Bitter Sweet

This first month, I have been extremely challenged in a culture I am quickly learning about. There are things that I already love about Africa and others that frustrate me. I recognize, however, this is all part of the adventure. Let’s start with school. We are three weeks in, and I have not had one uneventful day. It is amazing to work in a place that people have traveled, literally half way around the world, to teach at. There is a common cause that drew us all to these children and that creates a strong bond. However, our resources are limited, which leads to lack of organization. I crave things to be in order, especially in a work setting. I have had to bite my tongue a few times to save myself from getting in trouble. For example, the school supplies ordered last year have yet to come in. There was a strike in Mombassa, therefore no supplies. We’re lucky at this point to find a pencil with an eraser. I have been lesson planning in pen, not exactly ideal.

Kindergarten... one of my favorite classes to teach. I'm trying to get them to participate in PE, but you would think it is story time.

I am in the process of developing school programs and there is no one around that knows how to answer my questions. The school site principal is on furlough until January, and the interim principal is just trying desperately to survive the basics. Jim you were right, teaching overseas is much different. I miss you Reagan crew! Another plus to our school is that our average class size is roughly 20 students, Kindergarten through 11th grade. That is a dream number in the states. Despite the fact, there is work to be done, we leave school everyday around 4:00 pm. That is not enough time to get things done, but that’s when our ride says its time to go. We need our own car. Please be praying for this to happen sooner rather than later.



My time at home is spent differently now. Instead of going for a walk, going out on the town, or watching TV at night (with the exception of a season of House, that someone let us borrow), I now read books, cook, write emails saved on my computer, or grocery shop. So frequently? Yes! That’s what happens when you don’t have preservatives in your food. You make lots of trips to the store. Often times it is unsafe to be out after dark (about 6:00 pm.), so we come up with things to do at home. On weekends though, I have started taking Salsa lessons, we go to internet cafes, to church on Sundays, and we also visit people’s homes.

I live in a two bedroom/ 1 bath apartment. If you want to take a hot shower, you get up two hours ahead of time to turn on the water heater. And even then, it only lasts 10- 15 min. So I’ve started taking showers at night and my roommate takes hers in the morning. This also helps with the flooding problem. The shower floor is set down an inch from the floor in the hallway. It has a small drain in the corner that can’t keep up with the water coming out the faucet. Therefore, water everywhere. If we are not careful it will over flow into my room. Thankfully, that has only happened twice. I’m not sure what the architect was thinking when he constructed this area of the house. We recently got a used washer. This is a blessing, even if we can only use it for its spin cycle. The machine will not hold water, but it does a great job ringing out our clothes, which means… things dry faster! Dad what do you think about a quick trip to do some handy work?

Homesick. I have to say, when I first got here I wasn’t that homesick. Not like the last time I left home for six months. It is slowly seeping in though. Usually my down times I wish I could make a trip home. I love you family and I wish you guys could be a part of living in Africa. People said this would be an experience of a life time and that it is. Next weekend our school staff is going on a retreat. I am excited to get outside Nairobi and see some other sites.