11 Things I'm Gonna Miss About Kenya

(because narrowing it down to 10 was impossible!)

1. Z- one of my favorite kids ever- so adorable, such a trouble maker!
2. Bargaining with vendors for everything from tomatoes to meat to shoes. All prices are negotiable and bargaining is half the fun! The interaction, the laughing at my Swahili, the hilarious conversations that last 20 minutes, the “A-a bwana! Ni bei GHHHAli sana!!!”
3. Tea fields
4. The smell at night- no way to describe it, but after a dusty day, there is this fresh, night smell.
5. Samosas (meat, not veg) and Bajias
6. Safari ant invasions (and other random insect invasions- flying termites, Nairobi fly, cockroaches, etc)
7. Matatu Bongo mixes- the most unique and amazing music you will ever hear- nothing beats being in a Westlands Matatu and hearing “Banjuka tu” blasting out the speakers.
8. Goat- we are sooo missing out on this amazing food in the States!! We really need to eat more goat (especially the shekla at Habesha)
9. Whole Fried Tilapia at Kosewe- enough said!
10. Feeling like there were things everyday that I wanted to photograph- moments I wanted to remember.
11. Having random adventures- every day.

Obviously this list was excluding all my people here- I have amazing friends who I will miss SO much. And its no mistake that almost half of this list is food- we take food seriously here!! (Plus I’m Lutheran- we take food VERY seriously!)

So pray for a safe and uneventful day and a half of travel for me!! I leave on Monday night. Craziness. See ya all soon!!

Bike Races and Goodbyes

So the Canadian branch of my organization decided to have a "Ride For Refugees" this weekend in Toronto to raise money for programs benefiting refugees. And my roommate, being the Canadian refugee worker that she is, decided to ride in solidarity with her sending organization. We got a few friends together here and they rode 41km- that is a very long way when you are riding at an altitude of 8000ft though the very hilly highlands of Kenya!! There were a few near-misses with matatus and donkey carts, a few drizzles of rain, and uncountable potholes but I think they had a blast. I was the photographer/emt so at least I didn't have to try to bike up some of these monster hills- I got to kick back in the follow car.
After the mini-marathon, I went to say goodbye to the families I have been working with. So sad. I'm planning to come back to its not GOODBYE goodbye but given the transient nature of refugee culture, its very possible that some of the families won't be here when I come back. I hate goodbyes. I can't wait to get home, but I hate missing things here too.

So I will be back to MI in a little over a week- crazy!!

The 2 Week Count Down

So I'm leaving in 2 weeks!! I got the official word today (it was this whole big thing with travel agents, tickets, power outages and multiple public holidays but I finally have confirmed tickets home).

It's crazy- I'm so excited to see everyone from home, and I'm so sad to be leaving my friends here.

Lots to do, lots of goodbyes to say, lots of goat to eat (it really is too bad goat isn't a major staple in the States- its really good.) So I'd better get to work! See ya all soon!!

NEWS!!!!

My big news for the month is that I'll be on my way back to the US to raise support for my next term in Kenya soon- as in 'end of this month' soon!! As I was talking with my leadership (both here and in the US) about WHEN I should plan to come home, I mentioned that since it was nearing the holidays, I’d really like to be home for the holidays this year and they agreed! As we talked out some other details, we decided that the best time for me to transition home for a while is at the end of OCTOBER!!!

I'm crazy busy now, trying to get stuff in order to come home, but I can't wait to see my family and friends!! And at the same time, I'm really sad to be leaving (but I plan to come back, so its not like its the end or anything- but still hard to leave all my people here!)

So that's what I'm up to!! If you're in the greater BR area- I'll see ya really soon!

Oh, and since I'm getting back just in time to catch the tail end of a beautiful Michigan Fall, I expect to see pictures!! I haven't had a Michigan Fall in 2 years!!!