There are two things that happen that give me the opposite emotions at the same time- getting new babies and babies being adopted. It is exciting to get a new kid but so sad that their parents deserted them. When kids go home to adoptive parents I am so happy for them to have a loving home but its still sad to not see them anymore. Both happened/are happening this week.
Tuesday night they had a baby who we think is about 10 months old brought in by a police officer because they were left outside of the police station. As soon as I walked in the door on Wednesday morning little gold earnings on a baby's ears caught my eye and I knew we had a newbie. When our social worker came in I asked her the story and she said they are investigating but have no information. She said if they cannot find out the babies name then they are naming her Jennifer!! How awesome is that? It's an honor to have someone named after me. :) So just like Naomi she is still unsure of where she is or what is going on but she has adapted fairly well. She gets a bit clingy and calls for "mama" which is heart breaking.
Melody and Gloria are two of the toddlers as well and they are in the process of maybe being adopted. Melody's prospective mother is coming tmrw and through the weekend to do her bonding and then will take her home at the beginning of the week. Gloria's prospective mother was on site to do bonding last week but it did not go as well as hoped so she is back to try again. The way adoption works here is that the prospective parents are brought in by an adoption agency and shown kids in the gender and age they are looking for. If they like one they will come on site to do 4 days of bonding. If our social worker and staff think that they bonding went well then they take the child home on day 5. The child stays with the family for 3 months of foster care with so many visits back during that time. If those three months go well then the adoption paperwork starts and it is then in the courts hands.
The only other thing to share today is that I have started to get over being a perfectionist... or at least a little bit! One of the toddlers scratched me with her finger nails yesterday so today I asked if I could clip her nails. Well when you do something to one child you have to do it 18 more times. So I clipped almost all of their fingernails and toenails today. This is where the perfectionist in me had to die. Little kids do not sit still and do not like their nails cut so you just have to get the most of it and move on! haha. I got pretty good by the end I must say.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
good day
Ah today my heart was so happy with the kids!
Johnathon (the toddler with some issues) actually ate all of his bread and butter at morning snack which has never happened. He fuses allll the time when it comes to eating- half the time he doesnt want the eat, the other half he cries when its all gone. Anyways, I have been trying to get him to eat the bread which for some reason he has always hated even though its soft and he only does soft foods. Well today he ate the whole time with minimal crying!
Naomi (the newest baby that has had a hard time adjusting to the home) was doing sooo well on Friday and played on her own, did not cry when she was put down, actually shed a few smiles, and even crawled from room to room. Yesterday if she was not held or sitting directly in someone lap she waiiiiiled- and she has a big cry! Well today she was happy again, did not cry, even had little smirks on her face at times. I think she is finally coming around. They said out of all the children they have had she has had the wost time adjusting. Its been about 3 or 4 weeks now.
All the big kids have still been sick. Mostly colds because its their winter so its common. Today the oldest kids stayed home from school so all 13 of them could get injections. I have seen these kids take cold medicine and now these injections and they are all so good! They line up and take theirs at their turn with no fuss; its amazing. The injections hurt a few of them of course so Hannah and I played "good cop, bad cop." She held them while the nurse gave their shot then they'd come to me for hugs and kisses. I def got the good end of that deal! We gave the shots in the morning and by the time lunch came around everyone was so full of energy, laughing, playing, it was a total turn around from what they've been like for the past week- amazing!
As for me, two of the girls I have been hanging out with leave this week so that is a bummer. Can't wait to see them in NC in December! This past weekend I went to a Maasai Market. Think of a flea market. All the vendors bring their stuff and set it up on blankets or whatever and you just walk through. Everyone wants to sell you their stuff. Everyone wants to be your friend and then say "I give you good price" or "look for free, touch for free." The bargaining aspect of it is crazy! This is the second one I have been to, watched a lot at the first one and this time tried it out for myself. It is so fun! From everyone at the house buying different stuff we have learned what good prices are but you have to play the game and start low while they start high and try to met somewhere in the middle. There is always the power of walking away too- that will always help the price go down. haha.
Johnathon (the toddler with some issues) actually ate all of his bread and butter at morning snack which has never happened. He fuses allll the time when it comes to eating- half the time he doesnt want the eat, the other half he cries when its all gone. Anyways, I have been trying to get him to eat the bread which for some reason he has always hated even though its soft and he only does soft foods. Well today he ate the whole time with minimal crying!
