Every night as a community at Bosco Boys, we do prayers outside. The last two weeks or so we have had rain and it usually starts during the time we're outside. Last night the rain did not start but the sky was dark and was glowing to the thunder storms in the distance. All of a sudden we heard LOUD rumbling but it was different from the thunder we usually hear. The noise kept getting louder and you could tell the children started to wonder what it was but also get a bit worried from it.
We then heard loud shrieks from the other part of the school. Some of the children then started running over towards the noises but the priests told them to come back. Once prayers was over we all went over to the back wall of the school. There was a huge divot in the cement walling and everyone was so curious how this wall could be damaged. We all took a closer look then saw half of a water buffalo's leg lying in the middle of the school's field.
We then all realized that a herd of a buffalo were running outside of our school grounds. They must have hit the wall then kept running on. The craziest thing is the buffalo leg lying in the field. Well this morning the local neighbors contacted Fr. Sebastian (director of our school). Fr. Sebastian later told us that they saw a lion in their backyard last night chasing the buffalo. Which means a lion came into our school grounds last night and killed a buffalo!!!
Oh yeah, april fools.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Palm Sunday
For Palm Sunday the community of Bosco Boys started the days events at the school. There were a few scripture readings, the boys were given some palms to have, and then we all departed for the Kuwinda Slum to have mass there. All the way there we sang songs and the surrounding community joined in.
Katie Nelson smiling
This is a picture of Br. Eric, he is one of our favorites. If you look closely on his shirt you will see a blue pin. This pin caught my (Pat) eye. The closer I looked I realized it was the pin of the Salesian USA West (the group Pat went with to World Youth Day Australia 2008). I was amazed to see this pin and asked him how he got it. He then said he got it in Australia by trading items with people from different countries. We both realized we were both there then started talking about specific places we both were at. We then realized we were both at St. John Bosco High School in Australia at the same time! Small world.
Starting our journey to Kuwinda Slum.
Little Stanley "Stan the Man" holding his large palm cross. He kept putting it on his shoulder saying, "I'm God". haha
Walking through the slum.
Singing and waving palms in church.
Lucia, Fr. Makrios, and Pat Cowan smiling
Katie Nelson smiling
This is a picture of Br. Eric, he is one of our favorites. If you look closely on his shirt you will see a blue pin. This pin caught my (Pat) eye. The closer I looked I realized it was the pin of the Salesian USA West (the group Pat went with to World Youth Day Australia 2008). I was amazed to see this pin and asked him how he got it. He then said he got it in Australia by trading items with people from different countries. We both realized we were both there then started talking about specific places we both were at. We then realized we were both at St. John Bosco High School in Australia at the same time! Small world.
Starting our journey to Kuwinda Slum.
Little Stanley "Stan the Man" holding his large palm cross. He kept putting it on his shoulder saying, "I'm God". haha
Walking through the slum.
Singing and waving palms in church.
Lucia, Fr. Makrios, and Pat Cowan smiling
Sunday, March 28, 2010
T.I.A.
Africa wins this week.
We have had many fun times in Nairobi so far, we have met many new friends, we have seen many new places, and have been exposed to many new things. We have had a funny saying so far, "T.I.A." (this is Africa). It is a line from the movie "Blood Diamond" and it refers to how things may be different here from other parts of the world. We have found this saying to be true in Kenya.
This past week has been the toughest for us so far. The transition here at first was not to difficult. The school we are at is very beautiful, we have our own beds, we have the ability to take hot water showers, and are provided with three meals a day. As much poverty as we have seen outside of the school, we always know we will be back at Bosco Boys at the end of the day. This has been our comfort and our home.
A week ago today, Sunday March 21st, I (Pat) went on a trip to Don Bosco Makuyu. On the way there I saw a dead body lying in the middle of the road. Later that day we found out Katie's roommate, Susan (a native to Kenya), had her cell phone stolen in the "matatu" (bus) and also saw another dead body lying on a different road. The next day we were sitting with Fr. Makrios in his home and his friends (two American priests) came over to visit. Little did anyone know that Makrios's other friend (another American priest) was nearly beaten to death and had all his money stolen by some of his close Kenyan employees.
