The alternate title for this post is Kenyan Children are little Monsters.
At 5 pm this evening, I made my way over to the gate at Erwan and Marieke's (also Nelli and Matt's) compound to meet up with Erwan for our run. As I walked the 200 feet over to their gate I noticed a bunch of Keyan kids (no older than 10 years old on average) congregating outside the gate. As they saw me approach I could see the glimmer of excitement in their eyes that a Mzungu (white person) was headed their way and better yet she was dressed in exercise clothes (a totally foreign concept to the Luos of Kisumu).
As I got closer their craze escalated - it was like approaching a gang of munchkins. Once I was close enough, the bold one (who was wearing a Miami Heat basketball jersey) started the following exchange:
The ring leader: "Are you a boxer?"*
Me: No, just a runner.
Ring Leader: You can't run - you're fat!
Me: What?
Ring Leader: motioning with his arms out to indicate a big person You're FAT. You can't run.
Me: Uh ok. You are a bunch of hoodlums.
Ring Leader: Where are you from?
Me: now inside the gate Not from a place that is going to talk to you.
The small Kenyan Youth Gang: chuckles and giggles
*Sidenote: There are a select group of Kenyans in this area that do some exercise and it is mainly the boxers - they jump rope and run in sweat suits up the hills in Milimani
I proceeded down to Erwan and Marieke's place in some amount of shock and dismay at this exchange and at the gang activity that was brewing outside their compound. I told them about the exchange and we considered the slew of possibilities at what he was trying to say to me. I suppose that in comparison to Sammy Wanjiru I am fat - but that implies that this child has any clue what the elite Kenyan runners look like. Eventually, we headed out for our run - expecting to run into the kids at the gate.
The security guard had apparently taken my tone during the aforementioned exchange to mean Get this bunch of knuckleheads away from here because when we ascended the hill from Erwan and Marieke's place the kids were gone (except for one - who had a Billy Club - I have no idea how or why!).
We started running and as we approached the sunset hotel a few hundred feet away, I saw my nemesis in the Miami Heat shirt. I muttered to Erwan, 'Ha! What they don't know is that I have no problem beating up children!' My excitement at seeing them again was no match for their overwhelming glee!
As we approached my little friend came to the forefront of the crowd of hooligans and proclaimed 'Oh you can run! You're running!'
Then before we knew it we had about 7 little Kenyan boys running with us. Erwan played right into their little game and loudly expressed, "Be careful! We eat children which is why we are so fat!"
Those little rascals LOVED it! Erwan engaged them - which is likely all they were after in the first place!
They shouted through laughter, "We don't believe you! You don't eat children!"
So we invited them to come over on Saturday so we could show them that we would eat them for breakfast!!!
Eventually they dropped off and we continued our run...despite how fat we are!
What that little monster doesn't know is that at mile 23 during the Disney marathon, when I need motivation I will hear his little voice yelling You can't run, You're Fat! and I'll show him!!!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Happy Hero's Day (Formally Kenyatta Day)!
Today is a national holiday here in Kenya. I can't say that I really understand what we are celebrating nor could anyone really explain it to me as anything other than We get the day off from work. As a result, I will get to work on some analysis and thesis related stuff from home today.
Not a lot to report. Lots of running and working. The days are getting warmer.
A special thanks to Chris Kenny for sending some new yoga videos. We did one last night!
This post is mainly to provide this link to stunning pictures of my niece, sister, and brother-in-law: http://smileuponyourface.com/blog
I can't stop looking at how freaking amazing these pictures are! Nicely done Casey (Carisa's friend who shot the pictures).
ashley
Not a lot to report. Lots of running and working. The days are getting warmer.
A special thanks to Chris Kenny for sending some new yoga videos. We did one last night!
This post is mainly to provide this link to stunning pictures of my niece, sister, and brother-in-law: http://smileuponyourface.com/blog
I can't stop looking at how freaking amazing these pictures are! Nicely done Casey (Carisa's friend who shot the pictures).
ashley
Monday, October 18, 2010
Busy Busy Busy
The past few weeks have been busy! The project is well under way which keeps me very busy! Running has also gotten busier as my mileage for training has increased.
