Words can be forgotten but passion stays in the heart....it often even leads to further actions.
Two weeks ago, in the middle of otherwise very regular working day, I got a note from my former project client counterpart. She and I became friends during our adventures while implementing SAP in Russia. After my CSC assignment in Kenya I spent over 1,5 years in Russia.
The note informed me that her daughter, nowadays a fine young little lady in 12 years of age had gotten the assignment for her school's English class to tell about a trip somewhere. She herself has been spending some time abroad and could have easily chosen one of her experiences to share. Instead she chose my Kenyan trip as the topic!
It brought happy tears into my eyes. 2,5 years after completing the assignment, the experiences I have shared about it in my blog and in person to her...have made such an huge impression, which has only grown till date. It confirmed to me once again the fact that small drop of positiveness can start of wave of positive actions.
Now there is a class full of students in St.Petersburg, who have heard a passionate presentation from Olga. Who knows to what leads in the future. Can only send my warm thoughts to Olga: Asante sana sana kwa kunikumbuka.
December 2, 2013
February 26, 2013
1 1/2 years later and Kenya is still tightly with me
From my Kenya assignment year and a half has passed, yet it is tightly linked with everything I do.
The below blog is in Finnish but described the importance of usability in the daily life.
http://www.alykassuomi.fi/2013/02/helppoa-tyota/
Good luck to Kenya this year for the big elections! I will be following the news tightly.
The below blog is in Finnish but described the importance of usability in the daily life.
http://www.alykassuomi.fi/2013/02/helppoa-tyota/
Good luck to Kenya this year for the big elections! I will be following the news tightly.
August 24, 2011
Aftermath
Some things need a magnifying glass to see them clearly, some things need a few steps back to see the whole picture.
After some time, having a nice vacation and time out from the reality every day I realize more what a life changing experience this was.
Here are the videos, created by Lynn, to show our moments and our idea to share the positive feeling "I am a Kenyan". The latter video we shared in our final presentation too and it received a warm emotional welcome.
IBM CSC Kenya Team 3 Moments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZnresWuS8o
I am a Kenyan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK7f4fTOZxA&feature=related
When I look closer from the distance the experience....I feel so happy. I got selected, I took everything out of the time in Kenya. So many great memories to cherish. I grew again as a person and know that I will grow more, if I just encourage myself step by step beyond the line I have drawn in my mind.
Apart from making friends, growing fond of Kenya and its culture...I realized what a great country I have to live in, Finland. My friends and family, who have been there with all my adventures...and always welcomed me with open arms back home, like no day would have passed by.
This experience, apart from all the fun triggered lot of good thinking - questioning if what I do is really making a difference? Can I do more?
...and many more questions, where I will surely get the answer when time is right. As learned in Kenya, everything happens on its own time...meetings might take place, but they might not. Yet no reason to stress, Hakuna Matata ;O))))
After visiting the schools and the St. Anthony's small home...made me realize, one should not stress about some meeting. As long as one does the best one can, it's good. Things won't always go the way I would like them to go, and I will fall flat on my face also in the future...but then I have to remind myself with the key questions; did anyone die? Did anyone get wounded?
If not...stand up and walk on.
I got an healthy perspective as well during this assignment. There are lot bigger things going on in the world. Children who lost their parents in a riot and have no future without any proper support in form of social security or private organizations like New Life Africa International and St. Anthony Small Home...there's more in stake there. If one slide is not 100% perfect, but carries the message...then no reason to sweat about it till midnight hours.
Hakuna Matata combined with Finnish Sisu might be a great recipe for going further.
It is a funny combination, that bubbles in my mind unexpectedly...laughter, joy, missing the team, missing Kenya, jokes, cultural diversity. The spark got started to make a difference and I want to keep it up.
Kenya showed me that you can do things you have never done before, succeed, against all odds. We only had success because we had our full hearts in it and we also had fun. We dared to break the limits and be enthusiastic about it....and now am steaming forward, walking on, with the energy and enthusiasm that I kept in my back pocket.
"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence. It is no more or less than faith in action."
- Henry Chester
After some time, having a nice vacation and time out from the reality every day I realize more what a life changing experience this was.
Here are the videos, created by Lynn, to show our moments and our idea to share the positive feeling "I am a Kenyan". The latter video we shared in our final presentation too and it received a warm emotional welcome.
IBM CSC Kenya Team 3 Moments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZnresWuS8o
I am a Kenyan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK7f4fTOZxA&feature=related
When I look closer from the distance the experience....I feel so happy. I got selected, I took everything out of the time in Kenya. So many great memories to cherish. I grew again as a person and know that I will grow more, if I just encourage myself step by step beyond the line I have drawn in my mind.
Apart from making friends, growing fond of Kenya and its culture...I realized what a great country I have to live in, Finland. My friends and family, who have been there with all my adventures...and always welcomed me with open arms back home, like no day would have passed by.
This experience, apart from all the fun triggered lot of good thinking - questioning if what I do is really making a difference? Can I do more?
...and many more questions, where I will surely get the answer when time is right. As learned in Kenya, everything happens on its own time...meetings might take place, but they might not. Yet no reason to stress, Hakuna Matata ;O))))
After visiting the schools and the St. Anthony's small home...made me realize, one should not stress about some meeting. As long as one does the best one can, it's good. Things won't always go the way I would like them to go, and I will fall flat on my face also in the future...but then I have to remind myself with the key questions; did anyone die? Did anyone get wounded?