Later that day we had a computer class to teach. Katie took half of the 4th grade class to do computer theory and I conducted class in the computer room. When the bell rang I sent the student back to their class so they can prepare for their next class. Katie usually comes back to the computer room to help clean up and turn off the computers. She was not coming so I went to the 4th grade class to see what was going on. She decided to stay with the children because she did not want to leave a classroom unattended. The teacher who was supposed to come next was not coming. The forty fourth graders started to jump around, yell, and act like children. There turned out to be some reasons why a teacher was there, didn't think they had to be, and just wasn't present. That isn't what bothered us but what ended up happening was a teacher came in, brought an electrical cord, and began hitting the children in the hands. If they refused she would then whip them across the body. We pleaded with the teacher to stop but the teacher just smiled at us and said, "it's ok, it's ok".
It became hard for us so we just left the classroom. We eventually found out that hitting children is NOT acceptable for the teachers but it does happen. We are not used to seeing children hit and especially not in a classroom setting. T.I.A.
On Wednesday Katie, Maria, and I took the day off. We decided to take the "matatu" to town and treat ourselves to a movie at the cinemas. Katie sat in the front of the bus and Maria and myself sat in the last two spots in the back of the bus. Maria sat next to the window and I was sitting between her and another man. The man then looked at me suddenly and covered his mouth as if he had to throw up. I then tried to get up but the man tried to get past me and Maria, I remember thinking he was doing it the most inconvenient way possible. He eventually got past us, stuck his head out the window, and "threw up". I then immediately checked my pockets for my belongings. I had an unsettling feeling suddenly something wasn't right, a feeling I have often in Kenya which is a shame. I was wearing my cargo pants (which my mom got me :) thanks mom) and had 1500 Kenyan schillings (around $20.00 US dollars) in the smaller pocket which was locked. I also had our cell phone in the larger left cargo pocket which was locked. I first felt for the phone and noticed it was missing. I then looked on the bench seat and it was next to the man. I was happy to have the phone back but didn't even think anything of the money due to it being in such a small pocket. The man then got up, motioned to the bus attendant to stop, then he was followed off the bus with the other man sitting to my right.
When we got to the cinemas the three of us were talking about how we all hate the "unsettling" feeling we have in Kenya. I then went to my pocket to get my money and it was gone. I was pick pocketed. I am not upset so much about the money (thought I wish I did not lose it) but there is a disheartening feeling you have when something is taken from you. T.I.A.
The cultural differences here are starting to set in. It has been tough but we knew coming here things would be different. We did not want to come for a few weeks because we would not have to adjust to things. We are definitely adjusting, well at least trying to. We are just continuing to trust in the Lord that we are here for a reason, that's all we can do.
Fr. Makrios told us a quote from Mother Teresa. It went something like this, "we are all just drops of rain in this sea we live in but if that drop wasn't there the sea would not be the same". We hope to continue being a positive influence here and giving grace to those who make us say T.I.A.
So Africa wins this week but we'll be here next week fighting.
We have had many fun times in Nairobi so far, we have met many new friends, we have seen many new places, and have been exposed to many new things. We have had a funny saying so far, "T.I.A." (this is Africa). It is a line from the movie "Blood Diamond" and it refers to how things may be different here from other parts of the world. We have found this saying to be true in Kenya.
This past week has been the toughest for us so far. The transition here at first was not to difficult. The school we are at is very beautiful, we have our own beds, we have the ability to take hot water showers, and are provided with three meals a day. As much poverty as we have seen outside of the school, we always know we will be back at Bosco Boys at the end of the day. This has been our comfort and our home.
A week ago today, Sunday March 21st, I (Pat) went on a trip to Don Bosco Makuyu. On the way there I saw a dead body lying in the middle of the road. Later that day we found out Katie's roommate, Susan (a native to Kenya), had her cell phone stolen in the "matatu" (bus) and also saw another dead body lying on a different road. The next day we were sitting with Fr. Makrios in his home and his friends (two American priests) came over to visit. Little did anyone know that Makrios's other friend (another American priest) was nearly beaten to death and had all his money stolen by some of his close Kenyan employees.
