Blogs from Nyanza Province, Kenya, Africa - page 11

The kids at St. Theresa’s Orphanage are back from their village visits. Fatima, Hanif and I made a visit last Friday. I was finally able to deliver the cards my nephew David and my niece Emily made for Josephat. Josephat and all the kids for that matter were thrilled to receive the cards. Thank you Emily and David! I had arrived with sweets and thus was very popular. Now we had to figure out the best way to distribute to ensure everyone got a candy. Quite the feat with 40 pairs of small hands swarming me and reaching up! But ah the art of the queue…smallest to tallest …and we had order in no time. We played and I took pictures of the kids. I introduced them to a favourite game I play back home with ... read more

Early in the morning Mrs. Agesa lets the chickens out of the circular cement chicken house which is also the cook house. Then she gets a few pieces of wood and arranges them inside a circle of stones onto which she places her large sufuria filled from the rainwater collection tank. When that comes to a boil, she pours some off to a teakettle to make chai boiled with milk straight from her cows. The rest of the water goes into buckets, mixed with cold rainwater, and this is what you carry to the bathhouse to wash in. Each person gets about 1/2 bucket of water if she wants to wash, but not all Kenyans wash like this daily. The chai and some hot water goes into 4 thermoses that sit on the kitchen table all ... read more

A few weeks ago, Mrs. Agesa (my hostess) lost her elderly sister, who had several serious illnesses. I accompanied the family to the funeral. Before any funeral here, there are at least three days of mourning by the close family, who gather at the deceased's house, where she is displayed in the coffin. Drums beat all night and they sing and remember the person who has died. On the day of the funeral, the family had rented huge canopies, plastic chairs, and a sound system. At least 500 people gathered in the family compound for the rites. I was the only non-Kenyan present. The service, in Swahili, lasted from 8 am until 6 pm, and proceeded according to a printed program. Family, pastors, relatives, and neighbors spoke in turn, interspersed with sermons, prayers and singing. Food ... read more

What would you say if I told you I spent yesterday on the campaign trail with 6 members of parliament? I was invited along by a local member of parliament, Julius, who I met at the hotel some two weeks ago. He had introduced himself at breakfast that day wondering if I was with the US embassy. I of course quickly explained not! He and 5 of his colleagues had returned to Kisumu to tour Julius’ constituency. All 6 sit on the Energy and Infrastructure parliamentary committee and they are on a 5 day tour surveying road repairs to monitor and evaluate their progress. Governance in action. Next year is also an election year (5 year terms here) - so they are on the campaign trail as well. So at 9 am yesterday morning, I piled ... read more

And I mean this literally! For the first time, unassisted by walls and other people, I stood on my head for a whole 2 minutes…and just to make sure I could do it again…I did! Kathy Nash, my yoga instructor in Calgary, would be very proud! But probably more proud that I have started a regular yoga practice here. I have taken over what was once a health club room in the hotel - now vacant, and claimed it as my yoga studio. Using a towel for a mat I am working through both standing and floor postures. This has become a daily or every other day activity for 60 to 90 minutes…and I feel great! Culminated today with a solo head stand!!!! Now on to the hand stand! I also picked up my bank card ... read more