Kids here are of course like kids anywhere…they play, they smile, they cry, they whine, etc…. But, their daily activities are much like the way it was for kids in rural America during the first part of the 20th century. [Of course, for kids living in Nairobi or one of the other large cities, life is infinitely more 21st century] People like my mom, for instance, grew up on a farm, worked in the fields, walked to school and all around the area near her family home, read by lantern light, etc… Same is true here now in the rural area…you often see a single or groups of very young kids walking by themselves or even a girl about the age of 7 who is carrying a baby in a sling on her back (the baby almost seems too big for her to carry). Many young boys will be seen tending to herds of goats or cows (this usually means they are not attending school). And, teenagers main mode of transportation is bicycle. Of course, small kids are mostly adorable! Some still call out “mazungu” (white foreigner) when they see me but others that now know me call out “tee-cha” or “mwalimu”. Of course I wave and they wave back with big smiles as if I was the funniest thing they have ever seen. A group of girls (about 8-10 years old) know my name and I can hear them at times from way across the field yelling “Rebecca” in unison as they frantically wave. THAT IS VERY COOL! Others (some who are very young) still are a bit afraid to approach me so the cling to the leg of their mother or wave (tentatively) from a distance. All in all, just like kids everywhere, they are curious and sometimes seem to have unlimited energy as they run around and play. Praying the world that awaits them will be worthwhile!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
In Malindi.... print pictures in seconds. How many seconds? 1000, 2000, 3000.... For users with Browsers having JAVA virtual machine, please click here to http://mms.gprs.safaricom.com/smil/YLYXZ4O6OYH6Y981321683666.html For users with browsers with no JAVA virtual machine, see attachements
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Sunday, November 13, 2011
Things I am Looking Forward to in the US of A!
I originally was posting this as "Things I Miss (about home)", but now that I will be home soon, the title has changed...
Things I am Looking Forward to in US
- Dad saying “Beck Beck”
- Mom’s calm and sweetness *and everything*
- Drinking water on demand from the tap
- HOT shower (well, running water in general)
- Cold skim milk with cereal (Product 19, Capn Crunch, Honeycomb, Kashi, …)
- English Breakfast tea with skim milk
- Watching classic movies with a nice cup of hot tea and black licorice to chomp on
- Apple Pie
- Mom’s Pot Pie
- Chatting with my sisters
- Laughing with my family
- Weeklong beach vacation with family
- Jonathan’s live cello music
- Really clean hair!
- Hugs from Laura
- Woody Allen movies
- Virginia Opera
- Dinner with friends in Petersburg
- Planting spring flowers
- Mowing the lawn
- Working out at the gym
- Indoor bathroom!!
- Listening to Car Talk & What Do You Know while driving in car
- Wildflowers in a vase on my table
- Hummingbirds
- American flag flying
- Watching tennis (French Open, Wimbledon, …) and playing tennis
- Ben & Brad’s craziness!
Things I Don’t Miss (am not looking forward to)....
Political Stuff (speeches, squabbles, campaign ads), morning TV shows’ self-indulgent programs, any “reality” TV, overabundance of “stuff” that most people have (while still claiming how “bad off” they are), experts in some type of crazy-sounding job (e.g. pet psychologist…oh sorry, animal companion psychologist), women who complain about finances but continue to purchase more “stuff” ($80 purse, $100 pair of shoes, $50 hairdo, …), impatience of those who can’t wait even 10 minutes in a line without complaining, equating successful life with an educational degree or certain position, …
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