If not...stand up and walk on.
I got an healthy perspective as well during this assignment. There are lot bigger things going on in the world. Children who lost their parents in a riot and have no future without any proper support in form of social security or private organizations like New Life Africa International and St. Anthony Small Home...there's more in stake there. If one slide is not 100% perfect, but carries the message...then no reason to sweat about it till midnight hours.
Hakuna Matata combined with Finnish Sisu might be a great recipe for going further.
It is a funny combination, that bubbles in my mind unexpectedly...laughter, joy, missing the team, missing Kenya, jokes, cultural diversity. The spark got started to make a difference and I want to keep it up.
Kenya showed me that you can do things you have never done before, succeed, against all odds. We only had success because we had our full hearts in it and we also had fun. We dared to break the limits and be enthusiastic about it....and now am steaming forward, walking on, with the energy and enthusiasm that I kept in my back pocket.
"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence. It is no more or less than faith in action."
- Henry Chester
August 16, 2011
Home, but not really....
The coming back home caused a lack of time suddenly....all the friends and family to meet. Also noticed that I was so tired...slept 10-12h the first week.¨
Lots of thoughts in my mind and variation of feelings, which I will share before going back to the "work life". Now time for enjoying the rest of the summer for another week and then will put all my remaining thoughts on paper (or in this to my blog).
Will take time then as well to put more photos to the blog and add the photo album link.
Thank you for your interest towards my Kenya experience....talk to you soon! ;o) Next week will update everything.
After this project will continue blogging about my journeys abroad and even about Finland...let's see what comes with that ;o)
Lots of thoughts in my mind and variation of feelings, which I will share before going back to the "work life". Now time for enjoying the rest of the summer for another week and then will put all my remaining thoughts on paper (or in this to my blog).
Will take time then as well to put more photos to the blog and add the photo album link.
Thank you for your interest towards my Kenya experience....talk to you soon! ;o) Next week will update everything.
After this project will continue blogging about my journeys abroad and even about Finland...let's see what comes with that ;o)
July 30, 2011
The Final Stretch - Final Presentation
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."
- Ronald E. Osborn
Preparations for the Final Report
This whole assignment has been living and learning. Some of it will surely come first after we all have taken a step back and the time to observe it all from a distance. But it has changed my life...as it has for most of the group.
After getting the midterms reviews through and confirmation that we were on the right track, despite our rather bold approach...it was time to push the last pieces together and finalize the preparations for the final report and its presentation to the key stakeholders.
After having interviewed the people and feeling the spirits of Nakuru, I was definitely in this with my whole heart. Wanting to get the message across that people were hurt...hurt by the goverment's egoistic acts. Huge damage was done in 2007 and that could not be fixed simply by technology, but it requires understanding the thoughts, feelings of the people.
We were going against all the odds....news headers have stated all this time very strongly that voting in 2012 will be electronic. We are going to suggest to hear out the people first...understand how they feel and gain back their confidence first.
Let us see how it will be received by Dr Ndemo, the permanent secretary of Ministry of Communication and Information. The signs from the IIEC (now known as IEBC) and ICT board representative are positive, but of course Dr Ndemo is at the end of the day the person whose support is needed heavily to get the wheels turning.
Me being me...wanting to stand behind my words, I would not want to take any other direction than what we have taken. Even if we are going to go against the media thrill and our recommendations might not be noted with such a big thrill as what were the head lights in the beginning of the assignment. At the end I still know, I did the right thing.
Final Presentation
On Friday morning our KENET team presented their final report. It was great! KENET even recorded it with video cameras. Brooks, Virve, Andrea and Luigi did a great job and were definitely the super stars of that video, which came out of that meeting.
In the afternoon we had to split into two, which was bit unfortunate. Our team presented at the same time with e-Government Service team (Sugandha, Lynn, Krishna and HwaYoung). The spirits were high as were the excitement. We wanted to share our findings, our recommendations.
The meeting started in rather normal Kenyan way...the key persons were bit late due to traffic. Traffic in Nairobi is not in the control of a man. One day all may be well and next day, at the very same time, it is a pure chaos. In Kenya one learns that not all is in our control and the best is to live by: Hakuna Matata (No problems). No use worrying over things that we have no control of ;o)
After spending the first hour chit chatting and waiting for everyone to arrive...I had flash backs from a training I participated, and nowadays co-tutor...where one plays the impossible client situation as a role play for the fresh consultants. This was just like my final presentation in that training course ;o) Which made me at ease, as I knew that it would not be as extreme than in that training.
Finally the moment was there....all the people were there. This time we skipped the Kenyan custom to drink tea. I had nothing against it, as in the last 4 weeks I have drank more tea per day, than I drink in any business meetings otherwise. Though I love green tea and drink alone that a liter per day...but on top of that in Kenya I drank one liter Kenyan tea after busy meeting days.
One day we had 3 client meeting and in each we drank bug cups of the Kenyan tea. It is a local business etiquette to offer tea to business partners and also in private life, offering tea is a warm gesture. Means that you want to share from what you have and take a moment to talk outside the meeting with the people. I quite liked it...apart from the fact that after drinking so much tea in the meetings after each other....the bubbles on the forehead reach a maximum limit ;o)
So, without any tea we started sharing our findings and recommendations. I am normally cheery, and tend to normally dress my message in a positive way. I did it this time too, but with lot more feeling, pauses and sense of power. It was actually rather amazing feeling, an adrenalin kick took over after the presentation when I realized that I what I had just said to the Dr Ndemo and his team.
