Ants in my Pants

Sept 29, 2010 – Joyce has oft commented that if she finds a ant crawling on her, that she feels that they are crawling all over her.  Phantom ants.  She said this morning that she even felt that way as she plucked one of the little crawlers off me.

I know the feeling she’s talking about.  I feel the phantom ants too.

Really bad this morning. 

I had some clothes washed on Monday.  Forgot to retrieve from the clothesline until this morning.  I should say that we do get ants on our drying clothes most of the time.  We try to shake them out when we put them away, but that is not always successful.  It seems they disappear soon if you just put the clothes away.  At least I haven’t noticed any ants on clothes I pull off the hanger or out of the drawer.

So this morning (Wednesday) I go to retrieve the clothes so I can wear some of them.  And of course there are a few ants i spot.  I shake and pick off the ones I see as I take the clothes down.  I take the clothes in and lay them down for a while, just to see of any more ants appear.  A few do and I go over the clothes I want to wear, inside and out, picking and crushing the ants I find.  Got them I think.

Well, got the ones I saw.  I started finding more within minutes.  Picking and crushing.  Joyce and I both got a number as we walked up to CGA and sat in the bible study.  That’s when you comment about feeling them even though they were on me.

But I was feeling them crawling on my skin two.  But when I looked I saw only phantom ants.  Yeah of course. 

Well not really all phantom ants.  I under my shirt to scratch another phantom and came up with a live one that I promptly crushed.  Guess I didn’t get them all out of my clothes and I’m not imagining the ants crawling around on me, at least not totally.

Just hoping that it is phantom ants I’m feeling crawling under my baseball cap.

Signing out,

Paul 

The Hexagon has Started

Sept 28, 2010 – The six school Hexagon exam has started today.  It’s a 2 – 1/2 day exam taken by 6 schools in the area.  Sort of a competition to see which of the schools can do the best and give the kids practice for real exams. 

This started a few years ago, when 6 of the better schools in the area got together to have such a competition to be able to evaluate themselves against the better schools in the area.  CGA use to rule supreme I heard, but now they are sliding to 2nd or 3rd.  Part of that relates to the fact that CAG doesn’t have as much school time as the others.  Most the schools in the area have required prep time – a couple hours, even up to 3 or 4, in the evening, Sat and / or Sun too.  CGA has an hour after school and 2 or so hours on Sat.  Hard to compete when they other kids get so much more time with teachers and being able to focus on studying.

Then later in the term the schools come together to announce the results, with ranks by school and by student, both overall and by subject.  Prizes are given to the best students, such as 1 piece of candy or maybe a pencil if you did really really well. 

I got the experience the Hexagon release for last term shortly after we arrived.  CGA was hosting and it’s an all day deal, even with a special meal, for the teacher only.  We don’t even feed the kids from the other schools.  Suppose to only be about a half day deal, but everyone needs to get up and say encouraging words, go into lengthy explanations of topics concerning, or marginally related, to the exam.

I was fortunate in that I work at this place, so I could get up an leave for extended periods of time so my mind wouldn’t go numb.  Poor students.  Four or Five hundred students - three grade from 6 schools –  who had to be crammed into the dining hall for several hours.  With no food.  With no water.  And boring speeches.

Got reprimanded the other day for opening other peoples mail.  I figure I’m the manage of the school and if mail arrives and nobody knows who the addressee is that I’m allowed to open it.  Even if it is marked personal and confidential.  That’s a no-no.  Got about 20 minutes from a local who volunteers here.  It raises suspicion on you.  Why are you opening others mail.  People don’t like that.  Hey. they sent it to the school I’m managing and I don’t know who they are, nobody knows who they are, and they didn’t tell us it was coming.  I can open it if I want.  No so, at least in the socially correct spectrum.  We should just keep it around for a while and see if anyone shows up for it.  I guess people just use the PO Box of the nearest school since they don’t have their own.  Not such thing as to the door step mail delivery here.  Probably do to no street numbers, or street names, or streets even where some of them live.

After keeping it around for a while, we should just return to the Posta.  They will just tack it to the wall for awhile to see if anyone comes by for it.  Eventually it’ll be returned to sender.

That local volunteer just got some mail here at school.  Maybe I’ll open it just for funzies, see how long I get lectured the second time around.

Joyce isn’t back from Uganda yet.  I guess they were having to much fun (and nice showers) and extended the stay a couple of times.  She should be back before dark tonight.  I have talked to her briefly.  Seems that she and Morgan had a great time and very glad they went.  Morgan got to play interpreter even.  I guess the locals had a hard time understand the coordinator from the US so Morgan stepped in to help.  Translating from English to English.  That is US English to East African accented English. 

Time to go see if the ugi is ready, didn’t have breakfast this morning.  But yesterday I had a great breakfast – toasted toast with Blueband, some pretty good scrambled eggs piled on top and topped with salsa.  Might have to try that again.

Paul, from Mbita.

PS – don’t forget about the picture pages – just posted a toddler with a machete.

Another Saturday Morning

Sept 25, 2010 – Another quiet Saturday morning in Mbita, at least for me.  I’m sitting at the dining room table, looking into the front yard where the sun is shining bright, with chips, salsa and a cold drink. And music playing in the background. 

Yes a cold drink that wasn’t purchased at a duka (store).  I had George go the Victoria water and ice plant and pick up a bag of ice on Wed morning.  Sometime over night the last of the ice melted, so I have to take advantage of the few items I had in it.  Might have to have 2 beers for lunch.

