Note on Videos and Pictures

Sorry about the low res videos.  While we have internet, it is not real fast and we pay by the kilo-byte.  So smaller pictures and  low res videos

PM

Michael Jackson Dance Party

There is currently a Michael Jackson dance party happening in the living room. 

See it here

http://picasaweb.google.com/MaiersInAfrica/DanceParty

DJ PDaddy

A few Thoughts

T-shirt of the day “Tell you boobs to quit staring at my eyes”  At least it was worn by a male.

Morgan has a couple of favorite Luo phrases.  “You are cheating me” and “What is wrong with you”.  The latter seems to bring laughter from others around when she uses it on somebody.

School has closed for the term.  So our schedule will change some.  Will spend some time up at school, but not as much.  Mostly getting things ready for next term which starts Sept 6th.

The Kenyan referendum on the new constitution is next week.  It’s a big deal.  It is suppose to pass, but will be close I think.  People don’t think that there will be any disturbances from it, but are concerned it might since public reaction is not always what is expected.  Lots of rallies both for and against going on.  I quit reading the paper because so much of it was on the topic and all seemed to say the same thing day after day.

Our house guest Fenny, who was volunteering at school, left this morning.  She was a delight and we’ll miss her.  It’s always nice having someone local around to ask about the Kenyan prospection.  And she actually laughed at my jokes and sarcasm.

Slow day….

I think we will get down to the lake finally today.

From lazy day in Mbita,

Paul

Life in Mbita (repeat)

Not sure if this made it or not, so may be a repeat.

School is closing tomorrow and we just got here!  I am having so much fun with all of my projects at CGA…go figure!  It has been a busy week as the school prepares to close down for 5 weeks.  The teachers discovered that Paul and I can use a computer 10-key to add up all the student grades/scores and take 15 minutes to do what would take them 4 hours to do.  We have many requests to help!  Judi has set up several projects for me to work on so I will be at school doing work even when the kids are not there.  That is a good thing because there really is not much to do around this little town except play with kids and APPARENTLY, Mavin thinks that we live to far for him to come to visit every day.  “It is very far” he told me when I asked him why he had not visited recently.  Oh well, I set up a play date for Saturday when they can stay for a long time. 

So here is an update on all of our kids:  Junior (age 12) attends CGA so I get to see him most school days except I have to be cool because I embarrass him when I talk to him.  He did not volunteer that info, I asked him…and he said “yes”.  Unfortunately, he has not been in school all week.  “father” told me that he burned his leg last Friday, with hot oil, so I went to see him yesterday.  OHMYGOSH…his poor leg looks like someone took their hand, after it was dipped in acid, and slapped his shin.  There is a terrible burn, literally the size of my outstretched hand.  His mother did not take him to the doctor, which I guess is like her, but a “nurse” neighbor gave him something to wash it with.  It actually seems to be healing quite well and does not seem to be infected…but ewwwww.  Poor kid!  He is the sweetest thing. 

Mavine, Eunice and Michael are siblings whose mother “went away” in February.  Apparently, she was very sick with boils all over her body but would not accept/admit that she had AIDS.  People say that she went to a hospital in Kisumu…and I suspect that she has died.  Well, these kids have been on their own until about 4 weeks ago when a nice African/Canadian couple  (Paul & Erin)asked them into their home.  Michael, the eldest – at 12, only just moved in with Erin and Paul a few days ago.  He did not want to leave his home and their things (what little they had).  I think he was hoping his mother was coming home.  He had been doing odd jobs for someone who gave him food, but I am so happy that he decided to go with his bro and sis.  I had a nice visit with Erin and Paul 2 weeks ago and they are here working with orphans and widows.  It seems that they are willing to have the kids with them, at least for now.  They have a nice place with a front yard that sounds like our house here last year.  Apparently, that is where all the kids play instead of my house…that is toooo far!!! 

Magdeline is no where to be seen.  No one knows where she went but Byron is still with his elderly grandmother.  This is his 2nd year at Star of the Sea Nursery School (we pay $50 a year for him) and he is actually able to talk with me a little bit.  I have only been with him 4 times but he looooves me.  When I went to visit Junior’s house yesterday, Byron was waiting outside for me when I came out.  He was barefoot (his shoes fell into the pit latrine) but he took me to his boots (full of holes) and put them on then we walked hand in hand to visit Mavine & Eunice,  Only Mavine was home with the twin boys that Paul and Erin are adopting (Paul’s brother died so they took the boys in) and the housegirl.  Byron and I visited for awhile and then I took him home.  He will be here on Saturday when the gang comes for a visit.  I think we will play BINGO.  I have prizes!  Anyway, I visited Byron at school one day (to pay his fees) and when I came in he smiled so big and just looked around and smiled at the other kids like “Oh, she is MY friend”.  A group of our kids have come to the church we are attending and Byron was all snuggily with me, but apparently he was biting and hitting the other kids when they kids went outside for the kids lesson…He is a wolf in sheeps clothing!  His uncle came to CGA and met with the orphan overseer and me to discuss, again, the possibility of getting Byron into CGA next year. Someone has to provide the mother’s death certificate and Byron’s birth certificate to get him admitted,,  His uncle said that he would take care of it….I can only hope and pray that he will.  We could use your prayers for this one because Byron will just be a lost little boy if he does not get into this school.  He can eat 2 meals a day there, be well cared for, learn well and not be “caned”.  I don’t think he eats much as his little belly is pretty distended and hard.  PRAY HARD!

