Hi everyone,
It has been a long semester and I haven't had the time to jot down any posting since I am a very wordy person , first I would like to wish you all a happy chrismas ,Happy Hannukah, happy Kwanza , Or just happy holidays ! My room mate and i have decided that we will just resort to saying "Happy ! " instead of an attempt to be politically correct or is it religously correct! .

Anyway it has been along semester and I have learnt alot . I have learnt that even if you are smart , have perfect grades and a great smile , some people still see you through the lens of your skin color. Alot still needs to be done in the US as regards race relations I am glad that the Dean at my school Wagner is hosting a conference to address the issue of diversity next semester because It is a term that keeps bumping up in converstaions ina n about school . I must admit NYU as a University is doing a great job in keeping the debate on Diversity alive .But the student population as diverse as we may seem may not have had a chance on a person to person to dealing with diversity . I can confess that alot of peole I met had different expectations for me . And as I coursed through converstaions and eloquently contributed to class discussions people - whom I shall not name would say to me - your English is so good- though you have an accent ! And I would retort back Yes it has to be good, Kenya was colonised by the British and as a matter of fact I am spoeaking English as close to the queens and it is not I with the accent! .
Anyway enough of that , with the christmas spirit still in the air , I would like to bring to the attention an important event that I attended during my school semester .A conversation between Eve Ensler( of the V- day movement ) and Dr.Dennis Mukwege of the Panzi general Hospital entitled 'Healing the wounds of war Sexual violence in the Congo'This event was co - sponsored by the NYU schoolof Global affairs and the United Nations Office for coordination of Humanitarian affairs. This event faciltated discussion on sexual violence in the congo and tried to examine ways in which we may prevent it and even look for proposals to change policy to address this urgent issue .
I was saddened to notice in the crowd that alot of 'us'- meaning poeple of African origin who seem to identify with Africa - 'the motherland' do not seem to be in attendance at such events .It is not an accusation but just a small note that we should be alot involved in things that bring us together even just as women .
Back to the event, Dr Dennis gave a vivid description of how the rebels in the Southern part of Congo who have continously raped women both young and old for reasons beyond anyone's understanding mutiliating them and leading them to have fistulas and require surgery . I understand that rape has been used as a tool of war and continues to be used as a toll of war in war torn regions such as Darfur. But what can we do to avoid the brutalisation of women that continues so brashly and unabated . Becuase according to Dr. Dennis his hospital is the only one that deals with sexual violence and he has to deal with as many as 9 surgeries in a day . Itis a good thing that the election is over and Kabila has won but more attention has to be diverted to these women and the source of the violence urgently .Otherwsie as Dr. dennis puts it they are women who are turining in to the hospital more than once in a span of two weeks . Ofcourse brutally raped and damaged . Jeff Koinange CNN"S corespondent for Africa did a splendid but sad storydetailing the plight of the women of Panzi .You can google it up and catch the full story .
What I as a young African woman want is for us African women to have a voice in these issues and support the course of protecting vulnerable women . One of the participants a professor of law asked if anyone had taken this issue to the tribunal at the Hague or Lawyesr beyond borders had done anything . There were only murmers form the crowd and no clear answers emerged . Well here are my thoughts . There are lawmakers on the continent already dealing with the issue . Njoki Ndungu a young Kenyan female MP making her debute in parliament has single handedly had the sexual offences bill published in to a law this year in Kenya a great achievement for a patriachal nation like Kenya . Why can't we have such people lobby at the AU / regional bodies like NEPAD ? Violation of women who are supposed to be our mothers, our sisters is going on and as Eve Ensler puts it; If we allow this to go on it is as if we are sanctioning that rape is legitimate tool of war and can and should be used as a weapon of war and these acts will continue to be replicated in other wars in the future.
T he way forward ; I believe having the conversation is a starting point . We cannot under estimate the impact of a small group of people to make a change . We can start by supporting Eve Ensler's fundraiser for the Panzi hospital and Dr. Dennis as a second step to the converstaion . the thirdly we can start strategising how to put in some ' up stream' measures on how to curb this dreadful abuse. that is going on right before our eyes.I believe upstream measure - this is a term I have pulled from my Community health classes is a measure taht seeks to prevent ahealth risk foprm taking place in the first place. Let us seek to find out the source of the violence . Why the women have to pay for it with their bodies ? . One way is to petition Kabila's new government to try and offer securtiy to the women in the South .Let us keep the ideas flowing and the debate going to try and put this scourge in check ,otheriwse history will judge especially us women forfailing to aid our own, for generations to come ...

