Cutest Email from my baby :)

Hi Mommy

I just thought I’d tell you that I got to go swimming at Gull Lake today!  I walked in with a little coaxing but mostly on my own and then just little encouragement to a bit deeper water.  Not too deep.  Jade, Andrew, Ryan and Janelle and mom were around to make sure I didn’t drown.  But those little legs just kept on paddling to keep my head above the water. 

Hope you are having a good day!

We will see you soon!

Love Lenny

3 weeks in

I have officially been gone for 3 weeks and so far so good. I've lost luggage, seen a crazy accident, seen wild animals, met some amazing people, some cute kids and gotten sick. Unfortunately I am still sick, just a cough/cold thing. Yesterday I slept all day, which you'd think would have healed me, but it didn't. I went to a doctor today (and I will never be so happy about it only taking 5 - 10 mins to get to the drs office-it took almost 2 hours to get there). She told me I have a virus and it should go away soon. And then she gave me some medicine, and surprisingly it doesn't taste that bad.

Anyways, this weekend was pretty exciting, we went to a tea plantation on saturday. It was super pretty, and we some more monkeys. I'll upload pics to facebook of this eventually, but there was a pretty garden , and we had an amazing lunch there, with like dessert and everything. So that was fun. There was a soccer game on saturday night with the older boys. Apparently there is one every saturday, and they switch with the little boy and the big boys. No I didn't play, I played with the other kids though. They all wanted to know what was wrong with my voice. Then sunday we went to Yeen Lan's (village director) church. It was most like churches in Canada, so it was nice to be somewhere familiar. And for lunch we went to Yaya shopping centre. It was kinda like Village Market. Anyways, ate some chinese food, which was delicious, but not nearly as unhealthy tasting as the Canadian version. And then we went into the market and shopped. I bought some more fun stuff, and then we went to Java House, its like the African version of Starbucks. Sorry, nothing really compares to Starbucks. But Java House did have food and ice cream to eat. I had ice cream, but tried some of Elle's Americano thing.

And early this morning Wendell left. He'd only been here for a week but he was fun. And he made this amazing video of the trip, which he said he'd post on youtube and then send me the link, so I'll for sure be posting it when I get the chance. So thats about it, email me, let me know whats going on in Winnipeg, go visit my baby, go visit my parents, I think they are lonely without me. :) xoxoxoxox

Went back to school this week, its been busy. I started off the week in the kitchen with Emily (one of my roommates from Seattle) and we cut food all day. The onions made us quite emotional, and I now know how to cut a whole chicken up. Its gross. Anyways, Tuesday I started in the classroom. I am the teaching assistant in Grade 5. They are pretty good, kinda drama ish but thats alright. My teacher has me teach gym cause she doesnt know many sports. So we'll see how that goes, I'm still not very athletic, so I kinda just threw a ball and said go play basketball and don't hit each other. Seemed to go well. And then Wednesday I taught science, went decently. Soooo ya thats my life right now. I'm getting sick, which isn't good. But hopefully it'll be gone in a couple days. Got a new room mate from Florida, so the kids think he's more Kenyan then me, so thats to bad, I have been beat. Running has been better, still harder then on a treadmill at home, but good. Anyways, everything else is going pretty good. miss you guys xoxoxooxoxo

First Run

Today I ran outside for the first time since getting to Africa. Normally I'll run at home a couple times a week, but hadn't for about a week before leaving. So its been almost 3 weeks since  a run. But it is so much harder to run here. I wasn't sore, but I was so out of breath.  Its super high elavation so I kind of expected it, but it was way worse then I thought it would be. So hopefully by the time I get home I'll be in crazy good shape and have no problem breathing out here :) OH. and we got new roommates yesterday! There are 4 of them, and they all left on a safari today. They were just in Rawanda for two weeks and two of them will be leaving right when they get back from the safari, the other two will be here for a bit, we think, they aren't to sure, they were like changing flights and stuff. Anyways, thats about it. The whole day was super chilld, didn't really do much, took a nap, ate hot dogs (which I seriously do not like but I somehow manage to eat) and played with the kids. They are pretty great. School starts tomorrow and the kids are excited about it. They are still asking when my mom is coming back, and one asked me to stay till December for her birthday. I'd give you names, but as you can imagine, 97 kids is a little tough to memorize. And I suck at names. xoxooxoxoxoxoxox

