Un Poquito from Kenya

Happy one week!

2010-01-02T18:12:00.000+03:00

Baby Zivah

2009-12-31T08:23:00.002+03:00

Zivah Daniela Doss

born December 25, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.

7 lbs. 9 oz.

19-and-a-half-inches

Aga Khan University Hospital

Princess Zahra Pavilion

Nairobi, Kenya

New Year's Eve Weenie-Roast

2009-01-01T07:34:00.001+03:00

There's no better to celebrate New Year's Eve than with a weenie-roast, right? Especially if you made the grill yourself? You've never done that before? Well, Richard and Derek made the grill you see here from an old water heater. And, the first chance we had to test it was New Year's Eve. OK...real meat may have been grilled, but we also had veggie kabobs!

YUM!

You could have your hot dogs grilled or you could roast them yourself. We bought this clay oven in town and had already roasted marshmallows in it before. Here are Lari and Alexander warming up their dogs.

These boys are such posers! Once more, Caleb and Kyle being silly.

Nairobi National Park's Animal Orphanage

2008-12-28T18:05:00.002+03:00

The Nairobi National Park also has an animal orphanage, except these animals are not reintroduced into the wild. We'd heard you could go in and pet the cheetahs, so we headed there first. These are three of four cubs they currently have.

We were allowed in with them for a short time. They really liked Richard! He could make them purr like kittens!

Aren't they beautiful? Our guide told us that they are quite docile, even in the wild. They're not as soft and cuddly as they look, though. Their fur is rough, but one interesting thing is that their spots are raised.

Check it out: They have their tales linked!

2008-12-28T18:04:00.003+03:00

Even though we didn't venture into any other cages, I really enjoyed seeing the rest of the animals at the orphanage. Here are a few of my favorites:

I prefer to see this one through the cage.

The ostrich really liked the sunflower seeds our guide kept in his pocket. He's not posing...just grabbing one off the top of the fence.

Meet Talek. We stuck around to watch feeding time, and this poor fellow was the last to get fed. He paced back and forth, back and forth.

The monkeys are always fun to watch. This one is a Vervet monkey. They would put their hands through the fence and actually take the sunflower seeds right from our guide's hand.

Elephant Orphanage: The Little Guys

2008-12-28T16:20:00.000+03:00

Part of the Nairobi National Park is an elephant orphanage. Currently, they have thirteen elephants under the age of two and a baby rhino. Visitors can come on any day from 11 to 12 in the morning to learn about them and watch them feed.

As you can see, a lot of people come to see these guys. During the first half hour, they bring out the youngest elephants--those under one year of age. All of them have been orphaned because of the death of their mothers or have been lost from their herd and brought to the elephant orphanage by park rangers. See the bottle? The milk they are giving is not elephant's milk, but cow's milk, and is actually baby formula. (Our guide said that if anyone in the crowd could milk an elephant, they'd be employed immediately!)

These little ones receive care around the clock! They even have a caretaker that sleeps with them.

Elephant Orphanage: The Big Fella's

2008-12-28T16:10:00.000+03:00

The older orphans could hold the bottles themselves with their trunks. These guys are actually taken out into the park and introduced to different elephant families in hopes that they will be adopted and taught how to live in the wild. This process can take several years.

The big fellas were more rambunctuous. We were warned about one female that seemed to know who in the crowd was afraid of her. Here's one "kicking" around a futbol.

At the park, they don't keep animals. Their goal is to reintroduce them back into the wild. However, they do have one rhino which was born blind which cannot be released because he would be killed by the other rhinos if he unwittingly entered into their territory. His name is Maxwell.

Introducing Kidogo Osegari

2008-12-27T16:53:00.000+03:00

When we visit Ngong, we are usually met at the foot of the hills by several Masaai children. Some of them we know by name. (Joseph is the boy sitting down leisurely in front of the group.) They are there to take care of their goats or sell some of the crafts their mothers make, but since we usually go on Sabbath afternoons we never buy any thing from them. They seem to understand, and still really like being with us. On this particular Sabbath, we made the mistake of offering them a ride on our car (roof rack), and all of a sudden, rather than two or three, this huge crowd came running over. I'd never seen so many of them! When we reached the top, I took out some stickers I'd brought for them and gave everyone their own sheet. They loved them! As you can see, they plastered their faces with the colorful smiley face stickers. I asked if I could pose with them for a picture (sometimes the Masaai charge you for pictures), and they agreed.

