I dropped into Thika for a
little shopping and meet Dan and Helen who are on a final whistle stop tour of
their friends in Kenya before returning to the UK after a year with VSO. We
meet at Blue Post Hotel which overlooks a fantastic waterfall and take chai and
samosa in the grounds and relax after their long journey from Nanyuki. Then
after a long wait for a matatu that can take the 3 f us plus their bags we
finally arrive at the orphanage around 3.30pm. A quick coffee and drop the bags
then we take a short walk (about 2km) across the valley. This is a fairly steep
sided valley very green with banana trees, maize, avocado and mango trees etc
with a small river in the bottom. A complete contrast to Nairobi where Dan and
Helen are based.
The Walk Across the Valley
Outside Faith's House with her Family (Faith is on the right with the Jackson 5 haircut)
We head to Faith’s shamba (Faith is the new hairdressing
instructor at the poly but also a good friend of the ladies at the orphanage so
I have known her a while). She invited me to bring D&H to a family
gathering this afternoon. Unfortunately we were late (due to the Matatu delays)
so most guests had gone. We still had a great time and chat over chai and
chapatis admiring the fading light of the sun set over the expansive view of
the valley. D&H have progressed well with Kiswahili so there was much
goading of me to get better!!
Faith walked us back to Kandara as she needed some pills
from the pharmacy for a sick mother. We popped into Relax Inn for a quick beer
and found a dowry after party in full swing. We squeezed our way through to the
back bar. 3 Mzungus got a lot of friendly attention and there were a few in
there that I knew. As we sat down Helen announced she had just experienced her
fastest chat up (Kenyan men can be very forward, especially with mzungu ladies)
a chap had held out his hand in greeting and said “07….” Before saying anything
else he was giving her his number!! With Dan behind her!
Anyway we enjoyed the beer with a constant stream of people
coming to say hi and curious about 3 Mzungus.
Faith went home and the 3 of us went back to the Orphanage
to cook dinner, egg fried rice and stir fry courtesy of Dan. Then just after 8
we went up to the Dining Hall which on a Saturday night becomes an impromptu
dance hall. Music is played and the children (aged from 2-18) dance and sing
the night away. Helen is a bit of a whizz with the dancing too and tried to
keep up with the older boys. Dan and I were given a dance lesson by the girls
but every time we though we were getting it they changed the move to confuse us
and then fell about laughing!
Dancing with Curia on my shoulders - good exercise!!
Who is teaching who?
Lucy one of the 3 year olds had had a long day and even the
loud music and frolicking could not wake her – bless.
Lucy
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