Last weekend I spent my Sunday in GREAT anticipation of the Chicago Marathon! I tracked friends who ran and wished that I was in Chicago to be running with them (despite the heat).
I went out and ran here during the marathon in Chicago. I ran around 7 miles in my Special Olympics running shirt and cheered on the runners in Chicago from here while running "with" them.
Last week was also busy with Birthdays! Albert's birthday was on Thursday and then Marieke's birthday was on Friday. We celebrated Albert's birthday with some homemade pizza, a sunset on the roof top and a movie night with Matt and Nelli. Despite the movie choice it was a great night!
Friday was a big joint birthday party for Albert and Marieke which was TONS of fun!
Saturday was a low key day. Albert and I walked to Hippo Point and then had lunch at Kiboko Bay which was beautiful (it's right on the water). We were going to go to the Impala Park to wander around, but there were buses full of children there so we scrapped that plan.
Below are some pictures from the walk to Kiboko Bay - which is on the way to Dunga Beach (the fishing village).
Last weekend I spent my Sunday in GREAT anticipation of the Chicago Marathon! I tracked friends who ran and wished that I was in Chicago to be running with them (despite the heat).
I went out and ran here during the marathon in Chicago. I ran around 7 miles in my Special Olympics running shirt and cheered on the runners in Chicago from here while running "with" them.
Last week was also busy with Birthdays! Albert's birthday was on Thursday and then Marieke's birthday was on Friday. We celebrated Albert's birthday with some homemade pizza, a sunset on the roof top and a movie night with Matt and Nelli. Despite the movie choice it was a great night!
Friday was a big joint birthday party for Albert and Marieke which was TONS of fun!
Saturday was a low key day. Albert and I walked to Hippo Point and then had lunch at Kiboko Bay which was beautiful (it's right on the water). We were going to go to the Impala Park to wander around, but there were buses full of children there so we scrapped that plan.
Below are some pictures from the walk to Kiboko Bay - which is on the way to Dunga Beach (the fishing village).
The gate at the place next door to ours - which is hilarious to me since hippos are herbivores
Typical scenery
Pretty Flowers
A gorgeous flower outside Matt and Nelli's
Over-ripened limes - hmmm are they supposed to turn yellow and look like lemons?
The coolest looking cow EVER!
The Road to Hippo Point
View from our table at lunch at Kiboko Bay
Kiboko Bay
Last weekend, Albert and I put on more or less identical outfits for the day! NERDS!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Saturday at the Market and Sunday, a No-fun-run-day
Saturday, I accompanied Amy and Albert (below) to the market. Amy wanted to get some fabrics (also pictured below) and Albert wanted to look at the crafts market to see if there were any treasures that wanted to go back to the states with him eventually.
Sunday morning I had my 13 mile long run for marathon training. Erwan agreed to do it with me and we split the difference on when we wanted to leave for the run. I wanted to leave at 6:20 am (as soon as the sun rose) and he wanted to leave closer to 8 so we agreed on 7:30.
Being on the equator, the sun is high in the sky shortly after rising. Although the temperature drops over night, it seems to get hot pretty rapidly. As a result, by about 8:30, I was DYING on our run.
Needless to say it felt like a VERY hard and long run. I also made the stupid mistake of not carrying water with me. On my last long run, I was able to buy water midway through from a kiosk, but on this run we went to a totally different place and there were no kiosks until mile 9 - so that was rough.
Despite hating the last 5 + miles, we finished the 13 miles in an hour 54 minutes - which isn't shameful, but it didn't feel good.
After Erwan tortured me for 13 miles, he and Mareike cooked Albert and I brunch - which was lovely. We had crepes, bacon, smoothies, and zucchini bread (pictured on my last post). Brunch made the run worth it :)
Apparently spending 2 hours running together didn't make Erwan sick of me - or maybe it was the the temptation of the pizza, but that evening Erwan and Mareike came over to watch the sunset and indulge in sausage, green pepper, onion, and potato pizza that Albert and I made.