One girl offered to let PJ wear the Masaai necklace she had. He's not so good a poser.

Then she put one on me, too. It was hard to get a good picture, because it was extremely windy that day--much windier than any other day I've been there!

The kids really like PJ, though. I asked them to give him a Masaai name. Joseph named him Osegari, the Masaai word for police. I told them his Kenyan name is Kidogo, which means small, so now PJ is Kidogo Osegari, or small police.

Because of the wind, Kidogo Osegari spent most of his time in my jacket. But, don't be fooled...you all know what a good police he is!

Exploring our Campsite

2008-12-26T16:09:00.000+03:00

We tested our new roof rack by putting all of our "luggage" up there. As you can see, when you travel to the Mara, suitcases are NOT advisable. We pack food and clothes in plastic crates.

Some of us stayed in tents which Gametrackers provided for us. They were old canvas tents, big enough for two with twin cots in each. I really like the canvas tents and wish we had our own!

Others stayed in cabins. They were quaint and again could fit two people. The camp gave us an extra cabin to use as a kitchen, since all of theirs were taken. It was nicer that way, because we could lock all the food inside the cabin and not have to worry about keeping it in the car. Otherwise, the babboons, which we saw (and heard) many, would get into it.

With our kitchen came portable tables, chairs, and a lamp. Very nice!

In addition, the campsite had enclosed showers and toilets. The toilets were pit latrines, but they had toilet seats!

Our showers! It didn't feel like we were in the Mara, because we could go to bed every night freshly showered. They even had hot water!

Here's how: there was a water heater! Every morning, the camp staff would stock it full of fire wood and the water would be hot the rest of the day.

The Animals That Weren't on Christmas Break

2008-12-25T18:02:00.001+03:00

This Mara trip did not afford us many animals, unfortunately. I knew the bounty of our last trip would be hard to follow. We joke that all the animals were on Christmas vacation, too! Here are a few that weren't:

This is the hugest (if that's a word) lioness I've ever seen. And, oncemore, we were that close!

When we happened upon this little silver-backed jackal, he was devouring the last of a tasty treat. It seemed a bit strange that he was enjoying it all by himself.

The most typical common animal to see on a safari--the zebras. These two were kind enough to show us there better side!

Now, this was COOL! We came upon a herd of about twenty to twenty-five elephants! Here's one of the mommies with her baby.

Ones We Hadn't Seen Before

2008-12-25T17:34:00.001+03:00

"Do you see what I see?"
Ok...so we have seen hippos before, but I really like this picture. This hippo was camera shy.

Last time we saw a leopard and this time we saw cheetahs! We caught up with these right as we were about to leave the park. There were three of them, a mother and two cubs, stalking some antelopes. If we hadn't had to high-tail it back to camp, we might of seen our first kill!

The tortoise...

and the hare.

I also saw a crocodile this time, but I wasn't able to get a good picture of him. My point-and-shoot wouldn't zoom that far and I wasn't about to go down to the riverbank for a closeup.

Mt. Longonot

2008-12-23T11:00:00.000+03:00

Once a year, the school takes a trip to Mt. Kenya. This year, it'll be the last weekend in February. All those who want to climb Mt. Kenya, must train for it. The training consists of several prep hikes, most nearby. But, the first and the last, or qualifying hike, take place at Mt. Longonot, near Lake Naivasha. Richard has climbed Mt. Kenya five times, so once more will be a breeze. I, however, definitely need to prepare myself.

Here's part of the group fresh before our climb.

This is the start of our ascent. Mt. Longonot was at one time a volcano that is thought to have erupted in 1860. You can hike from the gate to the crater's rim. We hiked all the way around the crater and back which is about 8-9 km.

Mt. Longonot, Part 2

2008-12-23T10:58:00.001+03:00

The ascent was very steep. I stayed back with the really slow climbers.

Once we reached the top, we stopped to rest. You can see the crater's rim in the background.

We hiked to the point you see in the distance and ate lunch there.

I took this picture as we walked around the crater's edge. Down in the crater is a forest. There are zebras, giraffes, buffalos, hartebeests, and even leopards living there. We didn't go down into the crater. I'm not sure you can! Walking along the edge was enough for me. I had a hard time walking along without feeling scared of falling of the edge!

