Friday 25 November 2011

First Week in Kenya






Well it is close to 7 full days since we left home.  The trip between Winnipeg and Eldoret was long but uneventful.  We arrived in Eldoret Sunday evening after almost 2 days of travelling and were welcomed fully.  We have been staying at IU (Indiana University) House since Sunday but believe that we have found a house to live in.  The lease is being negotiated.  If we get the house, it will be only about a 15 minute walk to work for me. We hope it works out because there are not too many houses around.  It is a large house (twice the size as ours at home) but with not too much around, we said we would take it. We now have to buy furniture and household items and if any of you know me, you know I do not like shopping.  Maybe I can get Jim to do it all!! 

Alex is registered to go to school at Gulab Lochab.  It is a local school which uses the Great Britain curriculum and has international standards.  Alex may be in for a shock with the strict discipline. We need to make sure that they understand that we will not tolerate corporal punishment.  That is the norm here.  He went for an assessment on Thursday and on Monday we will finish up the registration process.   We were lucky to get him in because the class was full until only one week ago when someone left.  They are out for vacation now and the next term starts January 3 so Alex has a month off with only a bit of home schooling.

Jim has met the fellow he will be working with. Patrick is very happy that there is somewhere here to help him.

Alex has met some new friends already.  Isaac and Jeremy are over playing with him this afternoon.  This makes Alex very happy. This makes me very happy.  Alex is adjusting very well.  I think we are now on Kenyan time as he actually slept until a decent time today versus 3:30, 5:50.  Today he picked passion fruit from the vine and climbed the tree and picked guava.  Ate it immediately.  The boy is adjusting extremely well.

So, all is well.  We are all happy.  Jim will be even happier when he has a place of his own. We have met some great people, Kenyan and American.  There are even some Canadians here. 

Lori