On my way home, will have more details when I arrive. Elizabeth called and said she is in early labor!! I am racing the stork to get there in time. Presently in London, will board soon and hopefully baby girl will stay put as I cross the Atlantic.
My seatmate from Nairobi turned out to be from an NGO based in London that specializes in reproductive health! Her boss was also on the flight, when we landed he offered me his international cell phone to call home and check on elizabeth and see if the baby had arrived. I was able to reach Ali and found out I still have some time.
Then when I checked in with Northwest they wanted to charge me $150 because I have 3 pieces of checked luggage, one half full suitcase, one empty suitcase and one certain gift for a little boy. Kenya Airways hadn't charged me in Nairobi, I pleaded my case, the Northwest agent took pity on me and me let me go without paying!!!
Life is good.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Birthday in Lamu
Much to tell you about. The internet was down on Thursday and Friday, and so slow in Lamu that I had to wait until today.
I spent last Thursday at the daycare in Ngong. The kids were happy to see me again, though half of them still cry at the sight of my white skin! There are now 90 children there, they have established 2 kindergarten classes, a little nursery school class, and the rest is just day care for the 3 and under. The youngest is 4 months. The parents pay 300 Shillings, $5 per month for their children's school. That way the teachers get paid. Caroline did an amazing job keeping all the children safe during the violence, it became a refuge for the village. I brought blankets that my niece Elizabeth made, ( the link is my two grandmas) during nap time the kids sleep all huddled together on a thin piece of foam.The winter here, which is fast approaching, brings damp rainy cold weather so Caroline and the staff were so excited with the warm fleece blankets. I will post pictures when I get home. The kids had not had medical exams since I left so I spent the day listening to lungs, feeling bellies, looking at rashes. Some are healthy, some needed to see the local clinical officer, 4 I referred to the UK pediatrician who is working at Lea Toto. She graciously agreed to come and see them.
Wednesday was my meeting with the CDC and PEPFAR. It went well, which of course generated the need for more meetings. That comes tomorrow and I should leave there with a plan, and a return date. One can only hope.........
I flew to Lamu on Saturday. It felt so good to be back though it was a reflection of the fallout from the violence that there were only 4 people on the plane. It was great to be recognized (I'm turning into a regular!) and so graciously welcomed back. The owner of the guest house told me that there had been many cancellations and many lay offs. So very sad. The weather was island perfect, hot, humid sunny. Beautiful blue skies, blue water, colorful flowers, green palm trees, whitewashed buildings and clean white sand. I love sleeping listening to the sound of the Indian Ocean and feeling the sea breeze. I spent my birthday sitting in the town center, drinking coca cola baridi (cold) and watching all the activity, wandering the narrow streets,listening to the mix of swahili and arabic, replying to the kids' "jambo" (a short version of hello) and eating samosas.
Later I walked the beach and watched the sun set, a true magical birthday and one I will never forget.
Today I am back in Nairobi, saw my friend Warren last night, love traveling on public transportation with my passport, camera, credit card etc. so far so good though, still have them all. I will teach at nyumbani tonite, sleep there, have my meeting tomorrow again at the cdc, friday during the day I go to the city center for tea with my muslim friend muhammed, buy a certain little boy a very big carved giraffe then fly home on Friday night.
I will post pictures on Sunday. So strange to be here then so quickly back there.
Stay safe Officer Tim, xoxoxo Little boy
I spent last Thursday at the daycare in Ngong. The kids were happy to see me again, though half of them still cry at the sight of my white skin! There are now 90 children there, they have established 2 kindergarten classes, a little nursery school class, and the rest is just day care for the 3 and under. The youngest is 4 months. The parents pay 300 Shillings, $5 per month for their children's school. That way the teachers get paid. Caroline did an amazing job keeping all the children safe during the violence, it became a refuge for the village. I brought blankets that my niece Elizabeth made, ( the link is my two grandmas) during nap time the kids sleep all huddled together on a thin piece of foam.The winter here, which is fast approaching, brings damp rainy cold weather so Caroline and the staff were so excited with the warm fleece blankets. I will post pictures when I get home. The kids had not had medical exams since I left so I spent the day listening to lungs, feeling bellies, looking at rashes. Some are healthy, some needed to see the local clinical officer, 4 I referred to the UK pediatrician who is working at Lea Toto. She graciously agreed to come and see them.