Sabbath Afternoon Outreach Activity

2008-12-20T15:39:00.000+03:00

Kibera Sweets

2008-12-20T15:20:00.000+03:00

Lake Naivash and Crescent Island

2008-12-13T10:42:00.001+03:00

Our first weekend of Christmas break, most of the staff went to Lake Naivasha for Sabbath.

I really like this picture because it shows where we came from and where we were headed to. Maai Mahiu is the first town we pass after entering the Rift Valley. In the background you see a sign for Longonot National Park. From Mt. Longonot, I got my first view of Lake Naivasha.

Here we are at the entrance for Crescent Island. It's not actually an island, we discovered, but more of a peninsula. Check out all the cacti!

Missionaries know how to potluck, that's for sure! Our lovely Vanna...I mean, Yani, shows off the delectable delicacies that were prepared (mostly from scratch)!

After pigging out, we walked off our lunch. On the "island" there are several animals that roam free, including wildebeests, zebras, waterbuck, gazelles, goats and sheep, and giraffes. We also saw several large birds--pelicans and kingfishers included--and heard a hippo in the water.

More Lake Naivasha

2008-12-13T10:40:00.000+03:00

Here I am playing the "African Mama" with Nathan. He only posed for this one picture and then started to squirm so badly we had to let him loose.

The lake was beautiful! Here's a lovely acacia tree, too.

I made Richard pose for a picture. Can you tell?

There were so many cacti on the island. I was amazed! I love this shot. The "shack" is where the guard keeps watch. You can sort of see him behind there.

Our Christmas Play

2008-12-05T16:29:00.003+03:00

Last Wednesday night, the elementary school (and some of the other staff kids) presented the Christmas play Flower of the Holy Night. The kids had been practicing their lines and music for over a month! Since they're such a small group, everyone had a part and sang a solo.

The story is about a teacher and her students who want to present a special flower at Christmas--"just not poinsettias." So the teacher tells her students the legend of Pablo, a little boy from Mexico, who didn't have a gift to give in honor of Jesus.

In his search for the perfect gift, he meets a group of mariachis who help him understand that "the best gifts are those seen with the heart."

Eventually, he finds a poinsettia which turns out to be the perfect gift because it reminds him of the gift God gave him in sending His son.

In the end, the "class" presents poinsettias and teaches everyone that we should be thankful for all of our blessings, especially Jesus.

I was SO proud of the kids! They were SPECTACULAR!

ASB Christmas Party

2008-11-30T10:36:00.000+03:00

The ASB (like Student Association) hosted a Christmas party the Sunday before Dead Week. We played games and ate injera and fries. Yes...what a combination! But, that's what the students wanted.

Here's Richard enthusiastically serving. In case you're wondering, the bottles that you see there are Alvaro. It's a non-alcoholic malt drink that the kids like.

These are some more enthusiastic servers in front of the injera and sauces. For those of you who are unfamiliar with injera, it's like a very sour crepe that is served with sauces (these were all vegetarian), and is a typical part of an Ethiopian meal. We love it! Check out the previous posts from Habeshas, our favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Nairobi.

Here are some of the girls being festive. Everyone had a good time. I especially enjoyed all the Christmas decorations!

Lake Magadi Hot Springs

2008-11-29T11:05:00.000+03:00

We visited Lake Magadi once more on a Sabbath afternoon, but this time we didn't take the kids with us. (To see pictures from our previous visit, look under the post titled October trips and click on the web album.)

Richard and I ventured into the water this time. The spring is not very deep, but really, really hot!

While we were there, Richard took the car out for some four-wheeling in the mud. Here are the tracks he left behind. Mind you, I was NOT in the car!

We had to take this picture, because we think this is the spot where part of the movie "The Constant Gardener" was filmed. We don't know for sure, but it's still a cool picture!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T21:52:00.001+03:00

The cafeteria surprised us with a full-blown Thanksgiving meal at lunchtime. They decorated and had all the fixings! Just check out the plate below!

I know the cafeteria director and many others worked into the wee hours of the night preparing this for us which was so thoughtful. We'd all been wondering how we were going to have a Thanksgiving dinner when it's the busiest time of the school year (or at least it feels like it, right now). Lunchtime was the perfect time! Faculty, staff, and students were able to share this together. It was great!

I said all the fixins', didn't I! (The only thing I was left craving was pecan pie--but pecans are super expensive here.) The "turkey" was the best part!