The ice was my splurge while Joyce is gone to Uganda with Morgan.  They are helping with the Andrew Palau festival that is happening there.  Hopefully she’ll report on it when she gets back.  I have heard that 1) The hotel room seemed like overkill when they got there, but they got use to it quickly.  and 2) Morgan took both a shower and a bath the first day – with hot water.  made all the more luxurious by the fact it’s water pitcher baths back at her place.

The chips are made from chapattis.  The good ones that just had the prices raised.  (Oh may, just saw a beautiful little bird – mostly black with a brilliant red chest, shimmering head and long, narrow curved beak – trying to feed on a flower just by the window.)  I tried some other chapatti from someone down by the junction, but they were thick and greasy and didn’t make good chips.  They were only 10 bob, but I’ll pony up the extra 5 bob to get the good one.

The salsa was made fresh by me last night for dinner (with guac) so it’s even better today since its sat and the flavors have mingled for a while.  yummy.

The cold drink is water was some Quencher in it.  That’s a concentrated drink flavoring (mine is lemon cordial).  Sort of like that fruit punch stuff churches are famous for. 

The music is from Joyce’s ipod.  It’ old and doesn’t hold a charge for more than part of an hour.  So no sense her taking it with her.  Only useful when used in the speaker docking station.  Maybe time for a new one.

I had all my Sat chores done by 9 this morning.  This consisted of doing the few dished I didn’t do last night and watering the garden.  Exhausted.  Oh yeah, fed the dogs too.

Also spent an hour over at Joe’s place while a newly certificated (maybe it was diplomaed) guy tried to figure out what was wrong with his solar lighting.  Mostly, the crap he bought off the streets of Kisumu.  He’s headed to town now to by some good stuff to replace the bad stuff.  He wants England made fixtures, not China, and Philips blubs.  Joe’s holding training for his Suba Lakers football club so I got to monitor the repairs and front the money to go get the new items.

Just decided that there is no way I could drink 2 beers for lunch so I cracked one up now.  Hey, it is after 11 am and it’s already over 80 degrees outside.  Sure glad it is only spring here, otherwise who knows how hot it would be.  I’ve had more beer in the last 3 days as the rest of the time here.  Looking forward to a good northwest microbrew.

Not much rain here for a while.  An occasional thunder storm, but not often or long enough.  It just struck me a day or two ago that there is no fall colors here.  The trees don’t get fall foliage or colors.  But here in the dry season some trees are shedding leaves.  Some turn brown before they drop off, most just seem to dry up, shrivel a bit and fall to earth.  Not very impressive.  going to miss driving down those Beaverton tree lined streets and seeing the God inspired array of fall color awesomeness.

Zain, one of the 4 cell companies here in Kenya, the one that was formerly Celtel and recently purchased by an Indian firm, announced yesterday that rates to call the US have been dropped to 3 ksh (<4 cents) a minute.  I should call my dad to check, lets see it’s only 2 am at home.  He’ll be awake.

Thinking of buying a 3rd broadband cell modem to test it out.  I already have Zain (cheaper) and Safaricom (faster, but weak signal where I use it).  But Orange is supposedly in the area.  They just announced a price reduction in their rates and suppose to be as fast as Safaricom.  But it’s risky if it doesn’t work, probably can’t return it.  And their internet works on a different system then their primary cell phones so I can’t test to see how strong the signal is around this area.  They do have cell phones that work on the same system as the modems, I wonder if they sell lines for that?  And if one of the phones around here or schools can handle it?  Dilemma, dilemma.

Well Joe has invited me over for pasta for lunch, so think I’ll go.  Save the second beer for later – maybe with popcorn and a movie.

Paul

The Price of Chapatti Just Went Up

Sept 21, 2010 – While we could make our own chapatti (read Kenyan tortilla) they would not come out as nicely as the ones we buy.  Nor would it be as easy and convenient.

At 10 ksh (12.5 cents at the current exchange rate) each it was a good deal we thought.  Even if they were a little over-priced, it was still worth doing for us.  If we were staying forever, maybe we’d practice and perfect the making of them.  But even not maybe then, as even Judi still buys them, and she has been here going on 14 years. 

But yesterday when I went to place my order I was informed that the price was going up.  The price of flour had risen, so the final product needed to go up in price as well.  Being a former accountant, this made perfect sense to we.  After all, how much could flour have gone up?  So what, a 1 or 2 shilling increase – I could take that, it would be inconsequential.  But no!  The price was going up 50%! to 15 ksh each.  What, no way flour had gone up that much.  Bread had gone up also, but only like 5%, a couple of ksh a loaf.

I balked a little, did some quick math calcs in my head and decided that since the usual 10 we order is more than we need, I’d stick to the total we use to pay, 100 ksh, and just order 7 and ask for a 5 ksh discount, making it still 100 ksh.

Jacquelyn, the chapatti lady, would have none of that.  She said this time, since I did not know, that I could still have 10 for 100.  How nice.  But, now that I know, I can ‘just arrange’.  Yeap, that’s the phrase, ‘just arrange’, meaning I can now plan for it and still order 10, but pay the 150 ksh next time.  She doesn’t seem to want any of that 7 stuff and still only pay 100.  I’ll need to be coughing up an extra 50 ksh in the future.