Wednesday was my meeting with the CDC and PEPFAR. It went well, which of course generated the need for more meetings. That comes tomorrow and I should leave there with a plan, and a return date. One can only hope.........
I flew to Lamu on Saturday. It felt so good to be back though it was a reflection of the fallout from the violence that there were only 4 people on the plane. It was great to be recognized (I'm turning into a regular!) and so graciously welcomed back. The owner of the guest house told me that there had been many cancellations and many lay offs. So very sad. The weather was island perfect, hot, humid sunny. Beautiful blue skies, blue water, colorful flowers, green palm trees, whitewashed buildings and clean white sand. I love sleeping listening to the sound of the Indian Ocean and feeling the sea breeze. I spent my birthday sitting in the town center, drinking coca cola baridi (cold) and watching all the activity, wandering the narrow streets,listening to the mix of swahili and arabic, replying to the kids' "jambo" (a short version of hello) and eating samosas.
Later I walked the beach and watched the sun set, a true magical birthday and one I will never forget.
Today I am back in Nairobi, saw my friend Warren last night, love traveling on public transportation with my passport, camera, credit card etc. so far so good though, still have them all. I will teach at nyumbani tonite, sleep there, have my meeting tomorrow again at the cdc, friday during the day I go to the city center for tea with my muslim friend muhammed, buy a certain little boy a very big carved giraffe then fly home on Friday night.
I will post pictures on Sunday. So strange to be here then so quickly back there.
Stay safe Officer Tim, xoxoxo Little boy
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
More awake today.
I had a good night sleep last night, jet lag really is so uncomfortable.
I had sort of forgotten (maybe I didn't want to remember!) how the internet here is such an issue, I had become spoiled at home again. It was down yesterday at Nyumbani and the one at the internet cafe was so slow it took forever. Today I get to use the one at AED, the American organization's offices, so I'm enjoying American speed again.
It's good being here. I feel very safe, everything feels pretty much the same. I'ts very expensive now though, I haven't really seen any food shortages but the price is definitely higher. Taxis are a lot more expensive (gas is cheaper here than in the US) so I had to get my matatu skills back quickly. People are quick to tell me I am safe, that everything is calm now. They are very curious as to what the rest of the world thought.
Nyumbani was great yesterday. I got there about 9 am, so most of the kids had left for school. I went first to the sickroom where I saw John and Sammy K. John was reading a book and didn't see me come in, I stood there and when he lowered the book he just looked absolutely stunned. Then he reached up his arms, got a big smile on his face and tears in his eyes. Brian came in because he wasn't feeling well and had stayed home from school. He stood there and looked like he couldn't believe his eyes. He too just wanted to be held for awhile. The little ones were at school in Nyumbani, again shock on their faces followed by big smiles and big hugs. Mark kept saying over and over Susan Gold Susan Gold.
The hard part about not staying at nyumbani is I'm not there at night. So, I won't be back there until tomorrow. Sr. Julie told me this morning that George asked her if it was true I was back! Hopefully tomorrow I will get there and spend more of the day and stay until early evening so I can see everyone.
The meetings are going well. more to come. It seems like I won't have to be here for as long as we thought when I come back. But, this is Africa,and everything changes all the time!
Pray for Sammy K, they fed him with the gravity feeding bags I brought and he seemed to tolerate it much better so had a much better night. But, it is clear to me he will not survive.
It's good to hear Swahili again, to see the smiles on the kids, to eat the samosas and drink citrus fanta!
I will blog again tomorrow or Friday.
