Blogs from Nyanza Province, Kenya, Africa - page 6

I spent the weekend in the field doing survey work for a Danish NGO. We left Nairobi early Friday morning and had a fairly smooth trip to Kisumu, the capital of Nyanza province located on the shores of Lake Victoria. The trip was briefly delayed by an overturned beer truck that had attracted a large crowd of thirsty locals (see pictures) but we had a 4 x 4 truck and were able to take a cow path around the accident. We arrived in Kisumu on Friday afternoon and, after a short meal, headed out to the depths of Luoland (the area around Lake Victoria inhabited by the Luo tribe). This area has few paved roads and no running water, sanitation, or electrictiy. As we drove past large groups of school children, many of them stared at ... read more

I was up early this morning. Another wash in the public bathroom and down to check out of my room, leave my bags at the front desk, and have a little breakfast. I set out to the school. One brave little boy, about 3 years old, spied me no the way to the school and ran right up to, grabbed onto my pant leg, and yelled "Wuzungu, wuzungu!" (white man, white man!). He had also corned me the other day and seems to have a naive fascination with my appearance and presence.His mother is always about 30 seconds behind him to gather him up and take him back to their house. A short time later, a young boy from our school came running up from behind me, having obviously spotted me from a distance. Out ... read more

Hi Everyone, Larry & I arrived safely yesterday and our baggage made it all the way to Kisumu. No flights were delayed. We were so glad to check in to the peaceful Nyanza Club and rest in their 1960s style bedrooms overlooking Lake Victoria. They have spacious rooms with hot water, fans, bed nets. The swimming pool is great and the food is better than at Mbale Hotel! Kisumu underwent some property loss in the riots. Today we walked down the main street and I saw four or five large businesses burnt to the ground, including the best internet cafe. In any case, here are some items of interest to TJ travellers: Kenya Airlines says you can bring 2 suitcases of 30 kilos each if you are travelling from abroad. However, our own Delta airlines inCinci ... read more

I'm trying another quick blog, since the power is still on, and the rains are pouring down outside. The much-awaited and delayed long rainy season has arrived! Due in February, the first big rain came about a week ago. Everyone is planting, or has recently planted, and the new seeds are getting a good soaking. Named the long rains because the rain really pours down, and lasts long enough to really soak things. What we would call rain, just a general everyday rain, does not count here. They only call it rain if it pours and soaks the ground. Well, the current rain qualifies. The downpour is torrential, and pounding on the metal roof. Conversations, even teacher's lectures in schools, are suspending until the roar subsides. Thankfully, I already had my seat in the computer place, ... read more

Greetings all! Time is flying by, yet I have no concept of time. Everyday is much the same here. Some days warmer or cooler, more sun or clouds, rain or not - but generally the same. Seasons are only marked by rain or not, and even those seasons are not reliable. Then, there is the time in a day. Even though I know that Africa time, especially in the rural areas, rules the day, I can’t help but hope each day that we will actually get to a place at the scheduled time (or at least within one hour!), or that I will accomplish all that I would like to. Lately, I have displayed some frustration and crankiness, but am really trying to be patient. In addition to several local support groups (self-help groups with income-generating ... read more