04.28.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 1:10 pm by Hannah
We went to the Market the other day. Not the normal grocery market but the Massai Market.
The Massai people are like the Africans you see in National Geographic. Like what you think of when you think African. Not all of them wear the traditional dress but a good number still do. They carry around spears too. They are a fierce, loyal, and in general very friendly people. Though you really wouldn’t want to get on their bad side.
Every weekend they have open air markets around the city where they sell hand-crafts, souvenir stuff, and every day African stuff.
AMAZING! Beautiful work…I don’t even know how to describe it. They just have really incredible stuff.
And they have really incredible sales tactics. Maybe scary would be a better descriptor. I had Jared strapped on so for the most part they didn’t push me around to much. Though I did get a few offers for my baby…which I turned down very firmly. : )
Everyone had “a very reasonable price for you today” and we had one man tell us that he accepted “vegetarian money also”.
We asked him what on earth he meant by that…he just looked at us like the ignorant Mzungus that we must appear to be and said “green money”!
So, good news to all you “vegetarian money” users. They’ll take your money here. : )
The rainy season has come and with it lots of bugs!!! Yuck!
Yesterday Seth (our resident fierce protector) waged war on the bug army that had invaded our deck, and won the day in a brilliant and massive cloud of DOOM. They were still gone this morning so he must have really done a job of it.
So far we haven’t seen any horrific bugs (like cockroaches) though there is one called the “Nairobi Fly” that, if it bites you or gets smashed on you will burn your skin. Pleasant.
There was a whole battalion of those on the deck, but no more.
Thankyou all so much for your prayers and correspondence. I know I say this all the time but you have no idea how much it means to us.
Life here is so different and difficult in ways we have never experience before and knowing we are surrounded in prayer by “such a great cloud of witnesses” makes all the difference.
You inspire us with confidence and comfort us with your prayers so THANKS! We couldn’t do this without you.
~Roadsign of the Week~
Sign seen on a public restroom downtown, “Rehabilitation of Public Toilet”. Hhhmmm. I wonder how they rehabilitate them. Might be a good skill to learn…I can think of quite a few public toilets in the U.S. that could use some rehabilitation. : )
~Food Find~
Ceres’ Fruit Juices. There is no description for how yummy these boxes of 100% fruit juices are. So far we have tried out apricot, peach, apple/pear, passion fruit, mango, white grape, regular grape, kiwi/strawberry, and cranberry/kiwi. YUM, YUM, YUM! Even Seth had to admit that they really are better than Tang…and that’s a big concession for him.
Bread Fruit different huh…
The Equator
Just some of the local wild life
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04.15.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 11:21 am by Hannah
In letters long ago I told you that Seth and I had affectionately named our new abode “the concrete jungle”. Well apparently no one else had the same brain flash and on the naming of our compound (new construction so it hasn’t had a name all this time) some genius decided on “The Space Apartments”.
As in outer-space.
Just so you don’t get the wrong picture of our host culture this was not an example of Kenyan creativity in the least. In fact when they announced it at the compound meeting there was more than a little outrage.
Seth took the opportunity to wonder aloud at the decision when “we are the only aliens on the property”. He said there were a few chuckles but most everyone just looked at him as though he were green and had antennae sticking out of his head. : )
One man suggested that they paint the constellations on the sides of the buildings…he only barely escaped stoning.
So we can now honestly claim to be aliens in space! Some of you may think this fitting, I know.
Last night I had my official “how to make ugali” lesson. I’ll make some for any and all interested parties when we get back. It is probably one of the blandest foods I have ever eaten…but the stew they eat with it!!!! MMMMMmmmmhmmmmm!
Ugali (ooo-golly) is basically maize flour boiled in water till stiff. Kind of like what happens to corn meal mush that has sat a few hours. They then slice it and eat it with a delicious cabbage based stew. I am a convert.
Anything that goes with that stew is worth eating just to get the stew. Seth, Keziah, and Jared have not seen the light as I have and throw disdainful glances from afar whenever I indulge in the wonder of Ugali and its accompanying dishes.
~Roadsign of the Week~
Sign posted in the grocery store on a very large stop sign, “Stop Dudus!” Given our current potty training situation, there are moments when I would completely agree.
The Swahili word for insect is dudu. So the signs are just bug spray advertisements (raid or doom). But Seth and I cannot help but laugh hysterically when we see them. And every one looks at us as though we are freaks, not a terribly new thing as we stick out like sore thumbs here and are generally stared at whenever we go out in public.
~Food Find~
Other than Ugali. : ) Keziah has discovered “YoGo Ices! These handy little treats are kind of like otter-pops (you know that you can get at Wal-Mart) but are fruit juice and milk.
You can also get the pure fruit juice kind. Keziah LOVES them and is an avid fan of the after nap ice-ee tradition. Kenyans, however, are shocked that I would be giving a child so young something so cold!!! In Kenya they are of the firm belief that eating or drinking cold things will give you a cold…especially young children.
I will never forget the shock and dismay on Rahab’s face when she saw me give Jared his frozen chew toy. : )
Yes folks, he is standing…watch out world.
Kez and Rahab making mandazis.
Now if I could just get to it.
I wonder if they really read the suggestions…and what they do with them.
One small section of the city of Nairobi.
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04.07.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 12:39 pm by Hannah
Great Friday.
Yesterday was Good Friday. The entire city of Nairobi shut down, and took the day off. The construction workers who are finishing the building in our compound are here today (Saturday) but on Good Friday not a soul was to be seen working.
Christianity, seems to be so much more a part of the culture here (a bit odd considering that I come from a “Christian country”). I guess, really, you could say all religion is more obvious here. Ramadan apparently is also a national holiday as are the holy days of various other religions. From what I am told, Kenyans love holidays and so have 1-3 national holidays every month.
Its been interesting to observe a society where religion and government/national policy are at times very closely tied, and religion is also a very major, obvious, pillar of that society.
In some ways it is wonderful. I am still happily caught off guard when going into the grocery store on Sunday and shopping to the sounds of praise and worship music.
In other ways it is difficult to accept the harsher sides of culture that are “a part of the religion”. The older Muslim man with his two young wives in tow.
I can’t say that I have drawn any huge conclusions from my observations…still trying to figure out the effects of societal structure here.
But it was interesting/funny/odd/wonderful to have the entire country pause in respect to our Savior’s sacrifice so may years ago.
Pray for us as you celebrate this year. I, especially, am used to family, traditions, big celebration, ect. at Easter time and am feeling the familiar struggle of homesickness as the holiday approaches with out all the familiar trappings.
But at the same time, when all the familiar is stripped away, the real reason we are celebrating takes on a whole new meaning.
Let me wish you all a very Happy Easter! And as you pause to pray over your Easter meal pray that we here, will live out and share the reality and the joy of the Easter season with those around us.
There are many “religions” here clamoring (quite literally) to be heard. Pray that our message will not be a religion but a Person, the Savior, Who longs for all to know His love.
~Roadsign of the Week~
Sign in Nairobi “Children’s Traffic Park”. Yes, believe it or not, there is a park here just for children to hop on their bikes and do what their parents do every day – sit in traffic. Its complete with lanes, round-a-bouts (THE Nairobi way to get anywhere), and stop signs.
I did notice a few missing elements, however. There were no hawkers bartering with the children to sell their wares in the middle of traffic, and the black smoke and exhaust were also not quite as prevalent. : )
~Food Find~
More Indian food… and they think it’s African food
Curry, Chapatti, Samosa, ect…
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