Ms. Jen

Today has been such a breath of fresh air.

John, Nicholas, and Nora came over at 9 again and showed me to the school. It's the most bizarre walk to school...I walk through some really poor areas, past all the “waiting women”, and through a construction site. The school itself reminds me a lot of Khmer Help Khmer, only more organized, private, and African. I start teaching on Friday and I'm really excited.

Hopefully I'll develop a daily routine: teaching from 8am – 4pm, home by 4:30, relax and read, Lucy gets home around 6, eat dinner, watch Storm over Paradise, then go to bed. Weekends hopefully I can meet up with the other volunteers at least one night. I hope that all works out!

Nicholas and Nora have been with me at Lucy's for a couple hours today...don't know where John is. That's pretty much how things work in Kenya-- “I'll be back soon” actually means I'll be back before tomorrow sometime.

I'll make lunch soon then have the rest of the day to relax and read...and probably sleep. Naps have become a regular part of life, too. I have had a really good time talking with Nicholas and Nora..they're so fun. As good as today was, the thought of doing it for 5 months still makes my eyes water. I could stay here for a couple months, then come home and get a job. I'm 18 and I've never been employed before!

There are a lot of ways to spend time, and I have a feeling that after a couple months I'll feel like my time here is finished, like I did when I left Cambodia. I could have stayed there longer, but there was nothing more that I would have learned, ya know? I think that that will come at about the same time in Kenya. Don't assume that I've already deserted my plans and given up—I haven't. I'm just realizing that there is good everywhere, and my being a volunteer here isn't binding. If there's a point at which I feel complete, there's nothing keeping me here. Especially if I keep missing home as much as I am. It is remarkable how such a miserable morning can be flipped around so quickly like today was, though.

Adjusting. Slowly.

PS- Obama's tribe = Luo Tribe. A lot of the tribes have music-video style commercials for their tribe which usually consist of dancing and singing in a field on a sunny day. And the Luo Tribe are the most hilarious dancers. Youtube if you can find anything.