Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
More Village pictures
The party night in the village!Paris France- on our way!
We had a very comfortable first flight on our way home. The flight was not full so Alex and i each had our own row of 3 seats to lay down and sleep for awhile! Alex is still not feeling great- not as bad as the other night but not good. The airport here is very pretty but Delta once again doesn't quite have their shit together so it was hard to find the ticket counter- it only took us in and out of 2 security gates to make a full circle back to a ticket counter that is not marked Delta which is where we needed to get our tickets. But now we are sitting in front of our gate we board in 3 hours!
July 12- Airport!!!!! Yeah!!!!!
We are at the Nairobi Airport waiting for our flight to Paris, France- a five hour layover and then on to Salt Lake City, USA! An hour to pass through customs and catch our flight to San Fran…. We better make it. Robert did tell us there is another flight slightly later out of Salt Lake but I don’t want to wait. Pray that all go well and we make all connections and flights and that our luggage comes with us!!! See you soon.
Sunday morning in Nairobi-
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Back to Nairobi
WE WENT SNORKELING!
July 10, 2009
Mombasa- Sarova Whitesands Hotel
WE WENT SNORKELING! 6 of us went snorkeling this morning for 3 hours. The other people had all snorkeled or dove before but Alex and I never had. It was pretty amazing after I stopped freaking out. I was a little afraid, Alex was too but the guide was having to help me so Alex had to act brave !!!:) After a few minutes of being led around by the hand, okay so it was 15 minutes, okay Alex says it was more like an hour but I let go of the instructor and then just held Alex’s hand, I finally figured out that I could breathe under water and there were no sharks! The waves break about 500 yards off shore because the area between is all reef. It was low tide so we got to walk our on the reef –way out where the waves were breaking and it was like tide pooling on steroids! There were sea spiders (we have pictures for you Shane), and huge hermit crabs and urchins, and crabs, and star fish, little fish, and sea slugs (they inked). Then we went snorkeling again and this time I was very brave and didn’t have to hold anyone’s hand! We saw Dory fish and Nemo fish and Bloat (the puffer fish), and Gill, and Flow and the light up fish!. I think they have real names too but Kai and Hailee will know what we mean because of Finding Nemo! We also saw Lion fish that are poisonous and stingrays and HUGE clams that could bite your foot off! Luckily we didn’t step in one! Then we had lunch and laid by the pool. Then Alex and Pat (who is the second oldest person on the trip-Alex is the second youngest) went on a Camel ride! Yes you heard right folks a Camel ride right here on the beach of the Indian Ocean! They just walk back and forth in front of our hotel! It was a great sight! Well we leave early in the morning around 6:45 to go to the airport to fly back to Nairobi. We have a big day planned for tomorrow- the Maasai Market for shopping and then a final dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant! We all start leaving tomorrow, Sunday and Monday! We probably won’t post anymore until Sunday night at the airport. Love to all- we have had a great time but it is time to come home. We miss everyone so much. Love to you Rob and Hailee and Kai- and Shane. See you soon – so much to tell you about these notes can’t even come close!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Mombasa-Fort Jesus
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
So to catch you all up to date!
June 29th
We left the airport without our luggage and traveled with 3 of our group, a family from southern California, to the Stanley Hotel in Nairobi. What an adventure it was so congested and crowded the street were full of people walking and standing and cars bumper to bumper. Such dust and dirt and poverty that you can’t even explain all around this major city with high rise buildings. It took us about an hour to get to our hotel. We were tired and worried about our luggage and in a hurry. We got to the hotel in time to have a little breakfast, shower, put on our only change of clothes, meet with the whole group and head out for Lake Nakuru. Our group Jay and Pat, Kaye and Paul, Caren, Kameron, and Kent, Charles, Judy, Genieva, Aaron, Larry, Gia, Alex and I. About 3 hours later we arrive in Lake Nakuru greeted by monkeys and Baboons along the way and flamingos and pelican on the lake. The hotel was amazing- little bungalows and an open restaurant. I kept trying to reach people about my luggage but to no avail. I got so upset that night I was ready to go back to Nairobi the next morning to find out what was going on with our luggage- I had a bit of a crying melt down – got better and went to bed. Fell asleep to the sounds of the jungle!