well, that is enough for me right now…I will keep you posted on the other kids.  These are the most interesting stories, so hopefully, this will keep you for awhile.  You would not believe the stories that we hear everyday!    ORITI…until next time

It’s Been a Few Days

Jul 29, 2010 – The first thing I had to do today when I started up my laptop was use the tweezers from my pocket knife to remove the pieces of lake flies that littered my keyboard.  Wasn’t to bad.  I had to leave it on last night because the backup I was doing took foorreevveeerrrrrr.  And the flies had plenty of time to find my lit screen.

I find that I’m already talking to the locals with a strange accent – the way that the locals speak English.  I’m wondering if it is going to show up in the way I type soon.  I don’t remember talking that way the last time I was here.  But then most of my talking was to my family that was along, this time it is mostly to locals.

This place is really very beautiful, particularly where we are located.  The school itself is a bit up the hill from the lake.  From certain places you can look out to the lake and see several islands.  Even though we are in a drier season right now, the trees and cacti (which are as big as the trees and whose bases actually look like tree trunks) are still green.  So as you gaze out you see a landscape covered with trees, water, rolling hills.  From a distance the homes do not look that impoverished.  For me, when I pass by the little shacks people call home, it definitely puts the scenery into second place and hard to see its beauty.

I’m getting spoiled living at Steve and Judi’s.  It is so far above our place and time at the Catholic parish a year and a half ago.  many reasons for this, but main seems to be the tea kettle shower.  It is so nice to be able to bathe with water pouring out from above rather than from a pitcher.  It is definitely one of the pleasures of the day.  The others are a constant power supply to keep the laptop going.  I spend more on internet time that families spend to eat.  I think the nice kitchen setup and the slightly more variety of meals is a big plus as well.

Last night I went out onto the enclosed veranda, with the sun about 45 minutes from setting.  It was peaceful and calming, a slight breeze was blowing though the room.  It is the brightest spot in the house.  The sky was starting to glow the burning orange of a setting sun.  I was not hot.  I thought, this is delightful, tropical, peaceful.  Like vacation times.  I would not mind being on vacation here if I had no responsibilities.

Living further from downtown Mbita and the many more shops, tin houses that line the road, and all the people scurrying about is a much different feel.  I do not think that you get as true of sense of the real life around the area.  We are removed a step or two from that.  It is not on my mind as much, it makes me forget how bad it actually is for some.  I need to make more trips into town to be reminded.

I don’t remember all that I’ve written about, and do not care to review what I’ve said in the past.  And I don’t read what Joyce writes.  So if I repeat myself, deal with it. 

Should be some new pictures up at this time.  Link should be in the upper right someplace.

It is closing week here at school, so teachers and students are wrapping up for the month long holiday.

What are you doing there?

This has been a common question from my family.  What are our day to day duties, particularly at the school, Christ’s Gift Academy.

Joyce – she is loving it.  She is in the admin building, helping out where asked and volunteering to help even when not asked.  She is planning and organizing and helping kids and planning music – all things she loves and excels at.

Helped teachers add and average grades for the end term – using the computer to do it quickly, not a small calculator that most the teachers would use.  She is organizing for a Christmas pageant to be put on at the end of school for the year.  Has already held auditions and awarded parts for the roles.  Unfortunately we will be gone by the time it is done.  Organizing the classroom supplies, including inventory the store room and  help determine how much to order for term III.  Tutoring some kids in multiple subjects.  Helps a couple of kids with exams by reading them the questions.  Reads stories to the young ones, helps in the lower classrooms if needed.  She seems to be busy all the time, but always has enough time for one more item.

I’m in the manager’s office.  This is a non-scholastic area.  I’m responsible for the the school property and money matters.  I collect fees from the few that are fee payers here.  Most are sponsored by people from the US.  I also got to send out notices to the ones that were late.  All fees for the year were to be paid by now.  If they are not cleared soon, the kids will not be allowed back term III until paid up.  I get requests for anything that needs money – more soap for the kitchen, more food, special food for special meals, help for widows ( they have about a dozen widows close by school that they help with expenses and food), etc.  I have helped with some of the grade adding since I have time and still posses my mad 10 key skills and have the time.  Any school property that leaves the school grounds also need to have permission, which I grant with a gate pass.  I also need to pay the day laborers and others that are on a cash basis.  I will be completing the financial summaries for the months that end while i am here – adding the receipts and checks, filling in the expense spreadsheet and Quickbooks accounts.  And reconciling the bank account and cash on hand (other than payroll, about half of the expenses are cash based so plenty of receipts to write).  Soon I expect to have to be listening to many parents telling me why they can’t pay the fees.  I’ll need to decide whether to let them slide for a while or keep the child out of school – pray for wisdom and discernment on this front.  I don’t keep as busy as Joyce having time to write blogs like this one. 

