Kenya Blog- 2010- By Ellie Shorb
My family and I just arrived in Kenya last night. I am already overwhelmed!
First, though it is August, our first impression off the plane: it is very cool here.... High 60s! Our family has typically traveled to Maine in August, but we have have never been to Africa. How unbelievable it feels to be here. The weather was only the tip of the iceberg so to speak- we've had many surprises in 24 hours! (When we got to our rooms, there were hot water bottles waiting at the foots of our beds).
We are traveling with K-E-S-T (Kenyan Educational Service Trips) under the guidance of the loving Lloydie Zaiser and very friendly, professional, Spurwing Travel (our drivers and safari hosts). K-E-S-T has us in the Nyumbani Children's Village in Kenya where my husband and 2 teens will be staying for a few nights with the HIV+ orphans under the care of Sister Mary. Our first morning, I was amazed to sit down to a breakfast of yogurt, cereal, fruit, crepes, eggs, bacon, coffee, cocoa, to wash down my daily dose of Malarone (malaria prevention pill). We were greeted by Mary, head of the kitchen, with her giant, warm smile, and 2 new 8-week-old puppies!
This place is unreal- the children live as families (up to 14 kids per household) with a house mother. They are delightful and literally "inhale you" as Lloydie puts it. I had a child using my flip video camera and taking pictures of my friend Sage and me. We held babies all morning who were staying in the respite care center for kids from the Lea Toto village who had become too ill for their families to care for. The kids are re-habilitated and returned to home when their conditions improve. The other orphans are permanent residents. My son, daugher and husband played soccer and basketball with other teens from the US vs. a huge happy group of pre-teens and teens from the orphanage. Everyone was BEAMING!
We will eventually visit Makuru and Dandora, two Lea Toto outreach programs in Nairobi, where we will play sports, do crafts, play games and give gifts to the children there.
Finally, the KEST experience will end with a visit to Masai Mara for an evening game drive, a Masai village and school visit, Lake Nakuru for another game drive and a visit to Kazuri to see the folks that make the beautiful beaded jewelry that (thankfully) is very popular for fasionistas in the USA - I will likely buy a lot and bring items back to give to lucky friends. The jewelry and ornaments we purchased already today were extraordinary! In additon, we will look at the Sho Sho baskets and visit Kibera Paper factory.
I cannot wait to see the "big 5" as I am assured we will, but this trip is already more about the darling Kenyan people - their warm smiles, friendly waves, and their welcoming word: "Karibu!" I feel most welcome here!
Photo below used with the kind permission of Supwings' directors Susan & Rafael
Comments(6)