Friday, January 28, 2011

This Week in Kenya

We at World of Difference love to stay apprised of Kenyan current events. Here are some of the headlines that caught our attention this week.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Recipe: Kashata


Something between candy and cookie, Eastern Africa's Kashata are a popular snack of Swahili origin. Kashata are usually made with peanuts or grated coconut, or both. Kashata are made on the stove or over a fire, not in an oven like European biscuits or American cookies. Make Kashata for yourself with this recipe:
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups fresh or moist grated coconut (or two cups of dried grated coconut moistened with a few tablespoons of milk or water)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or cardamom
  • a pinch of salt
  • one-half cup wheat flour (optional)
In a hot skillet, heat the sugar until it melts and just begins to brown. Reduce heat and quickly add all other ingredients, stirring well as each ingredient is added. When all ingredients have been added to the mixture, continue stirring for about a minute, making sure everything is well mixed. Place in the freezer to cool.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Meeting People, Part 2: Greetings & Goodbyes

Greetings & Goodbyes

Kusalimiana na kuaga


You can never spend too long exchanging greetings in East Africa. They vary depending on whether you’re speaking to one person or several, or to an older or younger person. People often spend a few minutes with hands clasped, catching up on all the latest news.

You may notice many gestures that accompany greetings – respectful curtsies, grasped upper forearms, hand kisses or cool handshakes. Expect to shake hands often in East Africa. If your right hand is full or dirty, offer your wrist instead.

Hi there

The most common greet is habari (lit: news). The variations on this greeting are many. Common ones include salama (lit: safe) instead of habari, which may be dropped from the greeting altogether: (Habari) Za leo? (lit: news of today). You can use salama to greet anybody you pass or to reply to any greeting.

Hello/How are you?

Habari?

Ha-ba-ree

What’s the news?

Habari gani?

Ha-ba-ree ga-nee

How are you all?

Habari zenu?

Ha-ba-ree zay-noo

How’s everyone at home?

Habari za nyumbani?

Ha-ba-ree zaa nyoom-ba-nee

How’s work?

Habari za kazi?

Ha-ba-ree za ka-zee

Good…

Habari za…?

Ha-ba-ree za…

day

leo

lay-oh

morning

asubuhi

a-soo-boo-hee

afternoon

mchana

m-cha-na

evening

jioni

jee-oh-nee

You can reply to almost any habari greeting using nzuri, salama, or safi (fine). If things are just OK, add tu (only) after any of these replies. Even if things are really bad, most people will reply to greetings with nzuri ro (lit: only fine), rather than mbaya (bad). If things are really good, you can add sana (very), or kabisa (totally) instead of tu.




What’s your name?

Jina lako nani?

Jee-na la-koh na-nee

My name is…

Jina langu ni…

Jee-na lan-goo nee…

I’d like to introduce you to…

Huyu ni…

Hoo-yoo nee…

This is my…

Huyu ni…

Hoo-yoo nee…

child

mtoto wangu

m-toh-toh wan-goo

colleague

mwenzi wangu

mwayn-zee wan-goo

friend

rafiki yangu

ra-fee-kee yan-goo

husband

mume wangu

moo-may wan-goo

partner (intimate)

mpenzi wangu

m-payn-zee wan-goo

wife

mke wangu

m-kay wan-goo

I’m pleased to meet you

Nafurahi kukufahamu

Na-foo-ra-hee koo-koo-fa-ha-moo

See you later

Baadaye

Ba-a-da-yay

Goodbye

Tutaonana

Too-ta-oh-na-na

Bye

Kwa heri

Kwa hay-ree

Good night

Usiku mwema

oo-see-koo mway-ma

Bon voyage!

Safari njema!

Sa-fa-ree n-jay-ma

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Pic of the Week

It's a goat. On a roof. Naturally.

Monday, January 24, 2011

2011 Expeditions: Reminder

As a reminder, World of Difference is now planning their 2011 expeditions and would LOVE for you to join them! I encourage everyone to at least check it out and think about going. It is two weeks of your life you won't regret and will cherish forever!

The deadline for applying is approaching quickly so don't delay! If you are at all interested (and I know you are!), please go to the website (http://www.makeaworldofdifference.org/), and fill out an application for Team A or Team B, whichever dates fits your life best.

If it is the cost of the expedition that has you hesitating, know that a lot of WoD team members raise the money by holding fundraisers within their communities. Fundraising is a great way to let others know about what you are doing and let them get involved in making a difference in other people’s lives through you. We here at the WoD blog will be running a series of posts on different fundraising ideas, methods and tips, so stay tuned!

