I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think - Socrates

  Last Thursday,  January 26,  I attended my first Window to Kenya class. I actually missed the first evening of real class so I was about a week behind in discussion. Don't worry about me though, I read everything and I think I am caught up.
 Reading, you ask?  Why yes, we have to read in this class.

The first book we are reading is this guide to Kenya from Lonely Planet. It's a pretty standard guide with maps and descriptions inside. Inside this book, I learned that Chogoria has a hair salon called LA Hair Salon. Pretty neat, huh?!

The second book we are reading is Imperial Reckoning. This book is a detailed account of the British conflicts and conquests in Kenya. It's pretty graphic, but it opens ones eyes to the injustice suffered in Kenya. This book has, so far, really opened all of our minds to the reality of what these people have gone through. We discuss this book quite a bit in class.

The third book we are reading is "I Laugh So I Won't Cry." This book is so good. Personal accounts and interviews with Kenya women. Already we have gotten into some heavy discussion about the women and their roles in society.

Last Wednesday we did an activity where we split the group in two and one side was the elder group and the other side was the youth.
We answered questions about women and their place in the family and society as well as whether education was a good thing or not.
Elders think education is a good thing, but that it brings trouble into the communities. Many of the ideas the elders have about modern technology and values are contradicting.

First things first....

Hello readers, whoever you may be, 
My name is Beth Ryan. I am a freshman mass communications major at Jamestown College in Jamestown, North Dakota, and I have exciting news...I am going to Africa.

Well, not just me. A group from this college is making the trip to Chogoria, Kenya in May of 2012. I have been given the job of the journalist for this group. Starting today, December 2nd, I will be telling the story of our trip and bringing everyone out there reading along for the ride.

 I will be posting pictures, writing update, making videos and sharing stories of our Journey to Chogoria. 

After Christmas break, I and my fellow travelers will be starting a night class to help us prepare for the trip. 
That class will teach us a lot about where we are going, what we are doing, what could happen and who we could meet.  
Our guide and main leader is Chris Hoke. Chris has already been to Africa, so he knows his way around the place and makes us all feel a little bit more comfortable about starting this journey. We will also be accompanied by Cindy Ault, a science professor here at Jamestown College. 

On this journey we will grow closer to one another, learn a lot about ourselves and each other, experience other cultures and learn more about the world around us.

Next week, the other girls and I will be meeting to put together a letter to send out. This letter will be sent out to our families and friends as part of our fundraising to pay for the trip.

Hopefully soon I will be able to post a picture of the group and tell you a little more about the people I will be traveling with.


Have a happy weekend!