I had a fellow teacher ask the most interesting question this week. I'm guessing he is in his 40s. I know he has a daughter that is a freshman in St. Moncia's. As is typical of many Kenyan families, he lives apart from his family because of his work. I'm not sure where his family lives, but he lives on the school compound in teacher housing. And I'm not sure how often he is able to see his family. (It is considered rude to ask people about their families and other personal matters.)
The Friends Across Borders trip was in Kitale last week. The sixteen participants visited St. Monica's one afternoon. This group was made up of five married couples and six singles. Their visit began with an assembly. After flag raising introductions began. Of course in our culture when you introduce yourself you tell a little about yourself. It is only natural to say, "This is my husband, John."
So the question asked was, "Why were there so many married people in the group of your visitors? Why do married couples travel together? If I want to travel I don't take my wife with me." I'm sure that question is indicative of traditional marriages. They aren't based on love, mutual satisfaction and support, or the desire to spend time together.
I thought it was interesting that two young women practice teachers (student teachers) who were sitting nearby were nodding their heads when I was trying to describe our marriages based on love and friendship. We want to spend time with our spouses. Yes, we have other interests and spend time away from one another, but depend on our spouses for companionship and actually want to travel and spend time together. I don't think those young women will settle for a marriage based on traditional values!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Friends Across Borders
The Maryknoll Lay Missioners in Kenya have had the pleasure of hosting the sixteen members of the Friends Across Borders trip the past two weeks.
Here is a description of FAB: “Friends Across Borders is Maryknoll Lay Missioner’s mission awareness program. We invite you to deepen and enrich your understanding of mission by joining us on an exciting mission trip. You will have the opportunity to experience what you could never discover in travel brochures, films or books. You will experience what life is really like in communities where MKLM missioners are living out their faith, and working for, and with, the local people.”
These sixteen people arrived in Kenya on June 11th and will be leaving tomorrow, June 23rd. While here they have visited all ten lay missioners in Mombasa and Kitale to learn about our work. They were able to visit most of our workplaces and interact with our co-workers. Along the way they learned Kiswahili words of greeting and thanks. The final three days was spent as tourists going on safari in Maasai Mara.
Here in Kitale they spent time at both of our schools: St. Monica’s and St. Anthony’s. The traditional dancers performed several dances and songs at St. Anthony’s. District competitions were also going on that afternoon in football (soccer), table tennis, lawn tennis, and badminton so they were able to be spectators Kenyan style. My Form II (sophomore) girls took tea with the group during their visit. This enabled both groups to have good quality time to chat and learn more about one another and their worlds.
Since we live in the tropics we always enjoy time outdoors. Our final day with our FAB visitors was spent in our compound having a picnic resting and informally visiting.
We wish each participant of FAB the best as they return home and reflect on their experiences in Kenya. We know from personal experience, they will never be the same people again.
Click here for more pictures of our newest friends.
Here is a description of FAB: “Friends Across Borders is Maryknoll Lay Missioner’s mission awareness program. We invite you to deepen and enrich your understanding of mission by joining us on an exciting mission trip. You will have the opportunity to experience what you could never discover in travel brochures, films or books. You will experience what life is really like in communities where MKLM missioners are living out their faith, and working for, and with, the local people.”
Since we live in the tropics we always enjoy time outdoors. Our final day with our FAB visitors was spent in our compound having a picnic resting and informally visiting.
We wish each participant of FAB the best as they return home and reflect on their experiences in Kenya. We know from personal experience, they will never be the same people again.
Click here for more pictures of our newest friends.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Kakmega Forest
Last weekend we took a day trip with some of our fellow missioners to the Kakamega Forest. It was about a two hour drive from Kitale through some beautiful country. We had views of Mt. Elgon, the Nandi Hills, fields of tea and sugarcane among all of the maize.
Funerals are usually held on Saturdays so people can travel to attend. Funerals are a big event and anyone associated with the family, tribe and village are expected to attend no matter how far they must travel. We saw three funerals on our drive.
