Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity, Jig

6:30am April 25th, 2009 – I’m sitting at home in Beaverton Oregon, with a sweatshirt on, on my own couch after getting 8 hours of wonderful sleep in my own bed, under my own down comforter. But still no shoes or socks.

The trip home started Thursday morning at 6am EAT (East African Time) which would have been 10pm local time. We awoke to an alarm, a rarity for us in Kenya as most of our days, other than at Christ’s Gift Academy) had little need for us to be up any particular time. Yet most days saw us up about 7am anyway. We finished the little packing that we had left, mostly just the last minute items needed for sleeping or getting ready in the morning. I tried checking in on line, but the connection was to slow and our time to get moving was approaching so I bagged it after 15 minutes when it started asking for every ones passport numbers.

Dick and Sandy were both up, ready to see us off. Dick made us eggs, laid by his chicks. They were tasty. I had my over-medium upon a piece of bread with some Greek seasoning sprinkled on top. Our last breakfast in Kenya.

Our travel plans had changed a couple days before. Originally we were to catch the 8am Easy Coach bus from Kisumu to Nairobi where Steve and Judi where to pick us up and take us to the airport. But the day before Steve called and said their plans had changed and they were going to come via Kisumu rather than risk the Mbita – Homa Bay road, possibly ending up in the ditch because of the muddy roads caused by all the rains lately. That was great by us as it meant riding and talking with them for 6 hours, and getting pit stops on demand.

We met Steve and Judi about 7:15 at their hotel, loaded our bags onto their Land Rover and sat down so they could have their breakfast. Morgan showed about 7:40. Even having arranged for the tuk-tuk the night before and having it arrive early did not work for her. She ended up having to call another one when the ordered one did not show. After a nice glass of mango juice for me it was time to say our final goodbyes to Dick and Sandy. Hugs all around and we piled into the car. I got the roomy shotgun position with Bea and Bea in the back. Yes, Steve and Judi’s girls have the same names, Beatrice. In fact their middle and last names are the same too. No, they didn’t do it intentionally. Judy adopted them about 10 years ago and they just happened to have the same names. They went with Big B and Little B for awhile until the younger one got taller then the older one. I guess this has caused some confusion at airports, showing up with 2 girls traveling together with the same names.

We had a pleasant trip into Nairobi. The road is much improved, with new tarmac most of the way and not many speed bumps. Only one stretch that we needed to take a side road to avoid the construction. A couple of potty breaks along the way and a stop at a nice resort next to a lake that had 1,000s of flamingo’s on it. A nice place, but the most expensive soda’s we’ve had all trip at a 100 bob apiece. A good 40 bob more than anyplace else. They also had ballooning available for just $420 US a piece. But the place did have a bar in the pool so I guess that justified the prices.

Boy, this is even boring me a little.

So moving on a little faster. In Nairobi, we found Nick, who happened to actually be staying pretty close to where Steve and Judi were going to be staying. Spent a few minutes repacking in a parking lot, getting the carry on bags lightened up and the check in ones stuffed, but fortunately not over weight. Had one last meal in Kenya, at the Java House by a Nakumatt, which happened to be the same place we ate when we met Heather and Brian in December. The food was good by Kenya standards, but only increased my anticipation to have some of the items I craved back home.

Off to the airport. Steve and Judi stayed with us until the end, the time we had to go through security to get into the checking counters. We didn’t know the routine, so were a little surprised when the time came to say goodbye. A few quick hugs and goodbyes and we were off to join our “real world” again. I guess the fast parting may have been a good thing, didn’t give us enough time to think about it and get emotional. This exit from Kenya was not like our other ones. Previous ones I always had more anticipation for, good or bad, looking toward being home and the need to get settled and back to reality. This one never struck me like that, still doesn’t as I sit here in my living room. This one is not like a new chapter in our life but like the sequel. We have disrupted our past like immensely with this adventure. Six months in a different land, Joyce leaving a job of 20 years, off in a month to a summer at camp in Colorado with nothing but getting resettle in between. And I’m glad I’m looking forward to it with more feelings of excitement than anxiousness.

