Busy, busy…
- fishsharon1
- Jan 5, 2024
- 4 min read
On Saturday David drove me, Maria and Jane the four hour trip to Nakuru county to visit Ivy - the other child we sponsored early on, but whose mother found her when she was around 8 years old. I never tire of that first view of the rift valley along this highway - the green agricultural band where many wells support irrigation, then the stark dip down to the dry valley in the distance. It was unusually windy - mild by NZ standards, but enough to throw dust in our eyes.
It's always fascinating to see all the roadside stalls and how produce gets delivered to them along the main highway. Everyone just makes their way around the donkey carts.
There's plenty of other hazards for drivers too. Wildlife hang out roadside and occasionally decide to cross the highway.
But wildlife have got nothing on vehicles for hazards. Here is an impatient truck driver under-passing with left side wheels off road into gravel.
This next manouver is called "the squeeze". It is perfectly normal to just start passing vehicles for as long as you can before ongoing traffic forces you to "squeeze" your vehicle back into the lane and hope someone lets you in.
And many a load is clearly not tied down.
It was lovely for me and Maria to vist Ivy. For those first four years sponsored Maria and Ivy were inseparable, and they still love to see each other. I really enjoyed a slow wander along their lane after the 4 hour trip there, and before the four hour trip back.
New Year was spent first by the roof top pool then on the rooftop viewing area with plenty of very well behaved tenants. Lastly cake and sparkling grape juice.
New Year's Day we had the best time at ten pin bowling. Jane directed us half an hour across the city to Waterview Mall where we waited an hour to get a lane. Well worth waiting for as far as Maria was concerned - the rookie won and was best pleased!
After 3 days of the four girls staying here with me at the apartment I am very impressed by their character and kindness. Whilst I did the cooking - in the main to reduce the possibility of smoke alarms getting set off - they arranged their own roster for doing the dishes and clean up, offered their assistance at every turn and were great company. They tease and laugh a lot. I did struggle with their "Kenyan time" approach to getting ready and out the door, but I get that this Westerner is a tad goal and time focused. And now if any of them keep up with me while we are walking anywhere they promptly get teased for becoming a Muzungu! So much teasing and laughter!
Yesterday morning the girls made a big effort to be ready by 10.30am to leave the apartment together before the notified practice fire drill at 11am. Good on them. However, I got pulled over by police again and because I only had my NZ license on me I paid a bribe to avoid going down to the station to be booked! I bought that one on myself. I was pleased with my quick thinking to say I use a card mostly so I only had a small amount of cashed on me. This helped me to minimize the damage. The girls noticed that the police were only pulling over Muzungus. And later Charlotte confirmed that her Muzungu contacts here have said that police now target them for bribes. It spooks the shit out of me! So. I turned back to go to the apartment to get my international license. I'd just got down to the car with it when the bloody fire drill kicked off and they wouldn't let me drive out of the compound - sliding grill, solid bollards and two guards at the exit ensured compliance. So we hung out with the other residents until a sweet man came out to his captive audience and gave us a long winded explanation for why they held the fire drill, on a megaphone. The girls easily kicked into Kenyan time and waited patiently. I was not feeling patient. But we did laugh a lot about our morning.
When we got to Charity's home Maria took to her braids with scissors. We all took turns to help with untwisting and discarding the braids, all in preparation for new braids on Friday. Once again I was impressed how the girls just took it upon themselves to assist. They work so well together.
Maria and I have now had our first evening and day on our own. Last night we shared the cooking - Maria made her cabbage, garlic and ginger dish while I prepared some pasta and sauce. She got on with the clean up without any prompting too. She is so responsible and capable.
And today we went to buy some novels - Charlottes gift to her. Maria loves reading passionately. She told me about many of the books on the shelf that she had already read and discussed and shared with classmates.
The rest of the day we have been indoors with me teaching Maria to crochet - she's taken to it very quickly and also embraced the process of learning and undoing and redoing in her stride. I'm enjoying getting to know this fine this young woman.
Tomorrow morning I have to drive to Charity's again where Maria will get her new braids. Wish me luck with the Police. 😳
Only 12 days until I'm home.
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