Both of us come about 7:30 each morning and join the staff in morning devotions, prayers or chapel time (that includes the kids).  We finish somewhere from 3:30 to 5pm.  August brings holiday and the schedule will be much lighter.

At the home, there are a few projects and tasks to be done, but nothing daunting.  Pets to feed, water tanks to fill (turning on the valve when the city water is released) watering the garden on the weekends, a few minor home repairs.  Joyce cooks, I wash the dishes.  Bed time usually between 9 and 10.

From CGA Manager’s Office,

Paul

Mbita Visits Kisumu

Paul and I just returned from a two-night visit with Morgan in Kisumu.  Joe, our neighbor and fellow mzungu (he has worked at CGA for 7 years) decided to drive his vehicle to Kisumu to watch some football matches and we asked if we could hitch a ride.  It was so nice compared to public transportation.  We left on the 11am ferry, on Thursday, and were so happy to see Morgan again.  She actually had a bed available for us (she has opened her apartment to many people, on and off) so we stayed with her for two nights.  There is such a huge difference in our quiet life in Mbita compared to Kisumu.  Kisumu is a busy, noisy town full of people and Mbita is quiet and small.  I have decided that I like the life in Mbita better.  I guess God knows where we need to be, and also where Morgan needs to be!  It is a great break to go to Kisumu, but as we drove down our bumpy, dirt road to our house it felt good to be home again. 

We had a nice afternoon and evening at Morgan’s place.  Kelsey made a great meal for us.  We had “mexican night”, but sadly, no margaritas.  The food was good and it was nice to catch up with Kelsey and Abbey and Morgan.  Morgan’s apartment is just adorable!  No wonder she wants to stay in Kenya for another year.  We did buy her ROUND trip airline ticket last week to come home at Christmas-time.  She will be home the 28th of November and back to Kenya on January 12th…a good long time!

I was so excited to be able to go to Kisumu on Thursday because that meant that I could go with Morgan, and her baby classes, on their “tour” (field trip) on Friday.  It took two loads in a matatu to get all of the kids and teachers to The impala Park, but all you have to do is throw 20 kids and 4 adults into the van and off you go!  The Impala park was a 15 minute drive across town but then we had to wait for the same driver to go back to get the second load. Don’t ask me why we didn’t just hire 2 matutus….oh, life in Kenya.  The 3 hour tour consisted of walking around a fairly nice park and looking at some animals in cages.  We did see cheetahs, lions, hyenas and a few other animals but the best part was when Morgan and I got to feed the “blue-balled” monkeys.  I don’t know what their actual name is, but yes….they had florescent blue balls!  There were about 10 monkeys just running around waiting for people to feed them bisquits (yes, “BISQUITS…that is how you say it).  Morgan was doing her job organizing the bisquits and jewiss (yes, jew-iss)  while the teachers were letting the kids look at the boats that were being loaded up with, way too many, bigger kids when she called the teacher to tell her that the monkeys were going to steal all of the bisquits if we did not come soon.  I knew that she was feeding monkeys so I told the teacher I would go and help Morgan.  We had our own feeding session before the kids came and scared them all away.  See the picture page to see what I mean!  Anyway, the kids were adorable but making them stay in a line, and “march, march marching like a “solja” was sometimes a lost cause.  Passing out the jew-iss and bisquits in any kind of an orderly fashion was also quite a challenge.  Morgan was awesome trying to keep the kids in order.  She knows quite a bit of kiswahili and Luo but I did come to realize that she was using the same phrases over and over.  “Sit down, make a line, don’t hit…” were some of her common words.  The kids and teachers do love her though and she is really at home in that place.  After the tour we were back at school for a lunch of rice and cooked veggies and then the kids went home.  Well, at least I assume they did.  Kids just wander around and people pick them up when they want to.  The teachers don’t leave until the kids are gone, but Morgan can leave when she wants to so we decided to go home.  Spent the afternoon reading while Paul was at football (soccer) with Joe and another guy, also named Paul.  We all went to The Simba Club for an Indian dinner buffet and had a nice evening.  All you can eat for 500 ks (about $6.50).  The place was filled with a bunch of mzungus and Indians.  Not too many Kenyans, but it is kind of a Friday night get-a-way. 

Paul and Morgan and I went into town to get some errands done on Saturday morning…got a photo printed, more malaria medication, bought a new Kenyan flag for CGA (we will give it to the school when we leave as theirs is in tatters), and sat and had a nice cup of coffee.  I actually had my first COLD Stoney Tangawizi.  I have tried 3 other times for a “stoney” but this was my first success.  Stoney Tangawizi is a ginger soda made by Coca-cola (nothing like ginger ale) and is DELICIOUS.  You either love it or hate it.  Anyway, then we said goodbye to Morgan and were off to Mbita. 

