Blogging on the roof

It is currently 5:10pm on Saturday and I am sitting on the roof top of my apartments. To say that my day has been lazy would be a giant understatement. It’s one of those days where you keep the curtains drawn and PJs on all day (even now) and if you do anything watching a movie is about the extent of it.

However, those of you who know me know that I can only have so much of a lazy day before I get antsy and have to change the scenery… so to the roof I came. This is only the second time I’ve been up here, but I can already see that it’s going to be a regular hangout for the next few months. It’s such a good spot to relax with a cup of tea and a good book. You can see most of the town and as I am typing this I can see the Faraja kids walking home for the evening (they got a big kick out of seeing me on the roof). The weather right now is absolutely beautiful; I am hoping that rainy season is finally passing as well.

Webcam snap shots of the view

I really don’t have a ton to say in this blog post, it seems to get harder to write these things after a while. I know living in Kenya seems so exciting to most people, but I reiterate for me it is simply daily life at this point. However I am going to work hard to keep updating. 

Even though I have already been here for two weeks now I feel like I am still adjusting to my new life here. This may be my third visit to this town, but living on your own (as wazungu) in Kenya is nothing like living in a homestay. There isn’t six other volunteers living with me, and there isn’t a host-mum to cook and explain things I don’t understand. I know that soon I will have quite a few updates about my life-style here and hopefully a photo tour of my home.

The Faraja kids had a church camp kind of event that they attended most days this week and will return to school for the new term on the sixth of May. They are all doing really well, happier and healthier than I have ever seen them.   They are such a great bunch and I am consistently reminded how blessed I have been to have them in my life.

I am also going to be doing more work with Living Positive Kenya this time around. Ben is returning to the states next week to begin fundraising for a new class for the daycare center and we will also be looking for sponsors for a few children of the women in the support group soon.

As always please stayed tuned for the latest updates on our projects and my crazy Kenyan life, and don’t forget to check out the LEI website for updates as well.

If anyone has any interesting blog ideas or questions about anything I do here please feel free to email me at Portia.duke@gmail.com I’ve tried to stop blogging before, but everyone protested, so help me out! What do you want to know?
And last but not least… let’s not forget that I have a PO Box and am eagerly awaiting mail from anyone/everyone. Have you sent that letter yet?

Portia Duke
PO BOX 1069-00208
Ngong Hills, Kenya

Kitten Rescue

The first day I returned to Faraja there were two kittens lying just outside the dining hall. They were both skin and bones and they were barely breathing, but after several enquiries the kids and staff assured me they were okay. When I returned to work on Monday I only saw one kitten; a little orange ball of fur so tiny so weak that when one of the toddlers accidently stepped on his tail he didn’t even have the will to retaliate.
I left Faraja so sad to hear about the passing of the other kitten and couldn’t get the orange one off my mind all day. I told Ben about the situation and he said that only a week before I got here the kittens had all been fine. We agreed to bring the kitten to our apartment and try and nurse him back to health.

I purchased some multivitamins, whole milk, and a syringe. Then we went to Faraja to pick up the kitten. When we got to Faraja we found the kitten barely breathing curled up next to a fire the chef had been cooking on. The Faraja staff laughed as we told them our plans to rescue the kitten. The kids looked sad to see their cat go, but were hopeful for a full recovery. As we left the compound our groundskeeper, Elkanah, told us “he is a fighter, he will make it!” I wrapped him in an old tshirt and hugged him close as we walked back home.

Night one was not looking good, the kitten was so weak he would hardly drink the warm milk and vitamins we prepared for him. It was so sad to force feed him each bit of milk. It just dribbled down his little kitten chin with very little actually being swallowed. When he looked too tired to try anymore activity for the night. I nestled him into a shoe box and we heated up a bottle of water for him to snuggle against.

I woke up the next day nervous to check the box. I pulled the rags from over his body and he didn't move but he was breathing more steadily than before. After a morning feeding we tucked him back in and went to work. 

By that evening the kitten had a name (Oliver) and had started to respond to touch and was showing an interest in eating even though he couldn't quite get it down. We continued his feeding and kept his water bottle warm and hoped for the best.

