Kisumu again!

Tried to post the following on Thursday, but internet didn’t work until today…

Decided to come to Kisumu a day early – my day in the field got pushed to Monday and just in case I had problems with getting my visa extended, I thought I would give myself extra time. But everything went off without a hitch and now I’m hanging out at the girls apartment. The past few days in Mbita have been SO HOT! So much more than usual – not sure what is going on. I think I actually got a little burned yesterday.

Took the ferry from Mbita to Lwanda (after dropping off my laundry to get done – clean clothes, yeah!) and while I was on the ferry, this guy approaches me and says, “We have a car on this ferry and we have a few spots.” “Ummm, I’m not sure – how much?” “The same as the matatu, 250.” So I asked if there were others on the ferry going in the car with them too and he pointed out two other people who had given him money for it, so I thought, “why not?” It was actually pretty great – I got the front seat of this sedan car and got a quick ride into Kisumu – way better then getting squished into the matatu with about 2 inches between my head and the ceiling and hitting it all the way. Of course, once we got there, the driver picked up his friend and then wanted to stop and “buy me a fish.” So we went to this area called Tilapia Beach (I actually went there last year) where they fry you a whole fish – he bought one for each of us (me, his friend and himself)! Pretty funny. Anyway, so we had to eat lunch and then he dropped me off at immigration and was on his way – not bad. Then I got my visa, easy as pie, and headed off to the girls’.

Friday…

Today has been productive, but nothing very much exciting to tell you. Got up this morning to pouring rain! That’s a change – it was so nice, totally cooled off. Spent the morning transcribing at their kitchen table – their house lady came to clean. She was really sweet – saying “oh, you are a nurse? You look like a nurse – nurses are always so nice.” J So of course, she won brownie points with me right away. Then I took the matatu from their house into the town center to get some cash, buy some airtime and find some internet! Of course, when I got to the bank to withdraw cash, the ATM wouldn’t work for me. Grrrr. So I had to go inside and there was this never ending line of people – I waited in line for about 40 minutes, but the good news is I could get cash at the end of all of it. Now I’m sitting at the Duke of Breeze hotel, better known as the “rooftop” and drinking a mighty good cup of coffee and writing to you!

Last night I went out with Morgan and some of her friends – we had AMAZING chicken tikka, which is kind’ve like bbq’d chicken Indian-style. Sooooo yummy, with this awesome yogurt sauce and cilantro/cucumber sauce and naan. Totally stuffed myself. It’s been a pretty nice few days – just a little change from the normal day to day and I’m loving it!

I remembered my camera this time too, so pictures are coming in the next day or so. J

Talk to you all after the weekend!