I can see not wanting to got though the effort of making just 7 chapatti.  It’s not like Jeremiah the mandazi king who makes hundreds at a time.  Chapatti are made to order and I don’t know if anyone but us orders them.

But I’ve already decided to give in and keep my orders at 10 chapatti and pay the extra 50 ksh.  I figure, we are only here for a little while longer, she was nice enough not to raise the price this time (good business move), and it is only 65 cents.  At least she is not asking for just a free handout.

How to a new subject … If I was to come back for an extended period (which I’m not in anyway planning on doing) what would I’d like …

First, I’d like to know how to weld, both electric and gas.  I think this would be a useful skill here.

I’d like to know small engine repair – maybe up to about 125, 150cc, mainly motorcycle or generator type engines.  Maybe the basics of automobile engines as well.

I’d like to know Luo, the mother tongue in these parts, at at least a 5 or 6 year old level, maybe 4.  And just to understand would be okay, but to speak would help also.

I’d like to know some more about electricity, particularly in relation to solar power setups.  The watts, loads, amps, how do you know how charged a battery is, what is a gel battery might come in handy, and maybe give me some skills I could use to make myself useful to others and gain some favors or money.

Anyone know a good 12 volt refrigerator or cooler?  And not too spendy?  And do the cheap cooler types really do any good?  Or maybe how much gas does like an RV gas frig really use?

I keep debating if I’d get a motorbike if I was over here long term.  I can see the benefits, but also the dangers, which are more than the US with the driving habits over here.  The bikes here are mostly 100 or 125 cc, or something ridiculously small, when you think they’ll carry 3 adults and a couple kids on one.  Of course then, I’d need some lessons in how to ride one.  Last time was high-school I think, and that was just a friend’s brother’s. (Did I get that punctuation right?

battery is about gone so,

bye for now

Paul

A Little Bit of This

Sept 20, 2010 – I only have 45 minutes before the staff meeting here at CGA so this will have to be a short one.  This may be my first staff meeting while we have been here, I can’t remember going to any before.  Probably do not need to be at this one, but I’m a little curious on how they go.  It also shows dedication to the job I have here at the school, even though that a lot of it is just for looks.

Another first is getting a banker’s check.  I think it is even a first in my life and it was done here in Kenya.  Not hard actually.  Fill out the form that has about 6 items to fill in, stand in line, give cashier money and form, sign your name a couple times, then wait for the check.  Over all, about 10 minutes this time.

Banker’s cheques are big things here – used a lot.  CGA uses them when giving money for fees, etc that require us to give the money to someone to take to a business, such as a school.  Don’t trust the people with the cash, too easy and likely to use it for something else.  Also a lot of places don’t seem to take personal checks, but like these.  Guess they haven’t had the forgeries so common in the US.

I’ve seen a couple of request for school fee form.  These are sent to the parents/guardians when a child is set away from school for lack of payment.  It indicates how much the child owes.  A couple of these noted that “Letter / promises are not accepted”.  I guess I should not be accepting any of these either.

Ouch.  OUCH!

The first ouch was from a king size bee, for lack of better description.  Probably something else as it burrows into wood, making a hole about a round as a fat kindergarten crayon.  These things are about as big as end segment of your thumb.  It was in a long pole I picked up to try and knock a lemon out of our lemon tree.  It was dark and I didn’t notice it until it bite (may a sting, I really don’t know).  Ouch.  Didn’t get any lemons that night.  It stung for a little while, didn’t swell up at all, and only itched a little for the next couple of days.

The second was from a scorpion.  I’d like to say it was 6 inches long, but probably only 3 to 4.  It was hiding in my towel.  After I bathed I grabbed my towel off it’s peg and zap – OUCH – stung by a scorpion.  I think it’s kind of macho that I live to tell about it.  My notion has been that scorpions are nasty creatures and if you get stung you are in big trouble.  Well you are if you are a small animal, a human baby or a frail old fart.  While I’m close to one of those, I don’t fall under any of those categories.

But it does put some venom into you.  I got stuck just above the knuckle on my index finger.  It swelled up quickly, but not blotted, skin is going to pop swelling.  But the cool part is the tingling sensation that comes and slowly creeps out from the sting.  My extended to the tip of the finger, down past the knuckle, over into the next finger and another knuckle over.  All this over night.  Feels like when you have a body part go to sleep and it starts waking up.  It started going away after about 20 hours and gone completely by 36 hours.

I think it’s kinda neat to say I’ve been strung by a scorpion.

Well, just a few minutes to go before the meeting, so I better stop and try to fire up the internet connection.  I don’t want to be late, even though the meeting will probably start 15 minutes late.

From Mbita,

Paul

Hello

Sept 17, 2010 – Vicki is off, making her way back to the US.  It seems hard to believe that we greeted her 2 weeks ago today.  Time flew by, but we packed it with a lot of items.

I’ve posted some of her pictures in our album, check them out at http://picasaweb.google.com/MaiersInAfrica 

Vicki’s picture album tells a pretty good story of her time here.  But like she said, pictures do not capture everything.

For those of you who don’t check the pictures regularly, I’ve posted a number of them in the last couple weeks.  Soon I’ll be working on the ones fm Joyce’s camera and the safari.  We got it back yesterday during a one day visit to Kisumu.

The instigating reason for the trip was that Vicki needed to get to Kisumu to catch her morning flight to Nairobi.  Joe had a few things to get done so he drove and a few other came along to accomplish a few tasks.  Any time Joe goes to Kisumu people find out and always have a few other items for you to do or want to come along.

