Mt. Longonot adventure

Friends, I have had another great Kenyan adventure. I traveled to Naivasha with another PCV, Paula, for a coupe of long overdue days of hiking.  This is the third time I have attempted to climb Mt. Longonot and the weather was never cooperative.  Even this trip was a bit iffy, but the rain gods smiled on us.  Friday (March 26) Paula traveled to Nguluni and we spent the afternoon walking about my community and greeting my friends.  Saturday was an early morning walk to Tala to catch the matatu to Thika.  Since Paula had not had the "pleasure" of traveling the back roads I wanted her to have that experience.  But darn! the road crews had been out and grated the roads.  So much for a bumpy ride.  We traveled to Thika and on to Lake Naivasha and Fish Eagle Inn, just in time to order a glass of wine and sit under an umbrella poolside before the rains came.  After a few glasses of wine and a so-so hamburger we retired to the dorms for a nights rest.  Got up early and headed towards Mt. Longonot.  It was a bit of challenge to find the road into the gate, but we did.  Had another 2 km walk to the base of the mountain and then the hike began.  Mt. L. is a volcano and it is a walk up the mountain, around the crater and back down.  The dark clouds were forming and I was fearing rain.  Some of the "paths" lead you up a small crevice and if the rains came one would be washed away so needless to say we walked fast.  Once at the top, we still had peaks to scale to get to the summit and some incredible views of the Rift Valley.  Nimechoka kabisa by the time we were done.  And for those who think I walk fast, Paula is even faster.  We did a 7 hour hike in 4.5 hours.  Once more, we dodged the rains and got back to the Inn just in time.

Mt. Longonot

                                                                                   View into Mt. L. Crater

Monday looked like more rain, so we decided to ride the matatu and travel to Nakuru and Nyahururu to see some country.  2 hours later we are taking lunch in Nyahururu and meeting Charles, a retired school teacher and environmentalist.  He drives us to Thompson Falls and shares a bit of local history.  He asks the matatu driver to stop at a certain point on our return trip to see the "best view of the Rift Valley" - and it was.  It had rained lightly all day, so we were glad to be in a matatu and not on the trail.

                                                     Thompson Falls

                                               View of Rift Valley from matatu

Tuesday was a hike into Hell's Gate, a trip down the gorge and back out on the Buffalo Circuit trail.  We were hiking for over 8 hours that day.  Once more, dodged the rain bullets and managed to return to the Inn before it started to rain.  We met 2 young girls from Holland - medical students working in Rwanda and had a great visit with them.

Wednesday was the return trip to Nairobi and home, to wash clothes and pack my bags for another most interesting work-week in Nairobi - my next blog.

I hope all is well with all of you - I know spring must be close and that any snow that falls will not last long.  Life continues to be good here.

Hugs and love to all - Mutanu (Pat)

What I am missing ---

This is not about Pat in Kenya, but what is happening back in America while I am here.  I do miss the 40+ inches of snow you all have had, but not the cold weather.  But the big news is how the Novak family is growing.  Josephine Grace (Josie) was born last Thursday (Feb. 18) weighing in 8.2 and 19" with a fantastic head of hair.

Betsy and David have announced September wedding plans.  Not sure how that will impact my PC situation, but will be there for the wedding for sure.

Life is good - traveled last weekend to the east of Mt. Kenya helping another PCV work with his group project and will have the opportunity for an actual holiday this coming weekend traveling to Mt. Longonot and Hell's Gate.  The weather is a bit tricky, the rains should be over, but they aren't so we shall see.

Anyway - here's the pics of big sister Lucy and Josie and David and Betsy.

Love and hugs to all - spring is coming!