There are no kids at our house today because I told them we would be gone so we can just hear kids in the area playing and the sound of waves hitting the shores of Lake Victoria.  The house is quite, oh wait…I do hear the coo of a ringed-neck dove…no babies crying or donkeys making their obnoxious noises right now.  A breeze always comes to the lake in the afternoons and you almost think you are at the ocean.  I plan to go and get Byron and bring him to the house tomorrow.  I have not seen him in awhile because the kids told me his shoes were lost in the toilet.  I had a neighbor buy him a pair of shoes when she went to the market a few days ago, and Junior delivered them for me.  He said that they fit fine (who knows???) so I hope to see him tomorrow. 

Life is pretty simple here and there is really not a lot to do, but it is really nice.  I will write again soon and tell you about our life in Mbita. Hey, I am not even sweating right now!!!

From Kisumu

07-24-2010 – This blog brought to you by Dr Saba Saba Aziz, for all that troubles you – From bad luck to court cases to vomiting.

Sitting in Morgan’s dining room at here dining room table getting my breakfast ready.  I’m having nescafe instant coffee and toast with grape jam – that has whole grapes in it. 

It’s cooler here in Kisumu, which is nice.  Kisumu seems like such a big city after time in Mbita.  Of course for Kenya Kisumu is a large city – number 3 or 4.  Malls, movie theaters, high rises (5 or 6 stories), real mechanics, etc.  But I’m liking it more in Mbita, the more rural setting, the slower life, the lack of constant noise.

Abbey is here with us this morning.  She is one of the strays that Morgan has picked up.  I not talking cats, or a goat, or a chicken, but a real person.  Abbey’s plans on Rusinga didn’t pan out fully so she came back to Kisumu and needed a place to stay and Morgan was more than accommodating.  Morgan has picked up more than one stray person (besides a couple of cats) along the way.  They come and stay for various lengths of time for various reasons. 

I’ve had some really good ice cream 3 times while I’ve been here.  There is a little ice cream shop in the Mega City Nakumat mall.  They make their own ice cream and yogurts on-site.  It’s 100 to 150 bob per scoop – quite an indulgence.  Especially when think that that amount can feed a family for a day or more in Mbita.

I’ve also had pizza, a double decker cheese burger (that actually wasn’t too bad meat consistency wise), Chinese food and partook in an Indian buffet.  The things you can get in Kisumu.

I spent most of yesterday at the high school soccer tournament.  This is the provincial level, one step from the nationals.  Some decent play, some not.  Joe does a lot with soccer at CGA / Mbita and came to watch the matches.  So Joyce and I hopped a ride with him to get into town.  He has a nice vehicle.  I one point when we passed a matatu crammed with bodies I thought how blessed and fortunate I was to be sitting in the passenger seat all by myself – with air conditioning blowing!  I didn’t think I’d ever experience air conditioning in a vehicle in Kenya.

One match was stopped when the fans stormed the field.  We think it was because a team had a goal negated because of some foul.  The fans didn’t like the call, doesn’t matter if it was correct or not, and charged the refs.  Over the next few minutes groups of fans would suddenly take off running in various directions for reasons unknown.  Kelsey says this is not uncommon.

Saw one match at Moi Stadium, the big municipal stadium in town.  Not a bad stadium.  The match was so popular (the home team was playing) that we had to sit on random concrete blocks on the edge outside the seating area which is packed.  I little warm and I was told the smoke was not bad that day.  You see, the stadium sits right next to the town dump and they are constantly burning the garbage.  I felt like a hot dog being roasted over a campfire, but told I was lucking because there were not black billowing smoke flowing through the stadium.

Signing out from Kisumu,

Paul

Remember Dr Saba Saba Aziz is from Uganda, so you know he has to be good!

This and That

July 21, 2010 - This blog brought to you by Holiday Inn at Rusinga.  They have a decent chicken dinner, clean rooms and sometimes music blaring while you eat.

Just some tidbits today.

I got to attend my first PTA meeting yesterday.  It only started 47 minutes late.  Fortunately I didn’t go until Mr Gwala came and told me the meeting was starting.  I got to sit up front and had troubles keeping my eyes open – fortunately never for very long and I didn’t do any head bobbing – I think.  My only part was introducing myself.  Joyce lucked out and thought she was told she need not go so took off before they come looking for her.

First PTA meeting I’ve attended in a primary school where they discussed giving pregnancy tests to the girls.

Meeting seem so much longer when everything needs to be translated.  So I only catch about a fourth of what is said.  No wonder I was nodding off.  And the main speaker would change back and forth from English to Luo, so the translating just did the other.  But strange the speaker would say one sentence in English and the next in Luo.

 

Dirty money.  Here is a newer bill compared to a well used one.  This is by far not the worst bill I’ve come across, it is only the most disgusting one I’d actually put into my pocket.  This is a 50 bob note, the smallest they make.  It is a very common one in the little road side stands and probably never gets to a bank to be taken out of circulation.  The proper way to carry is to fold it at least 18 times it seems and stick it in the corner of you bag.

