Everything in its right place

So we got to Nairobi yesterday. It was a better journey. But leaving the village was hard. Guys, i think i was sweating as i walked through from the house to the school for the last time. I really don't know when id ever come back. This journey had so many trials and tribulations. All of them seemed so avoidable. But really I'm glad i had so much trouble. I said this many times before i left and when i had to step up to the plate, i cowered. But "the harder something is, the more you get out of it". This journey has no regrets whatsoever. We looked into so many windows of life and i've come to realize who i am and what i want. Much more than ever. Although ill have ALOT of trouble from my friends id like to be vegetarian and to stop drinking altogether. Lets hope i can fight the forces of bbq! But its been good. I could not have made it through this journey without the love of my family and friends. I know what matters too. Its you. You help put everything in its right place.

I wanna live in a wooden house

So this is our last weekend at the village. The students have been out on summer holidays but the school is running tuition for those who can afford it. There really isnt much to do but we kinda float around helping students in areas that they are weak and giving counselling. Theyve been asking alot of questions about Canada and "america". i dont really see the boys anymore. robert has gone to visit his mother and edwin is helping his uncle with herding cattle. only one more week left. i go crazy at times just wanting to go home, especially after i got a taste of the city life in nairobi last week. That one week at the gym felt ggrreeaattttt. But im doing what i can now to keep my hopes up. Maggie really acts as a crutch when i trip out. she tells me to put things into perspective and it makes it alot lighter. I think about how i was tripping out when i first arived, during my first week. We have accomplished so much so far. three months, flown by. and now we only have one week left and we come home. Theres been some concern with my appearance though. I heard that some canadians were given a hard time by kenyans at the airport so it looks like i may have to shave my beard off. But im gonna try to bypass it. I never had a chance to check out the manufacturing zone and with only 1 day in Nairobi next weekend we will be packing and doing some last minute errands (gifts etc.) Each day goes by and more of my clothes are gone. Right now im living off one pair of jeans, shorts, 3 tshirts and a hoody. its hard, but easy. I dont smell which is good. I keep thinking about my arrival home. I cant wait.

Strawberry Swing

So im in Nairobi now. ALOT has happened. After our trip on the safari we heded back to Mombasa. The town is an arab-flavored port along the coast. its like we were in a whole new world. The macadamia nuts here are cheaper than water(not really) and the size of gum balls(true story). we stayed at the bamburi beach hotel where we spent most of the day dozing on the beach and eating. and then jammed out at night. we met some americans who are doing digging up north and so we hung out with them a bit. btw mombasa has the most hookers ive seen in my life. thank god maggie is around, she works as my stand in girlfriend. but at times it works against me. its like shes the best wingman/cockblock. two sides of every coin. But it was a relaxing visit. i got even more bloated. but its all part of the fun.

i arrived at the village last monday. we had closing which was a nice. I planned to leave to go back to Nairobi on the thursday, which gave me 3 days in the village. i know its kind of rushed but i had my ideas. if it was fast id still have attachements with Wikondiek. rather than dragging it out and letting go, i wanted a part of me to stay behind. On wednesday when the schools had closed some of the boys from my form 2 art class/football team came to the house. we went on a long walk where we talked about girls, sex, the spread of HIV/AIDS, theire future. Words cannot describe the friendship i made with these boys on my last day in the village. Robert, Edwin, Kennedy, & Duncan. They will be somebody. I found out that Duncan was a full orphan, living by himself in a hut. i had to give him something. so my shoes and two shirts left my luggage. My departure was perfect. short and sweet with a memory that is long lasting.

Onto Nairobi. Took the Nyamira Express. This is the craziest journey of my life. but i lived it. by myself. Bus left an hour late, stopped every ten minutes for the first two hours, some lady sat very closely beside me (while the bus was empty), we over packed the bus, some drunk guy threw up beside me on the floor (at 9 am???), had to fight people off for my luggage at Machaka station (notrious), had my luggage searched by a cop while people huddled around me and watched what i had, couldnt get in touch with my pick up person while my phone was almost dead, had some shady guys trying to get me ito an illegal taxi, men just saying hello and asking for me, took a LEGAL taxi to mom;s house in hurlingham. ALL of this was done by MYSELF. I AM AFICA! oh and i signed up at a gym the same day, back at it and jeans fit again. eating is good, likfe is good. im looking into climbing mount kenya next week, 5 day journey (mom and dad please help fund this once-in-a lifetime chance) and im going to check out the export manufacturing zone soon. big things? lets only hope.

A picture speaks a thousand words

I know i haven t put any pics up but here they are. this is a mash up of everything that Ive blogged about. Try and put the pieces of the puzzle together yourself.