Naomi (the newest baby that has had a hard time adjusting to the home) was doing sooo well on Friday and played on her own, did not cry when she was put down, actually shed a few smiles, and even crawled from room to room. Yesterday if she was not held or sitting directly in someone lap she waiiiiiled- and she has a big cry! Well today she was happy again, did not cry, even had little smirks on her face at times. I think she is finally coming around. They said out of all the children they have had she has had the wost time adjusting. Its been about 3 or 4 weeks now.
All the big kids have still been sick. Mostly colds because its their winter so its common. Today the oldest kids stayed home from school so all 13 of them could get injections. I have seen these kids take cold medicine and now these injections and they are all so good! They line up and take theirs at their turn with no fuss; its amazing. The injections hurt a few of them of course so Hannah and I played "good cop, bad cop." She held them while the nurse gave their shot then they'd come to me for hugs and kisses. I def got the good end of that deal! We gave the shots in the morning and by the time lunch came around everyone was so full of energy, laughing, playing, it was a total turn around from what they've been like for the past week- amazing!
As for me, two of the girls I have been hanging out with leave this week so that is a bummer. Can't wait to see them in NC in December! This past weekend I went to a Maasai Market. Think of a flea market. All the vendors bring their stuff and set it up on blankets or whatever and you just walk through. Everyone wants to sell you their stuff. Everyone wants to be your friend and then say "I give you good price" or "look for free, touch for free." The bargaining aspect of it is crazy! This is the second one I have been to, watched a lot at the first one and this time tried it out for myself. It is so fun! From everyone at the house buying different stuff we have learned what good prices are but you have to play the game and start low while they start high and try to met somewhere in the middle. There is always the power of walking away too- that will always help the price go down. haha.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Jennifer look!
They say the sweetest sound to anyone's ears is their own name. When the older kids started saying my name I thought it was the cutest thing, especially with their accent since it doesn't quite come out the same. I have to remind myself of this cuteness when I hear three of them saying at the same time "Jennifer look!" as they show me their latest trick. haha. One thing I have to be careful of is who is getting what attention. If I pick up one of the kids and swing them around or give them a piggy-back ride they alllll want one! It becomes either "and me, and me" or "again, again." It is def a good work out though! Spending time with the older kids has been wonderful! My days are now complete with babies in the morning and kids in the afternoons.
After the kids eat lunch they change out of their school uniform. They go into this room where all the cloths are on different shelves and they just grab anything and put it on. I love it! No one cares if they are a boy wearing pink pants, if their top doesnt match their bottoms, or if someone else was wearing the same thing two days earlier. Only once did one of the kids shake his head five times until he got the sweater he wanted! haha.
It has been getting cold here since we are in their winter. It is actually a bit chilly but for them its very chilly. The kids were all in snow suits the other day. I got a huge kick out of this of course because they were all bundled up but still wearing their crocs for shoes! With the cold has come colds too. There are sooo many runny noses! Three of the older kids got malaria. I swear its like the flu here. No one freaks out about it. They get it and then take meds for 3 or 4 days and are fine. Apparently some people get it a dozen times in their life. I just pray that everyone gets better because today I dodged baby throw up twice during feedings, wiped many noses, and am hating the sad look on their faces that is accompaning their lack of energy.
Two of the girls that have been coming to the orphanage with me leave at the beginning of next week so I am sad about that. The number of people at the house has gone from 26 to less than 10! Its a crazy change but I really feel like your mind knows how long you personally are gone for and prepares you for that. I am still going strong and loving it!
This week I went to the Maasai Market for the first time. It is crazy!! People haggle you and try to get you to come to their stand. Everyone wants you to buy their stuff which is all beautiful! I am not use to bargaining and talking down prices. It is truly an art that I have not perfected but am learning from some of the other volunteers. We'll see if I can get some good deals. When you convert things back to dollars everything is a good deal but my mind has adjusted to shillings very well.
After the kids eat lunch they change out of their school uniform. They go into this room where all the cloths are on different shelves and they just grab anything and put it on. I love it! No one cares if they are a boy wearing pink pants, if their top doesnt match their bottoms, or if someone else was wearing the same thing two days earlier. Only once did one of the kids shake his head five times until he got the sweater he wanted! haha.