I had sort of forgotten (maybe I didn't want to remember!) how the internet here is such an issue, I had become spoiled at home again. It was down yesterday at Nyumbani and the one at the internet cafe was so slow it took forever. Today I get to use the one at AED, the American organization's offices, so I'm enjoying American speed again.
It's good being here. I feel very safe, everything feels pretty much the same. I'ts very expensive now though, I haven't really seen any food shortages but the price is definitely higher. Taxis are a lot more expensive (gas is cheaper here than in the US) so I had to get my matatu skills back quickly. People are quick to tell me I am safe, that everything is calm now. They are very curious as to what the rest of the world thought.
Nyumbani was great yesterday. I got there about 9 am, so most of the kids had left for school. I went first to the sickroom where I saw John and Sammy K. John was reading a book and didn't see me come in, I stood there and when he lowered the book he just looked absolutely stunned. Then he reached up his arms, got a big smile on his face and tears in his eyes. Brian came in because he wasn't feeling well and had stayed home from school. He stood there and looked like he couldn't believe his eyes. He too just wanted to be held for awhile. The little ones were at school in Nyumbani, again shock on their faces followed by big smiles and big hugs. Mark kept saying over and over Susan Gold Susan Gold.
The hard part about not staying at nyumbani is I'm not there at night. So, I won't be back there until tomorrow. Sr. Julie told me this morning that George asked her if it was true I was back! Hopefully tomorrow I will get there and spend more of the day and stay until early evening so I can see everyone.
The meetings are going well. more to come. It seems like I won't have to be here for as long as we thought when I come back. But, this is Africa,and everything changes all the time!
Pray for Sammy K, they fed him with the gravity feeding bags I brought and he seemed to tolerate it much better so had a much better night. But, it is clear to me he will not survive.
It's good to hear Swahili again, to see the smiles on the kids, to eat the samosas and drink citrus fanta!
I will blog again tomorrow or Friday.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Jet lagged in Kenya
I and my luggage arrived last night. Flights were so crowded but got me here! My driver and Ann's sister Carol were there to meet me at the airport. We created quite a scene. So, I am now back in the land of slooooooow internet. I am rediscovering my patience skills. It's good to be back, partly feels like I never left, but then it's so exciting to see everyone again.
Now for the kids. Sammy K looks awful. He is really non responsive, curled in a fetal position, grinds his teeth. I don't know if he hears me or not. It is so sad.
John is his usual high spirited self, even with a cast up to his hip! Eunice is walking, Fidelis jumped up from her chair and threw herself in my arms.
I will update again after my meeting. I'm trying to stay awake.
Stay safe Officer Tim, xoxoxo little boy.
Now for the kids. Sammy K looks awful. He is really non responsive, curled in a fetal position, grinds his teeth. I don't know if he hears me or not. It is so sad.
John is his usual high spirited self, even with a cast up to his hip! Eunice is walking, Fidelis jumped up from her chair and threw herself in my arms.
I will update again after my meeting. I'm trying to stay awake.
Stay safe Officer Tim, xoxoxo little boy.
Friday, May 16, 2008
One month later
I'm leaving on Sunday for Kenya. I fly out of Madison and land in Nairobi the evening (Kenya time) of Monday the 19th. I have meetings set up with the PEPFAR and AED staff on Wednesday morning. I won't be staying at Nyumbani, will be staying with friends, but will hightail it to Nyumbani on Tuesday morning. I'm bringing the usual assortment of goods and gifts. Most importantly, gravity feeding bags for Sammy K. He can't eat solids and they need a way to drip food into him so he tolerates it and doesn't vomit. Which is what he's been doing for days. A feeding pump is impractical because of electricity issues so this is a low-tech solution. The kids don't know I'm coming, it will be a great surprise and a very happy reunion.
My internet access will be limited but I will for sure (really!) let you all know how the reunion, meetings and Sammy are. I'm anxious to see him with my own American nurse eyes.
My internet access will be limited but I will for sure (really!) let you all know how the reunion, meetings and Sammy are. I'm anxious to see him with my own American nurse eyes.
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