Recovering Well in Nairobi (Feb 3/03)

Brief update - I'm essentially trapped at home so I've been mostly filling my head with African history & Swahili - not much dancing or hiking for me lately!!

The leg is getting better - the updated xray about a week and a half ago shows it's almost healed over. Got a new cast as well - a sportier, updated model, with delightful decorations too! I abandoned the crutches on Friday - I figure since I'm doing my own diagnoses here that I can decide when to get rid of 'em! (yes, Mum, I'm being careful!!) Only 10 days till it's off...!

My myriad group of friends have still been hanging at Ratna almost every night - but I tell ya, I'm getting mighty sick of this place! Can't even go for a walk... :( Bwana Mike took me out again last Sunday for a run through the park (well, the dog ran, we watched!) and of course a tour of more watering holes. I got a cookbook - I've been at a loss without my recipes! I went for a Canadian Living collection :) This week Mike wasn't feeling too well so I got a lift with Space over to the wicked brunch place, then picked up a few odds n ends, etc. Also dyed my hair kinda yellow-ish earlier in the week and went for a haircut, massage, and manicure - all this only set me back around CAD$30!! Exciting, what!

Luckily these Kenyans also bring the party to work - on Friday we had a farewell party for Steve, my now ex-boss (the Canadian) - he's leaving VSF-B to go to FAO (UN). So we had Canadian choma (ie. bbq!). He actually combined Mexican, Canadian, and Kenyan to make steak tacos on chapati with kachumbari instead of salsa! (the thick juicy steaks and lotsa cold beer were the Canadian parts we figure :). So now that he and his wife Gabrielle went to all the trouble of bringing me here, they've both abandoned me - I'm the only Canadian left! Also it looks like I'll be staying at least another 3 months under a paid contract - I'm not quite finished all the IT stuff (since they gave me about 2 years worth of work, no wonder!). I'll send a few shots of the office so you can see the place - how cool is it to have meetings outside under a banana tree!!

I also ventured out on Saturday night (sans crutches) for a small party, a reggae bar, and a once-a-month disco way in the middle of nowhere called the Black Cotton Club. For one reason or another I've always missed it - but I'll definitely be back when I'm healed! These Kenyans sure know how to set up a good club - basically outside in a garden, with candles and thatched roofs, lights blazing and music pumping... the weather here rocks!! Jan/Feb are the warmest months (funny how I get to enjoy it trapped in my apt!) but this also means the water is drying up - we're on rationing right now, probably until the long rains start in March.. Good thing I'm water conscious to begin with - I'm in one of the few apts remaining with shower facilities!! (each one has its own roof-top tank). Power also went off again for most of the day... Aches and pains of the developing world...

Also got a few more cards - thanks to Gerri, Yvonne, and the Blakeys!!! sonJa's mystery photos and valentine's stickers were also very welcome :) I'll investigate the parcels lost within the depths of the posta corruption this week :(

btw, is my Auntie Diana coming to visit??? what about any others??? karibu sana!!!

I'll send photos next (also posted at www.photo.epson.com, view album johanna@istar.ca)... till next time, have a good one... enjoy that snow!!!! hehehe :)

Johanna

 

 

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