lucky life

I am no longer traveling…I’ve been back from Kenya since October 22, 2009. My trip was cut short after learning of the passing of my fiance’s father. I traveled 40 hours to return to his home, Indiana. We have now been home in Seattle for 10 days and have already moved into our new home and are back to work.I am now entering backdated journal entries of my time in Kenya. AND planning a return trip in January 2011 (after the wedding). There will be more travel blogging as we are heading to Honduras for our honeymoon (possibly) and in-country travels planned in the meantime.

It is so hot and muggy right now. My little clock shows the temp at 81 degrees and it is 5am. Sleeping can be measured in small packets of a few hours during the night, punctuated by crazy malaria-medication-induced dreams. I am not taking the medication that sometimes creates psychotic hallucinations but this one has it’s own side effects. It is definitely worth the risk as I am apparently not good at not getting bitten by mosquitos.

This morning I found 3 dying cockroaches, just in case you are keeping track. I still don’t know why they have to die in my hut. Yesterday we saw monkeys about 30 feet away, they are so cute until they realize you are watching them-then they scurring like little rats. I’d like to attract them to my window by leaving bananas for them, but I fear instead that would attract a bunch of ants.

6:58pm:

Today was again very busy. We did three home visits with the community health workers. Then we met up with the Youth Mentorship gropu. I am anxious to develop a report for the CHW’s in hopes that some funding may become available for them. Their needs are simple yet would make an incredible impact. They need simple medical supplies: gauze, medication: pain relievers, wound dressings and then they need a food bank for the home based clients: maize, maize flour, cooking fats, beans. So my goal is to develop a summary of what the CHWs do, the impact of the work they do and what is needed.

The Youth Mentorship group also wants bikes in order for them to go out and provide mentorship to others. I don’t think that would be difficult to find sponsors for.

Today as we were sitting in the very hot room during the YMG meeting, all I could think about was Fanta. And then as though someone was reading my mind, a Fanta appeared for us. It was great. I really have to work on this mind power thing.

 I am so enjoying my adventure and work here. Every day is bringing something new experience and awareness. I only get one day off but the work days are punctuated with breaks for nap and lunch and we really don’t start until 9am. And then there is Africa time which leaves behind the ridiculous punctuality of the Western world.

I learned about marriage practices today during one of the CHW home visits. The man pays for a dowery of cows and goats plus money to the woman’s family. Then the woman comes to live on the man’s property. When the CHWs found out taht I was getting married they immediately asked me how many cows were paid to my family. I explained that in America we don’t pay in cows or actually even pay a dowery to the wife’s family. They didn’t really get the concept, but that is okay. It was interesting to share about wedding rituals and customs. The courting process in general isn’t too far off from the Western world.

One of the saddest stories today was that of a woman is pregnant for her 5th time, she has had 4 previous miscarriages and is HIV positive. Her husband has another wife is no doubtedly positive for HIV and he still refuses to get tested or receive treatment. The wife is being treated but she has no protection, as her husband will not use condoms and she cannot refuse sex. If she does, he will beat her. If she leaves, she is as good as dead. She will have no place to go, no way of supporting herself and she will be shunned by the village and her own family.

I realized how lucky I am in that moment for all the rights and priveleges I have been given.

This morning has been slow which is nice. Yesterday was kind of long with the meetings and everything running on Africa Time. It's amazing that these people actually come to meetings-nobody has a clock and everyone seems to just show ... [Continue reading this entry]

Rosemary told me that I need to keep my mosquite net tucked in at all times even when I'm not in it. "The mosquitos are cunning" yes they are-my question is, "how do I get them out once they are ... [Continue reading this entry]

It's now 7:30pm and I'm finally here in Kunya. I am staying in my own hut here on the Mama Na Dada property. It's quite nice actually, very spacious with four beds to choose from. However only one bed has ... [Continue reading this entry]

i'm in Kisimu en route to Kunya where I will be staying for 5 weeks. I'm so excited as I was having lunch with the coordinator Rosemary (who is so sweet and amazing) and she was telling me that they ... [Continue reading this entry]

It's 5:16am and the roosters have been roosting since 430am. Apparently a rooster's work is never done. I can't really fall back to sleep now as I am leaving in a short hour or so. I'm so glad that I ... [Continue reading this entry]