Yesterday we had a treat, or multiple treats.  Café Latte that was delic, great ice cream, and wonderful tacos, with cheese and real taco shells!  Thanks to Joe for the tacos?  The little cheese that was left Joyce was saving for her morning toast, but Brinkley (cat) found it during the middle of the night an polished it off.  That’s the biggest waste of any food we’ve had so far. 

Tonight is pizza cooked in a brick oven.

Here are some road stories.  On our way to the Masai Mara we passed a matatu with everyone just standing outside it.  As we passed I found out why – broken down and in the process of being repaired.  Not surprising with how bad the roads were washboarded.  Soon we came upon another in the same situation and I thought I’m going to count these to see how many broken down transports we pass.  But this one was not broken down – a lady had gone into labor and had just delivered her baby on the side of the road.  Someone was helping clean her up while another was holding the baby wrapped in a konga.

Also saw the immediate aftermath of a dog getting hit on the road.  It was the truck (semi type) ahead of us.  First I noticed the kids gasping and scattering on the side of the road, then the blooded dog still spinning from the impact with bits of flesh and blood flying around.  Then, shortly, an overturned semi with it’s container exploded into pieces.  I think this was also fairly recent as a lot of the cargo was still sitting where the truck landed in the ditch.

I think that we have little planned for the weekend – yeah.  Maybe we can sleep past 7 tomorrow morning.  Of course it would be easier if we don’t go to bed before 10 tonight.

Reported from Mbita,

Paul

To Much Internet Time

Sept 15, 2010 – Steve and Judi should be back in Mbita a 4 weeks from today.  That means we are on the downside of our stay here.  Once they are back, we’ll have a couple of weeks with them here and then head home towards the end of October.

Seems kind of strange to be talking about the timing of returning home.  A while ago I thought it would never come.

We have much to easy access to the internet this time around.  Last time we always had to go someplace to connect.  This time with having the mobile internet available it’s just to easy and we are keeping our addiction up.  I do okay if I check my mail once a day, even though I only get maybe 5 e-mails a week that matter at this point (my kids never write me).  I’ll also browse the Google news headlines – Kenya style is I have time.  I’ll have to write on that one sometime.  Interesting to see what makes it on, particularly in the world news.

I’ll also pirate my wife’s facebook account to see what’s up.  I definitely feel less isolated reading snippets from people back home.  But I can see why I gave up my account months ago.  Lucky to to have 3 or 4 items that are worth the time they take to read.  Another half dozen that are interesting, but not worth the time (at least at my reading pace), and most of them I stop reading after about 4 words.  But still, there is something comforting in it and I take a look every day or two.

I think Joyce is worse than I am.  She’s much more comfortable being on twice a day, however lately she’s only averaging once a day.  I must admit that she has more going on and get’s more worthwhile e-mail than I do.  She spends more time on the facebook, but it’s the same stuff I look at and I don’t see what she spends so much time on with it.  It is fun however to have that instant chat thing, if it is the right person.  Since our days here are out of whack with back home, usually not to many hits on anyone I care to say hey to.

There was something refreshing last time in getting removed from the internet and instant access to the world.  It took a while, but after a couple of months, I no longer really cared if I made it once a week to an internet enabled place or not.  I think most people could benefit from getting disconnected for an extended period (I’m talking weeks or months here, not minutes or hours).  I think it lets you control time rather than time control you.

Need to fire up the mobile modem to post this now, so over the internet from Mbita,

Paul

Technology Too

Sept 13, 2010 – This blog is dedicated to the person who had the following request in an e-mail.

“If you have a moment, please snap some photos of local kids using technology and send them our way.  Always good to see what life is like on the other side of the world.  :-)”

After I had a good laugh, I read this request to Joyce and she had a good laugh also.

But it got me thinking more about the contrasts in the two sides of the world (and I’m actually in the southern hemisphere, so it really is the other side of the world.)

Oh, can’t forget the shout-out to my sponsor – The Mbita Cybercafe.  Visit them just off the stage for a variety of services.  Including Student ID cards.

 

 

 

When I first saw the request I was thinking of the Americanized definition of technology – that which has a circuit board and uses power.  No, I’m sure the person wanted me to think out of the box on this. to get myself out of that US mind set.  There have been technical advancements since the creation of man and the fashioning of the first fig leaf cover-up.  So I’ve moved out of the box and into a fuzzy circle looking both at technology and areas where this side of the world has a hand up on the other side of the world.

I’ll start with the technology that I brought from home.  The type of items Americans think of as ‘technology’. 

 

 

 

 

This is all being powered or recharged with this system – our solar power system.  Here are the batteries, inverter and the control unit.  These are hooked up to the panels on the roof.

 

Here are the panels collecting the power of Mr Sol.  Ignore the dead plant life which is courtesy of Mr Hammerhead, the bird that was trying to build his nest on my precious power provider.  It’s not nice messing with an electricity dependent man and his watts.

Enough about me.  This is about life and technology here on the barely south side of the equator.   (I can hear my mother-in-law saying sarcastically  “great, another technology blog”)

We’ll start with some real US technology.  Here a couple of the boys that come over occasionally use our 2005 era cell phone to talk with our daughter.  This is pretty unusual for kids here to use a cell phone.  Their parents have one, but rarely here in Mbita do you see anyone in high school or below having a cell phone.

