downtown nairobi to be exact.
we stopped into a hotel
oh my gosh... what an experience. quick recap:
i worked at the health clinic thursday and friday and loved it. so far ive only done receptionist work, but its good cause i'm learning some swahili, starting next week i'm going to ask to be more hands on, and i'm pretty sure they'll let me. the first day i was there, they gave me a tour of the maternity ward and there was a women they thought was in labor, so were checking the fetal heart beat and let me listen!! there is almost NO technology at all... they listen to the heart beat with hour-glass shaped piece of plastic. and it worked! turns out it was only false labor, but they assured me there would definitely be a birth while i was there! almost every woman that comes in either has a baby on her back, or in her belly!
i have seen sooooo many babies! but i don't haven't gotten to play with or hold them yet! I am supposed to be at the health clinic for another 4 weeks, but i may have to switch a little earlier just so i can get my hands on those sweet watotos (swahili for children, of course).
host family:
great.
the father is Stephen, and he is the sweetest man. he laughs all the time. he reminds me a lot of my dad, because everytime we go out somebody stops him to talk cause they know him. he makes them laugh, and then we leave. on our way out he always leans over to me and says "he/she knows me... but i do not know her". sound familiar john tosco?
mary, the mother, is strong but kind. she didn't love me right away the way stephen did, but i think she's warming up to me. they have five kids, two are in boarding school, so i won't meet them. the three that live at home are peter - 22, daniel - 19, and faith - 9. daniel and i don't talk a whole lot, but he's a good guy. he teaches at a school that their family owns. faith is sooo sweet and so quiet. i didn't hear her talk for the first three days i was here (mostly because nobody talked to her). when we got home the other day i asked if i could help her and she let me. mostly i let her read to me, and she taught me a little swahili, which i loved. we quickly became friends. ever since then she smiles at me and we play games. she always runs up to me and gives me a high five, i can tell she's holding herself back from giving me a huge hug. she is such a blessing for me. she makes my day.
peter has been my tour guide. yesterday he took me to hang out with some of his friends. that was pretty great. they are all in a singing group together and were meeting for rehearsal. they were really good. (i'll post the video). but the best part was how nice they all were to me. after their practice, we all walked home together and stopped at their church on the way and met some more nice people. tomorrow he's taking me to a dance competition, an AFRICAN dance competition. i am super excited about that!
after much discussion with many people, i think i have to do a safari and go to mombasa. everyone here is insisting on it.
the house is pretty good. i have my own room, which is cozy. but there is no running water. yikes. the bathing situation isn't terrible; although i have to use a bucket, its hot water, REALLY REALLY hot water. but the bathroom.... rough. they have a toilet, but no plumbing. so its basically a raised hole in the ground.
wanna know a secret?? i wait until everyone goes to bed to use the bathroom. oops. i'm sure that will change soon.
i've already had some pretty great days, but to be honest, the nights are tough. i'm so glad i brought my computer - i watch an episode of scrubs a night. my new favorite show. i miss you guys like you wouldn't believe. it is definitely harder than i ever expected. but even though i get sad sometimes... their is a strange feeling that everything will be ok. i'm reading a lot and praying a lot. there is a mother theresa quote/prayer that has been helping a lot... i'll post it.
i also wanna say thanks for all the emails. it was great to get on the internet yesterday and have those to read. really brightened my day.
i send more when i can.
i love you all
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