It is so incredibly hot here. Even the Kenyans are saying it's too hot. THey are even getting sun burned!! Unheard of! : )
I am getting 10x more sunburned than them though...I need to get an umbrella hat or something...then I will make lots of friends!
Last night I took the matatu home by myself which consisted of walking from the university to the matatu stop (almost a mile) through the city> (somtimes i get a ilttle sideways arrow instead of a period) Then I had to take the matatue and hope it didn't decide to change it's route in the middle of the ride, which it has done while I was on it before. Then I got off and walked another half mile through Kariokor to my house. Remember how I was saying that my neighborhood didn't look that good? My cousin (Whitney's sister) told Whitney it was a Ghetto of Nairobi. So that is where I live. I don't mind it though, it doesn't seem dangerous and Monica said it was safe for me to walk around. My house is nice inside, and I have my own room. So I am not complaining : )
Last night when we finished dinner, I took the plates and washed them. Monica said "asante" (thank you) for washing the plates and i said "Karibu", thank you for making dinner. At that point she looked surprised and kind of laughed like of course she made dinner, she has to be the one to make dinner. THen she said "asante", back to me. She seemed so surprised. It was interesting. I wanted to tell her that in my house whoever doesn't make dinner does the dishes, but I didn't. I will next time.
I had my first drumming lesson this mornig. It went well. He told me I have the music inside of me, that he can tell it comes naturally. He said smoetimes you teach students and it is just a headache. I can't tell if he is just being nice. We will see how it continues to go. He said drumming and music are things that cannot be planted. You can't plant the wind and you can't plant the river. THat's what music is like. It just flows.
Then we spent the next four hours walking aruond the city getting fabric and materials and giong to a taylor to have a bag made for my drum. I was hot and tired and not feeling well, so after a couple hours I left him there and I will pick up the bag on Monday if not some time this weekend.
I am in Olungah's office right now, as he graciously let me use his computer because the school computers (which there are about 20 for 20,000 students) are not working for internet. I am about to go meet Whitney and then we wil get a Citi Hoppa (bus) to meet Wairimu and chat with her at the Java House. I really don't want to go back out in that sun. It's exhausting.
when will the rainy season start? is it already late?
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to think about all the things in your "SO hot" post that are freaking me out! I'll just focus on how amazing you are. (:
I love you BIG BIG BIG -- Mama
That was very cool how he described drumming and music. Glad you have found a venue to let that music out. Now go buy a big hat!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteAny chance classess will start next week?
Have fun at the wildlife preserve this weekend - take some pix.
I'll call you tomorrow.
Love, dad
How about one of those beekeeper helmet thingies, with the netting? That could be a good guy.
ReplyDeleteI bet your drumming will come in handy when you next babysit Gus. He'll really rock out.
Regarding dish washing, rather than paint an overly rosy picture of your home life, I think you should tell her, "In my home, we put all the dishes in the sink and wait for one of the four winds to come and scour them clean. When that doesn't happen, we wait for someone else to do them. When that doesn't happen, we assemble the dishes into an altar, and we pray for the Holy Spirit to come and clean them. When that doesn't happen, we cry, and the magic of our tears cleans the dishes!"
Speaking of crying, Grace wrote on your whiteboard, "Bo Ho, I miss you." I fixed the spelling, after we had a good laugh.
Keep having fun (while using sunscream.)
Love you upside your sunburnt head,
Joy
ok. i do love your blog. i check it every morning at work and i really appreciate knowing all of the details of your african adventure and i love that you keep it positive even though conditions seems rough and i love love love that you were born in sunshine, but i must say that one of my favorite things about it are joy's comments. i pretty much laugh outloud every time.
ReplyDeleteand i think a beekeeper helmet would be awwwwwwwesome.
funny, exactly a year ago we were sitting around a huge fire banging on drums with a huge group of wonderful people in an unforgettable atmosphere (or running around the circle with some crazy married men!). i hope that you drum in circles as beautiful or moreso.
ReplyDeleteWow... a custom made drum bag-- how very fortunate you are. I think your teacher is partially right. I 've taken drumming classes with people who don't naturally have music "in them" and it can be a little annoying BUT Ihave never seen a person try to drum and not succeed. It may not flow easily, but with practice it eventually gets there. My teacher's philosophy is that he can teach anyone to drum. Thank goodness for that. Can't wait until we can jam together...perhaps at the regatta if you're back in time.
ReplyDeleteStay cool! Also...one more thing... I know you're anxious to begin classes, but keep in mind that your learning experience began the moment you stepped off that plane. For example-- your experience with thanking your host for dinner and her being surprised was "cultural" learning that you would not have picked up in the classroom. Same goes for your bus experiences... which I'm sure have been teaching your the power of flexibility and humility. I think you get the idea. You're such a cool person, I know you will naturally go with the flow.
luv... mama v
post scriptum, i think they neglected to adjust your luo name to compensate for earth's rotation... let me guess, whitney's birthday is sometime in (our) summer months?
ReplyDelete