The next morning Oliver had made some big improvements he was responding to touch and trying to play with our hands when we moved him around. He learned to suckle at the milk and in turn he had a hearty breakfast. When we returned in the evening he was much more energetic and on the last check before bed something major happened… Oliver made it out of his box all on his own! His steps were clumsy and his head was a little too heavy and he seemed to be very confused.  He did not seem quite right in the head and that was a scary thought. He took about five steps and ran right into a wall before he lay down and decided that was enough adventure for one night. Again we tucked him in and went to bed, but this time I felt much more hopeful about Oliver’s future. 

The next day I woke up and went to check on the kitty to find the best surprise! He had made it our of his box and crawled half way into my suitcase before deciding he was just too tired for more. I woke him up and pulled him into the center of the room and much to my surprise he started to walk around, only something wasn't quite right. He was walking like a drunk and running into everything in his path. It appeared that his legs weren't quite cooperating with his brain. We ventured to give him some proper catfood and he went crazy. He ate and ate. But he was still walking funny and couldn't seem to find his food if we didn't show him where it was. He just kept walking through the bowl of food and pacing around the walls of the room. He was still so weak that every once in a while he would get tired and fall asleep mid-step. However, with careful observation that day it became apparent that as much as we hated to admit it Oliver was definitely blind. I was excited for the little kitty to be gaining strength at such a rapid rate, but it was a giant blow to realize that Oliver would be so handicapped due to his lack of sight. We cared for him as normal for the rest of the day and by the time I got ready for bed he had worked up a voice and meowed all through the night.

This morning when we woke up Oliver was more active than we've ever seen him. He was running all around the room and just wanted snuggles. Ben gave him a bath and fed him again, then we let him have a nap to keep his energy up. This afternoon has brought some great miracles for little Oliver! He still has a tummy full of food and eats whenever he gets a chance and has been cuddling and snuggling while I type these paragraphs. And the very best news of all is that he has regained his sight!! Little orange Oliver can definitely follow my hand movements this afternoon and there was no way he could do that yesterday. He has finally been allowed to roam the house and he is a little adventurer. Until this afternoon Nala (our grown cat) was very afraid of the tiny new invader, but as now they are curled in a chair peacefully napping together!

It’s been a big day for everyone involved in Oliver’s adventure from the brink of death and I am so happy the kitten was such a trooper. There is no doubt in my mind that he will make a fully recovery and now the biggest issue is trying to decide if we’ll be able to return him to Faraja…. Or if we may just have gained a friendly new furry face around the apartment! 

Back in the +254!

I am back!!! I can hardly believe it still. I left DFW on Thursday at about 6pm and arrived at NBO Friday at 9pm to the best welcome home committee I could ask for! Ben, Tom, Sam, and Hassan, four of my best friends here, were waiting at the arrivals gate with signs that said “Karibu tena Portia!”(welcome back Portia) Having a sign at the airport is kind of a dream of mine and it was so exciting to see! It was so good to see so many friendly faces as soon as I stepped off the plane. “Hope you’re ready to go out tonight!” they greeted me, and I was immediately grateful I had been able to sleep on the plane.
                We piled into the too small taxi and headed towards Ngong. On the ride home we caught up and chatted about all the things that had changed in the last six months and how exciting it was to be back so soon. When the taxi pulled up to our apartments the gentlemen carried my luggage upstairs, I was mighty nervous as they opened the front door to my new home. Ben showed me around and I decided that I was quite pleased with the apartment. It is definitely going to be an adjustment living in Kenya as a mzungu, but it is one I am excited to experience. I washed up a bit and changed from my airplane clothes and we headed to Friends, one of our favorite pubs in town. Being all caught up in the time changes and traveling I had forgotten it was a Friday night, so when we got to Friends most of the patrons were in full weekend mode. After sitting down at a table we ordered drinks and nyama choma. That first sip of Kingfisher combined with the African beats coming from the dance floor made me feel like I had never left the country. It was nice to sit around the table drinking and talking about Football (soccer) and the inconveniences of the rainy season, so unlike my conversations at home, but still familiar all the same. After we had exhausted our time at Friends and I had grown too weary to stay out any longer we returned home and I fell into an exhausted sleep with the music on and our company still lively in the other room.

