It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

I walked into church this morning to the sound of "Joy to the World", and I thought to myself, "Oh yea! It's Christmas." It has been a strange Christmas season for me without the commercialization of the season, lights on every street, and the lack of seeing my breath outside. It feels more like a summer holiday, with the exception that I have to go to work each day. I walk to and from school seeing the scenes pictured here and the temperature rising each day (Micah and Marla, I think of you often in this climate). It's just plain weird! However, there have been moments that remind me it's December...

My Birthday

The day started with my students bringing me lots of gifts and love. My wonderful room moms surprised me with cupcakes and beautiful flowers.

In the evening my friends threw me a party - a progressive dinner.
Here we're waiting for the main course.

While waiting, Stanley sang me an African song to the beat of the drum.

MORE CHRISTMAS REMINDERS...
The Staff Christmas Party

Christa, Wendy, and I are standing in front of the first Christmas tree I'd seen in Kenya. It was December 6, and our party was outdoors.

Candles and Christmas decorations felt like the season even though we were eating on a patio outside, and I wasn't wearing a huge winter coat.

Christmas is here! I have to keep reminding myself of that because it surely doesn't feel like it!

Hospital Visit 2

I went to the hospital again today. The antibiotics I was prescribed on Sunday didn't work. I was blowing green mucus out my nose all week, suffering major sinus headaches, and dreading my upcoming airplane ride to South Africa. So today I drove to the doctor for some more antibiotics - THE STRONG STUFF! Round two - let's pray it works!

On a good note... I drove to the hospital by myself! This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but it was the first time I drove in a different part of the city than Gigiri, my suburb of Nairobi. Driving a stick-shift in Nairobi with limited skills is something I'm continually practicing, and today I got to practice in a common Nairobi "jam". It was a first, and I was successful! Being that today was also a holiday and I had the day off work, after the hospital visit I drove to my favorite place - the Windsor Resort pool. Sinus infection or not, I was sick of being in bed!

My Hospital Visit

I went to the hospital this morning. After a week of sinus congestion and a serious ear ache yesterday that felt like my head was going to EXPLODE, I decided it was time to go to the doctor. In Nairobi, we go directly to the hospital for medical care, so this morning Wendy, my roommate, drove me to Aga Khan University Hospital (funded by the "pope" of Islam). I was in and out within an hour, which does not occur most days of the week, with drugs in hand and an appointment to come back next week. Already I'm feeling better. Praise God for drugs! Was the Nile trip still worth it, even though it made me sick? Definitely!

I RAFTED THE NILE!

While others were sleeping after a big Thanksgiving meal or getting up early to hit the American sales in every store, I was on a bus from Nairobi to Uganda. After 10 hours on a bumpy, dusty Kenyan road and 3 more hours in Ugandan traffic jams, I arrived at a backpackers hostel. For $5 a night we were provided with a mosquito net, bunk bed, and complimentary blaring music until 3 am. When I awoke the next morning, the purpose of my trip began: WHITE WATER RAFTING DOWN THE NILE RIVER!

Uganda is the source of the River Nile where the wide river rushes creating a myriad of class 4, 5, and 6 rapids. We traveled by raft for 30 km in six hours, hitting four class 5 rapids and a few 3's and 4's. On three of the class 5's we flipped our raft, were sucked under water, and eventually popped up again to careen through wave after wave of water. I think I inhaled half the river.

(This picture isn't actually me. It's some friends in another raft, but it gives you an idea of my experience.)

Kami and I appreciated our Ugandan guide, Henry, who helped us survive the raging rapids. He actually flipped us on purpose most of the time, but we sure had a fun time! As you can see from this picture, I was completely wiped out after our day on the river and a bit dehydrated too.

After a good meal and a shower, we walked back down to the river we conquered. I couldn't believe it...

I RAFTED THIS!

Rafting the Nile River was one of the scariest and most exciting adventures of my life. I think my heart rate doubled most of the day! Although I don't have pictures of the actual rafting experience (It's a little hard to hold a camera while holding on for dear life!), the video is awesome. I can't download a video with African internet, but I'll go into the details of each rapid and the stories of the day when you see the video this summer.

After another night with 90's music lulling me to sleep, I woke up early to hit the bus again and head back to Nairobi. Eleven hours later I was back in Nairobi, headed toward my own comfortable bed, exhausted, sore, and still feeling the bumping motion of the bus. Two full days on a bus and a head cold later, the entire experience was completely worth it. It's been almost a week since my rafting trip, I'm still sick, but I'd do it all again in a second! Rafting the Nile was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I highly recommend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is American Thanksgiving, and unlike most Americans, I had to go to work. Although we were in school at Rosslyn Academy, we enjoyed a celebration of our own: Cultural Diversity Day. We started with an International Thanksgiving Feast in the elementary school, where we ate our fill of foods from India, Korea, Ethiopia, Israel, Uganda, America, and more. The spread was so extensive, it was hard to choose, but everyone had something they liked: American hot dogs, mac and cheese, Swedish meatballs, and Indian curry. I ate way too much!








After feasting, we visited the Cultural Fair where students visited different countries around the school flagpoles and got stamps in their "passports".
We watched presentations, cultural dances, band and choir concerts, cultural games... the list goes on. The most exciting part for my students was face painting and henna. Here are some of the results...Of course I joined in and got a mustache. (Veritas friends, you can see that nothing has changed. Even in Africa I have to get my face painted with the kids!)
By the end of the day, we were all exhausted but had a wonderful Thanksgiving together. It's tough working on a holiday, but I guess I can't complain too much since we had Obama Day not too long ago. :) On the plus side of things, the weather is warm and sunny (80 degrees today), and I get Friday off for Thanksgiving, so don't feel too sorry for me. :)