Joyce is loving the kids.  I’m still growing accustom to being here and the role I’m playing at school.  Joyce is thriving on the kids, I’m still in the twitching stage.  Mostly so far I just make myself scarce.

We have 2 dogs, Bell and Boots.  Pretty good dogs, but in Mbita dogs are usually just roaming free and the most affection they get is a beating (unfortunately just like to many kids).  Most kids are scared of dogs, because they main purpose is as guard dogs.  So when Father took off running and the dogs took chase thinking it was a grand game, terror was in the face of Father.  Father would not stop but fortunately ran by me so I just grabbed him on the way by and Joyce then consoled him.  Mavine seems to like the dogs – go figure.

 

Here is the result of Joyce’s shopping trip.  The produce, not the kids.  Total cost – 100bob, about $1.25.  Look at the size of those avocados!

 

Here’s Morgan arriving for her first visit to Mbita since we have been here.  The kids were there to greet her. 

Just went to open the maintenance shop – lovely smell of the toilets up there.  I don’t know if that is worse or not than the wafting smell of burning hair that was passing through my office yesterday.  I didn’t want to go see where that was coming from.

Here is his royal highness Brinkley.  This must be on the the most spoiled cats in all of Kenya.  His bed even has a mosquito net.  I blame some of this spoilness on a previous visitor to the Cochran household – Donnie Jean.  This cat insists on fresh food and water.  Her won’t eat the last of the food in the bowl – must have something newer.  And in this land where all the other animals poop where ever they are standing, this cat insists on having a potty box!  As far as I can tell even if it is outside it will go the the box.  At night we need to bring it inside for his night time use.

Enough already,

paul

Living Conditions

7/19/2010 - Even after just a week here in Mbita, and the problems with the plumbing, I already know that our living conditions are going to be much much nicer than our last time here.

Staying at Steve and Judi’s home is a real blessing.  It almost seems decadent compared to most home around.  I have put up pictures of their home ready.  It has

- 4 bedrooms of nice size with comfortable beds.  Last time while we had 3 bedrooms, 2 of them were the size of small walk in closets.

-a shower room, which I call the ‘tea kettle shower’ after the modified tea kettle that is used for the shower head,

-an inside toilet with commode.  Sure the flush system are pails of waste shower water dumped directly in to the bowl, but still more convenient than the long drop.  However, there is a charm to using the long drop (again, that’s a pit toilet with just a hole in the floor rather then a seat) and just seems more efficient in many ways.

-The kitchen has a gas stove and oven.  It is efficiently arranged with every close at hand (since it is only about 6 by 10 feet.  It has a small working faucet with a plastic bowl catch basin.  The built in sink is covered up as it is not plumbed and water dumped into it just spills onto the floor.  The wash station is actually outside and quite efficient with its separate wash and rinse bowls.  To conserve water the once the wash water is done, the rinse water it cycled in to the wash water and fresh water is used to rinse.

-The dining room has a nice table that can sit at least 9, probably more.

-The living room is spacious, with 2 love seats, 4 other chairs and a coffee table.

-And the veranda is great and screened in well enough to keep out all but the smallest lake flies.

-There is running water inside.  This operates from a raised tank outside and gravity provides the horse power.  Best of all the city water which comes 2 or 3 times a week can be used to fill the raise tank.

-We even have consistent power thanks to solar panels.  We have one light in the living room this powers (we use a lot of candle power besides) and it is used mostly for all the electronics that we Americans seem to prize so much. 

-Our meals will be of more variety since we have a better setup.  We have a lady that comes in 3 times a week to clean, do laundry, do some food preparation and run errands.  The house is nicely and tastefully decorated and well maintained.

-And it’s winter time here, the coolest months, I think last night even got into the low 70s.  In fact Joyce was setting quite a walking pace to school today.  I commented on how fast she was going.  Her response was that it was because she was not sweating – she must be acclimating to the weather.  I pointed out that it was the coolest morning we had had so far and a very nice cool breeze was blowing.

Well, it’s about time to go see a feeding program on Rusinga Island.

From CGA,

Paul

First Saturday part II

7/17/2010 - Joyce told the kids yesterday that they could come back today.  After a little give and take, 10 am was determined to be the time they could come.  How they know the time I’m not sure, I’ve seen no clocks in most of the homes of theirs I’ve visited.  Of course the cell phones everyone have do tell the time, but these kids don’t have any.  But somehow, they are suppose to arrive no sooner then 10.  And just as planned, they are rattle the gate with a stick at 9.  It is nice having a completely fenced, with an 8 foot high speckled with cactus fence, yard and a gate the has a large lock on it.  At least they can’t get to the front door without us opening the gate.

I told them they were early and to come back in an hour.  They quieted down, quit rattling the gate with the stick, and wondered away.  Not far, just sort of out of sight.  We did finally let them in about 9:30 when Fenny was leaving to get her hair done (after all, it was a very plain doo and she’d already had it for two weeks.  This one would be much fancier and good for at least a month.)

