Happily home with more to come...

Friends,
I have some wonderful pictures and lots of laundry! Please check back in awhile as I will be putting some of the pictures up that I think are special. Meanwhile, thanks for checking in as I've been sharing my unique journey.

Travelin' Nana

Wednesday, April 8, 7 pm

Here I am at the Nairobi airport and find a computer section! As planned, I was "picked" early since gridlock can happen, but I'm here are ready in time.

I thought I might add a few things about the home in which I stayed....Although it is a 12 bedroom home and huge by any standards (for me), it had an institutional feel. I think dorm life probably prepared me for the experience! I wouldn't say it's in the "rich" area, but it certainly was "middle class." It was built by the owners about 16 years ago, "when cement and plaster was reasonable." It's referred to as a "compound" as there is a high wall all around the large piece of property and a gate. Twelve dogs reside someplace on the property and are let out at night. I'm glad I didn't meet one. I only made friends with an old dashhound that was rarely acknowledged.

When I asked why they had such a big house, they said, "So everyone can have a room when they visit." I guess if you both come from families of 8 - 10 kids, that makes sense!

There were two full-time employees: one female for inside the house named "Angela"....she did the cooking, cleaning, and washing...continually! Then there was a male for the outside of the house named "Ben." Ben took care of opening and closing the large metal gate, watering the garden, plants, washing the cars, and feeding the dogs before they came out of the cage at night. Ben decided he couldn't do the work any more, so he quit the other day--which made getting in and out of the compound difficult!

On my way out to the airport, I asked the driver who has driven me before about the "compound/wall/gate" issue. He said that it's not just the well-off people who live this way. He has a small place out in the country and still has a fence and gate. The slums, however, do not have gates or fences!

I've really enjoyed the various facets of my time here--working in Malawi; safari and luxury; home stay with a family and volunteering at the home. But, I'll definitely be happy to get back home to Chelsea where I can walk about the door and forgot to lock it---and walk practically anywhere I need to (except to Midland.

Monday, April 6, 5 p.m. ish

This probably will be my last entry from Kenya. Yesterday, Sunday, I became a tourist again for a day. I had a wonderful time seeing some "local sites." Elephant Orphanage....I can't believe the way they raise these orphaned elephants....they are mostly found having fallen into the water holes around the country. Sometimes when their mothers know they are dying, they will go near a ranger's station so their baby will be found. Elephants are very human in their need to be in a family, and they truly never forget! If they are two year old and under, they have a caregiver who stays with them constantly. They sleep with them, feed them a special infant forumla, etc. This is at the Sheldrige (sp?) orphanage for rhinos and elephants. Elephants develop about the same as human in terms of life stages....When one gets to be 5 -6 y/o, it's considered a teenager....The same caregiver stays with it and begins to take the elephant out into some wilderness area so they can get to know life outside the orphanage. The caregiver walks with it, etc. Some of the mature elephants they encounter stay away from the teenager, since they don't like the smell of humans.... Poaching is outlawed in Africa, but it's on the rise again since the Chinese value ivoery it for items and they have a large presence in Africa. Some countries, like South Africa, (LJ-SK: Can you find South Africa in Africa?) allow for thining the "herd", but it is thought to be unnecessary by most countries.

I also went to the giraffe center and fed them! Karen Blixson, who wrote "Out of Africa" (later made into a movie with Meryl Streep and R. Redford) lived there. The guide was very knowledgeable, and I think he might have been old enough to know her!

When I ate lunch, I sat next to two women who I could tell were from the US....language, you know. Anyway, they were a little younger than me, so I asked where they were from. They said, "We live in Nairobi." So I clarfied and said, "No, I mean your country of origin." They were born in South Bend, Indiana. Both Southern Baptist ministers. So, I said, "Well, Kenya is quite a Christian country, so your work must be very appreicated." To which they replied that, while it is a Christian country, some of the interpretations of the Bible "We a little bit off." I thought I'd laugh out loud, but restrained myself!

