Tata Peepee, ice and other fun stuff

So I am sitting in the office at Chazon Children's Centre being on call for Lucy as she learns to work on the budget spreadsheet that I have created. But, since she is already pretty computer savvy, I have little to do so blogging it is. The view here is amazing- I wish a picture could capture it. Once I get home with better internet, I will upload some pictures and show you what it is like.

The impossible has happened- at least, I thought it was impossible. The weather here has been cold enough to get hail! Sheesh- why did I come to be here for the coldest season!? Anyways, I was so excited that there was ice in Kenya. I grabbed some in my hand and excitedly and incredulously went to show Samuel. "Samuel, there is ICE!" "Yeah- we call that hail." He calmly replied. So apparently it isn't quite as unusual as I thought. I never imagined it would get this cold here. I sleep in layers with four blankets and walk around wrapped in blankets. I am looking forward to the summer sun of Winnipeg- I hope it doesn't rain all of August!

I have now heard the second most interesting rendition of my name. The first is from my little sister when she was just learning to talk- she endearingly called me 'titty.' I definitely got weird looks from that one! Now, Jemima (almost 2) is experimenting with words and trying to mimic a lot of words. So, now I am Tata Peepee. (Tata is Aunty in Kiswahili.) Her and I have gotten along great. I have taught her a couple of fun things to do- like give me kisses on my cheek with the emphasis being on the sound effects- so now I regularly get my face grabbed and brought to her lips and then she goes 'mmmmmmwwwwwwwwwwwwwah!". It is quite cute. She loves having facial contact and will just sit with her face smushed against mine.

I am spending the week at Lucy's mom, which is in the middle of the town of Molo. It is a nice change. I have had a lot of responsibility for organizing volunteers and food and stuff which means that, in my mind, I am always 'on call' to help people or do something. It is hard for me to relax at all when I think that I might have something to do. So, it is nice to not have responsibilities too much and have my own space for a week. Next week, I will head back to Lucy's for my last week and a half here.

Last Sunday, I was invited to Margaret's house. She is the lady from the church I am attending who gave me the same Kikuyu name as her and, even though she speaks little English and I speak even less Kikuyu, through smiles, hugs and hand shakes, we have bonded. She has been saying from the beginning that she wanted to have me over for chicken (which is a luxury) so finally we arranged- my goodness, what good food! She got her older son up at 3 am to make chapattis for us and we had several other veggie dishes and chicken. She is such a wonderful lady! Tonight, I have been invited to one of the teachers house for chapattis again and am excited to see where she lives. I don't really like that me being white makes it so that these people feel famous because I have been there, but I think that these two ladies actually like me because I am me more than because I am white.

Well, I have run out of things to say. I should go and run around with some children or something so that I warm up! Sheesh, it is cold here! See you soon!