Later that day we had a computer class to teach. Katie took half of the 4th grade class to do computer theory and I conducted class in the computer room. When the bell rang I sent the student back to their class so they can prepare for their next class. Katie usually comes back to the computer room to help clean up and turn off the computers. She was not coming so I went to the 4th grade class to see what was going on. She decided to stay with the children because she did not want to leave a classroom unattended. The teacher who was supposed to come next was not coming. The forty fourth graders started to jump around, yell, and act like children. There turned out to be some reasons why a teacher was there, didn't think they had to be, and just wasn't present. That isn't what bothered us but what ended up happening was a teacher came in, brought an electrical cord, and began hitting the children in the hands. If they refused she would then whip them across the body. We pleaded with the teacher to stop but the teacher just smiled at us and said, "it's ok, it's ok".
It became hard for us so we just left the classroom. We eventually found out that hitting children is NOT acceptable for the teachers but it does happen. We are not used to seeing children hit and especially not in a classroom setting. T.I.A.
On Wednesday Katie, Maria, and I took the day off. We decided to take the "matatu" to town and treat ourselves to a movie at the cinemas. Katie sat in the front of the bus and Maria and myself sat in the last two spots in the back of the bus. Maria sat next to the window and I was sitting between her and another man. The man then looked at me suddenly and covered his mouth as if he had to throw up. I then tried to get up but the man tried to get past me and Maria, I remember thinking he was doing it the most inconvenient way possible. He eventually got past us, stuck his head out the window, and "threw up". I then immediately checked my pockets for my belongings. I had an unsettling feeling suddenly something wasn't right, a feeling I have often in Kenya which is a shame. I was wearing my cargo pants (which my mom got me :) thanks mom) and had 1500 Kenyan schillings (around $20.00 US dollars) in the smaller pocket which was locked. I also had our cell phone in the larger left cargo pocket which was locked. I first felt for the phone and noticed it was missing. I then looked on the bench seat and it was next to the man. I was happy to have the phone back but didn't even think anything of the money due to it being in such a small pocket. The man then got up, motioned to the bus attendant to stop, then he was followed off the bus with the other man sitting to my right.
When we got to the cinemas the three of us were talking about how we all hate the "unsettling" feeling we have in Kenya. I then went to my pocket to get my money and it was gone. I was pick pocketed. I am not upset so much about the money (thought I wish I did not lose it) but there is a disheartening feeling you have when something is taken from you. T.I.A.
The cultural differences here are starting to set in. It has been tough but we knew coming here things would be different. We did not want to come for a few weeks because we would not have to adjust to things. We are definitely adjusting, well at least trying to. We are just continuing to trust in the Lord that we are here for a reason, that's all we can do.
Fr. Makrios told us a quote from Mother Teresa. It went something like this, "we are all just drops of rain in this sea we live in but if that drop wasn't there the sea would not be the same". We hope to continue being a positive influence here and giving grace to those who make us say T.I.A.
So Africa wins this week but we'll be here next week fighting.
Pat's 24th Bday
The day started with some breakfast crepes and delicious toppings of Nutella, powdered sugar, syrup, raspberry jam, sliced bananas, apples, and chopped mango. This was prepared by the beautiful Katherine Anne. :) Katie and Maria made a delicious chocolate cake for lunch and we had a small celebration there with the Salesians and other volunteers. Later in the night Katie ordered some pizzas from "PIZZA INN" (the only place that delivers pizza in Naiorbi). The pizza was cold when it got here but still delicious, it was cold because they deliver by bicycle and they're about 4 miles away on a pot holed, dirt road.
It was truly a special birthday that I will not forget.
The chocolate cake made of two different kinds of Betty Crocker cake mixes.