Kenya is a very Christian country. Each night I sit with the family with whom I'm staying and there is Christian radio or TV (NOT like Rush L!) playing....Cell phones ring with "Praise God" as the ring, etc. Although there is a considerable number of Muslims in Kenya, they are largely on the coast and they live together quite well in Nairobi....

Today was my last day at the home. I'm the school photographer, so I set up a little "studio" with a lilac (Ann's deceased daughter's favorite color) chair, table with a globe on it. I took each child's picture individually, then a home/school picture. Unfortunately, it's difficult to organize 40+ children into a group when you don't speak their language. What a hoot!

Ann is staying until the opening of school (she's on sabatical) in a few weeks, and she'll come back for the opening of school in August. I'm going to send her things to bring over in August. She's requesting socks (grey, navy, red (NOT white), and underwear. Honestly, they clean every day, and in two minutes, everything is either covered with red dust or red mud!

It's raining now, so I'm glad....the rainy season gets shorter and shorter.

Kenyan phrase: When will you be picked? The word "up" never seems to follow it!

BTW--Obama's step-grandmother is from west Kenya, Kogelo. The govt here paved a road to this rural place, and she has to have security provided by the govt. I was happy to read in a headline of an article in the paper that said, "Tame graft or forget my help, Obama tells Kenya."

Just because this is my last blog doesn't mean I won't check email....most likely in Amsterdam on my way home!

Saturday, April 4th, 3 p.m.+

Goodness, it's difficult to get to an internet cafe, even though Nairobi is a lot more "cosmopolitan" than Blantyre or Lilongwe....Mostly, I'm spending time at the home/school with Ann everyday, and we want to get back to the house and shower! The home/school is on a plot of land outside Nairobi that was owned by her mother-in-law...now deceased. In fact, she buried on the property, as is custom in Kenya.

The earth is so red and dry that I look like I've been working in a iron mine in MN after two hours there! Apparently, my skin is still of interest to the kids there. I've come to understand that it's not because of the color, but because of the wrinkles! My hair, the softness (read that--no body) continues to attract them....

Yesterday was a very emotional day for Ann, and me by empathy...First thing in the morning was the closing cermony (for the term) to which the neighbor parents were invited and attended. I think I told you that community children come to the school started by Ann for the home. They have been coming free, but she has to start charging some as she was also feeding them lunch as well as morning and afternoon snack. I found it an irony that the children for whom the school was started had no parents in the audience. The children sang songs, recited poems, etc....Children were awarded for achievement and good behavior...small things....a packet of cookies, pens, etc. One of the things that amazed me was the chair persom of the school committee who announced/explained the need to charge a small fee for the community children. His face was so expressive, and although I didn't understand a word he said, I could tell he was connecting with the parents.

Afterwards, I went up to him and commented on how well he spoke to the group and complimented him on his expressive manner. He said, "Well, I know how important that is since I'm an actor and director! Actually, I've just produced a documentary on the lives of orphans." (He has his own child standing by him, so it was the experience from the school that sparked his interest.) Of course, I think everyone knows about Jeff Daniels....hee, hee, so I said, "Are you familiar with the actor, director/producer Jeff Daniels?" "Yes, I've studied international a/d/p...." Of course, I'll try to get him connected to my best friend, Jeff!

At the end of the day, 13 children from the home arrived back after being at another school for standard four. Since the school building is expanding (NOW), there wasn't room to teach them at the home. They looked quite shocked when they got of the "matatu" (mini-van) from the other school, since they had been gone since January. They will be there for two weeks, I believe, then go back. The behavior of four of them has not been good, so Ann is thinking of keeping them back. This is their first exposure to being in an environment where they aren't in a setting where everyone else was orphaned, so I'm sure the emotional toll of their background is beginning to show itself. Ann really wants "her kids" to succeed, so she is going to talk to each one individually to find out why they misbehaved. (Megan, you'll be glad to know that she was talking with her on-site teachers and mothers of the importance of having behavior plans with rewards and consequences.)

