PCV in Kenya: Week 16

Monday

I started my Monday off by sending some emails and doing some paperwork. I swept my house and shopped in the market for a few hours. I finally found a rug for my bedroom! On the way to my tutoring session, I picked up sodas for Elma and I and I purchased bajia for myself. Elma and I were meeting at my school today because her offices were closed because Easter was yesterday. I got to school before our schedule meeting, so I was able to catch up with Phan and Principal Richard about our weekends. When Elma arrived, we had a two-hour session and then we went back to the market so we could return our soda bottles. I walked home and got to work cooking. I made popcorn, oat and banana pancakes, and cabbage stir fry. I ended the night with an episode of “Yellowstone” and “Monk”.

Tuesday

Today was the last day of Term 1! I was told not to be late, so I arrived 30 minutes earlier than usual, and we didn’t get started until two hours later than usual ☹ From 10AM until 3PM, we had the closing assembly ceremony and speeches. It was all spoken in Luo which was a bit of a bummer for me because I couldn’t understand anything that was being said while I sat there. When we were officially done with the day and Term 1, I walked home. I picked up bajia with kachumbari on the way home today to celebrate the start of our school break. At home, I continued my celebration by watching “Taylor Swift the Eras Tour” and it was a great way to end the day 😊

Wednesday

I paid Jane to come over today to do my laundry. I then swept my house because there was a hatching of bugs with large wings last night and their dead bodies were all over my house. I then made some jean shorts out of a pair of jeans I found at the market on Monday. Around noon, I walked to the main road and took a matatu to Ragengni to see what their market day was like. I walked around the entire market and it really didn’t feel like a market day at all. On my way out, a nice woman informed me that their market days don’t usually get busy until around 4PM, so I was early. I didn’t stick around, so I will try this market again another time 😊 I took a matatu back home and worked on some paperwork before taking a cat nap with Nala. I heated up dinner and was asleep quickly after my adventures from today.

Thursday

I started my day off early so I could quickly get on a matatu for Kisumu. This was one of the longest matatu rides into Kisumu to date because it took so many stops. Once at the main stage, I walked to West End to see the dentist. I have a sensitive tooth and I want to make sure nothing is majorly wrong. After a checkup and an x-ray, no cavities were found, so they took a mold for a night mouthguard that I’ll need to start using. I then headed downstairs to Chandarana to pick up a card and some flower necklaces for Sheila’s graduation tomorrow. From here, I walked to Tuffoam Mall and got my hair cut for the first time in 6 months! It feels much healthier now which makes me very happy. Next, I headed to KCity looking for some heels to wear for tomorrow and found a pair of white ones. Across the street, I purchased two kitenge patterns because I have some dresses and a bag that I would like to have made from them. I ended my adventuring for the day after this and headed to Mama Gladys’ home. I worked on a friendship bracelet and chatted with Mama Gladys all afternoon and then called it a day.

Friday

I got up and got dressed for Sheila’s graduation! I was so excited to go because I haven’t seen Sheila, Dan, or Mama Margaret since December. Tina dropped me off at the Kisumu Polytechnic University on her way to work. Once here, Dan found me immediately which was so unlikely because there were so many people there. The three of us spent the rest of the day taking photos, talking, and having snacks and soda. In the afternoon, I needed to head out so I could get home before it started raining. Dan left with me so that he could show me his school. He goes to Kisumu Boys Day School now. They let us walk around and it was so fun to see the campus. Dan’s favorite class is art 😊 He and I parted ways after our tour and I headed to main stage to get on a matatu home. This was the best matatu ride I’ve ever had. They gave me more change back than usual, there were only two stops made before I exited, and I got the coveted single seat by the window. When I got home, I collected Nala and all her things from Sammy and made dinner. I caught up on some messages before heading to bed.

Saturday

I was woken up at 1:30AM to Nala going crazy. Turns out, she was chasing and somewhat successfully capturing a bat that had found its way into my house. I called Sammy and thankfully he was awake and came to the rescue by capturing and releasing the bat. I went to sleep still trying to figure out what I needed to do to ensure Nala wouldn’t get rabies. Because of this, I slept horribly. I finished reading “A Clash of Kings” then called Principal Richard to see if there was any chance that he was driving to Kisumu today. Turns out, he was! So, I packed up Nala and took a matatu to Ndori to meet up with him. Our first stop in Kisumu was KFC which I was not complaining about. We then went to the veterinarian and Nala got two different shots to extra prevent her from getting rabies. After this, we drove to a car shop so Richard could get a quote to repair the rear of his car. Someone had hit his car while it was parked in the market the other day. After this, he ran into a store to purchase a few things and then we were on our way back to Siaya. What should’ve been a one-hour drive took over two hours because a storm began as soon as we left Kisumu. We safely made it to my house around 8PM and I had a girl dinner of popcorn and wine while watching “Sex and the City” because it was newly added to Netflix 😊

Sunday

Today was a normal day and I was very thankful for it after the last few days 😊 I made myself pancakes for breakfast while watching “Monk”. I then deep cleaned my house: swept, mopped, vacuumed, etc. It was so satisfying once it was all done, even if it took half of the day. I then worked on voting in the May election because my electronic ballot information came through yesterday. I also completed an online Peace Corps training in preparation for our week-long training session next week. The fundi was supposed to come with the window screens today, but once again, he failed to deliver. Sammy, however, succeeded in putting screens over all of the vents in my house which should help me sleep better knowing snakes and bats have less places to enter. I also submitted my application to be on the Service Improvement Committee for Peace Corps. It is a board of Peace Corps Volunteers and Staff that work together to improve service for everyone involved. Around 4PM, I walked to the market to get juice, flour, blue band (kind of like butter), and bread. I hadn’t been to the market since last Monday and didn’t have any fresh groceries, so I had pre-made Muttar Paneer with an egg sandwich. I have all of next week off, so I am going to try and make some new dishes 😊 I am so glad I packed my ankle-high rain boots when I came to Kenya because during the raining season, the mud is inescapable. I ended the week by starting to read “A Storm of Swords”.

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