Okay, it's been exceedingly hard to get Internet access. Jennie was successful once when we arrived, but only got off half an email before drawing a crowd of leering school kids that sent her running from the terminal.
We've been training for several weeks now, and though it's only been a short time, for us eons have passed. We are like children again--everything is incredibly, tryingly, interesting. We can't communicate effectively, and days are exhaustingly long. Most days start at 6am with a cold bucket bath and some hot tea. We leave our house just after 7 and walk for an hour to our training site, wherever that happens to be. It truly doesn't matter where it is, it's always an hours walk from where we are. In fact, whoever designed this place put everything seemingly equi-distant from everywhere else. So like I said, it takes an hour. We have a class, we walk an hour for some lunch, we walk some more... you get the picture. And when you have errands to run, you try your damnedest to string them together to save time. Paradoxically, services being as sporadic as they are, you can never set out on said errand with any reasonable expectation of ever completing it.
Apart from daily life, things here are amazing. We eat very well as vegetarians with fresh fruit and veggies every night. The farm we live on always has fresh mangoes, avocados, papaya and bananas. And the main dishes are usually made up of rice or a thick slab of ugali (cornstarch and water) and a cooked pea and bean stew. Mamas here base their self worth on fattening their men, so I'm coming home a good 25 pounds heavier.
Learning Kiswahili has been challenging, but we are starting to turn a corner I think. I spoke in church this weekend (yes, I went to church) and the entire congregation stopped laughing after only about half a minute, so I'm clearly doing something right. Immersion is hard though, and can make for some pretty funny situations. A friend of ours tried to throw a popular Kenyan phrase into conversation about how being in a rush is not a blessing. He ended up blessing a really fast hyena to the hilarity of the people he was addressing... and we're still giving him a hard time as I write this.
Lastly, and it is of note, Jennie's extra sensory perception has led us to find several purveyors of diet coke. Apparently someone tipped off the folks at Coca-Cola that they should send a diet product to the far reaches of Africa where starving Americans will fall all over themselves to buy it. Who knew?
Well time is running short, but please keep commenting, they're great to read. And we will try our best to post with pictures very soon. Much Love - Nick and Jennie
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8 comments:
Blessings to you and the hyenas~ you sound like things are fantastic, and I'm glad to hear/read/whatever all the news! (Tell your friend not to worry; I once confidently mispronounced a consonant and asked a cabdriver to bring me - not to [famous poet]'s cottage - but rather to [famous poet]'s bathroom. I think I can still hear him laughing...) The food sounds awesome, especially since I have a mango obsession (mangos are awesome even when pickled...did you know?)
Yay Jenny on the soccer field!
Dad (grampa?), by the way, is now referring to you as the Kenyan branch of the family...and Mum just wants to know what you're eating, so I'll have to print out the blog & mail it to her. She sends her love, just not electronically. :)
Keep the hyenas laughing...
Leering children? You're supposed to leer at children and send them running. One of my favorite food court activities.
Your one hour to anywhere story reminds me of an old fuel efficient car commercial where Jack Benny states that all his friends only live a gallon away.
Well, sounds like bathing is interesting there. I have to go jump in the pool and take a nap before work.
Hyena steaks served on a bed of cous-cous with mango sauce. Mmmmmmm.
Gotta go.
Abby Norman
Great to hear that you're adapting, that vegetarians can eat well, and most importantly that Diet Coke can be found in all parts of the world!
Sounds like living in DC should have prepared you well for the inconsistency of services.
Your friend shouldn't be too embarrassed about the language error. Corporations do it all the time - Pepsi once translated "Come to Life with Pepsi" into Chinese as "Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back from the Grave."
Ahhh the language, brings me back to a time with Annie in France when I asked a frenchman " ou est la guerre?" looking for the train station of course-(lah gahr), with wrinkled brow and dis-belief came a explosion of words only a frenchmen could spew forth-- happens to us all, comedy is always a great ice breaker though,just look at dubya!!
Who was that guy that punched the horse? Mongo or....enjoy the mango's
Hi you guys! Good to hear you're having such fun -- heh, heh! Our Peace Corps group didn't have any of that training stuff you talk about. Lots of French language and abit of political advice then got dumped at our jobs with no further blah. Coke and Fanta were easily available everywhere I was in the mid '60s. What happened or is that the difference between West and East Africa? Nick in church??? Wow! Proof that miracles exist! There's lots of religious sentiment out there and it needs to be taken seriously. East African diplomatic corps members are a big part of our congregation here in Paris. Well, nothing new on the home front. All seems ok for now. Looking forward to more reports and the pictures. Much love to you both!
Nick and Jennie,
It sounds like the lions designed the layout of the area, giving them plenty of opportunity (one hour) to catch a tasty meal of human(s).
I can't wait to see some pics.
I am really trying to visualize what is going on. Nick, sorry, I cannot visualize you 25 pounds heavier, and I really don't think that is going to happen since you walk about 100 miles a day. Hey Jen!!!
I love both of you! Uncle John
Hey guys!!! It is so good to hear that you are both doing good. I am especially happy to hear Jennie is getting her Diet Coke... I was ready to start sending care packages. I know she can't live without the stuff. About getting anywhere in an hour, I can definitely relate, it usually takes about an hour to get anywhere here... well if you consider traffic of course. Everything is good here. I have a new baby Shit-Zhu whom I adore and this past weekend was my sister's wedding, I'll send pictures to your gmail account. Once summer camp ends tomorrow I'll definitely be ready for a break. Take care you guys and I'll talk to you soon.
Hey nick, Jen,
we've been following your wild adventures from Paris and the kids are waiting for pictures of you guys riding ostriches or being chased by hyenas.Tell us more about your training and daily life if you can.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Take care.
Charlie
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