Village Market - City Park

 Sooo today we kinda had a day off. It was the last day of 'Games' and they were watching movies all day, so my room mates and I went to the Village Market. It was kinda like a mall on the bottom, with a market on the bottom. I bought presents today, so I can't say exactly what I bought, cause it'll have to be a surprise..but they are pretty sweet, so I kinda want to say. But I'll see if I can keep it a secret for a while. Anyways, on top it was like over a hundred little shops set up, and it was mainly tourists because the mall is super close to all the embassys. So we looked around in the morning, and went for lunch. We met up with some other guys that the room mates knew. So ate with them, went back to the market to buy stuff. And I got one of the guys to barter for me because I am terrible at it. Anyways, after, we went to one of the most amazing places I have ever been. Like I may have been more excited about this place then the safari. Okay...we went to a park. There were MONKEYS... like we took pocketfulls of peanuts, and the monkeys would jump onto you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIke jump onto your shoulder, you could have like 3 monkeys on you at once!!! Like amazing, I want one! They were actually heavy, like when they'd sit on your shoulders or stretch out your arms and they'd reach for the peanuts. Don't worry mom and dad, I wasn't bitten, I was safe, apparently no ones gotten rabies from these monkeys. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera, but other people did...yes in a couple of days it'll prob be my facebook picture. I am so pumped about these monkeys. Like you have to go there if you ever come to Kenya, it is ridiculous, better then holding a monkey on a leash in Mexico. Anyways..so we came back to Rafiki, ate supper with the kids, played with them, then started preparing for tomorrow. We are having a barbecue and we were all cooking. Yes, I do know how to cook if I want to. I hope it turns out alright, it should.

Nothing else is super new, mommy went home yesterday, that was pretty sad. I had to apologize to my house because I really am not a pretty cryer. And ya, all the kids wanted to know about where she went and why she left. It was pretty cute, they were quite concerned. Then all the mommas said they'd take care of me and be my new mommas till I left. And I just realized today that I have two months till home. So far so good, I miss people, but I haven't 'wanted to go home' yet. Which is good cause normally I'm like ready to leave after a couple hours of getting somewhere. Oh and Air Kenya, the people who lost my moms luggage, with half my stuff in it, are going to give me money, so how ever much I tell them things were worth they are going to give me. Which is great and all, its just kinda a hastle to have to go buy everything and find everything...things aren't always easy to find here. Anyways, I'm exhausted. xoxoxoxoxo love you ,miss you guys

A Day in Rafiki Village

So here's a quick post about what I'm actually doing right now. Originally I wasn't going to do this because I thought if people want to know they should actually try to talk to me while I'm out here. But I really don't like repeating the same thing over and over. Soooooooo morning starts super early, like I get up around 6:30, and morning staff devotions are at 7:15 - 8ish, and then I've been helping out with games. I start with the youngest (like kindergarten) to the oldest (grade 6 ish I think) We get a snack, which is generally cookies with this chai tea thing. It seriously tastes like my starbucks chai lattes, just with reg milk instead of soy. Still, it is delicious. Then I go back to playing games, they are different things everyday,today we did charades, four square, bubbles and gymnastics. It is safe to say that there is still no hope of me becoming a gymnast, I'm still not going to be an actress and I suck at bubbles. Oh I still am not a huge fn of four square, but watching the kids was so cute, they got so excited everytime somebody got out , even if it was themselves. Anyways, then we eat lunch from 12 - 12:30. That can be all sorts of things. Today we had ugali, which when I saw it I thought it was mashed potatoes so I was excited. Its not, its like water with some corn meal or flour type thing. So I mixed it with the cabbage and minced meat thing. Not terrible. Oh and we had watermelon , probably the best watermelon I have ever had. The fruit here is amazing. Then we go back to games, and then we had supper, which was like a zucchini stu thing. With yams, like just a baked yam on your plate. And some avacado. It was actually good, like looking at it I wasn't thrilled, but you know I love to eat, and its rude not to eat. And they load your plates up, like sooooo much. And I finish everything. Like seriously when I come home I'm going to look like a contestant on the biggest loser. Like my full time job is going to be at the gym. ANyways, then we go back to our hosue, and do whatever. Sometimes play dutch blitz or uno or something. Sounds pretty amazing I know. But this all changes next week! The kids go  back to school so I think I'm becoming like a teaching assistant or something. I'll do whatever. But the kids are great, they are so cute, all the boys ask me to sit at there table for lunch. Ya, in Africa I get asked to lunch all the time :) But ya, they are pretty great, they ask the best questions. Which I think I've talked about already, but I'll say it probably a million times. Anyways, I'm going for movie night, its getting close to bed time here, we sleep so early..but crazy long days in the sun is exhausting. xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoox

Arriving in the Rafiki Village...

Sorry, haven't really written anything, didn't actually think anyone was going to read this, but my dad told me 'people' were enjoying it, so I figured I'd update it. And sorry, that last post I put that the Masai people did 3 dances, and talked about 2. They did 3 I just cant remember the third. So here you go everyone who is reading this..
I haven't uploaded pictures because this internet kinda takes a while. I put them on facebook, so creep it, or add me if you actually know who I am and look at them. Theres only safari pictures up there right now, but I intend on putting up more of Nairobi and of the Rafiki Village.
So if anyone wants to mail me anything, I've got a nice list of things. My moms bag is completely missing now, like someone took it home with them. Nothing of mine is really missing just my moms clothes. But all my like shampoo, conditioner, gels and hair stuff (Paul Mitchell) is all gone. So when mom leaves i'm going to have to find  a new hair do other then a french braid. But ya..just need to make a list of everything that was in there, thinking i may have put a pair of lulus in there, just really really really hoping i didn't.

Okay, so here at the Rafiki village, i live in a house called Wageni (swahili for guests). Ive got some room mates who seem pretty cool. I do have internet pretty much all the time, so I pretty much have no excuse for not updating anything. But Ya, the kids here are super cute, and super well behaved. The mommas feed you sooooo much, grandma, you've got some competition. Like I eat so so much. Right now the kids aren't in school, so we're playing games with them and making crafts and those type of things. They start back in school on Monday, and they all seem pretty excited to go back. We've been putting there classrooms back together.

Driving is ridiculous here, like i don't think i will ever complain about a pothole again. Really scary though. Like if I got motion sickness it would be terrible, because my motion sickness meds is in our stolen bag. It was really scary, the other day there was a bus accident right outside the gate of Rafiki. The people were screaming like crazy, one person died, he was hanging off the side of the bus, and he jumped into the ditch when he felt it tipping at a turn. He was crushed. And people were injured and being taken to the hospital in the back of trucks. And they called the police but apparently they don't always have cars so ya, that wasn't much help.

Anyways, thats about it. I'm safe and alive and such. Oh, went on a walking tour of Mwiki, a city outside the gate. Its so different. Like theres cows, goats, chickens, pigs, cats and dogs (all dead and alive) all over the streets. Its pretty dirty. But ya, check out pictures, I'll put them up eventually, I promise.

SAFARI DAYS

soo we had no internet access during the safari days, but dont worry, we made sure to take lots of notes! so i'm just copy and pasting some stuff, i mightve missed things..but i'll upload pictures and videos later!

DAY ONE

While you (Winnipeg) were sleeping...
We started off the day with a  plane ride into the Massai Mara. The drive to the airport was kinda sketchy, and soon learned that the rules of the road were no rules of the road. We landed, and began on our safari. We saw Wildebeests. Like crazy amounts of wildebeasts, I've never seen so many of one animal in one place, but they were all over the place. They make the most ridiculous sound, its like a pig/cow/horse sound. Mixed in with them were zebras and antelope look a likes, just mini versions. Seriously every where you go you see these Wildebeests. Then we found a cheetah sleeping under a tree. We were pretty close, close enough to see its whiskers. It was panting, didn't do much. But its eyes are crazy, there not red, but like an orangey brown. I asked if he'll try to jump into the car with us, our guide said he wouldnt jump in but that they have jumped on top of the car and just walked on it. Towards the end of the morning drive, we saw a giraffe. It had birds sitting on it. Fun fact (especially for Dr. Taylor) it has the same number of vertebrae in its neck as humans (7)!
 
