Ok, here we are. After a great first night's sleep I had a fantastic day wandering around town, spending money on essentials (wrap around blankets/skirts/scarfs ect) and just drifting along. Very little hasle from people trying to sell things and if so they are easily persuaded that you really don't want a taxi or a painting at 6 times the going rate. In the afternoon I went on a dala-dala to go to the orphanage project where they are needing people at the moment. 70 kids aged 3-16 needing education and attention. Right, before I carry on, here comes the thoughtful bit. Do we really make a difference? Are we just self-indulgent idiots trying to do good for 6 weeks to cover up the fact that I have been a selfish twat for the remaining thousands of weeks of my life? It's really weird, driving through this deprived village, mud huts in different stages of decay, cowns and goats all over the place, people in torn clothes, wandering around, not much meaningful and purpuseful occupation to be carried out. The kids in the orphanage in even dirtier clothes, no shoes, with even less to do. There's education but not a lot and the official village school is not exactly an academic institution. So, 70 kids with a place to stay for now but no real future and no place to go once they hit 18. So, what are the white westerners, the mzungi, doing here, scattering a bit of English and Maths and organising a game of football.... I felt such a fraud walking through the village to the playing field, sanctimonious and patronizing. But a volunteer told me that although we might not make a huge difference for the future, for the MOMENT those kids get some attention. Something they'd have to do without if there weren't any volunteers. So, playing 'stand-off' with them or just entertaining them by getting the language wrong (one of the volunteers counted to 10, well, she tried, counted to 9 and then said kumA instead of kumI - had the kids in stitches, as kuma means vagina. No less...) is a worthwhile thing. Still, it feels a bit proposterous. But no-one else form the village does it, so, yes, they are glad about the volunteers.
Pics are in the camera, hope to be able to put them on over t'weekend. And, just to make you feel smug - it's overcast and actually quite cool here. twas warmer in M/cr the day I left ...
Kwa Heri for now (swaheli for bye, obviously, and I only can remember because it sounds like 'quite hairy')
