Now this is Kenya...

First things first, I've heard from a couple of newer readers requesting info on why I'm in Kenya and what I'm doing here. A brief intro to that can be found here. But I will write more on that another day so keep watching (and asking questions, it gives me material for the "boring" days)

But today! Oh my head. It started out early because I was told we were leaving at 8am for Diane & Ibrahim to meet with the regional leaders in Ukambani to see the progress of the wells that were dug there. We were to meet up with Diane's niece Debbi and her husband Aram because I was going to spend the day with Debbi and Aram would go along with the Omondi's to Machakos. We ended up leaving about 9 after waiting to get vegetables to sell from the greenhouse, and (I can't believe I'm typing this) putting "naughty puppy" in the trunk. Yes, you read that correctly. We put a dog in the trunk of the car. She is permanently moving to Machakos to live with friends there.

So Diane, Bouvince, and I leave to meet up with Ibrahim and Ruth who sells the veggies. Then we did the car swap - Ruth to the Toyota w/ Bouvince; Diane, myself & the dog to the Land Rover with Ibrahim. We filled up and were on our way. Next thing we know, all the windows are rolling down because Naughty Puppy decided to live up to her name and release her waste (hmm, I found a tactful way to say that!) inside the car and we were in no place to be able to pull over & clean it out. So I spent the next 30 minutes or so with my face close to the window regardless of the dust & truck exhaust pouring in. I now know that I prefer the smell of diesel fumes to dog-doo.

Finally we arrive at the meeting place & Diane and I go in to find Aram & Debbi while Ibrahim got to clean up the car & the dog. SO happy that job didn't fall to the personal assistant! After some tea, the others headed south and we headed to the game park next door.

Swara Plains is a 20,000 acre private game reserve for non-predatory animals. There is also a small B&B inside with cottages for people who'd like to stay overnight. A little pricey, but not too bad. You can learn more about them here.

We had a lot of fun and saw quite a few animals - Thompson Gazelle, Vervet Monkeys, wildebeest, zebra, Masai Giraffe, a wart-hog, and lots of birds. I posted the pics on my FaceBook page if you want to take a look. On the way home we also saw camels, vultures (obviously something must have been dead out on the plains) and some storks.

Other 1sts today - I ate sugar cane for the first time & got a sunburn because of sitting in traffic.

Hmm, I guess life in Kenya can be interesting!

hectic but good

Last week, there weren't a lot of posts. Why? Because my life is not all that interesting. Really. I get up, do my daily B90x reading & have breakfast, then I get dressed and go back to the laptop broken up by the occasional trip to Nakumatt or the kitchen. See, VERY boring... so I don't feel like there is anything to post.

But today made up for it. I got up, normal routine, and because its Monday that means leaving by 8:45 for staff meeting @ the DOVE office. When I got home, the first thing I noticed when I walked in the door was the smell of BLEACH! This is what I saw when I walked around the corner from the lounge (living room for the Americans) into the kitchen:

Yup, Irene & Mercy had emptied every cabinet & were scrubbing everything down with bleach water. What prompted this you may ask? Me. Yup, yours truly. See last week I casually mentioned to Diane that I'd seen some cockroaches when I went in at night to make my tea before bed, & that the kitchen could really use some organization. I didn't know we had measuring cups until Mercy found one for me while I was making some soup (how else could I figure out how much 850ml of water means in english?) So, she said something to the girls & boy howdy did they get busy.

Now, this means that tomorrow afternoon, Mercy & I get to go into the kitchen & put it all away in a lovely organized fashion. Makes my heart happy... I'm sure this doesn't take my mom by surprise at all because I tend to do this to her kitchen whenever I return after a prolonged absence. (especially corralling the plastic lids & containers, they breed like bunnies!)

BUT that is not the end of my day. Nope, Diane came over a little after 4 and asked if I would go w/ Bouvince to the FOREX office & cash a check and run a few other errands. As a bonus I got to drive! (well at least while it was daylight - no one likes to drive after dark!) So we went to Karen & the FOREX office, then back toward the house to the feed store (gotta fatten up the chickens!), and then back toward town & the Junction shopping mall/plaza to meet Debbi's bus. Just to make life interesting, that meant driving through a 4-way intersection that doesn't line up 3 times. And if that wasn't enough, there was a cow in the middle of the road. Ahh, life in Kenya.

However, there was a VERY big upside to waiting for Debbi at Junction. That is where JAVA HOUSE is. JH is a very western style coffee house/restaurant. That means I was able to get a large iced vanilla latte & a fruit salad. SO yummy... Take a look for yourself:

So, all in all a good day. Tomorrow looks promising too.

An adventure... sort of

So today because it was warmer outside than in, I decided I'd move my "office" from the dining table/coffee table inside to the picnic table outside. I loaded up my laptop, french press, coffee mug, warm milk, and papers of notes and out I went. It was lovely... this was my view...

