Kenyan athletes shine at Deutsche Post Marathon in Bonn

Kenyans reigned at the Deutsche Post Marathon in Bonn today. I yelled my voice hoarse when the winner, Stephen Chepkopol, make an energetic run towards the finish line, his feet barely touching the ground, to break the record with 2 hours, 16 minutes and 53 seconds. Hellen Kimutai took the women’s marathon title while Nancy Koech won the women’s half marathon. Of course, as one would expect, I had to mention repeatedly (in a voice audible enough for those around me to hear) that whenever Kenyans run, the rest might as well settle for second best.  Here are my amateurish impressions from the event. And of course, congratulations to my classmate Tilman, who (I had to see to believe) can run 42 kms… just like that.

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One reason why Africans in the Diaspora ignore each other

Do not talk to strangers, said the mothers of children who grew up in large cities. Let’s face it, if a stranger were to single me out for a friendly greeting on the streets of Nairobi, I would cross two busy streets in quick succession, furtively glancing behind my back to see if s/he was in hot pursuit. This is the force of habit, which is reinforced by stories of kidnappers, organ harvesters, palms smeared with chemicals that put you to sleep, conmen who pray for your money out so that they can double it and so on.

It was a pleasant feeling when I got to Bonn and found that the Africans living here more often than not will smile and say hallo, and just acknowledge each other. After I got over my surprise, I realized that it felt quite nice to do the same – catch the eye of a random stranger, nod and smile.

 Of course, there are those that bury their noses so far down their chins that it’s hard to tell if they have eyes, but that is okay too. Since my last encounter with an over- friendly type from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I’m inclined to do the same.

I was far away from little, friendly Bonn, on my way to Maastricht, when I felt some two orbs boring into my forehead. I looked up, the buffoon said hallo, I said hallo back and what followed was an unpleasant encounter with a drunk, loud and disorderly man. “Obama is actually a Kenyan”, he started off, and followed with exclamations of “what dark skin you have my dear, what white teeth you have my dear… “Very Little Red Riding Hood. And of course, in his own words, “I should have been happy to be spoken to!”

By the end of that one hour journey, I began to understand why some people would rather burrow their noses into their chests. I felt I shall never return any glance, any greeting from a random black fellow again, lest he finds my teeth dazzling.

But then I got back to Bonn and on the train home, I couldn’t avoid smiling and saying hallo to the lady sitting next to me. She seemed to expect it. I didn’t mind.

Girls Are Smarter Than Boys « Women eNews Kenya

Girls Are Smarter Than Boys « Women eNews Kenya.

This is dedicated to all adult learners out there

I am just about to finish my very first German exams, and I’m ready to admit that the process has been a kind of emotional roller-coaster of fear, panic, relief, surprise, shock, anger, disappointment… No one has to go through this intensity of feeling without pills. Anyway, as I was fighting my ambivalence towards my innocent notes, I ran into this passage that spoke to me, and which I’m sure many adult learners will identify with.

What is the problem?

“The evaluator carries the power in the learning situation. Learners know it, and their relationshiü to the instructor is influenced by this dynamic. Two implications are worth noting here. First, if adult learners are used to wielding control and enjoying autonomy, they may resent being thrust into a situation where someone else has power and authority over them. This resentment may be acted out in questioning the instructor’s expertise and resisting directives, or it may be expressed in learner satisfaction forms commonly filled out after a learning experience. The situation becomes more complicated when learners are asked to engage in activities that make them uncomfortable or are confronted with ideas that challenge their values and beliefs.”

What adult learners need to do in order to breathe easy…

“Learners must surrender their own knowledge structures and sometimes their sense of self to enter an unknown realm of learning – and they must trust the instructor or mentor who leads them there. Such learning can be threatening, and it reinforces the power position of the instructor.”

And don’t worry, it’s not all you

“The second issue of power is that evaluators sometimes take their own authority so much for granted that they may forget to examine their own assumptions and choices. They need to ask themselves: Who says this performance or project is better than that one? Why is this concept more important than that one? Who am I to judge – And who do I allow to be my judge?”

I don’t know if I can influence the evaluator’s attitudes, but I’m determined to change my own. I’m going to be such a good student now.

Quoted from Fenwick, Tara J. / Parsons, Jim (2009): The Art of Evaluation. A Resource for Educators and Trainers. 2^nd edition, pp. 10-11. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing.

Three reasons why jogging in Germany is so enjoyable

Today I tried to jog after a long, long time. I huffed and puffed my way past the UN, ran along the patch of grass at the Deutsche Welle, past the Deutsche Post tower and into the Rheinaue Park in Bonn. On my way, I let my mind drift back to mydays in Kenya,when I was more motivated to keep fit  and I realized that jogging in Germany is so much more enjoyable.

First of all, you do not have to fight for a space alongside cyclists and cars. You have all the pedestrian space that you’d like. The traffic lights tell you when to pause or go, no guessing, just focus on getting your feet moving. The eyes have a view to enjoy, the landmark buildings, the park, the river Rhine. It almost makes you forget how hard your heart and lungs are working!

Secondly, no one looks at you like you lost your mind running around aimlessly. No one asks you, “Why are you wasting your time? you’re already so thin.” There is no heckling from people walking home from work. Everyone minds their own business, and you have your peace.

Lastly, with so many other ‘fitter’ runners, who wouldn’t be shamed into running one more meter, and then another, and yet another. They whizz past you, feet barely touching the ground, breath barely audible. I hear many of them are getting ready for the Deutsche Post Marathon in spring. I want to run like that soon. Then of course, their jogging attire is a thing to behold: Tight little things that show off every muscle and sinew in their nether regions, challenging you to get into form immediately and quit hiding behind huge t-shirts.

However, I must admit that when I was jogging past a small wooded patch, which happened to be quite lonely, running in a park at night seemed to be too good to be true. I couldn’t  resist turning back to see if anyone was skulking in the shadows. I guess old habits die hard. A Kenyan is paranoid by nature and by choice.