Up Country

We got home from Mombasa early Saturday morning. Then on Monday mid afternoon Alfred called us and said "we are going to Kisuum on Wednesday or Thursday. What day works better for you?" No really choice at all and no advanced notice. We picked Wednesday because on Saturday we already had plans that could not be canceled. The rest of Monday and Tuesday were spent washing did
-ty clothes from Mombasa and repacking everything. Right after class on Tuesday we headed off to Nairobi to send the night to catch the bus early in the morning on Wednesday. The Otieno's decided to take a day bus so that Megan and I could see the Country side. It was wonderful. Not like the drive from California to Utah. It was green, all green and lush. I was expecting not to see anyone for a while but that was not the cause. you would not drive for more then 5 minutes with out seeing someone herding there cattle or farming. 

Legit in the middle of NOWHERE Kenya people live. It was crazy. They had no cars, no running water, no electricity. I do not know how they do it. Once we go to the city we were staying in we caught 5 boda bodas to the Otieno's house. Those boda boda men were so nice and funny the second we got off the bus they drove up and were like MUZUNGU!! (white person) TAKE ME!!! hahahaa

The Otieno's house is still being built, shoot it has not even begun to be built so for right now they just have a temporary house.

This house was just one whole room with a sheet in the middle to divide the bedroom from the sitting/cooking/dining room. It hosted 8 children, 6 adults 5 chickens, 2 rosters and 5 chicks. Yes we slept with the animals inside the house, if not they would get stolen. we also slept with all the construction tools and cement they would get stolen as well.

When we got there they were just finishing up the bathroom. It was so nice. The boys working on it did such a good job!
We were living the real Kenyan dream with no electricity, or running water. It felt just like camping. We walked miles everyday.
Once we got to the house put our things where they belonged we walked to the shop to buy things for dinner that night. The neighbor girls, Millie and her sister heard that the Otieno's were home so they rushed right over. 

Little did we know they would become our bffs while we were there. The next day started off with 5:30 am wake up call for family prayers and the roster waking everyone up and the kids heading off to school. Megan and I were more then exhausted with not being able to sleep very well that night. Her ring worm was driving her crazy and I got 5 mosquito bites with in 15 minutes of trying to fall asleep. (how i missed my net) We just laid in bed half asleep until 7:30 then we took a shower ate and went to Millie's house to see what they were doing for the day. They invited us to go to the salon with them and of course we went!

Getting hair washed

Megan decided to get lines on one side of her head

The ladies in the salon wanted a picture, please excuse the lady to the left she is feeding her children. Once we got back to there house Alfred said where have you been? Ester is waiting for you. So we headed back home to see what was up and that is when we headed to the Abilas grandmothers house. We were told it was just up the hill to jump on a boda boda and we would basically be there. Little did we know that once we were up the hill we would walk another mile all down hill to grandmas house (remember what goes down must come back up)

 

one of the most beautiful black women I have ever meet

We stopped off at Grandma's granddaughter's house to see if Grandma was there. She was not but she took us down to Grandmas. 

Grandma's house. It was so lush reminded me of New Zealand. There were cows, sheep, chickens and goats just grazing on the lawn. Once we get there grandma was SO excited to see us. (white visitors) She came over said hello in the only English that she knew. 

Then she sat down to talk to Easter. That is when Easter told her that Megan was dating her grandson Oscar. (witch is a lie. they are not dating at this time but we could not tell her that.) She was SO excited and greeted Megan again and again and hugged her and shook her hand a brillion times. It was so great. Then she said I am going to cook you one of my chickens and beans. Which I was totally fine with because I was hungry. Little did I know. This would turn into a 3 course meal in one hour. She called in the chickens by clicking her tongue and then killed it for us. While it was cooking we went out side to eat our beans and maze. We also played jump rope with the kids and watched as they climbed the trees.

Megan always tells me that I need to eat EVERYTHING when ever we go over to someone else house. Which is common sense especially when they are sacrificing there food for you. (guess who did NOT eat all of there maze and means-that would be Megan) You know I finish my plate chocking down the last couple of bites cause I was so full. Then comes the bread and hot coco. Eat all of that and a 2nd cup of coco. I have no idea where that went. Then, we are called inside to eat the chicken soup and ugali. OH my.

  More food. Mind you we walked down a HUGE hill that means we have to walk back up it full. This is when I about died. I finished my food and almost fell asleep just sitting there. For reals food a coma. Never have I been so over full in my life. We then said our goodbyes and went back home. 

Once we got home we went right to the high school to ask if we could come and visit the students the next day. They said of course the students would LOVE that! So we set up a time for the next day at ll. Then we just walk around town. It was so fun and nice. Megan and I were some of the first white people these people have ever seen in real life. While we walked by everyone would stop and stare with there mouths WIDE open in shock everyone had to greet us and say hello. If we walked to close to some children they would run off screaming and crying. But none the less everyone was so kind and welcoming. 

The school kids especially LOVED us.

On the way home we ran into Millies friend who walked us home. 

The next day we get up get ready take a shower and head over to Milie's house to see if she was ready for the day to go to the high school with us. Once she got ready we walked down to the high school to 'teach'.

(sighing in) 

(the students) 

It was wonderful. The students just asked us about America and our schooling and what we like to do and how college is and what they do for the talented students. I loved it!! 

Then when we were leaving we stopped by the elementary school basically just to take pictures with the children.

When we were leaving the school is the same exact time that the children were going home for lunch. You know they were all more then excited to walk home with the 2 muzungus that just visited them in class. 

One of the boys was running down the hill and cut open his arm pretty good. Megan was more then excited to help him out with her handy first aid kit!!

After walking with the school kids we walked to the shop to get some water. There we meet up with one of Millie's friends..I swear to you she knows EVERYONE. (maybe cause it is a tiny town and everyone does know everyone) But he had on these shoes that I had been looking for so I asked him where he got them and he said town in the market, and guess what...just our luck it was MARKET day. So I looked at Megan and said LETS GO! Millie asked us over and over if we were sure. YES we were! We were more then sure! It is so weird for Kenyans to just pick up and go they are always like pole pole which means slowly. We hoped on 3 motorbikes and off we went! While we were there we got shoes for the family we were staying with. None of the children had shoes except for there school shoes and I noticed that the fathers shoes had broken while we were there. 

They were MORE then happy. They told us thank you over and over and over. Some times I think we take shoes for granted. Shoot sense we have been here Megan has gotten at least 2 pairs of shoes. Shoes is such a little things but for someone who does not have any it makes all the difference. 

After we gave out all our shoes to the family we packed up and headed home. 

It was a good trip all in all. I learned that I am a terrible Kenyan because I will not kill a chicken, I do not like 5am family prayers, I do not eat enough, I walk too fast, I like running water and electricity (at least at night) and I do things the wrong way always. Other then that it was a good trip and I meet a lot of people I will never forget.