I left Denver on Thursday the 13th about mid-day heading to Chicago first. I sat next to a nice lady named Danielle who was on her way home to a funeral in Connecticut. I arrived early, so I was there in plenty of time to catch the flight to London with Martha. We got food, but this was where I started having a harder time eating. The plane was full, and I couldn't sleep over the night, not enough room. We arrived in London and walked a good mile or so before we found the security check! ha oh boy! Anyway, we got on the airplane and there were a good 200 seats open, so we got an isle with a lot of leg room. After a bit we took our own rows to lay down in, and we slept all "day." For us, Friday had about 8 hours of sun, weird. Fr. Gichure is in charge of Academic Linkages, which is organizing our student exchange here. He picked us up at the airport with a driver.
The first night, I forgot to use my mosquito net... whoops. It had a huge hole in it anyway though. I sleep sideways in the bed. We live in a house run by the Franciscans. It's kinda a guest house, but there are offices here too. We can walk to CUEA in 10 minutes. It's maybe 3 blocks away, dirt road, ya know. The Franciscans here are awesome ladies. Sr. Teresita is older, totally acts like the best grandmother you could ever think of, and makes the funniest comments under her breath. She left on Sunday for a conference. I can't wait for her to come back. Sr. Edwina "Eddie" is young, cheeky, and very talkative. She has been a great host here for us. Nora is also a lay Franciscan, and she takes care of the house and cooks our meals. She is so awesome and fun! Her daughter helps her.
The first morning, I went to the ordination of two Carmelites. I only mention it because hearing the choirs here made me cry, seriously. Soooo amazing! The dancers were really really good too. Amazing dancers!
Soon enough, I got a SIM card and some post cards! whew! We had a great dinner and Fr. Gichure answered a lot of questions. I felt like I adjusted to jet lag well on that first day, but I've woken up at 4:30 am every morning since. Luckily, I've been able to go back to sleep.
Talking with Kenyans hasn't been the easiest thing. American english is so different than African english, which has been influenced by British english. Many times I will explain something in a totally foreign way to them. It's tough, but I find that I'm speaking a lot more like the Africans now. So they can understand me better now! You might think I talk funny though...
Sunday, we went to mass and Gichure showed us around the campus. We met Emmanuel and his family who are from the Kilamanjaro area of Tanzania. He stayed here at the guest house with his sister and mother on his way up here to send his sister to college. He said we could come to stay at his house when we come there, and he will drive us to the mountain when we want to climb and pick us up when we get down! 6 days(4 days up and two down) He said when it's cold like it is now at a lower elevation, it's hotter at the higher elevation (like on the top of the mtn), which means this is the best time to climb. We have plenty of time cuz it'll be cold for a while, I guess.
Whew! a long post. I hate reading these. sorry! I'll reflect some other time...
An Italian Franciscan priest works in the office upstairs, which is a peace and justice office. He is great to talk with and he is organizing a trip for Martha and I to go to the Kibera slum tomorrow, Thursday. Martha and I consider this a big deal and we're trying to prepare ourselves for it. Sometimes I feel that we can never be fully prepared for everything...
We caught a "matatu" into town to go to the market. All I got was a shoe brush and some bananas. The matatu is exacly like the "micros" in GUATE or, as I've heard, Chile and stuff. Though, here they are a bit smaller. Their music here is much much louder though. I'm sure I'll tell more of matatus later on.
The other night, Sista Eddie, Nora, and I stayed up late talking after dishes in the kitchen. The topic was racism basically, and I learned that Sista actually told her superior that she would rather leave the religious life than go to the US. Sista had heard all the worst about racism and the white man looking down on Africans. We had a talk about Obama's election, MLK Jr., and a lot of other things. She told me that she thought I gave an honest picture of the world, and that eventhough she may have some bad experiences, now she really wants to come to the US to study nursing because it's in her heart to be a nurse. Her face just lights up!
It's been tough to think about considering anything but my own needs since I've arrived here, since there has been a lot to adjust to. I guess I've learned that I can only truly work on one thing at a time. I know I haven't been the best travel partner or friend to Martha. We're working on it, though, and trying to look past ourselves. It has given me a true reflection of a worldly reality though. I've had needs that haven't been met, so I would seek those things for myself before I could look past my own situation. It's so easy for me in the US to look at problems in the world and theorize on what might be done to move forward, but to be in a situation where I need to be okay before I can move forward gives me a profoundly new perspective on it, even though my struggles have been small and clearly overcomable (It's a real word. I looked it up!) Praise God! What a blessing of wisdom and understanding the Lord has given!
Our lunch table today was filled with people from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Italy, Germany, and the USA. This was not planned or organized. It's simply the makeup of the people who were around the house at lunch time today! Amazing to me! Such a blessing! We had a very rich conversation! oh the riches He provides...
We sent some postcards this afternoon and stopped at the Nakumatt (supermarket). Later, dinner was quiet with just Martha, Sista Eddie, and I. Sista got a call and walked out of the dining room. Immediately, Martha poured her glass of papaya juice back into the pitcher. She just couldn't handle it. We are both still sick, and there was very low energy in the room. Once she did that, I couldn't help but laugh and laugh. Oh the etiquette here in Africa!!!
We seem to have this week off of classes as mostly all the students will not move in until the weekend, so we sit. Thus I have the time to write a blog! Take care everyone! Thank you for reading this whole thing!!!!! Shorter posts to come, I promise! Please Please Please write me as often as possible! I love you all!
1 comment:
I loved the your longer post, but if you post more often it will be less events to talk about.
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