Anne and I play dumb games with each other all the time.   Take little bets, try to predict things, or guess things in advance just to entertain ourselves.  Since coming here we’ve taken to guessing what causes traffic jams, that we get stuck in pretty much whenever we go out.  Goes like this:  after about ten minutes sitting there sucking exhaust, one of us will say why we think this traffic jam started, we make official predictions, then wait to see who’s right.  No prize, no glory, just a silly way to pass the time.  What we’ve found here is  that we’re usually both (or all three since Megan is with us a lot of the time) wrong.  We’ve seen so many ridiculous traffic situations that we never could have imagined in advance because things like this just don’t happen at home.  More often than not we’re surprised by some amusing, or totally random thing as the  cause of an hour or two backup. 

Here’s some examples: huge truck stopped in the middle of the road (pretty common), police check, police directing traffic (usually against the traffic light and seeming to make things even worse (apparently some police take bribes from hawkers to slow traffic so they can sell more junk)),  human drawn cart in the middle of the freeway, new random speed bumps in the FREEWAY,   unbelievably deep potholes that have appeared overnight, flipped matatu or bus (with huge crowd of gawkers),  dead cows all over the road, dead guy in the road, freeway collapsed with a bus standing on end nose down in the hole, crazy road construction with no flagers or warnings about road changes or big machinery, big pile of lumber, cars driving the wrong direction down our side of the road to avoid something on their side of the road, or nothing…no identifiable cause. 

Yesterday we saw the funniest one yet, we wished we had the camera. 

There is a really famous beer here by the name of Tusker Beer  http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/822/2563.  There are huge billboards proclaiming, “Get back to your roots!  Try a Tusker”.

Anyhow, this was the cause of the traffic jam.  First we saw the huge police flatbed truck with about a dozen police arriving on scene….no overturned truck in sight.  But then we saw people walking off with huge bags of bottles….and then we saw them. 

Overjoyed Kenyan men drinking ”recovered” Tusker beer in the middle of the day.

You would have thought it was Christmas.  One man had the most ridiculously happy smile on his face, waving to traffic with one hand, while gripping his Tusker in the other.  Another man must have arrived early on the scene because his goofy grin and sideways walk indicated that he was already sufficiently drunk.  Others walking off with half broken, half-filled bottles of beer, but beer non-the-less!

People were RUNNING down the side of the freeway hoping to get a bottle of Tusker…some kilometers away and sadly too late to grab their bottle.  Others were running the other direction as fast as they could with their booty….I’m sure in hopes of making off with it to the local market to sell, or to call their friends for an impromptu party.

It’s not every day most of these people get to enjoy a Tusker.  And now that I think about it, the police weren’t really doing anything in the back of that covered truck.  Perhaps they too were enjoying a Tusker.

I don’t think I’ve ever really felt it, until now.

This arrived at our house this week as a total surprise:

Our new "old" washer

It belonged to another ex-pat  who went back to the States in June and I had almost given up on the fact that it might arrive.

This is what it looks like inside, not your typical American clothes washer:

Washing tub on the left, spinning tub on the right

Whoops, the picture didn’t rotate, but you get the idea.

Now, laundry can take the usual 30 minutes per load to wash (including manual draining and refilling for rinses) and spin instead of the usual 7 hours or so it takes dear sweet Esther twice per week.  She is thrilled with the washer (as are we all) and now there is time for her to help me with other things around the house, like the constant job of keeping all of this Kenyan red dirt off of everything!

I love soup.  That is one of my favorite things about fall in the northwest…cooking warm or spicy foods to warm you up after being out in the wind and rain of Portland.

It’s never really like that here in Kenya.  It pretty much feels like summer year-round, so now, even though it is strange, we eat soup in the summer.  I can’t give up soup!

I’m gonna try the Ginger-scented Apple-squash soup recipe that my friend cooked up and raved about on her blog.  If I could find the ingredients here, I’d also be making this, which I think is a favorite of my friend Erin.

 pre=”">THAI CHICKEN COCONUT SOAP (TOM KHA GAI)  from Sunset Magazine 2008

I’ve never been real keen on the idea of Halloween….except that I love the whole costume and candy part.

Around the first part of October, we received an email from the Embassy warden, who is basically an American in our area of Kenya assigned to keep other ex-pat Americans up-to-speed on security announcements and other general information.

This was a different kind of announcement though!  A flyer about a community picnic/trick-or-treat party put on by the American Chamber of Commerce.  I have been excited about the prospect of a costume party since hearing about it.

We got the kids all costumed up, Eli a lady bug and Lucy a fairy.  Not bad for Africa:

The trick-or-treating ended up being kind of a trick because there really wasn't much candy

Her face paint started out pretty....

Squintville

Working the beard...on the International School Campus in Nairobi

Finishing the day with driving the 4-wheeler at the mall

That was the subject line of the email we received from Ian’s mom yesterday.

Seems like they think Ian was doing 50mph in a 35mph zone in downtown Beaverton last week.

Funny, though not really since I SOLD that car to an insurance fellow about a YEAR ago!!

