Work primarily consisted of teaching math (Uma) and Physics (David) to Form I-IV students. However, it also meant teaching Biology or English when it was necessary. Sochoi was a boarding school and we lived on site so at night there were often illnesses and other issues to deal with. There were after school activities and David was the games master so it was his task to encourage the students to exercise. Uma was the 'Home Science' Matron and in this club the activities focused on cooking and sewing.
The 3 months of Peace Corps training before our service was invaluable. The first part of our training was in Mt. Carroll Illinois, where we focused on our general teaching skills. We spent 6 weeks in Mt. Carroll and we each gained student teaching experience in the local middle and high school. Then we spent about 6 weeks at Iten School at the western edge of the Rift Valley. We had intensive immersion swahili training (5 hours a day), cross-cultural training, and teacher training in the Kenyan context. Our training was excellent and nothing happened during our two years of service for which we felt unprepared. Our trainers consisted of American RPCVs (below left) and Kenyans (below right).
As part of our training we spent a week living with a Kenyan family. Our trainers decided that married couples should stay separately so they develop individual cross cultural skills. David is shown with his Kenyan family below.
Married couples are assigned to serve in the same location and we were assigned to teach at Sochoi Secondary School. We arrived after a matatu trip from Eldoret with our two duffle bags each. We were so impressed by the natural beauty and peaceful quality of our school and looked forward to our 2 years at Sochoi. We were never disappointed.
The students wore uniforms (see below) at the secondary school level. There was a daily assembly where the national anthem was sung and general announcements were made. The Minister of Education, Minister Kosgei (center), visited our school in 1984 and is pictured below with the students and our Headmaster Chebii (on right) around the flag pole.
