Merry Christmas!!

Because what's more festive then 3 shoulder-mounted bucks in christmas hats (and garland necklaces)? I love that the little buck gets the fake antlers to round out his points.

I'm out of the country, visiting my sis and bro-in-law! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!!

Any guesses where I took this picture??? I've been told their names are Gut-Shot, Road-Kill and
Phil (ok I forgot the 3rd name, so we'll just call him Phil)

Happy Holidays!

You Know Its Time For a Vacation When....

Life is busy- crazy crazy busy (as I'm sure it is for everyone else this time of year!) But life is just really really crazy now. I'm leaving for vacation in 2 days but there is a TON to do between now and then.

But today I realized I really really need a vacation. I was at the store with some friends, I picked up what I needed, paid and walked all the way back to the car. I got in, sat down, and then I realized I hadn't picked up my bag of groceries that I had paid for!!! My friend said "I wondered why you walked all this way without a bag!" So I had to go back for them. I need a vacation!

But tonight, I baked Christmas cookies with a neighbor kid for a party on Saturday, and that was fun.

It's Official!!!

I'm going to my sister's for Christmas!!! I've had the tickets for a while now, but I was waiting on visas and red tape and all the fun that goes with intercontinental travel when you aren't leaving from your passport country, but its here!!! And just in time- I fly out this weekend!! Nothing like cutting it short! So I get to spend Christmas with family, see my sis and bro-in-law's place and what they are up to and spend some time with a great great friend of mine from college that I haven't seen since college! So excited!!!

Christmas is usually one of the hardest times to be away. I have great friends/family here but its just not the same. Everyone deals with it in different ways. I usually bake my favorite Christmas treats from home (last time I tried to make marshmallow cream from scratch for a recipe- a bit ambitious) and I find new traditions too (like listening to The Vinyl Cafe "Dave Cooks the Turkey"). But it will be really great to be with the sister and brother in law this year!

A Day of Hilarious Firsts (including my first sit-in)

A few weeks ago, I bought a pair of defective headphones at a store in town (a store store, not one of the dukas on the road side but an actual store with receipts and cash registers and everything- I mean this is a snooty electronics store selling TVs and stuff!) I should have known that day that these guys were trouble because I had to fight to get a receipt from them. But I got home and realized they were missing parts and broken. So I went back last week to return them. Long long long story but 45 minutes later I'm still arguing with them refund my money. They wouldn't. There were all sorts of excuses but in the end they agreed to refund my money but claimed they didn't have any in the store so I should "just leave my phone number and they would call me" yeah right. In the end, I agreed to give them a week, but they would write me a promissory note on the receipt - and I would be back in a week if I didn't hear from them. This was just one part of a pretty horrid monday last week.

So fast forward to today. I still hadn't received a call saying they had my refund (no surprise) so I went back. the mama kept saying that they didn't have the money- they hadn't sold anything all week (which is a total lie b/c some of the old merchandise wasn't out anymore and if they hadn't made a sale in a week- how in the world do they pay their rent at this big mall?) So she's claiming yet again that there isn't any money to pay me back. So I said, "Ok! I'll wait!" And I sat down on the floor in front of their cash register and started playing games on my phone. The mama said "we'll get you the money this week" and I said "no problem! I don't have anywhere I need to be today! I'll just wait here! .... Or I could always go to the police!" Insert sweet smile. So I sat. And they just stared at me. I said "You know, I wonder how much business you will get today with me, a mzungu, sitting here waiting for my refund. I don't think many people will want to buy from you." And I went back to playing Tetris on my phone. After about 20 minutes, they agreed to pay me half. I said "fine- I'm going out of town and I'll come back for the rest after Christmas." So this was my first sit-in! It was fun! But seriously! They obviously didn't know not to get into a battle of wills with me- once I dig my heels in I don't cave! Although in retrospect, if I should have come better prepared with snacks and stuff to last the long haul but I hadn't planned on camping out there. I'll be prepared next time...