It was a photo radar zone, so it was a nice ticket of around $190 (I think that’s right), with a picture of “Ian”.  Unfortunately, it really kind of looks like Ian.

Since the courts really don’t believe that Ian is not in Portland charging through downtown Beaverton in the mid morning in our old Hyundai Elantra we get to send:

A copy of his Oregon drivers license (I sent the Kenyan one too so they can see his HUGE beard, which honestly, that is unmistakable!)

A letter from our boss saying that we really were in Kenya in October

The bill of sale from the car sale last year (I’m kindly including the name AND business card of the man who bought the car and NEVER bothered to register  it in his OWN name).

Hmmph.  See what happens when you are sure you’ve left the country with every detail taken care of??  Honestly though, the email made me laugh and was a highlight of my day.

That’s the phrase a Kenyan will say to us if they haven’t seen us in a while.  It’s kind of cute.  I usually hear it from Godfrey, the guard at the gate to the Del Monte plantation that surrounds Eli’s school if I’ve been using a different road to get to the school and haven’t passed his way in a while.

I’ve been lost from this blog that became a blahg of the last few weeks….sorry for that.

Generally I kind find lots of fun or interesting or just plain unique factoids about living in Kenya to write about, even if our work here might be frustrating, or crazy, or just plain busy.  We try not to focus on the difficult things about the work here.

Last week though, a fundamental misunderstanding in the treatment of children, particularly involving one of mine, rocked my world.  It was one of the first times when I truly thought, “What in the world am I doing here?  And what in the world are these people thinking?”  I felt like crying for days.   I was an upset mommy bear who then became a down in the dumps momma bear.  It is difficult to come to terms with beliefs and behaviors that are fundamentally contrary to your way of being and interacting, especially when they affect your kid…..and you seem to be in the minority of belief.

So, I guess the cat is out of the bag.  Everything is not always roses and sugar over in Kenya, but I guess you all knew that already huh?  We have days where our resolve to be here is tested and when we wonder if we are making a difference at all….and then days when we know for sure that God has placed us here for a very definite purpose.  Thank you to each and every one of you that continue to encourage us in different ways, be it prayer, or emails, or letters or packages.  We need and appreciate them all.

Anyhow, here are recent pictures of my dear (not always sweet, but generally) Eli and Lucy:

Our version of a swimming pool

Ok, he looks goofy, but the boy is thrilled with this outfit. Don't mind the mess......

Our night away into Nairobi for our anniversary was fabulous.

As I said before, we began our evening with dinner at Cafe des Arts.   They have a wonderful patio dining area that is covered by a large tent cover.  It is a lovely place to relax and enjoy good food:

Ian was pretty excited about his dinner, he even looks like he's glowing a little

Here’s an up close of his shredded lamb, slow cooked for 9 hours, then put into a patty that is refrigerated and then grilled just prior to service:

Lamb with mini roasted potatos

I choose the spinach quiche (I love quiche) in hopes of saving room for dessert.  The dessert turned out to be pretty standard European dessert…a little dry and not quite sweet enough.  Next time, I’ll go all out on the dinner itself.  Here I am in a blanket shawl the restaraunt owner gave me when it began to storm outside:

We had a wonderful time, and we still enjoy being together!

Then, we found our way to the Serena Nairobi which was wonderful.  I had to take a few pictures of our accommodations as this is the nicest place I’ve been a quite a while.  We felt pampered, and relaxed and renewed.  It was the perfect was to spend the rest of our anniversary.

Ian relaxing in the air conditioned room

This weekend, Ian and I will celebrate being married 12 years!

When we first met, my freshman year of college (his sophomore), I had a boyfriend and he had partying and skiiing. Ian was the bad boy on campus with long (past his shoulders) hair and I was the good girl with permed hair and size 4 jeans.

How things change in 15 years.

I can really say that I love him more today than the day I met him. I have seen remarkable changes and growth in this man since meeting him 15 years ago. He brings out the best in me, and I hope I do the same for him.

In honor of the occasion, Megan has offered to watch the kids overnight so we can have a mini get-a-way!

Bless the woman.

Tonight, we are driving into Nairobi for dinner here:
www.cafedesarts.co.ke/index.php

Then perhaps a movie (my first in a theater in Kenya & we have been here 5 months) here:
www.villagemarket-kenya.com/home.php

We are staying in this awesome hotel, in the cheap room, but still:
www.serenahotels.com/kenya/nairobi/photo

I absolutely can’t wait to sit by the pool in the morning and have a lazy breakfast filled only with uninterrupted adult conversation.

I love you and our family Ian!

BTW, I have a lot of trouble getting links to go in right in wordpress, if anyone has a tip, let me know!!

Ok, I guess that was a little mean to post the last blog about a baby and not mention any news of our own.

You know, we just lost this last baby the last week of July.  That is only 2 months ago.  That was our second loss in just under a year.  It was a hard thing for me to stomach simply because I had carried and borne 2 wonderful children with little to no problems and couldn’t understand why this was happening.

