The original plan had been that Randy would moved to Kenya and I would stay in Calgary and continue my work at Women In Need Society. I love my job, my team and the work we do and felt that I really needed two more years to accomplish the goals I had set out for the organization. WINS has so much potential for growth and it is exciting to be able to lead such an amazing team as they work hard to make a difference in the life's of so many women and families in need.
It has been a goal of Randy's since before I met him 19 years ago to one day work in micro finance in a third world country. After years of focus, taking positions that would build his resume for the opportunity (and not necessarily increase his income), studying and then applying internationally he finally obtained a position at One Acre Fund. It is not easy to obtain an international position unless you have international experience and/or peace corp experience, but finally he got an introduction that opened the door for him. After five interviews and at least three case study presentations a Program Associate role would be his. While I believe he is extremely over qualified for the position it was a step in the right direction.
So I would stay in Calgary as Randy set out on his new adventure to work in Kenya and help make a difference in the life's of farmers and their families in Africa. It turns out he is really enjoying the role and learning a lot. However after his first week or maybe even a day, I quickly realized that staying in Calgary, while my best friend, motivator, coach and love was three quarters of the world away, left me feeling incomplete and heartbroken. Once again I was putting work before my family and personal happiness. Yes I loved to work, did a great job and felt a huge sense of purpose and accomplishment but what did it all mean if at the end of the day I was alone? Within three weeks I knew that I would resign as Executive Director at WINS and follow my heart. Ninety days notice seemed like forever but I knew it was the right thing to do for the organization and I already had a trip scheduled for mid-July that I would still take.
On July 18th with one suitcase packed full of wish list items from Randy and a few clothes for the next two weeks and a folding lounge chair and my yoga mat wrapped together as my second piece of luggage I was at the Calgary airport and ready for the journey to Bungoma. It was a short eight hour flight to Amsterdam, then a 3 hour layover before taking a shorter seven and a half hour flight to Nairobi, where Randy was eagerly waiting for me to arrive. Fortunately I slept a fair bit on both the flights and was able to watch a few movies so the trip was comfortable and happily uneventful. It is interesting to me that you can spend hours sleeping on a plane and arrive more tired than when you left. What is that all about?
At last I was in Nairobi and Randy was at the front of the line waiting for me. We couldn't get to each other fast enough! I desparately needed a hug. It felt so good to be back together.
We were booked into the Hibiscus Motel for the night. The grounds were gorgeous and the main house with a breakfast room and a sitting/ library room was quite quaint with lots of character.
A separate building held a row of hotel rooms. Inside they were clean and comfortable but the outside left a bit to be desired.
We were up for breakfast by eight, which was served in the Main building. The service was excellent and the eggs cooked perfectly. I always order my eggs sunny side up with the yolk very, very soft. As much as I always ask for them that way I don't always get them soft, but today they were perfect.
Our flight to Kisumu was at 10:00 am so after a quick breakfast we were heading back to the airport for the thirty minute flight. It turns out my suitcase was 3 kgs over weight and even though my other bag was under weight, I would have to pay (in Calgary both bags were checked under my name and they were kind enough not to charge me, but in Kenya I was only allowed one bag so Randy was claiming one and because our tickets were not booked together they wouldn't consider an offset). For a mere $20 US we got all my luggage on the plane. You board the plane, they serve you a beverage and a meat bun, and before they can clean up the garbage the plane is landing.
Rogers, our taxi driver was waiting for us at the airport, ready to drive us the two hours to Bungoma. First we would stop at one of the Kisumu grocery stores to pick up a few groceries. I quickly learned that almost anything I could possibly want in the food department was readily available, except for maybe marshmallows and strawberries. We certainly shouldn't go hungry while living in Kenya!
After a quick stop we were back in the car heading to the Marell compound in Bungoma.
