06.16.07
Fat & Happy in Africa
I was complimented in the highest degree the other day…Kenyan high degree that is.
When we stopped in to greet our neighbor, Rosemary said “oh Hannah! You are looking so well, you have put on weight. You are taking care of yourself. That is good!”
I smiled, nodded, and managed to keep a straight face until we reached our apartment before I fell apart laughing.
Thankfully, I am not all that sensitive about my weight but it was still rather shocking to have someone so blatantly, to my face, exclaim on my assumed weight gain. Which would be quite a feat, really, considering the effects of Kenyan food – big sweatshirts just don’t have that slimming effect I guess. : )
As I’ve mentioned before, big is beautiful in Kenya.
When I explained to Rahab (our house-help and friend) why I was laughing she had a hard time comprehending how such a comment could ever be considered offensive.
It was just one more, hilarious, catch-you-off-guard example of how ingrained my own cultural values are, whether I agree with them or not.
Here, weight, is a sign of health and wealth and women will often approvingly comment on the “healthy” look of one another. : )
I told Seth that we must be awfully homely Wazungus (white people). : )
Thankyou all for your kind responses to our request for prayer.
What a comfort to know that you are praying specifically for us and that you want to know what we are facing here.
It makes us feel so much less alone…a struggle when you are new in a foreign land.
Talk about change in perspective, before coming here I was rarely interested in outside news (going on outside of the USA) and now I am often surprised at how much of the world is not covered in American news.
What may be big news here, may not even be a dot on the map of US news…interesting, not sure what to think of that.
Like I said “changing perspectives”.
Reports here have changed and now they are not quite sure what actually happened other than that there was an explosion and it is being investigated by the Anti-terrorism police. They have a few suspects in custody but the two killed in the explosion were innocent.
The amazing thing to me is how casually something like this is treated here - in comparison to America anyway.
Violence and death are just so common that, while it is abhorred by society, it is not really anything new.
A little different from a home where violence and death are always happening some where else.
I guess its just different to be “the somewhere else”.
We know God has us here and that He is ever present with in this place…thank you for standing with us here, in prayer, too.
~Roadsign of the Week~
No joke folks, I really did see this sign posted downtown Nairobi. Unfortunately I didn’t have the camera. “Dead Slow Road Works Ahead”. For all of you who have wondered if those are just mannequins in hard hats out there, well, here you don’t have to wonder. Might as well just get out and walk when you see this sign, cause its going to be awhile before you get anywhere.
~Food Find~
Dairyland Blueberry Swirl Ice Cream. Anyone who has spent any time with Seth and I knows that we are suckers for good ice cream…or maybe I should say we’re just downright junkies. Our quest for good ice cream here has been a serious and long journey. This find was a find indeed and I can not even adequately describe how wondrous this ice cream is. It has the supreme taste of a blueberry muffin but in a creamy, cold, ice cream package. Delicious!
The Saturday morning search for Dad.
I know he’s in there somewhere!
Our Sweet Peas.
Knife sharpening.
All the house girls bring out the kitchen knives to have them shapened by the travaling fundi (workman).
The beautiful skies of Kenya.
Future site of a Kenyan Missions School.