Mumias First Impressions

We arrived in Mumias, Kenya on Saturday night. After a typical frightening taxi ride from the Kisumu airport we [the other 4 CC interns and I] arrived at the house we are staying at for the next 6 weeks. We are staying in a "compound" where there are 3 houses, some resident goats and cows, and lots of children! When we arrived several members of WOPLAH (the organization we're interning with) were waiting for us with dinner prepared! We sat around a small table and ate traditional Kenyan food which consisted of chicken, a potato and beef dish, chapati, and ugali. Ugali is commonly eaten at every meal in Kenya and is made out of cornmeal and water. It is quite heavy and filling - a good staple if you're trying to get very full very cheaply.

A lot has happened in the first few days we've been here. A goat showed up in our kitchen, we took our first rides on the back of motorbikes, we watched people casually eat termites, we were invited to a neighbor's house to watch the World Cup final, and I watched in horror as a rat ran across my bed. Let's just say I haven't slept on it ever since. It has been very eventful and a bit uncofortable at times but the people we've met already have been some of the most welcoming and kind people I have ever met. 

Gladys, for example, has been hanging out at our house pretty much since we arrived (she even slept here the first night with us); she has made us food, showed us how things work and called us her daughters. I might add that she likes to laugh at us for doing things like screaming about rats and accidently freezing our eggs - oops. Amina has also spent quite a bit of time with us; she has brought us milk in the mornings and also stayed with us the first night. Both of the ladies walked us to the market and helped us buy things like a mop, dishwashing supplies, and lightbulbs. Mark, a local intern our age currently working with WOPLAH is like our big brother and enjoys explaining things to us and showing us around. Finally, there is Edwin, WOPLAH's program coordinator, who we have been skyping with for months. He picked us up at the airport, has taken us to the market to buy fruit and vegetables, took us to three banks in search of one which would allow us to exchange our Tanzanian shillings which no one wants and helped us get our internet setup. I can't even imagine how lost we would be without all of these hospitable people. I am excited to continue spending time with them and learning more about their lives and positions with WOPLAH. 

Here is a photo from our first meeting today with all of the AOH (Ambassador's of Hope) who organize the various projects associated with WOPLAH!