My appetite overwhelmed me and I didn't think to ask someone to take a picture of Richard and I. Guess that'll have to wait 'til next year!

Peter

2008-11-25T06:51:00.001+03:00

At the ABC, they also had an area for handicapped children. My group went there first and another smiley boy caught my attention. His name is Peter (he's the one on the right). Peter, I found out, has cerebral palsy. When I first saw him, he was sitting on the floor. His legs are a little bent out of shape, but I offered him a hand and he stood and walked around with my help.

Here he is talking to Mr. R on his "cellphone". He had these Lego pieces in his pocket, and I started calling them his cellphone. So, we all called him on our phones and talked to him. He hammed it up and took all of our calls. Isn't that a beautiful smile?

Here he is riding with Mr. Raymond on one of the special bikes they have there. The kids love it, especially when you pedal them around. One other little boy, who has brittle-bone disease loved climbing into the "trunk" and allowing all of his friends to take him around.

Peter took several pictures with my camera. It was difficult for him to make his fingers do what he wanted them to do, but he just loved pressing the button and seeing the picture on my screen afterward. Here's a great shot of him with his new friends. (I need to go back and get a shot of Peter and I.)

Abandoned Baby Centre

2008-11-25T06:49:00.001+03:00

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the ABC (or Abandoned Baby Center) for our Sabbath afternoon outreach activity. The name of the place sounds horrible, but the people there are really doing a good work for these children who have no where else to go. The facilities are super nice, considering the area it's located in. Turns out an American couple from Texas started the place, and although they have turned the management of it over to locals, they still do upkeep and fund raising. I was impressed!

The kids really enjoyed the babies, but who wouldn't! Just look at there faces!

There must have been about twenty babies in the infant room. I held this precious little one. She just smiled and laughed at every face I made for her. She was about 7 months old.

Guy-smiley here was in the toddler room. He won our hearts over with his laugh and giggle. He's a happy boy!

My Date

2008-11-25T06:47:00.001+03:00

Richard surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of roses!

I love this picture of us!

(In case you're wondering, the white stuff on Richard's shirt and pants is wax. He was the only one tall enough to bump into the Chinese lanterns.)

Boy's Club Banquet

2008-11-25T06:46:00.001+03:00

Special Moments

2008-11-24T21:06:00.001+03:00

Because we live on campus with our students, we have the privilege of participating in many special moments which we would otherwise miss if they went home every afternoon. The other night after vespers, we were invited to the hostel to celebrate Irisse's birthday (top left). Sure, we sang at school, but it was really enjoyable to visit at their "home" and celebrate with.

I remember how the times I've taught in the past, I'd hide from my students if I happened to bump into them outside of class (some would hide from me, too). Here, it's an every day occurrence to have them walking by your house or to wave at them as you hang your laundry. Before I came to Maxwell, I thought it would be too much, living and working with the same people, including my students. Now I realize how special it really it. It's a joy!

In case you're wondering, this is not the Blue (Power) Ranger. This is Richard being festive.

He posed for one more with me! Fun!

Morning Worships

2008-11-24T20:57:00.002+03:00

To vary our morning worships, we've made every day different. Mondays and Tuesdays, Ms. Duvra and I present a worship thought from a devotional book. On Wednesdays, the kids present their memory verse. Fridays we have a special guest speaker. But, Thursdays are extra special. We divided the kids into teams--Team A and Team B (I know. Very original!)--and each group is responsible for presenting worship every other week. At first, the kids did what we did, read a devotional thought. Then, we encouraged them to come up with dramas. Boy, have they amazed us! Yes, most of their skits are quite moralistic, but some are extremely touching. I'm always so proud of them! Here are a few pics and a video for you to enjoy.

Picnic on Ngong

2008-11-07T19:22:00.001+03:00

For our first four-wheel drive experience, we took "the Kan" up to Ngong for a picnic. Richard wanted to drive all the way to the top. The only thing that saved us (PJ and I) was a tunnel of bushes that prevented us from going any higher and the fact that Richard was worried about the paint job.

Here we are--PJ and I--resting after all the bumping around, enjoying our lunch.

We tried to get one of our signature shots with PJ. He didn't quite make it!

Track and Field Day

2008-10-31T21:25:00.001+03:00

For Moi Day, a Kenyan holiday, we celebrated with Track and Field Day. Richard decided to run the 5K last minute. He ran it in 25 minutes 26 seconds. Not bad! He came in fifth overall.

