Home, Sweet Home

What an original title, eh? Yea, I know. Screw you, too!

Really, though, I'm writing to celebrate my new home, so what else would I write? What?! New home?! You mean PC finally, 2 whole months later, found a new place for you in that big ol' country full of groups desperately-seeking-PCVs?? Why yes, they did! And a nice one, at that!

It is in a "suburb" of Kakamega (isn't that a great thought?), along the Mumias road. Shirulu, or something that sounds like that. I'm with the Wake Up Women's Group, a very dedicated, hardcore group of mamas (my favorite people in this place), who have promised to put my sorry butt to work. They have been told I left ASDP due to lack of work and stinginess on Napoleon's part, so they know they need to keep me busy or I'll leave them, too. I'll let you know work specifics as they are told to me.

My house is a step to the side, really. Can't say it's a lot better or a lot worse. Nice compound, smaller than the old, but more family-feeling. Pumped borehole. Big shamba. House is made of mud, 3 roomed (bedroom, sitting room, kitchen) and is cozy, but should be perfect for one person. Outdoor bafu and choo. Very clean feeling, no bats, still no ceiling, linoleumish floor (to make washing easier). My new mama has a HUGE place with solar power, so I can watch some TV and charge my phone there, if she's into it. She's got around 7 sons and I'm her first/only daughter, so I think she'll be into it!

For mail, I'll share an address in Kakamega with Joe, the SED volunteer to helped me to find this group. It's PO Box 2451, Kakamega 50100. Send letters IMMEDIATELY! Kakamega is 10min drive away, or an hour by bike, which Joe will be pushing me to do.

My favorite part? I'll be eating well here. They grow pumpkin, chili peppers, orange sweet potato, mushrooms, etc. The market is CLOSE, busy everyday, and when I need, I can come to Kakamega town for even more. HOO-RAH! Much love to you all, but I have to get the hell out of here so I can catch the matatu back home. Yet another night of cabbage soup for me... (I've decided, based on the slowness of todays boda drivers, that I need to reduce! That, and, there's nothing else to eat but cabbage. Oh well.)

Cross Sector

Today is Friday, the final day of our annual Cross Sector meeting. It's just that magical opportunity for PCVs from all sectors (by which I mean Public Health, SED/ICT, Education & BCC) to get together, listen to lectures, share info, meet each other, and get our counterparts out of the village.

Highlights:

• A rompin' round of Presidents & Assholes.
• My fight with an obnoxiously drunk Indian who felt it okay to call me a slut, but was angry when I called him an ass for cheating on his wife.
• Flu shot that left a huge, red, hot patch on my arm. Big thanks to PC/DC for that requirement.
• Chilling with the new CD, Ken P., who has been turning out to be a groovy dude.
• Learning Kenyan Sign Language

Housing update:

Bomet is out, as there is no housing. Ziwa is out, as there is no housing. Burnt Forest, Kakamega, Busia and Siaport (sp?) are all options that will be explored next week. I Begged the people at XSector to recommend a site for me. Kibet says it worked, as a number approached him with info on other sites. Keep your fingers crossed...

Weekend plans:

Going back to the G7 house for more daquaris, baked yummies and movies. Then, St. Patty's in Kisumu, hopefully with green beer. Sunday I'll travel to Nairobi, maybe by train, maybe not. Monday is the Gender & Development (GAD) meeting, and I plan on being elected on to the committee.

150

This is my 150th post on Blogger! Yay!

This weekend was the badass G7 party in Kakamega! We met these two G7 people (it's an NGO) at the lunch with Ambassador's Stand-In, about a month ago. The fellow was silly enough to invite 20 PCVs to his place for a party. 12 of us showed up, and it was a blast!

Lots of food, lots of alcohol (including banana daqaris!) , music and projected movies. He brought cake mixes from home, so we made cake and cookies, just because we were able to bake. I miss baking!!!!! Mmmm.... cake!

I have no idea when sleep came, but it was just like a 6th grade sleepover, with everyone whispering and spread all over the floor in sleeping bags. Bummer that the floor is, you know, kinda hard. But still! It was fun!

This morning we woke about 7:30a, had chocolate cake, fruit, mimosas, eggs, potaters, and sausage for the carnivores. Watched another movie, too. mmmmm.... food! My belly is SO full.

This fella was way too generous - all the food, the hospitality, then a bag of Kisses, a 4-pack of (soft, luxurious, American) toilet paper and time on the internet. Later, he'll actually drive us (partly) home. How freakin' amazing is that!!!

G7 does stuff with computers, taking donated ones from America and refurbishing them for Kenyan schools and such. I'm on the famous IBM Craptop from 1998 right now. Feels like old times... Maybe NMU donates their oldies?

No updates on the move. Sorry. Maybe I'll learn something tomorrow? Bye! I'll be back to the net in a week, when I'm in town for Cross Sector meetings. Tutaonana!

What a Bunch of Nonsense!

Why did the chicken cross the road? Just to see if he could!

The bees are back in my chimney, or somewhere. Wherever, they are definitely back.

How to greet in Kenya: Find a person who's REALLY far away and shout "How are you? How are you? How are you? How are you?" until they are too far away to see anymore. Pick someone new.

The rain is back, big time. I guess this means it's time to plant, and time to get the hell out of here, before the rains destroy the "roads" and lock me in.

I'm in Kakamega for a party tomorrow night. I came early in order to a.) Use internet, b.) Avoid packing, cleaning, working at home, c.) Get really drunk and pretend I'm someone else, or d.) All of the above, plus a little more, if the opportunity strikes.

The Wonder Spot, by Melissa Bank, is an extremely good book, which I am enjoying tremendously. Please find it and read it.

Seriously, though. I'm convinced that a chicken's need to cross the road is just because someone is approaching. And their speed of crossing is inversely related to your own travelling speed. Meaning, if you are slowly walking, they'll haul ass to get across before you. If you are in a rush, biking or driving, they will slowly scootch their way across, sqwaking at you as you brake/swerve/and otherwise avoid crushing them. Sometimes I use this as evidence of the stupidity of birds. But then, at 200/= a pop, these suckers are worth a lot more dead, than alive. Maybe their owners train them?

I have 3 weeks worth of laundry, 1 week worth of clothes line, and no rope for the well (which is jammed with two fallen buckets, anyhow). What I don't have, is soneone reliable enough to wash my clothes for me.

I'm writing new lyrics to that song "She's a Maniac (for Love)", or whatever it's called. 80's tune. In my version? "She's a Lazyass" I haven't made it out of the chorus yet.