Here’s a couple of the kids looking at pictures and videos I took.  Couldn’t get the little one to leave.  This is a big deal to actually see the pictures that have been taken of you if you are a child in Mbita.  I don’t think I’ve seen a kid, and very few adults, in Mbita with a camera of any kind.

Setting up the 10.1 inch screen (measured diagonally) for movie day at the Maier house. 

Again, all this is due to what we brought along.  So to move on to technology found completely locally.

Here’s the music being piped into the local bicycle repair shop.

 

 

 

 

Here’s a tower of antennas.  This is actual Kisumu, not Mbita, but it shows that technology isn’t that far away.  Just kidding, it is quite a ways away if you consider the time it takes to get to Kisumu from here.

This is Kisumu too.  But shows the in-roads that Kenya is making into the cyberworld.

 

 

 

 

Now no move completely out of the box…

Here we see the My-Pad first generation being used in the school setting.  Still used in many schools today.  Nicknamed “chalkboard” they are easily used to express words, numbers and pictures.  Generation 1.5 featured colored styluses, allowing even more creativity of expression.

Here we see generation 2.0 of the My-Pad.  These are in limited use here, many only in the homes of the more affluent families.  These do have some limitations, such as no color version yet and too easy to accidently erase you thought in midstream. 

Here’s a close-up of this gem in action.

 

 

 

 

More items related to education:

 

The built in (or more accurately painted on) chalkboard.

 

Here we have a multimedia presentation going – two people up in front at once.

 

 

 

Here we have a couple students using the latest in writing hardware – the ball-point pen.  Available at CGA in both blue and RED!

 

And here we see the re-use of spaces.  This former chicken house is now a classroom (and lumber storage area).

 

 

Moving on looking at comparisons to the US and how Kenya is more progressive or environmentally minded or in tune with nature or something like that.  In no particular order…

They are much more open to alternative forms or styles of medicine.

 

 

 

 

Much more into mixed land use in their urban designs.  Here we have a major mall just next to the local rubbish burning city garbage dump.

 

 

Here we have a very effective lake fly catcher and preserver.  That is not ash – the black are are lake flies.  This is just on nights bounty.

 

 

Here we have a very environmentally non-polluting way of making smaller rocks out of bigger rocks – one blow at a time.

 

 

 

Here is the skyscraper of Mbita towering 4 stories high.  Note the modern rounded glass windows on the one corner.

 

 

 

Here is the local ponga (machete) sharpener.  Notice how he combines his exercise regiment with the grinding wheel attached to the rear wheel of his bike.

 

 

And speaking of multitasking.  Look at this 4 year old caring for her little sister while she gathers wood. 

 

 

 

Here we have the super low water volume toilet.  And you never need to double flush.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You do see a few solar cookers around.  Unfortunately they are not used much, and not always efficient. The locals seem very picky about their use – no wind or clouds can be present or they say it does not work.  But this is aniother story.

They are making good use of local resources, in this case the lake.

Here the local ice plant is delivering drinking water. “Drink Victoria Feel Fresh” is the motto.  Sounds great until you look at the lake.

This nice green water doesn’t look very fresh to me.

 

 

 

 

Here we see an advancement in wheel chairs I’ve not noticed in the US.  Chairs for the handicap that can handle the rough terrain.

 

 

Nice open air markets can be found on most street corners.

 

 

 

Here we see a boy standing in front of a home that displays the low carbon impact building design so popular here in Mbita.  A few poles of local timber, some mud and dung and you have a home.  And if needed, it is easily recycles back into earth friendly material.

Here is a solar and wind power clothes dryer.  These are so great that I’ve never seen an electric one here in town.

 

 

 

People here are furniture snobs.  Almost all insist on hand crafted furniture from one of the many roadside craftmen.  Very few people opt for the mass produced stuff.

 

 

Of course this furniture is available with same day delivery by the highly economical 2 wheel transport vehicle.

 

 

 

This is the land of free ranging meat.  Not the pinned up corralled cows of the US.

 

 

And poultry is always fresh, not frozen and driven thousands of miles.  That is not a handbag the lady is carrying.

 

 

 

Kids toys seemed to have advanced past the US.  Here we see kid powers tops.  Look at the look of achievement on the child having gotten two going at once.  Never have to worry that the batteries are dead.

 

Here kids are using both colored wax sticks and color blocks to create some beautiful items.

 

 

 

 

Here we have a child showing me his “playmate” he found just out the door.  Mr Grasshopper was quite entertaining and this child handled him this the delicacy he deserved.

 

Here we see that dexterity that is developed early being demonstrated by using just a piece of a double edge razor blade.  I don’t see many kids back home that can do this.

 

Here is a remote controlled car.  Granted it is not a wireless remote, but still this takes great skill to create and greater skill to maneuver over the rocky dirt roads.

 

 

Here is the beginners version of the remote controlled car – the plastic bottle on a stick.

 

 

 

 

Here is another great outdoor toy.  The tire directed by a stick.  I know it’s hard to tell, but these are not just bias ply tires, but steel belted radials.

 

 

And I’ll end with the innovation personal protection cocoons that repel all sorts of irritating and deadly items.  These are so highly effective.  It’s a shame that more people here do not have access to, or maybe can’t afford, this wonderful device that prevents illness.

