KRCS and Coffee

Instant coffee has become our friend. Spencer was smart enough to bring 18 packets of Starbucks instant – enough to stave him over for the next few weeks. Me, on the other hand, I am drinking a local Kenyan instant drink that occasionally smells like coffee but more so tastes like maple syrup. But despite its taste, the instant stuff is keeping me awake and alert for my morning boda boda (bicycle taxi) ride to the Red Cross.

Speaking of which, my boda boda driver tipped our bike over this morning at a busy intersection (I was riding on the back). But I was able to catch the both of us mid-fall and correct it before the oncoming motorcycle drove past us. It was a bit scary though, especially because the roads here are so terrible and I could’ve fallen into traffic quite easily because of a gaping hole in the tarmac. Minnesota hasn’t seen potholes like these.

Spencer and I are making good use of our days working for the Red Cross. We’re currently working on hashing out a strategic plan for a social work program for victims of disasters as well as a budget and strategic plan for an HIV peer education group that will tour schools in the Bungoma district. Along with that, I’m helping to coordinate fundraising and promotion/marketing for the branch.

That said, the nights are quite long here as it begins raining at 4:30pm and doesn’t stop until it’s dark out. We don’t like to go out into the city during the night, so that limits our options quite a lot. I’m sure there will be many more blog posts when Spencer leaves, as I will have a lot of time to myself. Luckily, my parents purchased a NOOK for me before I left so maybe I’ll find time to dig into those books.

OK well time to head to the Red Cross. We have a HIV sensitization course for teachers and policemen today at the branch, which I’ll be sitting in for.

Hope all is well in whatever corner of the earth you’re at.

Love,

k