JessPS

We left Nairobi first class (!) on the night train to Mombasa where after having a personal introduction from the train manager, we enjoyed dinner, our very own cabin and after a very bumpy night's sleep, a scrummy breakfast. The train went through one of kenya's national parks, though only saw zebra, and past many villages where the kids came out and ran alongside the train asking for money. It got duller and duller as we approached Mombasa and we arrived in pouring rain, at the place where the sun always shines! Mombasa was great, yet a completely different feel from Nairobi or anywhere else we've visited in Kenya. We could have been in a different country, tuk tuks beeping left right and centre, the call from the mosques every few hours, small streets with beautifully ... read more

It really is magical seeing animals in the wild; as summed up so well in the Lion King lyrics, so beautifully sung by Susannah and Eezy: From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun There's more to see than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done There's far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found But the sun rolling high Through the sapphire sky Keeps great and small on the endless round Chorus: It's the Circle of Life And it moves us all Through despair and hope Through faith and love Till we find our place On the path unwinding In the Circle The Circle of Life We started in Lake Nakuru and went off on a morning ... read more

Whilst staying just outside the Masai Mara national park we had the opportunity to visit a local masai village: Villages are normally of about 120 people (20 families) surrounded by a fence built by the men with a separate entrance for each house. The boys stay in the village and the girls marry into other villages and when a new wife arrives in the village it is the women that build her house for her. These houses are built with sticks and mud with a compartment inside for sleeping and cooking, and another compartment for the goats and cattle at night. We were shown how they make fire rubbing soft and hard wood together and smelt some of their local brew made from sausage trees. They eat meat, blood and milk and veg which they have ... read more

Well there was no hiding the fact that the world cup had started in Nairobi on Friday night...... loud music was booming and people were cheering but we had an early night in preparation for our big climb the next day. We drove off to the base of mount kenya, making a stop via our drivers' family where we were given fresh fruit and the mzungu were photographed! The roads were great - no potholes and our driver had a dvd player in his car so we got to watch cheesy kenyan music videos. The base of the mountain is at the equator so we did the water experiment and it's true! - the water goes different directions down the plughole merely 20m either side of the equator and straight down when on it. The first ... read more

I left the hustle and bustle of Kampala on the night coach to Nairobi to avoid paying a night's accommodation - forever the stinge! Fortunately I was sat next to a really interesting man who was a Bishop in southern Sudan. Sudan has always been somewhere which i've been keen to find out more about because Dad was born out there but currently not the best place to visit. The North and South are very divided in so many aspects, language, religion, landscape, resources and the South are all looking forward to January when they hope that the referendum will be passed to split the country in two. The South will then be able to lead a life free from war, something most Sudanese people have never experienced since civil war broke out in 1955. The ... read more

Some Luganda i learnt (spely phonetically): I'm Jess - Nze Jess Gwe ani - Who are you? Hello to woman working - Jaybaaley Nyabo Hello to man working - Jaybaaley Saybo Good morning (sing.) - Wasuze otya Good morning (pl.) - Wasuze mutya Good afternoon (sing.) - Osiibye otya Good afternoon (pl.) - Mwasibye mutya Have a nice day - Siiba bulungi Have a good night - Sula bulungi How are you? - Oli Otyah I'm ok - Gyendi And you? - Nahway? Thanks - weebalay Please - nahway Ok - Kaley No problem - Kalay To get attention - Owange Excuse me - Nyamba I don't understand - Sitegeera Go away! (to kids) - Va'wo Sorry - Nsonyiwa I've been to Kampala - Nva Kampala How much? - Sente meka? What's this in Luganda? - ... read more

The fathers decided to take us all on a trip as a group before I finished my placement at the school. We were told we'd leave straight after lunch and that time was on our side because it wasn't far. Gone 3.30pm we set off on a 2hr drive! The owners idea of an ostrich farm is with 2 ostriches, some geese and a few horses! The owner gave us a tour showing off the whole site which is what always happens - ie showing us what he is building and how he intends to expand the business, the guest house 'where people can stay', the bar 'where you can have a drink' and I wouldn't have put it past him to give us a tour of the loos too! The tour also included a 5min ... read more

I love being woken up every morning by the community singing and drumming in church but everytime I head over to listen to singing the priest seems to start his sermon (all in Luganda) and I don't have the foggiest idea of what he's saying. Apparently congregations here don't really sing and the priests get annoyed that they don't participate, well they should come to the UK where they'll really understand not singing! Anyway the students don't have to attend mass everyday probably because they have such a busy schedule as it is! Boarding students have the following routine: 4.45 - 6.45am Morning prep and prayers 6.50 - 7.30am general cleaning 7.30 - 5.20pm School (first lesson at 8am) 5.30 - 6.45pm fetching water and bathing 6.50-7.30pm Supper and TV news 8.15- 10.15pm Reading and prayers ... read more