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African Adventure

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40

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1991

is incredible.
"Communicating is often a
problem. I miss having access
to safe and reliable transpor-
tation, and I miss the
reliability of most of the ser-
vices in the States. It is dif-
ficult adjusting to Kenyan
time; nothing is ever punc-
tual and I find myself con-
stantly waiting. But the most
difficult adjustment has been
the lack of communication
with family and friends."
The best part of living in
Kenya, she says, is the slow
and relaxing lifestyle. "Occa-
sionally I get lonely, but most
of the time I enjoy living
alone and getting to know
myself and others better. My
life here is total simplicity.
I'm surrounded by natural
beauty and have no pressure
to conform. My job is extreme-
ly laid-back. People in
developing countries only
focus on their daily needs.
"It is very rewarding to
have a student understand a
concept I have taught or
watch a local mama's (Ke-
nyan woman) face light up
when I greet her."
Though content with her
surroundings, she longs for
American food. To supple-
ment her local diet of mangos,
papaya, maize and beans, Ms.
Riseman shops in Voi for
• bread, cheese and peanut but-
ter. "I sent her canned gefilte
fish," says her mother, Beth
Riseman. "It's almost like
she's gone camping for two
years. She uses a kerosene
stove to cook and adapts her
grandmother's recipes to
bake cookies in a metal pan
with a cover."
Mrs. Riseman and her hus-
band Carl visited their
daughter in Kenya this past
winter. "I was very worried
about her but I felt very
relieved after visiting her,"
said Mrs. Riseman. "She
looked more mature and she
was very relaxed. It took her
a while to adjust but she's do-
ing really well."
Mrs. Riseman had mixed
emotions about her daughter
joining the Peace Corps, but
felt it was a good time in her
life to experience new things.
"I knew it wouldn't be a per-
manent move," she says.
"Rebecca is doing what she
wants to do. I worry about her
health and wish she was
closer to a phone, but she has
a strong system of support
both from the Kenyans and
the Peace Corps."
Ms. Riseman feels a kinship
with the people she has met.
"The Taita people are known
for their physical beauty, but
they are also warm, jovial and
generous. Everyone treats me
very well and my students are

wonderful. But because I am
white, people assume I am
wealthy and frequently ask
me for material possessions."
She describes the teaching
conditions as being sparse at
best. "In one of my classes 50
students share eight books
and many share seats. Torren-
tial downpours during the
rainy season often disrupt the
classes.
She says her Jewish values
may have influenced her join-
ing the Peace Corps. "I was
raised to lead a good life and
help others along the way."
Though she finds many of
the local customs interesting,
she definitely misses Jewish
traditions. "I miss our big
family dinners and especially
my grandmother's gefilte
fish," she said. "I've attended
the synagogue in Nairobi,
which is Orthodox and the on-
ly one in the country, and I
spent Passover in Nairobi
with a Jewish family from the
States."
Many of the local people
practice witchcraft to some
extent, and although it is fair-
ly new to the area, Ms.
Riseman says Christianity is
a strong influence. Because
they had no idea of Judaism,
she has been teaching her Ke-
nyan staff and students about
her religion.
Ms. Riseman is used to be-
ing in the minority. When she
moved to Lapeer from South-
field in the third grade
because of her father's
business, she and her two
brothers were the only Jewish
students in their high school.
She is a member of Flint's
Temple Beth El.
Though her stint in the
Peace Corps is her most ar-
duous challenge, it is not her
first noteworthy adventure.
"Rebecca went to Israel for
the summer following high
school," her mother explains.
"She was a counselor at
Camp Tamarack, spent one
summer interning for
Senator Levin in Washington
and another studying English
in New England.
"She definitely likes to be
involved; in high school she
was a cheerleader, played ten-
nis and was in the school
band. She is athletic, artistic
and musical, and constantly
tries to express her talents."
When she returns to
Michigan in November, Ms.
Riseman plans to attend
graduate school. She will be
sad to leave Kenya, but eager
to see her family and friends,
and to catch up on movies,
books and music.
"This has definitely been
the experience of a lifetime,"
she says, "but I can't wait to
get home and take a hot,
soapy bath!" ❑

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