Merry Christmas to you all!!

Christmas 2009 – Who would have predicted I’d be wishing all my friends and family a Merry Christmas from Africa?! It is unbelievable to me, but I am in Kenya and shall enjoy the Christmas festivities available here. I’m not saying I will breeze through the season without being a little homesick, but I shall try!

Sorry about my last blog being so disjointed, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Will try to send the bride and grooms picture along with this blog.

Yesterday I went for a visit to Kipsongo. It is considered the slum area of Kitale and is the home of the majority of the street children. Because Trudy and I are of white skin, we were stopped by a Kipsongo policeman who asked us to leave. The other people with us talked to him of why we were there, so he finally allowed the visit to continue. I guess what has been happening before is white people go to the slums, take photos of the destitute lifestyle/homes there, go back to their country and ask for money to help improve this area/lifestyle but pocket the money for themselves.

We went to Kipsongo slum to visit the children from Mercy and Caring Home who had gone ‘home’ for a week’s visit, as it is their summer break. We met their parents or relatives who they were staying with and chatted with the children. I will post a couple of photos which I was able to take only because the people in them wanted me to take their picture, otherwise I would not have taken any photos there for reasons of respectability. As you look at the photos, you will see mud huts and plastic bagged little homes the people live in. Even though they have little hope of a better life, they are an incredibly welcoming bunch of people. One old gentleman shook my hand and said, “Oh, you’re from Canada, but are you Swedish?” Guess my blonde hair and fair skin gave him the idea. I wanted to take home all those little children with big brown eyes looking up at me while holding my hand or stroking my white skin. Maybe next time!

Today Trudy, Dane and I went to the baby clinic at the local hospital to meet little baby Dane, and is he ever adorable! Pastor Antony and his wife Mary Stella had a son about a week ago and named him after Dane Ruck. What an honor! Think I already told you that a calf has also been named after Dane!

We now have another chicken and named it Candice Ann (the children from the orphanage chose the name). I was invited to my friend’s house. She is the mother of one of the farm workers at MCCH and she and I have just clicked probably because we’re the same age. She speaks no English; I speak no Swahili, but we hug and laugh and shake hands. She and her family made tea and scrambled eggs for my visit. As I left, she honored my visit by handing me this little chicken, only two months old, which I carried home on the matatu. I introduced ‘Candice Ann’ to ‘Fred’, who wasn’t all that friendly to her!

I have mentioned before that no street, path, floor, sidewalk is even where we live. As I am not that steady walking, I have always been watching where I’m going, and Trudy, Dane, Candice and David have been so used to me grabbing onto their arm for help. On the way to my friend’s house with her son walking next to me, I tripped on the gravel and did a total face plant! He helped me to my feet as I realized blood was dripping off my face. Had just bought three new hankies the day before, so grabbed them out of my purse, dabbed my face and continued on our way. I felt shaken up all day, but was so thankful I ended with only a cut fat lip, very sore and loose front tooth, one sore knee and a bruised ego! One day shy of three months here – I’m surprised it had not happened before.

I have received so many birthday and Christmas cards/wishes from family and friends. I want you to know how much they mean to me, especially this year. I got an envelope yesterday from Ms. Knecht’s Grade 5 class from Gibsons Elementary full of pictures that each student had drawn of Christmas activities or life/wildlife in Africa and a Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas letter written on the back. They each asked a question about life in Africa, so I thought you all would enjoy knowing a little bit more information about Kenyan life.