June 30
Woke up to great news they had found out luggage and would forward it on to Kisumu which is where we were headed. A few hours later – the bad news- not our bags!!!!!!! The search continues. Went on our first game drive. Oh my flamingos for days and days thousands of them and rhino’s -black and white ones, Water buffalo, gazelles, zebras, antelope. It was an amazing time. The people we are with are great- many of them are educators or psychologists. Back on the road -on to Kisumu. Beautiful green landscapes not what I envisioned in Kenya. Everywhere women and children carrying water!!!!! Water, water, water what a scarce commodity. Dirty water- the only water they have carted for miles on their head or in donkey carts or on broken down bikes. Children carrying water containers that weigh ½ their weight. In Kerichico on our way Tea plantations for miles and miles people picking it by hand. Much better conditions for the people who work around here it seems. Arrive at the Sunset hotel- nice in its day but not so nice now but a beautiful view out our window of Lake Victoria- stretching for miles bordering 3 countries- massive. Luggage you ask? Not yet!!!! A trip to the Kisumu airport (if you can call it that) leaves us empty handed. Calls and texts back and forth to Nairobi airport- false alarms and calls to Rob to please call and see what he can do.
July 1
We leave for the village today- I’m freaking out still no luggage. Alex and I have 2 outfits (one of them sweats not exactly Kenya weather friendly). Although the weather is not as hot as I expected. I hear it has been very hot in sacto. Alex is amazing –never complaining supporting me as I freak out- what an amazing young woman. How many 19 year old girls can be 5 days without clothes or her other things and not be complaining. Her heart is already in the village that we are heading for and she’s not distracted by her lack of things! School Book buying and grocery buying in Kisumu. Talk about Americans making a scene- 12 shopping carts full of groceries in a store the size of a small rite aid in SanFrancisco- jam packed with people. The grocery store is in a 3 story building tucked in a corner- not like our grocery stores with wide aisles and check out lanes- you can bring your cart to the register but then it cant go through the lane so everyone unloads their things and then push the cart back through the line to the middle of the area behind the lines. People are staring and talking – we explain a bit to a few people who ask what we’re doing and then pack all our stuff in the van!!!!!! (Alex and I get socks and underwear- thank the lord no more washing out our undies in the sink!) Exhausted but still more to do- meet the group who are shopping with the headmaster and 2 teachers who have come from the village! $800 dollars worth of books- the teachers are smiling from ear to ear. Charles takes Alex and I shopping for clothes- we make Gia come with us for girl support. We only find one pair of pants and a pair of tennis shoes for Alex. Not wanting to get the “Muzungo” price from street vendors one of the teachers- Josephine goes with Alex and I to bargain for more clothes. We leave with a skirt, 3 shirts, 3 sarongs. 11 of us pile into the van with our books and new clothes to meet the others for lunch and then off to the village. Talking with the teachers- so amazing work so hard- school starts at 7am and can sometimes go till 6 at night then on Saturday too for prep-(kids who are trying to get on to high school)- more on all of this later- how many will ever get the chance to actually go to high school- it cost- parents can’t afford it- if they even still have parents……
We drive for about an hour and a half from Kisumu to the village only the last few miles are bad- rough dirt road crowded with people walking animals grazing. More people carrying water- always carrying water. We are hot and dusty and tired but excited not knowing what to expect. Nothing we could have imagined would have come close!!!!
