Catch-ups...

My heart is so warm. Just warm. J I am amazed that as I returned to Thika, a place where I lived last year for 3 months, people still remembered me. I walked past the shoe-shiners on the street- Uhoro Waithera!! (Hi, how are you Waithera?) To the people who work in the Leens supermarket- “I remember you...you’re the girl who speaks Kikuyu right?” To the motorbike rider who waits near where I used to live. To the friends I met at Qwetu, a restaurant, last year who welcomed me with hugs and kind greetings. To the motorbike hustlers near the Blue Post hotel- 'Waithera!!! Ngai! You’re back!' To the workers at the Jogoo hotel opposite where I lived, one whom even came over to my house to say welcome home one night! I felt very blessed to be able to stop and chat with these people.

Then there is Peris, Danny and John who work with African Children’s Fund. It was great to go and spend some time with them catching up on the goings on and hearing all about their opinions on the Kenyan elections next year.

Then there are my beautiful housemates from last year, Mary and Trizah! It was SO wonderful to spend a night with them, hanging out, being wazimu, dancing, laughing, eating matoke (Trizah’s specialty- like raw bananas, meat and potatoes) and catching up with all the gossip! It was like I had never left.

And last, and certainly far from least...my beautiful brother and sister- Francis and Lilian...AND their new baby girl Sarah (Who is DEVINE) :) Francis’s sister Lucy is also staying with them at the moment and it was wonderful to see her again too. I spent the week (apart from one night) with them. We hung out, went to the market together, ate food and sang songs. My favourite time was going to the marketplace in Thika with Lilian and baby Sarah. I had to carry Sarah on my back as Lilian is unable to do so yet, after her birth. We had to catch the matatu to town...It was a funny sight. Sarah on my back walking through Makongeni (where they live). I get looks usually being a mzungu, let-alone having a baby onboard. I approached the road and had to subtly flip Sarah from my back to my front in order to board the matatu. This was interesting/ funny! Haha. I was able to do it and Sarah was SO good all the way in the matatu, sitting on me. We then hopped out and I put her back on my back. We went to my favourite market looking for Kanga material (brightly coloured cloth) to decorate my classroom with. It was so funny to see the shop-keepers reactions to a mzungu carrying a baby on her back. It was a great trip and I was able to choose several kangas and barter them down to a fair price. I know that they don’t know it...but I have learnt so much from Francis and Lilian. They are very dear to my heart...and am happy that the new super-highway makes the journey to visit them just a bit shorter.