At 6:15am the alarm on my cell phone goes off. It isn't too hard to get up, because the rest of the family has been up for at least the last half hour. Once in a while I try and roll over to get a few more precious minutes of sleep, but between the noise from the family getting ready for the day, the chickens outside and the hustle and bustle on the busy road outside, I usually fail and get up. I put on my kanga (sarong/wrap) and sleepily go to the kitchen, where I light the parafin stove, and heat up the water for my bath. It is usually pretty quick and I only almost started a fire once. Actually for the first several weeks I just used the shower (a real luxury in Likoni), but stopped because the water was so cold and I discovered, that while bucket baths are more work, it is worth it to have a warm water.
I have also noticed that I use way too much stuff in the shower. When I am walking to the bathroom in the morning, I have an armful of stuff: shampoo, conditioner, face soap, razor, body wash and a washcloth. Upon seeing all of my bath stuff, my friend Mammie said "Wow, I just have soap".
After I am done with my bath, I make my breakfast which consists of eggs from our chickens, chai (it isn't like the chai we drink in the states but it is very delicious), and either white bread or mandazi (donuts). I am trying to switch to porridge, because I am seriously missing whole grains and eating donuts everyday is potentially not the healthiest option for me. Sometimes I even get freshly squeezed orange juice OR mango/passion fruit juice. While I eat, the news is usually on so I can hear about the latest on Kenyan politics, people who are still displaced from the post election violence, just how hot it is going to get that day (not as hot as I thought it was going to be), Kenya's Olympic team, the terrible traffic in Nairobi, etc. Anyway then Swale my host brother and I head off to Licodep by about 8:30. He just returned home from finishing his degree in Kampala, Uganda and has been volunteering at Licodep while he finds a job.
The walk to work takes about 25 minutes. The first part of the walk is down a dusty (or if it has just rained, muddy) main street, where I focus on dodging the matatus, motor bikes and other pedestrians. There is a shortcut so as to avoid this chaos, but it is such an elaborate maze of cutting between houses, that even after having taken this way several times, I can't do it by myself. Then we pass by the ferry which is totally chaotic and busy. I get asked where I am going by the men in matatus who assume that I am going to Diani, the tourist area about an hour south. I tell them I live here ("Ninaishi hapa!) or pretend like I don't hear them. Then we cut through the small market to reach Shelly Beach Road, which leads to Licodep. Now this road, while within mere feet of the chaos of the ferry, seems miles away. It is quiet, beautifuly lined with tropical trees and flowers, with several huge villas, most of which are uninhabited. These houses are five times the size of most of the homes in Likoni. Apparently most of them are owned by rich people in Nairobi or elsewhere, who come down on some weekends. The houses are each guarded by tall concrete walls and gates to the driveways that have security guards there almost 24/7. There is some pedestrain traffic, lots of men selling jugs of water out of carts, a few motor bikes and matatus, but overall this is one of the quietest parts of my day.
Then we arrive at Licodep, which is actually one of the large villas I mentioned. It was bought for the organization by a donor a few years back. The first floor is mostly a social space, with a stereo, TV, a few games and lots of chairs, where you can almost always find people hanging out. There is also a small room for the youth counseling program and a small office for the microloan program. Then upstairs is where most of the offices are. I share an office with the program staff and volunteers so it is a busy place. There is a great view os some of the smaller houses nearby and just beyond them, the Indian Ocean. I have to admit that being able to see the ocean from your desk, sure beats being seated outside the women's bathroom at the WBDC for two years. Speaking of being at the office, it is tea time and I should be getting a bit of work done. This is a picture of me working.
Love from Kenya!
I have also noticed that I use way too much stuff in the shower. When I am walking to the bathroom in the morning, I have an armful of stuff: shampoo, conditioner, face soap, razor, body wash and a washcloth. Upon seeing all of my bath stuff, my friend Mammie said "Wow, I just have soap".
After I am done with my bath, I make my breakfast which consists of eggs from our chickens, chai (it isn't like the chai we drink in the states but it is very delicious), and either white bread or mandazi (donuts). I am trying to switch to porridge, because I am seriously missing whole grains and eating donuts everyday is potentially not the healthiest option for me. Sometimes I even get freshly squeezed orange juice OR mango/passion fruit juice. While I eat, the news is usually on so I can hear about the latest on Kenyan politics, people who are still displaced from the post election violence, just how hot it is going to get that day (not as hot as I thought it was going to be), Kenya's Olympic team, the terrible traffic in Nairobi, etc. Anyway then Swale my host brother and I head off to Licodep by about 8:30. He just returned home from finishing his degree in Kampala, Uganda and has been volunteering at Licodep while he finds a job.
The walk to work takes about 25 minutes. The first part of the walk is down a dusty (or if it has just rained, muddy) main street, where I focus on dodging the matatus, motor bikes and other pedestrians. There is a shortcut so as to avoid this chaos, but it is such an elaborate maze of cutting between houses, that even after having taken this way several times, I can't do it by myself. Then we pass by the ferry which is totally chaotic and busy. I get asked where I am going by the men in matatus who assume that I am going to Diani, the tourist area about an hour south. I tell them I live here ("Ninaishi hapa!) or pretend like I don't hear them. Then we cut through the small market to reach Shelly Beach Road, which leads to Licodep. Now this road, while within mere feet of the chaos of the ferry, seems miles away. It is quiet, beautifuly lined with tropical trees and flowers, with several huge villas, most of which are uninhabited. These houses are five times the size of most of the homes in Likoni. Apparently most of them are owned by rich people in Nairobi or elsewhere, who come down on some weekends. The houses are each guarded by tall concrete walls and gates to the driveways that have security guards there almost 24/7. There is some pedestrain traffic, lots of men selling jugs of water out of carts, a few motor bikes and matatus, but overall this is one of the quietest parts of my day.
Then we arrive at Licodep, which is actually one of the large villas I mentioned. It was bought for the organization by a donor a few years back. The first floor is mostly a social space, with a stereo, TV, a few games and lots of chairs, where you can almost always find people hanging out. There is also a small room for the youth counseling program and a small office for the microloan program. Then upstairs is where most of the offices are. I share an office with the program staff and volunteers so it is a busy place. There is a great view os some of the smaller houses nearby and just beyond them, the Indian Ocean. I have to admit that being able to see the ocean from your desk, sure beats being seated outside the women's bathroom at the WBDC for two years. Speaking of being at the office, it is tea time and I should be getting a bit of work done. This is a picture of me working.
Love from Kenya!
3 comments:
completely fascinating. keep it up.
Oh so amazing and wonderful! We need more pictures! And, yes, of all the information you just gave, the only question I have is: you're wearing pants?
Love you!
So, you're saying you don't run in to pirates on a daily basis? Kenya's not that exciting then I guess.
Post a Comment