After a few anxious days (actually weeks) we were very much relieved to be met on arrival in Nairobi by a friend (Susan) of the project coordinator (James) who we had been in contact with. Susan drove us to her flat down roads which must have been hit by stray bombs aimed at Libya given the size of the potholes! Susan's flat was in an area on the outskirts of Nairobi and how shall we put it, it was no Beverly Hills!
We met with James 2 days later and he took us to a town called Gilgil, about 50 miles north of Nairobi. Gilgil is situated in an area called the Rift Valley, a very picturesque area of Kenya, surrounded by peaks and dotted with numerous lakes along the valley floor.
On arrival we met with our host family. Jane and Joseph are both in their 60's, the former a director of a local orphanage and numerous humanitarian projects and the latter a former professor, policeman and farmer. Both have been extremely welcoming and thankfully speak good English. Living with them are a daughter, son and grandchild (Faith). Faith is a source of much entertainment. Faith is 9 years old, speaks excellent English, is intelligent and well mannered and would put most British children of the same age to shame. It is sad to think that she will not have the same opportunities that those in England are fortunate to have. When we don't aways understand what other people have said we do the standard smile and nod and then ask Faith what on earth they just told or asked us!
With regards to the volunteer project it has been a little disorganised, to our frustration, but we're beginning to realise that that is the Kenyan way. In our first week we had to take matters into our own hands and come up with an idea. Whilst we did this we spent the first day at the local school running a P.E. class, the majority of which was spent playing a dusty game of football :), and marking some homework which included Swahili! We were both concerned when meeting with the teachers that the "English" teacher was unable to properly introduce herself in English yet all the others could. By the end of the first day we had suggested painting a world map on the side of the school (whilst we waited for the construction project to start) much to the headmasters delight.
We are both quite proud of the finished article and even more so that we are now referred to as "artists"! If that's the case we might start selling some knock-off Picasso's. The school children have had a lot of fun watching us work, naming the different continents and surprisingly seeing us mix and make different colours. Art is not supported here given the lack of funds and need to prioritise.
We are 2 of only a few mzungu's (whites) in Gilgil and are therefore a source of amusement for the locals particularly the children. At first the continuous shouts of “How are you?” were a welcoming novelty and we would stop and chat. However now by the end of the day, when we are hot, dusty and tired we want to teach them a new phrase; “piss off". We know that sounds bad but believe us they are relentless!
In our spare time we have travelled around the local area using matatu’s (public minibuses). Visiting Lake Elementaita – a soda lake inhabited by pink flamingos. Climbing Mount Longonot (2,777m) an extinct volcano (inadvertently hitchhiking a ride home with a private party who shared cartons of red wine and miraa (a twig which people chew for stimulant – no effect on us!). And Crater Lake - a game sanctuary which we could walk through and get close to wild zebra, giraffe, baboons, gazelle etc (getting another lift home this time with a Dutchman and a south African who are working for the UN in Kenya to try to help deal with Somalian pirates).
The matatu’s are an experience in themselves, the legal capacity is 14 people but they cram as many on as possible. The record so far is 21 and if they see a police check point people have to try and hide.
We'll look forward to your comments and update you all again in a couple of weeks. More photo's to come via Facebook.
The matatu’s are an experience in themselves, the legal capacity is 14 people but they cram as many on as possible. The record so far is 21 and if they see a police check point people have to try and hide.
We'll look forward to your comments and update you all again in a couple of weeks. More photo's to come via Facebook.