PJ had just arrived the day before, so I spent most of the day with him. Poor baby! He didn't even have time to recover from his jetlag. But, the kids loved him! I didn't participate in any event, but as staff I was in charge of measuring distance for the long jump and the softball throw. My legs got a workout from all the bending over!

My students got to participate, as well. Here they are lining up with their partners to run the 100 m relay. Ms. Duvra is pumping them up!

They did a great job! Look at them...really pushing it!
I watched from the sidelines and cheered them on.

Student Week of Prayer Speaker

2008-10-31T21:11:00.002+03:00

Guess who? Ok...so Richard really isn't a student, but once upon a time he was. He told the kids this was his third time speaking for Student Week of Prayer--twice as a student and now once as their dean.

The topic for the week, if you haven't already figured it out, was "The Armor of God." Richard spoke on the sword, or the Word of God. As you can see, he had props available to him, and the kids couldn't peel their eyes off of him, especially when he started swinging that big ol' sword around.

It was great to hear Richard preach again. I've miss that!

Our New Wheels

2008-10-31T21:09:00.004+03:00

The most exciting (and most expensive) thing that happened to us this month was the purchase of our new car--a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado!

Now, we can actually go places and take people with us, rather than always having to bum a ride or borrow the school van. We've dubbed it "The Kan." Can you figure out why?

My favorite thing about the car, besides the fact that it's much more comfortable than the school's van, is the handle on the passenger's side dashboard. It helpful when I need something to hold on for dear life as we drive through Nairobi.

I had to take this shot just because I could!

Sunday Getaway: Village Market

2008-10-31T21:07:00.003+03:00

Since it was our weekend off, we headed to the Village Market early Sunday morning. I had to get up at the crack of dawn to plan for the week, but it was totally worth it.

We went with the Raymonds. Here's Kyle being silly!

The Village Market has all these cool shops and restaurants. They also have a waterpark. Yes, I did say waterpark. They have about five slides and the funnest lazy river ever! I just wish they had a pool. We'll go there with the students sometime, but it was nice to check it out before hand. I think got it out of my system. (Sorry I didn't get more pictures.)

After a bit of swimming, we were starved. Rich had a gyro and I had the spiciest Thai noodles ever! I had to cool my mouth with some gelato. Yum!

Another Hike up Ngong

2008-10-31T21:03:00.002+03:00

Rather than driving up to the rocks this time, we walked up the ridge. I trailed behind with Ngina and a couple of my students, but even though we were some of the last to make it, it was worth the trek.

Here's all of us celebrating our ascent. My group arrived just in time to take the picture and walk back down...ahhh!

It just wouldn't seem right if we didn't take our signature shot--no matter how many we already have.

Richard, of course, hiked bum leg and all. There was no stopping him. Thankfully, his leg is completely healed now. (Praise the Lord, cause he--Richard--never let up!)

Trips in October

2008-10-24T18:01:00.002+03:00

October has been a busy, but good, month. Here are a couple Picasa albums to let you know what we've been up to:

Magadi Hot Springs

Maasai Mara

Our Faculty Family

2008-09-30T18:07:00.001+03:00

Occasionally, after Friday night vespers, we invite our faculty family over. Every family "adopts" a group of students and they become your faculty family. The kids love it! They get to crash a faculty member's house, eat their food, and just relax. We usually feed our faculty family popcorn (which Richard pops in our pressure cooker) and homemade sweet bread. I made them zucchini bread this last time and it was gone almost before it hit the table. We splurged and bought them Fanta, too!

Here's one of our "kids" being a poser!

Now, Richard being a goof-ball! The kids love him!

Some of the students from other faculty families came to our house after they left their "home-away-from-the-dorm". We must of had twenty kids over! I ended up showing these girls my wedding pictures. That made for a lot of "Ahhhhhs!"

We really have a great faculty family. They even cleaned the kitchen for me last time!

Geometry Party

2008-09-30T17:46:00.002+03:00

Some of the girls in my Geometry class stopped by our house the night before their big Geometry test. We started out studying, and then things got a little silly.

Maybe I shouldn't have brought out the Cadbury chocolate bar!