Mutanu

Nimechoka na nimechafu sana - I am tired and dirty

Nimechoka na nimechafu – kabisa!  I am tired and dirty – totally.  I just returned from a 10-day journey to the Coast and I am exhausted.  It was a great trip in so many ways.  I started my journey on Tuesday, working in the PC office trying to get as much information re: GAD (Gender and Development) and Camp GLOW (Girls Leading our World) meeting on Friday.  I have a friend living in Nairobi so I spent the night and left early for Mikindu.  Since I had time to spare, I walked for over an hour from my friend’s house to the staging area in town (Nairobi).  I saw a lot I had whisked by in a matatu.  It took a bit to find the staging (departure) area as there are so many, and so many of the streets have no signs.  I knew it was by the Salvation Army and Tuskys (a grocery store).  Once found, I had an hour wait until it filled and then a 3 hour “bus” ride to Makindu.  Rafiki yangu (my friend) Paula is working there with the Makindu Children’s Center which helps find funding for OVCs (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) and their guardians as well as operate a primary school.  She truly has a job and works 6 days a week.  She is an AARP member of PC and the one I plan on hiking Mt. Longonot with at the end of this month.  I stayed at the Sikh gurdwara (hostel) which was incredible.  We took our afternoon chai and snack there as well.  The cost was merely a donation.  It is truly a sanctuary in the midst of the African desert!

Sihk Temple - Mikindu

Next morning I was up and sitting on a bus to Mombasa.  This was a 6 hour trip.  Fortunately the Mombasa Road is well paved and there was only one stretch of road construction.  Reminded me of home!  Once reaching Mombas I had to alight in town, find a matatu to the ferries, cross over, catch another mat to Mtwombe and my friend Jonathan’s.  The ferry is very controversible – several have sunk and during busy hours there are literally hundreds of folks pushing their way down the ramp to board.  My timing was good so I avoided the “crowd”, but it was still packed.  Felt like I was in a cattle herd and being pushed down the ramp.  Pickpocketing is rampant so I was extra cautious!  Once landing on the other side, it was another 15 minute ride to J’s site with is a NYS (National Youth Service) school where he is an IT person.  His house has 3 bedrooms, huge sitting room, kitchen, indoor toilet and bath!  A palatial estate and he has opened it up for PCVs who want to stay on coast. 

Next morning, another mat ride to the ferry, cross over, and then a 3 hr ride to Mswembenie and Jeff’s site.  He is with a camping group and ecotourism. The campsite is on a plot above the beach on the Indian Ocean.  The treat here was watching Jeff greet and interact with the locals in his community.  He lives in one room of compound/hotel.  Takes most of his meals out and the mama at the hoteli prepares dinner for him every night.  He has an hour ride to get to his posta and beinki.

Pat and Jay - Indian Ocean                                                                         Gede Ruins

On to Sharuimoyo.  We had to leave Jeff’s site by 6 to make sure I was on the early mat. to Ukunda to catch the bus to Mombasa in time to catch the matatu to the next stage!  Even if I was at the stage, we could wait for a period of time for the mat. to fill, or on the other end, it could already be filled and there would be no room for me.   Yikes, did I feel the pressure of what I had no control over.  The travel gods were smiling and all went well.  Five hours later I arrived at PCV Mary site late afternoon and had a 20 -30 min. walk UP hill to her housing.  She is a public health volunteer and often times they are placed in remote areas.  Her house is 2 rooms and a kitchen with sketchy running water.  But she has no stima (electricity) but she has adapted well.  Hopefully they will be able to hook up in the near future as the poles and lines are in place.  Mary is another AARP PCV so we had much to talk about.  Saturday we went to the Gede ruins near Watamu.  Built in 13^th Century and abandoned 400-500 years later.  Traveled to Malindi for lunch, Kalifi for grocery shopping and then back to Shaurimoyo.  After a great meal, a bottle of wine, birthday calls from children it was a full day.  Sunday we went to Timboni beach with Jay, one of Mary’s Kenyan friends, saw another PCV site on the beach (ecotourism again), back home for an early start to Wongoni the following day. 

                                                         Pat, PCV John, John - Taita Hills

Travel to Voi was easy (4 hours) – the 2-hour, 24 mile ride to Wongoni was on the worst road I have ever been on.  I will never again complain about potholes in the US.  How the matatu driver made is beyond me, but I am glad he did!  We kept climbing up, up and view was incredible.  I am now in the Taita Hills.  PCV John works with another ecotourism group.  We walked around his village, truly a village with no stima at all, and saw the 3 hotelis, and small dukas (shops) ,one bar and many traditional African homes. The next day, we hiked for 8-9 hours in the Taita hills with one of his counterparts and Isiah, a friend and guide.  Unfortunately there are no trails and we got “off” trail only once and I was not sure what was going to happen.  It was a bushwacking adventures.  We talked about what they needed to do to make it a successful hikers destination.  My legs still hurt.  Next day, back down the hill (slightly faster), and back to Nairobi.

