Week 3

So much has happened over the last week. Our group has been through highs and lows. We have had visitors to the clinic virtually everyday, all of them with very wonderful things to say about our efforts. We have been to the big city, Kisii, multiple times and had strange misadventures abound. In the midst of ruthlessly preparing for our safari, we have finished the protected spring project and even gotten the internet set up in the village (the connection I am posting this on right now!).
During our trip to Kisii one week ago, the time of my last post, we ate at a nice restaurant (roasted chicken, fries and a sprite for about $4) which was delicious. We had no trouble packing away the food and going for ice cream at the local Nakumatt (a wal-mart counterpart). The experience was unbelievably extravagant and revitalizing, especially as I witnessed the expressions on Da-Da, Harrison, and Anyango’s faces as they ate this food for only the third time in their lives; they are all about 14 years old. We left the city filled to the brim and ready for the 45 minute drive and five mile walk back to home. Our spirits were soaring and prepared for one last full week of work and experience.
Sunday was one of the more unusual days I’ve had here though. In the late afternoon, Omondi, the eldest brother in the family said, “I’m bored…”
I said, “Alright, want to play chess or cards?”
“Nah, I don’t know how to play.”
“Alright, well I’ll teach you, it’ll be fun.”
“Nah, I’m just so bored…let’s go get some beer.”
As you may be able to imagine, I’m a little ashamed to admit that my eyes brightened by no less than 100 shades, and a wide grin stretched itself across my face. This was going to be a great evening: a beer run…in the middle of nowhere, Africa! We hopped in the car and took off down the really terrible road towards Rongo, the town Omondi now lives in with me chanting, “All we need is a ten and a fiver, car and keys and a sober driver...” Once at the first bar on the outskirts of town, we picked up 4 six-packs of Tusker beer, about $20 so not much difference than the US. It’s good beer; kind of reminds me of PBR, but these were desperate times and even warm, it tasted like heaven. We arrived back at the house, where the girls had already prepared Chipati (I’ll have the recipe when I get back so get ready), and we ate and drank like kings. After dinner, I convinced Japolo (21 year old family friend), Ian (Canadian student here with us), Omondi, and Dr. Young (ObGyn from Dartmouth) to play Kings around the table. I kid you not, the 62 year old Doctor about leapt out of his chair to thrust his hand down while yelling, “Four is floor, four is floor!!!” This event didn’t last long though, as Abbie very coldly and wisely reminded us that drinking games were not a good idea in this setting, the problem being that drinking is not seen by the community as a social event here. Especially by the women, drinking has the stigma of the cause of men going out, wasting the family’s money, cheating on their wives, bringing home HIV, and possibly beating some of the women. This cold splash of water reminded me quickly where I was and why I was here.
This week has been equally as productive, as most of our ongoing projects have finally taken off and culminated in a wealth of improvements that will seriously change the way life is lived here. On Wednesday, we successfully set up internet in the clinic! The proper solar panels were finally obtained to keep power going in the facility. We can now power the three donated laptops and connect to the WEB through a cell phone modem. It’s slow and extremely finicky but we’re able to conduct business from the one of the remotest locations on Earth for an indefinite period of time. There have been several precautions taken though, like the temptation for the general public here to walk off with the computers as they are worth about three years’ wages in this area. We definitely see value in limiting computer time to allow for the proper “Lwala experience,” but at the same time, IT’S EMAIL!
A funny side note: one of the laptops donated was from Sam, a sorority girl that is a close friend and ex-roommate of Dani who is on the trip with us. Dani has raised several thousands of dollars for the clinic through her efforts as the president of Students for Kenya. She is truly an amazing leader. But what to our wondering eyes should appear when we looked in Sam’s computer but an assortment pictures from Dani’s college times, including various poses with other girls and even some candids with a certain fruit. Dani is now immortalized on the desktop of Lwala Clinic computer 2, and her adventures live on in infamy, haha.
On a more important note, the protection of nearby spring continued this week and is now finished! I have lots of pictures of the entire process. It is truly amazing. The men and women hired for the project worked tirelessly to complete this structure before we left so we could be here; it wasn’t easy. As you can imagine, we American’s were quite out of our element when it came to such rampant physical labor, but it’s okay, we contributed how we knew best…by throwing an opening ceremony with punch and cookies when it was finished, heh. Everyone was very appreciative and now the community has basically running water. It is still not safe to drink, despite popular opinion, but it is a far cry from the state of things before we got here; just wait till you see.
Visitors have come and gone everyday here at the clinic. We have had students from the US come and go; our safari drivers were very interested in the project after reading Abbie’s blog and decided to come toake a look. During their visit, they told us what we’ll be doing next week during our safari. In the interest of making you all extremely jealous, here’s the itinerary:

Monday – 9:00 Pickup at Sare Komagombo
12:00 Lunch provided
4:00 Arrive at Lake Necruru for evening game drive (flamingos as far as the eye can see)
7:00 dinner provided and then sleeping in camp
Tuesday – Late morning game drive after breakfast
Giraffes, Rhinos, Buffalo, Antelope
Lunch in the wild
Afternoon game drive before dinner and bed in Massai Marr reserve
Wednesday – Early morning game drive before breakfast
Lions, rhinos, elephants, zebras, cheetahs, more flamingos
Lunch in the wild
Afternoon game drive
Dinner and bed in lodge
Thursday – Morning game drive
Drive to Nairobi, stay in Hilton,
use sit-down toilet
take warm shower

Be prepared for endless pictures.
So all in all, this week has been much more uplifting than the last. I hope this entry finds you all well. I will see you in no time, just one week!

Oriti,
Ben