HOT HOT HOT
When we drove into our camp, we saw the Massai people and multiple villages, and many cows. They loved hearing we were Canadian, Canadians had built a school for them in the Massai community. Our camp is AMAZING. Like I would camp all the time if we could live like this. Our 'tent' is in overlooking a 'river'. Our backyard neighbour is filled with monkeys!!!!!!! So many of them. They aren't scared of them. When we were taking  a nap, we woke up to see about ten lemurs! Well we think they were, they had like rings around there tails, so we're guessing. We've realized we probably shouldve researched our animals before heading over. Our tent has a flushing toilet and a shower with hot water. The camp has an eating area... We were served a four course meal forlunch. Starting with coleslaw, which apparently I like. And then some Minestrone Soup, and then the main course. This was fish, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes and carrots. Then for dessert we had a swiss role thing covered in chocolate sauce and whip cream. If we got served food like that camping, I'd totally go.
Well they aren't lying when they say Africa is hot. Like crazy hot. I can't even describe the heat, we were taking a nap after lunch, and woke up not wanting to move because it was so hot. It is exhausting. We took off for the second part of the days safari, and got a flat tire. Kinda funny, everyone stopped to check in, and there was a village close by who all walked out to watch! Mom and I got to stand in the sun for a while, just in case we weren't warm enough...

So I'm a pro lion finder...
We went back to find some animals, and found an elephant. It was huge! Like I've only ever seen pictures, but its a must see, its amazing in real life. We kept driving, its funny, there are a crazy amount of other people in the safari trucks, and they all crowd around the second someone stops so they can see what they've found. We were driving towards a huge crowd of cars, and then I looked and saw something in the bushes. And just like you would expect, I started yelling about something in the bush. There were two female lions!! They are huge, they didn't move much, but we were within 8 feet of us. We could see them breathing. Just kinda lay there, one of them rolled over at one point. So I am now a pro at finding lions.  We kept driving to see waht was going on by all the cars..there were SEVEN cheetahs!! One mommy, and six babies. Well not quite your typical cub, but def her grown up baby. They would walk and all the animals would start to run away from it. We watched it chase a warthog for a bit, then it gave up. But the warthog kept trying to get its attention, he was just asking for it. But it never happened. It was crazy, one of the cheetahs walked right up to the cars, like right next to it, and just sat. It was watching an antelope, and we were pretty sure it was getting ready to hunt it. Unfortunately it never did, but still, they like were eyeing each other down. We drove, and found a male lion! Looked like a lazy Simba, cause he didn't move at all. He lifted his head once, that its. I really wanted to go over and do his hair in a bow, like these guys look so soft. I'm sure they are soft, just not so friendly.. I bet it would be pretty cute though.

DAY TWO

I want a Hippopotamus for christmas...
We started the day with some coffee in bed, at a time way to early. 6 am. Thats 10 pm back home. We left camp at 6:30, and started off seeing vultures. They are pretty ugly, and just unfriendly looking. We saw many wildebeests, they were all running together. We then saw hippos! They are funny thins, they all kinda went under water, and when they came up, they'd make a loud exhale and wiggle their ears. Super cute. We were hoping they would open their mouths for us, which they would, just never long enough to take a picture. We also got to get out of the safari truck, which didn't really feel safe, but we did. We kept going and found some buffalo, they look so much different then the buffalo in Canada. We drove to a river thing, where wildebeests were crossing. They were funny to watch, and then a mommy got across and didn't have its baby. So it ran against the rest to find its baby, which were not sure if it ever found it, it got to far away. Then we went to cross a river (they do this alot, instead of building bridges, they drive straight thru) and saw the biggest relative of the antelope, we cant remember what he was called. It never turned around, so we got some great pictures of his bum.

