The stars here are spectacular. They twinkle and shine and are not like I see at home. I really think they dance. At first I thought it was a plane but after watching and watching and enjoying the moment, I came to realize they weren't moving. They were just brillant pinpoints in the sky. The smell of a fire was on and there were dogs barking in the background. It was very serene and peaceful. I felt content
.Today I broke through a bunch of fears.I left the flying kites compound with brian. We walked down the dirt road into Njabini. On monday I assumed that I would never do this. It was all too scary. I was the only white person. I didn't know the language. I didn't understand the culture. The town didn't really seem like a town when I drove through on monday. I was very judgemental and didn't know how I would fit in. And then this morning I woke up with the word "human-ness" in my brain. It was about the human condition, the person, not the stuff. So needless to say, I knew today would be the day.
But first, I had to prepare. I took a shower. This is not unlike washing the dishes yesterday. One of the last volunteers left this cool bag called a sun shower. We don't use it outside but we do boil water to add to this probably 2 gallon bag that we hang over our head and use gravity to feed the nozzle. Let's see...saturday to wednesday..5 days. Not horrible. I don't think I smelled THAT bad but I didn't ask anyone standing next to me.After the shower, I dressed in clean clothes and my gum boots and off we went. The dirt road has parts that are total mud and its picking the best path possible. We passed cow fields and chickens and donkeys. Actually there are ONLY farm animals here. I am told that if we hike the mountain that is out our front door (elephant mountain) we need a guard with us in case we run into wildlife but so far the only thing people have seen has been a monkey. Anyway- off we went to Njabini. School had just let out so all the children were walking back up the hill to their homes. Brian knows the word for hello and how are you in swahili. I did too, for about as long as the walk took. I know that the word for Good is Missouri. I have no idea if that is how it is spelled but that's how it sounds.As we got closer to town, I knew I was doing the right thing. I had to go get acclimated to this world if I plan on being here until July.
And then there we were, smack dab in the middle of what I would ordinariy call a shantytown but what I will now call a village. There were stores and a butcher and a kodak photo sshop and a couple of hotels and bars and a fresh produce market. There were also donkeys and goats running around and the drivers are crazy here. The pedestrians do not have the right of way. So, brian and I ran into Peter, someone that brian is working with on his Magnet Effect Program. They discussed some details about an upcoming poetry contest and the posters that are needed for that. Peter also introduced us to a group of women called "the shining stars". They are working on humanitarian projects in the community. We also ran into anthony, the driver that picked me up at the airport. I actually recognized a face in njabini---"hey!!!! There's anthony!!" As if we were long lost friends. Brian and anthony made plans for friday and it was business as usual. At the market we bought some bananas, 26 shillings for 7 bananas. I don't know what it means yet but brian didn't barter and I asked why. He said he hasn't figured out howmuch produce costs yet, so he isn't sure of best prices. Its a whole game. I'm not there yet. Maybe next week. We also went to the drug store to find eye drops which didn't go so well. It all sounds kind of ordinary right? It was so far from ordinary, I have no idea what it was really like. Surreal. That's the word. Everyone was friendly. Everyone made eye contact. I am told I don't need to be scared but that's not so simple. But we did it. And maybe again this weekend.
I am in the process of trying to figure out how much 2000 t-shirts would cost for the upcoming Day of the African Child event. I will be tasked with tutoring three of the children on friday. I got together my "lesson plan" and a book and flash cards since I have no idea how to do this. I am told, it will be very easy- just help the students learn basic english skills. Ok- basic I can do.
I have so much to tell but this blackberry screen is annoying and the generator is now off. Before I go, just a few things. Every kenyan I have met has a cell phone. There is a company called m-pesa that is like a trac phone. But check this out- you add money to it like a checking account or debitcard. People pay their bills with their phone. It is huge here. Who knew?
We have company tonight at fkla. Peter and tammia (volunteers that were on safari) have returned for a night. They are from ct and ri. Wonderful people. And vivienne is here tonight as well. She is a kenyan volunteer that came back for one night. She will be going to America in august to go to medical school in wisconsin. I will be introducing her to some of my friends there.There is so, so, so much more. I am doing my best to share the highlights and keep this of interest.Oh--fyi- the donations will be given to the kids this weekend. There were some rules that were broken and that's the deal. Now, they have to wait. Its all the same. Just different.Peace out.