Maria & Pat
Ishirini na nne (twenty four)
The tradition here is to be fed your first bite of birthday cake by a friend. If you remember from Fr. PD and Fr. Paul's birthday blog post, they were feeding each other. Here Fr. Seba (director of Bosco Boys) just fed me my first bite.
When Fr. Seba finished feeding me, he grabbed Katie to feed me my second bite!
It was truly a special birthday that I will not forget.
The chocolate cake made of two different kinds of Betty Crocker cake mixes.
Maria & Pat
Ishirini na nne (twenty four)
The tradition here is to be fed your first bite of birthday cake by a friend. If you remember from Fr. PD and Fr. Paul's birthday blog post, they were feeding each other. Here Fr. Seba (director of Bosco Boys) just fed me my first bite.
When Fr. Seba finished feeding me, he grabbed Katie to feed me my second bite!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Makuyu
Sunday, March 21st Fr. Mtunga took me (Pat) and two school boys, Peter and Albert, to Don Bosco Makuyu. It is about 85k (2 hour) drive from Bosco Boys. We left early in the morning after a night full of heavy rain. On the drive there we passed by a few cars who were pulled to the side of the road. As we came closer we found a dead body on the side of the road. It was very tough to see because it was not covered, just lying there, and it's tought to see death like that. It really shook Fr. Mtunga while he was saying, "this just shows how precious life is and how it can be taken away so easily". We figured someone had swerved and hit the person. Cars don't yield to people here and people don't yield to cars.
We ended up getting to Makuyu which is a primary, secondary, and technical school. Many priests from Nairobi go to Makuyu every weekend due to the small parishes not having enough priests to say mass. So the priests come then departed to the 16 different small parishes they have surrounding Makuyu. I decided to go to some of the small/developing communities to have mass as oppose to go to mass at the school. I departed for the days festivities with Fr. Steven (a priest from Makuyu), Br. Peter, and Br. John Paul. Both of the brothers are studying at the local university and live at Don Bosco Utume. They are both apart of the group of people who I played basketball against :) The communities we went to were Mugira and Mihango. The communities were much more rural than anything I have seen here thus far. The children were smiling, the singing was beautiful, and the love of the community showed during mass.
The entrance to Don Bosco Makuyu, another beautiful Salesian campus.
The lot of land where the new church at Mugira is being built.
The church at Mugira. The size of the church is 25 yards long/10 yards wide. During the week the building is used as a kindergarten and then a chapel on Sundays.
Inside view of the church, there are a few of the kindergarten children's drawings on the walls.
The children were happy to take a picture after class.
Br. Peter and a small boy from the village. This little boy during church was so intrigued by me. I was much much taller than anyone there, much whiter, had much more facial hair than anyone, I could not have looked anymore different than what he's used to. He came up to me and at first was scared to be by me. I kept smiling and he would hide behind his friends. He then gained enough courage to grab my hands. I saw him then counting the number of fingers on my left hand. When he was finished he turned around to his friends in amazement and told them I have 5 fingers also. He then did the right hand.
This is the church at Milhango. Fr. Steven was telling me that the buildings in this region are all made the same; with mud bricks, mud plaster, and tin roofs. The mass was being said from noon until 2pm, it felt like an oven!
This region of Makuyu is much more rural than where we are at Bosco Boys. The land surrounding is gorgeous.
After mass everyone walked home.
Fr. Steven stopped by a small shopping market on the way back. The children immediately swarmed him. Fr. told me that the people here all make money from agriculture which they sell at local markets. They harvest corn, beans, mango, and grass for cows to eat on the 1/2 acre of land they own.
Br. Peter, Fr. Steven, Br. John Paul. Br. Peter is originally from Vietnam, became a missionary in South Africa, joined the Salesians, and is now in Nairobi to study. Br. John Paul is from Congo and is studying in Nairobi.
Back at Makuyu, another Priest was playing his accordion while the children were singing. After I left with Fr. Mtunga and the two boys back to Bosco Boys.
Fr. Peter stopped off at this place called Blue Springs on the drive home. It turned out to be a water fall but all the water was brown. Fr. said it was brown due to the dirt. This confused me because every waterfall flows over dirt. eh
Peter (left), Fr. Peter Mtunga, Albert (right)
This is just a "shot out pic" to the Big South: Noah Sutherland!