Jackie – Yes, I know several people who have had malaria and children do get it, too. There are pills you can buy when you’ve contacted malaria that will make you well. You know when you have malaria – there are signs to watch for and you need to get immediate medical attention. I take a malaria prevention pill daily and will continue to take it for a month after I leave Kenya. You get malaria from a bite from an African mosquito. That is why everybody here sleeps under a mosquito net, as the mosquitoes usually come out late afternoon and during the night. And, no, there is no vaccine for malaria. I am sure scientists are working on a malaria vaccine as many people do die from it yearly.
Colin – The time difference here is 11 hours ahead of you in Gibsons. I have not seen one snake since I arrived here but I understand there are big long black ones in our guava plantation and I have no intention of going there!
Jeremy – I have not seen a lot of African wildlife. Other than monkeys, I think a person would have to go on a Safari or to a wildlife park to see the wildlife. Maybe I’m not in the right area of Africa to see giraffes, rhinos, elephants, etc.
Dawson – They do celebrate Christmas here but it is definitely not as commercialized as Canada/USA. There are a lot of Muslims living here, though, and they do not celebrate Christmas. The majority of people in our area of Kenya have not heard of Santa Claus.
McKenzie – Yes, it’s hot here! The sun is always directly overhead so my head gets very hot. In Kenya, the people eat a lot of maize (corn, but not ‘peaches and cream’ or sweet), both whole and ground, beans, peas, tomatoes, kale, spinach, carrots, rice, squash, potatoes. Very little meat is eaten except for kuku (you know, ‘Fred’!).
Nicholas S – It does rain here often but it is different than B.C. rain. It pours, and I mean hard, for about 20 minutes, then the sun comes out and dries the water up. Everyone is so used to the heavy rain that they run for cover anywhere and stay there until it stops raining.
Nicholas A – The children who live at the orphanage were chosen because they had lost one or both of their parents and lived in extremely poor conditions or came from a family who were so poor they could not take care of their children. There are no welfare payments or financial government help for families in need in Kenya, and with 40% to 60% unemployment there are lots of poor families.
Bailee – There are approximately 90 children at the orphanage, but MCCH also services several home-based children, which mean they go home to sleep but are fed and go to school at the orphanage, as their families are very poor.
Luke – Yes, there are super markets here, and pharmacies, hardware stores and other necessary services plus outdoor booths at markets everywhere.
Marvin – I have made lots of new friends here, both young and old. I really enjoy the older Kenyan women. A lot of the grandmas here are raising their grandchildren because the children’s parents have died of aids. I am always referred to as ‘mom’ because of my age. This happens in the stores, on the street, just anywhere – a sign of respect.
Sophie – Sorry, I have not seen one giraffe! I wish they were just hanging around here but they are not. However, we have just been told of a wildlife part not far from here which has giraffes, rhinos, elephants and ostriches you can ride, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will take a jaunt there.
Gabriel – I actually don’t think there are rattle snakes here in Kenya. I am over my snake phobia now! I did hear this story just this week that up in Lodwar, a very hot and dry part of Kenya where scorpions live, there are snakes big enough to kill a cow. They wrap themselves around the cow and squeeze until the cow dies. Then they feed on it.
Charlie – I am going to investigate on whether there are any caves here. I will let you know about that later.
Neil – The critters (cockroaches, crickets, geckos) get in my room usually because the window is open or from holes between the floor and the wall. I keep my window closed most of the time.
Jordan N – Yes, how is Fred! Well, actually, Fred has been injured and can barely walk. We don’t know if another rooster and Fred had a fight or what happened. But he’s in pain – maybe – let’s just say his pain will be eliminated on December 23rd!
Elly – Did I ever tell you that your mother and my son went to school together?!
Charlotte – No, haven’t seen any rhinoceros. I’ll keep looking.
Claire – How is your musical cheese play coming along?
Darby – Yes, the sunsets here are beautiful, and I understand they are exceptionally gorgeous in the month of January.
Scout – No, I have not had a ride on a giraffe. Candice and David did ride a camel. Where we live there are no lakes or swimming pools.
Liam – I saw some zebras as we drove from Nairobi to Kitale, but other than zebras and monkeys there doesn’t appear to be any wild animals around here.
Jordan M – No, haven’t seen any elephants.
James – Yes, our dinner on December 23rd will be tasty. I understand you’re going to eat chicken that night, too, in honor of Fred! I will just have to enjoy eating chicken and not think about who the chicken was!
Jarred – Yes, I remember you hitting the teddy bear around my yard!!
Quinton – The children’s hair are cut so short to prevent lice and probably because of the heat and hygiene.
Megan – Thank you for the compliment. I miss you all, too.
Lauren – No, they do not eat bats here. I haven’t seen any bats here either.

Thank you again, Ms. Knecht’s Grade 5 class and Ms. Knecht, for the interesting letters and fantastic drawings. I hope to attach a photo of the wall in my bedroom that now is covered with all your artwork. My bedroom is quite cheerful now!

I also hope to put these photos on the blog:
· me riding on a piki piki (motorcycle). It will be from the front only. The rear-end photo was not pretty!
· the bride and groom from the ‘wedding’ blog entry
· photos from my visit to Kipsongo
· photo of Dane Ruck holding little baby Dane
· photo of Dane the calf

Cannot believe Christmas and my birthday are just a day or so away. I will be thinking of each one of you and wish you a blessed Christmas.

Wedding, etc.

(I wrote this over several days so it is really scrambled!)

The big excitement this week is the wedding. Dan and Irene, both employees from MCCH, are getting married Saturday, December 5^th. It is supposed to start at 10:00 a.m., but we have learned that even “Roberts Creek Time” seems more predictable than “Kenyan Time.” So we won’t leave home until noon. I asked our host family if the wedding ceremony itself will be kind of short, and the answer was “oh no – it takes the bride at least one hour to walk down the aisle, then the introduction and speeches of all the guests, etc. ...” So we’re looking at a day’s event on hard chairs, but it will so interesting. Will tell more about it after I’ve gone.

We were invited to the Fundraiser ceremony for Dan‘s and Irene’s wedding, and it was quite lengthy but so entertaining (dancing girls, singing by a choir, speeches from every uncle, aunt, both sets of parents, cousins, sisters and brothers of both families – and they’re big families! – each gift was presented in groups, the parents group, the siblings, down to the neighbors turn to walk up to the bride and present their gift). Right in the middle of the whole service, the rains came, and when they come, it pours! But that did not stop the ceremony. Kenyans don’t get in a flap – they just continue as usual. So our meal was served in a little mud hut while waiting for the rains to stop. I was handed a whole cooked chicken as I was one of the special guests. I was to help myself then share it around. We had chicken and rice, which was a very special meal. Evidently anyone can attend the wedding and/or fundraiser and eat, and it would be considered rude in Africa to turn any person away without feeding them. People just kept coming from the neighborhood until there was no food left. It is okay to run out of food and not feed someone, but you happily accept anyone who arrives and try to feed them. As we left the fundraiser, our vehicle got stuck in the mud that was quite mucky from the rains. I’m sure the whole community came to see the production it took to get free. Then the matatu that was behind us got stuck – was good to see how Kenyans all work together to solve any problem.

