Mombasa, Diani Beach

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Here we are on a glass bottom boat. Jeff and I went snorkeling off the boat, very cool! Our guide gave me a sea urchin to feed the fish, it was a frenzy!

This pretty much says it all! There was a pool very near our cottage and we used it a lot! Jeff loves this hat, made from the palms of a coconut tree. He bought it for about $3 on the beach and was very proud of his bargain.

We all rode camels up and down the beach. This is by far Sam's favorite memory of the trip! He is crying in this pic but he eventually really enjoys himself and is very proud he rode a camel!



Max LOVED the beach!





Sam LOVED the pool!




View from our veranda.

This is the second floor of our cottage. The thatched roof went up about two more stories, like living in the trees. It was a very cool cottage.
This was a great holiday for us! While the cottage was not as close to the beach as we thought, it was a great compound. We saw a lot of monkeys in the mango trees, very entertaining! The pool was nice and the people there were great!


Only eight weeks until we return to Boston. The time is flying! All in all this has been an amazing experience for our family. I am glad to be coming home, but will miss a lot about Kenya and will surely be back!



The kids and Asante update

Max on our mini Safari. We went to Nairobi National Park, about 20 mins from our house, and hired a car a driver for the morning. We saw baboons, giraffes, impalas buffalo, and ostrich. However, the best pics. we got are of the boys!



Searching for the big five! elephants, giraffes, lions, rhinos, hippos. Out of the 5 we only saw giraffes.



Sam after the safari...... fell asleep in his Nutella toast.

We are doing well. The kids have school break for the month of April. We are going to the coast, Mombasa, on Sunday for 6 days. Should be fabulous...will send pics.

ASANTE....update

The last few weeks a friend of a friend has been coming to teach the group new beading skills. Slowly we have been discussing how the project will operate when I leave and I have been very happy and impressed with the women's enthusiasm and initiative. We are currently trying to find a better workshop where I can put the sewing machine and all of us can fit. Thanks again to all of you who made donations. If you didn't get a chance to contribute yet, we could still really use your support. go to www.paypal.com and send your donation to my email rebs.abrams@gmail.com

ASANTE SANA!

Asante Products

Asante


Jambo! Many thanks to all of you who donated money to help us buy a sewing machine! We can now buy a sewing machine as well as needles, thread, and other supplies. Thank you for your generosity!

Currently the best way to donate is through pay pal. You do have to set up an account but it doesn't take long. Go to www.paypal.com, set up an account, go to send money, and enter my email address rebs.abrams@gmail.com. Sorry for any confusion, bear with me, I am learning as I go.

                  Below are pictures of some of the jewelry we are making.



These necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, are made with glass and paper beads.
Recycled magazines are used to make the beads and they are coated with a water proof varnish.
The picture does not do them justice, they are really beautiful. I will hold off on taking orders until I get back to Boston.

Close up of paper beads.


Coming soon... aprons, shopping bags, and little girls' dresses.

Many thanks from Rebecca and the Asante group:
Milka, Isca, Pamela N., Pamela A., Millicent, Beatrice, May, Alice, and Penina







 

Asante

     Asante ...."thank you"

Asante is the brand name of the products we are making for my project in Kibera. I am working with 10 women who are HIV positive and in need of reliable income. I am helping them learn to sew and make jewelry. Currently I provide the materials and pay them for their time.
 I plan to bring the goods back to the states and sell them. My profits will then be sent back to the organization these women are a part of, HAKI.(see hakikibera.blogspot.com for more info. ) My hope is that I will be able to help them start their own business.

We could really use your support. Currently I am hoping to buy a second hand sewing machine to keep in the workshop so all the women can learn to sew. If 10 of you send $10, then we can buy one and you are helping 10 women feed their children, get the medicine they need, send their children to school, become independent, boost their self-esteem etc. etc. etc. It's easy just go to my pay pal account rebs.abrams@gmail.com. and just do it!

In my next post I will include pics of our full line of products.
I will be taking orders, and will hold you to them.
I am also looking for anyone who has a connection to a shop that may be interested in selling the items. Please let me know if you are interested in helping. There are many ways to help, I welcome any and all suggestions.



This is a picture of me and Pamela in our "workshop", a very small room at the HAKI offices in Kibera.




This is a picture of my first meeting with the women who are participating in the Asante project.

The need here is overwhelming. I am not out to save the world but if I can help these women and their families, I believe that future generations will benefit from our efforts. 



                                               Asante Sana ....thank you very much, Rebecca

                                                                     I hope to hear from you.


Kibera...and the kids

                   Kibera

This is me and Charles at the Haki offices in Kibera. Jeff is doing research in Kibera about housing issues. I have been working on a blog for Haki. Charles really needs a website but I do not know how to do it and it is very expensive to have someone do it for me. If any of you out there can help, we would really appreciate it!!!

The Kids

 

The kids are doing well. They are settling into school. Max is still not fully in love with school but he is doing fine. The weather here allows them to be outside most of the time. They will really miss the freedom when we come home!  The pic above is at a playground that is part of a sports club. It the best outdoor playground we found. Of course you have to pay as with everything here. Left pic. Our swimming pool in our patio. It is so small because plastic things like this are very expensive here.  In many cases what is cheap in the States, is expensive here. However, manicures, pedicures, etc. are very affordable!! Hope you are all well! Miss you!!
Keep in touch! XOXO Rebecca

The Kids

Sam napping with a friend at school.