I just thought this was a cool picture.
Our trip then went to a village called Ruiru. This is Peter's (far left) home where we were greeted by his mother, older brother, and neighborhood friend. The mother, whom we thought was his sister, made us chapate (a fried/thicker tortilla) and hot chai tea. The home was made out of stone but had no doors or windows. It was in a small lot of land where they have a few chickens, piegons, and vegetation. We then drove back to Bosco Boys after the long day.
Oh btw, Katie didn't want to go because she was tired and wanted to sleep in. haha
We ended up getting to Makuyu which is a primary, secondary, and technical school. Many priests from Nairobi go to Makuyu every weekend due to the small parishes not having enough priests to say mass. So the priests come then departed to the 16 different small parishes they have surrounding Makuyu. I decided to go to some of the small/developing communities to have mass as oppose to go to mass at the school. I departed for the days festivities with Fr. Steven (a priest from Makuyu), Br. Peter, and Br. John Paul. Both of the brothers are studying at the local university and live at Don Bosco Utume. They are both apart of the group of people who I played basketball against :) The communities we went to were Mugira and Mihango. The communities were much more rural than anything I have seen here thus far. The children were smiling, the singing was beautiful, and the love of the community showed during mass.
The entrance to Don Bosco Makuyu, another beautiful Salesian campus.
The lot of land where the new church at Mugira is being built.
The church at Mugira. The size of the church is 25 yards long/10 yards wide. During the week the building is used as a kindergarten and then a chapel on Sundays.
Inside view of the church, there are a few of the kindergarten children's drawings on the walls.
The children were happy to take a picture after class.
Br. Peter and a small boy from the village. This little boy during church was so intrigued by me. I was much much taller than anyone there, much whiter, had much more facial hair than anyone, I could not have looked anymore different than what he's used to. He came up to me and at first was scared to be by me. I kept smiling and he would hide behind his friends. He then gained enough courage to grab my hands. I saw him then counting the number of fingers on my left hand. When he was finished he turned around to his friends in amazement and told them I have 5 fingers also. He then did the right hand.
This is the church at Milhango. Fr. Steven was telling me that the buildings in this region are all made the same; with mud bricks, mud plaster, and tin roofs. The mass was being said from noon until 2pm, it felt like an oven!
This region of Makuyu is much more rural than where we are at Bosco Boys. The land surrounding is gorgeous.
After mass everyone walked home.
Fr. Steven stopped by a small shopping market on the way back. The children immediately swarmed him. Fr. told me that the people here all make money from agriculture which they sell at local markets. They harvest corn, beans, mango, and grass for cows to eat on the 1/2 acre of land they own.
Br. Peter, Fr. Steven, Br. John Paul. Br. Peter is originally from Vietnam, became a missionary in South Africa, joined the Salesians, and is now in Nairobi to study. Br. John Paul is from Congo and is studying in Nairobi.
Back at Makuyu, another Priest was playing his accordion while the children were singing. After I left with Fr. Mtunga and the two boys back to Bosco Boys.
Fr. Peter stopped off at this place called Blue Springs on the drive home. It turned out to be a water fall but all the water was brown. Fr. said it was brown due to the dirt. This confused me because every waterfall flows over dirt. eh
Peter (left), Fr. Peter Mtunga, Albert (right)
This is just a "shot out pic" to the Big South: Noah Sutherland!
I just thought this was a cool picture.
Our trip then went to a village called Ruiru. This is Peter's (far left) home where we were greeted by his mother, older brother, and neighborhood friend. The mother, whom we thought was his sister, made us chapate (a fried/thicker tortilla) and hot chai tea. The home was made out of stone but had no doors or windows. It was in a small lot of land where they have a few chickens, piegons, and vegetation. We then drove back to Bosco Boys after the long day.
