Some photos...

So I thought I uploaded some photos of some of the kids and maybe one of my hut, but it did not work and my laptop is out of batteries. Better luck next time...

Here I am with too much to tell...

Aaahh, alone time. It is Wednesday and we just got here last night. It feels like we have been here for days already. I have already taken two, yes two, bucket showers and hand-washed my clothes.
Let me start first by telling everyone about our journey. Uumm, let’s just say that I wanted to come home about seventeen different times along the way. We, my friend Candice and I, got delayed on our first flight out on Friday. I was so ready at the airport to just get here. It was really hard leaving knowing that it would be forever before I got back. So we had a delay because of weather that put us behind flying from Louisville to Chicago where we would catch our flight to London. The London flight was also delayed so we had a chance to make it. The pilot called the plane to London letting them know that we were at the Chicago airport. There were six of us total that needed to catch that connecting flight. Well come to find out, after sprinting through the airport, that international flights can not leave late because they have to land at a certain time or else they get fined. So we “missed” our flight even though we say it sitting there at the gate. There was no way this was happening. This was the first time I wanted to just go home. We could not get a flight into Nairobi until Sunday evening. We could get to London the next day. However, that meant that we would have to pay for a hotel that night plus the next two days and one night in London. We decided to stick close to home. We figured why go be stranded in some other expensive country. After calling friends who live in Chicago (one whose name was Larry), Candice decided that her boyfriend, Alex, would be the best candidate to come and pick us up. He lived in Milwaukee and drove an hour and a half to pick us up at one in the morning. Very nice. So were his parents, because that is where we stayed. His mom made us gourmet food and I got to sleep in the guest room. We spent Saturday shopping for things that we did not have in our carry-ons, like underwear. We went out on Saturday. Candice and Alex were great hosts and made sure I was having a good time. It was really hard being so close to home, but to far to be there. I would have spent those next two days snuggling or cleaning. I was kind of a grouch. This was now the second time I wanted to go home.
Our flight was now scheduled for five pm on Sunday. We made it there fine. Got to London fine. Had a three hour layover plus a two and a half hour delay (another time I wanted to go home). Fine, just get us to Nairobi. We just had to make sure that we had someone to pick us up when we got there. Everyone came as a group on Sunday, so we missed the boat. Actually, it was an eight hour bus ride. Once we got to Nairobi someone was there to pick us up and take us to this hote/ campsite. We got to sleep in a room and have a hot shower. The last one for a while.
So we are finally in Africa! Yet, because everything was such a mess it took a long time for it to hit us. Like in the morning driving through town on the way to the bus stop. And at the bus stop. Wow. The town was hopping at seven in the morning. People everywhere, craziest traffic ever. There was a lot of hustle and bustle at seven in the morning. Kenyans get up early. Really early. In Nairobi you see a lot of things. You see a huge Western influence like billboards with computer and cell phone adds. You see extremely poor people and some wealthy people. Nice cars, crappy cars, and a lot of buses. Everyone dresses as formally as possible. Both men and women wear business attire, women have their hair pressed or braided, and I noticed a lot of drawn on eyebrows (I would). Of course you still see some of the more traditional African frocks and women carring bundles on their heads. That’s cool. The real shock was when we started getting into the more rural areas on the bus ride. Although most places seem to be rural if you are not in a huge city here. It was enough to break your heart.
It is amazing how minimally people live. Everything is roadside. People live, garden, graze animals, and sell things by the road. Right outside of town you see little shanty neighborhoods. They look like Hooverville straight out of the Depression. There are numerous shops and markets no matter where you are. Most of them look so run down that you wonder if they really sell what is says they sell on the sign. It seems like people spend a great deal of their time outdoors. I saw a lot of people lying on their stomachs in the grass talking in groups or just taking a little snooze. There were a lot of little huts that were surrounded by huge gardens. This gave me the impression that so many people are just surviving. Literally. It was a very educational bus ride. But it also made me very sad. You can just tell that there is very little money or resources for people here. The majority of people are poor.
Finally, after nine hours on the bumpiest roads ever in an all steel bus with no shocks, we got to Bungoma where we would be picked up. Bungoma is a neat little city. It is crazy busy with tons of bikes and hardly any sidewalks. Stallone, Reverend Lubanga’s son, told us, “We watch out for bikes here, not cars”. And it is true they won’t stop for you, and they’ll get pissed if you get in their way. He took us to town to get us acquainted. He showed us where the bank, internet café, supermarket, and cell phone store was. We also ate a restaurant and caught a matatu at the bus stop. Matatus are little buses that pile as many people in as possible and take you out of the city.
The first evening we got here was a bit overwhelming. We were the last ones to arrive so we did not know anything about the facilities. Let’s just say the fact that we did not have a hut to stay in was not good news. The showers and toilets were kind of shocking, too. We knew what to expect, but after that long of a trip… Now after two days I am totally fine with everything. Plus I have my own hut that I share with three other girls who are volunteers not associated with IU (the first night we had to stay in the family’s house and that is where all the action takes place- not good sleep). I got to unpack, and now I have a place to go and get a few minutes. There is a lot of together time here. We are living on a ‘farm’ with a whole family and about twenty five volunteers. It is fun, but sometimes you need a break.
The kids are great. So cute and curious. It is Thursday now and I had my first day of observation at Bungoma High School in town today. It should be interesting. There was huge language barrier between me and my teacher. We finally decided that I would teach ceramics to only one class a day. I am so glad about the subject because it is my favorite and I feel like I can be confident with limited time and resources. However, I do have to lecture from a textbook, a method I do not really like to use. I have until Monday to figure it out. I went to the village primary school when I got back and played with the little ones. They are so cute. A bunch of the girls did songs and games with me. All the kids love the camera. They love to look at the pictures after they are taken.
So, I took a shower and had dinner. I love the food here. It is so good. We all eat together in the main house. After that I am usually ready for bed. This is the second night that I have gotten into bed at eight. I did wake up at five today though. It may be a new schedule for me. The rooster does roost at five fifteen in the morning. For real.

Night before take off...

I am just now packing and wondering if I can fit two months worth of living supplies into one piece luggage! I will be in Africa before I know it...