Engaged Highs, Sleeps Awash

Yes,

I’ve been neglectful to blogging. Je m’excuse. Life has given me no time to sleep, no time to breathe, and lastly no time to write. Life has moved at an unprecedented pace ever since Kai arrived (Coloradian guy from SPAN). We have been having a great time together, but we seemed to consumed each other’s break time.

Since Kai’s arriving, we ran through Nairobi to a number of SPAN sites including most memorable WOFAK (promoting support for women with AIDS). Topped off with a few other quick visits to placements and homestays gave quite the adventure. And Kai’s friend Rie whom he met in India, originally from Japan joined us at this point and then it was the three of us.

Back to Nakuru, with moments to spare, we were back on bus for Uhuru Falls an hour east of home. Gorgeous! It provides the pictures that insight jealousy and cause you to lose friends. But the pollution was just disguisting. Just standing in the mist, you’re choking wondering what death virus has pranced off the cliffs above and is settling into your lungs. Overall, still a great trip. It’s all about the pictures, isn’t it?

In Nakuru, Kai and I worked really steadily to develop an official SPAN package dealing with Human Rights. We have realized that we need to really ensure that none of our partners are violating human rights, and in doing so have spent a few days culminating a package and developing Kenyan contacts with organizations that deal with abuse and neglect of children. It’s been hard stuff to deal with, but we hope in the end we can use this to further support our partners in their efforts to treat all of their clients to the best of their abilities.

Amos and Ruth have now officially announced their engagement, with the traditional ceremony of introductions happening last weekend. THis was a time when Amos wasn’t allowed to say a lick, and others had to defend him as a suitable husband to Ruth’s parents. I had a great time - and as tendency holds - ended up chatting on end with everyone and anyone. Over the past 5 months I’ve gotten to know a number of their family members, so it was fun to see them all together. And the food - delish. Unfortunately I’m just missing the offering of cattle in the rural home of Nyanza at the end of the month.

An a heavier note, one of the children at Morokoshi Nursery where I’ve been teaching died during the holidays. The $10 for medication never made it to him, as Steve and I were unaware, and we received report when school opened again last week. I’ve been able to get a training session into the teachers on dealing with PTSD (a special thanks to Elva, Ashley, and Devon who were all part of getting me this info compiled!).

K ai, Rie, and I are heading back there tomorrow, where we’re going to install solar panels, and just spend a moment out of the city. THe poor apartment they’d been staying in was a boombox magnifier of the noise on the street below. You never slept in past 5. I ended up crashing on their rug a few nights when our work kept us up late - I think the stellar sleep there is a big component of my sleepiness.

This trip is coming near to finishing itself off. A few friends, and a number of kids have offered to kidnap me to resolve that issue, and I must admit my resistance to those statements holds weak. Except that Tim (bro) has his big musical debut a day or two after coming home. Beauty & Beast thumps my iPod often, and I’m pretty excited for it all. I have a strange feeling there may be plethera of smoke machines involved.

As I intravenous my last cups of Kenyan brew and race round to say my farewells and tie up all ends, I’ll end here.

Yako, (yours)

Cam