Together at Last

12/5/2008 – Ashley and Travis joined up with us yesterday, Thursday the 4th of December. We are very happy to be together, both because we have all been looking forward to it for so long, but also the 4 of us here in Mbita wanted the distraction. Ashley and Travis had a long haul, having left for the airport before noon on Monday, Dec 1st and meeting up with us about 12:30pm on Thursday. Overall their travels went okay, and perhaps they’ll relate any stories sometime. We were not quite as nice to Ash and Trav on their last leg of their journey as we were to ourselves. After wee landed in Nairobi, we had a leisurely, lazy day for the most part, before we board the train for an overnight ride to Kisumu in sleeper cars. Ash and Trav had to make their way quickly to the bus station, called the stage, and find a bus going to Homa Bay. After a misinterpreted phone call with Daniel, who had helped us our first day, Ash called us on a borrowed cell phone about 10:45am telling us they were on their way. Of course we did not know the bus line or the route they were taking to get to Homa Bay, so the arrival time could only be very roughly approximated. We called Dr John in Homa Bay and let him know what we knew about their bus departure time. He said great and they would be waiting for them well ahead of the needed time.

We were all anxious to know when they arrived and kept waiting for a call from about 4pm, the time we hoped they would arrive We knew that was optimist, only giving 6 hrs for the ride, but if all went really really well, that would be the earliest they would make it. About 5pm we got a call from John wonder if we had heard anything, or knew more about the bus line or the route they were taking. We didn’t. He was just asking as 3 buses from Nairobi had already arrived and they had not. He was just hoping that they got on the correct bus as people had been know to direct travelers to the Migori bus rather then the Homa Bay one. Thanks for this piece of info Doc, as we would never had considered that and now rather than just hoping for a slow bus, we worried about the wrong bus. More concern than worry, as both Ash and Trav had been in Kenya before and were capable people of being able to sort out the mistake if they ended up in Migori and not Homa Bay.

Five turned into six which turned into 6:30. Surely they should be in Homa Bay by now. A call to John told us they were not. Great, how far was Migori from Homa Bay? Any chance if we set out to locate them, would we really have a chance? Would that be like jumping into the rapids to try to rescue the wife that just fell in? Then the moment of brilliance for the day struck – call the borrowed phone back that they called us on and see if the kind stranger knew anything. About 6:45 we had our local guy Eli call. To our delight, the man knew who we talked of, said he was with them to Kisii and they were on another bus (turned out to be the same bus actually, but we didn’t find that out until the next day.) that was headed to Homa Bay. They had boarded the bus about 5pm. Great not a problem, how long should the ride from Kisii to Homa Bay take we asked. An hour maybe, maybe 1 and a half. Great, that means they should have been in at least 30 minutes ago.

More wondering and anticipation to hear the news of their arrival into the capable hands of Dr John. The news finally arrived about 7:30 that they had arrived. Yeah, they would soon be at they New Jersey hotel we had reserved a room at for them, to the bargain price of 5 US dollars, for a double. They had some tea, went to bed and were to meet Dr John about 8 am Thursday to get a roach to Homa Bay.

After breakfast and a quick tour of the hospital, they headed for the stage. About 11:30 we got the news that they were aboard and on they way. We took off to town immediately, as we had a couple errands to do on our way to meet them. First stop was the Computer / Office services shop of our committee chairman to print up and copy the Polytechnic Manger advertisement (yes, we are making progress). That took 4 times longer than needed as they first PC froze up while printing and the second would not recognize my flash drive. They finally re-booted the first PC and got our document out and copies made. The bright spot was they treated us to a fruit juice drink they manufacture on site. We got a tour of the manufacturing ‘plant’ even. The fruit was stored under the end of the desktop that housed the 2 PCs. The production was done by a lady sitting on a short stool in the back room, between various other supplies and what-not grinding and juicing the fruit in a blender, then straining the pulp out of it. The Juice was absolutely fantastic, made of pineapple, papaya, avocado ( I think ) and a couple others, and serves icy cold. We definitely will stop by often for more.

Next was the hair cut I needed for more than a couple of weeks. I know this is quite soon for me, as I had one shortly before we left and go at least 3 months between them. But hat hair here is the mode and the shorter it is, the less the hat affects it. First try had the barber at lunch or running an errand. We waited about 15 minutes, chatting with the locals that tended the booths close by. Before the barber showed, we decided we better get to town before the kids arrived. Sure enough as we were walking into town they passed us. I spotted the white arm hanging out the window of the roach and sure enough it was Ashley. A couple minutes later, they drove up to us having dropped off their other passengers at the stage area. We told them we had arranged for Father Chris to pick us all up their so to go back, we’d be their in a minute or two. Joyce called Father Chris as we continued into town, he said he’d be quick with his errands and come get us.

We made it to the stage and greeted each other warmly, it was so nice to finally have them with us. We unloaded the car, great the 2 escorts from Dr John, Table (Tab – Lay) and John. As we were waiting I spotted another barber just across the street from were we were standing and decided, sure, it should be quick, they just buzz it with the electric clippers anyway. Behold, that barber was also at lunch. He did come back shortly and I decided, let’s do it, so I got my first haircut in Africa. It did take longer than I expected, mazungu hair is slipperier and does take a little longer to cut. He did a fine job, I should be good for another 3 weeks or so. The timing was great, as I got a call from Father Chris just as the barber cloak was being removed.

We loaded up and were off to the Mbita Parish compound and our home for the next few months. Ash and Trav were greeted with joy and warmth from their siblings Morgan and Nick. We quickly got the luggage into their room in Lakeview Manor. Only one single bed so Father Charles told us which other one we could take and what mosquito net to take. A little time and innovation and all was arranged in their quarters.

Lunch was served and the remaining afternoon and evening was spent catching up and telling stories of both the US and Kenya. So great to have the family together. We sat here and there, roamed a little bit of the compound, but nothing strenuous. Lots of clouds and a nice breeze made for a comfortable day. They met several of the kids that hang with us and a few of the adults. Unfortunately the clouds also hid the first sunset from them, but we watched anyway.

Both Ash and Trav looked beat but made it through most of the day. Trav did need to head to bed before dinner as his head was hurting and had a sore throat. We celebrated after dinner with Tusker beer that we sent Johnny and Eli to fetch from town. 22 of the 24 bottles made it, as the carriers need to stop and rest and refresh on the trip home with the heavy case. Father Charles broke out the bottle of Napoleon brandy he was saying for the arrival. He made it, but did start in before the rest of us while he was watching the news before dinner and had consumed about a quarter of the 70 proof brandy before we even saw the bottle. Let’s just say he as quite mellow by the time he got to dinner. This father is a great guy and we love him, we could not have a better host. We will have several stories about him along the way.

Both of them slept well and Trav felt much better in the morning. Today (Friday now) was mostly a planned to be a down day, allowing us to spend un-pressured time together and them to recoup some. Some playing with the kids, some new toys Ash and Trav brought along and a little tour of part of the compound.

The sky was almost cloud free and it was very warm. So gave us a reason to have our first family swim in Lake Victoria after lunch. Nick has been playing in the water frequently and Morgan has waded a bit, but today we all got into the act with several of the kids. The water is warm, the sun shining hot and the breeze cooling – this is a great life.

A little more playing after the swim and that brings me up to this point in time. I’m sitting at the dining table and see the sun is just about to set. A good time to end and sign off and make it down to see if the sunset is visible or not.

Paul – over and done for now.