Oh btw, Katie didn't want to go because she was tired and wanted to sleep in. haha
Monday, March 22, 2010
Italian Shoemakers
The past few weeks there were two older men from Italy here to volunteer and teach the boys how to make their own shoes. The older of the two is Sante Mazzarolo, age 80. The other man, we forget his name (it may be Costante)but he was younger by 15 years or so. The two men were very fun to be around only because they would speak to you in Italian even though you didn't understand. Luckily Sante spoke a little Spanish so Katie and he would have small conversations together. They would work all day teaching some of the older boys the craft they learned as children. From what we did understand of the two, they had to both stop schooling around class 5 to work. Their craft was shoe making and they're darn good at it. Fr. Seba told us that Sante has his own shoe company in Italy (we don't know the name though).
Sante has around 3 children (we think) and they live all over the world. He told us his son lived in Los Angeles. We thought that was amazing to have some sort of connection. A few days later Sante came up to Pat and started saying, "Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach, my son". So turns out this 80 year old man from Italy who we met in Kenya has a son who lives in Redondo Beach. Sante has said he's been there many times to visit him as well. He told us his son either drives or makes motor cycles for a company called Alpine Star. Sante even went to his suit case to give Katie a brand new Alpine Star hat. They were very dedicated to their craft, impatient at times because no one could understand them, but wonderful people to have met.
"Costante" on the left and Sante on the right
There was a celebration for the two Italians before they left. At the end of the ceremony, "Costante" and Fr. Seba, passed out the shoes the boys made to them. The extra shoes the boys made will be prizes for the students who have the best educational testing scores this week.
Sante has around 3 children (we think) and they live all over the world. He told us his son lived in Los Angeles. We thought that was amazing to have some sort of connection. A few days later Sante came up to Pat and started saying, "Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach, my son". So turns out this 80 year old man from Italy who we met in Kenya has a son who lives in Redondo Beach. Sante has said he's been there many times to visit him as well. He told us his son either drives or makes motor cycles for a company called Alpine Star. Sante even went to his suit case to give Katie a brand new Alpine Star hat. They were very dedicated to their craft, impatient at times because no one could understand them, but wonderful people to have met.
"Costante" on the left and Sante on the right
There was a celebration for the two Italians before they left. At the end of the ceremony, "Costante" and Fr. Seba, passed out the shoes the boys made to them. The extra shoes the boys made will be prizes for the students who have the best educational testing scores this week.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Jesus Cup Finale
The Jesus Cup is a huge sporting tournament for primary/secondary/technical schools and communities in our area. It consists of football(soccer), basketball, volleyball, netball, and hand ball. The Championships for Boys Volleyball, Boys Over 17 Football, and Girls Under 14 Net Ball. The festivities were at Bosco Boys and took much preparation to get everything set up. In the end it turned out to be a fun day for everyone.
Just like everything else, there was an opening mass for the day. This mass was attended by around 400 people, in the courtyard, covered by a tent (that took us 3 days to prepare), and full of colors and decorations. There was traditional African dancing, dressing, and the newly ordained Bishop said mass.
After mass there was a traditional African dance performance from the schools attending. The special guests were a few families who donate money/support to Bosco Boys. I was surprised because the biggest supporters is a local Hindu family.
This is the upper primary Boys Volleyball team. They were in the championship game against Boys Town. If you look closely the jerseys the boys are wearing are a donation from no other than, Mr. Paul Kaminski (Alumni Director of Saint John Bosco High School). The shirts are extra from this past year's 5K Run at SJB. The boys loved them, thank you very much Paul and the entire SJB community.
This is a tent outside where the special guests were able to sit and watch the games under some shade.
There was music blasting all day long. These children, seriously, were dancing for hours and hours. They would all line up, one boy would take lead, and they would all dance and dance and dance.
