Ndio / Hapana -- Yes / No

I've had such diverse weekends lately!

Two weekends ago, I got up early Saturday morning, got dressed, and headed down to the Kijabe hospital. I had to wear a (long) skirt because it's still unusual to see women in pants. A group of six of us -- myself and five students -- found the kitchen and met Miss Mary. She instructed the two boys to go over and help the men-folk cut up meat, and the girls headed out back. There we sorted maize meal. We had to pull out the stings, bits of leaves, etc. as well as the shriveled pieces of meal. It took quite a long time. We were seated on wooden benches and had to keep our feet up (we soon learned) on the bar below the seat because the men-folk would, at un-forseeable intervals, pour out great vats of water that was once soapy, then dirty, then with bits of animal parts in it.

Before long we finished with the maize... the women there probably could've done it three times as fast as we did, but they appreciated our help. We found out Ethel had been working there for over fifty years! She didn't look a day over 40! Anyway, We then moved on to carrots. Mary handed me a tray piled high with carrots and a grater. "We call dis glay-tah," she said. I almost laughed, but caught myself and nodded instead. She demonstrated how to use it, shaving down a carrot in like... three seconds! I got to work. The other girls were handed trays piled high with carrots and a big knife each. A couple of the knives didn't have handles, so they had to be really careful.

When I was finished grating carrots, I was brought more carrots and handed a knife. A lady named Gladys demonstrated. She made it look so easy! She wanted me to cut each one twice long ways, making a t shape from the top... then cut it into lil slices. Anyway... it was tough! And no cutting board or anything. Anyway, after carrots was potatoes... GOBS and GOBS of potatoes! I'd never seen so many in all my life. Our job was to cut off the bad spots, cut them into chunks, and toss them into the water. At some point, they brought us chai -- the BEST chai I've had! It was delicious. Apparently, it should be cooked over an open fire. They also brought us lunch, but I wish they hadn't. I think they think white people eat a lot. Our plates were piled HIGH! It was all starchy things -- things to fill up your stomach. None of us could eat it all. Anyway, when all was said and done, we had worked sitting on those wooden benches for over four hours... in the sun... at 7200 ft. elevation. I was quite sunburnt. It didn't even occur to me till I got home and saw my tan lines. I had started the day in long sleeves and then pushed them up. So from my hands to my elbows, I was dark DARK brown... and then it stopped. Hahaha! It's faded now, but... anyway. :) Oh well!

Last Saturday I spent in Nairobi, which is probably the most diverse place I've ever been. In the course of an hour, you can, without effort, see someone dressed in a full burka and then someone wearing almost nothing at all. There are Somalis there, Indians, Europeans (all KINDS of Europeans!), Americans on holiday, etc. It's fascinating to people-watch. I saw one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen in my life... she was an African with a long, slender neck and a gorgeous profile! She was having lunch with a middle-aged (or later), heavy-set white man.

I also got a pedicure in Nairobi. All the dust in Kijabe had made my feet rather yucky. I hated the pedicure, though. I kept thinking about the water restrictions we'd been under and what a waste it was to use good, clean water for my feet. I was so glad when it was over... my toes are beuatiful now, but when I got home I couldn't help thinking that my feet looked like they hadnt' been in Africa at all. I suppose that's what I wanted... I don't think I'll do it again.

Now it's mid-term break for RVA, and I'm on the way to Mombasa. I leave in twenty minutes. We'll get to Nairobi and hang out there till 10pm! I dunno what we'll do... people watch, grab dinner... maybe see a movie? I think they have bowling... I guess we'll see. Then we'll catch the night bus and get to Mombasa at 6am tomorrow. There are seven of us going: five girls and two guys. It should be a great time. I hear the beach is BEAUTIFUL and non-crowded. I hope to do a lot of reading.