The greeting- we get to the village hours late as we approach the turn onto the road that runs through the village we see them probably 20 women all dressed up singing as soon as they see us, then the children hundreds of them singing and marching and dancing toward us we wait for all our vans to get there and we get out and walk toward them as soon as we meet there are hugs and hand shakes and Karibu, Karibu (welcome, welcome) we are enveloped in this mass moving sea of bodies all there to welcome us like we’re royalty. The children have been waiting since 11 its now after 4pm. We stop at Mrs. Odipos and uncle Yona’s house to drop off our luggage. We are again greeted by many people all hugging us and welcoming us. The cooks are there and relatives galore and friends. We hurry and look around and then walk down to the school as we approach we hear a cow bell ringing- signaling our arrival. And then the children are all there in row after row singing a song they have been practicing for us “Welcome, welcome our visitors” they sing and escort us into the school yard. People are everywhere children their parents other village elders. We are escorted to the library – a beautiful building with an office for the head master and a staff room so they don’t have to meet out under the tree anymore. They have decorated a bulletin board with all our names. We are all so overwhelmed words can’t even begin to describe what it felt like – we are esteemed guests, people these beautiful smiling children would wait hours to see and shake hands with. We sign a guest book and talk with the children. Kameron takes a bunch of kids out to play soccer – they ask for a few about 30 go! Its getting late- after 7 the teachers call all the children together and they have their prayer and closing she tells them its been a big day but its late and time to go. They sing again. But no one leaves- they shake our hands and say goodbye but no one leaves. After a half hour or so the teacher calls all the children together again and tells them to leave again it’s getting dark and the children may have to walk 1-2 miles to get home. They finally go –reluctantly. We are exhausted but there’s still more to come dinner with the teachers and many family members –every other person that walks in is uncle or aunt or cousin. The cooks prepare a huge meal. All made without electricity or even an indoor kitchen! The kitchen is outside behind the house in a tent they just put up. Dishes for 100 by hand every meal. The food is fresh- as in just killed and plucked—oh my goodness!!!! And I’m no city girl but really it takes some getting used to. We finally settle in, hang our mosquito nets and snuggle in- a visit to the outside squat-a-potty confirms that you are indeed in a village in the middle of Kenya. In all honesty our accommodations have been recently upgraded with solar and a toilet placed on top of the squat- hole and somewhat clean (as in not muddy) water brought in, showers could be taken by getting two buckets one with hot water and one with cold mixed together and splashed on yourself in a small concrete room with a hole in the ground at the back of the house- no shower for me today. I really should have started dread locks because only one day in and it could be well on my way!!!!!! Sleep…….
July 2
Next day – same as the last OVERWHELMING!!!!!! Breakfast – a feast- foods I can’t even pronounce and in quantities you can’t imagine. There are 16 of us but at each meal not only the teachers but 20-30 from the village all show up as well. The people working to support this endeavor – I don’t think they ever sleep –just cook, and clean and then cook again and all with grace and kindness. I can’t explain the warmth I feel here. Like I’ve known these people all my life –they just embrace you and draw you in and are open –willing to share whatever they have. To the school- again singing and marching and dancing and warm welcomes. We open the library and start organizing and cataloging books and Alex and Pat start painting the one bookshelf they have made. After spending a couple of hours in the library we go out to do some activities with the kids. Kaye brought medals for all of the kids to have after participating in the games and they loved them-most of them wore their medals for the rest of the week. Some of the activities were relays, Frisbee, hacky sack, and balloons. The balloons and hacky sacks were a big hit and the kids wanted to keep them but since there wasn’t enough for everyone the teachers had to wrestle them away from the kids. We went back to the house for lunch-another huge feast. After lunch the kids had prepared performances for us and the parents and community to watch. You could tell they had put a lot of work into their presentations and were so excited to perform for us. Everyone from the little preschoolers to the old men and women of the village had something to perform and we were there until around 7. All of the kids were so dramatic in their performances and what they said was so meaningful and from the heart. Many of them talked about wanting better home lives and their rights as children-rights to go to school and better themselves through education-and you could tell they really meant what they were saying. More than one of them shared their dreams of what they want to be when they grow up and how going to high school and university was going to help them do that. The hard part is hearing them say that and knowing that the reality is that most of them wont go to secondary school (high school) because they wont be able to afford the $150 a month it would take to send them. (more on the kids later….) During this time we also presented the teachers with watches and they gave us sarongs for the women and hats for the men. After the performances we went back for dinner and a party tent had been set up in the front yard-complete with band and hired dancers. Boy can the Kenyans dance! Each song this band played lasted at least an hour and once you were on the dance floor you didn’t leave. Many of our group joined in (except for Judy who refused to dance!!!! Big chicken!). Larry and Aaron were cuttin’ a rug all night long! They were pretty funny to watch doin’ the Muzungo (white person) dance. The band kept playing and the uncles kept providing them with the local moonshine. And the hired dancers were something else! There are no words to explain them so pictures to come will tell the story. 6 of our group (Larry, Aaron, Charles, Judy, Carole, and Alex) partied late into the night and they finally had to tell the band and people from the village to go home because apparently these shindigs usually last until morning!!