Joyce is taking seriously the job description Steve outlined when he asked us to come - ‘Joyce can just love on the kids’.  She has great patience with them, can mediate the little skirmishes with tenderness and keep the gang of twelve mostly civilized.

We did send them away for a while midday.  I tell you, it is like herding cats trying to get all 12 of them out the gate at the same time.  A couple go out, one heads for the swing in the yard, causing a few others to divert.  Get them focused to head to the gate and half the ones that already left notice not everyone is following, so they sneak back in as I’m scurry the stragglers toward the fence.  And 2 duck into the outhouse for a quite release….

They are back already.  A trickle into a flood.  Joyce just shooed them out of the veranda to go play in the yard and blow off steam.

Mavine is still active as ever and is the first one to try and climb anything that looks like it can be climbed, as in the horizontal pole in the veranda for handling plants from.  I’m sure he could had made it up to the rafters, but was stopped by Joyce.

We are also awaiting the arrival of Morgan.  She runs on Kenyan time.  Her get up early to come started at about 9:30 when Joyce called her.  She eventually got herself to town and on a matatu.  Of course she got the one which broke down on the way.  Finally they got a new one, I mean another one, to pick them up.  She’s on the ferry as I type (at 4:45pm), of course it was 45 minutes late leaving.  I expect we will be seeing her about an hour from now.

All in a relaxing day in Mbita.

Paul

First Saturday

7/17/2010 – This is the first Saturday that we have been in Mbita without Steve and Judy.  Of course we only had one Sat with them. 

We got to sleep in, which means it was almost fully light out, so must have been around 7am.  That’s really good for me as most of the time so far I’m waiting the first signs of dawn which happens about 5:45am.

I don’t really know what time I got up – it didn’t matter, but by the time I complete the plumbing repairs it was not even 8am.

That’s right, I’ve already started my home repairs.  Our shower, which is a tea kettle with gravity fed water was no longer working.  This was the second time, the first being when it stopped completely the night before Steve and Judi left.  That night Steve and I spent an hour looking into various possibilities – tank outlet clogged, shower spigot blocked (didn’t hold out much hope for this one as the only other functional part of the gravity fed system, the kitchen faucet, also was not working), the junction between the original plumbing and the gravity system, etc.  No luck.  Steve needed to be packing, so i told him I’d handle it in the morning.  He left me with the advice, if I call in a plumber, do not let them put in anymore galvanized pipes.  Just go with the plastic pipes, don’t bury it just run it right along the wall and just punch a new hole through the walls where you need to get access tot he shower room.

This morning only the shower was acting up, the kitchen was only a little slow and the shower had some pressure.  Some being enough to have running water if you removed the riser pipe from the spigot.  Not enough to get up the riser however.  The kitchen only a little slower.

Steve and I had pretty much concluded that there was a clog someplace (what deduction ability).  How to find it and remove it was another story.  There is no flush value, there are a number of turns and elbows in the 25 or so feet of pipes that exist and no easily removed sections. 

But the city water was flowing, the riser pipe in the shower comes off easily as it is just 2 pieces of plastic pipes pushed together and I have a hose and outside city water spigot.  The hose happens to fit the plastic pipe the the riser was connected to.  The hose is long enough to run from the shower to the outside city water spigot.  So I back flushed the system hoping to push the clog out of the way.  Of course the spigot didn’t fit the hose, so i just had to push the hose up against the spigot as tightly as I could, wrapping my hand around the ‘connection’ the best I could to not have water squirting all over me.

Hey, believe it or not, it worked.  I took a great long shower afterwards and then headed up to school just a couple hours late.

But then Friday morning brought the problem back, so this morning I tried the same fix again, only flushing the system a couple times with letting the water run in the shower for a while in between to clean the clog a little extra, hopefully.

We’ll see how it goes and stays going over the next couple of days.  the pitcher bathing is just not as satisfying as a tea kettle shower.

Reporting from Mbita,

Plumber Paul

Wow, so much to Say

july 15, 2010 - This blog brought to you by BIMOSS Hotel.  With conference facilities, bar, accommodations and restaurant.  This is a sign that shows how Mbita is growing.  It is actually located outside of town, letting in coming visitors know what is available.  And it’s a fancy sign, looks like the text and pictures were printed on a vinyl sheet that is stuck to a metal sign.  A picture is worth a 1,000 words, but I think the actually place would be described with a different 1,000 words.

There is also the Amazon Guesthouse bed and breakfast on the way into town.  I’ll have to see if I can get them to sponsor a blog.

Steve and Judi have been gone for 2 days now and all is going okay.  Hit up by one ‘neighbor’ for some rent money which we did not give, but did give some leftovers today.

Mbita is growing by leaps and bounds.  It’s is getting more and more people and the streets are busy.  I think the piki pikis (motor bikes) have tripled since we were last here.  They are for hire and the driver will take us from here to town for just 50 ksh ( about 70 cents).  Need to cross the streets carefully now because there are so many of these thing zooming by.

