Day 2 – Kenyan Standard Time

You learn this early on in Kenya that things never really happen when you want them to and our classroom is no exception.  To take this a step further, we come during break when we are allowed to teach art.  Art is not part of the Kenyan Curriculum as prescribed by the ministry of education so we teach during break or off school hours when we are here.  Considering the St. Al’s students are on break means that they are not as motivated to move as quickly.  A 10am class started really about 10:30ish today.  I trust this will not be the case tomorrow, or at least I am hopeful.

Today we started class with Meditation and then we kicked of sharing from Creating from the Soul Journals.  Their first assignment was to write about what they would like to create from the soul.  We heard wonderful things from Peace symbols to homes, flowers to trees, happiness to changing the worlds view! These students amaze us so profoundly with their ability to go deep and be so present, even when they are late.

One thing that came out in class was the concept of expectation.  The Art Prefect, whom is appointed each year, Francis, pointed out that he had an expectation that we would be painting and drawing as we had in the past but that he was open to accepting this new genre of art through sculpture that we were teaching.  We had not realized that we had set expectations through the different mediums we have used over the years and the fact that there is comfort in sharing ones perspective made us both feel good that they were so up front.  Francis we have had in Art Immersion for 4 years since he was a form 1 (Freshman) and it’s so great to see him grow. It also is making us realize it is good for the students to be uncomfortable with new things as well as making us think to incorporate something they know.

We launched into a discussion about found objects that were brought to school.  We asked them to bring them so we can make sculptures together.  It was very interesting varying from lids, to broken cups to wood pieces, it was very exciting to see the different found objects.

Our project kick off today is sculpting with paper with decoration, turned into small cylinders then made into a sculpture by shaping them together.  It was great to see the students get into it today.  We literally had to shut down class to get them to go with Meditation and a promise of more to come tomorrow.

After class we met with the participants in the graduate institute.  These are students that have graduated and are waiting to start university or are already in school and want to further there art immersion.  This year we are teaching the graduate students mosaic with the help of Kitengala Glass.  Margaret and I visited the Kitengala studios today after class to get a feel for what the experience will be like and we are excited. Not only do they get to experience the studio, they also get to work in the studio and make their own mosaic.  This is exciting.  The graduate institute was a future goal that we achieved last year and it is well received and keeps the connection to the students even after they leave St. Al's. 

After our visit to Kitengala, we returned to Nairobi to have dinner with our friend and my Kenyan Sister Anne Wangari and Talisman.  It’s a tremendous place and we had a great dinner. It was nice to have some down time after a day of non-stop.  It was also nice to talk with Anne and hear how life continues to evolve for her.  She used to work in Dadabb as the Country Manager settling refugees and managing community.  Now she is located in Nairobi as the Country Director managing programs.  It’s exciting that she has such an impact on so many. 

We are now back at the Ranch (a Margaret term for the Pedro Arrupe Center) and time to turn in.  The time goes quickly while we are here and we often do not realize it.  We are starting our third day tomorrow and before you know it, we will be submitting our last blog entry for your view.  We love what we do here and its great to feel so connected and local.  Today we were in a restaurant and a woman said to Margaret, it’s been a year since I last saw you and I could tell she felt so Kenyan.  The other day we had another driver and I said we need to go to Westland at this certain location and he looked at me like “how do you know what you are talking about?”  I just wanted to say, don’t you know were Kenyan! 

Thank you for being on this journey with us.  Until tomorrow.

Peace and Gratitude!

Charles and Margaret