Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal

The only thing that can bring things back to life, and restore energy levels in this community, is clean water.

As long as there is water, these young kids can continue to grow, continue to learn, continue to live.

Sand, Smiles and Sore Feet

Sorry I have been missing in action from my blog for a few months now, but I have been VERY busy and still am. I am working full-time for an amazing organization called ‘The Hope Foundation” and have also been working hard to get my Masters thesis finished. I also managed to fit in a weekend away in London and just under a month in Northern Kenya, doing field research.

Here are some photos I took while staying in the town of Lodwar, in Central Turkana, where temperatures reach up to 39′c on a daily basis, the climate is harsh and the landscape is desert like. Water is scarce, sanitation facilities are non existent and Life is all  about survival. When I have more time I will share with you my stories are heart ache, horror, compassion and hope, but for now here are some photos of the amazingly beautiful children I befriended on my journey.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Two Subjects

The first image is a photo I took of two child shepherds in the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. The second and third images are just edits of the first one, which I cropped and decided to change to black and white.

Brother and Sister, side by side. Two beautiful subjects.

Carnival Kids!

Today at the dutch carnival I spotted these sweet little kids…jumping up and down on a vintage car!!

Recreating Memories

“That swimming pool better be gone be the time I come home this evening”, were my moms harsh, final words, directed at My Dad, My Sister and I, as she closed the front door behind her.

14 small words that came together to have catastrophic meaning.

The “swimming pool” we had cajoled our Dad into spending the WHOLE weekend digging, clearing lining with plastic sheeting, filling with water and bottles of bubble bath… the “swimming pool” we had dreamed of having for years and had finally succeeded in acquiring, was to be no more!

I was reminded of this great child hood memory this morning when my Dad emailed me the only photographic evidence we have of its short lived existence, ah the dream that wasn’t meant to be.

Our 1 day swimming pool

It’s funny how this all happened day after I discovered an awesome photo project by Argentinian Photographer Irina Werning. The project, entitled “Back to The Future” is about recreating old photographs 20 years on, using the exact same person in the exact same clothes in the exact same position (Click to view photos)

I think it’s a magical idea and would love to try recreate some childhood memories of my own some day. For now, this is the best I can do. My first day of school and my last day of college, almost 20 years on.

First day of school, Last Day of College

Korean kids sticking their finger up…

So Korean pranks are seriously different to western ones. Seriously seriously different. In KOREA, they think it’s ok to stick a finger up your bum when you’re not looking. In fact they find it hilarious. Apparently they do it all the time and it is simply considered a childish prank. Well call me a bit of a wet blanket if you must but I find NOTHING funny about people trying to jam their fingers up my…

My boss informed mr it’s ‘teachnical’ name is Dong Chim, meaning ‘Poop needle’. (Which I have to admit is a lil funny..!) It is performed by clasping the hands together so the index fingers are pointing out and attempting to insert them sharply into someone’s @nal region when the victim is not looking. GROSS.

A picture tells a 1000 words...!!!

Mainly it’s just the young ones who do this, aged 8 or below I guess. Not that age has anything to do with whether it’s good or not. It has to do with the fact that, child or not, I don’t want someone forcibly jamming their fingers into my *beep*. One of my fellow teaching buddies in Geumchon told me one her students grabbed her (sizeable!) breasts and gave her a nipple twister. Wrong, just wrong.