Jambo from Kenya!!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the delay in post but securing internet over her and getting settled is a job. Well, I've made it to my new home. I am living in Naboisho Conservancy in Masai Mara. It is a plot of land owned by 500 Masai people who have donated their land. It is beautiful and very wild. Just last night the hyaenas were literally outside my window and at night you can hear the lions roaring just a few hundred feet away. Before I go into my current living conditions, let me explain how i got here.

I arrived late Sunday night in Nairobi where my driver, Bernard, picked me up. Bernard is from Kenya and has lived here all his life. Once I finally figured out which side of the car to get in on, I attempted to get in on the left hand side but I was kindly reminded by my driver that This Is Africa (TIA) and they drive on the left side of the road. We drove to Limuru, outside the city. This is a larger town about an hours drive from the airport. Due to my late arrival, I could not see any of the town so I was very disoriented however, we finally arrived at my home for the night, the Breckenhurst International Baptist Center. When we pulled into the Africa Impact house, I was greeted by a guard carrying a bow and arrow. Yes, a bow and arrow. TIA (remember this). Bernard helped me carry my belongings into the dark house and told me that I would collected at 9 am to head to the Mara. So, I went to bed in a new house filled with other volunteers.

The following morning, I was invited to breakfast by a girl from London. Once I could see my surroundings, I was amazed at how beautiful Limuru was. Limuru is in the highlands so it is all tropical hills. The compound I had arrived at had manicured grounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, coffee shops and conference rooms. I kept thinking this place was more of a resort that a volunteer compound. I met many volunteers while at breakfast. Some were from London, Canada, Australia, the US. After breakfast, I went back to the house to collect my belongs and get ready to be picked up to head to the Mara. So, at 9 am, I was ready to go but I waited.... and waited.... finally the coordinator for my volunteer group called the house and told me that the supplies I was taking with me for a new camp in the Mara were taking a long time to load and it wold be closer to 10. So, 10 rolled around... and still I waited. Finally at 11:00 Bernard pulled up to the house to pick me up. 2 hours late... TIA.

The trip to Naboisho was rumored to be very long due to the road conditions and it lived up this. It took us 6 hours to go 240 km. The first two hours we were on paved roads which led to severely deteriorated roads with potholes big enough to swallow the car to a deeply rutted dirt road. Not only were the roads bad but we were frequently stopped by what I call Africa Road Blocks. These are when some for of livestock or wildlife stand across the entire road and refuse to move. Whether it be cattle, sheep, zebra etc they all like to stand in the road and stare at the car. After 6 hours of bumping around in the car, Bernard turned to me and said "Welcome home Ashlee". I laughed because I thought he was joking. There was nothing around! Surly, I was going to another compound similar to Limuru where there was a nice house with many volunteers and grounds. Nope, my new home is a two room paster and wood home, 3 outhouses, 2 showers and tiny kitchen. When I say we are in the wild I am not kidding. As we pulled into my new "home" I felt a slight pang of panic. This has to be a joke!

I was greeted by Betty, Impact Mara (my project) manager. She is a very nice Masai woman. She showed me to my room that I share with 3 other female volunteers. In total there are 5 of us. One man form Illinois, a younger guy from South Africa, two dutch girls and a Swiss woman. They are all great people and I'm lucky to have them in my group. After the initial shock wore off I began to take in my surrounds and I must say the area was beautiful. There are no fences or barriers so I am in the heart of the Mara. Elephants come up to our dinning room and eat the acacia trees that are 5 feet from the lable. Hyaenas, like the racoons at home, come nightly and eat our trash. Lions wake us up at night as they roar to announce they have made a kill. I know this sounds crazy to you all at home, and I can agree with you on some parts, but I must say I am getting the true African experience here. Yes, that does include cold showers upon occasion, having to sleep under mosquito netting and the nearest ATM being 3 hours away however, I am glad I am here. Limuru would have been a pseudo-african experience. Here, I am thrown in with the Masai people and experience something closer to how they live. I will post pictures of my new home on my next post and you will really see the beauty of this place. Right now I am off to teach computer lessons to the local people. This should be good since I am no computer wiz myself. I will be posting more often I promise. Well, until I talk to you again!

TIA