In order to paint, volunteers from each class went to a place they knew they could get water and voila, we were in action. Painting all about. There painting skills are very pedestrian for some since this literally for some is the first time that they have actually painted and some that have been exposed to drawing, etc are doing great. There is one student that it feels like should be in a school for the arts or at least be going to art school on the side or in the future. The classes are a bustle for the whole 2 hours. The students seems to continue to go on and on. Some seem to have endless energy and a few seem to just be going through the motions of doing art. We hear from other teachers that forms 1/2 seems to only be able to talk about the art classes which is great. We are going to leave some source materials in the library so they can continue to look at the bio's of the artist and encourage them to start an art club of sorts with the materials that we have brought. I am hopeful that they will do so and that they will continue to explore art.
The cameras came back today, all 6 and they always carry interesting stories and at the same time, they are all teenagers and that comes through in the many things that show up in the pictures. Who does not like posing right? Well we have what feels like thousands of the students that were meant to be on the runway. It is clear that these students love to be in the photos.
Tomorrow is day 4 of week 2 and probably the last real day of class since Friday will be giving out certificates that we made them and sharing art and photos. I think teaching is hard as it is, but add limited resources to the mix, walking through the slum and raw sewage and having to scavenger chalk everyday and yes, it wares you out. Both Margaret and I looked at each other with utter exhaustion and we are each only teaching students for 2 hours a day. The prep seems to take a lot more time than we perceived and I think that realizing how hard these students have it and the harsh setting they are in, can be also very exhausting.
I am thrilled to say that I feel like Margaret and I have made an impact. Some have inherent art skills and want to know more, expressions has been key and having dialogue in class and asking questions about art is so rewarding to answer. It is amazing to see them just do there thing while painting. They really seem engaged outside of those few that are going through the motions.
Tomorrow and Friday are it and then we go back to our lives of what I began to consider last year as abject luxury and now am sure of it, our lives may look different even more now that we have experienced this second year.
We also had a nice visit with someone some of you may remember from St. Joseph the worker parish if you have been on the Kenya trip. Laban Manga who was the man who ran the small letter presses and I have stayed in contact throughout the year and once he knew we were coming invited us to meet him at his home in Kengami to meet his wife and daughter. It was a nice visit and I was glad that we visited him. He is a really nice man and you realize as slums are concerned, some are certainly better than others. His has a home with a true door and living room, kitchen and I am sure a bedroom. There is a distinct difference between Kengami and Kibera. He was telling us that when the riots and fires hit in December/January, he had 5 others living with him from Kibera. The view from his home was great and at the same time, it was of Kibera. As we have experienced on this trip there is lots of awkward beauty in Nairobi.
That all for now.
Charles and Margaret
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