I have been here over 2 months and feel like I have settled in. I have my house completely furnished now and feel quite comfortable. I finally decided I just had to purchase a comfortable chair as I have so much time in the evening to read. Now getting furniture up to my home is no small endeavor. I bought the chair along side the road near Mombasa. I got the seller to carry the chair across a very busy and dangerous highway where I stood in the dirt for sometime before finding a matatu that would transport myself and the chair. Ofcourse the tout tried to over charge me but they get all flustered when you can argue with them in kiswahili. OK, the chair is tied onto the back of the matatu and off we go. When I arrive at my stop, the chair is untied and loaded onto a motorcycle and driven up a steep and bumpy dirt road. It did arrive in good shape and I am very pleased. Am currently reading The Bone Setters Daughter and Abraham Lincoln (by Carl Sandburg). Also have numerous New Yorkers by my bed.
I am slowly developing a social life! I have several Kenyan friends; tonight I went to a soccer game in a nearby village. Very competitive these Kenyans! I also joined a bunch of other Peace Corps volunteers for a weekend party. Despite the fact that I was the only person over the age of 30, I had lots of fun.
I am learning to dispense medications at the health center. I am discovering that although I do not find the mosquites a problem, many people are coming down with malaria. The incidence of HIV is low but there is no way of knowing for sure since most people haven't been tested. The stigma attached to being HIV positive is huge and many ignorant people choose not to be tested.
We had some incredible rains this past week but now the weather has turned back to dryness. Most people at Kadzinuni have their own shamba (small farm) and totally depend on it to provide their own family with food. If the rains don't come, this area will be in a dire situation.
The public water faucets I have mentioned before are managed by the government and they often choose to turn the water off!! Also, have a habit of turning it on only during the very early morning hours. So, I often wake up to the sound of women carrying 20 liter water cans on their heads at 1am and this done without any light!
The pictures I am including here have titles (sorry, I haven't figured out how to put the title right with the photo): children with their babies: man fetching palm juice for this disgusting palm wine they make and drink constantly: book club time at Kadzinuni.
I have had numerous responses to the article in the Mammoth Times about my need for book donations for the Kadzinuni library. I have even received a very generous donation from a Mammoth resident to help cover shipping costs of the books. Besides all the local donations, I currently have a box being sent from a non-profit group in Darien, Co. Am hoping the Kenyan customs fees aren't too outrageous.
More to follow - and in less than a full month this time!