The adventure gave me an idea of what other PCVs are doing, how they are living and how difficult travel can be for some of them.  Me, I have it easy.  I have water and stima, easy access to food and travel and a paved road to Nairobi.  Everyone is having hiis/her own work and living experience.  This trip put a lot into perspective for me and made me realize how good I have it here.

It also made me realize how hard it will be to share my PCV adventure as so much of it is internal and personal.

I hope this finds you all well and enduring the winter in Nebraska.  Spring is just around the corner!   Love and hugs to all.   Mutanu (aka Pat)  

Maisha mwema - my good life

I just realized it has been well over a month since I have updated my blog - probably because not too much has happened to report on from here.  Christmas was quiet.  Although I had invitations to join people, nothing was definite in natures, so I stayed home and was with my compound family and their extended families.  It was nice.  Mumo and Sam (almost) replaced playing with Lucy and all of the families kept bringing me food.  It was definitely more than I could eat, but in traditional American style, I stuffed myself on pilau, chapiti and mboga (rice, chapati, vegetables.  I had baked 11 cakes to give as gifts.  It was great!  When I usually bake a cake I take a slice for my self and divey up the remainder so they at least get a taste - but to get a whole cake was awesome!  Took me two days and a lot of charcoal to complete the task, but it was so much fun to see their faces it was worth the effort.  I included a cake for my neighborhood children who had never tasted anything like it before.  These are the kids, that the mamas are often gone and there is no baba in sight.  These are the kids taking care of kids and are not in school.  A sad sight.  Fortunately there are many intack families around as well.  Not much different than what one might find in America.

I am planning on traveling to the coast next week for a GAD (Gender and Development) meeting to plan the Camp GLOW which occurs in April.  I am taking extra days to see other PCVs along the way as well as the Eastern part of Kenya.  My PC experience has been limited to my site and Nairobi for the most part so this is an opportunity I cannot miss.  I am somewhat fearful about traveling by myself, catching the right matatu to get from point A to point B, but since I am staying with PCVs every night I at least have a specific destination and place to stay.  I have it planned that I travel only during the day - basically because PC prohibits traveling at night!  It will be a great way to see another part of Kenya as well as seeing what other PCVs are doing and how they are living.  But I know it will be HOT and HUMID there.  How do you back for 10 days in one small back pack?  (Clean underwear and a toothbrush I am thinking).

My attempts to teach quilting continue.  I re-cycled the pieces we assembled last term and had the students repeat what we had done.  We have only 5 students in the program right now so this is a good chance to assemble in a circle, quilt and "talk" as it be.  We actually completed all the squares and have them joined so they can see what the end product should be like.  I am having them do one square by hand and another on the machines.  They are not fond of handwork - takes too long!  I have become friends with a man who owns a fabric shop in Tala and he is most interested in what I am doing.  He teaches during the week, so I am trying to connect with him on the weekends.  As always, who knows what will become of this.

I have not connected with the Environment club at the secondary school for a while, as they have been on break.  Hopefully that will resume in the coming months.  They have planted maize amongst the trees we planted earlier.  The rains have been good so all looks well.

Camp GLOW will take up a lot of my time in the next couple of months.  It is a camp to empower young women in Kenya.  Our leader, Tameisha Henry, is doing a great job of doing all the hard work of connecting with partners and sponsors.  This is our meeting next week - to actually plan the events of the camp.  So if you have any ideas of any activities (however small) for community building, empowerment, blah, blah, blah let me know.

I think this catches you up to date on my life in Kenya.  It is well, not terribly exciting and I continue to wonder about the impact/change I will leave behind.  But I am having a good time in the process.  I have received photos showing the amount of snow on the ground in NE - brrrrr.  It just looks cold and overwhelming.  Stock up on movies, books, food and wine in case you get snowed it.  Then kick back and enjoy the forced r&r.

I hope this finds you all well.   I love hearing from you, so "good job, keep it up - try another day".  I miss you all.

From Nguluni - Mutanu (aka Pat)

Sikukuu njema mwaka mpya mwema.

Holiday greetings from Nguluni to all my friends and family in the States.  I cannot believe this will be my second Christmas celebrated in Africa and that I am on the downhill side of my service to Peace Corps.  It has been an adventure in so many ways and one that I am grateful to have undertaken.  I have learned so much (mostly about me) and only hope to retain my insights when I return home.  My friends in Nguluni have helped fill voids, but there is nothing like being surrounded by family and friends during the holiday season.  I wish you all the best for 2010.

