it is really quite shocking.
When we arrived we were told about the various activities that were going to take place - these included soccer, card making, and much more. We started out all doing card making, and I helped to hand out the paper, glue, scissors, glitter and other supplies to the picnic tables. I joined a table with Sabrina, and we cut them each little cards and showed them what kinds of things they could write and draw inside. The kids were thrilled with the stamps and glitters, and before long everyone was fighting for the glue (as there was only one bottle)! Needless to say, in a few minutes almost all of the cards were slathered in glitter and the children were putting them out into the sun to dry. They were all really enthusiastic about the christmas cards, and near the end of the time some kids asked me to draw things for their cards.
After the card rush had faded out Sabrina and I decided to teach a couple of girls some christmas carols. We taught them a few lines from 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas', and they were really quick learners and (I think) thoroughly enjoyed singing and laughing with us both. After they had done it a few times we decided to do a 'show' for some of the other interact and OVC students. Everyone was really supportive of their performance, and they were all smiles for the rest of the time. A group of girls also came over and braided Sabrina and I's hair, which was really sweet. While this was going on the majority of the OVC children were playing soccer, games and making cards with the other ISK students, and the atmosphere was really amazing. I feel like we bonded a lot more than on the other OVC trip I attended because of the variety of activities that we could do. Furthermore, the festive mood connected us all.
After a bit the head of the OVC kids stepped up and ushered up a group of OVC children. They performed a series of songs for us, and they were fantastic. There was a harmony to the music, and they were loud and confident. Unfortunately for us, the ISK students were prompted to go and perform right afterwards, so we had a lot to live up to. We sang jingle bells and 'we wish you a merry christmas' (the girls we had taught coming up and doing this with us).
We finished the day by forming a circle and playing a few games together. The first consisted of two people being blindfolded and then made to find a football (placed somewhere in the field). This was really fun, and everyone shouted commands at the two players enthusiastically. The second game was duck duck goose, carried out with similar passion. The kids sprinted around the circle unbelievably quickly, and I was a little intimidated. The final game was a push and pull activity - like tug of war, but with people.
We then handed out the candy bags to the kids. We were originally afraid that we wouldn't have enough, but we even had leftovers afterwards! The kids seemed extremely grateful, and we left them all with smiles on their faces, which felt amazing. Hugging the friends I had made goodbye and wishing them all a merry Christmas, we headed back to ISK.
I really enjoyed this trip because of the extent that I was able to connect with all the kids. I felt like they were much more open and friendly this time, and I was honestly sad to go. I find it sad that I don't get to visit very often, and next semester I'm going to try and go on more OVC trips and less runda feeding ones - this is because in OVC you are able to connect more directly with the children, forming bonds with them. Runda feeding is important, but you don't really get to speak with any of the people there.
In OVC trips I am able to continuously work on my interactive skills - I am able to develop as a leader and person, through taking charge and becoming aware of the social situation in Kenya (and the world as a whole).
[photos coming soon]
I have done about six months of piano so far, and I thought it would be beneficial to summarise what I have learnt thus far. The pictures summarise the majority of what I have covered this year in piano lessons.
However, the amount of concentration needed to remember notes and piece a song together is unbelievable, and I actually feel like it aids me in other academic areas.
Learning the piano therefore allows me to develop my patience and determination. It can be awfully frustrating when you miss out a note, or have a blank while you're playing and you just have to keep pushing forward to finish the piece.
I am looking forward to moving more across the keyboard, because at the moment we've only really been focusing on the key region of the board. Furthermore, being able to choose my own pieces of music will be fun and just generally making more time to practice so that I can improve.