Diary of a Kenyan Woman in New York University

Hi everyone ,
I am sorry have been lost for a long while . During this period of time I got lost a multitude of times - in the wonderful subway again !For the simple reason that my mind refused to believe that downtown could be the lower side of town.I kept on telling myself that downtown was a dangerous part of town and so whenever I could get instructions from fellow commuters to go to dowtown I would automatically walk up the platform , defy the directions and go uptown I shared this experience a lot ofstudents and they find it quite hilarious !
Anyway I will catch up and give you the going-once in the month of September .

Our school the Wagner School of Public Administration makes a point of having a two day retreat for it s newly admitted students at the beginning of every semester .So I naturally attended the retreat . It was held at Iroquois springs , this is a private campsite about 1 hour or so drive in upstate New York . The retreat was amazing in a lot of ways . It provided us with space and time to meet and interact with faculty and students in a very informal environment . We also learnt a lot about our courses , academic rules and regulations as well as what to expect ahead for the journey into school. Most important was meeting with students , without the retreat it would have been hard to have a connection with the Wagner students on campus with the versatile environment at school and the work load . I met a couple of Americans who had previously visited my country Kenya and it was nice to hear their experiences and perspectives about my country . As the retreat drew to an end an unfortunate logistical error occurred and one of the buses was late in coming to collect us and therefore we had to stay back an extra hour . This extra time gave me a lot more time to once again interact with more students . However the most interesting part of the story was that after the bus came ,and we headed to New York City we reached at around 9pm . I was afraid of going back to New Jersey for the sole reason of insecurity .I was purely thinking in a Kenyan mindset . In Nairobi it is quite dangerous to go home late .The subway in New York on the other hand might be relatively dangerous but the crime rate has reduced in the recent past and at around 10 ocklock.However alot of commuters ( I came to learn later on ) are still making their way home across the river to New jersey here in New York .So I panicked and asked around for hostel names . Here I met one of my good friend Kristy grammar who generously offered to accommodate me at her place for two days because here roomamte was not there .

Anyway moving on classes started on the fifth of September and I was perpetually late because of errors in mastering the workings of the subway . I once got onto a New York bound Bus whose last stop was Washington heights and the driver been a middle aged man of Hispanic origin and not conversant in English had nodded his head to my query of if The bus was going to Port Authority . This little error landed me in washington heights !

Back to the school scene . The Wagner school facilitates a lot of events and the first event I RSVP 'ed for was one hosted by the Interantional Programs office featuring Erica Isaac a Wagner student who is currently working in Afghanistan with Afghans Women's Network , a human rights organisation in Afghanistan . Her presentation revealed a myriad of dilemmas facing women and the women's rights movement in Afghanistan . She described one occasion in which she visited a womens prison and the women captives had no alternative choices .If they left the prison they would be condemened by soceity and tried for crimes and if they stayed on in prison their life would pass them bye . She also mentioned dodging bomb shells in the background from ISAF troops . I silently thought to myself of how much Erica was emboding the principles captured in Wagner's mantra of 'reframing public service'

The next significant event I attended this timer ound was an external event .It was a fundraiser held on Wednesady the 27th of September , Katty Jones the administrator in charge of International programs invited me and two other students from Africa ;Sharon a fellow Kenyan and Hope, a Rwandaian lady .The event tickets were purchased in advance by the University .The fundraiser was held at the meat packing district . This area is New york's most fashionable neighbourhood and is full of hip restaurants and exclusive clubs . I found this scenario rather interesting . We were in a trendy spot in town raising money for Orphans in Rwanda. The crowd was predominantly white americans and relatively young . I inquired from Prof John Gershman ( who is the Director of the office of international programs ) about it . He explained to me that most of te people in attendeance were probably friend of Dr. Paul farmer and his co-directors rom the Orphans of Rwanda . Neverthe less it was quite astonishing to note the constituency involved in the fundraiser . Prof Gershman also added that the modus operandi that had been applied to this particular fundraiser by Dr. Paul farmer was a depature from the norm. Patners in Health is actually working in patnership with Orphans of Rwanda to offer eduactional support to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS . They are expanding support towards educating 25 students at Rwandian Universities . Which I found extremely unique and a new paradigm to HIV/AIDS programs . Having worked in a non -profit initiative in Kenya and interacted with alot ofHIV/AIDS programs ;alot of them offered drugs and support as well as education but only upto to secondary school level but not university education . Which is also essential and crucial in driving the economic engine of a country . I silently commended this step and was very impressed by the work of both the organisations . Another exciting thing I forgot to mention . I took the opportunity to order for my first real drink of Cosmopolitan , I am trully becoming a New Yorker in no time !