The pizza was so good that it was eaten before a picture could possibly have been taken. But here are a few sunset images.
The Chicago Marathon is this upcoming weekend! I can't believe that it is almost here!!!
Chris Kenny - I am thinking of you and can't wait to hear about how successful you are!
KJ - the same goes for you!
Can't wait to hear all about it!
Ashley
I have no clue what this sign means. Amy asked and we learned that it's for a plumBer (they pronounce the B in plumber here) - I guess that they weren't aware that it was spelled wrong
This lady insisted that I take her picture
Beautiful African Fabrics
I would not want to be driving behind this guy
The shopaholics (Amy and Albert)
Sunday morning I had my 13 mile long run for marathon training. Erwan agreed to do it with me and we split the difference on when we wanted to leave for the run. I wanted to leave at 6:20 am (as soon as the sun rose) and he wanted to leave closer to 8 so we agreed on 7:30.
Being on the equator, the sun is high in the sky shortly after rising. Although the temperature drops over night, it seems to get hot pretty rapidly. As a result, by about 8:30, I was DYING on our run.
Needless to say it felt like a VERY hard and long run. I also made the stupid mistake of not carrying water with me. On my last long run, I was able to buy water midway through from a kiosk, but on this run we went to a totally different place and there were no kiosks until mile 9 - so that was rough.
Despite hating the last 5 + miles, we finished the 13 miles in an hour 54 minutes - which isn't shameful, but it didn't feel good.
After Erwan tortured me for 13 miles, he and Mareike cooked Albert and I brunch - which was lovely. We had crepes, bacon, smoothies, and zucchini bread (pictured on my last post). Brunch made the run worth it :)
Apparently spending 2 hours running together didn't make Erwan sick of me - or maybe it was the the temptation of the pizza, but that evening Erwan and Mareike came over to watch the sunset and indulge in sausage, green pepper, onion, and potato pizza that Albert and I made.
The pizza was so good that it was eaten before a picture could possibly have been taken. But here are a few sunset images.
Another magnificent sunset on Sunday evening!
Watching the sunset from our roof on Sunday evening we could see the rain in the distance - which was really spectacular!
The Chicago Marathon is this upcoming weekend! I can't believe that it is almost here!!!
Chris Kenny - I am thinking of you and can't wait to hear about how successful you are!
KJ - the same goes for you!
Can't wait to hear all about it!
Ashley
Eating in East Africa
Albert and I have been experimenting with various breads. We have made Zucchini Bread and Banana Bread. Banana Bread we have now made 3 times because when Monica goes to the market for us she seems to buy us a LOT of bananas which we struggle to consume and then they start to go bad and thus Banana Bread.
Two of our three banana bread attempts have turned into more of a banana power bar because we didn't respect the chemistry of baking.
Below, however, is my attempt at making zucchini bread - which rose and everything!!!
We have also been consuming a LOT of avacado! They are in great abundance and full of good fat. Below is a pretty typical meal here:
It has been really fun getting creative with meals and figuring out how to best use the fresh produce here.
Two of our three banana bread attempts have turned into more of a banana power bar because we didn't respect the chemistry of baking.
Below, however, is my attempt at making zucchini bread - which rose and everything!!!
We have also been consuming a LOT of avacado! They are in great abundance and full of good fat. Below is a pretty typical meal here:
It has been really fun getting creative with meals and figuring out how to best use the fresh produce here.
A day in the life...
I wanted to share some images of where it is I go each day to work on my project.
Below are images of the Outpatient Department at the New Nyanza Provincial General Hospital, which is where we are conducting our research.
More to come...
Below are images of the Outpatient Department at the New Nyanza Provincial General Hospital, which is where we are conducting our research.
The outpatient department of the Hospital
Our interview room
The outpatient area of the hospital
Kenyan wheel chair.
Poster that hangs in our interview room.
Corridor where women wait to be seen in the Outpatient Area (late afternoon)
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