Hi everyone! UPDATE FROM KENYA!!!
I just heard from Mom and she is about 10 miles from the Tanzania border in Kenya. She is living on a farm with her host family now and is learning to potty in a hole in the ground (sadly, she has not mastered this and her shoes are taking the brunt of it). There is no internet access but she now has a local phone and will be updating her blog as soon as she can get to an internet cafe (pronounced 'calf' there, lol). She is having fun but it sounds like long days, long walks and exhausting studies. She sends her love to you all and invites you to check back and comment on her blog and facebook page to stay in touch.
xoxo Steph
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Hamjambo (hello everyone)
After nearly 24 hours of constant flight, I am settled into a youth hostel operated by Peace Corps here in Nairobi. It is a few miles from the center of the city where the din of traffic is just a blur and the stars are like solar bursts in the clear midnight sky.
We had a two hour delay at JFK because the cargo (aka bags) were unevenly loaded and had to be taken off and reloaded--while we sat on the plane! This made making the connection in Brussels iffy. As it turned out they held the plane for us. We saw some really grumpy passengers on board until they learned of the good samaritan trip of our group of 53. If you're counting, we lost three. One person bailed before class on Monday, The next had a seizure while boarding an airport tram in Brussels and the third was aiding him and will arrive here tomorrow. We had a stop in Burubundi and when we took off again for Nairobi, the flight attendants came through the cabin spraying mosquito spray followed by air freshener. Welcome to Kenya where malaria is definitely a reality.
At the airport we were greeted by local Peace Corps staff and fellow volunteers at 1am, We loaded all our bags on a matutu (vans with luggage racks on top like the ones you see in all the African safari movies) and we piled into a separate matutu to ride to the hostel. We have a room of our own with hot water and mosquito netting.Woohoo! That shower felt great this morning. You needed to push a little switch on the shower head to get hot water (it's electrically heated as it passes through the pipe that is duct taped to the water pipe). Mine gave off a little spark and I had a momentary flash of a quick electrocution.Then I recalled some rubber slippers that were under the sink in the bathroom with my room number on them. Hmmm. I bet I wear them next shower!
Today has been mainly admin things: more forms for the health office, bank account forms, doing skits to emphasize "ten commandments" of survival here. We ended with our first language lesson and must complete the chapter in our workbook for our morning class.
Most important things learned today: 1. Curfew is 6:30 pm or dark--whichever comes first so you wont be mugged and 2. the five second rule NEVER applies here.
You definitely want to wear a sweater or jacket in the evening and morning as it's about 55 until the sun rises overhead. There are lots of trees and green space--like the burbs, and a soft breeze seems to follow you around. Everyone is very warm and welcoming and the food is pleasant. Scrambled eggs with toast for breakfast and baked chicken with rice and the ever present ugali (a gruel made from ground corn meal that is a staple here). I passed on that but know I will soon be downing it like a native before long. Didn't want to shock my system too badly the first day.
It's almost time for dinner and then language study group. (you will be kicked out if you don't show proficiency) so kwaherini (goodbye all) till I have time to write again.
Hugs and kisses.
We had a two hour delay at JFK because the cargo (aka bags) were unevenly loaded and had to be taken off and reloaded--while we sat on the plane! This made making the connection in Brussels iffy. As it turned out they held the plane for us. We saw some really grumpy passengers on board until they learned of the good samaritan trip of our group of 53. If you're counting, we lost three. One person bailed before class on Monday, The next had a seizure while boarding an airport tram in Brussels and the third was aiding him and will arrive here tomorrow. We had a stop in Burubundi and when we took off again for Nairobi, the flight attendants came through the cabin spraying mosquito spray followed by air freshener. Welcome to Kenya where malaria is definitely a reality.