So after that, I caught a matatu home and about 4 blocks from my stop, we blew a tire (my other hilarious first). And I mean BLEW a tire. This sucker went right down to the rims. About 3 of us got out while the conductor was trying to loosen the lugs- I left when I realized he was going to try to change this tire without a jack and with about 20 people still sitting in it! Good luck with that!!! I'll walk the last 4 blocks! Especially after I saw the spare tire- it looked worse then the one that was in pieces in the road!

Uggghhhh- Flying Termite Invasion

Image by celeste343 via Flickr

Its raining (which is really good- we still need rain) but we have been getting an abnormally large amount of rain this Dec. Generally, the rains come in November and December is hot and dry. So strange.

But along with the rains are the Flying Termite Invasions! These guys come out by the hundreds of thousands and wreak havoc. They aren't dangerous- just annoying. If you have a window or door open (or just a window or door that doesn't close tightly) they come in and take over the house. Usually I'll be sitting the in the dark and they will dive bomb my computer screen.

Tonight, I was working in the living room and forgot that my windows were open in my room with the Christmas lights on when the rains started. I had them EVERYWHERE- in the curtains, flying all over. You can get rid of them- but you have to move fast. As they fly around and bounce off each other, the walls and everything else- they start to loose their wings. After they loose all their wings, they crawl and wriggle around until the find a way out or you stomp on them. Plus if they loose their wings in your room- you may never find them all- they can be in all the clothes, the bed, everything. Nasty.

The trick is to lure them out by strategically turning on and off lights and closing and opening doors- all before they loose their wings (b/c the slow wriggling really slows down the whole process!). I closed my windows and turned off all the lights in my room and turned on the hall light and left the door open. After about 10 minutes, that got them out of my room. Then you close that door and turn on the living room lights and turn off that hall light- that gets them far enough away from my room that I can turn on the bathroom light in my room and get a shower while I wait for all the termites to get to the living room. Once you get them into a room with a lot of open space you let them fly around and bounce around until they loose their wings. Then you just sweep them all up (or at my old place, wait for the ants to carry them away- that's the gross option.)

At least this time it wasn't nearly as bad as my adventure a few years ago when I ended up with a bunch of them all in my hair and clothes! (check out the link to my old post for more pics of the termites at my house and my story).

The thunder is now booming loud enough to set off all the car alarms and the power keeps browning out so I'd better just post this before the power goes out. :o)

This is making you all really want to come visit isn't it??? Come on! It's fun!

Anyone want to do me a favor?

Can someone who lives near my parents go to the house and insure that the ugly ugly green construction paper ornament that I made in pre-school isn't on the tree? Please???? I'm not there to defend myself! If you see it- REMOVE IT!!! I know my mom will claim that I gave it to her when I was 4 so it's hers and she can put it up if she wants to- but I still claim that I created it and I should be able to destroy it! My brother LOVES to put it front and center when I'm not there. Anyone want to go and defend my artistic honor! I promise I can make a better ornament now!

Its The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

My Advent Calendar (sewn by refugee women). It has little hand carved animals in each pocket that you hang on the buttons to count down to Christmas.

I LOVE Christmas (which isn't much of a surprise to those who know me). I love it. I break out the Christmas music in August and September. The movies in November. Every year I put together a Christmas Mix album- this year it was a 60 day countdown to Christmas because I couldn't narrow it down any farther then that (and new songs keep getting added...) I love the traditions, the decorations, the memories and the FOOD!

Christmas in East Africa is a bit different then home. No snow. At all. I'd never had a un-white Christmas until I was in college and its still an adjustment. Christmas Day is a big deal here but there isn't much a lead up to Christmas. Which is cool. Just different. We are almost done with all of our Christmas parties for the kids and families we work with- they are always a ton of fun with great food and great times spent with friends.

But, Christmas is HERE in my house. My roomie and I both love Christmas so we make the most of it.

We decorated our trees (we have 3 trees- all under 2 ft tall but they are trees!)

