Gillian Meets Kenya

We made it to North Marigoli! After 3 flights, 2.5 days, and no sleep, I'm so happy to finally be here. Yesterday we spent our time getting things like phones and internet as well as getting the house set up with beds so we could get some much needed sleep! Today I definitely felt much better and was eager to get a look around. Isaac (or Eye-Zak as he spells it on his artwork) took us to two markets, one very close to the house so we could get more money cards for our phone and internet stick as we had already run out, and then to a market in Mudete (moo-de-tay), which was about a 30 minute walk from the house. Although when we first stepped outside it felt like it was about 25 degrees, by the time we got to town it felt more like 40! The sun here is SO hot! Much different then our sun in Canada. On the walk we got to talk to Isaac about the differences between Canada and Kenya. He told us that before any Canadians or Americans had come to the small town they thought people with white skin were just a myth! He asked us how we felt when we first saw anyone with dark skin and when we told him Canada is very multicultural and we grow up with people from all races he didn't really seem to understand the concept. He was also eager to find out why we Canadians love the Maple tree so much, which we thought was hilarious! We told him they make maple syrup and he said he wished we brought some so he could try it. I wish I had thought to do that! I guess I was thinking more about the new foods I would get to experience and not thinking much about what from Canada people here would like to try. We told him maybe we can get Louise, who will be joining us in July, to bring some with her. We also passed by a small project on the way, which Isaac told us was suppose to be turned into a fishing pond so the people there could catch fish. Unfortunately he informed us that the project had been ongoing for 7 years already even though it looked like it had just been started a few months ago! He said he hoped one day it would eventually get done. This concerned me a little as Blake and I are only here for 3 months, but everyone we've met seems so committed to the project and ready for things to get going. Charles, who picked us up from the airport, said that on Monday we will meet with people from the health department as well as the chief of the village so they know what's going on with the project. We will also be going to the school (finally!!) so we can meet the kids and the staff there. Then on Tuesday we will get to check out the lab facilities both in Mbale and Kisumu to see what each can provide. We have already run into some snags with the project in that the school does not have electricity, which is needed for the fridges to keep the yogurt cold and edible, so we may have to find a generator of some sorts if we can afford it. As well, Charles informed us that often times the people who sell milk will water it down to save money, which wont work in the yogurt as it must be good quality for the yogurt to be made properly, so we are trying to find a way to test the quality of the milk before we buy and use it. Hopefully we can come up with the answers to all our questions so far this week so we can really start things moving as soon as possible! I will post later this week with some updates!