It has been getting cold here since we are in their winter. It is actually a bit chilly but for them its very chilly. The kids were all in snow suits the other day. I got a huge kick out of this of course because they were all bundled up but still wearing their crocs for shoes! With the cold has come colds too. There are sooo many runny noses! Three of the older kids got malaria. I swear its like the flu here. No one freaks out about it. They get it and then take meds for 3 or 4 days and are fine. Apparently some people get it a dozen times in their life. I just pray that everyone gets better because today I dodged baby throw up twice during feedings, wiped many noses, and am hating the sad look on their faces that is accompaning their lack of energy.
Two of the girls that have been coming to the orphanage with me leave at the beginning of next week so I am sad about that. The number of people at the house has gone from 26 to less than 10! Its a crazy change but I really feel like your mind knows how long you personally are gone for and prepares you for that. I am still going strong and loving it!
This week I went to the Maasai Market for the first time. It is crazy!! People haggle you and try to get you to come to their stand. Everyone wants you to buy their stuff which is all beautiful! I am not use to bargaining and talking down prices. It is truly an art that I have not perfected but am learning from some of the other volunteers. We'll see if I can get some good deals. When you convert things back to dollars everything is a good deal but my mind has adjusted to shillings very well.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
older kids and Kibera
Friday afternoon I got to know the mothers better. I stayed around while the kids were napping and actually shared in their joy as volunteers bought them a new stove. The time of conversation and taking the volunteers pictures with them and the stove, etc. made it so they accepted me a little more in their world (as strange as that may seem). I was on a level with them, not just with the kids. My reason for staying was to meet the five kids to go to primary school off site but I am glad at what else it became. It was also nice to have play time with all 13 of the older kids (8 I already knew from doing school on site) instead of just being with babies all day. Today I can and went to church with those kids. They went off to Sunday school and I stayed in church with one of the mothers. It was all in English this time!!! And I wasnt called out as a new person. I liked it because I didnt feel like everyone was watching me and I could just remain in worship with them; even though it was a bit of a different way of preaching than I am use to.
Yesterday my host parents took myself and two other women to see Kibera. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and second in the world (first being in India). There are over 1 million people that live there. We only drove around the outside of it and then walked up to a hill overlooking all of it. There is a lot of theft, rape, etc. etc. with crime that goes on inside of it. It was def good to see and eye opening. Even though it is a slum and very poor it is still a functioning community. People that live there pay rent, there are churches and schools within Kibera, there are even antenas on the top of their houses (some mud houses, others shacks) to get television! One thing I have learned from the people and the lifestyle here- they are happy. Everyone knows what they have, what is in reach, etc. and makes the best of their life. So often in America I feel like people are wanting and wanting and never happy with what they have. Some people may live in Kibera but they are still living, still praising God, still loving life. There is more faith and more religious ways of life here in Kenya that I have seen then most places I have been to in America. I love it. People love people for who they are, not what they have. Okay, okay I'll get off my soapbox for now....
Yesterday my host parents took myself and two other women to see Kibera. Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and second in the world (first being in India). There are over 1 million people that live there. We only drove around the outside of it and then walked up to a hill overlooking all of it. There is a lot of theft, rape, etc. etc. with crime that goes on inside of it. It was def good to see and eye opening. Even though it is a slum and very poor it is still a functioning community. People that live there pay rent, there are churches and schools within Kibera, there are even antenas on the top of their houses (some mud houses, others shacks) to get television! One thing I have learned from the people and the lifestyle here- they are happy. Everyone knows what they have, what is in reach, etc. and makes the best of their life. So often in America I feel like people are wanting and wanting and never happy with what they have. Some people may live in Kibera but they are still living, still praising God, still loving life. There is more faith and more religious ways of life here in Kenya that I have seen then most places I have been to in America. I love it. People love people for who they are, not what they have. Okay, okay I'll get off my soapbox for now....
Friday, July 17, 2009
sick babies
Yesterday was a bit of a sick baby day. We thought Job (5 weeks) might be blind but the doc says he isn't- yay!!! Nancy (7 months) and Melody (10 months) both projectile vomited (not a pretty site) and Austin (7 months) has been throwing up a bunch too. Doc says the girls are okay but Austin on the other hand has malaria. He is a big, otherwise healthy boy so I think he will bounce back quick. Chris (3 months) is malnourished with malaria and suffering a bit of rejection so its been a worry with him. He has been doing better but threw up a bunch today so who knows now. Ah!! Please keep all these babies in your prayers!!!
