Bah!

I am so annoyed at Xanga that i cannot access my own blog from this house we're living in even though i can read everyone else's (read: blogger blogs). So, for the time being since i need an outlet for my writing SOMEwhere, i will concede to write on Blogger. :-)

Kenya is different. Different than Madagascar, that is. This evening at supper even Josh mentioned that the Coke even tastes different. Did you know that in N.America Coke is made with artificial sweetener? (or something), while in Madagascar it's good ol' sugar. Mmm. We prefer the Malagasy coke. Of the many things in this world i would write an ode to (that 140km/hour air dryer in the Star Cafe in Quebec City, our Red VW Jetta, etc) Coke is one thing that deserves a special verse. Because Coke is used for various utilitarian purposes like washing blood off pavement after bad car accidents, it also works wonders for travelers who suffer from dehli belly. A good dose of CocaCola and the bugs in your guts are stopped dead. Very important for those of us who'd rather not be subdued by dodgy guts every 2 weeks!

Kenya looks very western! There are innumerable new apartment buildings going up in "our" end of town and they look flash! For one, they arent made out of bricks made out of dried mud. The malls are also very western and there is a Java House in almost every one! (yum) Java House is my new favourite place because they make fantastic burgers, salads, iced tea, and coffee of course.

Kenya, however, is VERY dry!! Especially after leaving Madagascar where it was raining so often and so much, it's painful to see how dusty and hot and dry it is here. Apparently this is the second year now that they have had a late rainy season. It's terrible for the crops, obviously. And we are on water rationing, although what i interpret that to mean is that every so often a section of town has their water turned off. It's difficult to breathe at night (in my opinion) because of the dry air, our noses are sore because of it too.

We are currently living in a MAF house whose residents have gone home for furlough. Josh is still waiting on a visa that will allow him to do some work. It will not be possible for him to fly while we're here because it's a huge mission to get the Kenyan license. When we moved into this house it was a bit of a difficult transition to make since the house belongs to an older couple who obviously do not set up their home for small kids. It makes for some stressful situations when we're always telling Judah "dont touch that, dont go there, dont do that!" But it's getting better. Some of the MAF families with older children have dropped off their old toys, which makes Judah's life easier and more entertaining. And he's finally getting along with some of the kids from the compound in which we live, thank the Lord!

Tomorrow we're meeting up with our Madagascar neighbours, the Slaubaugh's, who are flying in today (Matthew with MKE and the girls and Rhonda on a commercial flight). They are going to Uganda where Matthew will fly our airplane there. Madagascar continues to be slowed by the crisis, which means the MAF Mad pilots are anxious to get out and find other things to keep them busy.

Josh finally got his drivers' license by courier yesterday, which means we're mobile on the roads now and could therefore finally go grocery shopping this morning. Until now we've been inundated with dinner invitations. It's been nice to get to know the (huge) MAF Kenya programme personnel, but i'm quite ready to get back to normal life again, if that's possible in a country i'm not familiar with. I'm still thankful to be here if only to make the time go by even faster until our home assignment at the beginning of August.

Although the transition to Kenya has been somewhat awkward, it was obviously divine timing! Josh mentioned the other day, "good thing you're finished your paper!" Indeed! I had just sent in my last assignment for the course that will officially end April 1. I sent in on Monday morning and that same afternoon we were asked to go. I can honestly say that if i hadnt been done the writing by that time it would have heightened my stress level considerably!! Although i hope it isnt anything serious, i'm also thankful to have access to good doctors and equipment to check out my abdominal chronic pain. That may also be part of the divine timing.

Anyway, not a terribly interesting blog, but at least now i can begin to leave thoughts somewhere.