This is the crowd at the championship volleyball match. It was such a fun atmosphere with the schools cheering on their friends from the side. The match was Bosco Boys Primary School vs. Boys Town Technical School. Boys Town is another Salesian school, it is a school that is another option for boys and girls who don't get accepted into secondary school (high school). At Boys Town they are taught a skill (machinery, mechanics, welding, etc.) so they at least have a chance to get a job that corresponds to their specific skill. The students there are around 19-24 and are much bigger than our Bosco Boys. I (Pat) had the opportunity to toss the opening serve to the game. When I arrived to see the boys, I felt it was very unfair that Boys Town (being so much older and bigger) was playing us. Boys Town started very strong and won the first two matches out of five.
This is my buddy Eric (the boy who drew me a picture).
The Boys Over 17 soccer championship consisted of Boys Town vs. Kuwinda Slum (Kuwinda Slum is just a team consisting of men from this slum who wanted to play in the Jesus Cup). We were told if Kuwinda Slum were to have lost there probably would have been a fight. Fr. Sebastian took preparations though and had three police officers there for the match. Luckily they beat Bosco Boys and there were no fights.
This is the girls Under 14 Net Ball Championship game. It was Bosco Boys (which does have girls, really they represented Don Bosco Primary School at Bosco Boys)
Our volleyball team was down 2 games. We miraculously came back and won 3 straight games to win the championship. The atmosphere was so fun seeing all the boys cheer and watching them persevere to win it all. It was so fun.
More celebration!
Bosco Boys trophies from the tournament.
This picture is from the end of the days festivities. I noticed something but couldn't figure it out, so I decided to sit down for a second and just watch everyone. This is a picture of our friend Kevin (wearing a SJB shirt) standing by the gate into school. He is standing, taking a breath, and looking at all his friends. The children were cleaning up from the busy day. Buses with kids from other schools were leaving. You could tell people were tired, exhausted from the sun, and couldn't wait to just sit down and take their shoes off.
I noticed I was feeling the same way. It was very familiar and then it hit me. This feeling I saw from people is the same way I feel at home after parties. The day is so long with getting food, seating, and decorations ready. Then the people come, something unexpected happens, then you decide it's not that big of a deal, you then relax with your company, and by the end of the day you are worn out. People then get in their cars, the children are sleeping, you stand by your drive way and wave as they drive off. It felt like home this day at Bosco Boys. It was with a different group of people, for a new event, and in Africa. But, it was home.
Just like everything else, there was an opening mass for the day. This mass was attended by around 400 people, in the courtyard, covered by a tent (that took us 3 days to prepare), and full of colors and decorations. There was traditional African dancing, dressing, and the newly ordained Bishop said mass.
After mass there was a traditional African dance performance from the schools attending. The special guests were a few families who donate money/support to Bosco Boys. I was surprised because the biggest supporters is a local Hindu family.
This is the upper primary Boys Volleyball team. They were in the championship game against Boys Town. If you look closely the jerseys the boys are wearing are a donation from no other than, Mr. Paul Kaminski (Alumni Director of Saint John Bosco High School). The shirts are extra from this past year's 5K Run at SJB. The boys loved them, thank you very much Paul and the entire SJB community.
This is a tent outside where the special guests were able to sit and watch the games under some shade.
There was music blasting all day long. These children, seriously, were dancing for hours and hours. They would all line up, one boy would take lead, and they would all dance and dance and dance.
This is the crowd at the championship volleyball match. It was such a fun atmosphere with the schools cheering on their friends from the side. The match was Bosco Boys Primary School vs. Boys Town Technical School. Boys Town is another Salesian school, it is a school that is another option for boys and girls who don't get accepted into secondary school (high school). At Boys Town they are taught a skill (machinery, mechanics, welding, etc.) so they at least have a chance to get a job that corresponds to their specific skill. The students there are around 19-24 and are much bigger than our Bosco Boys. I (Pat) had the opportunity to toss the opening serve to the game. When I arrived to see the boys, I felt it was very unfair that Boys Town (being so much older and bigger) was playing us. Boys Town started very strong and won the first two matches out of five.
This is my buddy Eric (the boy who drew me a picture).
The Boys Over 17 soccer championship consisted of Boys Town vs. Kuwinda Slum (Kuwinda Slum is just a team consisting of men from this slum who wanted to play in the Jesus Cup). We were told if Kuwinda Slum were to have lost there probably would have been a fight. Fr. Sebastian took preparations though and had three police officers there for the match. Luckily they beat Bosco Boys and there were no fights.
