Kenyanisms

The longer we are in Kenya, the more cultural things I learn.  I have two funny ones to share today that have confused me to no end, but I think I'm getting the hang of!  Now I find myself saying "Yes, please" and flashing eyebrows.  Here's how it goes:

Exhibit 1:

You didn't do your homework?

Yes, please.

So you did do your homework?

No, please.

Did you or did you not do your homework?

Yes, please.

Ummm...brain freeze!

Exhibit 2:

Hello!

Fine, fine.

Are you doing well today?

(quickly rasied eyebrows)

I'm sorry, I don't think you heard me.  Are you doing well today?

(another eyebrow flash)

Oh....sorry, I forgot.  The eyebrow flash thing means yes.  I'm glad you are well!

In the 30's

So I hear the weather has been a bit on the extreme side lately up there in the Northern Hemisphere.  Temperatures in the low 30's right?  Us too!  Celsius of course. My goodness it has been boiling over here the last few weeks!

You know when your day lilies start looking a little burnt, it's hot outside.

The canna lilies were doing great in the hot and dry.  The color of this canna represents how hot it blazed last week pretty well.  It felt like the sun was a heat lamp at the beauty salon when you walked outside.

Any outside conversation happened in the shadiest spot possible.

All of our classrooms had their air conditioning running wide open.

And finally, finally after much prayer, sweat and bottled water, it rained.  Glorious, wonderful, insistent rain. 

 

It is so beautiful now.  Everything is refreshed.  My students told me today they were glad it didn't feel like we were being boiled to soup in my music class.  They are not the only ones.

Construction Zone

Construction started on our new Senior Secondary School (that's high school for all you non-Kenyans) a few months ago. The ground was cleared and trenches were dug for the foundation.

 

Walls and such were marked off with incredibly eco-friendly materials.

 

They used the branches from cleared trees as posts.

Now, our SSS looks like this. Walls are going up!

The floor has been poured!

And larger sticks are on hand as supports!  Does this count as a "green" construction site?

Yum

Welcome to Kenyan Culture 101.  For class today, we have samosas.  These triangular, fried pockets of bliss originated in India, but came to Kenya with the construction of the railroad.  Our samples have beef, onions and spices wrapped in a handmade dough.  They are a labour of love as they take a while to make from scratch, but just a few minutes to devour.  Enjoy!

Surprise Footage

You want me to stop right here so you can take a picture of me wearing my new track suit?

You need me to hold still and smile?  Like this?

Wait a minute...

(Thanks for the photos, Richard!)

My Fun Thing

 Several weeks ago, as we were driving past street vendors who stand in the road and sell you things through the window, I suddenly shouted in Richard's ear, "I need that!"  His response, appropriately, was, "No you don't," and drove on.  (He didn't mention anything about Napolean Dynamite. Strange.)

Anyway, in my defense, I had been trying to figure out how to untangle my mess of jewelry and keep it that way for weeks.  When I saw the small wire tree, I knew I found my thing.  Aaahhhh.

So after explaining my "need," Richard drove me down the same street today to see if they had any more.  I bargained for the only one and came home with my prize.  It was kind of like decorating a Christmas tree! It has lots of twisty branches perfect for hanging necklaces, earrings and bangles.  

Women in Kenya wear jewelry all the time and they wear it well. I have really enjoyed adding pieces of Kenya to my collection and showing my friends that I'm happy to be here and I like their stuff.  These banana leaf earrings were made by ladies in our widow's program. It doesn't get better than that!

Seriously

We've had quite an interesting weekend.  This is generally what happens when your commander-in-chief goes on furlough for five weeks.

On Friday, one of our girls was taken to the hospital because the arm she "sprained" was swollen, not better.  Her arm is now in a cast.

Saturday night at 1:30, one of the mamas had to be taken to the hospital because she was so sick.  She is still there, but getting better.  Last I heard they thought maybe it was malaria from the last time she traveled upcountry, but that's usually the first guess, and I haven't heard if it's true.

On Sunday morning a little after 7 or so, a lorry missed the curve, caught the ditch and landed in our wall.  Thankfully the driver was unhurt and honest, so he didn't run.  An emergency crew was brought in to rebuild the wall so we wouldn't have a gaping hole for thieves at night.  And the driver actually came by and paid for the damage!

That very same morning, Richard preached at a local church.  Two cottages of our kids went to hear him preach, and while they were waiting at the church for the bus to take them home, several kids saw a man steal from one of the elders.  They told their mamas who cried "Thief!" and people began the chase.  I believe the man was caught and the items returned.

Monday morning, a kindergartner had a "seizure-like episode" and had to be taken to the Children's Hospital.  She is totally fine and was back at school today.

So.  This weekend was like a combat-zone with one thing happening after another.  And yet, we know God is on His throne, ruling all things.  What if the Lorry had lost control on Monday morning, after 7-ish, when all of our community students were walking to school?  What if there were no local hospitals to care for our sick and hurt? What if our kids thought stealing was OK, or funny, or hadn't seen the thief?  As much as this weekend has been a pain (and I wasn't on duty!) it has really shown me God's care and grace through the easy times and the rough spots.  Although our village director is away, our true Leader never is.