THE WORK STARTS HERE

HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO – so I’ve started work, one week done, chalk it off. I finally made my way to Cheryls on Monday morning, through the busy traffic to start my new job and new career really! Everyone has been so welcoming and arms were open wide ready to receive me. As with any new job, I think you always spend your first few days not really sure what to do, aware that all those around you have busy agenda’s for the day and you’re not wanting to become an extra burden. I spent most of the week chatting with Samuel, starting to meet some of the staff and start to add more pieces to my already part built jigsaw understanding of Cheryls. I am also getting used to a totally different working environment. I now have an office of my own, as opposed to working in an open plan office with at least 2 others. It takes a bit of getting used to, but at times the space is nice, but at times I leave the door open just to hear the other sounds from the home. Its weird in many ways we don’t see the kids much at the top end, they are all busy doing school, so during lunch breaks I have wondered down to see some of them and the rest of the staff. Earlier in the week they were shy, would always say hi, but there was always an element of curiosity in each of their eyes. Today though I headed down and they were busy helping move the teachers into their new staff room and many of them were chatting with me and little Pauline was being nice an cheeky which was FAB! Its taken a week, but I have realised I need to just jump straight in, don’t wait for work to come, everyone is so busy already, just go out there and get it, help out, roll up the sleeves and start singing, HEIGH HO, HEIGH HO....

BULL – This week, much of my time has been getting my wheels sorted for cruising on the city streets of Nairobi.... hmmmm... I say cruising I actually mean, crawling along the city streets of Nairobi as I make my long journey to work each day now in my new car. Ok for the girls the all important answer to the question you will ask: ITS RED, and for the boys the all important answer to your question: ITS A NISSAN TERRANO. Its a big thing with a massive BULL BAR on the front. I think I have managed somehow to pick up a bargain (although it has come with a few beaurocratic headaches, but more on that later). It has had low mileage and for the price I was figuring it must have something wrong with it, but its just had service and its all running smooth, so great! So on the one hand I’m sad I have join the masses of big fat muzungu 4x4 drivers..... sorry thats not right, I mean big fat 4x4 muzungu drivers (muzungu meaning white man). We move round the city streets, locked up in our big machines, windows up, doors lock, valuables hidden, driving from one place to the next, to the next, never getting out to walk oh yeah and checking we have locked our doors every 5 minutes. It makes me sad and often I find myself laughing at them until I suddenly remember I’ve become a fully fledged, signed up, bought the Tshirt member of the club. As much as I mock them and realise I’m one of them, I know actually in many ways its necessary. The BULL has taught me this week who ever has the big car with the big BULL rules the road. Since driving the TERRANO (oh yeah I need a name for her, my new car, she is burgundy red and is big and has a shiny bull bar, and well yes needs a name, any suggestions???? Facebook, or text etc....) anyways where was I? Hmmmm... oh yes, since driving her I have managed to get my way through traffic much easier. So although I have joined a club of which I am ashamed, I know it’s the right thing and I’m just that bit safer.

WINDOWS – So a quick word on driving. As the week had progressed I have become more comfortable driving in Nairobi (touch wood). As the traffic wizzes past at a junction I’m getting better at spotting the windows of opportunity to pull out. In the UK at a junction when you pull out you must make sure that there is a MASSIVE window of opportunity, you must never make someone else have to slow down etc. Ok so in Nairobi the windows pretty much don’t exist, if you wait as if you were in the UK in rush hour you would not move for about 1 hour (no exaggeration). Here you make your window.... or at least find the smallest, slightest, tiniest gap and then you go, if the other person has to slow down, so be it, if they have to stop (because you have forced them to) so be it, its the rule of the road, well actually there don’t seem to be many rules on the roads here. So at crossroads, there is no right of way, no first person there goes etc etc you just go when the window comes or when you make it come. The problem now is I’m spotting the windows and getting frustrated at other drivers infront of me who don’t take them.... road rage, the universal road language of the world!

CECIL – Once again I’ve had an interesting week of meeting new folks. One of the most interesting evenings was after watching a presentation of a trip to Mongolia at David’s work we went to the club they are members of, for dinner with a lady called Robyn. Her father is Eric Cecil, an incredible gentleman who is living in the retirement village where David works. He has had such an amazing history and really you have to read the book about him, yes that’s right he has biography written about him, not sure what its called, I’ll get a copy, but google his name and you will find it. We sat and had dinner with Robyn and her stories were fantastic and then we quizzed her about her own life which was also intriguing. Such a nice lady, such a fantastic family, I felt once again blessed by such an unusual night out. I know this is pretty rubbish blog entry as I have really told you nothing about it.... but seriously get the book and you will see!

SIBERIA – ok as I’ve just been talking about books its time I told you about what I am currently reading.... yes thats right for those of you who know me really well you will remember I don’t tend to read much... well I’m reading loads here, mainly because this book is awesome. “Cycling Home from Siberia” by ROB LILWALL. I went to uni with Rob, we were in a ceilidh band and he is just an awesome guy I have had the privilege of knowing. Sadly in post uni life I didn’t stay in touch much, but before I left the UK I had an email about his new book. You think I’m brave, well Rob went to Siberia with his bike and cycled home taking a number of years to do so. His book has just been published, you can get it from Amazon, Waterstones etc etc and it is FAB! I can’t put it down as the old cliché goes. I recommend this book to all, one of the best, fun and most interesting books I’ve read in ages. David and Juliet often find me chuckling to myself as I read another story of his incredible adventure!