Signing off from the technology innovating capitol of Kenya – Mbita,

Paul

Saturday Morning

Sept 11, 2010 – Saturday morning and not much going on yet.  Had breakfast – instant coffee with sugar and drinking chocolate and a mandazi and a half.  Oh yeah, a couple of sweet bananas – the little ones which are much tastier than the big ones.

Vicki is still here.  Her and Joyce are out on the veranda going through all the items that Vicki brought.  Trying to determine what should go to which school.  Trying to figure who will get the most use from them and not just let the items sit around.

Joyce and Vicki went around town yesterday.  Vicki tried her hand at banana bark(?) weaving with Margaret, saw a number of people and saw where some of our kids live.

Had a scare the other night.  Wanted to look at pictures from the safari Joyce had taken on her nice camera – couldn’t find the camera!  Looked all over.  Started going over in our mind everything that came out of the vehicle – nobody remembered the camera coming out, or carrying it down to the house.  Panic – camera is replaceable, but the pictures of the wildebeest migration – priceless.  Joyce finally called the driver and he said “so glad you called, I have your camera, but not your number”.  Relief.  He dropped it off to Morgan in Kisumu yesterday.  But still a while before we get to see them.

later today will get busier.  Need to go to town to show Vicki, the kids are coming later, and I hear that we are invited to a birthday party for a couple of twin 2 year olds. 

First week of school is over – only 3 days with kids and only 2 days for us, since we were traveling.  Not to many requests for money.  And I was a little surprised how many people actually paid the school fees owed.  Only a couple to go.

Saw Lillian, the school’s social worker, riding a motor bike this week.  I picture would not do it justice.  It would not show the speed (slow) nor the unsteadiness.  She is still very tentative, but at least trying.  This is good since a church from Washington donated money for one for her.  She needs to visit homes and this will help a lot in getting her around much quicker. 

Heard that the people we are subbing for, Steve and Judi, had a good experience in Portland.  They were well received at Bethlehem and my mom-in-law was a terrific hostess. 

Got a couple things to do, so signing off.

From Mbita,

Paul

Misc

9/9/2010 – I can actually use the slash method for the date today as the day and month is the same and I don’t have to worry about getting them in the wrong order.

We’ve been gone for 6 days on a couple of adventures.

Back to school today with the students back.  Opening day of term III was yesterday (which we missed).  I had about 15 students who still owed fees when I left.  Down to 4 today.  This includes a load of ballast (gravel) for 2 of them and grain grinding for another.  Only one can’t seem to understand my explanation notes on how much they owe.  And they won’t come themselves to let me explain.

Vicki B arrived at the Kisumu airport Friday, Sept 3rd – her 58th birthday!!!  Morgan was waiting for her with roses – how sweet.  Joyce and I arrived a couple hours later.  We had a great time showing Vicki around Kisumu for a couple days.  We then went on a 2 night safari.

The safari was great!  Went to the Masai Mara for 2 nights.  We saw the wildebeest migration over the Mara River – the jumping, swimming, tumbling down banks, crocodile waiting for the opportunity and the successful attacks.  Lions, leopards and cheetahs.  Elephants, giraffes and hippos.  Pictures to come.

Our safari vehicle went through both spare tires and our driver was concerned we have another flat.  But we made it home – hope the driver did also.

Other places on our journey were lushy green.  Mbita is still brown.  Heard we have not had rain since the couple times 3 weeks ago.

Tonight is chapatti chips with guacamole and salsa.  Yum, yum, yum.

Last night the discussion included what the Slurppee straw is used for when they ask you for a stool sample.  Three different thoughts from the 4 of us.

The solar power is having problems at school.  The inverter just turns off without warning.  Save your work, save your work, and save it again.

Having a good time with Vicki so far.  It’s fun being the “experts” and show a new comer the ropes.  We even had a great sunset to show her last night along with plenty of lights from the fishing boats (something pictures just wouldn’t do justice too) and amazing stars.

Have I mention I think it would be great to have a camer-aroma?  Sometime the sight just isn’t the same without the smell.

I’m excited to look at all the pictures we have taken from the last few days – including the ones with Vicki and the sa-FAR-iii!.

I think I’ll go look at my pictures now.  It’s the only camera I have with me here at school.

Paul

Kenyan Census

Sept 2 2010 – Kenya recently complete a comprehensive census and released the results this week.  The last one was in 1999, so just 10 years ago.

Since 1999 Kenya has grown from 29 million to 39 million in 2009.  10 mill new people.  So a 1/3 growth in 11 years.  That’s on top of  the same growth the 10 years before that (21.5 mill in 1989 to 29 mill in 1999). That’s a 77% increase for the period 1989 to 2009.  The US had a 23% increase over that same period.  That’s a lot of people to be adding to a poverty heavy country.  Hard to keep up social reform, infrastructure additions, hunger reduction, etc at this pace of adding people.

6 mil of these are 5 years old or under. 

I can see why there is still so much poverty even with all the aid money coming in (even considering the corruption factor)  This lends some credibility to the thought that the more you make available (such as food and water) the more people there will be and the percent of poverty / hunger will remain the same if nothing else is changed. 

This article is interesting on the growth impact:

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Company%20Industry/High%20birth%20rate%20dims%20Kenyas%20long%20term%20growth%20prospects/-/539550/1000782/-/item/0/-/q2l0nl/-/index.html

Just my views from this side trying to understand why so much poverty and hunger remains here and how slow progress seems to be.  And everywhere you turn, there are more people that can use your help.