Yesterday was Friday. Candice and I went into Kitale. Our matatu dropped us off right at Lina Moja (mile long), blocks full of little wooden stalls where people sell shoes, clothes, vegetables, fruits – anything you can think of and it’s crowded with shoppers. I bought a dress for $1.50 Canadian. When you’re in the open market place and find a dress you might be interested in, you just try it on ... right there in the middle of the crowd. When we got to the bras, it was very entertaining to see this lady try a bra on over her sweater, her friend did the hooks in the back for her while she adjusted the front part with her hands being sure the cups would be the right size, etc.! I dared Candice to do the same, but she bailed out! Majority of the clothes for sale are from the States/Canada – items that are used or nobody would buy them. It was exciting to see a t-shirt from “The Garden City – Victoria, B.C.”

I have to go back to the e-mail of our bus trip to Uganda. A lady went up to the conductor and obviously told him she needed a bathroom stop. So stop they did and all these people jump off the bus, walk over to the trees and relieve themselves. It’s very common – see it all the time at the side of the road while driving. We have so many inhibitions – they just do these things and no one is interested in looking or makes any comments.

Okay, I have attended the wedding and what fun it was - a true African wedding! It was held at Mercy Home. Dorcas, the very talented tailor who works at MCCH, had made beautiful dresses for the girls and new shirts for all the boys for Christmas, but they were told they could wear them for the wedding. The children looked so lovely, happy and had such a great time. Sure enough the wedding was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. – the wedding party arrived at 2 p.m. and the aisle routine did take an hour, but that’s because they do little dance steps together as they walk 1”, then do the dance steps again – another inch ahead! The procession started with the three little ring bearers, ushers, flower girls, lady attendants m then bride and groom each doing the little dance steps then going ahead one inch. It poured right in the middle of the procession and no one flinches, just proceeds. The bride looked beautiful in her long white dress and train and a crown on her head that lit up. The train is draped over the groom after the vows/rings are done. I won’t go into all the details, but I continue to learn to be patient so I will enjoy what is going on because that’s what you’re there for. We in the West are so busy hustling and bustling here, there and everywhere that even our mind cannot stop sometimes. But here ... better relax because nothing is going to go any faster! I still have to find out what the dowry was Dan had to ‘pay’ as I’ve been told 13 cows, but I think that’s a bit too much!

I have bronchitis now. Went to a doctor here – very professional and gentle. The visit and lab work cost 450 shillings ($6.25 Canadian). The antibiotics cost 1400 shillings ($20 Canadian). It’s a slow week at MCCH as each child has gone “home” (either to their relatives house or to a teachers home) for a week so no children are at MCCH. We have Trudy’s and Dane’s sponsor child, Alphine, here with us. She is so lovely and mature. We are really enjoying her.

Okay, it’s no secret how much I ‘love’ taking the matatus!!! The ‘hill’ used to be my first dislike, but I’ve become so used to climbing it now that it has fallen to number two and these matatu rides are my least favorite. So a matatu stops where we are to be picked up. It’s already full with 15 people in it, but they’ll cram in us five as well. This one had parked so close to the edge of the road where there is about an 8” drop, then the climb up into the matatu – well, I could NOT do it. So they drove down the drop off and told me to get in front (“you.” Then they point to the front seat.) The knees don’t bend, I was carrying a heavy bag and my empty water bottle – well, it took every bit of strength to get up into this matatu. By then my skirt is up around my middle and my face is beat red and dripping wet. Embarrassed and mortified. I know it’s pride – have to love it! And, yes, third are cold showers. Candice said it would keep my humor if I watch my facial expression in the mirror as the cold water hits my body! Tried that this morning after coming out of my toasty bed – not humorous!

The chicken house is being cleaned out so that next week the chickens will be put into their new home. It’s a masterpiece. We have ordered another hundred chicks so we will be in full swing very soon. The greenhouse is now being built. It will house tomatoes especially as there is a huge market for them.

All the secondary students who board away from MCCH have come ‘home’ for the year-end break (all of December) and so have the five college students. It’s been very rewarding to see how the children from MCCH grow up into such well-balanced adults. They enjoy seeing their ‘brothers and sisters’ and give them lots of encouragement and attention while ‘home.’

Are you all hustling around doing Christmas activities? We did buy a little artificial tree that we have decorated and light each night. It’s very hard to relate to Christmas coming. It just is not a big commercial issue here. Stella, the niece of our host family who lives here, had not heard of Santa Claus and she will be in Grade 8 next year, so the “have you been a good girl this year” tradition with Santa just does not happen.

Until next blog entry, hope you’re enjoying your pre-Christmas traditions.

Nancy