Ups And Downs

09/05/05

Ups and downs, highs and lows. I had my best day shooting today, and I'm still excited by Elizabeth's ideas last night, but I rolled my ankle playing ball with Blue and Kaleb. I don't think it's broken, but I can't walk.

After breakfast I walked with Robert up to Mzee Elisha Onduro's huts. He, his wife, his schizophrenic daughter, and the dozen or so orphans left by his deceased children were waiting for us. They talked about their situation (Mzee in English and the rest in Luo.) Then the kids spent the next two hours preparing lunch for themselves. This entailed chopping/collecting firewood, fetching water, picking veggies, starting the fire, doing the cooking (playing some games while the veggies stewed) and finally eating their meal of ugali, veggies, and water. I filmed the whole process. The kids were cool about the camera (and Adrian is one of Mzee's and that kid loves it.) The kids talked a little about the future, about what they wanted to do, what they would study if they could afford secondary school. They cleaned the dishes and prepared a table of the same food in another hut. Mzee offered lunch, and I tried to pass, but he insisted and in we went. I asked the Mzee questions about his life, he was born in 29, lived in Kanga the whole of it, and on the same bit of land for the last 50 years. The tarmac road was put in during the 70s. He invited me to be his guest anytime, and I think I'll take him up on the offer. In my mind I'm thinking of a weeklong stay (sunrise to sunset) filming the kids in action. I think it was just the most compelling thing I've seen. It really illustrates the tragedy that this community has faced, and also how they're coping.

After we said goodbye, we pushed on to another home. Here were 3 orphans, aged 15 13 and 10, who are taken care of by / take care of their ancient granny. The oldest sits for his primary exams this year, after which he will be unable to continue schooling without sponsorship. As we talked outside their hut (in perfect open shade, white balanced and properly exposed) a light rain began to fall. I got out a trash bag and put it over the camera and we kept going. It is definitely the most beautiful footage I've got. I hope when the words are translated they are as good as the image. They invited me inside the home, which is a teeny hut divided into a sleeping room and a sitting room (for the four of them, I assume they cook outside.) The lighting was amazing, so we did a bit more interviewing and then I moved on to stills. First granny, then the whole fam, and then each of the kids. I think they are some of the best pictures I've ever taken, even if they are very solemn in tone. They also invited me back anytime. I also may take them up on that offer. We said goodbye.

We made our way back down to Kanga Primary, where we were to meet with the headmistress to discuss using the school as a site for out poultry farming project (its central, secure, and most of the orphans we want to involve in the project go to school there.) She is Jane, and very sweet, and agreed to our proposal, and is helping us get some blueprints for a coop and budgets and advice. Eventually I think Robert and Edward and Kaleb and I will be building a coop for 50 birds. Jane also told me about the tribal conflicts (between the Luo and Kisii) in 2003 that resulted in the beheading of a local boy by a mob of Kisii men. He was buried without. I don't even know what to think about that. Although I flash back to the picture awarded top prize for 2004 photojournalism, the shot was of police standing around a head sitting on tarmac. No body in sight, lots of blood. The look on the face… I guess these things happen. Jane agreed to an interview Thurs morning, and we were off.

Got back to my simba and was reviewing pictures and suddenly Kaleb was at the door holding a basketball. I grabbed my football, and he, Blue (who had been drinking gin) and I were off to the secondary school. I only had an hour and a half before I needed to be back to interview Elizabeth, but I figured that was plenty of time to get sweaty. Blue and I were playing one-on-one basketball (I was winning only because of the gin I think) and I rolled my ankle and heard a terrible crack. I fell. But it didn't seem too bad. I stretched it out a bit and got back into the game. Then we joined the football field. First we were just shooting, but then we got a little scrimmage together. My team wasn't very good, no cohesion, their team scored two goals quickly. I decided to stay back and defend, and was doing well, but our offense wasn't doing much. Finally I charged and scored. It felt good. I played a little longer and then had to go. I left the ball and told Blue to get it home safe. Walking home a young man ran up and started asking questions about HIV/AIDS, which was cool. I bought some water at Kanga Grocery (which is a tin shed – you don't go inside, its not big enough for two people, you just order through a screen in the front and they bring you your goods…

I got back, rehydrated, reviewed pics, and then got Elizabeth for an interview. She's a really cool lady. I love talking to her and hearing her ideas, she's very inspiring. Later Robert and Edward came by and we looked over some PEPFAR grant apps with dinner and talked a bunch of the finer points over. By this time, my foot was really starting to throb. Robert and Edward got going, and Elizabeth helped me massage it with hot water and put vics on it. But now it's getting bad. I'm really hoping that it feels better tomorrow.

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