Hard at Work

2008-09-28T20:40:00.000+03:00

I can't believe it's already the sixth week of school! We've been working hard and having some fun, too. I haven't posted many pictures, so here are a few. I teach English to all the grades (six out of eight right now), and the kids are working on writing a personal narrative. My youngest students are so proud of their stories. I am, too! The last pic is of my older girls and Ngina, my student missionary. (She's great!) While we're doing English, they're doing Math. Lot's going on--all the time!

Richard's Bum Leg

2008-09-27T19:54:00.002+03:00

To continue my previous post, the rest of the email:

"Oh...and then, when we got back to school, Richard went to play volleyball with his team. It was for the championship game. So, they win the first game, and at the start of the second, he trips over a student and hurts his ankle. I find out, because some of the younger kids came looking for me saying that Richard is hurt and he wants me. Thank God again because his foot isn't broken. We don't know, however, if he's torn a ligament or just sprained his ankle. It's swelling up nicely, but without changing colors or bruising. He may go to see the local Adventist orthopedic doctor. Turns out it's the same guy who fixed his broken arm when he was here as a Freshman."

Thankfully, after getting an X-ray in Rongai to confirm, (which some people would debate is questionable), no bones are broken. Just a "soft tissue injury" as the X-ray tech called it.

And, that was how we ended a "not-so-normal" town day. I sure do hope this week'll be better!

Not Just Another Town Day

2008-09-27T19:53:00.004+03:00

Every Wednesday afternoon is our town day. We usually drive into Nairobi to a Nakumat (either Junction or Karen), and buy groceries. Usually that's it, unless we're riding with another family and they have errands to run, or we're going searching for things, like a couple of weeks ago when Richard needed soccer boots--cleats--and a hair cut. It's nice to get off campus, and being Wednesday afternoon, it's just what I need to get me over through the rest of the week. However, this week, our town day got off to a bad start and just seemed to keep getting worse. Here's a copy of the email I sent my mother in the evening:

"Hi, Mami. It's late, so I'll have to make this short.
We went to town this afternoon and because Richard talked on the cellphone for a split second before we were to turn into the shopping center, we almost got arrested. The police pulled us over, then got into our car. They wanted to take us to the station and charge us 7,000 Ksh (about $100) for the violation and we would have had to go to court the next day. At least that's what they were threatening. I was scared! Newayz, we begged, we pleaded--they just wanted a bribe--and finally...I cried! It's funny now, but I was just so fed up. We'd been pleading for like fifteen minutes and I just wanted them to go away. As soon as I started crying, they started apologizing. "No, Madam, we don't mean to hurt you. We'll let you go!" One of them got of the car quickly and came to my window and asked, "Why are you crying? Because you handed him the phone?" The other guy gave Richard a phone number (still have no idea why), and they left. THANK GOD! Come to find out, it's against the law to speak on the cellphone and drive...but, it's also against the law for the police to get in your car like our fellows did. They just wanted money."

That's not the end of the story, but it is the end of this posting. Here are a few pictures I took on our drive home of the city. I was feeling slightly better, but I won't be hurrying back into Nairobi--at least not until our next town day, and even then, I think we'll stay closer to home.

This is the church on the grounds of the Union Office.

This is my favorite kind of tree. The flowers are so beautiful! We have one like it in front of the elementary school.

Celebrating Birthdays

2008-09-21T17:18:00.002+03:00

Saturday night, we ventured into Nairobi once more to celebrate birthdays--mine and Phillip's. Phillip is Richard's assistant boy's dean, and ironically, we share the same birthday! On the way, we saw fireworks.

Of course, we went back to Habesha's for some good Ethiopian food. We invited other faculty and staff to join us. For some, it was their first time eating Ethiopian. Most everyone liked it, and we just had a fun time visiting with each other.

We documented the occasion with a signature self-portrait. Happy 27th to me! (By the way, we're drinking Malta, in case you're wondering.)

Sabbath Afternoon Hike

2008-09-21T17:10:00.000+03:00

Richard took a small group of us hiking on Sabbath afternoon. We walked along the main road and then hiked up a side road toward the Ngong Hills.

We passed several shops and homes along the way. It was the first time I'd walked through a residential area.

We hiked out (and mostly up) for about an hour until we reached a water tank. We all climbed up and enjoyed this view.

What a great way to spend a Sabbath afternoon!

The Long Weekend

2008-09-21T17:00:00.001+03:00

Our first long weekend... just in time for my birthday! School let out on Thursday, and I spent all afternoon planning for next week so that I could enjoy myself during the weekend! Most of the kids went camping to the Maasai Mara, but I'm happy we could stay back and relax. Richard has only two boys in the dorm!