We thought Gloria was going to be adopted but the family said no (we never get to find out why). 5 families are coming in the next few days to see some babies so my fingers are crossed on all of them!!!
We thought Gloria was going to be adopted but the family said no (we never get to find out why). 5 families are coming in the next few days to see some babies so my fingers are crossed on all of them!!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
new baby and another rural visit
We got a new baby at the orphanage which is exciting and heart breaking at the same time. Her name is Naomi and we think she is 8-10 months old but not too sure. There is this refugee camp called IDP (internally displaced people, I think) for people that went crazy during all the political stuff a few years back. The girl is from there so the other either died or just left her or who knows what. She is sooo beautiful. She shows very few emotions and clings to people very easily, does not like to be left alone. I hope she can start to warm up a bit and become as playful as the others her age. Also, I think one of our toddler girls, Gloria, is going to be adopted!! The couple came this past weekend and if all the paperwork goes through they will start 3 months of foster care and if that works then they will start the adoption process. Yay!
Yesterday (Sunday) I went with our housekeeper, Ester, to visit one of our old housegirls, Grace. It was in a very rural area and we walked up this road about 4 kilometers or more. The little kids just kept looking at me. One of them (the son of a friend of Esters') just stared and stared and the lady said he had never seen a white person before! This little girl even starte to cry when she saw me saying she didnt want an injection because they only white people she had seen were medical professionals when she got shots. So other then people staring and oh yea having major picture time with Grace's family, it was really a good day. We stopped in for church. This is my second church service here and at each church they called all vistors to the front and you had to introduce yourself- ah! I spoke in English (duh) and everyone laughed because very few could understand so Grace's brother had to translate. Oh yea this service was all in Kikuu (a tribe here in Kenya that most people I know are a part of) so I understood nothing of the 2 hours I was there. Churches here last as long as they want by the way, both times have been at least 2 hours! At Graces home she walked me around the property to see where everyone lived (extended family all lives on the same plot) and met so many people. My house family's mother lives out there too so I met her. Everyone was so kind and just wonderful to be around. I love the people here. Of course I got asked the question everyone asks here- when are you going to get married! Haha! So it was a great weekend but I missed the babies so much so I am glad to be back with them this week!!
Oh yea I have to tell ya'll my new favorite thing here (maybe I have said this already- sorry if I did)- motor bike taxis!!! We have three mile walk to and from work each day so sometimes we take a motorbike taxi and it is so much fun! Except when I get covered in dirt (no one else seems to get dirty!).
Thanks to everyone that has been reading my blogs. I have so enjoyed hearing from you. I know I couldnt possibly write about everything that happens here so I try to pull out the good stuff! Love you all!!
Yesterday (Sunday) I went with our housekeeper, Ester, to visit one of our old housegirls, Grace. It was in a very rural area and we walked up this road about 4 kilometers or more. The little kids just kept looking at me. One of them (the son of a friend of Esters') just stared and stared and the lady said he had never seen a white person before! This little girl even starte to cry when she saw me saying she didnt want an injection because they only white people she had seen were medical professionals when she got shots. So other then people staring and oh yea having major picture time with Grace's family, it was really a good day. We stopped in for church. This is my second church service here and at each church they called all vistors to the front and you had to introduce yourself- ah! I spoke in English (duh) and everyone laughed because very few could understand so Grace's brother had to translate. Oh yea this service was all in Kikuu (a tribe here in Kenya that most people I know are a part of) so I understood nothing of the 2 hours I was there. Churches here last as long as they want by the way, both times have been at least 2 hours! At Graces home she walked me around the property to see where everyone lived (extended family all lives on the same plot) and met so many people. My house family's mother lives out there too so I met her. Everyone was so kind and just wonderful to be around. I love the people here. Of course I got asked the question everyone asks here- when are you going to get married! Haha! So it was a great weekend but I missed the babies so much so I am glad to be back with them this week!!
Oh yea I have to tell ya'll my new favorite thing here (maybe I have said this already- sorry if I did)- motor bike taxis!!! We have three mile walk to and from work each day so sometimes we take a motorbike taxi and it is so much fun! Except when I get covered in dirt (no one else seems to get dirty!).
Thanks to everyone that has been reading my blogs. I have so enjoyed hearing from you. I know I couldnt possibly write about everything that happens here so I try to pull out the good stuff! Love you all!!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
stories
I just wanted to share a few stories with you that have touched me this week. I'll do my best to portray them to you...
