Things get mucky!

So yesterday we had our first encounter with the trials and tribulations of living in Kenya during a rainy season. The dirt road from our house to the main road took us 30 minutes to muddle through in our crocs, instead of the usual 5! And then once we reached the town, we had to avoid a huge throng of people gathered in response to the recent shooting down of a police officer in a nearby region. Once we got to the school we were surprised to see a soldier in army gear with a semi automatic standing about - we soon learned that it was the standard protocal for the duration of secondary exams - the soldier frisks each student as they enter to be sure that they don't carry in any illicit cheating materials! As if our day wasn't exciting enough, on the walk home a man chased us about shoving his crippled arm in our face and asking for money...

The night, however, was quite posh and relaxed! Our friend James was leaving today and so everyone decided to go out to eat at a Tavern in Outspan, which is the swankiest resort in town. First we visited the house James has been stayinbg in for free, which is a palace... it had all hardwood floors, three bathrooms, a refridgerator, and a puppy... and we thought we had it good! The meal was delishious - it's the first time we've had western food since we've been here. It is the only place in town that you can find real Heinz ketchup (I'll never take it for granted again!), and magz and I had delishious pizzqa, and tried our first African beer, which is called Tusker and is actually quite good, even to a non-beer drinker. After noticing that we barely ever see people smoking here, we inquired about it and found out that smoking is only permitted in designated areas outdoors - and only for men. Women only smoke at night in the clubs, and are immediately assumed to be prostitutes - luckily me and magz don't have any problems there!

Today, on the way to the Jubilee schoolhouse, a crazy downpuour started, and we had to take refuge in a bar along the street.... we've been trudging through muck and have had mud caked onto our legs ever since! We've been assigned to tutor certain kids in the primary preperatory class who are behind due to having lived on the street until recently, or sickness. One student, Jeff, is the oldest because of having lived on the streets but he's really bright and keen to learn, and he can speak 4 different languages. You would never know which ones are HIV positive, as they are often the most hopeful and entertaining ones with the biggest smiles!

The biggest obstacle Magz and I have encountered thus far in Kenya is that people try to feed you way too much food, which is better than the alternative I suppose. But seriously, they pile bucketfuls in front of you and often seem hurt if you can't finish it! Luckily, we've found a way to beat the system - we save what we can't finish and give it to street kids, which are numerous and can be distinguished from other children by the bottles of glue they sniff continuously, apparently to numb the hunger pangs. They're always very appreciative of the doggy-bagged meals.

There are a couple of tiny little two or three-year old boys that we pass on our way to school everyday who run out of nowhere and attack us with hugs - which is an awesome way to start the day! I've tried a couple times to upload some pictures, but this computer is not having it... hopefully I'll have more success after I burn them onto a CD.

I hope everything is good in Canada, Kenya is great!

Kwaheri!!
=:0)


P.S.: The other day I won a race agains five of the Kenyan schoolboys... definitely a highlight of the trip hehe