I was waiting and waiting after the miscarriage for a return to “normalcy” (I’m trying to spare you male readers the details) and it just didn’t happen.

So, after 3 weeks of feeling horrible and thinking that I had the worldest longest flu or malaria (which I am sure I did have the flu a bit) I finally took a pregnancy test as a last ditch effort.  Those lines were immediate.  That never happens with me!

I was a bit in shock, and very hesitant to say anything.  I needed a follow-up with my doctor to figure out why the miscarriages were happening, so I made an appointment.  Imagine her surprise when I informed her that we probably shouldn’t run all of the tests she was hoping to run cause I might just be pregnant.  I think her jaw dropped a little before the smile spread over her face and she said something like, “Well, well?”

She took me down right then for an ultrasound and sure enough there was a baby.  A heartbeat even.  But a baby that looked too small for her calculations.  She told me that either it was just a late “arrival” or that there was something wrong and that the baby was not growing.  My heart sank.  Not again I thought.

She decided that I would need an ultrasound in 2 weeks, at which time, the fetus would be measured for 2 weeks of growth, or the likelihood that the pregnancy was not viable.

SO, for those 12 days up until yesterday I have had this heaviness over me.  Of course I trust that God knows my desires for another child, but still, it does not ease the fact that those were the longest days filled with waiting, and searching, and prayers from a few faithful prayer warrior friends of mine.

And then yesterday, my ultrasound.

It started out quite oddly because after I put my gown on and went to empty my bladder, the door to the bathroom (inside the exam  room mind you) was locked.  I looked with a quizzical look at the technician and nurse.  They gave me the same look back and mouthed, “Is someone in there?”  I shrugged.  How should I know??

And there was someone in there!!!  An older haggard looking Indian woman peeked her head out, asked for some tissue and then locked herself back in the bathroom for another eternity (it was really like 8 minutes).  And then, as suddenly as it started, she came out looking all fresh and coiffed.  We were all flabbergasted as the entire exam had been waiting on this woman leaving so I could go to the bathroom.  She didn’t even exchange words with any of us.  Just walked out.  So strange and WEIRD!!!

So finally, with an empty bladder, the exam began, and immediately, there was this big ol fetus up on the screen.  Way bigger than before  and way bigger than 2 weeks growth.   Turns out the baby was right on track for where it should have been before.  No explanation for the 4 weeks growth in 2 weeks, other than the hand of God.  There is was, a healthy 9week old fetus with a crazy strong heartbeat and everything looking strong and intact.

I wanted to cry.  But I didn’t.  But I did allow the fear to dissipate and excitement to enter my mind and heart over this new addition to our lives.   As if our lives weren’t crazy enough, Yes, the May family is going to go and have a baby in Kenya.   Join with us in praying over this little one in the next 7 months and for everything to go easily and smoothly.

We’re looking forward to our Kenyan baby arriving right around May 8th.  Poor Eli, I don’t think it’s quite the birthday present he imagined!!

Oh, and for the humor portion of this blog:

Lucy was present with dad and I in the ultrasound.  She wanted to know if the doctor was taking it out right then.  Ian said, “No it has to cook a while longer.”

Later, Lucy said, “Are we going to eat the baby then?”

Eli asked, “Is this baby going to die too?”  Bless his sweet spirit that understands so much more of this than Lucy.

Lucy informed me that she needs 2 baby sisters, “So we can all hold hands”.

Eli asked, “Does the baby come out your butt?”  To which I simply said no.  No further explanation provided at this point in time.

And then I made a quick escape and  I told them “Good night!”

This week we welcomed the 2nd baby born to a vulnerable mother at Karibu Centre.  Baby Ian. 

This baby was born to an 11-year old (no, that was not a type-o) girl who was supposedly 5 months pregnant.

After 3 days of backache not alleviated by tylenol, we took her to the doctor.

The Kenyan system is interesting.  We were told that she bore a 6kg baby.  Folks, that is 13.2 pounds, by an 11 year old who is 5 months pregnant.  It wasn’t hard to figure that someone bearing a child that big had to be full term.

Something doesn’t compute right?  Even more, we were told that the hospital was isolating the baby because it was too big, and they didn’t want the mother to feed it.  They the baby to lose weight.

HUH????   At this point I think Ian and I truly, if we are at all honest, were thinking, “Are they crazy or just really uneducated?”

Turns out neither.

Our social found out that the doctors lied.  They were actually taking the baby from the mother because they thought she was too young to have one, and if they discovered that she had no help, they would keep the baby and tell her it had died.  Our social worker and our house parent talked to several doctors and assured them that there was a great deal of support for this girl, including some familial support….and so mom and baby are finally home!   And, the baby is a healthy 6 something pounds.  Can YOU EVEN IMAGINE if you  found out your doctor in the states had lied to you???  Litigation of that type just doesn’t happen here.

So, we decided that it was better that the “system” was just corrupt as usual rather than crazy or wildly uneducated. 

Pictures/video of the new mom and baby should be up on the Karibu Centre facebook page.  If your not a fan of it yet, you should be!