At the airport we were greeted by local Peace Corps staff and fellow volunteers at 1am, We loaded all our bags on a matutu (vans with luggage racks on top like the ones you see in all the African safari movies) and we piled into a separate matutu to ride to the hostel. We have a room of our own with hot water and mosquito netting.Woohoo! That shower felt great this morning. You needed to push a little switch on the shower head to get hot water (it's electrically heated as it passes through the pipe that is duct taped to the water pipe). Mine gave off a little spark and I had a momentary flash of a quick electrocution.Then I recalled some rubber slippers that were under the sink in the bathroom with my room number on them. Hmmm. I bet I wear them next shower!
Today has been mainly admin things: more forms for the health office, bank account forms, doing skits to emphasize "ten commandments" of survival here. We ended with our first language lesson and must complete the chapter in our workbook for our morning class.
Most important things learned today: 1. Curfew is 6:30 pm or dark--whichever comes first so you wont be mugged and 2. the five second rule NEVER applies here.
You definitely want to wear a sweater or jacket in the evening and morning as it's about 55 until the sun rises overhead. There are lots of trees and green space--like the burbs, and a soft breeze seems to follow you around. Everyone is very warm and welcoming and the food is pleasant. Scrambled eggs with toast for breakfast and baked chicken with rice and the ever present ugali (a gruel made from ground corn meal that is a staple here). I passed on that but know I will soon be downing it like a native before long. Didn't want to shock my system too badly the first day.
It's almost time for dinner and then language study group. (you will be kicked out if you don't show proficiency) so kwaherini (goodbye all) till I have time to write again.
Hugs and kisses.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Kenya eve departure
The last day before any trip is full of all those last minute things you want to make sure you dont forget to do. I think I got them all done. It doesnt stop your head from buzzing though. Its been a very emotional day full of final goodbyes. Kissing my boys was the hardest--knowing they dont know I wont be coming back, wondering at what point they will sit at Rita's door and look for my car to pull into the drive. I will certainly miss watching Kahlua go duck hunting on the canal and Cognac stroll the path with his nose stuck to the ground checking for pals that have pawed the route before him. I worry that Cognac will live for me to nuzzle his muzzle one more time.
But I cant worry about that any more. Bags are packed and loaded up--hope TSA doesnt open them cause I dont know if they will be willing to sit on them to get them shut again. I can imagine seeing my "big girl panties" circling the conveyor belt with socks, mosquito netting and wet wipes. I might have to let someone else claim that bag!
Lots of tears over the last few days but know they come with lots of love and joy for my new journey. I have not a drip of fear--except wondering how long it will take me to have some mastery of Swahili. Ive been practicing the alphabet (24 letters) and numbers. Boy those words are long!! Such a mouthful just to say a few words.
Tomorrow will be a day long orientation in Philly with 56 other newbies and then Tuesday will be lots of shots at the health clinic before heading to JFK for our flight. Nonstop to Brussels (8.5 hrs) and after a two hour layover its on to Nairobi (10.5 hrs). Gonna be a helluva long day.
Nite nite fellow termites. Stay tuned. Kisses to all and dont forget to kiss your loved ones.
By the way, all posts are done on Kenya time zone.
Ta
But I cant worry about that any more. Bags are packed and loaded up--hope TSA doesnt open them cause I dont know if they will be willing to sit on them to get them shut again. I can imagine seeing my "big girl panties" circling the conveyor belt with socks, mosquito netting and wet wipes. I might have to let someone else claim that bag!
Lots of tears over the last few days but know they come with lots of love and joy for my new journey. I have not a drip of fear--except wondering how long it will take me to have some mastery of Swahili. Ive been practicing the alphabet (24 letters) and numbers. Boy those words are long!! Such a mouthful just to say a few words.
Tomorrow will be a day long orientation in Philly with 56 other newbies and then Tuesday will be lots of shots at the health clinic before heading to JFK for our flight. Nonstop to Brussels (8.5 hrs) and after a two hour layover its on to Nairobi (10.5 hrs). Gonna be a helluva long day.
Nite nite fellow termites. Stay tuned. Kisses to all and dont forget to kiss your loved ones.
By the way, all posts are done on Kenya time zone.
Ta
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