Some Things About KENYA...

I want to share a few of the things I noticed/found interesting/loved about KENYA!!

#1 Soccer (aka "futbol")

     It doesn't matter how big or small the field is;

     it doesn't matter how tall or short the grass is cut;

     it doesn't matter if there are 6 people or 60 people playing;

     it doesn't matter if they have shoes or not;

     it doesn't matter how big, small, or flat the ball is....

     THEY WILL ALWAYS PLAY!

#2 The little children :) 

     These are the happiest, friendliest kids I have ever met!

     They all just wave and smile.

     The little children often run after our van with big grins.

     It is seriously the most precious thing I've ever seen!

 

#3 The roads....

     Their roads give a whole new meaning to "backroads"...

     Most roads are straight dirt...the back roads are straight rock..

     Either way, they are bumpy!!

     (I'm not gonna lie, I kinda miss those roads)

#4 School!!!

     In their schools, they do not call them "grades" 

       (like 1st grade or 7th grade), they call them "classes."

     Also, they don't call it elementary, middle, or high school - 

       instead, it's primary=elementary and middle (1-8) and 

       secondary=high school.

     Each class at a normal primary school has about 50-70 kids!

       Now imagine that teachers!!

#5 Talking 

     In Kenya, the average person knows 3 languages:

       English, Swahili, and their tribal language

     Becasue of this, and the language barrier, I had to learn to

     T  A  L  K    V  E  R  Y    S  L  O  W  L  Y!

I love this land!

 #6 This land!

     THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE I'VE EVER BEEN!!

     I have always loved the country more than the city, and that makes this place 10x's more 

       AMAZING!!

     The mountains are inspiring!

     Lake Victoria is breath-taking!

     There are rice paddies and maze (corn) fields..

     There are banana trees and pineapple trees..

     There are avacado and papaya trees..

     and there are sugar cane fields....EVERYWHERE!!

     .....and I LOVE IT!!!

#7 The animals..

     It just wouldn't be right if there weren't animals roaming all   

         around: cows, goats, donkeys, chicken....these are a few of 

         the mischevious creatures

     (it's kinda weird NOT seeing them everywhere...)

#8 The sounds

     I might have worn earplugs, but I would take the sounds of Africa over the sounds of a city in    

     America any day!

#9 The food!

     Ugali, chapattis, and mandazi are just a few of the traditional Kenyan foods I got to try!

     Of course, you can't go wrong with rice and beans or a cup of chai!

     They don't have a lot of flavor or variety, but the food is inexpensive and nutritious.

#10 Their smiles :) :) :) :) :) :)

Cynthia, Jen, and Flora :)

      they have the MOST BEAUTIFUL smiles ever!!!

      they have so much joy and life inside of them!

      it really is crazy - they have so few possessions, yet so much joy,

          while we have so much stuff and no joy at all...

      I love these smiles!! I LOVE THESE KIDS!

I LOVE KENYA!!!