Taking a Break

Roy arrived on the 13th November for 3 weeks and i took a week off work. We went to Mombasa and had a lovely time resting by the sea and generally enjoying life - actually eating lots of fish!! Now we're back in Nairobi and it's much cooler weather at just 24-28 degrees and about 12-13 degrees at night. Mombasa was roasting in the mid 30's but felt hotter, anyway Roy and I both have tans! We've really got to know Nairobi, its art Galleries and Museums and we've even joined the Museum Society - Roy went out on a bird walk with them yesterday while i was working and had loads of fun. Its Thanksgiving today, or is it tomorrow? Anyway the US team members have another reason to be happy and very few people are around in the office - gone home to bake those pies!!

Roy and i were invited for dinner by a colleague in my team for traditional Kenyan dinner of Ugali, Sukuma Wiki(spinach like) and beef stew with rice - it was lovely. Interesting to hear from her that she had never had a musungu (white man) to dinner before and that white people had never been in her building (block of flats).Roy was cool and really enjoyed the attention!! I think??

Our son Josh has now settled and is very happy in Rio where he tells me he hopes to stay for the next 6 months - hes just bought a second hand guitar - so if he has to he'll at least be able to sing for his supper! Great to hear all about home but i must admit the media coverage here is all about the stress of the credit crunch and how gloomy things are in the UK - made worse by winter blues too i guess.

With work i now have a routine of sorts and i am just planning my next big trip and assessment to Samburu Central in about 10 days time - so i had better start reading about the Samburu tribe and culture. This should be a really interesting visit as i am going to see my first specialist Children with Disabilities Unit here.

Not looking forward to Roy leaving on the 3rd December and not being able to share Christmas with the family - don't feel too sorry for me though, i have a few other options for Christmas!!

The "Obama Rave"

Obama fever hit the country yesterday in true Kenyan style with the loudest celebrations ever - people everywhere were shouting and screaming with joy when my cab came to collect me for work at 7.30. I have to say that i bet that Nairobi hasn't seen so many happy people on the street in a long time. Its all beyond words really - its just fantastic. In Mombasa they are apparently re-naming a street - Barack Obama Avenue, and they are putting in electricity to his grandmother's place for when he comes to visit.
Today most people are on holiday celebrating but unfortunately that does not include me and loads of others here on the UN campus. I am just off now to Mombasa to train Barclays Bank staff who want to volunteer with street children and need to know how they go about it all etc.
I have been presenting my work and ideas on social care to quite a few people and to the government team, but the amusing thing for me, and somewhat distracting, is their surprise and happiness when they find out that i am Kenyan. I am now getting used to being the Obama in the team and that feeling of being reclaimed is a good one! I never thought that i would say this but i quite like Nairobi, i guess its the variety, and the extremes - nothing is hidden here and it does take time to get used to 'everything being in your face' but this is true Africa, where everything is bright and obvious whether we like it or not. I am really enjoying learning about the different tribes and their customs and i'm trying to find out how these impact on parents and their expectations etc.

Off to buy that newspaper that i will be keeping for ever - someone save me todays guardian!!

ps. When i arrived in Mombasa this afternoon i was taken to a very famous restaurant called Tamarind - guess what? They've made a new cocktail to celebrate the US election result, it's called the "Obama Rave" and consists of - Southern Comfort, Malibu, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine syrup and angostura bitters. Not sure in what measures but it was good stuff!

Happy Obama Day!

Happy Obama Day! - tomorrow Kenya has declared a national holiday - i have never seen such celebrations, with people shouting and crying and singing in the streets - it's amazing here. Joy, happiness and huge expectations. We are all so happy and distracted. Songs have been especially written, i think the Obama raps are the best.

Even i am referred to as "an Obama"- a returning / reclaimed Kenyan!!!  It's great!!

More about this later; i'm travelling to Naivasha again today - back tonight. No national holiday for UN, so i'm back in the office tomorrow.

Love to you all.