Paul

Visit Story from the Man’s View

Sept 2, 2010 – I know Joyce has already written about our trip to see Eunice, Michael and Mavine.  I haven’t read it since I was there so I don’t know what slant she put on it.  But here it is from my view.

My guess is Joyce concentrated on the actually visit part – so I’ll be brief here.  The kids looked good, the place / home was great – green, clean and large.  The grandmother seemed nice and like she liked the kids, but we were only there for a short while.  The kids didn’t have many complaints and had fun with the other friends we brought for them to play with.  Only thing not handled – the family has not decided on a school for the kids yet.

The rest of the trip:

Pretty typical Kenyan trip:

Started about a hour later then planned, no thanks to the goats that got into the shamba and needed to be officially handled.

This was probably the worst private vehicle I’ve ridden in in Kenyan.  Nope, make that second worse – Father Charles’ car last year tops the private list.  This one shook, rattled, jerked and creaked.  I was expecting major pieces to be flying off, the windows breaking from banging into each other and doors to fly open since they didn’t close tightly to begin with.

30 kilometers long one way of which 2 km were nice paved roads, 8 km had been paved at one time but the tarmac was mostly not there and it was better to drive on the ever expanding shoulders of the road and leave the tarmac pieces to the pedestrians.  The rest were dirt or a little dirt mixed with various sizes of rocks and small boulders – all qualities from ‘bumpy’ to ‘oh my word, I hope my eyes don’t shake out!’

We were headed to Rangwe, just to the left of Rodi as approached from the Homa Bay side.  Not sure of the NSEW direction – that would be thinking to hard at this time.  They are actually through Rangwe in the burbs on the other side.  Through town, veer right at the first Y.  This looks like a bike path that somebody turned into a road because they now own a car.  Take a left someplace up this road.  Oops, my mistake – the previous road was a road, this is definitely just a bike path the was recently turned into a bike path that 4 wheel vehicles try to drive on.  The brush was slapping through the windows on both side at the same time.

As is normal, had a breakdown on the way – before we got to Homa Bay.  Sound like metal slapping on metal – like a important bracket broke.  We could not fine anything with a quick inspection, so decided to limp slowly into Homa Bay and have Paul (or we went with Paul (a black Kenyan) and Erin (his white Canadian wife)) go by himself to find someone to repair.  Us white folks were dropped off because the bill gets doubled for each white person in the car – because all white people have lots of money.

First call to Paul said that it was a broken shock bracket – just a quick welking job, he’d be back in 10 minutes.  Second call 45 minutes later – it’ll be soon.  the first repair was done incorrectly and they were fixing it.  Of course the fix of the improper repair always takes 4 times longer than the improper first repair.

Finally on our way.  Just a quick stop to pick up one mattress for the 3 kids to share.

A nice 3 or so hours at the home – see above for details (or Joyce’s report)

Trip back started later then it should, because we arrived late.  Got through Rangwe and Joyce commented on the smoke she was seeing.  We thought it was just a little billowing around from all the fire out at the various fields and houses.  Nope, it was under Erin.  She was riding in the passenger seat up front, which the battery is located underneath.  They were using a battery from their home solar system since the car battery was spoiled.  It didn’t fit right, the car often didn’t start and the extra wires used to connect the ill-fitting solar battery often needed to be jiggled to get the car to start (which of course meant that Erin had to get out, Paul come around and dismantle the seat and metal plate and rubber covering – that was made from an old rubber tire – and jiggle the wires).  Well something jarred loose – really? surprise surprise!  So something shorted, caught the quite flammable rubber tire piece to catch fire and cause a great smell and a lot of smoke.

The fire was put out quickly and we were back on our way.

Rest of the trip pretty uneventful other than the girl and the cow we almost ran over – put skidded to a stop in time.  And night driving adds it own aspect to the journey.  Remember, we got a late start leaving, so it was dark about the last 45 minutes.  The vehicle did have head lights, so that helped in seeing the potholes and larger rocks – not so much with bikes and cows.

From Mbita to Rangwe and back,

Paul

A Visit with Mavine, Eunice & Michael

Yesterday, Paul and I took an all day trek to visit the new homeplace of Mavine (9), Eunice (10) and Michael12).  If you have not heard their story, this is what has happened since earlier in the year. 

In February, the mother of these children organized her things (important documents, etc) in a small wooden box and told the children she was going to the hospital.  She apparently had sores over her whole body that were hard to hide – we assume she had AIDS.  She made one phone call to a relative and left a message for an uncle and when the uncle returned the call, her phone was no longer working.  No one has heard from her again.  The kids were left on their own to fend for themselves for about 4 months until a great couple (Paul – a Luo man, and Erin – his Canadian wife) took in Mavine & Eunice.  Michael refused their invitation to live in their house.  I think he did not want to admit that his mother was not going to return and he did not want to leave their things (even though they do not have much).

Morgan had received calls from Mavine telling her about their situation so I was really anxious to get back to Mbita to see what was going on.  Can you imagine being 9, 10 & 12 and being on your own???  Apparently, the kids stayed a bit with friends and Michael helped out a woman who would give him food, but their situation was awful because there were no relatives around to go to.  Once I got to Mbita I was able to sit with the kids and talk and I convinced Michael that going to Paul and Erin’s house was good for him and within a day or two he changed his mind and went to stay with them.  Paul and Erin work with orphans and widow’s, so it was perfect for everyone involved.  I would have taken them in if they weren’t there!!! 