The wind was a little contrary and tried to blow my papers all over, but I solved the problem w/ my coffee mug & cell phone.

But that wasn't my adventure. No that happened this evening in the parking lot of the Karen Crossroads Nakumatt (there's several throughout the city). Diane & Debbi had arrived to fetch me, but Debbi needed something so whilst (can you tell the Brit English is rubbing off) they ran in, I took the keys so I could put my stuff in the Land Rover.

As I was about to take a pic of the lovely full moon and clouds, a security guard came over and this was our conversation:

"Do you belong to this car?"

I answered in the affirmative, and opened the car w/ the keys to prove it.

"Doesn't this car belong to Mrs. Pastor?"

"Yes, I work for Mrs. Pastor" as I put the bags in the car hoping he would take the hint and go away.

"I know Mrs. Pastor. I used to go to Dove church, but now there is the new church in the tents. Do you know it? It is closer, so I go there now."

I nod & keep putting bags in the car, mentally cringing & hoping he'll just go away if I don't continue the conversation.

"Is Pastor Omondi around? I know he travels."

"Yes he is."

"I saw Mrs. Pastor drop you off & leave. Is she here now?"

"Yes" (if you saw me why are you questioning me??? I think)

"How long you been with them? Do you fellowship at Dove church?"

"I've been here two weeks, yes I attend Dove."

"Good, its a good church. I don't think they remember me, was a long time ago. You understand Swahili, you speak it? You in Kenya now, you need have Mrs. Pastor teach you Kiswahili."

"I'll be taking lessons. Thank you, Asante." I say as I take the cart and start to head back to the store & the rescuing presence of other people & light...

"Oh, you go back now?"

"Yes, thank you. Goodbye..."

So that was my adventure in the dark parking lot with a security guard that used to attend Dove. And it reminded me that I'm CONSTANTLY being watched. Good thing to remember as we're all "living epistles" of the Word.

I'm okay, really...

Nope, not dead. Just didn't blog on Monday & then I went to upload a video blog yesterday & it ate all my internet credit... So, suffice it to say we're down to Wednesday 'til you get a blog posting.

What've you missed? Not much. Sunday was church, which is great (even when I have no idea what I'm singing about). To watch these people worship with their WHOLE selves is so contagious. And then the word was about our maturity being defined by our fruitfulness. Hmm, makes you stop & think. Am I fruitful? Am I mature? If not, why not? Good word!

Then Monday was staff meeting @ the DCF Africa office, not so interesting for outsiders. Really, I promise. We prayed, discussed, made action plans... that's it. Then I worked on some projects on the laptop while Diane was in a couple of other meetings, & we came home. Of course we couldn't come directly home, we stopped @ Karen Crossroads and went into the FOREX (exchange bureau) & the small "Muzungu" store for some minced beef (hamburger). Then we split the chore list & I went into Nakumatt for a couple of things and Diane went to another bank. BUT at the provisions store, we got BANJI! They are some of the most delicious things ever! Just potatoes, but they are dipped into some kind of Indian spiced batter deliciousness... They could become a problem...

When we got home, I took a couple of Tylenol & laid down to get rid of a headache... and that was pretty much Monday.

Tuesday, I pretty much just worked on the laptop, and met with Diane to go over deadlines, due dates, and things coming up... And of course the failed video blog upload..

So there you go. Such is my life, not so interesting for me, but maybe for you.

And if you have questions, comments, or suggestions - let me know! Leave them in the comment section & if you don't have a google account, log in as anonymous & just leave your name @ the bottom.

Friday Follies...

So here's what happened today...

I got up & did my reading for #B90x - reading the bible in 90 days. It's not easy, it takes dedication, but wow. I'm reading stuff I totally forgot was in there. This pic is from later in the morning, that's why you don't see the french press (an integral part of the morning routine). This is also one of the places I use as an "office"...

This is my other "office." Its also the living room & where I read in the evenings with my mug of drinking chocolate (similar to cocoa, but not exactly)...And here's my room. I finally got to arranging it & putting on my Ikea sheets & duvet (w/o the insert). And that happened because after breakfast I did laundry. And not just my clothes, today I learned how to wash sheets today. Whew... that is not an easy task & my raw knuckles bear the evidence.
Oooo, this was lunch the other day. Rice, fried cabbage & ndengu. I'm not sure of the origin, but its made w/ "green grams" and they kind of look like small oval peas. VERY YUMMY! I'm spoiled here.My last adventure of the day was going to Nakumatt for a few things... and how did I get there? I DROVE!! (and nobody was harmed in the process) Here's the proof:

I took this pic as I was parked @ the butchery waiting for Diane. I don't take pics & drive, especially when its my first time w/ right hand driving (really what were you thinking?!)

