The village at last!

September 3, 2011

I am writing to you all now from the village of Mitihato! As I had predicted before, I love it. It is very different from Nairobi and any other place that I have been. Every day I learn something new and I am soaking every little single thing up. I spend quite a bit of time observing everyone and the language. There are a few people in the village that speak some English but the majority are speaking Kikuyu all of the time. I am learning the language—slowly but surely. I have learned the main greeting and when I meet people in the village I say “Wĩ mwega” and they seem to love it—responding with smiles and giggles. I have never been in a place that is so welcoming and friendly. 

 

There are so many new things that have happened in the last few days that I am having a hard time narrowing it down to the most exciting. Everyone within the property I live on is family—aunts, uncles, grandparents, moms, dads, cousins, etc. The kids call me “Auntie Hope” and several of the adults are claiming me at their own. On the property there are cows, chickens, goats, dogs, cats, roosters, banana trees, mango trees, vegetables of all types, and a few houses. I live with grandmother (or Cũcũ) on the second story. I am very lucky to have my own room and space. 

There are two girls here named Mary—ironically I have grown close to both of them. Mary Wanjiku is close to my age and is sadly leaving the village in the next few days to finish college in a town called Thika. She graduates in December and I am excited to go with her mother to celebrate with her and take pictures. The other day Mary came over and we ventured around the village and went to the next nearest town to go to the market. While walking around the kids and adults around were very interested in my presence there. I greeted many and waved at all the kids that were too nervous to say anything. I have shaken more hands than I can count and met more people than I can remember their names.

Mary and I walked to the nearest main street and awaited a Mitatu. A Mitatu is a form of public transportation that is usually a small van that is supposed to fit 15 people but typically they pile as many as possible—they fit 23 people in when I rode with Mary. Going to the market was a fun adventure to me. I met many people and observed how packed it was. There were fresh vegetables and fruit everywhere along with clothes and other necessities. Between booths there is little walking room and many people. After a few hours of shopping and meeting some of Mary’s friends we rode and walked back home—it was a great first market experience for me.

On another occasion, some of the family was curious about my own family and friends from back home. I jumped at the opportunity to show them all pictures. They loved seeing my family and friends—we shared pictures for hours and they even grabbed some of their own pictures to show me. This sharing of pictures led to grabbing my camera and the start to taking many pictures. They loved having me take pictures of everything and they often ask me to take my camera out to snap some memories. They are eager for me to print and give them all copies after my adventure here. 

I know there are a hundred other stories and new occurrences that I could mention but then this post would never end. The moral of this posting is that I have moved into the village officially, everyone is welcoming me in as family, I am learning with every moment here, and I am happy and eager to continue this adventure. On Monday, September 5^th I start my first day of school and meet with the headmaster. I can’t wait to start working with the kids! Like always, in every free moment I still get homesick and miss my family and friends. It is more difficult than I could have predicted to be so far away. Luckily I am in a great environment and I keep busy the majority of the days—I can only imagine how busy I will be once school starts as well. 

My phone number here is 070-518-3286.  There is something you are supposed to add to the beginning of the number and I think it is +1. Hopefully my dad will comment on this to inform you all. The easiest way to contact me for really cheap is to purchase a calling card. I hear that you can get 30+ minutes for about 4 dollars. Don’t be afraid to call me! You know as well as I do that I would be overjoyed to hear from friends and family back home. There is a ten hour time difference—when it’s ten at night here it is noon your time. Also, I will be posting my address this coming week—it takes about 2-3 weeks to get to me or for my letters to get to you. That’s all for now! Please feel free to call (that means call me! I miss you!)