Home Sweet Home (at least for now)

Thought I would show you where I've been living. As I had mentioned before, we are quite spoiled here - we have access to the main house and we are one of the only placements that have hot showers!! A nice (and deserved) contrast to working in the slums!!

Main house                                                                                                       Kitchen

There's a big kitchen, living room and sun room where we can relax and use the computer.






One day Kevin and I got caught it a 3 hour torrential rain storm and were trapped at one of the matatu stops. When we got home, soaked to the skin, Mama Lydia had a roaring fire going in the living room - HEAVEN!!
 Living room                                                                    Sun room

Dinner is served on the kitchen counter where we help ourselves. An example of a standard meal is pictured below: sucuma wiki (fried kale) and ugali (Yes folks! For those of you who were in Zambia with me...it is SHIMA! The cornmeal "blob"). We also ate a lot of rice, githeri (a bean and maize mixture) and cabbage. I shall not describe the effect this diet initially had on my digestive system - I'm sure you can imagine!

One night we ate one of our bunnies (very sad...but quite tasty!), and another night we ate rooster. Kevin, Louise and I savoured the rooster! This little guy used to wake us up at 4 in the morning, cock-a-doodle-doing at the top of his lungs. Although a little tough and chewy, the taste of victory was most satisfying!!

Small bedroom                                                                                                         Larger bedroom

Our "home" has a central space, 2 bedrooms on the right, and we share a shower, toilet and sink. Louise and I shared the small room with one bunkbed, but once Suzy and Lee arrived, we moved to the larger room (with 2 bunkbeds). I have so far shared a room with Louise; then Suzy and Louise; then just Suzy; then Caroline and Suzy; then just Suzy again...now I have the room to myself!! Our newest volunteer is another guy, so Kevin and Danny share the small room (No! Of course I'm not going to give up the big room!!)

 I have realized that I am an "all or nothin'" kinda gal. I lived quite comfortably in Zambia for a month, sleeping on a concrete floor, with no electricity, no running water and squatting over a hole in the ground to do "my business". Now, I am living in the lap of luxury, compared to Zambia, and find myself somewhat troubled at the fact that we do not have a toilet seat.!!

So one day, I asked Mama Lydia where we could buy some patio chairs. "Oh!", she says, "I have some in storage."

After the long, hot walk home from working in the slums, this is where I sit, relax and enjoy my cold Tusker. And as you can see, after a heavy rain, we also have a swimming pool!!  :o)