I walked Jack down the street maybe 20 minutes to a local shop and on my way back I made friends with a few people working at a small stand outside. I bought bananas and fresh eggs and they were really amused that I could converse a little in Swahili. The man heard me say I was from the U.S. and asked me if I know Jose Altidore from the U.S. National Soccer team. He also knew Clint Dempsey. I casually told him I'd met Clint (honest truth). They were such nice people and I know they gave me African prices which really makes me feel respected.
Later after having some juice, my Kenyan brothers and I went to find lunch at a local place where all of our orders were taken wrong. It was nice anyway and we exchanged funny stories about the friend that brought us together and they told me bits of trivia about Mombasa. Then we picked up their sister, showed her my place so she could come visit in the future and then hung out with their children for a few minutes before visiting their mom and aunt. Talk about the whirlwind family tour. I enjoyed every minute. It is such a good feeling to have people looking out for you, people to laugh with, people who listen to you even when it may be hard for them. I feel so blessed.
Tonight I also got a surprise phone call from my little Kenyan sister back in Thika. She's only 11 and called on her own phone to say "hi". It was the sweetest thing. I think somehow the universe is showering me with love after my having survived the whole Jack/neighbor/threat/sleepless night full of stress/debacle.
Now I just need to get myself in gear for the interview that is supposed to happen early next week but I don't know if it will- and I don't really know whether it's an interview or not. Shouldn't be too hard to prepare for then I suppose. Ha!
Oh and the title for this is because it's 12:40a.m. and in the compound next door there is a full blown rager of a party with massive speakers and microphones, DJ etc. It is so loud that when I came home to let Jack out of the balcony, he RAN out with his ears flat against his head and his tail tucked under his legs. Poor little guy stuck out there with all that bass for hours. I'm sure my monster of a neighbor is enjoying the noise even more than me!
Kesho: Shamba visit in Mshomoroni!!! Think I'll bring some seeds and small tools just in case things work out there. I feel like it's Christmas Eve.
3 comments:
Hi Kate, I love blogs yako, ni kali! I missed wewe na mawazo ya ninyi katika chama siku ya kuzaliwa jana usiku wa kwa Mama yako hapa katika nyumba zetu. Bustani ni nzuri kama tumekuwa kazi ngumu kweli kweli kupata nyuma katika sura na inaonekana ni kubwa. Uhakika kama ve alikutana yetu yote nyeupe poofy headed jogoo aitwaye Elvis lakini yeye ni crooner kabisa. Kuendelea kuandika, nadhani mimi kusoma kila mmoja ndani ya masaa ya posting yake!
Sana upendo, Uncle Daudi
Well I checked what my first comment came out as in English and it was pretty far off my original using Google translate. Here is what I actually wrote:
Hi Kate, I love your blogs, they're terrific! I missed you and thought of you throughout the birthday party we had last night for your Mom here at our house. It was perfect that you called! The gardens are beautiful now since we've been working really hard to get them back in shape and they look great. Not sure if you've met our all white poofy headed rooster named Elvis, he is quite the crooner. Please keep writing your blogs, I think I've read every one within hours of your posting it!
Much love, Uncle David
Wow! That comment blew me away! Definitely more Swahili than I know at this point :). Thanks for all of the kind words. Can you take pics of your gardens?? And the boys, too now that I think about it? It would be so fun for me to see. I think I've heard of Elvis but never seen him.
Lots of Love Back at Ya!
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