Hello Everyone,
Sorry for the delay. I had every intention of updated the blog yesterday but we suffered a power outage right before I wanted to start. Kenya has been rationing it’s water and electricity and at anytime you could lose power.
O.k., on to something more exciting. This is my third full day in Kenya and I feel like I have been here two weeks already. Evans sister Carol and husband Edwin has been taking us everywhere. We have been to the Marketplace, Boma’s of Kenya (I explain what that is in the slideshow), Animal orphanage, tour of Downtown Nairobi, University of Nairobi and Evans old neighborhood and to see relatives. We are planning to travel to Kakamega, Kenya on Wednesday, where Evans mom lives. O.k., its 2am in the morning here and I’m exhausted. I have a lot to say but I’m just too tired. I’ll update tomorrow.
God Bless and be Safe
Hey Ma, Ma and Paul, Cait, Jordan, Joanie, Jim, Gibson, Chinda and International Ministry Dept at FBA
Followers
Hilton Hotel
Pictures from Downtown Nairobi
Pictures from Downtown Nairobi
Kenya's Supreme Court
In front of Jomo Kenyatta
View from KICC
On top of KICC
Landmark in Kenya - KICC Bldg
University of Nairobi
Funny Pic
Cows crossing the street
At the Animal Orphanage
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hello Everyone,
I am so sorry I have not been writing anything on my blog. It is very difficult getting on the web here and once you are on it's as slow as a dial up, it can be quite exhausting. Well, are trip is nearing to the end and we are ready, at least I am, ready to come home. I'm so tired. We have definitely had a wonderful journey.
Last Thursday we drove to Kakamega, Kenya to visit with Evans mom and his grandmother and other family members. It took us 12 hours to drive almost across the whole country and I was so tired and thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I'm so tired it will take a month to recup. It's taken all I have to even write this blog.
I have tried to upload pictures and trying to do that on a dial-up is not happening. We have lots of video but my husband is unable to upload that as well.
O.k., so let's talk about Kenya before I fall asleep.
Remarks by Ericka about Kenya
On Country
I have been asked a couple of times “Is Kenyan what you expected?” Well, it isn’t. I read a lot about Kenya before I came and I asked a lot of questions but I still wasn’t prepared for anything, it’s almost as if I was reading about another Country. It’s been a challenge in some areas for me such as using the lavatory, oh my, on our way to Kakamega there were place we stop to use the rest rooms and there were no toilets just holes in the floor where you have to squat to use. The first time I saw that I wanted to cry like a baby and it took all I had to hold in inside because I didn’t want to worry my husband. I held my urine for a long as I could until the point where I was walking bowlegged. We stopped at a restaurant to use the restroom and I thought I was going to vomit. I had to roll my pants up to my knees and pray to God that I would not get urine all over myself. Ugh, it’s been rough.
Also, the country is having blackouts initiated by the government. They are calling it “rationing electricity.” It can happen at anytime and you have no idea how long it will stay off. Wow, things are quite different.
On Lifestyle
The lifestyle here is very simplistic, meaning there are not as many distractions as we have in the U.S., typically individuals go to work Mon-Fri, come home and eat and start all over again, on Saturday you go to the market and rest and Church on Sunday and laundry.
On Religion
There are a lot of Muslims in Nairobi, as well as the rest of Kenya. I was very surprised to see so many Mosques across the country. I was under the impression most Muslims were in Mombasa near the coast. Most of the Muslims are from Somalia and with the problems Somalian’s are having in their land most of them have relocated to Kenya. Also, there are a lot of Christians in Kenya and they are very serious Prayer and attending Church on Sunday, and that’s all I need to say about that.
On Food
Breakfast is one of the two main meals of the day, the other is dinner so it’s been rough for me because my best meal is lunch and if you don’t eat or take tea you will be talked about, so I’ve been eating out of force or guilt. Dinner is mainly meet and a starch and very little vegetable, usually stew beef, ugali (it’s like cornbread for us but it taste like grits with no salt and butter) and collard greens.
On Money
The American dollar goes a long way, however American stick out like a sore thumb and when you go to the Market the price that you are given is triple the amount. I would not recommend and American to visit Kenya on there own, you must have someone who lives in Kenya to show you around and to be with you at all times because you will be taken advantage of.
On Family Relations
Most individuals are very, very close to their immediate family and they see extended family members on special occasions.
On Tourism
Again, you should not come here on your own without a Kenyan Native to show you around. I have been fortunate to stay in the capital city Nairobi most of the time. Nairobi has a lot to offer but non-residents are charged three times what the residents are charged even though it’s a tourist area.
On the Roads and Traffic
You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. A trip from Nairobi to Kakamega takes about 8-9 hours because of the roads, in the States it will take 4.5 hours. The traffic and driving is horrible (for the Kenyans who are reading this blog, no disrespect intended). New York drivers, roads and traffic have nothing on Kenya drivers, it is something else.
O.k., everyone, I am so exhausted I don’t know how I am going to make it.
God Bless,
Ericka
I am so sorry I have not been writing anything on my blog. It is very difficult getting on the web here and once you are on it's as slow as a dial up, it can be quite exhausting. Well, are trip is nearing to the end and we are ready, at least I am, ready to come home. I'm so tired. We have definitely had a wonderful journey.