                My first full day back in Kenya was one for the books! I slept in slightly and when I woke up Ben and lounged about the living room planning for the party we would have later that evening. After a (hot!) shower and some coffee I headed to Faraja to see my kids for the first time in many months. I was so anxious as I walked down the road towards the children’s home. Would they remember me? Would things be different? About half way through the quarter mile walk a car pulled up next me and rolled down his window. “Karibu Kenya” the man said, among a few other friendly seeming things in Kiswahili that left me quite confused. I smiled at the man and started to walk away when the car door opened. Out stepped three women with very big smiles on their faces and it took my brain a few seconds to register that standing before me was Mum Moraa, Becky and Aruse. After about three confused blinks I broke into a fit of laughter and launched myself into a series of enormous hugs. Turns out the women had been on their way to town, but upon coming across me they thanked the driver and we walked back to Faraja together. After walking about another 30 yards I saw a small girl pop out of the gate at Faraja. She turned yelled something in Kiswahili towards the home and then took off running in my direction. I met her half way and picked Nancy up in the biggest hug I've probably ever received. Soon as I put her down I looked up to see more and more kids piling out of the compound squealing with delight. For the next five minutes my world was one of pure happiness as kids jumped and climbed all over me. There was so many hugs and so many people saying my name at once. I didn’t know I could possibly hold five kids at once, but the kids made sure it happened as we clamored back through the gate.
                It was such a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that the kids remembered me. Even the youngest babies who could not talk the last time I was hear were giggling and saying “Poosha! Poosha! Mimi tena!” (Portia pick me up again!) I walked around the compound and greeted every child with a hug, the older kids were especially kind in their greetings and I was so grateful to be welcomed back. Taking in the changes around the home filled me with hope! Things are moving in the right direction and Faraja has come so far in the last year. I will have plenty to write about on this subject very soon!
                After I left Faraja I headed to the juice shop, which if you've heard me say much about Kenya than you know this juice shop is one of my favorite things here. Soon as I walked in Justus and Phillip’s eyes lit up and there was plenty more hugging. I had a mango/passion juice and it was delicious! Every drop tasted like happiness and glee. After chatting about the recent elections and the success of the shop it was time for me to go and Justus informed me my juice was on the house for the day. It was a pleasant reunion and just typing about it makes me thirsty for more.
                Next on the agenda for the evening was to get the house party ready. We stocked up on booze and meat and brought out all the chairs we had. By 11pm our conservatively sized apartment was quite full and out liquor stock was depleting fast. The music was up loud and there was meat on the grill. It was about that time that our power went out. Ben popped his head out our front door and when he came back he said to me, “it’s only our apartment, I think we’re being too loud.” He went downstairs to talk to the security guard and after a carefully placed 100Ksh ($1.25) bribe our power was back on. About thirty minutes later the size of our party had doubled. Cards were dealt, toasts were made, and the bass was booming, everyone was having a great time. At about 2am our electricity was cut again, this time with the promise that our music would not return. Thankfully this didn't ruin the mood and things continued until about 4am. After plenty of nyama choma , 5 bottles of whiskey, 2 bottles of vodka, and 3 boxes of wine it was safe to say that we were pretty well spent. People trickled out one by one until there was finally enough space to sleep.
                I can’t fathom what more I could have wanted from my first 24 hours back in Ngong. This place has been my second home for a long while now, but it can still be nerve wracking to return after an absence. Just walking around town so many people have recognized me and given me a simple welcome back that I really feel like I never left. I am happy to be back on my streets with the good and the bad of this town and I am excited to see where the next six months takes me!

Also, I just got a PO BOX this morning I am I really very excited about it. I would really love to have some mail while I am here so if you're interested in sending a letter my way I would certainly return the favor!

Portia Duke
PO BOX 1069-00208
Ngong Hills, Kenya

Thanks!

Water Project Complete

First off let me say thank you for your patience while waiting to see photos of the completed Faraja projects. I know I should have updated earlier but I needed some time to readjust to American life.

That being said, I am home!!! I am missing Ngong like crazy. My daily routine there was so different and I have some incredible friends who I will not soon forget. I miss my crazy group of Faraja kids and their non-stop giggle inducing antics, but I am happy knowing they are being well taken care of.


