Lost

people have a very strange way of telling you that you're losing weight in kenya. one day i came home and amie said, "you're cutting back." i thought she meant that i was doing as much, was coming home early. and that was true. i hadn't been feeling that well, so i was trying to rest a bit more. but, no, she meant that i was losing weight. then last week, i went to blue house and one of the teachers said, "you've lost." i stupidly said, "i've lost what?" again, he meant losing weight. anyway, i don't know why people think this b/c it's not true. if i've lost any weight, it would mean i'm back to the size i was when i got here. there's no way you could lose weight here b/c all we eat is carbs. i'm thinking i could easily become a vegetarian now :) okay maybe not. afterall, i am going to carnivore tomorrow, a famous restaurant, where they mostly serve meat. i think i'll make up for what i've missed the past 5 months :)

speaking of blue house, when i was there on friday passing out the penpal letters, i walked into the classroom to find that teacher smacking this girl on the head. he didn't seem the least concerned that i was observing this. i hate how they discipline kids here. the fact that this is a christian school really gets to me even more. and i think it makes it harder for me to gain kids' respect b/c i don't carry around a cane, so they're not afraid of me.

did i mention that the matatu conductor that sits in the back of the van and takes money frequently hangs out from the side of the vehicle? yeah, they run and jump into the vehicle while it's moving. yesterday the guy was hanging out the door, leaning from the outside into the front passenger's window, and holding open the sliding door with his foot, all while having a conversation while moving. now that's talent.

the house has been quite full. milly, a girl from kibera, was staying with us to watch elisha while maxine went to kisumu. annie and fairburn, more of peter's siblings, have been staying with us the past few days. they're all leaving with maxine tonight though to go to mombasa. i'm a bit sad for her to go b/c she's so funny. found out that her husband is nigerian and i guess they're planning to move back to africa soon.