First Come First Served Not the same in every country!

When we first came to Kenya in 2009, I was extremely surprised to see many people who will arrive after you at the post office, cyber, food store except at some of the major stores, banks and few other places, and push through to stand in front of you. I don't remember this kind of behavior in Namibia (if it's the same, I can't remember because I have not been home for almost a decade). There are many things I can't remember about Namibia. Surprisingly I have vivid memories of my childhood; thus I remember this kind of behavior while I was in the refugee camp. We usually push over someone because the food or the free clothes we were given could be finished. On the other hand, I remember in the US were I spent almost a decade no matter how much in a hurry a person is, it will be perceived extremely rude to come in and expect to push over someone. Unless you have too young children, and the people themselves volunteered to give you their space, or any out of the ordinary situation. Anyway in Kenya or let me say in Nairobi I have seen this behavior every time I went out. To make it worse the person on the other side helping you, don't even take the time to say, "No, first come first served." One day I was in one of the major grocery store; "Uchumi" We were at the vegetable area when a Caucasian lady arrived at the area to measure the vegetables. She stood there waiting for the gentleman to return to help her. After 2 minutes, the gentleman returned, and at the same time an Indian lady came from nowhere, and she handed her bags to the gentlemen. I was walking toward there, thus I was able to experience everything. The Caucasian woman stood up for herself, in an angry voice she said to the Indian lady, "What are you doing." I was so happy. The Indian lady was caught off guard, breathing loud she said, "I'm sorry." I followed the Caucasian woman and told her, "thank you for letting her know what she was doing was not polite." She smiled and then we end up having a small talk. Here is one of my own experience. Every time I went to our nearby neighborhood little store people came by foot or car, while you are busy purchasing, they start talking to the shop keeper about what they want to buy. The shop keeper would stop serving you, and starts serving the new person like it's the normal thing to do. I used to be upset, but never said anything except on few occasions, and everyone would look at me like I was from another planet. Last week while I was about to give the money to the neighborhood shopkeeper, a lady parked her car about 7 feet away and then she shouted, 'Mkate, mkate" which means bread, bread in Swahili. I understood what she meant, but I didn't say anything. I went ahead and started telling the shopkeeper what I wanted. "Milk, eggs." While I was in the middle of telling him what I wanted, this same lady left her car, and she came pushing through. She gave the shopkeeper some money, and said, "two bread." The shopkeeper stopped helping me, took her money, and gave her everything she wanted. While she was there waiting for her goods, she looked at me, and said with a smile, "I hope I didn't step on your foot." I almost said, "no its ok, but I decided to be sarcastic in a nice way. I said, "you know what, I used to be very upset when I first moved to Kenya, but now I'm used to this kind of behavior here in Kenya." She smiled and said. I'm sorry, I was in a hurry. Surprisingly, the following day we met early in the morning around 8am. She greeted me with a big smile, I greeted her back with a big smile, but I was not sure if it was her. Today I went in a shop, and it happened that she works there. She called me, and she started explaining to me why she did what she did, and she assured me that she had her 8 year old in the car that's why she was in a hurry. Anyway she repeated the situation in a funny way making me laugh so hard, and she ends up wrapping my son's school gift for free. But to be honest I'm not really used to this, and don't know if I would ever get used to it. Something to remember. Everyone is also in a hurry, thus let's just wait for the first person to be helped.

Helping Your Child Learn in Two Languages

By Illinois Early Learning Project

Many families new to the United States face an important choice. Should their children focus on learning only English? Or should the children also be fluent in their home language? Children who know more than one language often benefit in school and later in life. Also, many parents and grandparents find that talking to older children about important life matters is easier if the children retain their home language skills. Here are some ways that parents have helped young children keep their home language while learning English in school.

Be aware of skills and habits of mind that are important in any language.

