Here's a little glimpse of what it is like to live in Africa. You think you know, but you have no idea.
- Eldoret is the 4th largest city in Kenya, but the main town is about the size of Farmville, Virginia. Kenya originated as a British colony so the architecture and smells remind me of Colonial Williamsburg. In fact, some of the huts where people live have the same feel as a teepee at Jamestown Settlement; dirt floors, smoky, farm animals grazing in the yard, and chickens fluttering through the living room.
- Pastor William lives in a decent sized one story house. There are 3 bathrooms, only one with a western toilet. Hot water is limited and the drains clog everyday. Walls encompass his house, and jagged pieces of glass line the top of the walls to prevent robbers. (Think of the scene in Bourne Ultimatum, where Jason wraps his hands in cloth as he scales the glass topped walls.)
- The houses further into the village are one room wooden shacks, with tin roofs and dirt floors. There are no actual doors or windows; just holes with curtains shielding the sun. No running water or electricity. There may be a few stools in the house, a table, and one bed. You may spot an outhouse in the backyard. Many people have gardens with various vegetables, or a small plot of land to keep their goats and chickens. 
- There are no stoves, ovens, or refrigerators here. Each morning, we go to the market and buy the food for the day. Cooking eggs for 30 people in the morning takes about 3 hours. We have a small grill, fueled by coals, and a griddle-like pan, large enough to cook one egg at a time. Cooking supper literally takes half the day. We'll start cooking at 3pm and it's not finished until 9pm. These six hours don't produce a Thanksgiving feast like you may assume, just a simple meal of a meat, vegetable, and beans. Because there is only one fire, we have to cook each thing separately and it takes forever. (We are cooking for 30 people in the house, so the average family's meal wouldn't take that long.)
-
- Time in Africa is the opposite of American time. When you're told the bus will arrive at 9am, it really means 1pm if you are lucky. Sometimes the bus won't come until the next day! When my team first arrived, we were told to be ready the next morning by 10am. Of course, we're dressed and sitting at the door ready to go right on time and we didn't leave for the next 3 hours. We now know there is no need to rush in Africa. I'm convinced no other nation in the world cares about time except America. It was a hard adjustment at first, but I see how much more relaxed and happy the Kenyans are without the stress of rushing everywhere.
- The house is a bit overcrowded. 30 people living in 4 bedrooms. Remember- we racers travel with 50lb packs, which is like another person. Our packs take up plenty of space as well. There is not one free inch of space anywhere. I sleep on the floor between Sharon and Audrey. I wake up with Sharon's arm on my chest and my legs lying over Audrey. This is REAL COMMUNITY!
- Kenya is famous for its Chai Tea, a mix of steamed milk, spices, and tea. They drink it for breakfast and at their 4pm tea & biscuit hour each day. (Notice the British influence?) Quite delicious, until I discovered today it contains nicotine! No more chai for me.
- Kenyans LOVE to dance. The first sound of music, everyone drops what they are doing and boogies down. We've had a dance party before supper almost every night. I'm learning all these awesome African moves; these people can groove!
- Kenyans also love music. They are always playing the electric keyboard in the house. Their favorite music is a weird mix between Caribbean beats, 80's electronica, and worship songs.
- Kenyans work hard each day of their life. Whether it be plowing the fields, raising children, or just cooking all the meals; their day starts around 7am and doesn't finish until 11pm-midnight. The men and women are equally strong. Children past the age of ten no longer have a childhood. They're left to watch the younger siblings and help with chores when not in school.
- I feel as if I'm in a time warp, transported back to the 18th century. Life moves so much slower here than America and their tools sometimes seem primitive to me. I'm quite amazed that in a mere 400 years America is the leading nation of the world, when Africa has been around for thousands and is still struggling to get running water.