July 3rd
Got up- ate breakfast- meet some kids and some teachers at the school so they could take us and show us where they get water. They gave us some buckets and jugs so that we could carry them back. We got to this pond/water hole where the kids get the water from and couldn’t believe it. The water was a brown color and this pond is where the people bathe, bring their animals to drink, and get their drinking and cooking water from. It is completely disgusting. The teachers told us that if we tried to drink it we would most likely get very sick and if we bathed in it we would probably get rashes all over our bodies but since this is the nearest water the people there have their bodies have become accustomed to it. We walked back, Alex carried a half full 5 gallon bucket on her head and made it about ¾ of the way back to the school before she had to stop. It is very hard to carry that much weight on your head! Karen took over for Alex for a little bit but didn’t make it too far, its hard on your shoulders and neck and definitely takes some muscle. Most of the kids go to the water hole in the morning and bring it back home to make breakfast before school. They sometimes stop and get more to take to school, if its on their way, and then again get water to take home after school for their families. The next best thing for water is for the kids to walk all the way to Lake Victoria which is about 2 KM away? On foot they said its about a 2 hour round trip, but remember that means they have to carry all the water they get from the lake home and it is heavy. What these people have to do to get water- and water that is dirty and gross no less- is unimaginable. You really cant put into words the preoccupation with water that is everywhere. I cant turn on a faucet right now without being happy or flush a toilet. It’s like those things are such an immense luxury! That was an eye opening way to start the morning. After we got back to the school we used that water we had bought back and planted 2 new trees.
After lunch we went on a walk to see where some of the children who are orphaned live. The first house we went to was a home where a boy named Kevin used to live with his family. He is in level 5 and was the top student in his class- he is an orphan and both his parents died within 3 years of one another. He, and his younger sibiling, now live with his grandfather while his older brother lives farther away with an uncle. The next house we went to was where a grandmother has taken in 3 of her grandchildren due to the death of her son and his wife. The house they live in is no bigger than 12x15 and has a tin roof with holes all through it. The grandmother is a very old woman and has already raised 5 kids of her own and is now trying again to raise little ones, the two that were home when we visited were probably around 6 and 10 years old. According to the principal about ½ of the 350 children that attend the school are orphaned. Of this woman’s 5 children 2 sons and their wives have died and another is there with her bedridden with illness. Each of her sons left 5 children –she has 3, 5 went to other aunts, and 2 she doesn’t know where they are? After lunch we went to Lake Victoria stopping by the Headmasters house where we were all asked to come in and sit in the living room , introduced to his mother and served sodas. Everywhere we went people would ask us to sit and serve us soda and snacks (a big expense on their part) but a sign of respect for us. It made me feel guilty and I would try to decline the soda and offer to share with Alex but they would have none of it- you would have a soda or they would be offended. Later we went on a drive to Usange, a town right on Lake Victoria. We drove around the coast of the lake for a little bit, stopping every once in a while to get out and take a look around. Then it was back home for dinner. After dinner we all gathered together and Kaye gave Mrs. Odipo some gifts that Ben had sent for her. Mrs Odipo then gave all of us small carvings, we got ones of elephants that are said to have magical tusks. Then it was once more to the school to meet the level 8 kids for prep (a study hall time). This was the first time the students were able to do a night prep time because we had brought bogo lights for them to be able to hang in the library to use for light. They were excited to be there and excited to see us once more. We gave all of the students glow stick bracelets and they loved them. Charles asked Alex to give a little speech to the students and just encourage them to stay in school-get to secondary school and university and just give them some motivation so she did that. Carole showed them a slideshow she put together of some of the pictures that we had taken since we’d been there and they LOVED seeing that. Then we took some pictures, sung a song and said goodnight. Back home to sleep and prepare for our last day in Yimbo.
July 4th
Got up- ate breakfast and had a meeting in which we thanked everyone that had worked around the houses for everything they had done- the cooking and cleaning etc. it took a lot of work to house and feed all of us visitors! The headmaster had insisted that we come back to the school once more for a “proper goodbye”. It’s Saturday!!!! But yes kids were there and not just the upper levels even the little ones have come to say goodbye again. They gather together in a big circle and after they sing to us a couple more songs we all walk around the circle shaking hands and saying goodbye. We head out to a local church for a community townhall meeting --- the children give us a marching singing escort. We arrive in style! The pastor tells the children they can stay and they are so excited they stay and sit so quietly but with eager attention on their faces while a bunch of grownups talk! What child in America would do that? Not many, it is so different from our own experiences. One of the village men reads a prepared list of projects the community would like to work on they include continued work on the library/community center, water, and health center. Jay then moderates the meeting starting off with telling everyone how excited we are to be there and happy the library has turned out so well he reminds everybody that we are only partners in any project and that the projects must start with them. They all agree. There is a lot of discussion about water and what the best way to get it is –during the discussion it is clear that there is limited knowledge of what might be the best way to address the issue of clean water but it is evident that this is a MAJOR priority. How could it not be it affects EVERYTHING!!!!! You just can’t even imagine. We walk to the primitive health center on our way back. Judy and I (carole) end up talking to a health center committee from the village about what it would take to make this center functioning and more complete. (Half the children in the school are orphans their parents died of “natural causes” 1 after the other????? Maybe not so natural a cause yet the nearest clinic with HIV testing or treatment is many miles away making it inaccessible to these people) It becomes clear that there is a good beginning already here- a couple women who have some medical training who are willing to get more and a desire to provide for the welfare of the village. Judy gets the woman all jazzed up about creating a women’s cooperative to provide health care and a market- maybe the men listening weren’t so jazzed but the women were! Go Judy! For what a doctor in the US would spend for a round of golf these people could have decent health care- at least HIV testing and treatment. Saying goodbye- leaving the village- bittersweet- a shower awaits back in Kisumu but these people are so genuine and warm you find yourself wanting to stay. One little girl about 2 years old that lives at Mrs Odipo’s house is very very glad all the whites are leaving- if any of us dared to look her direction she screamed and cried and her brother would have to hide her and carry her around! Maybe next year we’ll be okay to her!