There's one little girl, Ann, who is about 8 y/o who I find to be particularly talented, in that she constantly find the old tin bucket on the playground and beats it with a stick and her hand. She really has a marvelous sense of music. Ann told me that she comes from a tribe (one of 42 tribes) that is particularly gifted in art and music.

The car that Ann has borrowed for going back and forth to the school began to sound like the brakes were worn. So, the machanic "made a house call" today! All this sounds strangly convenient, but it turns out not to be the case. He had to come out to the house, determine the source of the problem (worn brake pads), then take public transportation into town to find some, and come back out to put them on!!

Ann brought over a suitcase full of vcr tapes that her colleagues in New York had donated to the school. They only have a DVD player in the small sitting room with a couch, few plank benches, and a TV. So, on Monday, I'm giving the kids a combo DVD/VCR player as a gift from "Auntie Jan." Of course, per usual, this come out Jane.

Fortunately, my new camera is performing well. Ann's baggage went to west Africa first and a few things were missing when she finally received it. So, her camera doesn't have the charged. I'm the school photographer, and on Monday, I'm taking pictures of all the kids (including ones who came back) individually, and also class and home pictures. Monday p.m., I'm coming here to the internet place to have them downloaded and I'll give Ann a copy. She's thinking of starting a magazine (Dan, Again, here's another opportunity in Africa, but it would have to be volunteer!)

Apparently, I omitted an important word in my last posting. There are 2.5 MILLION orphaned children in Kenya alone.

I will be glad to get home, but this is far off, and now I'm feeling like I want to contribute. This is a huge undertaking for one family....and affects so few children. It brings tears to my eyes as the challenge is so daunting and they are so young. One thing for sure, these kids are lucky, and they know they are loved. I hope that's enough to overcome the obstacles ahead.

April 1, Wed 5 p.m.ish

Today was no April Fool's Day for me. I'm here in Nairobi, staying in a huge house with lots of security....12 bedrooms in all. It's the home of my travel agent, so I'm doing a "home stay" while I'm here.

I'm volunteering at the Caroline Wambui Mungai Foundation home. It's a home and school for chldren who have lost both parents to AIDS. They've been cleared through "the system" and permanently live at the home. There are 43 children with ages ranging from 3 - 9 years old. There are also some (around 30) community children who attend the school only , so their single mothers can work in the fields...earning approximately $2. day. Please go to the website: www.cwmf.org
(Megan, perhaps you could put a link on the blogspot when you have time.)

The home was started in 2004 after Ann and George Mungai lost their daughter unexpectedly. Ann and George work in New York, and Caroline had lupus. It seems she went in for a biopsy...an easy procedure....and didn't come out alive. As a parent who has lost a child, I understand the need to do something positive with the loss.

So, except for Sunday, I'm going out to the home and help in whatever way I can. There are 2.5 orphans in Kenya alone from AIDS. Even though this organization is a drop in the bucket, it somehow feels right to volunteer here. BTW--When I drove in with Ann, none of the children said "Look at the white person"...as they had in Malawi. Ann encourages people to spend time volunteering here....from all over the world.

What did I do today? Helped pass out lunch...they eat a lot because they used to have to search for food on the street....I sat and let them touch my arms, hands, follow the bulging veins in my old hands with their fingers, pat my hair, sit on my lap....the basics of caring. I sorted beans (they are absolutely gorgeous with manyh varieties) and picked the small stones and bugs out. It costs $30. month to keep a child here, and it is making such a difference in their lives.

The people in LATTICE in East Lansing know about the home, as Ann presented to them. She is an alumnus of MSU (having earned her PhD there) and was in one of the years of LATTICE.

This is a bitter sweet experience, seeing Caroline's picture around the home....what a beautiful young woman she was. The children are well-cared for, and I know where I'll be making some contributions....