Globe Trottin' With Kadi: Sunday, September 25, 2011

BITS AND PIECES…

I’ve had several things I’ve wanted to mention that just haven’t related to anything else I was writing about previously, so I’ve left them out. I’d like to write them tonight, in no particular order, just as they come to me.

I’ve decided that ants take baths. The other day in the shower, several tiny ants decided to join me. As I watched them more closely on the wall, they were standing on their hind legs. I believe they gathered droplets of water; then using their front legs, they rubbed the rest of their bodies. At first, I thought they were drinking the water, but they never seemed to put their legs by their mouths. What else could they have been doing?

Camels are REALLY uncomfortable to ride! Luckily, I only rode one for a half hour, but that was long enough. I seriously can’t see how anyone could ride them for days on end across the desert. They’d have to have major callouses in places we won’t even discuss. If you’ve ever ridden a horse, it felt like double that width. Even after only a half hour, I felt bow-legged! I enjoyed the experience, but I only need to do that one once. I’ll be curious to see how riding an elephant in So. Africa will compare. I’ll let you know when I do it.

(Very short video - I don't think the guy knew what he was doing with my camera.)

Kenyan “grass” is planted one or two blades at a time by hand. One guy pushes a stick in the ground to make a hole, and another guy puts the blades of grass down into it. This little area of grass took hours to plant. It’s never mowed, and is more like stiff blades of crabgrass than anything else.

(You can see how long and wide the blades of grass are here.)

Kenyans seem to be very open and happy people. They are willing to do anything for someone they know or care about. I‘ve had so many help me in so many ways. They also like to just go see someone rather than calling or something.

Tonight, Samuel had me push my security alarm button and time it to see how long it took the security company to respond. It took them 4-5 mins. I was embarrassed to have four guys suddenly show up on my doorstep, but they said it was just fine and that if I ever was out at night and needed an escort, just call them and they would accompany me. They said they didn’t mind at all to come to my home tonight.

I’m finally starting to come out of my “shell” here. I’ve discovered that it’s enjoyable to sit out on my front porch and read a book rather than sitting inside. I’ve taken a matatu twice all by myself - I’m such a big girl now(smile). I’m good at killing BIG ants, but I haven’t wanted to master the art of killing cockroaches and spiders. I’ll leave that to Samuel. I’m getting more comfortable at church and I’m actually being the one to go up and greet someone else. I’m getting the bartering thing down a bit, too.

Kenyan experiences lately: Grace, Samuel’s wife, came over yesterday and took all afternoon teaching me to make chipotis (sort of like flour tortillas) and beans. I’m getting used to cold showers and no microwave or oven. I even “baked” meatloat (in tin foil and a little water in a frying pan) and potatoes (I left the skins on, cut them in quarters lengthwise, and boiled them – but they looked like baked potatoes). I’ve made toast in a frying pan. I’m getting used to washing all my dishes by hand and in cold water. I’m learning to live with only the meager ingredients I can find at the store and have to adapt just about everything that I cook somehow. NOTHING tastes the same here as at home. Most things don’t LOOK the same, either, even though they are called the same thing as our stuff. I don’t seem to have a really big appetite – I wonder why?!? Kenyans use a ton of grease or oil when they cook. I’m getting more used to hearing airplanes fly right over my house daily.

Tonight, I was excited to give Samuel a triple combination (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price). We had a long discussion, and I truly believe, as he stated tonight that, “This book is going to change my life.” I was so thrilled to be able to give it to him. I also borrowed a Hymn book from the branch until next Sunday because he’s been asking me about our music. I wanted to share that with him, too. I pointed out a couple of my favorite hymns and told him why I liked them. I suggested he read through some of the words of the songs. They can be very uplifting. Right now, he’s just outside my bedroom window in a little storage room reading the book. I’m anxious to hear, tomorrow, what he thinks so far. HE thinks that HE is the reason I came to Africa – to share this with him. He may be right!

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you - I drove all of us home from church today for a short time of about 10 mins. I've never driven on the "wrong" side of the road before. That was bad enough, but the way people drive here and the way they pull out in front of someone without even looking is scary! Besides that, you have to dodge bicycles, motorcycles, people pulling huge carts, matatus, people darting out in traffic, etc. - ALL sharing the same VERY SKINNY road! I've got to learn how to drive before I get to South Africa, so I guess I've got to start somewhere, but that was an unnerving ride! I'm glad Kenneth chose a fairly wide and less busy part of our drive home to let me try my wings.

Well, that’s about all my ramblings for tonight. Here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy.

Judy, the cook at Louis' house.

Three of Louis' four German Shepherds. I've decided my 90 mosquito bites my first night there were actually flea bites - at least the ones that didn't itch. I was sitting at a table only a foot away from this picture. The dogs lie right here all the time and have tons of fleas. They also get HUGE ticks!