The Final Countdown

Apologies for not writing for a few days; they have certainly been busy. This post is going to be brief because (as per usual) I’m exhausted! We’re in the midst of finalizing our data and preparing our reports and presentations for Friday. It’s slowly coming together but it is certainly an exhausting process.

On Saturday we spent the day in Loitoktok, the next town after Kimana at the Boma La Tumaini. This is the same VCT Boma which we attended the group therapy session and spoke to the HIV positive Mamas. This time, we visited for a community service day. We learned how to bead Maasai jewellery and how to make soap. Beading and soap making are the two micro-finance loans that the Boma La Tumaini helps with. The beading was time consuming and difficult but quite fun! I certainly enjoyed it. The soap making was an interesting processes because while one person could theoretically complete the whole soap making process, which takes about an hour, they utilize the whole group and take turns stirring because many women are so weak from the virus. It is interesting to observe the collective nature at work here. After we made soap and beaded (we left the good ones with them to sell), we taught the Mamas how to make origami doves. When I say “we”, I mean my friend Phebe, who is extremely crafty and also conveniently almost fluent in KiSwahili, so she was able to conduct the whole instruction. The Mama’s loved it and the afternoon was filled with laughter and a great time for all. We also all made and shared lunch together, which was very nice.

Afterwards, we went to the Loitoktok market. This market was much smaller than the Kimana market, but they had so many beautiful fabrics- kongas, scarfs, blankets, etc. I have had several pieces of clothing made at the tailor here. They have all come out wonderfully! Also, I have learned to enjoy wearing colourful clothing here; at home everyone says I only wear stripes and neutrals!

The last few days have been entirely consumed with data analysis and report writing. It’s been frustrating and exhausting, but hopefully it will be worth it. It is annoying having our last week in Kimana spent mostly behind the computer screen, but if it brings any positive change it will be worth it! Also, we’re going back to Amboseli National Park on Saturday, which I am so excited about!

I keep remembering that I only have five days left in this incredible place. I am most certainly going to bawl my eyes out when I leave and I really, really hope that I will be able to return to Kenya and to KBC at some point. Besides all of the incredible situations I have already described, the staff here is absolutely wonderful. Be prepared for stories of Moses, Daniel, Sam, Sapaya, and Arthur. I am going to miss this place so much.