These events are becoming numerous !On the 29th of september Friday, once again I was selected for "Converstaion in public service " this is a small forum that enables small groups of students and faculty to meet and have meaningful dialogue with leaders form public service organisations as well as non profit organistaions. I had worked for a research team investigating the relationship between tobacco firms and tobacco farmers in Kenya and hence my interest in this session .The chief guest for this session was Dr. Cheryl Healton an alum of wagner who is now the president of the American Legacy Foundation ,a national independent public health foundation based in Washington Dc whose overaching mission is dedicated to prevent teen smoking and encouraging smokes to stop. First I was shocked by the statistic that 1200 Americans die everyday from smoking cigareetes roughl translating to 444,000per year .dr . Healton empahasised on the campaigns that her organisation is carrying out focusing on the youth and women smokers . It was alo interesting that the number of female smokers was also rising . Dr. Healton was very conversant with the issues in her campaign and the take home message she had was you have to take risks . She mentioned her relationship with the tobacco industry and their ways of circumventing the law and other dirty tricks they were using to continue selling their dangerous product . In my capacity in the Health policy management program. I contributed by asking whether the campaigns were well -suited(drawing a comparison with presidents Bush's PEPFAR( Presidenst's emergency Fund for Aids relief )in africa which foucused on absitenence programsina setting where women lacked choices.I also inquired whether they were utilising celebrity's as ambassedours because they have become todays youth's role models . Dr. Healton answered me and expalined their differnet youth campaigns and the camps they held .She also discussed the role of TV shows that were doing harm to the war against smoking like HBO 's Sex and the city whose lead character Sarah Jessica parker( who by tehway is extremely famous)- is depicted as a chain smoker who is 'hip'.I got to learn alot about the challenges of been in leadership from Dr. Healton first hand and I was so impressed that the Dean of Wagner ,Ellen Schall would make time out of her busy schedule to share this experience with the us students .

Diary of a Kenyan Woman in New York University

Hi everyone ,
I am quite excited to be in New York City because everone I talked to prior to my coming to the states who had been to the states just had one comment ...'New York is crazy!' I kept on wandering what that meant all the time.Untill i got here . Well the subway is a real shock coming from a country with a really rudimentary transport system .Finding my way in that labrinyth is a daily miracle for me !Eveyone seems to be in this great hurry ! sort of reminds me of my days in primary school , when the school bell rung for lunch break !

Anyway , now to more serious stuff .After bluffing my way into the centre of manhattan and getting lost a couple of time ( in china town ) .I was shocke to see hawkers on the streets.reminded me alot of Nairobi and its woes with hawkers !I eventually found myself at the home of my school . The Robert .F. Wagner School of Public Service located at the Puck building . I was ushered in and there I met the staff from the officce of enrollement and admissions who were very friendly . The place was also impeccable.I had actually gone to seek my letter of enrollment, which is a requirement to open a bank account . I found the staff extremely efficient . There were even some spare computers in the hallway where you could check your university e- mail . I was quite impressed !

Next I made my way to the Officce of International Students and Scholars otherwisebest known as OISS at 561 la guardia place . As a J-1 student you have to check in within ten days of your arrival.So I checked in and attended one of the student check in seminars .They take your passport I-20 , I-94 and offer you alot of valuable information about your status in the United States, I found this also extremely useful . As alot of new international students take time to understand teh complexities o fteh US system .We all looked do uncertain of everything and here I met a young lady from Eriteria called winter . She was also enthralled by the city and had infact a guide taking her round . i quietly thought to myself I wasnt the only one finding the City daunting !

In a shortwhile the seminar was over and I decided to do some more discovery , armed with my map, I made my way to get a NYU student ID . I walked down to twelve street. It was actually getting easier , because as i you look around you see the purple signature flag of NYU and alot of people walking in the streets also seem to know where teh University buildings are situated.Once again I was served in less than a minute .A photo was quickly taken and i was handed a valid University ID .Registeration back at home would take up to a whole day !
With all that walking I was now ready to eat something ,so i walked back to the arch at washington square Park and bought a hot dog and drink . I sat and watched around everyone was either reading a book or eaitng or chatting quietly with someone else . Interesting to me though was alot of people were walking their pets or had a dog with them !This was very amusing to me because despite the fact that a few people have dogs back at homa as pets ,you rarely see people with them in th epublic parks .

That ended my inaugural tour on the NYU at Washington squuare and greenwich village for the day !