Kim's U.S. Summer Tour

It's official! I'm coming to the U.S. on June 4! I purchased a ticket today, have been planning with family and friends, and now have a tentative summer tour schedule...

June 4 - Arrive in Portland, Oregon at 9:30 pm

June 12ish - Fly to Alaska for three weeks

July 2 or 3 - Fly back to Oregon and drive to Idaho, spend a week or two in Idaho

July 14ish - Fly back to Oregon for my final days (annual fish fry included)

July 31 - Depart for Nairobi

In four months and eight days I will be hugging family and friends, sitting on a carpeted floor, and eating bagels and cream cheese. I can't wait to see you all! Mark it on your calendars - I'll be in your neck of the woods soon!

I DO work.

I've been asked by previous co-workers and friends if I ever WORK in Kenya. Although it may not seem like it from my blog postings of hiking trips, rafting trips, and trips to the pool, I do go to work most days of the week. Currently, I spend my week days with 24 kids from ten different countries: Kenya, America, Canada, Norway, Korea, Ethiopia, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, and China. We're over half way through our school year, which is unbelievable, and each day I build stronger relationships with my students. I'm proud of them when they persevere and succeed. I cry at home when I don't know what else to do for a child, then I pray. And I laugh at some of the work they turn into me. One such writing assignment, which caused me to chuckle, was a composition on being an expert. This child chose to write about her expertise in shopping...

Fun with Shopping

Are you in need of something other than dingy shirts, or are you a stylish wonder? I am a wonderful expert at clothes. If you are smart, you should accompany me into the world of style! First, you have to wear a stylish outfit. Make sure you also wear comfortable shoes because you may shop for hours. You should make sure to bring a list of everything you want or need because you will see a lot of cute things. One thing you have to bear is a lot of money to shop. You might also need to bring a medium sized bag to hold some things you buy. A great thing to do is to bring a few fashion magazines, so that you can know what's stylish these days. One thing that could make your life simpler, is to bring someone to grasp all of your bags. Finally, a great tip is to not buy everything you see, like a million pairs of clothes. If you have followed my tips, you should be a stylish wonder. Remember, shopping is a way to a great, stylish life.

Is this child a girl after my own heart or what?! Now you see a little bit of what I get to enjoy each work day.

No Holiday :(

Well, inauguration day has come and gone. Kenya didn't have another holiday to celebrate Obama's rise as the most powerful man in the free world. However, you can still buy a conga (sarong type wrap) in the Kenyan market with Obama's face printed on it. When you wear the conga, Obama's smiling face lies in a very strategic spot on your body. Maybe I'll bring one home for my Oregonian friends. Pete and Lins, if I bring you one, will you get a sense of patriotism and hang it from a flagpole outside your house? On a more serious note, whether you are an Obama supporter or not, there is no denying that the next four years will be interesting and exciting.

Another Kenyan Obama Day?

Will Kenya have another national holiday honoring the inauguration of American President Obama? So far there has been no word in favor of another Obama Day, but we are a day ahead of the U.S. here in Africa, so we're still hoping for a day off work. We don't get Martin Luther King Day off, so aren't we due a U.S. inspired holiday sometime in 2009?! I think we may have to wait for the next African American president to be elected whose father is from Kenya. I'll keep you posted.

Christa & Stanley's Wedding

On December 20 my roommate, Christa, got married to a wonderful Kenyan man. Their wedding was an interesting combination of Canadian and Kenyan culture. The ceremony was very similar to ceremonies we're familiar with in North America: walking down the aisle, vows, rings, unity candle, mini-sermon, and the kiss. Differences included applauding after every person spoke, the groomsmen dancing down the aisle (very funny and sweet), and the bride and groom not holding hands during the ceremony (public displays of affection are uncommon between couples in Kenya). Probably the biggest difference was that the wedding began an hour and a half late - common in Kenya, but something Christa was NOT happy about. Her new sisters-in-law kept reminding her it was a Kenyan wedding, and she kept saying, "No, it's a Canadian wedding with Kenyans at it!" She was like many brides - a little anxious. :)

The reception followed with a Kenyan buffet (lots of starchy foods and fruit) and dancing. The bride and groom entered the reception with all the ladies singing and ushering them in.
From there, we all joined in the dancing. Although we didn't dance to YMCA or the Macarena, we definitely had a good time in a conga-style line. As is usual at receptions, there were many speeches. We cried and laughed as the parents of the bride and groom spoke, then we enjoyed some entertainment (mostly singing from famous singers Stanley knows). After cutting the cake, toasting, and receiving gifts, the reception ended, but it wasn't the end of the wedding festivities...

After the Kenyan ceremony and reception, Wendy and I were invited to attend a smaller reception for close family and friends - Canadian style. We ate a big dinner at the nicest hotel in Nairobi, heard and gave more speeches (yes, I gave a speech too), and danced a bit more (no conga-style this time). Overall, it was a beautiful day. Christa looked gorgeous. Stanley looked handsome. And everyone had a good time.

Although I miss having Christa around, I'm glad she's with Stanley. It will be neat to see how God uses them in the future.

(And yes girls, I did Christa's hair. It's tradition - even in Kenya! :)