A store here also randomly had some spray on snow mixed in with the post-diwali sale stuff. So here are my creations!

My biggest non-barred window is my bathroom mirror, so that's what got most of the snow! I also did some smaller creations on the window.

I have Christmas lights in my bedroom window- which all my neighbor kids love.

And what would Christmas be without Christmas treats? This weekend I went on a cooking spree (with varied results). I made caramel on Sunday- it was supposed to harden up into caramel that you could cut up into squares (like the kind you buy in bulk with the annoying wrappers) but that didn't exactly happen. The result was more like caramel sauce (but I'm not complaining! That's yummy too!) I made fudge too, which turned out AMAZINGLY!!

Then I made Christmas tree gingerbread cookies (that the neighbor kids helped me frost- that's why some look a tad bit sketchy- still taste great though!)

Masai Jumping Contest

Today was our Team Christmas Party- tooo fun! Its always great to get together, and its even more fun to get together around NYAMA CHOMA! Especially Nyama ya Mbuzi!! Seriously, one of the best Christmas traditions in the world is the Kenyan tradition of eating roast goat for Christmas! I know I know- you all think that doesn't sound like the best of traditions but TRUST ME! NOTHING beats nyama choma!

Every year, we go to this great restaurant that doubles as a Crocodile farm (its an open air restaurant with little huts spread out all over the grounds) and eat our weight in goat- seriously we ate at least 1/2 a goat and about 3 chickens! And there was only 9 of us! We spent about 4 hours eating, chatting, laughing, exchanging gifts and just enjoying each other.

But this year, on the way out of the restaurant, we ran into a few young Masai men. The Masai traditionally were herdsmen (and many still are). They have a rich and interesting culture and they are one of the most well known tribes in Kenya. So we ran into these Masai guys who started singing and dancing (and by dancing I mean jumping straight up in the air- its amazing to see). So 2 of my teammates decided to try jumping with them. HILARIOUS!!




Usually Masai men and women don't want their pictures taken (or they want payment to take a picture) but these guys asked us to take pictures with them.

classic recycled tire shoes

I've also come to the conclusion that I'm ridiculously tall (since I'm significantly taller then these Masai guys- and the Masai are some of the tallest Kenyans around.) Maybe I should have tried jumping- I sure had a head start!

there is a MONKEY in my ROOM!!!!

Today was my day off (since I run a youth thing on Saturdays, I take monday as my day off). I was enjoying a relaxing afternoon, watching a movie on my computer when I heard something hit my window. I looked up- and a MONKEY was in my window! Trying to get into my room! A monkey! Monkeys are a pain in the rear here (they are really only a pain if they get into your house- they are great to watch when they aren't invading your space!) but if they get into your house, they will trash the place looking for food and trying to get out.

So I see the monkey and apparently I screamed. Then I started yelling at it and chasing it away. My friend who was sitting in the living room said after I scared it out, the monkey tried to get in the open balcony door but then took off. It didn't really damage anything but still!! A few days ago, I heard all the kids in my compound yelling that a monkey was on the roof so I went to the balcony to see. Just as I got to the rail of the balcony, said monkey came flying over the edge and continued on up to the next balcony. I screamed then too. The kids think its hilarious that I scream at this stuff but I know monkeys- they are devious little guys! They look cute and adorable but then they turn on you! Plus they aren't too afraid of people (at least these city monkeys aren't). They are fearless! And bold!! I'm not a big fan of wildlife that isn't afraid of humans- at least not up close!

So that was today's adventure. Like I've said before, there are no 2 days here that are ever the same!