The best part of it all was that he agreed fully!
So, our presentation was a success.
Now remains to be seen if agreeing results to actions. As I noticed that having people to agree with you in Kenya is one thing, but taking actions to support the agreement is another thing. Execution is not self-explanatory though people around you would be agreeing on your points and recommendations.
Kenya has no other choice than change, thus I want to believe that in one way or another our recommendations will lead to something, which will improve the confidence of the people towards their government.
After the presentations were all done, and all with great success...we had the last official dinner together. My head was still so in the presentation, that I did not register too much the fact that day later we would all apart our ways.
Heading Home
On Saturday we did final shopping....all ladies saying that our luggage was already so heavy...and funny enough, we all found something more on the triangular market.
Among our team we had still the really, really final dinner together...which was so much fun. We joked, sang and laughed together.
When it was time for me to say "good bye" to the team mates....I had promised myself to be brave and not to cry. Yeah right, it worked about few minutes and then the niagara falls opened. I could not stop crying till I took a hot shower, and had the water calming me down.
Yes, in 4 weeks, with people you did not know before...there are ones with whom one grows fonder than "just colleagues". Same sense of humor plays a big role, whether the chemistry matches or not, as well as the values in life.
I did not realize it there though, but every single person left some mark in how I see things, how I feel about things today. Each individual of the team, each character with their own color added to the whole picture their strokes. Luigi on top of color, made his way to everyone's heart by cooking pasta to the whole team (and teaching the hotel cheff to cook proper pasta) ;o)
Here is one funny joke we laughed about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBaPI2AKu2g
Bobby Lee as North Korean Scientist ;o) Sometimes I do....
There is so much, which I have not thought about writing...many details, which might partially overwhelm as well. Somethings cannot be written to such detail as they were experienced. Or maybe I will cherish those experiences few years, till I have found the perfect vocabulary to express them...and then write a book ;o)
There is a lot that I will take with me from this assignment, when going forward in life...some new friends, team colleagues, passion for Kenya...not being unsure to break my own borders, not thinking so much if I should or should not do something, but following even more my instinct. Taking things as they come. Hakuna Matata is carved into my mind and heart. I will spread it, pay it forward where ever I go.
In Kenya we were welcomed. What we did was wanted...our efforts were making a difference and our meetings, presentations did not go to deaf ears, they were active sessions with signs of appreciations. What more would one want?
We went beyond our professional efforts and paid forward to the community.
Being able to make difference and the fact that we were always warmly welcomed, where ever we went....left a warm feeling for working in Kenya. Outside work there is of course a whole lot about the nature, culture and whole variety of things.
Asante Sana Kenya, our IBM CSC Kenya team 3 and Muriuki.
Thank you for the experiences, the moments, the joy and laughter, sharing the differences and cherishing the diversity in our own ways. Man sieht sich immer zwei mal (German saying: one meets always twice)...I believe in that and trust that we shall meet again.
- Ronald E. Osborn
Preparations for the Final Report
This whole assignment has been living and learning. Some of it will surely come first after we all have taken a step back and the time to observe it all from a distance. But it has changed my life...as it has for most of the group.
After getting the midterms reviews through and confirmation that we were on the right track, despite our rather bold approach...it was time to push the last pieces together and finalize the preparations for the final report and its presentation to the key stakeholders.
After having interviewed the people and feeling the spirits of Nakuru, I was definitely in this with my whole heart. Wanting to get the message across that people were hurt...hurt by the goverment's egoistic acts. Huge damage was done in 2007 and that could not be fixed simply by technology, but it requires understanding the thoughts, feelings of the people.
We were going against all the odds....news headers have stated all this time very strongly that voting in 2012 will be electronic. We are going to suggest to hear out the people first...understand how they feel and gain back their confidence first.
Let us see how it will be received by Dr Ndemo, the permanent secretary of Ministry of Communication and Information. The signs from the IIEC (now known as IEBC) and ICT board representative are positive, but of course Dr Ndemo is at the end of the day the person whose support is needed heavily to get the wheels turning.
Me being me...wanting to stand behind my words, I would not want to take any other direction than what we have taken. Even if we are going to go against the media thrill and our recommendations might not be noted with such a big thrill as what were the head lights in the beginning of the assignment. At the end I still know, I did the right thing.
Final Presentation
On Friday morning our KENET team presented their final report. It was great! KENET even recorded it with video cameras. Brooks, Virve, Andrea and Luigi did a great job and were definitely the super stars of that video, which came out of that meeting.
In the afternoon we had to split into two, which was bit unfortunate. Our team presented at the same time with e-Government Service team (Sugandha, Lynn, Krishna and HwaYoung). The spirits were high as were the excitement. We wanted to share our findings, our recommendations.
The meeting started in rather normal Kenyan way...the key persons were bit late due to traffic. Traffic in Nairobi is not in the control of a man. One day all may be well and next day, at the very same time, it is a pure chaos. In Kenya one learns that not all is in our control and the best is to live by: Hakuna Matata (No problems). No use worrying over things that we have no control of ;o)
After spending the first hour chit chatting and waiting for everyone to arrive...I had flash backs from a training I participated, and nowadays co-tutor...where one plays the impossible client situation as a role play for the fresh consultants. This was just like my final presentation in that training course ;o) Which made me at ease, as I knew that it would not be as extreme than in that training.