Three new volunteers have joined us at Happy Life this week. One of them is the sister of the state-side director and the other two are friends of his. There is a banquet every year in Delaware (the state) to benefit Happy Life so they have shared some stories with us which have been amazing. This year their speakers were a couple from the states that adopted two children (one being deaf) from HL. It took them a year to do it because they refused to pay bribes to judges and do things that way which happens a lot with adoptions believe it or not. The mother stayed here in Kenya for a whole year while the husband came back and forth. What dedication this couple had! The mother talked of all children having a "love bucket" and had each time a child is held, kissed, played with, etc. their "love bucket" gets filled. She had thanked everyone that spent time here in the orphange because her children's "love buckets" were not empty. It is so comferting to know that the adoptive parents really appreciate all the people that spent time with their children before they even knew of them. We did the math and figured out that the kids spend 20 or so hours a day in their cribs because there just aren't enough people to hold them and care for them. I love the two hours during the morning in between feedings and before afternoon when we get to take them out to the play room and just love them. Depending on how many volunteers are there that day you may being giving two attention or five at the same time! We have become very good at juggling one in each arm, one laying on our legs, and having our fingers held by others.
One of the social workers that works at HL who is also a nurse told me a story yesterday that literally brought tears to my eyes. I told some other volunteers later in the day and of course did not tell it half as good as she did but hey I'll try again so I can share it with you. She was at the courts to pick up a baby when she saw an insane mother being ridiculous with a baby. A man that worked there said to her "you need to take this baby" which she responded with "I do not take babies from their mothers." The crazy lady practically threw the baby at her and said "take her!" Turns out the insane women was not the biological mother and was given the baby from the biological mother. They went through the courts to see about HL taking her and long story short this social worker ended up fighting for her. When she got to the home she was only a month old and could not eat, had horrible things in her system that made her very sick, was just in awful condition. This women cared for this baby day and night until one day she woke up smiling and happy. The babies name is Blessing and this women wants so dearly to adopt her; everyone at the home knows its her baby. The only thing is babies have to stay in care for 6 months (a law that has to do with government, etc.) before they can be adopted. But believe me, this women will fight for this baby and will some day be able to call Blessing her own.
Three new volunteers have joined us at Happy Life this week. One of them is the sister of the state-side director and the other two are friends of his. There is a banquet every year in Delaware (the state) to benefit Happy Life so they have shared some stories with us which have been amazing. This year their speakers were a couple from the states that adopted two children (one being deaf) from HL. It took them a year to do it because they refused to pay bribes to judges and do things that way which happens a lot with adoptions believe it or not. The mother stayed here in Kenya for a whole year while the husband came back and forth. What dedication this couple had! The mother talked of all children having a "love bucket" and had each time a child is held, kissed, played with, etc. their "love bucket" gets filled. She had thanked everyone that spent time here in the orphange because her children's "love buckets" were not empty. It is so comferting to know that the adoptive parents really appreciate all the people that spent time with their children before they even knew of them. We did the math and figured out that the kids spend 20 or so hours a day in their cribs because there just aren't enough people to hold them and care for them. I love the two hours during the morning in between feedings and before afternoon when we get to take them out to the play room and just love them. Depending on how many volunteers are there that day you may being giving two attention or five at the same time! We have become very good at juggling one in each arm, one laying on our legs, and having our fingers held by others.
One of the social workers that works at HL who is also a nurse told me a story yesterday that literally brought tears to my eyes. I told some other volunteers later in the day and of course did not tell it half as good as she did but hey I'll try again so I can share it with you. She was at the courts to pick up a baby when she saw an insane mother being ridiculous with a baby. A man that worked there said to her "you need to take this baby" which she responded with "I do not take babies from their mothers." The crazy lady practically threw the baby at her and said "take her!" Turns out the insane women was not the biological mother and was given the baby from the biological mother. They went through the courts to see about HL taking her and long story short this social worker ended up fighting for her. When she got to the home she was only a month old and could not eat, had horrible things in her system that made her very sick, was just in awful condition. This women cared for this baby day and night until one day she woke up smiling and happy. The babies name is Blessing and this women wants so dearly to adopt her; everyone at the home knows its her baby. The only thing is babies have to stay in care for 6 months (a law that has to do with government, etc.) before they can be adopted. But believe me, this women will fight for this baby and will some day be able to call Blessing her own.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
a little bit of everything
'Don't put that in your mouth!' This is a saying I used a lot last week but seemed to have no effect on the kids. Let me back up... I go downstairs into the preschool class to find another volunteer with the 8 kids and no teacher to be found. The kids are suppose to be coloring but what are they doing instead? Coloring their tongues with the markers! haha. So English didn't work when telling them not to suck on them so I had the Kenyan volunteer teach me how to say it in Kiswahili (which of course I cannot remember now) and then do the kids listen? Nope, they just repeat whatever I say and go back to doing it, haha. Oh the fun of little kids! They did turn back to very sweet though when the director asked me to go get their tea for break. I brought it back to the kids (tea and bread with butter) and they all sat down closed their eyes and said a prayer in Kiswahili then paitently waited for each to be served. If someone started to eat before they all had theirs then they definitely got called out by their peers! So with the bad you certainly take those good moments.