Last Thursday we drove to Kakamega, Kenya to visit with Evans mom and his grandmother and other family members. It took us 12 hours to drive almost across the whole country and I was so tired and thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I'm so tired it will take a month to recup. It's taken all I have to even write this blog.
I have tried to upload pictures and trying to do that on a dial-up is not happening. We have lots of video but my husband is unable to upload that as well.
O.k., so let's talk about Kenya before I fall asleep.
Remarks by Ericka about Kenya
On Country
I have been asked a couple of times “Is Kenyan what you expected?” Well, it isn’t. I read a lot about Kenya before I came and I asked a lot of questions but I still wasn’t prepared for anything, it’s almost as if I was reading about another Country. It’s been a challenge in some areas for me such as using the lavatory, oh my, on our way to Kakamega there were place we stop to use the rest rooms and there were no toilets just holes in the floor where you have to squat to use. The first time I saw that I wanted to cry like a baby and it took all I had to hold in inside because I didn’t want to worry my husband. I held my urine for a long as I could until the point where I was walking bowlegged. We stopped at a restaurant to use the restroom and I thought I was going to vomit. I had to roll my pants up to my knees and pray to God that I would not get urine all over myself. Ugh, it’s been rough.
Also, the country is having blackouts initiated by the government. They are calling it “rationing electricity.” It can happen at anytime and you have no idea how long it will stay off. Wow, things are quite different.
On Lifestyle
The lifestyle here is very simplistic, meaning there are not as many distractions as we have in the U.S., typically individuals go to work Mon-Fri, come home and eat and start all over again, on Saturday you go to the market and rest and Church on Sunday and laundry.
On Religion
There are a lot of Muslims in Nairobi, as well as the rest of Kenya. I was very surprised to see so many Mosques across the country. I was under the impression most Muslims were in Mombasa near the coast. Most of the Muslims are from Somalia and with the problems Somalian’s are having in their land most of them have relocated to Kenya. Also, there are a lot of Christians in Kenya and they are very serious Prayer and attending Church on Sunday, and that’s all I need to say about that.
On Food
Breakfast is one of the two main meals of the day, the other is dinner so it’s been rough for me because my best meal is lunch and if you don’t eat or take tea you will be talked about, so I’ve been eating out of force or guilt. Dinner is mainly meet and a starch and very little vegetable, usually stew beef, ugali (it’s like cornbread for us but it taste like grits with no salt and butter) and collard greens.
On Money
The American dollar goes a long way, however American stick out like a sore thumb and when you go to the Market the price that you are given is triple the amount. I would not recommend and American to visit Kenya on there own, you must have someone who lives in Kenya to show you around and to be with you at all times because you will be taken advantage of.
On Family Relations
Most individuals are very, very close to their immediate family and they see extended family members on special occasions.
On Tourism
Again, you should not come here on your own without a Kenyan Native to show you around. I have been fortunate to stay in the capital city Nairobi most of the time. Nairobi has a lot to offer but non-residents are charged three times what the residents are charged even though it’s a tourist area.
On the Roads and Traffic
You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. A trip from Nairobi to Kakamega takes about 8-9 hours because of the roads, in the States it will take 4.5 hours. The traffic and driving is horrible (for the Kenyans who are reading this blog, no disrespect intended). New York drivers, roads and traffic have nothing on Kenya drivers, it is something else.
O.k., everyone, I am so exhausted I don’t know how I am going to make it.
God Bless,
Ericka
Ericka at Atl Airport working on Blog
Evans at Atlanta Airport
Hello Everyone and Welcome to our site
Wow! The title of our Blog is "Our Kenyan Adventure" although it won't be much of an adventure for my husband who is from Kenya, but for me I believe it will be an experience of a lifetime. The only International trip I have ever taken was to Toronto, Canada. Yes, some may say, "we don't really consider that an International trip." O.K., I hear you, but no doubt this will be an exciting venture to an International Country and I am so excited that God has made a way for us to go. Praise the Lord and come with us as me and my sweet husband take this wonderful journey together.
We are almost there. Yeepie!
We are almost there. Yeepie!
Kenyan Newspaper
Pictures of Nairobi, Kenya
Jomo Kenyatta - Kenya's 1st President
Information about Nairobi
Luhya Tribe - Evans Tribe
Downtown Nairobi Kenya
Evans and Ericka
Come Along with us to Kenya
This Blog Site will show only the very best Kenya has to offer. If you are looking for pictures and stories of hardships, political unrest, etc., etc. you have come to the wrong site. Sorry! Kenya is a beautiful country (so I hear) with beautiful people (I married one of them), and this will be my or shall I say "our" opportunity to share with you all the beauty Kenya has to offer. My husband and I look forward to you joining us as I go to my husband's homeland for the first time. God Bless Ericka
Great reading your post.
ReplyDeleteEricka ethnic people are everywhere.
We are all over the globe.
I am happy that you are being
exposed to other great places
and cultures. God has created really
great places all over the world.
You are in a great land, enjoy this
opportunity, embrace the culture &
be free. Love and Peace
Ericka,
ReplyDeleteWow! What a trip! Thanks for your posts and pictures. Best regards to you and Evans and your extended Kenyan family!
-Paul