Greetings from Kenya

Where do I begin, there is so much to share. I landed in Nairobi 2 weeks ago and was greeted by the smiling faces of Kayla, Angela (an Italian volunteer), and Fr. Hubert (a Camillian priest). I spent the next 2 days amidst the hustle and bushel of Nairobi. It was exciting to see this other side of Kenya…very different from quiet Karungu. There were so many people, big buildings, lots of fast moving cars and matatus (a 14 passenger van carrying at least that many), and of course motorbikes. I looked both ways about 3 times before I would cross the street. Some of the highlights included: shopping for kangas at the Maasai market (beautiful printed fabric that is multifunctional – it’s used as a skirt, blanket, towel, baby carrier, you name it), seeing the evolution exhibit at the Kenya National museum, and feeding the giraffe’s at the Giraffe Centre in Karen. Although, feeding the giraffe’s was a bit slimy, I was excited to see my first “big time” animal. The last time I was here (AAA Part I) I was only witness to the cows, chickens, donkeys that freely roam around Karungu. Oh, and don’t let me forget, on the way to Nairobi to see the Ortho surgeon, I saw a dead zebra on the side of the road :(…it was definitely one of those only in Kenya moments!

On Tuesday we met Lauren and Christy and the five of us set out on a little beach holiday to Mombasa. Having been there before, Lauren and Christy led the way, and to reach our final destination, Diani beach, it took an 8 hour bus ride, a little walking, a ferry ride, and 2 matatus. Having lived in Kenya for a year, Lauren and Christy could co-author a travel guide book called the VERY Rough Guide to Kenya but it was an experience I will never forget. Coming from the US just a few days ago, it was like jumping into the deep end of third world life. But I will always be grateful for that experience, especially since it involved one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. There was the finest white sand and the clearest blue water. These next four days weren’t just a chance to have a little fun in the sun but also an opportunity to reconnect with my fellow CMMB volunteers before we took separate paths. Lauren and Christy’s time in Karungu is finished and they headed back to the states while Kayla also returned home for a short while. Angela and I made the journey to Karungu that Sunday.

It was quiet a home coming…there was lots of excitement, jumping around, welcome home signs, and hugs given by the neighborhood children. When I returned to work on Monday, there was the best surprise. I went to the Peds ward and I saw little Silermina Atieno sleeping on her bed. Her mother, Jane, shook my hand and we exchanged a smile. I was amazed as I watched her sleep, it was like looking at a totally different child. The Silermina I knew in October was an 11 month old severely malnourished baby with second and third degree burns on her legs. The burns on her left leg were so bad that her leg was amputated, I can remember that day so vividly. I didn’t think she would survive because the risk of infection was so great. But it turns out, Silermina is a survivor! It is still difficult to imagine her life in the future. Life here is a challenge in itself, let alone with a disability.

I leave you with the slogan of Valentine’s Day, as per Fr. Mario: “I love you more than yesterday and not as much as tomorrow.”