Finally the moment was there....all the people were there. This time we skipped the Kenyan custom to drink tea. I had nothing against it, as in the last 4 weeks I have drank more tea per day, than I drink in any business meetings otherwise. Though I love green tea and drink alone that a liter per day...but on top of that in Kenya I drank one liter Kenyan tea after busy meeting days.
One day we had 3 client meeting and in each we drank bug cups of the Kenyan tea. It is a local business etiquette to offer tea to business partners and also in private life, offering tea is a warm gesture. Means that you want to share from what you have and take a moment to talk outside the meeting with the people. I quite liked it...apart from the fact that after drinking so much tea in the meetings after each other....the bubbles on the forehead reach a maximum limit ;o)
So, without any tea we started sharing our findings and recommendations. I am normally cheery, and tend to normally dress my message in a positive way. I did it this time too, but with lot more feeling, pauses and sense of power. It was actually rather amazing feeling, an adrenalin kick took over after the presentation when I realized that I what I had just said to the Dr Ndemo and his team.
The best part of it all was that he agreed fully!
So, our presentation was a success.
Now remains to be seen if agreeing results to actions. As I noticed that having people to agree with you in Kenya is one thing, but taking actions to support the agreement is another thing. Execution is not self-explanatory though people around you would be agreeing on your points and recommendations.
Kenya has no other choice than change, thus I want to believe that in one way or another our recommendations will lead to something, which will improve the confidence of the people towards their government.
After the presentations were all done, and all with great success...we had the last official dinner together. My head was still so in the presentation, that I did not register too much the fact that day later we would all apart our ways.
Heading Home
On Saturday we did final shopping....all ladies saying that our luggage was already so heavy...and funny enough, we all found something more on the triangular market.
Among our team we had still the really, really final dinner together...which was so much fun. We joked, sang and laughed together.
When it was time for me to say "good bye" to the team mates....I had promised myself to be brave and not to cry. Yeah right, it worked about few minutes and then the niagara falls opened. I could not stop crying till I took a hot shower, and had the water calming me down.
Yes, in 4 weeks, with people you did not know before...there are ones with whom one grows fonder than "just colleagues". Same sense of humor plays a big role, whether the chemistry matches or not, as well as the values in life.
Here is one funny joke we laughed about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBaPI2AKu2g
Bobby Lee as North Korean Scientist ;o) Sometimes I do....
There is so much, which I have not thought about writing...many details, which might partially overwhelm as well. Somethings cannot be written to such detail as they were experienced. Or maybe I will cherish those experiences few years, till I have found the perfect vocabulary to express them...and then write a book ;o)
There is a lot that I will take with me from this assignment, when going forward in life...some new friends, team colleagues, passion for Kenya...not being unsure to break my own borders, not thinking so much if I should or should not do something, but following even more my instinct. Taking things as they come. Hakuna Matata is carved into my mind and heart. I will spread it, pay it forward where ever I go.
In Kenya we were welcomed. What we did was wanted...our efforts were making a difference and our meetings, presentations did not go to deaf ears, they were active sessions with signs of appreciations. What more would one want?
We went beyond our professional efforts and paid forward to the community.
Being able to make difference and the fact that we were always warmly welcomed, where ever we went....left a warm feeling for working in Kenya. Outside work there is of course a whole lot about the nature, culture and whole variety of things.
Asante Sana Kenya, our IBM CSC Kenya team 3 and Muriuki.
Thank you for the experiences, the moments, the joy and laughter, sharing the differences and cherishing the diversity in our own ways. Man sieht sich immer zwei mal (German saying: one meets always twice)...I believe in that and trust that we shall meet again.
July 24, 2011
Time capsule to the past - Maasai Mara
Imagine you standing surrounded by people and animal, yet everything reminds you of past time, which you yourself have never experienced.
That is the feeling what I carried from Maasai Mara for many days. The trip was awesome, simply said.
Friday
If I thought the ride to St.Anthony's small home was bumpy...I knew nothing. On Friday we started the journey from Nakuru to Maasai Mara. The drive takes about 5 hours, out of which 2,5 h are 100% bumpy ride. When I say bumpy, I mean that I could feel my intestines tickling my throath during the jumps ;o)
But as I have the skill to sleep where ever, no matter what the circumstances are (my brother keeps saying that he would want to have the sleeping skills I have)..
I was worn out from the work week and felt sleepy. I slept most of the bumpy ride part and felt nice and fresh after that. Sometimes I woke up, being in the middle of the jump. Put my hand back to the handlebar and fell right back asleep.
Sugandha had negotiated a really great deal for us, I have learnt from her great negotiation skills during this trip.This is the best place to practise those skills, as everywhere the price or conditions are negotiable. Sugi's negotiation school ;o)
We stayed in a camp, our huts were partially like a big tent, but inside two proper beds. Bathroom & toilet was solid and over the tent there was a metal roof. Really nice set-up actually.
After the arrival to the camp, we unloaded the bags and jumped back to the car to get more bumpy rides...first game ride was about to start in the Maasai Mara national reserve.
We took photo of each zebra passing by, pretty much every single animal was captured to a photo...the over eagerness of first timers as the locals would say.
The park as such is beautiful and there are plenty of variety of animals.
What bothered me was the amount of safari matatus driving around in queue. It made the first evening's game drive experience feel little like in zoo, but this time the animals were staring at us. Thinking those poor people, who are stuck in those matatus. My team colleagues, who were in the same matatu as I was were laughing during the days, as I was mimicking what the animals would say if they only spoke the same language as us.