I walked to town today, thinking I should have shelled out the 50 bob (that’s slang for shilling) to ride at least one way.  It rained a little last night which mostly just causes the humidity to go up up up.  I can’t believe I’m drinking enough water to replace the sweat I lost today.  I got back to the school and I felt drenched from head to toes.  I swear that when I sat down I felt like I sat in a puddle.  Yeah, visualize that.

I like to think that it is just the Mbita diet hard at work.  That I’m actually just feeling the fat melt away by the pound (or liter).  ‘Yeah think of them as fat modules’ Joyce says.

Well Joyce is waiting to watch another episode of the 4th season of the Tudors I downloaded as a special surprise for her.  I tell you this being high tech in Mbita is just so strange.  Cooking done over a wood fire by someone holding a cell phone.  Oh, that lady we gave some leftovers to, she has a cell phone!  Really, cell phones seem to be more important than food to some around here.

For Bimoss Hotel,

Paul

P.S. Click on the link in the upper right corner to see the pictures we have posted.

Kenyan Speak

Most of the people here in Kenya speak English.  However it is there second or third language.  Most have their native tribal language and Swahili before learning English.  Even grade 2 or 3 kids may be trilingual. 

So, since it’s ETL (English as a third language) and not even ESL (English as a second language) I must give them credit for how well they speak.  But it is still frustrating at times on their lack of precision.  Not necessary on the pronunciation, but on the generality of the word used or the meaning.  Q: Where do you live? A: Just there.  Q: How far? A: Not far. These may not be the best examples, but give you a little of the feel.  Even asking very specific questions tend to solicit general replies. 

At first I thought it just must be there level of English that is the matter.  Then it struck me the other day.  How precise is there native language?  I asked Steve and he said that Luo, the language of the local tribe, is simplistic and general.  In some cases, one Luo word might be used for different English words.  For example, love, friendship, respect all have the same Luo word associated with them. 

It just is frustrating for me, the more analytical type to not get more precise answers sometimes.

Another aspect of Kenya speak is that they tend to go on and on, repeating in just a slight variation the same thing over and over and over and over.  This can make what could be a 30 second conversation last 5 minutes.  I don’t know if this comes from the culture, the lack of knowing precise English, or they just like to hear themselves talk.  This is by no means universal, and it may be that it is actually just a few, but they make such an impact that it stands out.

Mr Gwala the headmaster here at CGA is a great example.  This morning he had something to tell the staff and request that they stay after chapel, he had something to tell them, it would just take 3 minutes.  Five minute pass, then ten, at about 12 minutes after his intro into the topic in general terms, he finally details what the topic is.  Fortunately the pace picks up at this point  We pass 20 and 25 minutes, finally at 29 minutes he finishes. 

Breaking news break – Joyce just found me hiding in the manager’s office typing this.  She just got asked to present awards to seventh grade for the results of the Hexagon Tests results.  What an honor.  I probably missed out on my opportunity to do the same by slinking off to hide.  Of course she was not told ahead of time, and when they motioned to her, she thought it was the person next to her.  Oh, the reward was one small piece of candy.

Back on topic now.  Mr Gwala is probably the extreme.  I think anytime I’ve heard him address a gathering, the minimum time has been 10 minutes.  But that was a very short one for him.

Well so much for now.  I’m going to try and post these blogs now.  I still need to write up something on the state of technology here and in particular my use and perspective of it.

Reporting from the managers office,

Paul

Various Thought and Items

July 11, 2010 - Just a few pictures and a couple unrelated items.

Joyce has gone out and seen our kids.  They even found us in time on Sunday to go to church with us.  Here we see them entering the church with Joyce.  It definitely was a significant increase in attendance.

I met the kids for the first time today on the way to church.  First I came across Byron and Eunice.  It appears that Eunice has replaced Magdaline as Byron’s escort, bringing him along with the group and carrying him when needed.  The the boy’s greeted me later down the road.  The first words were from Father (pronounced Fatha) “Hello Paul, you are fat”.  Thanks kids, glad you noticed, I’m here for the Mbita diet.

 

Here’s Judy in the kitchen preparing the traditional Saturday Noight dinner – pizza.  That’s traditional for Steve and Judi’s household, not a locals tradition.  That would have been ugali which I haven’t had the pleasure of yet.

 

Here is Steve burning the garbage.  this will be one of the household chores I’ll be responsible for while they are gone.

 

I’ve already had a chance to use a long drop (pit toilet) a couple of times, Joyce has nearly fainted from the heat walking around the roads to town, and stubbed my toes a few times.

I have to get my Kenya legs back.  I find myself stumbling quite often walking the paths and roads.  This is like developing sea legs, with time you get use to the motion, or in this case the loose dirt, holes, stones and goats.

From Mbita,

Paul

Blog 1 From Dulles, Washington DC

This is the first of hopefully several comments on life I’ll be making while we are away, again.