Our destination was the Rondo Retreat Centre in the Kakamega Forest run by the Trinity Fellowship. It was a beautiful compound for guests. We arranged for our tour guide there and had a delightful light lunch in their dining hall. The grounds are a paradise in the middle of the forest with beautiful landscaping. John and I plan to go back to spend several days there when we are on holiday from school.
The Kakamega Forest is the only tropical rain forest still existing in Kenya. Once upon a time this forest would have spread from the Atlantic coast of Africa across the continent to the Indian Ocean. Some of the animals that live there don’t exist anywhere else in Africa. There are over 300 bird species, over 500 species of butterflies, 27 types of snakes (John jumped when he heard that), five kinds of monkeys plus many others. Fortunately the snakes aren’t often seen.
We took a short two hour hike with a guide through part of the forest. Since it was about 10:30 when we started most of the animals weren’t visible. We did see several birds, butterflies and ants including the vicious soldier ants. We saw a type of orchid, several mushrooms and several plants that are used for practical or medicinal purposes by the local people: toilet paper, sandpaper, stomach ailments, and diarrhea.
On the way home we stopped for a roadside glimpse of the Crying Rock. It is a huge rock pillar that stands high above the land with a smaller rock on top. When it rains water seeps out from under the top boulder running down the pillar leaving a stain that looks like tears. As we were sitting alongside the road looking at it a small boy about 10 years old came over to the car and wanted to know if we’d like to hear the local stories about the rock. Of course, we said yes. Unfortunately because of the traffic zipping by on the highway we weren't able to clearly hear the stories he was telling us. However, the part that we did understand is that there are caves at the base of the rocks. In these caves local people still perform cleansing ceremonies when someone's actions have harmed others.
We enjoyed the day very much getting to see another part of Kenya.
For more photos of our trip click here.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Kansas to Kenya: A Different Kind of Retirement
While we were on home visit during the month of April we were interviewed by The Leaven, our diocese newspaper. We thought you might like to see what they wrote.
Kansas to Kenya: a different kind of ‘retirement’
By Caitlin Thornbrugh
Special to The Leaven
TONGANOXIE — For most people, retirement is a time to kick back, relax, and putter their way into the “golden years.”
Not John and Cindy Korb of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. For them, “retirement” is an opportunity to take on a lifestyle change that would challenge anyone at any age.
After 32 years of teaching in Tonganoxie, John and Cindy were looking forward to retirement in August 2009. But instead of a traditional retirement plan and “puttering,” they signed a three-and-a-half year contract, sold all their possessions, and travelled more than 8,000 miles to Kitale, Kenya, East Africa, to be Maryknoll Lay Missioners.
Getting Started
The Korbs began searching for Catholic mission options online and, on a summer day in 2008, Cindy discovered the deadline for a Maryknoll Lay Ministers discernment weekend was that day. John was mowing the lawn, and Cindy went out to ask, “How serious are we about this?”
They registered that day.
After being accepted, they began getting rid of most of their possessions, selling their house, and preparing for an early retirement from teaching.
“We sold the house that we’d raised our family in. It was difficult, but we knew this was something we wanted to pursue,” said Cindy.
They originally thought they would be stationed in East Timor in Southeast Asia but, several weeks into orientation, found out this location was being closed due to economic reasons. From their remaining options, the Korbs chose Kenya. As John said, they are continually learning to be flexible and “go with the flow.”
Back to School
At an all-boys school called St. Anthony’s, John teaches math and geography to classes of around 90 students. Cindy teaches English at an all-girls school, St. Monica’s, to classes of around 50 students. The Kenyan school year runs 11 months.
However, beyond teaching, they also are involved in after-school activities. Cindy runs a literature club; John is teaching a catechumenate class.
“I think we have been really careful not to be the ‘know-it-all Americans,’ who come in and tell people how to do things. We’re trying to show by example good teaching practices,” said Cindy.
After over 30 years of teaching in the United States, one of the biggest differences they have noticed is the lack of interaction between teachers and students.
“Here in the States, we are constantly checking for understanding. . . . There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of that there. We call on students. You could tell at first they just weren’t used to that,” said Cindy.
