Africa: Day 8

Day 8: Kiswahili word of the day- Nyumba = home - We've made it through a week! Time had flown by! It feels like Nyumba here! We began our day with another tabata routine in our hut to start the day out right (Shout out to Sandra MacTavish). I then saw the kids do their morning chores from our window, some were mopping with a stiff straw broom while others were doing laundry or gardening. As we greeted them, Sheila asked me what was on my hand (2 bug bites), I told her I got them overnight. She replied, 'sorry,' which is funny as though she's apologizing for the bug who bit. Today we took some kids (those with the highest grades) on a field trip to see hippos in Lake Naivasha. We took a motor boat and saw lots of hippo heads popping up out of the water. We went to the edge of Cresent Island where we saw pelicans, zebras, giraffes, water buffalo, and impalas. I learned that when momma hippos have a baby boy, they hide it from others for a bit because other dads may try to take it for their family because males are stronger. Cresent Island is where Out of Africa was filmed. Has anyone seen this? After this we ate at a restaurant, Amanda and I have been craving salad .. But they were out of lettuce ... So we had veggies, minus lettuce ... With mayo for dressing ... I do miss home food loads.
I learned some interesting facts about Kenya from Paul, our driver. Passenger vehicles, like mini vans that hold like 10 ppl (used for safaring, too) all have governors installed so that when they approach 80km/h it begins beeping, and when they go over 80, it consistently beeps. Here are a couple salaries ... $4,200 CAD for an annual teacher's salary. $12,000 for a doctor. $75,000 for an average home. Price of gas, about 10 cents cheaper than at home. Kenyan police often bribe people for money in order for them to get out of a charge, or they lie and say they've done something wrong so they can bribe the civilian to rip up the 'fine'. Most Kenyan runners live in the west where they train on hills. They are often from the Kalenjin or Kisii tribes. They are sponsored by big cell phone companies or banks and can keep their winnings but are taxed a lot when they bring it back home. Jamie-Lynn Hauss you and your 2nd wind runners better stick to hills in Stratford.
After our day trip, we danced (Gangnam style), sang, and played games with one home. Then we went over to the other to snuggle up and watch a movie, while 'Daddy Ivan' showed them some videos on his computer of themselves doing karate that day. My mom Sheila Meyer got to meet their sponsor child, Ronny (pronounced Roony) on FaceTime! So cool Then worship songs, read alouds and studying...we're old pros now with routine!