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RANDOM

I finally arrived in Kenya. I haven't slept in forever, but this is
my only time I'm in Nairobi, so I'm venturing out and found this cafe at
the top of a stairwell that's in kind of a mall. I feel pretty
comfortable. My taxi guy said, "don't be afraid. You are welcome
here." Then I started asking if I could walk around and he says,
"don't take anything with you-no purse, no jewelry etc. Then he told
me exactly where to walk, so not completely safe.

There was something cow like on the side of the road and tons of
people. When I asked he said the Masai people have brought their
cattle into the city looking for food and water.

I sat with awesome woman on my 16 hour flight. I called her Annie
from the Congo. She just finished a masters in international law of
some sort and was going back to live in the Congo. Going by myself is
really helping me talk to people. Everyone really nice.

Tomorrow I am flying again when I go out to the Samburu for 4
nights. I am so glad I came early because I don't even want to think
about the flight back.

I am off to buy a frame-hopefully--Liz you know what I'm talking about.

TRAVEL

In less than 48 hours I booked a trip to Kenya and Ethiopia and was off. Joe had a change of heart at the last minute and didn't come with me. Another story. O f course I won't be returning home alone. The flight was, as expected, very long-16 hours after flying from DC and before taking a 2 hour flight for Nairobi. I don't know how to sleep. I'll be flying in a small plane tomorrow when I go to spend four days on safari. Life is good and travel makes it amazing!

KENYA

My head is swimming with experiences and I've really only just got off
the plane! I learned quickly to fib a little so people feel
comfortable and like me.They all want me to be married. When I was
getting my visa into Kenya the official asked me, Why are you
traveling alone. I impulsively said meaning to tell a partial truth,
I had planned to come with someone else, but he got hurt. They seem
to be very out goingly compassionate. The man felt so bad and said,
everyone needs love. I am so sorry for your pain. Next time he will
come with you. so sweet. I've also learned to call Ivan, my husband.
People want to know where he is. I tell them he is expanding our
house to accommodate all of our children. They really like that one
saying, very good, good, good.

I am so messed up with time. I passed out on my bed with my clothes
on around 3:30 in the afternoon. Tomorrow I have to get up early to
catch a plane and when i awoke at 5;30 pm I thought it was time to
catch my plane. i almost went down with my bags when i realized it
was the same sun I'd fallen asleep to.

Spring Nesting

It's home improvement season at our house. Ivan made the kitchen counter look like something new and beautiful! We also now have a safe hand railing to the second floor! It looks pretty good too. I hope we can keep going at this pace. The house will be gorgeous by the time we bring Taye home.

March 18, 2009--9:22 am

I thought it might be a long day of waiting but Amy called at 9:22 am to let me know that Taye passed through court. It looks like we will be traveling in April for sure! Should get more pictures soon.

Loving This Book

Fifteen minutes later: I'm still waiting for news of Taye's court date and busying myself with the blog. I'm almost done reading Abraham Verghese's, Cutting For Stone. It's set in Ethiopia and I couldn't decide at first if I had a bias because of the setting, but alas who can be biased in a 533 page book--I wouldn't keep reading. It's a family saga including love and betrayal. It actually made me wish I'd been a doctor. I've never thought that before. One reviewer describes the book as a "four hour episode of Grey's Anatomy set in Africa." It's so much more!