Black Friday Shopping

I gotta say, I'm missing the Black Friday brawls this year. I love getting up early (ok I hate the getting up early part but I love the rest), rushing to a store, fighting for parking, racing through the stuff, the strategy, the competition, the adventure of it all. And the deals. Its really one of the most bizarre parts of the year! Its one of the only times its remotely acceptable to RUN full tilt through a store, dodging other customers and displays. It's a huge game of strategy and plans (because you can't just waltz into a store and expect to find something cool- you need to plan, you need to know what you have the most likely chance of finding- just because its cool and its advertised does NOT guarantee that you will own it by the end of the day (and you could have wasted good shopping minutes seeking it out!)) You have to plan out a mutually beneficial route so that everyone can get to the places they want to go as close to the time they open as possible. And everyone has a role- the defensive driver, the place-in-line holder, the runner, the sneaky person- who can get into the middle of massive groups of people and get back out with the items to purchase, the intimidating enforcer. You have to work as a team to succeed. This truly can be like a military mission!

So obviously, I'm not joining the millions of shoppers in the Black Friday fiasco this year. But today we did go shopping for all of the gifts of food we will give away this Christmas. 3 of us went to a local grocery store with lists and a plan to divide and conquer . It was hilarious to see the employees faces when we said we wanted 42 kgs of rice (roughly 105 lbs) each in 2kg bags (all of this is hand measured loose rice stored in a barrel of course!). We had 4 carts FULL of flour, sugar, cooking oil, laundry soap and other things. The poor lady at the cash register looked tired just LOOKING at our carts! But 2.5 hours later, we and all of our purchases made it back to the office. In the end we figured we have 21 bags for 21 families- each bag has about 20 lbs of various dry goods. Definitely not the same as Black Friday Shopping- but a bit more rewarding in the end (although none of the great deals) :o)

Thanksgiving Day Adventures (b/c what fun would life be without adventures?)

So today is Thanksgiving. And while the holiday is not celebrated here, my friends and I still love it so we decided to have our own thanksgiving. The food was all divided up, we all had our jobs- this was going to be a breeze. I was responsible for the squash (GROSS) and the rolls (Yummy! I have an amazing, super-secret, practically no fail recipe) and I was set to go.

I decided to ask a friend of mine to switch classes with me today (since today in English Class day and I didn't want to miss it) so I got up early and taught my class. The class was great but transportation was a real pain today (matatus just weren't stopping, it was a pain). I finally get home, and all the kids in the compound were playing outside becuase- guess what- NO POWER. Again. I mean this isn't a new thing. Earlier this year, we spent 3 months getting power only every other day. Life goes on. But today was Thanksgiving and I had food to bake- in my ELECTRIC oven. So what to do? Wait it out? There aren't a ton of options. So I called around to my friend who was cooking the Turkey (who doesn't live too far away from me) to see if she had power. I figured that since I hadn't received a frantic phone call from her, that she probably had power. She did. Ok. At least we would have turkey.

So I decided that I had time, I was going to start my rolls in faith that maybe the electricity would come back in time to bake them (its been known to happen) and they had to rise for like 2 hours total. So I started the rolls.

And I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

No power yet, that's ok, it still has time to come back before the rolls have to cook....

And waited.

I'm frantically trying to slow down the process (but how do you stop yeast from rising?) I'm moving the dough to the coolest part of the house. Still no power.

I'm calling around to friends to see if they have power and working ovens. We decide that I will bring the raw/rising rolls to my friends house (the one who is hosting this shin-dig). But now they are getting HUGE (because they were supposed to go into the oven an hour ago). Thankfully, another friend from my compound was going to the party too, so I didn't have to try to get my massive blob of dough on a matatu!

We get to the place where we are eating, the turkey just came out of the oven and I threw the rolls in and there we go! They turned out half-way decent for having risen for and hour and a half more then they should have!

But it was a great evening with some great friends! By the way, I gave up on trying to bake the squash with all the electricity issues. I sure didn't miss it! We all sat around and talked about Adventures of International Thanksgiving's Past (cooking 30kg's of potatoes on a Bunsen burner in India and mashing all the potatoes with a fork because we didn't have a potato masher (that one was me) and all the women there had a stories about other electricity-less Thanksgivings).

Now I'm watching the Thanksgiving episode of WKRP in Cincinnati- absolutely HILARIOUS!!! Its the one with the air-born-live-turkey promotion. Too funny! I love classic 70's TV shows!

