Always An Adventure

SO much to be told from the last two weeks. Maybe it feels like a lot because it's so surprising to me STILL (even after a year of this) that things happen the way they do in Kenya. Maybe it's really not a lot...even so...here are some highlighted stories from the last couple of weeks since Jonathan and I started school.

August 9-Tuesday...a half day for the first day of school. Sounds great right? It is! Except...with 3 days left to teach in the week, it makes for an interesting schedule. Either way, absolutely love being back in 5th grade and love my students!

August 10- Receive my first complaints of the year from parents...here we go! One parent is not happy that I have a sharing policy in my class because their child might have nicer things than another child...Okkkaay. I won't even get into the others...I'll just say the conferences already began.

August 11-KFC comes to Kenya! So exciting for here! We wonder, though, if locals will be as excited as us Americans to have the first American chain here since the first time it came over 30 years ago and failed....SOOOOO....we decide to wait in line opening night. Turns out...opening time at 6 means 7:30. So Jonathan, our friends, and myself watch the KFC team tear down, clean up, and stock chicken for an hour before we decide...it's just not worth it! We don't even like KFC that much. We head down to our other favorite semi-American restaurant for a late dinner (we've waited 2 hours now for KFC, which we didn't get). We sit down at an open booth and actually get kicked out of our seats for a wealthier Kenyan woman who was supposedly waiting for our booth....that was vacant and waiting might I add....Well....4 hours later...we finally get to go home...Rumor has it, people are waiting in lines for over an hour STILL for KFC, so we have yet to try it...I guess the locals did know about it!

Week two started pretty good. Mexican food came back to the stores here as well as peanut Skippy peanut butter...so that was exciting. I won't mention we are on a sugar shortage here, so there is none to buy...but we have mexican food, so I'm going to take what I can get and be happy!

End of week two...not too many stories. We are glad to have made it through the first full week of school.

Today...August 20...a Saturday...I am sitting in my classroom, here at school for Open House. Why am I blogging you might ask? Because no parents are here! There is about a 5% parent involvement at this school...at least that's what it feels like. No one wants to meet their child's teacher or hear about their rules for the year...they don't care...or they just aren't in town. I have to say...it's not the most encouraging day which is really sad. I won't even get into how the morning started with an argument over a coffee order with the barista before we headed to school (I'm guessing this entry is too long already and I'm borderline complaining too much). I am just still amazed at life here.

This is just to give you an idea of what the last two weeks have been like. Please be praying for encouragement, patience, and endurance to deal with all of the cultural differences that are challenging daily! I'll be writing more soon!

Year #2

It's hard to believe all that's happened since I came here one year ago! Last year was an absolute whirlwind between getting used to moving to a new place, new culture, new people, new grade level, AND, a new love. Now that that is past me, it's time to try out a new marriage in a new year...phew! Can you tell how crazy this has all been?

I can't say I am absolutely thrilled to be back. Maybe I shouldn't make that public knowledge, but I never have been that great at faking things. I soaked in every minute I got to spend with people this summer...went to Starbuck's AT LEAST once every day and enjoyed cereal and lunch meat like I'd never had it before. All that to say, Jonathan and I both know we have been brought back here for a purpose. We will for sure be here this year and give it our all. Come December, we will have to figure out if we want to stay longer, so I'm sure my blog posts until then will be interesting. Oh yeah! Jonathan and I...we finally are married! And I love that I get to figure all this out with another person. The wedding went well, the honeymoon ended up being in Italy for 7 days. We had an amazing time and still can't believe all that was seen and done this summer...including that trip! We are beyond blessed to have gotten to do all that we have. And like I said, we loved every minute of it and are loving every minute of being married. We are so lucky to have not had to go right back to work when we arrived in Nairobi. We have had two weeks to get our apartment settled (which let me tell you, needed that long).

When we arrived, we had no power (it had been disconnected even though we payed extra in advance), we had no fridge for food, no shower, and no washing machine...oh AND, our curtains got stolen from the store we took them at to get work done on them. Welcome back we thought! But since that first weekend, our curtains have been replaced, we have had power more often than not (praise the Lord), and all appliances have been installed. Now, it's time to teach!

Teacher orientation started two days ago, and we are hopeful with new administration, we will have a more positive year. I moved to Fifth grade and am very excited about that. Third grade was great, but I think I work better with the older ones. Jonathan has a lighter schedule this year and has lessened his extra-curriculars so that he will not be as worn out as last year (Senior advisor, Student Counsel facilitator, FCA facilitator, PTF treasurer, Girls and Middle school basketball coach....yep...exhausting just writing it all). And as grateful as I am to have such a willing and helpful husband, I will be happy to have him home more for our first year of marriage.

Anyway, that is about it for now. We are both praying for a better year and appreciate your prayers as well! Fingers are crossed this will be more updated more frequently...it is my intention! Blessings to you!