The children ----
The school is made up of around 360 students in levels 1-8 (about 6years old to 14 or 15) they also have a preschool program for kids 4-5 years old. All of the children are above respectful shaking your hand, saying thank you, if a desk needs moved they jump right up. Smiling always smiling (what do they have to smile about many would wonder) their life is so hard and yet they are so appreciative of small small things. They are all so beautiful. They all wear a school uniform but many are to poor to repair theirs or get new ones so many many are just skeletons of shirts with rips and tears all over them. The seamstress in the village said it would cost about $1 for the material to make a shirt!!!! Anyone got $50? You can make a lot of kids very happy and proud with a new shirt!!! Really I’m not kidding we could make such a difference with so little. Back to the kids – half are orphans, both mother and father gone living with relatives who cant afford to take care of themselves let alone extras. The kids work so hard doing chores – and I don’t mean chores like vacuuming or picking up their toys- I mean hard work tending the animals, milking cows collecting eggs, collecting water, making meals, going to school sometimes 10 hours a day, studying- it’s exhausting to even think of how far these children walk in a day let a lone all the other things they have to do! They consider it a privilege to go to school something they have to fight for at times since as they get older many are told they should leave school to go fish or become a house servant. One level 8 girl already has a baby- the teachers convinced her to stay in school even though she was embarrassed when she started to show. She is lucky her mom is watching the baby for her so she can finish school! Secondary school costs money –not a lot by American standards but way too much by village standards!!! What about their health if both parents died there is a good chance some of the children are also sick – the government provides medicine but these children aren’t tested and don’t have access to the medication- they have such big dreams and high hopes and expectations and yet the reality……. You cant spend even a minute with these children and not be challenged to continue to support projects that will assist them in realizing even some of their dreams.
So much more to say about the children and the village but hard to process all the thoughts in my head.
The adventure continues after leaving the village we make a short detour (although no detour really feels short on these back roads) to Grandma Obama’s homestead!!!!!~!! Yes it is the Fourth of July and we are at the President of the United States Grandmother’s house! Now guards and a fence surround her home but visitors are still welcome after signing in (I think that’s so we can get on the White House invite list) we go and sit under a tree and talk with a woman who turns out to be Barack Obama’s Auntie, Marsat! Yes way! We get to see his father and grandfathers graves. Grandma is not here today unfortunately- she is away at another village. What down to earth people this woman sat with us for a long bit before someone asked if she had ever met the president and she said oh sure I’m his aunt- until that we all thought she worked there or something! Back on the road to Kisumu. After we get in, have lunch and drop everyone off at the hotel Alex and I head out to the store- buy a phone and some water and such and then to the airport!!!!!! Yes indeed they have found one of our suitcases and had it sent to the airport in Kisumu- we don’t know which one and we’re hoping its not the one with books- at this point we are on 8 days since we’ve been gone and none of our things!!! We are pretty amazing if I do say so myself- only kidding people in our group were so helpful lending us phones to check in with the airport, clothes to sleep in, mosquito repellant and sunscreen, power adapters and emotional support- no one ever told us (to our face anyways) that we smelled or looked awful! The airport- 1 bag- yeah, yeah yeah it’s clothes- my suitcase has arrived (sorry Alex) we can share--- we do a little dance in the airport lobby the workers laugh at us, our driver laughs at us !!!!!!! Glory, glory clothes and stuff!!!! Now a hot shower!!!!!!!!! Life cant get much better. I talk to my mom too now that we have our own phone. Nothing like lost baggage and no way to communicate with the outside world to humble you and make you accept that you cant do everything yourself.