Yet Another Really Fun Day!!

Today was just a really fun day! We were able to celebrate with some of the women in the sewing program- rejoicing in how far they have come! Financial independence is a HUGE thing! The skills and abilities they have a acquired are amazing! Its just a really proud day!

It started with us all getting to the meeting place early to dress up! This was like getting ready for a wedding! Women everywhere! Clothes everywhere! A ton of people trying to help you get the outfit on JUST right! Then the ladies (and the kiddies) decided I needed braids- so I sat down and got some quick braids put in.

It was a day of singing and eating and just enjoying one another and honoring these women who do such amazing things!

I'm not going to put up any pictures (you know the rules- no pics of stuff like this) but trust me- the outfit was something else! I love it! But here's a picture of the rasta braids:

PS

Today I just found the rules for 'Calvin-ball' (from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes). We are SOOOO playing this at our Youth Retreat!

Fun Day

Today was just a really fun day. I was teaching my English and literacy class, and the ladies were hilarious. First off, they decided to dress me up in some traditional clothes and told me I had to teach in that today. Fine with me- I'm good at being a life-size barbie! Then we started reviewing last weeks lesson. I had just started the review when my boss pulled up. One of the ladies, the oldest and frailest of them all, jumped up and started hurrying over to my boss's car. I couldn't figure out what she was up to until I heard her yell through the window "Good Afternoon. How are you?" She was practicing (and showing off) I love it!!!

So we continued on with the lesson. I was trying to explain the 5W question words (who, what, where, why, when) and we were finding sentances for each. I'd explined a few of them when one woman started muttering something, the lady next to her turned to me and said "She said 'Linds, whatcha talking about'. Amazing- the power of movies!!! But it also happens to be a perfect example of the word What.

After all that, I was heading home and I caught a matatu on the highway. They let the only other passenger off as I got on. As it turns out, they were done for the day and I had just dropped the tout (the guy who takes the money and gets the passengers)off (that was the guy I saw getting out). So they weren't technically running but they picked me up anyways. I sat down and the driver started joking about how I was the tout now (which I must confess has always been a job I've always secretly wanted!! Beba, beba beba- embao embao!) So I got to be the tout- and since I was the one taking the money (although I was still the only passenger)- I got the ride for free. Thanks mystery driver!

Goodbye Too-Short-For-Me Bed!!!!

So my roommate and I rent a furnished apartment (pretty common here), and the bed I've had has been the top half of a children's bunk bed. Not horrible but a bit on the short side (especially for me). But this week I found out that my landlord wanted to replace the bed with a real, adult-sized bed! WOOHOO!!!! My feet won't hit the footboard anymore!

So my friend Maggie and I went on a quest to find a bed. You can go to a big store and look for a bed but they will be ridiculously expensive. The better plan is to go to the part of town where all the wood and iron workers set up their stuff and buy a bed there. So we did. There are hundreds of options- and the guys will custom make anything you want. In all honesty, I just wanted a bed that was going to be tall enough for me! I'm not too picky! But you wander up and down the road and check out all the options- there are carved wood, crappy wood, wrought iron, combinations of iron and wood, all different designs. So I found a bed- wood posts and wrought iron frame. Then the price negotiations start. After we find a common ground, its on to the next step: finding a mattress. Once again, you can go to a big store but you'll pay WAY more so the guy who sold me the bed took us down the road to the "wholesale mattress shop" There really aren't words to describe this place but I found a great mattress at a decent price-new. Step three: transport all this back to my place. My friend Maggie had brought her car, but its about the size of my dad's old Festiva- not really big enough to fit a mattress and bed in- plus the fundi (the craftsman who built the bed who comes to set it up in your house for you) So we find a taxi/pickup driver to help out (which really was a great plan becuase there is no way the 2 of us girls were getting a wrought iron bed up to a 4th floor walk-up!)

So I'm now the proud owner of a new bed! Yay! I'll put some pics up after I find sheets that fit it!