On Friday, Richard drove a van full of kids to Nakumat Junction. While they shopped for three hours, we walked around, leisurely enjoying the shops we don't usually have time to enjoy on our town day (when we're too busy buying the things we need and trying to get back before dark). At Junction, they have a bookstore called the Media Store which made me think of being in a Barnes and Noble. After much looking, I bought a book titled "Teach Yourself Urdu in Two Months." I really want to learn another language, and we now have friends on campus that are from Pakistan and speak Urdu. Kalsoom, my friend, can teach me Urdu and I'll trade her for English lessons. I just can't pass up the opportunity.

This is a picture of Richard and I at the food court in Junction, where we devoured a Mediterranean pizza from Pizza Inn.

Tuskys and Rongai

2008-09-21T16:48:00.000+03:00

We usually do all of our shopping in Nairobi, but occasionally we'll run into Rongai, just down the road from Maxwell, and shop for things at the local supermarket, Tuskys.

Outside of Tuskys is an open air market where Richard and I like to buy some fruits and vegetables. We usually get avocados from this stall for about 20 Ksh a piece, or about $0.30 each.

Along the roadside are all sorts of shops. We haven't ventured into any of them...yet.

Springtime again!

2008-09-21T16:37:00.000+03:00

I'm enjoying two springs this year--one in Chicago and one here. When we first arrived to Maxwell, winter was just ending. Now, everything is budding and blooming. I can't wait for my flower pots to arrive, so that I can go buy plants for the inside of my house. In the meantime, I'll enjoy all the flowers we have outside.

Ashiana's

2008-09-21T16:27:00.000+03:00

Richard took me out to eat at an Indian restaurant that he frequented as a student--Ashiana's. We tried their sampler dish. We're still not sure what was in our favorite side, although we know it was all vegetarian. The food was good, but just a little too spicy for my taste. I was happy for the sweet lassie to help cool my mouth off.

Junk Night and Juniors

2008-09-21T16:23:00.001+03:00

A favorite Saturday night activity sponsored by the ASB, or student government, is "Junk Night." In case you're wondering, "Junk Night" is a competition for the classes. Each class collects as much "junk" as possible from the dorms and hauls it down to the gym. There, the goal is to be the first class to run to the center of the gym with the item of "junk" that is being called for. Each item is worth one point, while other class activities, such as making a pyramid and falling flat on the floor for an air raid, are worth five points. My favorite piece of junk was Maxwell Gold, i.e. toilet paper.

This is a picture of the "junk" collected mostly by the Junior class girls.

Here are two very spirited Juniors.

And, finally, the entire Junior class. Richard and I have the pleasure of not only teaching Junior classes (U.S. History and Geometry), but also being Junior class sponsors. They voted for us, so they obviouly just can't seem to get enough of the Dosses.

Heavenly Music

2008-09-21T16:11:00.000+03:00

One of the best things about Sabbaths here are the music performances. My elementary students look and sound so angelic when they sing! And, even though enrollment is low and a few of the girls had to be coaxed to sing tenor because of it, the high school chorale was impressive, too! The kids love to sing here (or so it would seem).

For vespers, Richard played guitar while the officers of the Boy's Club led out in song service.

Safari Ants

2008-09-21T16:02:00.000+03:00

When it rains here, the Safari ants come out in droves. They form trails that can span pretty long distances (for an ant). Richard tried to mess them up by dropping rocks on their path. It reminded of the movie "It's a Bug's Life."

One of my students would "play" with them on his way to school, and inevitably, during worship he'd find one or two crawling up his pants. Not fun!

Our First Weekend Off

2008-09-21T15:56:00.000+03:00

For our first weekend off-duty (no supervision!!!), we decided to go out for Ethiopian. So, we braved out at night--the driving is even worse--with another couple from school and went to Habesha, an Ethiopian restaurant near Yaya Center in Nairobi. Oh...the food was SO good, and, compared to what we used to pay in Chicago, SO inexpensive. This was just the first of many visits, I'm sure.

First Day of School

2008-09-21T15:47:00.000+03:00

We spent the first day of school getting to know one another better. Here are my students: the lower grades (two fourth graders, one second grader, and one first grader) and the upper grades (two fifth graders, two seventh graders, and one eighth grader). I had them make an "All About Me" collage, and then they showed me on the map where they were from. It made a really cute bulletin board! Thanks for the idea, Mom!

