I guess things are always sad at the end and so it was saying goodbye to my Mlolongo family and to Caitlyn.
Friday afternoon, Caitlyn, Ann and I went into Nairobi to take Geraldine and Joseph to lunch. We went to Pizza Inn as both Caitlyn and I were dying to have some, yum! Craving fulfilled. It was really good! We chatted for ages then Caitlyn was off to stay in the city with the Boys and I headed home with the others. Cue teary goodbye :-( “Quick, put your sunglasses on” she says as she dons hers to hide leaky eyes. I do as instructed then cling to her for a little bit longer until she has to go. Pants. That sucks. See you in Australia my friend. Miss you and lard fives already.
Inevitably the traffic was horrendous, so we just chatted all the way back. It was a quiet afternoon, especially as I lay down for a little bit, just to rest my eyes you understand. 2 hours later I woke up. Oops. Ann came in shortly afterwards and said, “We make chapatti”. Yes!
Flour and water and oil, mix, roll, cut into strips, roll up into rounds, flatten and roll again, put in frying pan. Done. Yum! So proud, my first chapatti but not the last I can assure you.
Geraldine and Joseph came home late as usual, but still had to go out and pick up a friend who was staying the night. They work so very hard and are such good people. I am lucky to know them.
My last night in Mlolongo, sad.
Lala Salama
This morning Joseph had to take their friend into the city and Ann went with them so she could go home for the weekend. It was hard saying goodbye to them too but we promised to see each other before I leave Kenya. We will ‘do lunch’. Lots of hugs were shared and bottom lips protruded – actually that was just me, but anyway… I finally got myself packed and chatted with Geraldine until I left. Wow they have had a lot things happen in their lives as I suppose we all have, but they have had their fair share of tragedy. She told me about the home invasion in detail and other things about the past, which I do not feel are my stories to tell but I will say they have certainly had to endure some difficulties. I felt really privileged that she felt comfortable sharing with me and I felt even closer to her and, consequently, even more sad to leave.
I was picked up by one of the NVS staff and gave Geraldine a huge hug as she said, “I love you”. I told her I loved them all too as I choked up. It has been only 4 weeks yet I have bonded with this incredible Kenyan family who I didn’t know existed one short month ago. The world is a wonderful crazy place isn’t it?
Off we went to orientation with three other girls who had just come in from another placement and were about to go out to Massailand. I had a chance to catch up with a few other volunteers I know, Amber, Kylie, Jim and Josh. So nice to see them. It was also great to see the NVS staff who were all really interested in how I was and how I had enjoyed my time so far. I chatted to Kush (who took us all on Outreach) about going back to the IDP camp. I want to go back for a couple of days so I can interview some of the families. I’m going to video it all so I can then write an article or something to share their stories with anyone who cares to read them. I hope I can do their past and present justice. I really just want to raise awareness of what has happened, what is happening and what people can do to help. I hope I can count on you dear reader to look at it once it is done? Can I? I will take your silence as a yes ;-)
I am supposed to be here at Lucy’s with three other volunteers who are just starting their time here in Kenya but their plane was delayed, or cancelled or they missed it or something. Anyway, they’re not here but will hopefully be arriving tomorrow or Monday. In the meantime, there is another volunteer here from Germany, Ana, who came directly through contact with Lucy. She will be coming to the orphanage too. She is only 19 but has done so much travelling already. Oh I feel so unaccomplished! Better rectify that I think. Perhaps Europe will be next.
I was brought here by Moses, Lucy’s son who apparently is an excellent taxi service. He is already going to take Ana and me to Junction tomorrow to meet Tania and her housemate for lunch and a movie (how very civilized). When I arrived, I met Lucy, Wambo her daughter, Ann one of the girls from the orphanage and Lucy’s two grandchildren. I still haven’t gotten my tongue around their names but I will let you know once I do. The little boy is five and his sister is about 10 months old. Said little boy was extraordinarily enthusiastic, showing me my room and his bike and taking me down to watch ‘cartoons’ which turned out to be The Lion King, how very apt. After the power went out which brought a rather abrupt end to the movie, I sat up in my room trying to connect to the net. Not so easy as it turns out. The area is not always great at receiving coverage so you have to stand in just the right place with your tongue out to the left and your right foot in the air…or you can just go and sit on the balcony. That usually does it.
To tell the truth I was feeling a little unsure of everything, probably because I was the only volunteer here at the time. It is a new environment and I was alone and naturally I wanted something familiar. I really just wanted to go back to Geraldine, Joseph and Ann. I know it is just temporary and I will get used to it but initially I thought, “Why didn’t I just stay there??” I finally got my head together, realized this feeling was just temporary and thought about where I am, in Kenya! Ana soon arrived and that helped immeasurably.
Lucy’s place is in Gathiga, which is north west of the city centre. Her house is two stories and kind of resembles a villa. It has concrete floors, lots of rooms, two bathrooms, a hot shower(!), a lounge area and decent-sized kitchen. It is down the end of a dirt road with a few similar homes around, very different from Valley View. My room has two bunk beds in it and that’s it. I have way too much luggage (which is not surprising) and if the other three girls bring the same amount, I’m really not sure how we are going to fit everything in here! Ah well, we’ll figure it out I’m sure. The room next door is also a volunteer room. Both rooms open out onto a shared balcony, which is pretty damn cool actually.
We had dinner, watched The Lion King again as the power was back on then headed to bed where I am now. Ana is exhausted so has pretty much passed out, poor wee thing.
I have earplugs in at the moment and I’ll tell you why. People have different sounds that irk them more than others, just get on their nerves and make it difficult for them to concentrate on anything else. For me it is barking dogs. Drives me batty, especially the high-pitched yappy barking. There are four dogs here hence the earplugs. They work very well, can’t hear a thing. Oh and there is a cat too. I love cats. We are friends already. He comes and sits on my lap and purrs. My bliss.
Time for sleep.
Lala Salama
