Broken Leg Update (Jan 20/03)

Jambo wananchi!

Quick update - thought I would have one hell of a boring weekend all broken up in my apartment - but luckily everyone came to me! I had planned on staying home on Friday from work - leg elevated, typity type - but instead found myself needing to go to work for some unknown reason!. Then when I got home, everyone was collected at Ratna (i.e. my apt. bldg)... and of course they forced me to party! Space was supposed to pick Anwar from the airport and bring him over - but the plane was late, so they didn't make it. I ended up hanging with Bwana Mike and his stepdaughter Sunday, plus Anwar's brother Amar and his friend Jay (and Ashwin of course - the owner of the restaurant). Amar & Jay are supervising the rangers at Maasai Mara (the game park I had been to last year) and invited me on a trip (once I heal up of course :)... after Amar decided to take a swim, we called it a night.

So Saturday was a bit of a hung day for me - but the party that was supposed to happen on Friday night began early on Saturday afternoon. I recuperated for a while, handwashed my underwear etc. then made my way carefully down the stairs on my crutches.. (btw it's much harder once you've had a few beers!) This is the night the photos are from, for those that will be receiving them.. I'll just have to describe a few of my buddies (for the benefit of the new joiners to the list!)

Ashwin - owner of the restaurant/bar at my apt. - very convenient having a bar just downstairs - especially when you have a broken leg! Ash has also been my substitute dad (no offense, real Dad!!) - he calls me his sweetie and keeps tabs on me.

Anwar - Muslim guy from Dubai, 28, married with 4 kids, and chases after anything with a veil looking for a second wife... He's the crowd clown, always up for a party, generally obnoxious, and always great fun! In the picture he's asking me to marry him (it was the exposed legs - I had shorts on!) - and you can see my reaction :)

Richie & Du - Ashwin's staff (ie. waiters) - always there every day - Kenyans, a bit respectful of mzungus (white ppl) - but lately Du has become my fetcher-of-things. He brings me phone cards, cigarettes, food, and beer - what more could a crippled girl want?? [btw, can you believe I met another guy named Dew???]

Bwana Mike - old crotchety British guy who lives in the next block of apartments - cranky, definitely obnoxious, and always has something shockingly funny to say. In fact, he rather reminds me of Opa - I got along with him immediately, first time I met him (whereas most people hate him!). He pretends to vilify the natives as he proclaims his natural colonial superiority - but he's actually married to a Kenyan (who he dotes on!) (btw, Bwana means mister, usually only said to an older person worthy of respect - so that title is tongue-in-cheek! he prefers kijana - young boy :)

Space - one of my best friends here, his name is telling - he's a bit wacky. But intelligent and philosophical, even with the usual whiskey in his hand! (or mira in his cheek - a potent natural drug grown around Mt. Kenya and taken in the form of a twig - yuck!)

The other plus on Saturday night is that I got to talk to Anthony for a whole 15 minutes! (and it only cost CA$12!) He's back in Lokichoggio - a place I can't venture to until I'm unbroken - so it's been torture thinking of 5 weeks stuck in Nairobi without him... His birthday's on Valentine's Day so I'm planning on being completely healed, cast-free, and in Loki by then.

Sunday was a bit of a change - Bwana Mike offered to take me grocery shopping - so first we ventured into the slums (Dagoretti Corner) to visit his wife's extensive family, then to Uchumi (closest thing to Superstore here - it's great!) where I got the wheelchair treatment, and later we went bar-hopping. Oh, I probably didn't mention that since he's retired he's become a career alcoholic - so he was determined to drive me around Lavington in his Suzuki showing me the cheapest places for beer (75 shillings = CA$1.50 - not bad for a big-ass bottle of beer!). He's also a chain-smoker - just counting the days until he kicks it - but obviously enjoying life. It was great to spend the day with him - a bit more seedy than my own grandfathers, but good company nonetheless! (plus I had a good feed of Kenyan food - beef stew, ugali, sukuma, and kachambari... mmmm!)

So now I'm contemplating wrapping up my damned leg for a shower... what a pain that is! Other than the inconvenience, the leg is fine, no pain or problems at all. But will I ever enjoy running again.. swimming... hell, a decent shower will be just fine!

So have a great week, hope you enjoyed your Monday morning update!

PHOTOS - the email is coming next... PLUS - a bunch of 'em are posted on Epson in case you haven't been on the photo list... http://photo.epson.com - visit album johanna@istar.ca (thanks to Dayna & Ang - I can't even reach the website, so they've taken it on this greatly appreciated duty!!).

PS - still haven't gotten any mail other than those I mentioned last time - check with Canada Post if you've sent a package please!!

PPS - I hear last week's Time had an article on Kenya's politics (everyone's crazy about the new prez Kibaki! go NARC!!) - so if you're interested, pick it up. This is an incredible time to be here - it's a nation on the cusp of every kind of development you can think of - the excitement is palpable!). Oh, and see Out of Africa if you haven't yet - this is almost exactly where I live!!

--juliet victor over and out

 

 

Copyright Johanna Voerman Khisa, 2002-03. Reprinting or reposting without permission is prohibited.