African Rains

Out of breath and a bit soggy, Spencer and I just ran back to our house after a thunderstorm rolled through Bungoma. We arrived safely yesterday after a 10-hour bus ride, which was both tiring and slightly treacherous. There were several times when both Spencer and I grabbed the armrests for fear of the bus toppling over into a shallow dugout (there were several turned over trucks from here to Nairobi by the way). But we made it here with little to no harm done besides tired bodies.

Daniel, my host father and cofounder of The Nafula Foundation, met us in Nairobi out of happenstance – he was getting his visa to go to England for a bit in June. We met the rest of the Makecho family in Bungoma, to the tune of many big hugs and kisses. Even Esther, the shyest Makecho, ran up to me with a loud scream and a hug (she was not expecting either of us).

The Makecho’s were able to secure a home for us across from theirs in the same neighborhood. The house is quite nice, concrete floors, bright windows, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a very well used bathroom. In brief terms (no need to get into details) we basically have a “wash-wash” room where we bring buckets of water in for a self-shower, and a small hole in the ground for the bathroom. Needless to say, it takes a bit of getting used to.

Most of the day today was spent showing Spencer around Bungoma, which basically consists of two main streets and a nicer restaurant/bar. Not much has changed since the last time I came except for a few new stores and places to eat. The hospital is still quite overcrowded, as illustrated by the lines of people waiting outside to be seen by a physician. I think that Spencer will have plenty of work on his hands there.

Tomorrow will consist of a tour of the hospital for Spencer as well as introductions at the Kenya Red Cross Society – Bungoma Branch for me. I have, and do know previously, how much need there is for HIV/AIDS education here, but am still a bit nervous as to understanding how I can act the most efficiently in the time I am given. So that has been weighing on my mind slightly in the last few days.

This weekend, we will be staying in Bungoma to go to a church service with the Makecho’s and visit Chebukwa, where The Nafula Foundation works.

In Nafula news, Dan did say that the clean water system in the village of Chebukwa is a great success and people are coming in droves to get water from the tanks. We are now working to prioritize the needs of the area and decide what type of water system (tank or pump) would be best.

Otherwise, all is fine here in East Africa. We’re off to dinner now with the Makecho family and will be up early to visit our friends.

Until then!

Nairobi Part I

We arrived in Nairobi on the heals of a bomb blast in City Center. Though no one was seriously hurt, many were still aware that empty backpacks and public places were still at risk for another incidence. Aside from the blast though, everything has gone extremely smoothly, despite the hustle and bustle, the speeding cars and spewing matatus that consist of Nairobi.

Out with fellow expats in Nairobi, Kenya

Spencer and I spent much of the morning getting over jet lag in our hotel as our 20-minute nap soon turned into 1.5 hours. But, when 12:30pm rolled around, we were ready to explore the mega-city, buy cell phones, book a safari and get in a few meals and drinks along the way. 

For lunch, we stopped at my favorite breakfast place Java House and spent much of the afternoon chatting with a Kenyan man who studied in Texas for the last five years. After exchanging contact information and promising to meet up again later in the evening (along with his friend from Minnesota) we decided to head out a book a ticket to a 3-day safari in Maasai Mara for later in June. Though I have already been on three safaris previously, I am still looking forward to seeing the Mara and the wildebeest migration again as well as sleeping under African skies. We did briefly think about heading to Mombasa Coast instead for a relaxing 3 days, but decided that when in Kenya, you must do a safari. 

The afternoon soon passed by and we decided that a decent drink was in order. Amos, my friend from Nairobi, suggested that we all meet up - along with a group of expats - at a small patio-type restaurant outside the city. Happy to get off our feet, we gladly joined the group for a bit of storytelling and travel advising (Bungoma, Kenya - where we are living - was on nobody's list of travel destinations by the way). 

And on our way home, we stopped at Panda, a local Chinese restaurant, to take in local cuisine and process the day. 

Admittedly, I was a bit nervous coming back to Kenya after being gone for two years. But I'm beginning to find my legs in this city and in the country in general again. And yes, I am looking forward to getting to Bungoma City where the air is clearer, the people are friendly and where my family resides. 

As an FYI we will be traveling most of the day tomorrow and may not have internet access until Thursday. I do have a Kenyan cell phone and will release the number when I'm not sitting in the dark trying to look for the card with my contact information on it. 

I would love any emails (kathryngrace86@gmail.com), phone calls or texts from the U.S. especially in July and August when I will be living alone in Kenya. Until then, I will try to update this as frequently as possible. 

Cheers,

Katie (and Spencer)