• Keep in mind that your preschooler can build good speaking and listening skills and habits when he listens and talks to people who are fluent in any language. In school, he will learn from teachers and peers who know English well. At home, you are the language expert!
• Talk with your child in your home language every day so she sees you using words and gestures with ease. Express feelings and complex ideas. Tell jokes and funny stories. Let your child see you reading, making lists, and writing notes so she learns how people communicate through print.
• Help your preschooler count, estimate, compare, measure, and solve problems in your home language so he understands that math concepts are the same in any language.
• Nurture your child's curiosity about the world around her. Use your home language to help her ask questions, describe things she observes, and make predictions. Being able to do those things will help her in school.

Make your home language the foundation for literacy.

• Help your preschooler learn the alphabet and read signs in your home language. That way, he can begin to understand that letters and symbols have meaning.
• Tell stories or read aloud to your child in your home language. Record yourself reading aloud, so your child can listen independently.
• Teach your child songs and musical games in your home language.
• Make books with your child. Your child can dictate stories to you. You might also create fantasy tales or books of true-life family stories.

To learn more click on this link: Helping Your Child Learn in Two Languages

Halloween 2010

My friend Joanna, and I organized a Halloween party for our kids and their friends. Since Joanna's place has a bigger space then our house we decided to have it at her house, plus her room mates gave us a big hand. They played games. At a lot of yummy snacks, and screamed a lot. It was fun, fun, fun. The game that had them talking was the mummy game were we divided the kids in two teams. Object of the Game: The first team to wrap their mummy wins! What you need: Toilet Papers. The kids also went trick or treat. We gave the neighbors the candies, and explained to them what to do. More pictures are coming soon.

Read a book give a book , "I Knew You Could"

I Knew You Could!

By Craig Dorfman Is a remarkable book.

From "I think I can" to "I knew I could," The Little Engine That Could helps kids of all ages realize that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it!

My kids and I read it together for free, and we love it. You too can find awesome books to read with your children for free. Every time you read a book, a book is donated to the needy children. Join our group African Languages, read a book, and make a difference.

Storymoja Hay Festival updates

The Storymoja festival is a life time experience. I met business owners, writers, cartoonist, illustrators, economist, film makers and the list goes on. Tomorrow I'm looking forward to meeting the Tinga Tinga team. The Tinga Tinga is a creative and wonderful film for children inspired by the African Tales. Its a blessing to be around people doing work that one loves.

Storymoja Hay Festival 2010

The Storymoja Hay Festival is hear again!

Come and support Yambeka Children Media at the Hay Festival! Our books will be available. This is a fun festival for parents and children. Aunts, uncles, brothers, mothers, grandparents, sisters, mothers, cousins all welcome!!!!!

Storymoja

The British Council will facilitate the attendance of 2,000 children from across Kenya to attend the Festival free of charge.

• 20% of all tickets will be made available free to students to attend the events at the Festival.

• A reading marathon will be launched at the Festival.

• Education links will be developed with Room to Read, KOEE, Book Aid International and Oxfam.

• A series of workshops will be made available to students for masterclasses with leading writers, storytellers, journalists and performers. There will also be further post-festival mentoring and manuscript development workshops.

• In 2009 the first internship from Kenya to Hay was initiated with a three-month placement for an existing Storymoja employee to join the Hay Festival team. The second employee participated in the placement in 2010, and the 15-year-old winner of the storytelling competition also attended the 2010 Hay Festival.

• Storytelling Competition winners from 40 schools/universities will work with leading mentors to hone their performances. The 2010 competition is sponsored by the US Embassy.

• The 2010 Storymoja Hay Festival poetry competition winners will be announced, and will have a chance to showcase their work at the Festival.

• The 2010 Storymoja/Generation Kenya photo stories project will exhibit and showcase winning entries at the Festival.

• A careers workshop based on the Storymoja Careers Encyclopaedia (in development) will be offered as a key event for high school students.

• Marine awareness and the need for conservation will be taught through a daily ‘under sea’ party, featuring skits from Matatu from Watamu, sing-alongs, etc. The set will be created by children themselves through facilitated art and craft activities.

• Parenting talks will be delivered by child psychologists and education experts, covering topics such as getting help for your children with learning difficulties, or supporting gifted children.

To learn more visit: Storymoja

Two years old Diddy singing Okadhila