This being our first time to actually see Kenya in the daylight, it was quite an experience for those who had yet to travel outside the US. It did take some getting used to the traffic laws and driving habits of those here.
We stopped by a shopping area to buy groceries for our stay as well as pick up some money for our projects. The currency exchange rate was 75 Kenyan Schillings for ever US Dollar. It was quite interesting to walk into a bank and ask for $200,000. I also was unsure if my bank’s ATM card would not work – I was told just before leaving that it wouldn’t, so it was like an early Christmas present to punch in my pin and have colorful money pop out. Of course it’s too difficult for me to do the calculations in my head so I really have no idea how much I actually withdrew. I also am convinced that the reason foreign currency is so colorful is so that tourists will want to take it home as souvenirs and not spend it – brilliant!
We then headed off to Nairobi’s version of a shopping mall – complete with a tall & slender, dark skinned Santa. Along the way we learned much about the driving considerations of Kenyans. For example – if there is room on the road a car will fill it, regardless of direction of travel. Also, noticing all the people walking in and out of traffic we asked our driver, Josiah, if pedestrians have the right of way in Kenya. He said, “Yes, until they are hit.”
We were treated to a wonderful lunch with some of Ben and Colleen’s old friends before heading off to Kijabe and Rift Valley Academy.
Along the drive our team got to see much of the daily life of Kenya. Roadside markets and shops, several large dead animals along the road, two motorcycles colliding, and Fletcher’s favorite – a man sitting on a red loveseat being pulled down the road by a donkey. Me, I used this wonderful opportunity to spend the trip in meditation and prayer. And unless there was a lightning storm – I think Loni has discriminating pictures of me drooling. Yep, and I was forced under duress to add this one…someone call the United Nations for me, please.
Once we arrived at Rift Valley Academy which will be our base of operation for the next week, we (again) unloaded our bags and got them under cover just before a sudden thunderstorm. The girls decided an African shower was in order. That was all fun until they realized they were then cold and wet while we waited to have the house we were staying in unlocked.
We got briefly settled and then it was off to one of the local nationals who worked for Ben and Colleen the last time they lived here. Due to the rain, it was quite an adventure climbing up the hill to their home in the mud. Isabelle and her family treated us to some great chai tea and Kenyan delights.
After visiting we took photos outside their home. Several of us noticed another wave of clouds rolling in. Being that we had decided to walk home, it was quite concerning if we would be able to traverse the hillside in tack once the rain started falling. It was quite a site to see our team struggling up the path while the local kids just seemed to float up the hillside. We were spared another strong downpour and were able to get back to our home with only minor damage.
At dinner, we realized we all were fading fast, still feeling the effects of the time change. We were then greeted by several of the other families who live at RVA and wanted to see Ben and Colleen and treated to some Christmas Carolers. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
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