sorry it's been so long. Since last Wednesday I've actually tried to get on 4 times but twice there was a blackout in the area of the cyber cafes and twice I just couldn't get to blogger.com. I'm still safe and happy despite the sadness and destruction going on around Kenya. Nowadays, almost everyone I meet here has some relative displaced or on the verge of being displaced by the violence. When I came, people thought it would calm down in a matter of days. People still say that and I hope that that's the case but I really don't know.... the longer this goes on, the more Mojimba (i think that's the word for the regionalism/tribalism that is going on) seems to be occurring.

Last weekend was a little hard. I was just getting to the point of homesickness- missing familiar activities, familiar people, familiar food AND the weather had turned rainy which really just translates into a mess with the roads here. But... on Sunday with some determination and a stop at an "American-style" coffee house and restaurant, Java House, I now feel much better. On Monday I had a wonderful day which included biking to the town Gataka (45 min. away) where they have another center and treating some fungal skin infections and helping them set up a filing system to keep track of the children they're feeding/educating/treating in some way. I walked back with the teacher and SW trading off on the bicycle and we stopped by the roadside halfway home to have some newly picked and roasted corn on the cob. I also taught some members of the family a word game and we had a lot of fun- even though Peter (the father/grandfather/head of the house) cheated terribly. I really enjoy the people I work and live with. I have to say that while there are may similarities to my being here and living in the Philippines I feel more comfortable here. I think this is in part because I'm older (and wiser?) and am just taking things as they come, REALLY focusing on relationships and not worrying so much about accomplishing anything. It's also SO nice to be a nurse and actually have some concrete skills- even though the illnesses and population I'm seeing is different. I think too, that the devout Christianity of the Philippines took me aback a little and this time I was prepared for that (for it's very similar here) and feel comfortable in our similarities and differences.

Other news.... my parents are coming to Kenya by way of Cairo (!) so I am meeting them in Egypt next Wednesday for a trip on the Nile and then we'll return here to spend some time in Ongata Rongai before visiting our family friend Alex in Western Kenya (provided it's safe). I'm so excited for the trip and to see them. And speaking of all things home, yesterday I met people from my home town (St. Cloud, MN) here in Ongata Rongai, Kenya. They didn't seem to know my parents but since the woman Robin Hasselan (sp?) taught child education at SCSU I thought she might know Dee Lamb (Allyssa's mom) which she did. It was so bizarre to find that out. They were visiting the center here b/c (I think) their church (First Presbyterian) supports the center in some way.

I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you all.