As part of this trip, we brought a laptop for the headmaster of the school. He had only ever seen a computer at a cyber café in Muhoroni town. When one goes to a cyber café, there are people to help you do everything you need. People like Tom, the headmaster received assistance to send emails or write documents at the cyber so he never really learned how to use a computer. One of my main jobs on this trip was to train the headmaster how to use his new computer. Susan and I taught Tom how to check his email, how to google things, how to create word documents and how to find documents when completed. The process was very difficult because I go on the computer every day so it is very normal for me. I expect everyone to be like that, but I realized I am so lucky to have grown up around technology and not everyone has had that chance. Tom had trouble typing words as well. He would plunk out each key slowly with one hand. In order for Tom to understand, Susan and I had to speak very slowly and use simple words. After teaching him the basics we gradually moved on to more difficult things like how to connect the printer and the disc drive. Towards the end we even found a great website where people can print out worksheets for each subject and each grade level. I noticed that the grade levels in the US are two or three grade levels ahead of grades in the village. For example to find a worksheet for 6th grade in Kenya, I would have to click on 3rd or 4th grade on the website. Tom seemed a little overwhelmed to be introduced to the e-readers and the computer all in one week, but he is very excited to have a way to communicate with us about the project and to have resources to improve the classes.
We concluded the day with a delicious dinner and the movie Tower Heist. Since the movie was watched on my iPad it was very quiet so Zev had a brilliant idea to place the iPad in a big tin bowl so that the sound was projected. With this funny method we all shared some good laughs especially when Susan took pictures of Dani and me staring into a big bowl. That night I fell right asleep and woke up the next morning ready to work.