Along with different practices, John and Cindy are the only non-Kenyan, white teachers. The Korbs have found, however, that race is not a large issue.
“You don’t think of skin color. Yeah, we’re a minority, but that doesn’t even enter in my mind. And I don’t think [it enters] the [minds of the] kids anymore,” said John.
The Korbs have become a part of their school communities: They have been to a wake service, a baby shower, and have been invited to a wedding.
With all the differences, they found similarities as well.
“Kids are the same around the world,” said John.
When talking to his students about stressors, they had similar responses to American schoolchildren: getting up early, what they’re having for lunch, and homework.
Marriage and Family
As they are adapting their teaching style, a change in location has also changed their marriage. The Korbs will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in June.
“The culture is just so different, and there are some things we don’t understand yet, so we rely on each other more,” said John.
This change has been a positive one.
“Our marriage has changed, because our lifestyle has changed so drastically. [When] we lived in Tonganoxie, you can go shopping anytime you wanted to, you could go to a movie, you could go to Kansas City, you could go to concerts. Those things just aren’t available [in Kitale], so you spend more quiet time together as a couple,” said Cindy.
The Korbs have two daughters: Andrea Korb, who lives in New York, and Katrina Korb, who lives in Nigeria. Although they sometimes feel bad for being so spread out, the Korbs try to speak with both daughters on a regular basis.
“We’re farther away in distance, but thank heavens for the Internet, Skyping, and e-mail,” said Cindy. “Thanks to modern technology, we’re able to stay in really close contact still.”
Andrea sees her parents as role models.
“Just seeing the work that they’re doing really inspires me to live my life in a good way,” she said, “and to help the people in my community.”
Growing in Faith
In having more time to spend with each other, they also have more time to spend with God.
“Because life is slower, we have more time for Scripture reading, for prayer, for meditation,” said Cindy.
They have been learning about their own faith from the people around them.
“Kenyans’ faith seems so much stronger than ours in a way. They see everything as a gift of God: waking up in the morning, the day, rain, a paycheck,” she said.
Although they celebrated, in some ways, a nontraditional Christmas — using a cypress tree branch for a Christmas tree — they also found that it enriched their faith by being focused on the religious aspect of the holiday.
“We in the American culture are so busy and so consumer-oriented. It was so nice to be there at Christmastime. There wasn’t the push to buy-buy-buy, want-want-want,” said Cindy.
A World Apart
The Korbs have been inspired by their students and the Kenyan culture. Now, they hope to inspire other Americans to volunteer and reach out to their own communities.
While visiting the United States, they gave nine presentations to schools and churches.
“Even volunteering at a food kitchen or a thrift shop, getting out of your comfort zone and trying to experience the world through somebody else’s eyes is so enriching,” said Cindy.
Right now, the Korbs plan to continue their work and then sign on for another three-year contract in 2013.
“The more you can see of the world, the more you learn, the more it increases your faith,” said Cindy.
© Copyright 2008 The Leaven. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of The Leaven is expressly prohibited.
Kansas to Kenya: a different kind of ‘retirement’
By Caitlin Thornbrugh
Special to The Leaven
TONGANOXIE — For most people, retirement is a time to kick back, relax, and putter their way into the “golden years.”
Not John and Cindy Korb of Sacred Heart Parish in Tonganoxie. For them, “retirement” is an opportunity to take on a lifestyle change that would challenge anyone at any age.
After 32 years of teaching in Tonganoxie, John and Cindy were looking forward to retirement in August 2009. But instead of a traditional retirement plan and “puttering,” they signed a three-and-a-half year contract, sold all their possessions, and travelled more than 8,000 miles to Kitale, Kenya, East Africa, to be Maryknoll Lay Missioners.
Getting Started
The Korbs began searching for Catholic mission options online and, on a summer day in 2008, Cindy discovered the deadline for a Maryknoll Lay Ministers discernment weekend was that day. John was mowing the lawn, and Cindy went out to ask, “How serious are we about this?”
They registered that day.
After being accepted, they began getting rid of most of their possessions, selling their house, and preparing for an early retirement from teaching.