For everyone who donated to my Water Project here is what you/I have been waiting for!! When I decided in July that I wanted to provide gutters for the home it seemed like a long shot. The estimates were high and my time was short. However, four months later watching this project come to fruition has been such a rewarding experience.

Joshua, our wonderful fundi, removing the old gutter for repairs on Day 1. 

Building a platform for the very heavy 5,000 liter water collection tank on the boys side.

Removing the small 1,500 liter tank and replacing it with another 5,000 liter tank on the girls side. 

Finished product. Boys side. 

Finished product. Girls side. 

It might not look like the most spectacular thing in the world, but this gutter system will provide the home with much needed FREE water. The tanks should fill quickly after the rains start and the water bills should no longer jumped beyond 14,000Ksh. I am so happy to be able to have provided this system for the home and I could not be more grateful to everyone who donated. Thank you so much from the children, Mama Moraa, and myself! 

As soon as I have updated photos I will post plenty of pictures of the swing-set and slide in use!! So check back soon. Also, for more updates on all things Faraja related and our most current projects please check out the LEI Blog! http://www.longonoteducation.org/lei-blog.html

For about six hour this afternoon my normally peaceful Kenyan home became a chaos zone. As you can see from the footage things in my town were not well today. Allow me to recount my story for you;

This afternoon I was walking home from Faraja for my lunch break. All of the wazungu that I live with had decided to stay in for the morning hours so I was headed to the fruit shop to grab some fruit and then meet them in our home. As I was walking to the shop a man who normally hassles me every time I walk past him decided to walk with me. I would normally find this annoying but he seemed to be in good spirits today, when we were just outside of the juice shop I heard several loud popping noises and turned to my escort and asked what the noises were, "gun shots, from the demonstration" he said. I looked puzzled and asked if I should go home, however when I saw cars racing down the road and people running away from the noise I knew I had my answer. I started walking towards home (okay, awkwardly running in front of cars at some point) the man took it upon himself to walk me home. When we got to my gate he tried sweet talking me and asked for my number as another round of shots went off and I quickly apologized and scurried inside.

Once safely inside my home I found all of my roommates laying on our living room floor, which I am starting to think may have been a bit dramatic, but since the gunshots seemed to be directly behind us I figure it was better safe than sorry. For the next two hours we sat in our room listening to the gunshots and the sounds of the rioting in our town. The media-sphere did it's job as I got regular updates via text message, facebook, and twitter as to what was happening in the streets below. 

After about 2 hours of silence and the reassurance that the military police had come to re-enforce the peace I decided to brave the streets under the supervision of my friend Tash to go buy snacks and some airtime for my phone. As soon as I walked outside I could tell that things had recently been amiss, but at the time they were seeming quiet safe. There was plenty of police patrolling the area and people seemed to be returning to normal. We walked to the supermarket down the road, but they were still not allowing customers into the building. Once we found a place for me to buy airtime I topped up my phone and hung out with Tash for a while. All of a sudden while relaxing, we heard several more gunshots and people started getting a little agitated. I immediately begged to be escorted home and started to fear. However, the walk home was surprisingly normal and people bothered me much less than is typical. After making it back home safely I have decided that I am not up to leaving the house again this evening and I will simply put my faith into the fact that Ngong will be calm again tomorrow morning.

I find it so unfortunate that such a thing had to happen in Ngong Town. This place has always been so safe and peaceful and I feel like with the development of this story people will doubt the things I say when I tell them how lovely Ngong is. I can't tell you how many people are sitting at home tonight thinking, "Riots in Ngong? I just don't believe it." People who have lived here for many years and have never seen Ngong experience anything like this, and with any luck hopefully they will not have to anytime in the near future. I am confident that when we wake tomorrow the smoke will have settled, the transportation will be running smoothly again, and it will be safe for this Ngong resident to walk the street once more. 

I know I have not updated in a while. So for that I give you an exceptionally cute photo today. 

The baby class of the LP Daycare.  

Today my good friend Tash taught me to ride a pikipiki. I am kind of skiddish and panicked every time I drove over a rock, but all in all it was fairly easy. He says with two more lessons I should be road ready.