Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Highlights of Kenya

We have but 18 hours or so remaining in Kenya and we reflect, in reverse as mirrors do, on our short stay here this “winter”.

A mango just fell off the tree and into my lap.  Just 20 minutes ago we got hot water in our room for the first time in three days.  But we take pleasure in the pleasant surroundings of the hotel grounds as Sandy draws and I write this under a canopy of flowering trees and vines with the birds chirping.

Last night we met with Connie and Chris over a cold Tusker and a cold Alvaro to share our observations and recommendations concerning our work in western Kenya with the widows.  The Tusker was fine as always and Sandy has discovered Alvaro, a very fizzy non-alcoholic fruit flavored malt beverage made by a Kenyan brewery.

We noted that the widows seem healthy and “fat”, the youth group has energy and potential but needs focus, BioSand water filters are being used effectively by most widows but some still need more time and help adjusting to them, our newly announced vocational training program needs more thought and planning to be sure “social justice” (balanced treatment) issues don’t throw it off track and make it lose its focus – but it is still on fast-forward, and our grass is pretty darned green overall.

Yesterday (Monday), Sandy and I went to the National Museum in Nairobi where we saw the usual permanent exhibits plus clay sculptures by a Kenyan and two exhibits celebrating Kenya’s 50^th year of independence (having been granted their hard fought-for independence from Britain on December 12, 1963).  One of the exhibits, a photographic history was phenomenal, but of course, it’s the only one that did not have an accompanying book.  I suggested they print one and sell it as the exhibit moves around the country.  Perhaps they will.  And, we again saw the actual skulls and bones of hominids dating back as far as 6-7 million years and discovered in Kenya, including Turkana Boy.  

And, would you believe we saw two cheetahs right here in Nairobi?

Sunday was a day of travel on the bus, complete with the usual rough roads, detours, and snags when we encountered huge trucks going the other way on narrow dirt roads.

Saturday, we saw the future,

said good bye,

and helped the youth group get their feet (and hands) wet on the BioSand filter project.

Friday we visited Vumilia after Thursday’s day of rest in Kisumu on Lake Victoria seeing hippos, birds, and cars being washed as we took a leisurely boat ride on the lake.

Wednesday was a day of evaluating the play school, meeting with the Watafutaji officers and committee chairs, and watching the youth group get its first training on installing and maintaining BioSand filters.

Tuesday, we visited Sigalagala Polytech and watched workmen test ground fault interup circuit breakers at the Golf in Kakamega.

Monday, we visited the youth group’s chicken and pig projects in the afternoon, got a review of their finances just before that, and Sandy got her first view this year of the play-school in action.

Sunday found us in the Kakamega Forest watching birds, butterflies, monkeys, and trees with David Ashimosi.

Saturday – big celebration welcomed us.

Friday, shopping in Kakamaga for Saturday’s shindig.

Thursday, the second worst bus ride from hell, Nairobi to Kakamega in a relative flash.  Too bumpy for pictures.  Bur, before that, we spent a couple of days in Nairobi seeing baby elephants, eating good food, visiting Kenyan College after a ride into downtown Nairobi,

and meeting with Connie and Chris to discuss issues and plans.

Then, of course, all this was preceded by  darkness, darkness, darkness as we worked our way eastward across the Atlantic from Washington DC to Istanbul and then southward across southern Europe and northern Africa to Kenya for a 4 AM arrival in Nairobi.