Post Office Adventures

I found out I had another package at the post office earlier this week. But I planned ahead- I waited for a day when I had the WHOLE DAY to do this project so I wouldn't get stressed out. If you have places to go when you go to pick up your package you will just be frustrated that you are late, it will take forever and if YOU are cranky it won't help your case!

So I went early. Early is good- they haven't had enough customers to be annoyed yet. The lines aren't as long. Here's a quick recap of the system if you missed my previous post (with BRAND NEW STEPS and ADDITIONS this time around!)

1. you get a slip telling you that you have a package waiting at the post office (WHICH post office is still somewhat confusing but generally, its at the BIG big post office).
2. you take your slip to the post office and find the right floor (M3- not regular 3)
3. you go to the first mama and hand her the slip and your ID- she finds your package
4. you go to the 2nd mama who helps you open said package
5. you go to the 3rd mama (or sometimes a guy) who looks at all your stuff and writes the contents on your slip.
6. you then go back to mama 1 or 2 and reseal your package.
7. then you take the slip up the stairs, down the hall 2 offices in
8. This man decides how much custom's duty you owe. Try to explain what "mac and cheese packets" are.
9. You take the slip back to Mama #3 and she adds up what you owe on your slip
10. You take the slip to the window on the other side of the room and the mama puts the info into the computer.
HERE'S THE NEW STEPS AND ADVENTURES!
11. You go back to the office that is up the stairs and around the corner but go to the 1st office and the mama prints off a bill of what you will pay for duty.
12. She tells you to go out of the post office to "Corporate Bank" register 12 to pay the duty.
13. I stop to ask the door guard WHERE this bank is b/c I've never heard of Corporate Bank. That's because it's not CALLED corporate bank- its called something else. So he points out the building- across the divided highway, down 1 street, its yellowish.
14. I go back up to the overpass, cross over, find a sidestreet that looks like it might pass the building, find the right building but wrong door.
15. I find the right door and wait in the que for register 12 (I'm trying to follow directions!) but the guard sees my slip and says I need to que at register 1.
16. Get to register 1, show the mama the bill but the system is down- she says come back in an hour.
17. Get some lunch
18. Go back to the bank, back in the que for register 1, the system is working so I pay the bill and get the receipt.
19. Now I go back to the post office, back to M3, back to the window on the side and give the mama the receipt. She gives me a new slip for my package
20. I go back to Mama #3 and she marks something on the slip.
21. I go to mama #4 and pay the handling fees
22. I go back to mama 1 to pick up my package again
23. I go to Bwana 1 to show all my slips, receipts and package
24. I go to Bwana 2 to show my slips, receipts, package and ID
25. I make it out 3 minutes before they close for lunch.
26. Smile at the nice guard who helped me find the bank as I leave.

Gotta love it! But I got fun stuff in the package so its totally worth it!

Happy Proud To Be A Lutheran Day!!!

Aka- Reformation Day.

Go nail 95 Thesis on the church door!
I know a Diet of Worms fits in there somewhere (although it thankfully has nothing to do with eating bugs but instead a big meeting).

Life

So if this blog is really about life in East Africa, I have to tell you about the ups and the downs, right? Well this week probably wouldn't qualify as an "up".

This has been the Week Of Food Born Illness!!! That's right! I got food poisoning! Fun days! or not so much. Unfortunately, you can't find Vernor's here. Not really sure where I got it- I'm pretty sure I got it from a restaurant that I eat at sometimes- its not sketchy but who knows. Since different food born illnesses take different amounts of time to incubate so you can't really pin it down. In all honesty, it can be something as small as a contaminated cooking utensil, so I guess the source will just have to remain a mystery!

I'm on the mend and heading back to work tomorrow. Its all part of life over-seas (and back in the States too- you can get food poisoning anywhere!)

Just After The Rain Today...

Now that the rains are here, the power rationing has been lifted (we've had a FULL WEEK of power (well short outages, but nothing like before!)