Monkeys and such...

Hey everyone,
I't been a fantastic week (I have a feeling that I probably will be saying this a lot.). We've spent most of the week going over kits (this is the equivalent to each of the 'lessons' or topics that we are going to teach.) with the Kenyans. It's been interesting lesson in learning the differences between our culture and the Kenyan culture. Here are some things that I've noticed so far:
- Kenyans drive in the right seat on the left side of the road (always fun for crossing the street-- I always look the wrong way... Nicola-- you'd love it here.)
- when passing someone, Kenyans go to the left as oppose to us going to the rihgt
-- when greeting someone you kiss on either side of the cheek, starting the the left side of course (this is kind of funny when we're used to going to the right, so as you can imagine trying to kiss the cheek of someone when you are both going the same way....ha.)
-- the toliet handle is on the right when looking at the toliet
-- Kenyans are very affectionate. I'm normally not an overly affectionate person, but I ind myself touching everybody. For example, we do a lot of laughing with the Kenyans and whenever someone says something funny, those in close proximity have to shake their hand/high five them/ hit their knee...it's so natural here and so funny.
- when asked a question, Kenyans listen and there is a little bit of a pause before speaking. Whereas we not only answer questions immediately, but tend to interupt each other (a HUGE pet peeve of mine)
- monkeys are the same as squirrels: they're everywhere, they eat garbage, they fight with each other and they climb trees. I love them. More on this later...


Okay there's lots more but that's all I can think of right now. We are living with the Kenyans. I share a room with Nat, REbecca and two Kenyans named Hadeja and Joyce. It's fun... we also share the room with a number of bugs. We used to be freaked out, but now theyre our friendly friends. (<-- wow I'm a literary genius.)

Anyway, here are some pictures we took when going to the monkey park. A park in the middle of Nairobi where monkeys live. People come (mostly tourists) and buy peanuts and feed the monkeys. It's hilarious! If you offer peanuts in your hands, monkeys will swarm to your hand and grab the nuts. IF you put them on your shoulder they'll climb up and sit on your shoulder. (again like squirrels). This is a picture of me telling a monkey to share because he was being greedy and not letting other smaller monkeys get nuts. Anther picture is of my teaching partner named Nafoola. She's in second year. She can dance beautifully...actually pretty much all Kenyans can. Last nigh, the Kenyans were sharing their culture with us. They showed us a whole bunch of dances-- beautiful.
I have more to write, but we have limited time on these computers.
Okay, you guys are great. You need to come to Kenya. A shout out to crew! I hope you're having a grand time racking.
Hope everyone's springs are going splendidly.
em