Thursday 5/31
So last night was my first night on Rusinga. I was asleep by
9 pm and awake y 3:30 am. The same thing happened last night in Nairobi, so I’m
guessing it is the jetlag. Luckily I have not been tired in the least, but I do
hope this changes soon because lying in bed for 3 hours in total darkness is
boring. I stay in a compound owned by Alphonce with Mark and a Peace Corps Volunteer
named Elizabeth. There is another PCV on the island named Adam, and that is
pretty much the extent of white people here. Both the compound and island are
very beautiful. This whole time I have been preparing for a beachy place, but
nothing could be further from reality. This place is really rocky and only
hills, and at the village there is about 15 feet of sand before the hills,
rocks, and some grass starts. But it is incredibly gorgeous. We are not the
only island in the areas, and they are all rocky and hilly, which makes it look
like we are surrounded by small mountains. Also, everything is incredibly
green. There are flowers everywhere, fields of maize, and just a generally lush
area. Apparently, this is the only time of year the island is like this. The rainy
season lasts about 3 or 4 months, and it started at the beginning of May. All
other times of year the landscape is brown and dusty. I feel so fortunate to
have come at this time of year, but I sort of want to see what it all looks
like the majority of the year. As for our compound, it is sparse but still
cozy. There is a woman named June who comes here to cook for us, and based on
the one meal of hers I have eaten she is absolutely amazing. And bonus points
for her because she does it all over a fire. There is no electricity on this
part of the island except for a few places (like the community center), and no
plumbing. There are no showers, and the restroom facilities are outhouses. But
it is not so bad (yet). People really underestimate how much this part of the
world is developing. I mean sure, they don’t have plumbing or electricity. But
they are working on it. Cars are not a rarity, and motorbikes are crazy
popular. True, people here do walk must places, but I think Americans should do
more of that anyway. Really, it is just a different way of life, not a lesser
way. Not to downplay the serious level of poverty of course. So many families
are struggling just to eat and survive. The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is quite
rampant, and many children are left without one or both parents because of the
disease. It is really sad, but as I have not been here even 24 hours I have yet
to be exposed to that part of life here.