About a Girl...

This photo was originally a "pic of the week", but her eyes beg for more than a caption, no? Myself? I see defiance. In the very best meaning of the word. The one that says "bring it". What do you see?

I have a habit, let's call it, of meditating on a "day in the life of" certain people who strike a chord in me. Recently, while organizing some of my World of Difference photos and jewelry to write about for this blog and add to the Etsy store, I lingered on both her picture and some Maasai jewelry, which happens to be her tribe. I couldn't help but get pulled behind those eyes.

I imagined myself a young woman of the Maasai people. At night I prepare food for my family, tend after children, and craft jewelry and goods to sell to the tourists. When it comes time to sleep I lay with my brothers and sisters in a ten-foot-square hut with cow dung walls. The morning comes and I spend the day hawking traditional items of my people to those who visit the Mara, pleading for them to buy something, knowing my people need this money to survive. One day soon I will marry to become one of several wives of my husband, and I will bear children who will follow in the footsteps of my ancestors and in my own.

But...what if...?

What if, as I see behind those defiant eyes, there is a passion burning and churning and rumbling inside of her. Something she doesn't quite understand but which consumes her every thought. To do something, to be something...different. To learn to heal and become a doctor. To master law and represent her people. To nurture the minds of the young and teach. To do anything she can think of and some things she doesn't yet know exists.

What if...?

It all starts with an education. School will ignite that flame inside of her and the more she learns the more that fire will grow.

Imagine the possibilities.

Imagine HER possibilities.


***
Photo credits:Thanks to Chelsea for taking the picture and to Scott for making it even prettier!

Friday, January 21, 2011

This Week in Kenya

We at World of Difference love to stay apprised of Kenyan current events. Here are some of the headlines that caught our attention this week.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Recipe: Mandazi


Mandazi are East African donuts. You can find these delicious donuts in large urban areas and also among the Swahili people of East Africa. Most small restaurants serve mandazi. You can also find mandazi being sold by street vendors. Usually mandazi are eaten with tea (chai) or coffee. Serve them warm for breakfast or for snack. Make mandazi for yourself with this recipe:
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
  • 2 cups white flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
Bring all ingredients to room temperature before mixing them together. Mix all the ingredients together, adding more flour if necessary. The dough should be soft, but not sticky. Roll the dough on a lightly floured board until it is about 1/4 inch think. Cut into triangles and fry in hot oil. Fry until both sides are golden brown. Remove mandazi from oil and drain on paper towels or newspaper. Mandazi are best served warm.

Get a little fancy with it! Spruce up your mandazi with these ideas:

* Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the hot mandazi.
* Put some white sugar into a bag, add a couple mandazi, and shake the bag to cover with sugar.
* Add about a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, ginger, all-spice, or cardamom to the dough or a combination of these spices to total a 1/2 teaspoon.
* Use a circular donut cutter to make mandazi in the shape of traditional donuts.
* Substitute pineapple, orange, or lemon juice for the milk.
* Add some shredded coconut to the dough.
* Add ground peanuts or ground almonds to the dough.
* You may substitute 1 teaspoon dry yeast for the 2 teaspoons baking powder. You will want to allow the mandazi to rise before cutting shapes and frying.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Meeting People, Part 1: The Basics

Basics

Miningi


Yes

Ndiyo

n-dee-yoh

No

Hapana

Ha-pa-na

Please

Tafadhali

Ta-fa-dha-lee

Thank you

(very much)

Asante

(sana)

a-san-tay

(sa-na)

Thank you all

(very much)

Asanteni

(sana)

a-san-tay-nee

(sa-na)

You’re welcome

Karibu

Ka-ree-boo

You’re all welcome

Karibuni

Ka-ree-boo-nee

Excuse me

Samahani

Sa-ma-ha-nee

Forgive me

Nisamele

Nee-sa-may-lay

Sorry

Pole

Poh-lay

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Pic of the Week

Such spunk!

Monday, January 17, 2011

2011 Expeditions

World of Difference is now planning their 2011 expeditions and would LOVE for you to join them! I encourage everyone to at least check it out and think about going. It is two weeks of your life you won't regret and will cherish forever!

The deadline for applying is approaching quickly so don't delay! If you are at all interested (and I know you are!), please go to the website (http://www.makeaworldofdifference.org/), and fill out an application for Team A or Team B, whichever dates fits your life best.

See you in Kenya!