The only positive thing about the safari cars is that you can pull the roof up and have nice possibility to take photos. Back to the nature....it is beautiful. Huge area of untouched land, animals walking around knowing that this is their home.
After some hours of game drive and taking photos of every single animal ;o) we drove back to the camp for dinner. The food was really good and it was great to get something else than the hotel dinner buffet. After dinner we sat down on the grass, and enjoyed the evening. In the camp we had 3-4 Maasai warriors guarding from sun set till sun rise. This was the animals home, and the park is not fenced all around. Elephants, leopards and other animals pay their visit at times around the Maasai villages and camp villages. The Maasai warriors sat by the camp fire in the evening.
After having talked and sang enough within our circle...we moved closer to sit by the fire and got to know the Maasai warriors better. I was totally taken by what I learned during our discussions (read more about the Maasai's in its own section below).
At 10 pm the generator was turned off, which meant electrisity disappeared. So, time to go to sleep....we needed the rest for the next day.
During the night I was 100% confident that we were safe from the hyenas and other animals, which were holding up a choir in the night. Namely I had to use the bathroom in the night, and as soon as I had set a toe outside my bed and got up...there were on that same instance 2 flash lights wiping our tent and its back like a lazer beam.
Saturday
At 5.30 am wake up call...cold cement floor greeting me, once I found my way out from the blue mosquito net. The day had started and despite only some hours sleep, thanks to the hyenas and their choir practice in the night...I was ready to get out there.
The air was fresh and crisp still...but that would change soon. The difference of the temperature between night and day is amazingly high actually. I had not realized that till Maasai Mara camp nights. During the nights the temperature goes at this time of the year near zero.
When we arrived at the park, there were less matatus...yeiii! It felt now more like a safari drive. Being still rather new to the game drive and the Kenyan animals...we still took quite a load of photos of the zebras, buffaloes, wildebeest, antelopes, gazelles, elephants, giraffes etc.
The wildebeest had migrated from Tanzania, Serengeti, back to Kenya to Maasai Mara. Their migration moves take place 4 times a year. Most of those are in the area of Serengeti.
We were taught that wildebeest itself is rather simple animal and believe me, that is how they look. Their coloring and shape of head gave me the feeling that they were thinking "duhhhh" all the time ;o)
So, though the wildebeest make the migration event so massive...about 2,5 million of them , they are not the ones triggering it. Wildebeest and zebras are "hanging out" together. Zebras are the ones triggering the moves, wildebeest just follow....in masses.
The migration is of course delicacy time for crocodiles, lions and hyenas.
We went later on during the day to the Tanzanian side of the park and saw some dead wildebeest or remaining parts of them in the river or river banks. The crocodiles on the riverbank looked even still quite well fed.
The drive during that day was great...we covered a big area and saw a lot. From 7 am till 4 pm we drove around the park. After coming back we continued straight to visit the Maasai village, where the camp night guards were living. They performed us some of the dances, the traditional Maasai jumps. The son of the chief, who has been selected to be the next chief showed us around the village and told more about them and their life.
After the visit we were definitely ready for shower and dinner. Driving the full day around the park made sure that we were all covered with dust.
After dinner time to sit by the camp fire and relax. We were talking, dancing and having a good laugh. At times it was nice just to lay on the grass and stair at the stars.
Sunday
Another early morning...I think I have forgotten already how it feels like to sleep in ;o)
We left by 6.30 and got to the park the minute it opened. The whole park felt like it was still sleeping and it was chilly as well. Sun wasn't up yet...but it was starting to peek behind the hills. We drove around and saw the familiar animals...some about to start their day, some about to find a good resting place for the day. The amount of pictures taken had decreased tremendously since yesterdays game drive.
Our guides knew the park very well...and we got lucky, we saw a lion herd with 7 lionesses and 2 lions. It was amazing! One of the lions was grey haired, very senior and one was younger one. When we showed the photos to the Maasais, they said that those seemed huge from size compared to the common size of the lions in the area.
The moves of the lions were definitely giving out their grace. It did not take more than to watch them move to understand the power they have.
They had just finished eating their prey and were walking to find a resting place for the day. We followed them for a while, until they found a place to sleep. On the way, they came across a herd of bulls (with lot of young bulls in the group). The old bulls made a barrier as soon as they noticed the lions, started running and chased them away.
After that weekend I can gladly say, BIG FIVE is definitely seen and captured in photos.
Good way to close the last weekend in Kenya. After the morning game drive time for breakfast, pack and have a long jumpy ride back to Nakuru.
The final week ahead and the last push to get the final report done and present our findings.
Maasai
Maasais are probably the best known of the Kenyan tribes. They have the reputation of fearless warriors, who do not fear lion, nor white people with their guns. Maasais were pretty much the only tribe in Kenya, who did not end up as slaves.
Their daily rhythm of life still today follows the same pattern like centuries ago...herding the cattle to areas, where there is grass and securing the water for the daily consumption.
Maasai are clearly different from the average Kenyan profile; thin and tall. They walk in the nature, up the hills...with grace and zero drop of sweat.
Their cattle has such a high importance in their life...the young cows get to sleep inside the clay huts. Also when getting married, the traditional marriage arrangement is that future husband needs to pay certain amount of cows to the family of the girl, who has been agreed to marry the Maasai male.
Instead of asking how the other Maasai is, the more common greeting is: Is your cattle well? Bit like in Singapore one asks: have you eaten yet?, instead of asking "how are you?". Greeting shows in different countries what is the driving value of that culture.
