Arriving in Kenya

Habari (Hello)

We left Canada last Thursday, spent a few days in London to deal with jet lag, and travelled to Nairobi on Monday of this week. We had spent 5 weeks in Mexico thinking that it would acclimatize us a little and make us prepared for equatorial weather - on landing in Nairobi the captain informed us it was 15 degrees and raining. We left for Kisumu early on Tuesday morning. The airport was very rural and primitive (so was the plane!) Luggage was brought from the plane by hand cart and dropped outside the terminal. No fancy carousels here.

We were met by a representative from ACCES and Jeremiah the taxi driver with his Toyota 4X4. First stop was a large supermarket to buy staples and then a one hour trip north to Kakamega. The trip was interesting as we climbed from the shores of Lake Victoria to a plateau area at a height of about 5 000 feet. There were many small roadside settlements along the way and lots of small "fields" with maize and beans as the commonest crop. There were also larger fields with sugar cane and tea.

The landscape is beautiful but it is marred by the effects of the settlement. They can be colourful but the overwhelming impression is of poverty, untidiness, garbage. Kakamega itself, a town of 300 000, has many dirt roads, large open air markets, streets full of people, and again, an overwhelming sense of poverty.

We are living in a compound of several buildings owned by a wealthy Kenyan. It is surrounded by a high wall and has 24 hour guards at the gate. It is a large area with lots of trees and gardens so we do not feel as though we are in a prison or anything like that. However, we do feel safe.

We have travelled a bit and been in places where we have been part of a minority but this situation beats them all. There are nine white people in Kakamega!! To say that we are noticeable is somewhat of an understatement!! Especially Mo with her fair skin and freckles which are intriguing to children.

Well, this was just to let you know that we have arrived in one piece and settled in. One of the things I brought with me was a computer network switch they had been waiting for and the tech guy was here today to get it all set up. We have the luxury of high speed internet connection in our apartment so I should have no trouble checking and sending e mails. I'll start to experiment with pictures soon so that I can send some images.

Kwaheri!