Masai Warrior Village

In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to go into the village. It started off with a nature walk, where our guide showed us the trees that the masai people use for ie toilet paper. We then went to the village. We waited outside the tree gated village for the chief to greet us. He became the chief after he had killed a lion. They have a hunt once a year, where they all go out and find a lion, and whoevers spear kills the lion first becomes the new chief. They then get to wear the mane of the lion...we got to wear it, so we're pretty much chiefs now. The massai warriors then did three different dances for us. The first was in a line, which is meant to represent them all sneaking up to a lion. The second was they created a half circle, and started to jump. Whoever jumps the highestis said to have their pick of women. They then placed the mane on our heads and danced all around us. So we entered the village, the women danced for us, and had us joined in. We're pretty sure they were making fun of us the whole time. Then we watched them make a fire. Then we went into one of their houses. It was tiny from the outside, but when we went in, we learned that half of it was used for baby cows. so it got smaller. Our guide told us that the women build the houses, one women can build a house in a month, and it lasts for two years. They then took us into their market and tried to sell us stuff. It was ridicdulous, their was so much, and they tried to put everything on us. Crazy overwhelming, and if you looked at something closer, someone was behind you and would take it to hold onto for you. It made Mexico look like nothing. So we bought a ocuple things so we didn't give Canadians a bad name.

Monkeying around
This afternoon/evening we just loved the monkeys. I'm pretty sure we watched the monkeys in our yard for a good half hour to an hour. they are so funny, i got a video of them, i'll upload it at some point. then, we went out to our safari ride, and we saw BABOONS! i was so pumped, only 4, and they were pretty far away, but still, they looked like fluffy stuffed animals. just loved them. we spent most of the night finding the leopard, apparently its pretty dangerous. He would jump into the safari jeep thing ... so he was kinda scary. We also found a mommy and baby elephant. so cute, i just want one, the baby one not the big one. apparently they weight 250 pounds when they are born. We also saw 3 female ostriches, they are not nearly as nice looking as the males. We later drove past some lions, 5 of them.! they weren't cubs anymore, but not full grown. there was a male that was beginning to get its mane, just in that awkward stage.They were all just lying there though, so it was kinda disappointing cause they wouldnt move.We saw one yawn though, that was crazy, its teeth are huge. especially when your just a couple feet away.That night we also met other people from rafiki, which was pretty exciting and they answered a million of my questions.  Yeah..not nearly as exciting as other days, we still saw all the wildebeests zebras and antelopes all over the place.

Last/Best Safari drive
This morning, we saw the best animals...we started off by going to look for the rhino, which is apparently the hardest to find  because it has good scent and hearing so it hides the second it hears the truck.Along the way, we saw 3 giraffes, and then there was a fourth hiding in the trees. And walking towards us, were elephants (we think 5 or 6 but have to look at the picture to remember). All sizes! little baby ones, awkward teenage ones and big mommy and daddy ones. And then 2 more walked by. Then we drove a little further and then there was 8 more! and then we kept driving, and found the rhino! just one. It was funny because all the zebras were just watching it, apparently they are scared of him. We drove some more, and there was 6 lions walking!! they walked super close to the car! it was ridiculous, like couldve counted whiskers if we weren't so distracted by them. There were still no simbas though. While driving back, we saw 14 elephants!!! all together!! they may have been repeats, but all at once! and they were pretty far from where we'd seen the original morning ones, so not likely. Elephants are great. along the way to the airport, we drove past SIMBA!!!! he was so close, 3-4 feet away. he was just chillin with Nala by the side of the road.

miss everyone, will load pictures later!! love you and miss you guys!!

Welcome to Nairobi, your bags are comfortable in Paris

So we have safely arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, after 24 hours of flying, like 3 hours of delays and short two bags. Luckily, our safari bag is with us, so we're good for the next three days. Feels like we're in Mexico, here is what we have learned so far:

• They drive on the opposite side of the road. 
• They drive on the opposite side of the car.
• I haven't seen any Starbucks yet...

Paris was short lived,pretty sure we saw the Eiffel Tower, can't be completely sure. Food on the way to Nairobi was kinda gross, but we just found some smore's goldfish crackers, so we'll make it.