The kids at Margo's house, next door. They have a great yard with a play structure.  The kids love the pool and are often running around naked. Margo's mother and Brigitta, and I have become good friends. 

Sam's birthday. Also in the pic. Antonella and Kingsley, neighbors.  The boys have become great friends with Kingsley and his parents are good friends of ours. 

Sam, Jeff, Brigitta, and Margo

Here we are at a lake about two hours out of Nairobi. We took this boat out to see hippos. 

The kids love the bars on the window!

This is a pic. of The Great Rift Valley on our way to the lake. 

The kids are in their third week of school. It seems to be going ok. I think Max is wishing there was more playtime but he seems to be adjusting.  Last night some of Jeff's colleagues from Boston came for dinner, it was very nice to see them. 

Life here, for us, is pretty good. We keep keep our doors open, during the day, and the neighbors come for tea or a glass of wine while the kids play. We all feel like we are on a sort of extended vacation. 

I have volunteered at an orphanage last week. To my surprise there were more volunteers than kids. So ... there doesn't appear much need there. I think I am going to be helping Jeff with some research he is doing in one of the slums here. 

I have been going food shopping here more than I ever have. I go to the butcher, the green grocer, and Nakumatt (Kenyan Walmart). The food is good but you cannot always find what you want. I have also been cooking a lot as there is no prepared or frozen food here. The kids desperately miss chicken fingers! 

The pace is slow here. Waiting in checkout lines, traffic, waiting for a taxi, general errands take a lot longer here...it can be frustrating. 

On the whole we are doing very well but miss you all terribly!!!! Keep in touch, let me know what you are up to. 

P.S. Everyday here is 75-80 and sunny. One thing I do not miss...... SNOW!

First Day of School, and other misc. fun

Max in his uniform, Sam doesn't have to wear one. The school is called The Key Montessori
School. They require Max to go 5 days/wk. and Sam can do 3-5 days/wk. So far I am very happy with the school. The campus is very nice (Kenyan standards). There is a lot of outside space and the classrooms are big with a lot to do. the teachers are lovely and there are many people there helping out.
Max saw some Kenyan children walking to school by themselves and is desperate to do the same. He wants to take a Matatu to school. I admire the independence but it's not happenin.

This is at The Giraffe Center. There were about 6 giraffes that you could feed and pet. I have never been so close to animals as I have been here. 

This is at Mamba Village. Mamba is Swahili for crocodile. Our guide bravely?, got into the cage with a dozen large crocs and started poking them so we could see their teeth. 

boat ride at Paradise Lost, a picnic area, very beautiful

Max loved riding this horse, his first time! 

At Paradise Lost we were walking around looking at the cows and other farm animals roaming free. Then we just happened upon this camel, no cage. Max wanted to ride it but I am not sure about a camel's temperament so we just looked. You really never know what you will see here!!

This is at a kids restaurant, play area. A train, of course!





Now that the holidays are over, we have been meeting a lot of people. Our neighbors from Denmark are great and have a play structure in their yard that we can use. Our neighbors from Holland have just returned from the orphanage with their son, 31/2. They are also very nice. I am still trying to find a volunteer situation, it is not as easy as I thought it would be. I am hoping to plan a short trip to the coast or to one many of the other parts of Kenya that people keep telling us about. We are doing well! The kids are happy and seem to enjoy a more relaxed/independent lifestyle. Things are different here but not in a bad way, it just takes some getting use to.

MISS YOU ALL!! Reebcca

random shots of life in Kenya

New Year's Eve in Nairobi. Frozen pizza on our laundry balcony. Don't be jealous!
Every one here has some sort of balcony to hang their laundry. You see clothes hanging
every where here. 

Every time we walk to to little market down the street several men try to sell us this fruit. It looks delicious but not worth the risk!

This is the view of our complex from the street. This is Ali (as in Mohammed). He is an askari (guard). He is always smiling and loves the kids. There is one more gate before you get to our house. Ibrahim is the guard there. He is also very nice and loves playing with the kids. All of the guards are from Somalia. We often see them washing their feet in preparation for prayer. They have a very boring job as their presence seems unnecessary. 

Two cuties having super cool popsicles or ice lollies as they are labeled.

All is well. Jeff will be in Boston next week, wish me luck. We are very jealous!
I visited a wonderful school for the kids today. There is an informal admissions process so we do not know if they will be able to go there but I am hopeful!
I miss taking walks with out crazy matatus blowing exhaust in your face. I also miss driving my own car and American TV. and of course, all of you! Take Care, Rebecca

Animal Orphanage

This weekend we went to the Animal Orphanage and the Safari Walk (like a zoo).  It was in Nairobi National Park. We had a great time, it was a beautiful place and as usual the weather was perfect. In the "monkey village" some monkeys were in their cage but many were not. This was both cool and a little frightening. 

This little guy was very interested in our stroller so we gave him a ride.  At the Animal Orphanage several people were pointing at us and saying muzunga (Swahili for white person) as we were looking at the animals, the Kenyans were looking at us. We always get some stares but this was more. They are always very friendly and seem most taken by Sam. One man even took a picture of us. We are always in the minority but it is never a problem.

Jeff started work today. He has to wear a suit! He looked great! We have met a few more people and our neighbor returned today with this new wife. They seem very nice, hopefully they will still be nice after hearing one of Sam' s tantrums at 8 am. I have many more pictures to share but it often takes 10mins. to upload one so I am only able to do a few at a time. Hope you are all well. We miss you! Rebecca