We had 2 hours in the Nairobi airport before our flight and spent most of the time in the shops looking for items to spend our last few shillings on as we knew they were going to do us little good in the next few years.

Other than the bad layout for getting through the last security check the boarding process was smooth, the over head luggage room was available and the leg room seemed plentiful. This due to the fact that it was particularly room compared to all varieties of public transport in Kenya.

As we took off at 10:15 pm, I think I was not feeling much, mostly numb from not knowing how to think about what had just taken place the last 6 months, nor how the next 6 months would be. No personal video screens on this plane, only overhead ones. Didn’t matter as I hoped to sleep most of the way. After the meal was served I ordered a gin and tonic, popped an ambian and started reading. My hope for sleep was answered as I found myself 6 hours later waking up with my dinner tray and unfinished drink gone. Joyce was lying down on the 2 seats next to me. One of the advantages to being short is the ability to lie on just 2 airline seats. The large lady that was sitting next to us had fortunately moved. Most of the first leg was over, the second meal was about to be served and I was well rested.

In the Amsterdam airport we quickly sought out the reclined chairs in the quiet area by the meditation center. As the other laid down to sleep I walked on the next gate to verify its location and then hit the free shower. It water was warm and come in abundance.

With only a 5 hour layover we were soon boarding our last flight to home. The flight was only two-thirds full, the leg room was still good and we had our personal video screens. I spent the time eating meals, watching 3 movies and reading. Having slept on the last leg and know that we’d be home at noon, I stayed awake, planning on going to bed at a regular time in hopes of getting back in sync to Pacific Time.

We got into PDX 45 minutes early, clearing immigration and customs went smoothly with nothing being confiscated this time. We were greeted by Ruthie, Susy and Doug, Cindy (our ride home) and Morgan’s best friend Amy. After greetings and getting the chocolate chip cookies and dough Susy made for we that morning, we collected and bags and headed home.

It was a little disconcerting that things did not seem to be very unusual and strange to us. Other than the lack of not having car horns honking as we drove, it all seemed too familiar. As Morgan mentioned on the plan, the memories of our great times in Kenya seem to be fading and receding all too quickly. We’ll need to make very conscience effort not to let it slide away to quickly. As part of that effort, I’m planning on doing a few more blogs to recount some of the skipped items and to keep the memories fresh.

We got home and found the house in good shape with our renter just leaving to move on to temporary quarters until her next place is ready. It looked bare as many decorations and personal items had been packed and put away. The cats come and greeted us and both are fatter than ever. Even Jose who has always been skinny had bulked up and both will be going on a strict diet soon.

I’ll have no need to diet for a while. I finally got to weigh myself on my normal scale and was just over the 170 mark at 172.5 with cloths on. I’m hoping to keep a lot of that off. I hope to get into a regular exercising and put some weight on as muscle rather than flab.

The living room has exploding with unpacking. We’ve made our first trip to the store for provisions. Found mangos and pineapples available at 10 times the price we paid just a couple days prior. Joyce could not bring herself to buy tomatoes as they were $2 a pound (vs a nickel each) and didn’t look that good. We will miss walking down the road in Mbita and being able to purchase fresh fruits from the women in their rickety stands for just pennies.

Last night we spent over at our good friends Paul and Cindy for dinner and the Blazer play-off game. Had pizza and salad, both fabulous. I ate to much, will have to watch that going forward. My plan to be extra tired worked and I missed most of the second half of the game having temporary narcolepsy, falling asleep instantly many times and awaking to them all laughing at me. Made it home without falling asleep at the red lights (wow driving for the first time in 6 months).

Hit the wonderful bed and cozy comforter and soon fell asleep for 8 hours of not even moving.

In the next few days I plan on re-purchasing my car, unpacking both my luggage and stored items, re-arranging the garage so we can get into the freezer and reading all the e-mails I skipped while we were gone. And mostly just catching up with the many family and friends we’ve missed so much to see how they are doing.

Reporting from Beaverton,
Paul