The modern variation is to the marriage deal, in case the young Maasais male does not have cows, he will trade his sister. The village and family, where he or his parents find the wife candidate, will get his sister as wife to one of the son's of the family in exchange.
Maasais are incredibly tightly bond with the nature as well. They have an old belief, which explains little bit the bond to cattle and nature; God of the sky, Enkai, was once one with the earth. The day that earth and sky was separated, Enkai was forced to send all the world's cattle into safekeeping of the Maasai.
The western explorers came to learn the fearlessness of the Maasai and their fighting skills very early. Henry Stanley wrote; "take a thousand men with you, or write your will".
Maasais live mainly from milk and to certain extent from meat.If times get tough its milk and cow blood mixed. That mix is drank even when its 5 days old. I learned from my brother, who to my surprise knows quite a bit about the Maasais, the Maasai warriors don't eat during the day. While running their belief is to eat the wind.
The village where we visited had about 120 people, the adult men of the village had all the same grand-father. Wives are searched from far away villages. The neighboring villages are often related to each other.
The son of the chief showed around and we got to visit the clay huts.
The current chief has 6 wives and from his sons he has selected the one, whom he believes to be the best one to lead people after him. If I recall correctly, the chief's son had roughly 24 siblings. He had 2 watches, one in each arm. They were presents from western friends. He also used a mobile phone. We saw a kiosk not far, which sold services to charge the mobile phones. Must be a hit in that area, since hardly anyone has electricity there.
In the Maasai culture women work hard; they build the clay huts, care for children, go every day and collect the wood from the hills. Help to herd the cattle, cook, etc. To me looked like women had most of the tasks to do. They also do necklaces and other items, which can be sold to tourists or sent for selling in the shops.
Young Maasai men "go to bush", this is a time when the according to old traditions would leave their village for 5 years and stay in the nature, alone. They would get a wiser, senior Maasai to accompany for teaching about herbal medicine, about animals, nature. But the main purpose is for them mentally grow to become a warrior. You can recognize the younger Maasai men from their long hair. After returning from the bush, and after having killed a lion, their hair is shaved and they keep a short hair / bold from there onwards. The Maasai cannot return from the bush till he has killed a lion and showed his warrior skills / strength.
The Maasai are amazingly unaware of the modern life. Had nice discussions with our night guards and they asked if I also live in a clay hut and how many cows do I have. For them the idea to have a wooden house, fully equipped with electricity was a weird concept.
When we talked, I felt like there would be the past I don't know and the future they are not aware of talking to each other. It was mind opening to realize that year 2011 means to some people exactly the same thing, what it was 300 - 500 years ago. By no means do I think I would be more fortunate. At times during our discussions I thought that having some of it back, what used to be, would be rather healthy for the modern world. In Finland one is very tightly one with the nature but that is not a common thing to each country. Also the concept of time, would not hurt if the it wasn't a constant race but one would have the day...and at times, there would be time to sit down, and do nothing for a while. Pole pole (slow) like one keeps saying in Swahili a lot. At least I have been hearing the expression from day 1 repeatedly. Pole pole ;o)
That is the feeling what I carried from Maasai Mara for many days. The trip was awesome, simply said.
Friday
If I thought the ride to St.Anthony's small home was bumpy...I knew nothing. On Friday we started the journey from Nakuru to Maasai Mara. The drive takes about 5 hours, out of which 2,5 h are 100% bumpy ride. When I say bumpy, I mean that I could feel my intestines tickling my throath during the jumps ;o)
But as I have the skill to sleep where ever, no matter what the circumstances are (my brother keeps saying that he would want to have the sleeping skills I have)..
I was worn out from the work week and felt sleepy. I slept most of the bumpy ride part and felt nice and fresh after that. Sometimes I woke up, being in the middle of the jump. Put my hand back to the handlebar and fell right back asleep.
Sugandha had negotiated a really great deal for us, I have learnt from her great negotiation skills during this trip.This is the best place to practise those skills, as everywhere the price or conditions are negotiable. Sugi's negotiation school ;o)
We stayed in a camp, our huts were partially like a big tent, but inside two proper beds. Bathroom & toilet was solid and over the tent there was a metal roof. Really nice set-up actually.
After the arrival to the camp, we unloaded the bags and jumped back to the car to get more bumpy rides...first game ride was about to start in the Maasai Mara national reserve.
We took photo of each zebra passing by, pretty much every single animal was captured to a photo...the over eagerness of first timers as the locals would say.
The park as such is beautiful and there are plenty of variety of animals.
What bothered me was the amount of safari matatus driving around in queue. It made the first evening's game drive experience feel little like in zoo, but this time the animals were staring at us. Thinking those poor people, who are stuck in those matatus. My team colleagues, who were in the same matatu as I was were laughing during the days, as I was mimicking what the animals would say if they only spoke the same language as us.
The only positive thing about the safari cars is that you can pull the roof up and have nice possibility to take photos. Back to the nature....it is beautiful. Huge area of untouched land, animals walking around knowing that this is their home.
After some hours of game drive and taking photos of every single animal ;o) we drove back to the camp for dinner. The food was really good and it was great to get something else than the hotel dinner buffet. After dinner we sat down on the grass, and enjoyed the evening. In the camp we had 3-4 Maasai warriors guarding from sun set till sun rise. This was the animals home, and the park is not fenced all around. Elephants, leopards and other animals pay their visit at times around the Maasai villages and camp villages. The Maasai warriors sat by the camp fire in the evening.