There were so many of us trying to figure out where their family was because it is the extended family’s responsibility to take in orphans…it is shameful if they don’t.  Lillian, the Orphan Overseer at CGA, Linnet, a teacher at the kids’ school and Erin were all trying to figure out their story.  The kids said they had no one………until all of the puzzle pieces fit together and one person talked to another and all of the sudden there was information about grandparents, an aunt and uncle and a few others who did not live in Mbita.  The kids were terrified of having to leave Mbita, but unfortunately, that is what had to happen.  Erin and Paul went to the Children’s service’s department in Mbita, and in the grandparent’s town of Rangwe.  The chief of Rangwe was consulted and within about 2 weeks the kids were driven away to their new home.  It was sad because they did not really get to say goodbye to their friends and they were gone when I returned from my field trip to Nairobi.

Many tearful phone calls later, I finally got them to laugh on the phone...it made me so happy!  In the beginning, Mavine and Eunice were telling me terrible stories and just begged to come back to Mbita.  It was obviously not my choice, but I tried my best to console them and try to talk the new place up….how nice it was to have a grandmother who loved them, etc…all the time I really just wanted to go and get them and let them come home with me.  Mavine is our little “monkey boy” who in a dance, dance, dancing machine, climbs on everything and speaks better English than any of the other kids. He is also hilarious and is the security guard making sure that no one is stealing anything from us, or Paul & Erin’s place. They are all sooooo smart and read really well too.  Eunice is just precious and Michael is so good an responsible.  It is not much fun here without them!

So, yesterday we piled into Paul’s Land Rover (a pretty terrible car that only broke one shock on the way – which made us stop for a while in Homa Bay to have it repaired - and literally had the seat that Erin was sitting on catch fire, while we were driving…really…smoke and flames were coming out underneath her seat on the way home!)  Ah Kenya….all the things we love about this place.  We took a few of Mavine & Eunice’s friends with us and also Paul and Erin’s twin “terrible two”-year-old boys.  They are quite precious, but have their “moments”.  They are trying to adopt these kids…they are the children of Paul’s brother, but of course, Kenyan politics are making it hard for them to adopt them.  Joshua fell asleep on my lap on the way and promptly peed his pants….and my lap.  It was so nice, but it did dry quickly.  I didn’t smell too much like pee until I got home.

The roads were bad so it took us a few hours to get to Rangwe, but it was beautiful.  It was so green and Mbita is so brown.  It is over the hills from us and the rain basically stops there.  It felt like a cloudy Oregon day…good memories of Oregon!  When we arrived, Eunice and Michael were waiting “in town”…basically a dirt/mud road with shops on both sides, but a place that Mavine would love to explore. Mavine went home, instead of waiting for us, because he was hungry…sounds like him…but when we came into the compound he was pulling around a poor sheep with a rope tied around his neck.  Just pulling it around and around and around.  As usual, it was hilarious. Eunice instantly wanted to take me on a tour.  The first stop was her grandmother’s grave.  Not sure if the grandmother they live with is a co-wife or what….it is so confusing here. The kids live on a beautiful compound with a huge shamba (garden) with banana trees, pineapple, mango trees, avocado trees and a field for maize (just ready to plant).  The area is lush and the fru-it (say FRU-IT) is plentiful.   We met the grandmother, who I think is younger than me.  That is great because she is going to be around for awhile – I hope.  She seemed so nice and gentle.  The grandfather is in management in a tea factory far away and only comes home 6 times a year for 2-3 days.  So, the kids won’t see him much.

The Grandparents must be doing okay financially, because they have a milk cow, 6 sheep, a house girl and a shamba boy.  No garbage around the compound – which is so good because garbage is everywhere here.  The boys love working on the shamba and were so proud to tell us about it.  There is a river close-by and the water is good.  The kids will be starting school next week, however they were not sure where.  The uncle is a school teacher and will get them settled somehow. 

Erin brought a soccer ball for the kids and that was a great hit.  She thought it might lure other kids in from around the area.  As long as no one steals it.  We played and talked and ate rice with tea and had a good day, but all of the sudden it was 5:30 and time to go.  We barely had time to have any tearful goodbyes, so that was good.  I left the kids with dice and Yahtzee rules.  I had taught them to play when the three kids came to our house a few weeks before we left.   I also had some POP ROCKS with me…the kind that pop and bubble in your mouth.  Mavine thought they were hilarious!  He laughed and laughed as they popped and kept trying to “cheat me” into giving him more saying he only had one taste.  He always laughs when he tries to cheat me, so it’s easy to tell.  He knows that he has me wrapped around his little finger with his charming ways.  I tell you, this kids is one in a million.  I don’t know if I will ever see him again! :(

Mavine and Michael seemed okay when we left, but Eunice was just about ready to burst into tears.  She had told me earlier in the day that she wanted to come back to Mbita with us.  I had to tell her that this was her home now and that she had to stay. ohhhhhh….so hard…  The kids will come back to spend December with Paul and Erin, but I hope that will not be too hard for them to return to their new home.  Everyone here says that it is best for them to be with “family” and I do agree, but right now it is hard. 

So that is my story of Mavine the Monkey Boy and his sister and brother.  Another sad story, but that is life here in Kenya.  So different from our life in the USA.  Be grateful for what you have and thank God every day that you live in America…life is so hard here and every child has their own story.  It is mind boggling!