It's been so busy around here the day kind of slipped by unnoticed. Things continue on... and this post gets even more outdated! I arrived in Kenya on May 13 last year. Even though there have been times throughout this past year where I was crossing days off the calendar (maybe not literally-but in my mind) because each day was 1 day closer to going home; last week I really had to dig out my flight itinerary to verify that May 13 was indeed the day I got here. What a great feeling to be living life so normally here that the year anniversary actually seems like something to celebrate.
My little friend Eleanor is visiting right now. (Her dad is leading a short-term project with students out in the bush, but Eleanor, her little brother and mom are staying with me. Her mom and dad are good friends of mine from FL). Eleanor is 2, "but I turn 3 on my birthday" as she likes to say (she leaves out that her birthday is in July =) Eleanor celebrates the little things in life--putting her shoes on herself, finishing her green beans, going potty in the choo (outdoor toilet)--by throwing her hands in the air and saying, "Yay, I did it!" I was telling Danielle, Eleanor's mom, that during my first year in Kenya I've had to learn to celebrate the little things in life because even the little things at first, seemed impossible.
A few of my little accomplishments for my first year in Kenya--
-I can speak some Swahili! I'm not fluent but I'm learning. I know way more now than when I arrived and can have a decent conversation in Swahili. When I got here knowing another language seemed impossible. I think I made up a few words of my own at first... I've heard over and over that you just have to try to speak, even when you know you will mess up. My Kenyan friend said the other day, "Oh, Ashleigh isn't afraid to try to speak and make mistakes! She makes them all the time!" But this is good news! I took it as a compliment. Being willing to mess up is huge and the only way to learn. (I guess you can't "run" a meeting in Swahili. My literal translation was funny to everyone last week!).
-I can drive! (a manual; on the other side of the car; on the other side of the road.) Today we drove to see the team in Elongata Enterit--a 2.5 hour drive on mostly dirt/rocky/muddy roads... unmarked dirt roads... sometimes we just call them paths... with pot holes... I've driven in the Masai Mara--approaching lions, buffaloes and elephants! Even driving in town is an accomplishment--avoiding cows, donkeys, potholes, pedestrians, navigating over speed bumps, around other drivers, and motorcycles. It's normal to drive on whatever side of the road has less potholes, so I'm even less anxious now when it seems the driver coming towards me on my side of the road wants to play chicken... things seem to work out!
-I know my way around my town, I've driven to Nairobi on my own, found my way around downtown (and even parallel parked my big car downtown!), and I've driven to other parts of the country. Finding my way around has been really freeing and exciting to see that not all of Kenya is as devastatingly dry as our area has been. I was also impressed to find that there are nice roads in areas and that all blacktop roads aren't as terrible as the road to Narok! (you actually choose to drive on the road rather than in the dirt next to the road). When I first got here everything was so different; I wondered if I would ever be able to get around on my own. There aren't many road signs (except some in Nairobi) but I guess you just learn the lay of the land (like--turn at the bush past the dry river bed!) and over time things just get more familiar.
-I'm settled here, I have a routine and a home. I have friends.
So, God has been so good. He's gotten me through the tough times and been with me through the joyful times, too. These obviously aren't all of the good things that have come over the past year... but a few that I'm really thankful for.
that's awesome, Ashleigh.
ReplyDeletequestion: did that package get to you?