After having talked and sang enough within our circle...we moved closer to sit by the fire and got to know the Maasai warriors better. I was totally taken by what I learned during our discussions (read more about the Maasai's in its own section below).
At 10 pm the generator was turned off, which meant electrisity disappeared. So, time to go to sleep....we needed the rest for the next day.
During the night I was 100% confident that we were safe from the hyenas and other animals, which were holding up a choir in the night. Namely I had to use the bathroom in the night, and as soon as I had set a toe outside my bed and got up...there were on that same instance 2 flash lights wiping our tent and its back like a lazer beam.
Saturday
At 5.30 am wake up call...cold cement floor greeting me, once I found my way out from the blue mosquito net. The day had started and despite only some hours sleep, thanks to the hyenas and their choir practice in the night...I was ready to get out there.
The air was fresh and crisp still...but that would change soon. The difference of the temperature between night and day is amazingly high actually. I had not realized that till Maasai Mara camp nights. During the nights the temperature goes at this time of the year near zero.
When we arrived at the park, there were less matatus...yeiii! It felt now more like a safari drive. Being still rather new to the game drive and the Kenyan animals...we still took quite a load of photos of the zebras, buffaloes, wildebeest, antelopes, gazelles, elephants, giraffes etc.
The wildebeest had migrated from Tanzania, Serengeti, back to Kenya to Maasai Mara. Their migration moves take place 4 times a year. Most of those are in the area of Serengeti.
We were taught that wildebeest itself is rather simple animal and believe me, that is how they look. Their coloring and shape of head gave me the feeling that they were thinking "duhhhh" all the time ;o)
So, though the wildebeest make the migration event so massive...about 2,5 million of them , they are not the ones triggering it. Wildebeest and zebras are "hanging out" together. Zebras are the ones triggering the moves, wildebeest just follow....in masses.
The migration is of course delicacy time for crocodiles, lions and hyenas.
We went later on during the day to the Tanzanian side of the park and saw some dead wildebeest or remaining parts of them in the river or river banks. The crocodiles on the riverbank looked even still quite well fed.
The drive during that day was great...we covered a big area and saw a lot. From 7 am till 4 pm we drove around the park. After coming back we continued straight to visit the Maasai village, where the camp night guards were living. They performed us some of the dances, the traditional Maasai jumps. The son of the chief, who has been selected to be the next chief showed us around the village and told more about them and their life.
After the visit we were definitely ready for shower and dinner. Driving the full day around the park made sure that we were all covered with dust.
After dinner time to sit by the camp fire and relax. We were talking, dancing and having a good laugh. At times it was nice just to lay on the grass and stair at the stars.
Sunday
Another early morning...I think I have forgotten already how it feels like to sleep in ;o)
We left by 6.30 and got to the park the minute it opened. The whole park felt like it was still sleeping and it was chilly as well. Sun wasn't up yet...but it was starting to peek behind the hills. We drove around and saw the familiar animals...some about to start their day, some about to find a good resting place for the day. The amount of pictures taken had decreased tremendously since yesterdays game drive.
Our guides knew the park very well...and we got lucky, we saw a lion herd with 7 lionesses and 2 lions. It was amazing! One of the lions was grey haired, very senior and one was younger one. When we showed the photos to the Maasais, they said that those seemed huge from size compared to the common size of the lions in the area.
The moves of the lions were definitely giving out their grace. It did not take more than to watch them move to understand the power they have.
They had just finished eating their prey and were walking to find a resting place for the day. We followed them for a while, until they found a place to sleep. On the way, they came across a herd of bulls (with lot of young bulls in the group). The old bulls made a barrier as soon as they noticed the lions, started running and chased them away.
After that weekend I can gladly say, BIG FIVE is definitely seen and captured in photos.
Good way to close the last weekend in Kenya. After the morning game drive time for breakfast, pack and have a long jumpy ride back to Nakuru.
The final week ahead and the last push to get the final report done and present our findings.
Maasai
Maasais are probably the best known of the Kenyan tribes. They have the reputation of fearless warriors, who do not fear lion, nor white people with their guns. Maasais were pretty much the only tribe in Kenya, who did not end up as slaves.
Their daily rhythm of life still today follows the same pattern like centuries ago...herding the cattle to areas, where there is grass and securing the water for the daily consumption.
Maasai are clearly different from the average Kenyan profile; thin and tall. They walk in the nature, up the hills...with grace and zero drop of sweat.
Their cattle has such a high importance in their life...the young cows get to sleep inside the clay huts. Also when getting married, the traditional marriage arrangement is that future husband needs to pay certain amount of cows to the family of the girl, who has been agreed to marry the Maasai male.
Instead of asking how the other Maasai is, the more common greeting is: Is your cattle well? Bit like in Singapore one asks: have you eaten yet?, instead of asking "how are you?". Greeting shows in different countries what is the driving value of that culture.
The modern variation is to the marriage deal, in case the young Maasais male does not have cows, he will trade his sister. The village and family, where he or his parents find the wife candidate, will get his sister as wife to one of the son's of the family in exchange.
Maasais are incredibly tightly bond with the nature as well. They have an old belief, which explains little bit the bond to cattle and nature; God of the sky, Enkai, was once one with the earth. The day that earth and sky was separated, Enkai was forced to send all the world's cattle into safekeeping of the Maasai.
