Back and Forth to Nakuru

Hello again!
Sorry for the delay in postings, I've been away from computers for quite some time. Saturday morning we packed up our things and met Blair in the lobby of the Hilton. A short Taxi ride brought us to the Matatu stand, where we purchased tickets for the long ride to Nakuru. I was able to get the front seat for Dad (where he'd be able to stretch his legs at least a little), but Blair and I found ourselves in the back of the bus, trapped by the bars on the windows and the seats that fold down across the aisles to accomodate more passengers. 3 bumpy, dusty hours later, we were in Nakuru, and my dad was beginning to understand what I mean when I say that the roads here are a mess.

We met up with my host father George, recieving a very warm welcome in his office and leaving our bags in his car while we set out for lunch. I was thrilled to be reunited with the usual fare at Mama Njeri's (the very small restaurant where I often eat with REPACTED), and even dad found the $.30 beans and $.15 chapati to be a very satisfing meal. Afterwards we visited the theater and Nuru ya Jamii, and got dad his first bodaboda ride. We also attended a small portion of the "Miss Red Ribbon" beauty pageant at the theater in the evening, in which HIV positive and HIV negative youth vie for the title, and afterwards (when the audience has established it's favorites and selected a winner) it is revealed who is living with the virus and who is not. The idea is to support the young women who are positive by providing them with an opportunity to be celebrated, and also to drive home the point that you cannot and should not distinguish the afflicted from their peers, because all are beautiful and have much to offer. It's an anti-stimga message wrapped up in a lively event for youth that also features "know your status" themes and provides empowerment. Although we could not stay til the end, I was thrilled with the high turnout and the support the audience gave to the performers. It was a very positive occasion.

As evening settled in, George took us out to a restaurant where he bought my dad a drink and Blair and I played pool with Charles. Then we returned home where we met again with my host mother Jane and sister Sylvia, and the youngest daughter Caro who is home from school on break. It was a very pleasant occasion with much conversation and eating of good food and drinking of tea. We also made the final preparations for the next day's mini-safari.

I'm very short on time at the moment, but I will be back near the computer again this evening or early tomorrow, and will explain more about the trip then. Suffice it to say that it has been a positive but relatively uneventful time, and that I am in Nairobi until tomorrow afternoon. I'm sorry for the lack of content, and also the lack of proofreading. I hope that the quality of my writing will improve soon.

Much love,
Chris