SEEING RED – at some point in moving to Kenya I knew I would hit some red tape and Kenyan beaurocracy and on Friday it happened. I have to get a PIN number to buy things like cars, its all to do with tax registration etc, dull dull dull, so just let me skip some details that will bore you. So we went to get the PIN from a government building, he then said we had to finish getting it online... rats....off to find a internet cafe, wend to the building next door which had tiny little offices that help you get the PIN online, takes too long so we say we will come back. Back to the gov building to sort drivers licence (after 3 months my UK one won;t be valid). Filled in the paperwork, queued, find out need my residency permit first. Back to the other building to get the PIN, Got the PIN and head back to the gov building and queue to get my car registered over to me (still need a name for the car!!!). Guy behind the counter looks at the copy of the documents and with a big red pen puts a line through the copy of the ID card of the previous owner. “ITS A FAKE” he says boldly and sits back in his chair. WHAT!!!!!! I ask, I don’t understand, why do you think its a fake (we can barely hear each other through the glass). “This typing is wrong” he says pointing to her name. “Why do you think its fake?” i ask feeling totally confused and a little bit worried! He just points to the card and says its a fake. I question some more, I just don’t understand and eventually he says he will now keep the documents and not give them back. WWWWHHHHHHHAAAAAATTTTTTT!!!!! We push a bit more until he says we should talk to a supervisor. We head to another desk with a seriously confused look on my face and carrying 2 buckets of sweat in my hands.... I’m getting angry, upset and hot!!! RED RED RED RED! I see them talking in the back and eventually another guy comes through. “Hi, how are you today?” he says in a calm and welcoming voice. “I’m very well (am i????). How are you?”. “Good” he says. “Now here is the problem” he starts, as he points to the photocopy of the ID. “The name on the ID doesn’t match the name on the logbook. AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH cher ching (thats the sound of the penny that proceeded to drop). The car belongs to Johns wife and of course the log book is in her maiden name and the ID card is newer in her married name. Now I get it!!!! Why didn’t the first guy just say that???? Hmmmmm problem, they now live in Canada? The nice gentlemen says “Look its no problem, just get them to see a lawyer, sign an avadavat and then send it over, that will do. Still a little tricky but at least we have a solution. Red tape...I think there will be more to come, just the tip of the iceberg.

PLUGGING THE DAM – I’ve discovered that living here will, in some ways, present more a of challenge than I first thought. On Thursday last week, when we were at The Club having dinner, I sat with my fillet steak on the table (courtesy of Robyn who was taking us out for dinner!!) with tears welling up in my eyes. That day I had started to learn more about the current needs at Cheryls. I felt like I had been hit by a train, emotions brewing all day. A girl called Deborah came to the office. She has finished secondary school and is trying to sort her next step. The oldest of 3, her father left when she was 7 years old, her mother can’t cope and provide so Cheryls has been supporting her. She is now 19 years old, the whole family live in a 1 room type thing in Kibera. She has done well at school and wants to do nursing at uni and hopefully transfer to do medicine and be a doctor. We talked about it all, perhaps she could get a scholarship to the UK or USA but the chances are slim? We talked about fee costs for a local uni, it may cost about £1,000 a year and that would pay for uni costs. As I sat eating my steak and really enjoying the time with Robyn and hearing about her father, in the back of my mind I felt incredibly guilty and upset. £1,000 per year, that’s nothing in the grand scheme of things, that money could help Deborah fulfil her dream, it would transform her life, her family’s life and would provide Kenya with another fully qualified female nurse or doctor serving the community. I am living in this Muzungu world, with a good car, good house, nice clothes, a rich lifestyle compared to most of the people I am surrounded by and working with. Yes I know I need the security (its part of the curse of the colour of my skin) and I need space and some comfort in order to do my job, but the guilt started to set in that day. How can I get this money for her and get her to uni? But it doesn’t stop there, we are short of money for food, because of the drought there is no spare food and very few donations of food. The electricity bills have risen by 45% even though its rationed 2 or 3 times a week, some of the school fees have not been paid, some overseas donors have not been able to fulfil commitments because of the world economy, the exchange rates have made it harder, some kids may get sent home from school, teachers and staff salaries have not been paid at Cheryls and the list goes on. For the first time I felt just part of the burden that Samuel has been carrying for many many years. I came home from work that day with a heavy heart and just wondering what to do. I could picture myself standing infront of a dam wall which has leaks, almost like a cartoon drawing. I put a finger in one hole to block it up, another appears so I put a finger in that one. Its not long before I have a finger in 10 ten holes and at the same time there is a pile of bricks laying at the side just waiting to build a fresh new dam wall that is permanent and strong and won’t have any holes. Where do I start? There are ways we can make sure our funding is continual and regular and we starting to put in plans on how to do that, I believe its possible, but getting there? With all those holes needing filling up? That’s the task I face, its the challenge I will meet each day and my conscience will indeed take a regular battering, and rightly so, I must be challenged, but i must too be sensible. I ate my fillet steak, it tasted perfect but I remembered my basic lunch at Cheryls. I live in 2 worlds. I will always live in 2 worlds. But when I can, I must bring them together, that is MY role, that’s my purpose here. Its a privilege, its a challenge and for all you blog readers out there: I can’t do it on my own, I only have 10 fingers! I need help plugging the holes and I need some people to come and build the new dam wall. Who’s with me?