July 5-8 --Maasai Mara.
A long dirty drive over a lot of bumpy roads 6 hours to get there but a beautiful oasis when we arrive. We get to Maasai Mara and arrive at our Hotel the Mara Sarova in time for a bite of lunch- buffet style with tons of options every day- 3 times a day and then on to a game drive!!!!! It becomes apparent as the days go by who has been here and who just arrived- if you’re a game drive virgin you still stop and take pictures of Zebras and gazelles or water buffalos!!!! The more seasoned game drive tourist only stops for lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes or other rare animals!!!!! By day 3 you just pass right by Elephants like it’s the most natural thing in the world to see an elephant walking by!!!!!! Our room is a kind of tent complete with a bathroom shower and sink and flushing toilets- yes we are still impressed with running water and indoor plumbing! The view out our window is of jungle and a little pond with lillypads on it the sounds are wonderful- birds and monkeys- I particularly like one of the birds and try often to imitate its sound – I think I do pretty good Alex says I don’t!! This is a nice break after all the emotion and chaos and work the last week. I get to talk to Rob and the girls on Monday after they got home form camping- I was so happy to not be talking about luggage! I miss you all so much it made me feel good the rest of the day having talked to you. I wish you were here with us!! I love you. Alex talked to Shane – they got their duplex – she is very happy and runs into dinner telling everyone! Now she’s planning the decorations- safari room! Hopefully not the picture of the mating Lions- I think that one she thinks Sierra will appreciate! We go on game drives in the morning and afternoon and in between we sit by the pool and read or walk around and check things out the pace is definitely slower. The animals are so amazing right up close we see lions and cheetahs we even get to see lion cubs and one instance of full on lion mating- yes we even have pictures!!! Not many can say that. Some would probably not care to have that picture but hey! It was such a different experience than I’ve ever had being that close to animals in their natural habitat- one person made the comment “this is way better than the Zoo”- amen! Alex and I perfected the zipping of the tent so that no space could be seen – thereby reducing the number of potential mosquitoes and bugs that could join us in our tent- we did pretty well since we slept well without and buzzing around us!!!! I did notice here more than anywhere we had been before people were a little rushed and pushy and people were smoking- ahh Americans and British- that explains it!
July 8, 2009
On the road again- just cant wait to be off the road again!!! So dusty and long -5 hours this time back to Nairobi for our flight to Mombassa –the last leg of our journey. Supposedly our other 2 bags have been found on Monday and our travel guide owner has picked them up for us at the airport so they will be waiting for us!!!! I’m still not convinced they’re ours until I see them for myself….. more to follow. At the airport in Nairobi now waiting for our flight. We picked up our other 2 suitcases and had to put them back on a plane to Mombassa, hopefully they make it! We left the one suitcase with all of the books and supplies with Charles’s brother, Dennis, who lives in Nairobi so he or their mom, Joyce, will be able to take the stuff to the village.
July 8th-pm
We're here in Mombasa at the whitesands which is on the North Beach outside of Mombasa- which is actually an Island. The hotel is very cool- well actually its a bit muggy -but you know what i mean. It is a bit difficult to drive through poverty ridden streets once again and then walk into a little oasis of luxury. It seems a little disjointed to be staying in such rich hotels while on a humanitarian trip. But it is all very nice and our room is right on the ocean we can literally walk off our patio go 50 feet and be at the edge of the Indian Ocean! It is very beautiful- tropical breezes blowing through the whole hotel as it is mostly open. Tomorrow we will go in to the town of Mombasa to Fort Jesus and do some shopping too. We will probably go on a glass bottom boat ride and maybe try snorkeling or jet skiing- we'll keep you posted now that we have wireless!!!! Love to all we miss you so much we have so much to tell you all.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
We're Here!!!!!!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
San Francisco Airport
Well here we are in the airport in SanFrancisco! It's 5am and we've been here since 4:15! Everything was very smooth. Last night we had a nice send off with our family and friends and then drove to San fran. We didn't get much sleep maybe 2 hours since we decided to highlight our hair-- not a good plan- oh well it will grow out. Hope we can sleep on the plane!!! More later - next stop JFK. Love you all.