Our Gardens

2008-09-21T15:42:00.000+03:00

These are all pictures of flowers in our yard! We have a gardener who comes four times a week and takes care of them for us. Aren't they beautiful? And check out the bananas!

Reptiles and Amphibians

2008-09-21T15:40:00.000+03:00

Meet Jerry the Chameleon. He belongs to one of the kids on campus. Isn't he cute! All the kids help catch insects for him. It's fun to watch him eat.

We found this little guy on a tree while looking for insects that Jerry could eat. Don't worry! He's not poisonous!

Ngong Hills, cont.

2008-09-21T15:24:00.000+03:00

As usual, Richard used his long arms to get a picture of us at the top.

Then we posed for a more proper shot. It was so windy, though, that my hair just kept flying all over the place!

Ngong Hills

2008-09-21T15:23:00.000+03:00

Our first weekend at Maxwell, we went with the staff up into the Ngong Hills. If you haven't watched "Out of Africa" you have to in order to fully enjoy these pictures. The view from the top was fascinating!

There were a few Maasai boys taking care of their sheep on the hillside. They didn't want us to take a picture of them, but I snuck a picture of their sheep.

Our Cupboards

2008-09-12T22:57:00.000+03:00

Our cupboards are beginning to look not so bare. We take a regularly weekly shopping trip to town for groceries. Nakumats are more like your local Walmarts.

First trip to town

2008-09-12T22:45:00.000+03:00

Our first day...and we hit the road running--literally! We took our first trip to town. After attending pre-school meetings all morning, we headed to Crossroads in Karen. There, we had lunch at an Indian restaurant with the rest of the staff, and then went to Nakumat, the local grocery store, to pick up a few things.

Oh...did I say a few things? Well, we didn't exactly bring any food with us. So, you see all the bags along the right side of the bus? Those are ours. Believe it or not, after doing the math, we realized we spent over a $100! It really wasn't that much!

Interesting side note: We drove by the hospital in Karen--where my children might be born!

Back at the house, we unloaded the things we'd bought into our very bare cupboards. Take a peak!

In the Airport

2008-09-12T22:35:00.000+03:00

Here we are at the airport in Amsterdam. We had about a five hour layover (in the middle of our night, their morning). This is already after an eight hour plane flight from Detriot. Thankfully, on that flight we were able to sleep, since we had a bank of four seats all to ourselves. No such luck on the flight we caught next--ten hours and three movies later, we arrived in Kenya! Bright-eyed and bushy tailed--NOT! Surprisingly, just about all the faculty and staff came to meet us at the airport and gave us a warm Maxwell welcome!

Por que Un Poquito....

2006-07-14T17:12:00.000+03:00

I've been inspired to join by a very shy friend who has put herself out there in the blogging world. I figure if she can do it, so can I, especially since shy is not a word many would use to describe me. Gracias, Shari!

I've titled my blog Un Poquito. Why? Por que? Well, I guess it's because I'm hoping to resuscitate the little bit of espanol that is left in me. I've been noticiing lately that I'm beginning to lose it, and that's scary. I tried to carry on a conversation with abuelita the other day, and she had to keep guessing at what I was trying to say. Pathetic! Really I have no excuse, even though I blame it on the "fact" that I don't have anyone to practice it with...but that's not true. I could choose to speak to Mami only in Spanish. I talk to her everyday. I could choose to speak to everyone I know that speaks Spanish only in espanol, but I'm so embarrassed sometimes. I hate it when I stumble around looking for the right word and then, seeing my frustration, the other person gives it to me and I...well, I lose face. So, I revert back to what I feel comfortable with--ingles, even when they may not feel comfortable with that.

But, all that has to change. Soon--ok, maybe not that soon, but eventually--I'll want to teach my children espanol, and I can't rely on Richard to help me with that. We probably won't be living near my parents, so I can't rely on los abuelos, either. Then, the only person I'll have to blame for them not being bilingual is myself. And that would really be a shame. So, me propongo practicar mi espanol un poquito mas todo los dias, even if that means I have to chat it up in Spanish with only PJ--my chihuahua. I want to be able to think en espanol again, like I did while I was in Honduras. So, Univision, Telemundo, Mami, and all my friends out there that speak espanol, ahora es las hora de ayudarme. Por favor...un poquito mas en espanol!