A Statistical Analysis

As our time here gains momentum, days are counted down, shillings are added and subtracted from purses, and bug bites are tallied with increasing unhappiness. We have discovered that Kenya, undoubtedly, is a place of uncontainable vitality. One that overwhlems at times, one that exhausts at times, but one that will forever escape the compacted descriptions of communication. Kenya is an experience not easily boiled down to a few paragraphs in a blogpost, but here are a few statistics of a wonderful, breathtaking week and a half, as I know it.

Five Things That Should Have Been Brought

5) A More Riveting Read: (sorry Aime Cesaire)
4) Laptop
3) Bathing Suit
2) Outlet Adaptor
1) Anti-Itch Cream: how was this precious commodity forgotten??

Four Moments Lost In Translation

4)The Chicken Incident: First day of school, the Columbia girls spy a live chicken doing normal chickenly actions. Squealing ensues. Glares/eye rolls are recieved from localers.
3)The Razor Incident: I saw some students handling razor blades on the first day of class, alerted the teacher, recieved a less than commital response, got very frustrated when the teacher wasn't understanding what I considered a serious issue of personal safety, then realized they were used to sharpen pencils...oops. embarrassing.
2)The 200 KSH Matatu Incident: yes...we each paid 200 KSH for a 20 KSH matatu. live and learn
1)and I lied...there is no 4th! Pole!

Three Best Eats

3)Breakfast Pancakes: A cross between crepes and the thicker American breakfast favorite, Hoppi's (our housekeeper) thin pancakes have an incredible texture that perfectly rides the division between chewy and soft. The texture on her morning treats is amazing, and every firm bite gives way to a few good chews before dissolving into soft, buttery goodness. Light, sweet, satisfying, amazing! Sugar and butter are favorited accompaniments.
2)Chicken Curry: Hoppi's creation. Fantastic, can't describe it effectively because I have no idea what she put in it. Chicken stewed to marvelous porportions in a sauce with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other Swahili/Indian spices. The natural oils from the free range chicken turned every portion of rice into a buttery and sweetly aromatic experience. Topped off with the best chunks of chicken meat, firm and sweet, this was probably the best chicken dish I've had in a very long time.
1)That Thing I ordered at Pili Pili and Had With Garlic Naan: Not quite sure what it was, but it was an Indian dish with malai (milk) and chunks of vegetarian goodness. The bits of cashew in the sauce made every spoonful of the curry into a rich, nutty, creamy,beautiful blessing.

Two Motorcycle Rides
2) Amazing ride from the ferry
1) and just as amazing back: Decided that I can only date boys with bikes now. Thanks Kenya!

One Meeting with an Ex/Pre Politician, that left the Volunteers with a Cruel Craving for Samosas, and an Unadulturated Hatred of the Phrase "City of Economics"
1) Wish I could even begin to describe this bizarre occurance. but at least we got a free "Mombasa Club Special" out of it! Though it was just orange fanta and some fruit juice and had some bits of cucumber floating around in it, special indeed.

Thanks for tuning in, and join us in the next couple of days for more updates.

-Grace, on the behalf of Melissa and Hannah