The Marell compound is 6 units consisting of three duplexes designated for married employees. Our neighbours had decorated the compound entrance and tiki hut with balloons and were eagerly waiting with bottles of champagne to celebrate my arrival. Or maybe they were just eager to open the champagne? Either away I was overwhelmed with their greetings and hospitality. I definitely felt like I was being welcomed to the family. Unfortunately the jet lag was taking over my body and by 8:00 pm I was so tired I thought I would be ill so off to bed for me it was. Of course then I was wide awake at midnight and couldn't get back to sleep. My sleeping patterns would be a mess for the next several days as I tried to adjust to the nine hour time difference.
Randy was supposed to be taking the first week of my visit off but somehow it didn't quite turn out that way. Monday through Wednesday we got up at 6:00 am and went for a 4.68km run. Then Randy would work for a while, take a few calls or go into the office for a quick meeting. Part way through the day we would walk into town for the days groceries or maybe a stop at the finance office so Randy could sign off a few payments or cheques. Depending on what store we were going to it is between a 15- 25 minute walk. If we were really in a hurry we would take a Boda ( a 2 wheel bicycle with a padded seat, handle bars and foot rests over the back tire). For 35 cents I could ride side saddle as the boda driver cycled me into town. I was a little nervous the first few times ( OK if I am honest, every time) but it does get easier to relax each time you ride one.
Each evening we would eat at the tiki hut with our neighbours. Some evenings it was buffet, where everyone brought something and other evenings dinner was hosted by one of our neighbours. However Randy always offered to bring something and I found myself peeling potatoes one evening
(Really I haven't peeled potatoes in over 40 years), not sure how I got talked into that? Another evening I was making chicken caccatiori and green beans for 14 people. I am thinking maybe I will need to revive my cooking skills or at least learn a few. Except for holidays and often even then Randy has been doing the cooking at our house and I am not sure I even remember how? Our kitchen lacks a microwave so pizza pops are out and left overs aren't an issue since the fridge is only big enough to hold my daily bottle of water, a liter of juice, a few eggs, three yogurts and six beer. Yes the picture below is the fridge. The medal canister sitting on top of the fridge is a water filter system. Water is placed in the top of the canister with a capful of chloride and it filters through into the bottom. Personally I am buying bottled water for drinking and brushing my teeth, but Randy and the neighbours all seem to be managing fine on the filtered water. My head, never mind my stomach is not ready to take the chance so for 50 cents a day I will buy my water.
This is the first gas stove I have had the opportunity to cook on, but don't forget to turn the red switch on above the stove or nothing works.
Thursday we headed to Rondo Resort, which is an amazing resort on the edge of the Kenyan rainforest. The resort was beautifully manicured, with amazing plants throughout the compound. We were escorted to a gorgeous estate like cottage, with a cozy common sitting room with fireplace and four separate bedrooms each with its own ensuite. The rooms were beautifully decorated with hot running water from both the sink a shower. It is definitely a treat to have hot water in the sink.
The cottage has a great wrap around veranda and we felt spoiled to spend time relaxing while they brought us 4:00 pm tea and snacks.
As we sat enjoying our tea, we realized that monkeys were running across the veranda roof, swinging into the tree at the end of the cottage and then crossing the lawn to another bunch of trees. It was so "cool", as we ran out into the yard to catch a glimpse of them. We probably saw a half dozen monkeys that afternoon. We took several walks each day really taking time to "smell the roses" as we explored the waterfalls, fishpond and admired the beauty of the lush forest. On Friday afternoon we got caught in the pouring rain during our walk and the crack of thunder almost had me jumping out of my skin. I certainly let out my own yell in answer to the scare of the thunder.
Our stay at the resort included: breakfast, dinner and supper each day, tea each day a four, a fire each evening and full access to the rain forest and resort grounds. The meals were served in the formal resort dining room by waiters dressed to the nines and were simply delicious. Supper was soup, entree with a salad and dessert. We enjoyed every morsel!
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