Anna-Barbara and Natanael

About six months before we finally started, we took on a new challenge and decided to visit Harrison Primary School in Kenya. Thanks to the help and good coordination of Joshua, our preparation time went flawlessly. We set off on 17 July 2022. Packed with several suitcases and a printer wrapped in a thick woollen blanket, we headed to the airport. We were getting nervous because we knew that the printer could cause problems, but that we absolutely had to take it with us. At the security check in Zurich, the printer was scrutinised critically and for a long time before the staff let us on the plane with the printer. Whew, the first hurdle was cleared! The flight from Zurich to Frankfurt and from Frankfurt to Adis Ababa (Ethiopia) went smoothly. Once we arrived in Ethiopia, it felt like it was only a stone's throw to Mombasa after the long journey. But as fate would have it, we came into contact with African culture for the first time. While we were taxiing onto the runway, a fire engine crashed into the side of the plane, breaking off part of the wing. We were able to watch the incident from the window. In Switzerland, we're used to everything running smoothly and quickly and nobody messing around. Not so in Africa. At first, the workers hugged each other warmly and exchanged a few words. On the one hand, we were amused by this African problem-solving behaviour, but on the other, we were simply tired from the journey and just wanted to go to the hotel. On top of that, we weren't sure how the journey would continue. After about two hours we were able to change planes and we taxied to the runway for the second time.

When we landed in Mombasa, the nervousness started again. The printer had to go through a second security check, which meant that the customs officers could have seen the printer and demanded a lot of tax for it. In this situation, however, we knew that Lennox (our guide) would be waiting somewhere in the reception hall to come to our aid. This eased our nerves a little. When we arrived at the security checkpoint, Natanael had the brilliant idea of not putting the printer through the X-ray scanner and simply walking through next to it. (You have to imagine the security checkpoint there as a large hall without barriers with a conveyor belt in the centre). As there were only two people checking, but several dozen passengers there, we were able to disappear into the crowd and ‘smuggle’ the printer through without anyone noticing it. Now we had made it all the way! We met Lennox and Harrison in the airport car park. We could hardly believe that we had made it despite a few obstacles and that we were finally there. The journey to the hotel was very impressive. Everything was so different and foreign to us - a culture shock par excellence. We were surprised by the joie de vivre and the warmth that prevails there. This touched us deeply. However, our plans were somewhat disrupted by the delay of the last flight, so we only had time to buy some groceries and then it was off to the flat hotel. After the long journey, we were glad to get some sleep. We spent the first day (Monday) in Kenya at the hotel to get a good night's sleep and settle in.

FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

On Tuesday we went to school for the first time. We were greeted with a big hello from Lennox and the taxi driver Thomas. The journey from the hotel to the school took about 40 minutes. It was very interesting to explore the area like this. The school is surrounded by the sea on one side and the road is therefore only passable at low tide. As it is still the rainy season in July, the ground was very muddy, which is why we were picked up by the school's teachers with wellies. We were delighted and overwhelmed. When we arrived at the school, we were greeted like never before in our lives. With traditional songs and dances, joyful hellos, cheers and lots of beaming and excited children's faces. Now we were shown the whole school and what had been built recently. Just wow! And then the welcome party continued with a singing performance by all the classes. We were and still are impressed by the talents of these children. This was followed by a time of arriving, getting to know each other and socialising. In addition to the printer, we also brought exercise books, writing materials, craft materials and a first-aid kit among many other things. We had the privilege of thoroughly explaining and showing them the contents of the first aid kit. It was soon lunchtime and we were served ‘viazi’, pieces of potato deep-fried in batter. These became our absolute favourite food alongside chapati. We realised that this was just the starter. The main course was rice with potatoes and tomato and onion salad, followed by fresh watermelon, oranges, avocados, bananas and mangoes for dessert. What a feast! We then went back a little earlier so that we could buy some food (as we were cooking ourselves) and a SIM card. We quickly made friends with Thomas, our driver, and we had exciting and funny conversations during the journey. As well as being our taxi driver, he also became a bit of a friend and dad.

THE FIRST WEEK

On the second day, we brought the printer with us and helped with the installation. The joy was huge, because the pre-primary students' graduation ceremony was also coming up and they needed diplomas for this. Instead of having them designed and printed externally, they could now do this themselves. This saved a lot of money. We also came into more and more contact with the teachers and students. At the beginning, Harrison and Lennox were always there to look after us and explain everything to us (including their culture). We always felt safe and protected. We also quickly realised that you can't help but take these people into your heart.

Unfortunately, the weather was not so good. It rained almost every day. This made the paths and the ground muddy, but the teachers brought us wellies every day when they came to pick us up so that we could walk to school more easily. We slowly settled in and got to know the teachers and pupils. Natanael was mainly present in lessons, watching, helping out and swapping ideas with the teachers. As a trainee teacher myself, this was a very exciting and informative exchange. In general, we were impressed by the way the lessons were organised. Especially the point that the teachers encourage the students and the students encourage each other again and again and ‘celebrate’ each other by clapping or singing when someone gives a correct answer. We saw how much this boosts the students' self-confidence and gives them more motivation to learn. Meanwhile, Anna-Barbara helped out wherever she was needed. She was particularly fascinated by the kitchen or the cooking area, as we Europeans would rather call it. She was also there when the food was served and helped to wash the dishes. It was unusual to cook over the fire and wash over 200 plates by hand, but the conversations we were able to have during this time were very valuable and enriching.  