The western explorers came to learn the fearlessness of the Maasai and their fighting skills very early. Henry Stanley wrote; "take a thousand men with you, or write your will".
Maasais live mainly from milk and to certain extent from meat.If times get tough its milk and cow blood mixed. That mix is drank even when its 5 days old. I learned from my brother, who to my surprise knows quite a bit about the Maasais, the Maasai warriors don't eat during the day. While running their belief is to eat the wind.
The village where we visited had about 120 people, the adult men of the village had all the same grand-father. Wives are searched from far away villages. The neighboring villages are often related to each other.
The son of the chief showed around and we got to visit the clay huts.
The current chief has 6 wives and from his sons he has selected the one, whom he believes to be the best one to lead people after him. If I recall correctly, the chief's son had roughly 24 siblings. He had 2 watches, one in each arm. They were presents from western friends. He also used a mobile phone. We saw a kiosk not far, which sold services to charge the mobile phones. Must be a hit in that area, since hardly anyone has electricity there.
In the Maasai culture women work hard; they build the clay huts, care for children, go every day and collect the wood from the hills. Help to herd the cattle, cook, etc. To me looked like women had most of the tasks to do. They also do necklaces and other items, which can be sold to tourists or sent for selling in the shops.
Young Maasai men "go to bush", this is a time when the according to old traditions would leave their village for 5 years and stay in the nature, alone. They would get a wiser, senior Maasai to accompany for teaching about herbal medicine, about animals, nature. But the main purpose is for them mentally grow to become a warrior. You can recognize the younger Maasai men from their long hair. After returning from the bush, and after having killed a lion, their hair is shaved and they keep a short hair / bold from there onwards. The Maasai cannot return from the bush till he has killed a lion and showed his warrior skills / strength.
The Maasai are amazingly unaware of the modern life. Had nice discussions with our night guards and they asked if I also live in a clay hut and how many cows do I have. For them the idea to have a wooden house, fully equipped with electricity was a weird concept.
When we talked, I felt like there would be the past I don't know and the future they are not aware of talking to each other. It was mind opening to realize that year 2011 means to some people exactly the same thing, what it was 300 - 500 years ago. By no means do I think I would be more fortunate. At times during our discussions I thought that having some of it back, what used to be, would be rather healthy for the modern world. In Finland one is very tightly one with the nature but that is not a common thing to each country. Also the concept of time, would not hurt if the it wasn't a constant race but one would have the day...and at times, there would be time to sit down, and do nothing for a while. Pole pole (slow) like one keeps saying in Swahili a lot. At least I have been hearing the expression from day 1 repeatedly. Pole pole ;o)
July 21, 2011
Serious work & Midterm review
Despite the feeling, what all the excursions and community days might give...we have come here to do pro bono work. That means in IBM terms; to deliver. This week is short but demanding, mid term review is ahead. The final report needs to get all the input we have received from the various interviews conducted with the Kenyan citizen with various background. Also the final report presentation prepared.
Thursday we presented our midterm report to the stakeholders. Luckily we managed to agree to present to one of the stakeholders via phone instead of traveling to Nairobi. Not that I like presenting via phone so much, but traveling from Nakuru to Nairobi is always a full day trip...which means one day worth of good work lost. We went to present in person to the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) in Nakuru. Presenting happened by us sharing the computer screen with their representatives. They don't have a beamer or flip chart in their offices. It was a good session. We got confirmation that we were totally on the right track. Big part of our report, findings and recommendation, is away from the mainstream and more to the change management direction. It was great to get confirmation for that.
Later on, on the phone, we presented the mid term review to ICT board stakeholder. He also confirmed that we are on the right track.
Tuesday through Thursday lot got done and midterm report got support from client. We are spot on the track, wuhhhuuuu!
When working hard, one needs to ensure proper nutrition....
Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~Voltaire
On top of that our Italian colleague, Luigi, who loves good food and wine...took over the hotel kitchen again and cooked us some pasta. It was absolutely delicious. He taught at the same the local chef how to cook pasta in the proper Italian way. Thanks to Luigi, Sugandha who is vegetarian...has gotten at least few times excellent food here. Kenya and vegetarian eating are bit like an oxymoron.
Now a weekend break in Maasai Mara and then the final push.
Thursday we presented our midterm report to the stakeholders. Luckily we managed to agree to present to one of the stakeholders via phone instead of traveling to Nairobi. Not that I like presenting via phone so much, but traveling from Nakuru to Nairobi is always a full day trip...which means one day worth of good work lost. We went to present in person to the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) in Nakuru. Presenting happened by us sharing the computer screen with their representatives. They don't have a beamer or flip chart in their offices. It was a good session. We got confirmation that we were totally on the right track. Big part of our report, findings and recommendation, is away from the mainstream and more to the change management direction. It was great to get confirmation for that.
Later on, on the phone, we presented the mid term review to ICT board stakeholder. He also confirmed that we are on the right track.
Tuesday through Thursday lot got done and midterm report got support from client. We are spot on the track, wuhhhuuuu!
When working hard, one needs to ensure proper nutrition....
Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~Voltaire
On top of that our Italian colleague, Luigi, who loves good food and wine...took over the hotel kitchen again and cooked us some pasta. It was absolutely delicious. He taught at the same the local chef how to cook pasta in the proper Italian way. Thanks to Luigi, Sugandha who is vegetarian...has gotten at least few times excellent food here. Kenya and vegetarian eating are bit like an oxymoron.
Now a weekend break in Maasai Mara and then the final push.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)