My final days in Kenya

A little goodbye
So yeah, six weeks have already passed. It seems like it has all gone in a flash, which is of course very sad! I have made so many new friends, and experienced some great things that I could never have expected. It feels strange to have to leave it all. But I think it is important to focus on the positive outcome of my stay here, and know that I am not leaving it behind, I am merely travelling on to a new project. I will always remember all the great things that came from my stay here, both the good and bad aspects, the sunny and rainy days. And, as I wrote in an earlier post, 'My starfish', I hope that, even though I might not have changed the life of all the people in the world, I have at least made a slight difference to the few people that I have met, that my efforts have at least meant something to them.

Through my stay here in Kenya I have changed more than I have ever expected I would. It surprised me quite a lot how seeing the lower standards of life of the people here in Kenya has changed not only my view upon my own life as what I appreciate and value, but also the people I interact with and share a daily life with back 'home'.

Why do I think that is? I have seen countless documentaries and commercials about how there millions of people who suffer every day, and that struggle with their lives in ways others couldn't even slightly imagine. Is it because I have seen it up close, seeing kids with HIV and AIDS, seeing people who drink and eat in the mud, seeing the true suffering of the people I have set my efforts to help?

No, I don't believe that it is the suffering that has made my paradigm shift towards a greater appreciation. I believe it is all the happiness and smiles I have seen that is the cause of this. Wherever I have gone, whoever I have talked to or helped, I have noticed a common denominator, namely a carefree smile. No matter if all they had to drink was muddy water, no matter if their breakfast consisted of only tea, no matter if their dinner was a small portion of beans and maize, they all had the energy to smile with a truthfulness that cannot be compared. They all had the energy to run around with shoes with holes in them, play with a football with no air, and smile with a stomach with no food in it.

- Body of Christ Childens Home

- Body of Christ Childens Home

- AIC Mukeu School

- Wajibu Wetu Childens Home

- Wajibu Wetu Childens Home 

- Wajibu Wetu Childens Home

Can you show me your smile?

First delivery every witnessed
This was, as you might have noticed, my last week here in Kenya, and the last stop on my programme at the hospital was the obsgyn/maternity department (obstetrics and gynaecology). Yes........... wow..........
It was truly a league of its own. And, as the title tells, I have now witnessed my first ever delivery! Both an all natural birth, one elective and one emergency Caesarean section. The three women were between 19 and 26, so a shout out to them who managed extremely well!

About the actual deliveries, oh wow... during the first one I watched, for a few seconds I honestly believed I was about to faint, puke and die, all at the same time. But I pulled myself together, and witnessed something that was incredible, a baby coming to life (and please don't hassle me with saying that life is made at conception and what not, I am simply stating that seeing the baby taking its first breath of air, screaming for the first time, was incredible). Though, I am amazed how quickly the actual delivery was performed. The women were most likely in labour for hours and hours, but once the nurses and obstetricians were ready, the baby was out within minutes. Those small fingers, the small mouth grasping for air, lying in the nursing bed curiously gazing at the world and its colours and shapes. Astonishing!

During the delivery of the elective Caesarean section the obstetrician noticed something abnormal with the baby. Her left leg was dislocated and bent towards her chest, rather than her back. It was one of the strangest things I have ever beheld, seeing the leg flop around, while the baby, seemingly unaware and unharmed of the situation, calmly looked at the nurses and me. Luckily the obstetrician said that it was a simple orthopaedic fix and that the baby would be fine.

A different approach
And on Friday we all went together to A.I.C. Mukeu School for mentally challenged learners, a special needs school. This is the first time I have ever been with such a great amount of special needs kids at once. The school had around 30 students in the age range 5 years to 15 years old, and around 20 more would come to the school as they would come home from their holidays. The students presented with challenges like various autism spectrum disorders (ASD), downs syndrome and mental disorders. This forced me to approach the kids in a very different way than that of with other kids.

Someone that really helped me with this was my fantastic mother, who is a special educator in Norway. Before I left for Africa she came down to Copenhagen for a weekend where she prepared me with several valuable pointers, like how one should visualise what one wants to communicate. She showed me how using very simple sign language can benefit the communication between you and a child. And so it did. We had a great time, and I believe that the kids did too. Here are some pictures from the stay.

My stay in Kenya
Undoubtedly, this has been six weeks filled with new experiences, and I cannot emphasise enough on how great my stay has been here. Of course there has been downs and ups, but I wanted there to be downs... this is not a holiday to me, this is a trip where I wish to help and experience. And that is what I got to.  

I would also like to take the time to send all my wishes to my friends back 'home', some of who are about to finish a quite important part of their life. I hope you all will do great in your final exams, that you get into the schools you have applied to, that what you have worked for will succeed. I cannot tell you guys enough how I miss you. 

And lastly, as it is the 12th of May today I would like to wish my dad a happy birthday! I hope you'll have a great day. 

While I was writing all of this a song started to play on the radio. I found it rather suitable for the occasion, so here you go, Coldplay with Paradise!

Until next time,

//Nick