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