A Real Human Being...

Jambo sana marafiki! Habari?

We have had unstable power and internet for the past few weeks, making it quite troublesome to update my blog. I hope you have all been well. Here’s a little insight into our lives as of late. A lot of this centers around food so I apologize in advance for making you hungry…

Last Tuesday, we ate at Red Hat for Valentine’s Day. Our dinner was an eclectic buffet of Korean BBQ, soul food, and authentic Kenyan cuisine. Random. Was it gross? No, the whole thing was fabulous! Save for the mangy cat that kept us on our toes (not pictured)…

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We had the privilege of eating dinner with some family friends last night. Henry and Lucy invited us into their home for a wonderful pork and chipote meal. We hung out with their daughters, some of their neighbors, and their baby Rrezza…

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And here’s everyone…

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Henry runs an construction operation down the street called BigSmol. He said that he came up with the name during a time of great need. He asked God to give him either “big” work or “small” work and whatever task came his way, he would complete it. Today, BigSmol builds anything from large warehouses to small schools all over Bungoma. We are hoping to partner them with OAF in the coming days.

The rainy season is approaching and we are bracing for the inclement weather. A few days ago, we bought a gasoline generator as a backup power source. Three liters of super unleaded will generate about eight hours of power, which is just enough for Anna to complete her work each day.

After searching high and low, I was finally able to secure a five liter, gerry-can. I have grasped the phrase “Una penda wapi kwa jaza?” which when loosely translated means “Can I get a refill?” If I’m not looking for petrol, then obviously I’m looking for refill all my empty coke bottles!

Here are some pictures of us eating dinner sans electricity. If we look sweaty in the photos, it’s because it is very hot living near the equator. Also, the darkness shrouded the excessive amount of cayenne pepper that I had poured into the guacamole. Oddly enough, Coco-Cola only makes the burning worse.

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When we have trouble with our internet or need help maintaining our house, our wonderful friend Joseph helps us out. He’s sort of like the “utility man” for OAF. He works here in Bungoma but his wife and baby live and work in Eldoret, which is a couple of hours away. We are very lucky to have his direct support.

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In addition to keeping up on my songwriting and my art, I will also embark on some field visits next week on behalf of OAF. As part of a project to chronicle the lives of local farmers, I will be interviewing them individually with a guide/translator and reporting back to the powers that be. The stories will be posted online for you all to enjoy. I can’t wait to share all of them with you.

I trust that you all had a safe and sober Ash Wednesday. Drive responsibly this Lenten season.

Za nyumbani?!

We are headed into our fourth week here in Bungoma and the stay is beginning to feel much easier. Temperatures are finally cooling down as we prepare to enter the rainy season. The mosquitoes are still bothersome. Whenever we aren’t out-and-about, we watch movies on our laptop under the protective netting over our bed. It may sound silly but believe me, this has made a world of difference, both physically and emotionally. 

We also have a new housemate. His name is Ratatouille and he is a tiny mouse that apparently feels very comfortable around people. I don’t have the heart to kill him. Not yet at least. Although, the lizards will probably get him before I do. Or maybe this thing will…

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Our water has been much more reliable so, your prayers have worked. Here’s a picture of our “water-donkey.”

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This dude works hard and may be the most unappreciated animal in the world. I would take him home with me but, last I checked they don’t allow these kinds of asses on the plane.

Last weekend, we made the 2 hour trek into Kisumu which is the only major town that’s near us. The ride was pretty slick save for a few dirt roads and potholes. Our trip was impeded several times by cows, goats and other farm animals (they seem to take the right of way out here).

We also saw countless men and women carrying stock piles of wood and bushels of sugar cane on their heads or on the back seat of their bicycles. Africa is home to a gorgeous, widespread landscape and the majority of the world’s savannah. It is easy to gawk at the vast, uncharted green hills and for a brief moment, escape the ubiquitous poverty that remains in the peripheral. Many people work very hard for a ridiculously small amount of money. It is so small that it cannot be called a wage. 

The main airport is in Kisumu so the town actually feels more like a small city. It is very busy and hot and more like Nairobi than Bungoma. We stayed at the OAF estate with our Spanish friend Moises and his family. He does country scouting for OAF and commutes several hours away into Tanzania every week. As they expand further into Africa, OAF expects to start up in Tanzania with over 1000 maize farmers which is almost unheard of!

Through a mutual friend back home, we were also able to make some new American friends in Lisa and Eric Kjeldgaard. They work for a Modesto, CA based non-profit called Agape that rehabilitates street-children and reunites them with their families. They are doing a good work in a very difficult place. Plus they have eight children of their own. (!) Here’s a picture from the dining area of the restaurant we ate at called Kabuke Bay. Ritzy!

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Also, here is some footage of us on a Tuk-Tuk running around downtown Kisumu.

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We cooked burgers for the OAF staff last week and they came out pretty good. There is a restaurant here where people can buy “safe” beef and pork from a small freezer. I’m told the butchers around town are sketchy and may serve “beef alternatives.” Not sure what that means but I’ll leave it up to your imagination…

Thanks for your many prayers of support. We are holding up well although we do miss the States considerably. We just got a new wireless router so I should be able to post lots of new pictures and more blogs this weekend. 

I’ll leave you with this incredible song/video by a Brooklyn based band called Lucius. The song is titled “Go Home.”

http://bit.ly/zQWHJV

Hata Sisi Kukutana Tena.

jason