Our follow-up World Aids Day event is OVER and I consider it a success.  I think we reached over 500 members of the community and hopefully tested a large number of them.  We are waiting to find out how many were tested.  I am including only a few of the 100's of pictures taken.  I had 5 PCVs come from their sites to help and it was great having them here for moral support and just to help.  I cannot thank them enough.

2010 will be busy, which is good as it will help the months fly by.  Jan 3-6 I will be busy with the GAD (Gender and Development) auction in Nairobi to raise funds for Camp GLOW.  It will be held at the US Ambassadors house where the swearing in of the new volunteers take place.  The end of January I hope to travel to the coast (Mombasa) for a GAD/Camp GLOW planning meeting and to celebrate my medicare birthday with other PCVs.  February and March will be a long over due trip to Loitokitok to see Mama Hellen (my hostess for our 2 months training) and a trip to Mt. Longonot and the Aberderes with some other AARP members of PC.  I am looking foward to both.  April will be Camp GLOW for a week.  This is a camp for young girls (13-18) to empower them and encourage them in their life choices. I am really looking forward to this.  After that, who knows.

Sandwiched in amongst all of this I will continue to work with KVTC, the nursery school and the environmental club at the secondary school.  I have met some incredible people who give a face to the hope of Kenya.

Most of you know, Rusty (aka Russ these days) and Shannon (Baba and Mama Lucy) are expecting another baby in February.  I am saddened to miss the event, and only hope to make up for lost time when I return.  I was able to skype them last week and it was a treat to see Russ and Shannon and see Lucy in action.   Ohioan cousins, Dick and Linda were in Kenya last week on safari.  Fortunately they had a stay in Nanyuki at the base of Mt. Kenya so I traveled there to see them.  It was a great visit.   Besides, the Lodge was absolutely fantastic and the food was incredible.

I had mid-service medical and dental and all is good.   I am so grateful that I have remained healthy and have had no problems.

Life continues to be good here.  I enjoy every day and try to adjust/overlook those areas that would normally cause me stress.

So here are a few pictures of the WAD event to close with.  I do wish you all a great and happy holiday season.

Ninapenda wote Mutanu      (I love you all, Pat)

                                                                                

How to plant a gunia shamba - 6 easy steps.

In August at a permaculture workshop I learned how to plant a gunia (gunney sack) shamba (garden).  The purpose of this is a means to provide a ready source of food for PWLA (people living with aids).  If planted outside their home they can easily pick sukuma (kale) or spinach without having to walk any distance.  I planted one outside my door, with the help of some neighbor children.  We have taken 3 meals from my shamba - the deal is - my neighbors pick and cook, and give me kidogo (a little).  One more win-win situation in Nguluni!  I recently had the opportunity to share this with the new PCV's at their IST (in-service training) and decided it was time to share with you.  All it really is, is container gardening, Kenyan style.  I will be working with friends from the HCLC (support groups for PLWA) next year and try to plant several out in the interior for people in need.

All continues to go well in Kenya - the rains have subsided a bit which has me worried.  I am told they will continue.  It would disheartening to have a 3 month rainy season last only 3 weeks when the crops are looking so good right now.  Once more our town has failed to pay the water bill, so it is back to hiring someone to go to the well to fetch water for me.

We are moving forward with the follow up World Aids Day community event - a lot a work, but great fun meeting the "hoop-di-doos" of the community.  Hoping it is a major success.

Think of you all often - miss you all, but am so glad I am here.  Happy holidays - and eat some turkey for me.   

Mutanu (Pat)

Step 1 - Collect the stones to put in the bottom of the gunia.  Fill the center "pipe" with stones to help with watering.  The center pipe is removed and only stones remain - this filters the water to the sides.

Step 2 - go to the nearest burn pit to dig the soil.

Step 3: carry to soil to the where the gunia is to be 

planted.  Step 4: (below) plant the seeds in any broken basin, box or whatever!

Step 5: (Right) transplant seedlings to gunia and finally - a GUNIA with sukuma!  YUM.

Children of Nguluni

These are just some of marafiki zangu (my friends) in Nguluni.

Sorry about the placement, Siku moja (1 day) I will figure this out!    Mutanu