“We sold the house that we’d raised our family in. It was difficult, but we knew this was something we wanted to pursue,” said Cindy.
They originally thought they would be stationed in East Timor in Southeast Asia but, several weeks into orientation, found out this location was being closed due to economic reasons. From their remaining options, the Korbs chose Kenya. As John said, they are continually learning to be flexible and “go with the flow.”
Back to School
At an all-boys school called St. Anthony’s, John teaches math and geography to classes of around 90 students. Cindy teaches English at an all-girls school, St. Monica’s, to classes of around 50 students. The Kenyan school year runs 11 months.
However, beyond teaching, they also are involved in after-school activities. Cindy runs a literature club; John is teaching a catechumenate class.
“I think we have been really careful not to be the ‘know-it-all Americans,’ who come in and tell people how to do things. We’re trying to show by example good teaching practices,” said Cindy.
After over 30 years of teaching in the United States, one of the biggest differences they have noticed is the lack of interaction between teachers and students.
“Here in the States, we are constantly checking for understanding. . . . There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of that there. We call on students. You could tell at first they just weren’t used to that,” said Cindy.
Along with different practices, John and Cindy are the only non-Kenyan, white teachers. The Korbs have found, however, that race is not a large issue.
“You don’t think of skin color. Yeah, we’re a minority, but that doesn’t even enter in my mind. And I don’t think [it enters] the [minds of the] kids anymore,” said John.
The Korbs have become a part of their school communities: They have been to a wake service, a baby shower, and have been invited to a wedding.
With all the differences, they found similarities as well.
“Kids are the same around the world,” said John.
When talking to his students about stressors, they had similar responses to American schoolchildren: getting up early, what they’re having for lunch, and homework.
Marriage and Family
As they are adapting their teaching style, a change in location has also changed their marriage. The Korbs will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in June.
“The culture is just so different, and there are some things we don’t understand yet, so we rely on each other more,” said John.
This change has been a positive one.
“Our marriage has changed, because our lifestyle has changed so drastically. [When] we lived in Tonganoxie, you can go shopping anytime you wanted to, you could go to a movie, you could go to Kansas City, you could go to concerts. Those things just aren’t available [in Kitale], so you spend more quiet time together as a couple,” said Cindy.
The Korbs have two daughters: Andrea Korb, who lives in New York, and Katrina Korb, who lives in Nigeria. Although they sometimes feel bad for being so spread out, the Korbs try to speak with both daughters on a regular basis.
“We’re farther away in distance, but thank heavens for the Internet, Skyping, and e-mail,” said Cindy. “Thanks to modern technology, we’re able to stay in really close contact still.”
Andrea sees her parents as role models.
“Just seeing the work that they’re doing really inspires me to live my life in a good way,” she said, “and to help the people in my community.”
Growing in Faith
In having more time to spend with each other, they also have more time to spend with God.
“Because life is slower, we have more time for Scripture reading, for prayer, for meditation,” said Cindy.
They have been learning about their own faith from the people around them.
“Kenyans’ faith seems so much stronger than ours in a way. They see everything as a gift of God: waking up in the morning, the day, rain, a paycheck,” she said.
Although they celebrated, in some ways, a nontraditional Christmas — using a cypress tree branch for a Christmas tree — they also found that it enriched their faith by being focused on the religious aspect of the holiday.
“We in the American culture are so busy and so consumer-oriented. It was so nice to be there at Christmastime. There wasn’t the push to buy-buy-buy, want-want-want,” said Cindy.
A World Apart
The Korbs have been inspired by their students and the Kenyan culture. Now, they hope to inspire other Americans to volunteer and reach out to their own communities.
While visiting the United States, they gave nine presentations to schools and churches.
“Even volunteering at a food kitchen or a thrift shop, getting out of your comfort zone and trying to experience the world through somebody else’s eyes is so enriching,” said Cindy.
Right now, the Korbs plan to continue their work and then sign on for another three-year contract in 2013.
“The more you can see of the world, the more you learn, the more it increases your faith,” said Cindy.
© Copyright 2008 The Leaven. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of The Leaven is expressly prohibited.
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