Freedom!!!

Today I've been out & about with Diane. Currently as I type this, we're both sitting in the car working on our laptops while we wait for her daughter Debbi to finish track practice after school. This is my first day really "out" from the compound since the weekend. It was interesting on the drive here to go through part of "Embassy Row." We passed the embassies for the USA, Iraq, Romania, Morocco, & the Congo. We also passed the UN headquarters. Maybe on the way back I can grab a pic & add it to the post later...

Debbi is fortunate enough to attend a Christian "American" style school. What does that mean you ask? Let me 'splainify. Here in Kenya there are several "streams" for schooling - Kenyan, British, & American. I'm not sure exactly how the Kenyan system works, but I do know that the little ones start school as early as 2 1/2 or 3. The British & American models both follow the basic types of schooling available in the home country. Thus an American model school is in session from September to June like the schools at home, even though it means the kids are in school through the "summer" months.

That's another thing. Because of the proximity to the equator, there aren't really seasons here - well unless you count rainy or dry as seasons. Per Diane, this time of year is usually known for the "short rains" and the rainy season is in March/April. Yesterday was a "hot" day and it may have been about 85 degrees or so. So not too bad, especially with the absence of the humidity. Yes it was hot, but if you were in the shade it was manageable.

So, there you go. More insight into my life in Kenya, whether you want to know about it or not.

airing some dirty laundry...

Real quick before I start this post... I'm endeavoring to post 5 times a week, well at least here at the beginning of this adventure so I can introduce you to my crazy new life & the people that help me survive it...

One of the things that I have to learn to live in Kenya is how to properly do laundry - by hand. In the past the closest I've come is washing out someunmentionables (but did I just mention them?) in the sink while I was traveling. Here, there is NO washing machine, except for the two that God gave me on the end of my arms.So today Irene, Ruth, & Mercy offered to teach me. As I said, I've never really done anything like this before so I decided to start small with only a few things & nothing big. Suffice it to say there was much laughter at my expense. Though they promised that I would be an expert by the time I leave.

And, I even took a few pictures & I'm willing to share them with you. Why? Because I dare any of you machine owners to get outside & do this... Perhaps I've reached a new level of domestic diva-ness. Just wait 'til its time to do sheets & towels...

This is the laundry area... those are my clothes in the smaller blue tub

Here I am filling the laundry tub w/ water...

Now I move the tub over to the concrete so I can wash & not make a larger mess by making mud...

Finally, its all done & hung on the line... should be dry in just a few hours thanks to the abundant sunshine here...

of walks, hills, and sunshine...

Everyone is asking for pictures of my life in Nairobi, so I took a few during my walk today. I went for a walk because Ibrahim prompted me this morning about getting out and enjoying the sunshine. I'd spent most of the morning working in the main house because I'd needed to talk some things over with Diane. And seeing as there aren't any outlets (or tables for that matter) I don't think I'll be working outside too much. Thus, the walk.
I didn't go very far, just to the local corner market, mostly because 1. I'm afraid of getting lost, and 2. I'm not very acclimated to the elevation yet (5,000 ft is pretty high up for a coastal girl like me).

My first realization? Oops, I forgot to put on sunblock and its 2:00 in the afternoon. I live near the equator now. I am most probably going to regret that unfortunate memory lapse.




Our street - Lamwia Rd. - just outside the gate. Yup I have to go down & up the hill to the left if I want to get anywhere.


And this is a GIANT agave plant that I saw as I was walking up Twiga (Giraffe) Hill Rd. If I'd had my tripod w/ me I might have tried to get one of me in front for scale. Trust me, its taller than I am.


And around the corner from the agave plant I found a cactus in bloom, I think it might be prickly pear, but don't quote me on it.


This hill seems much steeper on the way back than it did going to the store. And it continues up beyond where you can see. We live at the very top of the hill, just before it starts to go down again... I really need to learn how to drive...


So this is the last picture I took before I walked in the gate & into the guest house to collapse & write this post. Its the jacaranda tree at the neighbor's. They're in bloom all over & have a really nice spicy scent in the evening.

From Wal-Mart to Nakumatt

My life has just changed again - I’ve spent 15 hours in airplanes, 7 hours in airports, 3 hours in queues, 30 minutes in a car, crossed 7 time zones, and have arrived with Springtime in Nairobi, Kenya. And I’m really tired - jet lag will do that to you.

But one thing hasn’t changed - I’m still making lists of things I have to get at the store. Thursday morning I ran to Wal-Mart on my way to the airport to get a new toothbrush, Saturday morning I went to Nakumatt to get shampoo, conditioner, and coffee for my french press.

So life is different yet the same. I’m sleeping under a mosquito net & brushing my teeth with bottled water & driving on the left side of the road, but I’m still making lists and worshipping Jesus.

Welcome to the new normal... whatever that is