Other things I have done... sorting beans to take out rocks and little bugs (cant just buy a nice bag like in the US), peeling beans off the pods (looong process), making posters for the classroom (I can draw better than I thought!). This week we will be reorganizing all the babies cloths because those shelves are a disaster!
Over the weekend I went to Mombasa (more specifiacllly Diani Beach on the coast of Kenya) with about 13 other volunteers. We took an overnight train Friday night and then took it back on Sunday night. The train was def a good time because we got to see a lot of the country (it was like a 15 hour trip!) and they were sleeping cars but it felt like sleeping in the rough sea! I even met a group of guys from Cleveland, OH on the way home! It was so nice to be at the beach if even for just a short time. Where we stayed there were monkeys all over the place and they tried to come into our room so ya had to be sure not to leave the door open. They also have what people call 'beach boys' which aren't cute and fun like you would think from the name- no, they are people that hang on the beach and pester you into buying things or going on snorkeling trips or something like that, etc. etc. Kind of obnoxious!!
The city hasnt turned on the water in our area of town since Friday so I am hoping they did today so I can bath and wash some cloths tonight... This along with many other things has really made me think and appreciate America. For example... with the water- we waste sooo much water! Try taking a bath with a bucket about half full. You will be surprised how little water you can use. With food- they eat it here for nurishment and to continue with life. It is not a staple to their life here, things do not revolve around food, they do not snack, they have basic meals and stick to those. Ah another thing- personal space! There is none here! haha. On the matatu the other day I have two guys leaning over me. In a 15 passenger matatu they will fit 30! Not only is there no personal space with people but the same with cars! Ah its so crazy here. Its weird to think I am trusting this driver with my life yet they are makin so many ridiculous moves! Suprisingly though there are few accidents.
Oh I suppose I will shut up for now! Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
Other things I have done... sorting beans to take out rocks and little bugs (cant just buy a nice bag like in the US), peeling beans off the pods (looong process), making posters for the classroom (I can draw better than I thought!). This week we will be reorganizing all the babies cloths because those shelves are a disaster!
Over the weekend I went to Mombasa (more specifiacllly Diani Beach on the coast of Kenya) with about 13 other volunteers. We took an overnight train Friday night and then took it back on Sunday night. The train was def a good time because we got to see a lot of the country (it was like a 15 hour trip!) and they were sleeping cars but it felt like sleeping in the rough sea! I even met a group of guys from Cleveland, OH on the way home! It was so nice to be at the beach if even for just a short time. Where we stayed there were monkeys all over the place and they tried to come into our room so ya had to be sure not to leave the door open. They also have what people call 'beach boys' which aren't cute and fun like you would think from the name- no, they are people that hang on the beach and pester you into buying things or going on snorkeling trips or something like that, etc. etc. Kind of obnoxious!!
The city hasnt turned on the water in our area of town since Friday so I am hoping they did today so I can bath and wash some cloths tonight... This along with many other things has really made me think and appreciate America. For example... with the water- we waste sooo much water! Try taking a bath with a bucket about half full. You will be surprised how little water you can use. With food- they eat it here for nurishment and to continue with life. It is not a staple to their life here, things do not revolve around food, they do not snack, they have basic meals and stick to those. Ah another thing- personal space! There is none here! haha. On the matatu the other day I have two guys leaning over me. In a 15 passenger matatu they will fit 30! Not only is there no personal space with people but the same with cars! Ah its so crazy here. Its weird to think I am trusting this driver with my life yet they are makin so many ridiculous moves! Suprisingly though there are few accidents.
Oh I suppose I will shut up for now! Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
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