Jan 2013 - Back to Kenya

Back in Kandara the following day I passed through the Arch of Kandara Children’s Home and then “SIIIIMMMOOOONNNNNN!!!!” and a stampede of smiling, running kids were coming down the hill. I dropped my bags and caught one and threw him round, then another and many more hugs and huge smiles in welcome. I will miss this place when my term is up!! I expect, as seems to be the case, once you have spent any time at Kandara Children’s Home, you are forever emotionally tied in and will always have it in your thoughts.  Sorry my camera was in my bag.

Christmas 2012 - Back to the UK

England – So I left Kenya and 30 degrees plus sunshine and landed in England at 6am to a balmy 5 degrees! I was lucky, the week before it had been - 5 during the day!). It was good to be back for a couple of weeks and catch up with friends and family. I had been away for the previous 2 Christmas’s. 2010 I worked in La Plagne in the French Alps for a ski season, so I was there for Christmas and in 2011 I had been in Kenya sharing Christmas and new year with volunteers here in Kenya (refer to earlier blog posts for 2011 Christmas and New Year).

I spent the first 3 days in Roehampton at my sister’s (Ruth) new pub – The Kings Head, a Young’s pub that has just been fully refurbished. It is a great place and if anyone drops by please mention you know me or my blog and you may get a free pint!! Ruth always enjoys it when random people who have encountered me drop by for a pint! http://www.kingsheadsw15.co.uk/.

My friends Eddie and Allys threw a party one night for all the Kenya volunteers who were in the UK. Eddie is a great cook and around 10 of us got together for fine food, a little wine and lots of catching up.

Then I travelled to my Parents for Christmas, before heading to North of England to see friends and to the Lake District http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/ for some walking.

 I was in the Yorkshire Dales http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/ town of Settle for New Year and then meandered back to London before flying home to Kenya. To those who made the trip special a big thanks for a warm welcome, your patience when listening to my tales of Kenya and your fine food. You know who you are……

Whilst at home, 3 kind donors had provided me with laptops to give to the Polytechnic and assist with setting up an ICT/Computer course. This gave me the amusing scenario at airport security. In my hand baggage I had 4 laptops, 2 cameras, a kindle, etc. Passing through you have to remove all laptops and electrical equipment!!!

I put my bag on the counter and got the first tray. Removed a laptop and pushed it on. Then another tray and another laptop, and another, 4 in all including mine, followed by a camera. 7 trays including my bag and shoes, etc. clogging up the conveyor! Great banter with thankfully cheerful and helpful security people who probably enjoyed something different from the norm. I was a little worried about my reception at Kenyan security and how to explain my bag full of technology but luckily there was no query at the other end and I passed through in no time.

If anyone else has an old laptop gathering dust in a cupboard, please consider donating it to our Polytechnic. Get in touch and we can get it delivered to my Parents in Huntingdon, UK and then I will co-ordinate with them to arrange delivery once we have a few. With planned multiple classes each laptop will benefit 20-30 people a year. With the average family being 6, if each trainee then gets a job and valuable income through the skills learnt then, 180 people could directly benefit each year from the donation of the laptop that is cluttering up your cupboard. If you are interested, or know someone or a business that may be able to assist, please the contact link to this blog or e-mail me direct simon.dixon67@gmail.com.   

13 December 2012 - Extra Day in Njoro

Mama Jimmy - A great mother with huge patience.

The family group 

The following day I awoke in the wooden “shack” (4m x 3m) I was sharing with Elliott and Mwangi, we went to the kitchen (A wooden hut separate from the main house). 

A view if the shamba - the hut on the extreme left is the kitchen the blue door is the main house made of branches and mud but painted so it looks like rendered stone.

Chai was being prepared on a 3 stone stove. Later hot water for washing in a bowl in the courtyard. More chatting and a walk around the town before lunch. Then it was time to leave. Elliott and I said our goodbyes and were escorted by a procession of the family to the main matatu stage. There we waited with others for one with spare seats. One after another passed jammed with people. After over an hour we were still there sweltering in the mid afternoon sun. It was then we  were informed that a large technical college further down the road had closed that day and parents and family of each student had turned up to escort them home. /it was likely that there would not be a free matatu for the rest of the day. The decision was made to stay and extra night and travel in the morning. It is a 4-5 hour journey back to Kandara and to leave it any later this day would mean ill-advisedly travelling through challenging isolated areas at night.

This meant we had more time with the family which was great. 

Boys everywhere will play soldiers. Who need Toys r Us when you have maize plant stalks for your gun!!

Loving the water

The boys showed me where they swim in the river and then we went to the man square which earlier had been covered with maize drying in the sun on huge tarpaulins. Now they had been bagged up. Each bag weighed 90kg and was carried to the lorry by a group of men. Each would hoist a bag onto his shoulders and almost run with it to the truck then return for another. Typically they will carry 50 bags watch in an afternoon (that is a total of 4.5 tonnes in a couple of hours – a hell of a work out!!). The family I was with knew a couple of the chaps and it was suggested I have a go!! 90Kg!! They helped lift the bag onto one shoulder and then left me. I staggered to balance the weight and then tried a few steps.

90 Kg easily lifted by a local

A mzungu tries

And fails!! Ooops

My legs made five steps before beginning to complain and then my balance went and it was me or the bag!! The bag hit the floor and 90kg of maize burst over the floor!! Raucous laughter erupted from the professionals, the kids and a breathless Mzungu.  

Back home for another lesson in Chapati cooking. Each time I learn a new twist and regional variation. Hopefully, soon, I will be able to make them as good as the locals?

"Helping" make chapati :)

With a full stomach and a long tiring day we retired once more to the shack.

Early in the morning (Saturday) we headed back to Kandara.

Back in Kandara in the afternoon I quickly packed as I was a day behind and was due to travel to Nairobi that night and leave for England after the weekend with friends in the Capital. The most challenging bit of this is not the packing but saying goodbye to the staff and kids at the Orphanage. For some reason leaving before Christmas is always the hardest to do. I moved quickly round and managed to keep my composure (just – soft lad really!!). 2013 I will spend Christmas and New Year in Kandara.