GRADUATION CEREMONY

Friday was a big day for the school. The students of the Pre-Primary and Lower-Primary classes had their graduation ceremony, as they had passed the school year. Preparations started early in the morning. Everything was tidied, cleaned, wiped and polished. Even our shoes were cleaned. The school was decorated and the children were getting more and more excited with anticipation. Finally the time had come. The parents arrived and the big performance began. The pupils sang and danced in class. After a few hours, the big moment finally arrived: the diploma ceremony. The graduates were called out one by one to collect their diplomas and take photos. Traditionally, they received a few sweets from their parents. At the end of the day there was dancing and celebrating. It was a party!

In the evening, we took the chug over the bumpy roads to Harrison's house for the first time, where we were invited to eat chapati and chatted until late in the evening. We felt very comfortable and in good hands.

WEEKEND

At the weekend, we decided to go on a little snorkelling tour, which took place right in front of our hotel. Lennox organised everything and we were able to go with Furaha, Joshua's father. So we were in good hands. We saw fish that we normally only see at the zoo.
In the evening we had to try the Swiss restaurant recommended to us and it was really good! We were dropped off and picked up by Thomas, who also looked after us very well.
On Sunday, we were invited to the church in Harrison and were even allowed to give a short sermon. The church is actually very different from the one in Switzerland. The loudspeakers were turned up to the maximum so that you could hear it for hundreds of metres outside the church. The duration of the service was also unusual for us. It lasted a whole four hours. Afterwards, however, we were allowed to try the traditional Kenyan meal Ugali for the first time.
On Sunday evening, we had planned to go to Thomas' hair salon, which he runs alongside his taxi company, to get our hair cut. This was funny because the hairdresser had never cut European hair before and we became a sensation in the village. But he did it very well.

SECOND WEEK AT SCHOOL

On Monday we went back to school. Unfortunately, Harrison had to tell us there that he might not be back at school until Friday, as their land at home was being measured and he would then receive an important document for it. (Until then, it was not clear in this district where the boundary of each house's land ended and where it began). But that wasn't a problem because the teachers looked after us well and we already felt at home. But there was something very special planned for Monday: Five trees were to be planted. One for Anna-Barbara, one for Natanael and one each for Sabine, Tina and Martina. Three German women who have been there since the school was built and have supported Harrison time and time again. We feel very honoured and touched that there is now a tree planted for us at Harrison Primary School.

On Tuesday, we took a day off from school and went on a dolphin tour with Lennox. It was a long journey: over three hours by car and then another hour or so by boat to the marine park, where we also went snorkelling. When we travelled back by boat, we even saw a few more dolphins. Unfortunately a bit far away. The trip was very touristy, which we weren't used to.

Wednesday was the first day that it didn't rain and was reasonably dry. So we were able to play football on the pitch. No sooner said than done. The children were delighted. The last few days before departure consisted of finalising the last few things. For example, looking at the toys and checking whether everything was still intact or whether they needed anything else and also a second lesson from Natanael for the teachers, which they wanted, where he could teach them new ways of teaching. He was also able to conduct some lessons in the classes, which was an instructive experience for him. Friday was the big farewell. Harrison organised a special dinner for us with all the teachers. We cooked rösti for them on the induction hob and they cooked ugali for everyone. So we had a big European and African dinner and yes, they really liked the rösti. It was especially funny when they tried to pronounce the word ‘Rösti’. Unfortunately, Harrison and Grace couldn't be there as their country still hadn't been measured, but they visited us at the hotel to say goodbye. It wasn't easy to say goodbye, but it was clear to us that this wouldn't be the last visit and this gave us hope again.
The last few days before their departure were spent doing the final things. For example, looking at the toys and checking whether everything was still intact or whether they needed anything else and also a second lesson from Natanael for the teachers, which they wanted, where he could teach them new ways of teaching. He was also able to conduct some lessons in the classes, which was an instructive experience for him.
Friday was the big farewell. Harrison organised a special dinner for us with all the teachers. We cooked rösti for them on the induction hob and they cooked ugali for everyone. So we had a big European and African dinner and yes, they really liked the rösti. It was especially funny when they tried to pronounce the word ‘Rösti’. Unfortunately Harrison and Grace couldn't be there as their country still hasn't been measured, but they visited us at the hotel to see us off.
It was not easy to say goodbye, but it was clear to us that this would not be the last visit and this gave us hope again.

SAFARI TOUR

On Sunday, we travelled towards Amboseli National Park. After about eight hours by car, we arrived at Sentrim Lodge. That same evening we went on our first tour of the park and we were overwhelmed! The park was teeming with zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, elephants, hippos, antelopes, hyenas and wombats. We were even lucky enough to see a lion from a distance and a desert fox ran in front of the car. Unfortunately, Kilimanjaro was hidden behind the clouds during the two days and we never got to see it. But the buffet of food at the lodge was all the more delicious. After two days, we moved on to Lion Hill Lodge in Tsavo National Park. The view from our room was breathtaking. The view stretched across the entire steppe and we could even see the elephants in the park from the balcony. In contrast to Amboseli National Park, the sand in Tsavo is red and it feels like you are gliding along the roads in a car. The car journey was more pleasant than in Amboseli, but apart from a cheetah nearby, a pride of lions from a distance and a few elephants, dik-diks and water buffalo here and there, we didn't get to see much. But the lodge was all the nicer. We were almost the only guests and were therefore able to enjoy the facilities and the pool all to ourselves. After two days at Lion Hill Lodge, we returned to Mombasa Airport on 4 July. From there we flew back and arrived home on 5 July, tired but happy. It took us a while to get used to our new surroundings and we often miss Africa. But we definitely won't have been there for the last time, that's for sure!