A little background for those who do not know.  A few months ago, while Joyce, the wife, was away at a women’s retreat with church I got an e-mail from Steve.  That’s Steve of Steve and Judi, friends that we made in 2009 during our last journey into Kenya.  I’m sure you’ll hear more about Steve, and Judi, along the way here, but for now all you need know is that they are 2 of 3 Americans that manage Christ’s Gift Academy (CGA), a primary school in Mbita Kenya.  This e-mail, the subject of which was not expected, asked if Joyce and I would be interested in coming back to Mbita for a couple months and watch over CGA while they came to the states for a couple months.  An interesting invitation that had me pondering fond thoughts of the last visit.  Not thinking things through completely I forwarded the e-mail to Joyce, as it said Joyce could just love on the kids.  And Joyce loves to love on the kids, so I thought she’d get a kick out of the request.

Fast forward a couple days to Joyce’s return and her looking over the e-mails from the weekend.  I think I remember waiting for the reaction to come.  maybe a should say waiting for a reaction, because as I mentioned I didn’t think much past this point.  Joyce comes out to the living room with a broad smile and wide eyed look on her face.  ‘OMG, really, could we can we, why not?’ or something like that came from her lips.  It than struck me and had not planned a comeback for this inevitable response of hers.  I just assumed that she would say ‘what fun that would be’, we would politely decline the request and life would continue in Beaverton, OR.

The fact that this entry is coming from out nations capitol should be a clue that that is not how if went down.

I did not have a valid comeback for the why not.  God was directing us again and there would not be much I could do to misdirect myself.  I even tried praying for God to put up the roadblock tat never came.  So less than 3 months later I find myself on a 4 day journey to arrive back at Mbita.

Just Joyce and I this time, no kids jumping on our band wagon this time.  Of course Morgan is already in Kisumu Kenya and is, needless to say, quite excited we are coming.

Here’s the first 2 pics of the trip.  The first in PDX the second in DIA.

We’re out of here,

Paul

207.5

July 10, 2010 - This is not the temperature, but might be the combination of temp plus humidity.  Not a radio station number.  Not the number of hours we traveled, although it seems like it.  Far to small for the number of potholes encountered on the way to the ferry.  This is my starting weight.  While I have fluctuated a few pounds around this, I’m calling this my official starting weight for the Mbita diet. 

Our last visit here proved to show that the Mbita diet quite an effective weight loss program.  I lost 45 pound on it last time.  Unfortunately I gained most of it back.  So I’m hoping it will be as effective this time around.  However I have less time here, and starting a few pounds lighter then last time.  I have no way to weigh myself here, so the results will have to wait until my return to the US.

Breakfast is calling,

Paul

Mbita

July 10, 2010 – We have made it to Mbita.  The last 24 hours have been quite an adventure.  Part of it has been due to adjusting back to the ways of Kenya.  Part of it had to do with seeing Kenya the eyes of a first timer – a 19 year old young lady.  That in itself is a long story that may get told.

I’m finding that there is really no end of stories to tell here.  I have a feeling that the latest is the one that will be told.

Right now Joyce and I are trying to get indoctrinated into all things CGA and maintaining the household we are going to be living at.  Big items being water management and food preparation.  Steve told me that the city water has been pretty consistent lately.  This means that it flows every two or three days.  There are a couple of water tanks to keep full, the critical one is the roof one that is used to power the tea kettle shower. 

Morgan’s Apartment

7/8/2010 - We have made it to Kisumu and Morgan’s apartment.  It’s great to see her.  Morgan’s working in the kitchen making chili for dinner.  She was super excited about her gifts, particularly the enchilada sauce, little G’s gifts (this made her cry), and the dark chocolate M&Ms. 

Well its now 9pm and dinner is over.  My mind is working on about 3 cylinders and I’m not sure how many I started with.  The chili was delicious and nobody went away hungry.  Rachelle, a friend we made in preparation for our last trip here came over for dinner with her 2 darling daughters Zawa and Sophia. 

The bus trip from Nairobi was a tiring 7 hours.  Fortunately there were 2 rest stops for getting out to stretch the legs.  This was appreciated as the leg room is less than economy class.  The highlight of the trip was the herd of Zebra we saw about half way.  Part of the trip was even in the fog so you could not see very far up the road, which made the passing all the more exciting.

After one point of piles of trash along the road Joyce turns to me and we have the following conversation.

Joyce: I just saw a garbage truck.  (Implying that at least an occasional effort was made to keep things tidy.)

Me: (Thinking that was unusual based on past experience) Was it moving?

J: No.

Me: (After some thought) Did it say ‘garbage truck’ on it?

J: No.

Me: So it really was just a ‘truck of garbage’.

J: Yeah, I guess so. (a bit deflated)

I know, not the most stimulating conversation, but it does fit the need here of not assuming to much on appearances nor basing those assumptions on our US backgrounds.

Sorry, no pictures this time as I’m to tired to fuss with it.  I need to clean off my camera chip so I don’t have a bunch of old stuff on it.  But in the next week, if all goes well, I should have a number of pictures up for browsing.

Tomorrow we get to go to Mbita and see Steve and Judy.  Looking forward to it.  Only one more bus ride to go.  Hoping to actually sleep most the night but expecting to get a good 2 hours in and then toss and turn for the next 5.

Good night.  Time for my first ‘shower’ since leaving home.

Paul