This is the girls Under 14 Net Ball Championship game. It was Bosco Boys (which does have girls, really they represented Don Bosco Primary School at Bosco Boys)
Our volleyball team was down 2 games. We miraculously came back and won 3 straight games to win the championship. The atmosphere was so fun seeing all the boys cheer and watching them persevere to win it all. It was so fun.
More celebration!
Bosco Boys trophies from the tournament.
This picture is from the end of the days festivities. I noticed something but couldn't figure it out, so I decided to sit down for a second and just watch everyone. This is a picture of our friend Kevin (wearing a SJB shirt) standing by the gate into school. He is standing, taking a breath, and looking at all his friends. The children were cleaning up from the busy day. Buses with kids from other schools were leaving. You could tell people were tired, exhausted from the sun, and couldn't wait to just sit down and take their shoes off.
I noticed I was feeling the same way. It was very familiar and then it hit me. This feeling I saw from people is the same way I feel at home after parties. The day is so long with getting food, seating, and decorations ready. Then the people come, something unexpected happens, then you decide it's not that big of a deal, you then relax with your company, and by the end of the day you are worn out. People then get in their cars, the children are sleeping, you stand by your drive way and wave as they drive off. It felt like home this day at Bosco Boys. It was with a different group of people, for a new event, and in Africa. But, it was home.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Fr. Paul & Fr. PD's Bday Bash
Morning mass
Pat drew this.
Pat drew this.
Ok, in Kenya they call cats "pussy cats". Fr. Paul shortens it and just calls them pussies. We find this funny. The cats are being raised at Bosco Boys to deal with the rat problem. Right now they are still small so we feed them. The cats are clever though and sneak into the dining hall throughout the day to get some food. Fr. Paul does not want them in the dining hall so when he sees the pussies he yells "PUSSY OUT!" Since we are the only ones laughing Fr. Paul has noticed it. He now smiles and laughs with us every time after he yells this. The funny thing is the cats ONLY listen to him... Katie decided to draw him this picture for his bday.
Maria drew this one.
Katie holding Fr. Paul's friends. Katie and Maria put bows on their necks for the day.
We realized we haven't taken many pictures together, so we took one.
Decorations for the festivities.
Fr. Paul (left) and Fr. PD (right) enjoying their birthday cake. They are sooo happy together ;)
The boys put on a performance after dinner for Fr. Paul and Fr. PD. This group is the acrobatic group. They do flips, back flips, and jumping twists into a soft dirt pit during recess daily. They also get old tires to use as a spring to jump higher. They are very talented, sadly though the boy on top fell down right after I took this picture. He fell pretty hard but is ok.
Pat drew this.
Pat drew this.
Ok, in Kenya they call cats "pussy cats". Fr. Paul shortens it and just calls them pussies. We find this funny. The cats are being raised at Bosco Boys to deal with the rat problem. Right now they are still small so we feed them. The cats are clever though and sneak into the dining hall throughout the day to get some food. Fr. Paul does not want them in the dining hall so when he sees the pussies he yells "PUSSY OUT!" Since we are the only ones laughing Fr. Paul has noticed it. He now smiles and laughs with us every time after he yells this. The funny thing is the cats ONLY listen to him... Katie decided to draw him this picture for his bday.
Maria drew this one.
Katie holding Fr. Paul's friends. Katie and Maria put bows on their necks for the day.
We realized we haven't taken many pictures together, so we took one.
Decorations for the festivities.
Fr. Paul (left) and Fr. PD (right) enjoying their birthday cake. They are sooo happy together ;)
The boys put on a performance after dinner for Fr. Paul and Fr. PD. This group is the acrobatic group. They do flips, back flips, and jumping twists into a soft dirt pit during recess daily. They also get old tires to use as a spring to jump higher. They are very talented, sadly though the boy on top fell down right after I took this picture. He fell pretty hard but is ok.
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