Hi folks
I only publish blogs occasionally, and good ones only very occasionally, so this week I would like you to visit another. My brother Isaac is here with us for several months, and he is doing a much better job of documenting our lives than I could ever hope to. And he's a great photographer so check it out at Isaac in Kenya. Over and out!
17 January 2010
01 January 2010
December photo report
Greetings everyone
December has been a very busy month for us. The biggest event was of course Clair (EMM-Africa Director) and Glenn's (Clair's boss) visit, which included many productive meetings, a trip to western Kenya, and a retreat near lake Naivasha.
Just after the retreat, Clair, Glenn, and the rest of EMM-Kenya left the country. We celebrated Christmas with Debbi's aunt Diane and her family.
We've also been pursuing quite a few projects at the guest house. The building project continues nearly on schedule, although the visible progress is slowing as the workers focus on plaster and woodwork.
Since the rains have been good we are also working hard at landscaping: removing a bunch of building debris from previous projects, adding about a hundred tons of extra dirt in the low spot by the road, replanting a large section of grass, and adding some flower beds.
We also did major tree trimming--removing large lower branches which are becoming unhealthy as the branches above crowd out light. The yard looks so much more open.
And finally, we are digging a BIG (100,000 liter) water storage tank to insulate us from city water's unpredictability. It is even large enough to harvest rainwater if I can work out the plumbing.
Omondi's greenhouse project is also going very well. We finished the structure, installed the drip irrigation, and fumigated the soil. Now we are preparing some outdoor beds while we wait to plant in mid-January.
And, last but not least, we celebrated our 7th and best year of marriage on 28th December. Actually, we didn't really celebrate yet but we are savoring plans to do so. The star of the show, as always . . . .
December has been a very busy month for us. The biggest event was of course Clair (EMM-Africa Director) and Glenn's (Clair's boss) visit, which included many productive meetings, a trip to western Kenya, and a retreat near lake Naivasha.
Just after the retreat, Clair, Glenn, and the rest of EMM-Kenya left the country. We celebrated Christmas with Debbi's aunt Diane and her family.
We've also been pursuing quite a few projects at the guest house. The building project continues nearly on schedule, although the visible progress is slowing as the workers focus on plaster and woodwork.
Since the rains have been good we are also working hard at landscaping: removing a bunch of building debris from previous projects, adding about a hundred tons of extra dirt in the low spot by the road, replanting a large section of grass, and adding some flower beds.
We also did major tree trimming--removing large lower branches which are becoming unhealthy as the branches above crowd out light. The yard looks so much more open.
And finally, we are digging a BIG (100,000 liter) water storage tank to insulate us from city water's unpredictability. It is even large enough to harvest rainwater if I can work out the plumbing.
Omondi's greenhouse project is also going very well. We finished the structure, installed the drip irrigation, and fumigated the soil. Now we are preparing some outdoor beds while we wait to plant in mid-January.
And, last but not least, we celebrated our 7th and best year of marriage on 28th December. Actually, we didn't really celebrate yet but we are savoring plans to do so. The star of the show, as always . . . .
21 December 2009
I Want More Money
In all my preparations for cross-cultural living, I never anticipated that I would find my standard of living inadequate. After all, my budget is as large as that of several rural villages. If anything, I expected to (and do) chafe against all the Western junk that I'm still into: internal combustion engines, books, laptops, and car seats (although I guess it mostly comes from Asia now).
So imagine my surprise when I catch myself thinking I don’t have enough money. Yes, Santa, I would like to
1. Eat bacon with my eggs
2. Take a course at a university once or twice a year to keep my mind sharp
3. Take my family camping out of town on weekends
5. Buy cheese that doesn’t smell like puke
Bad, BAD missionary. How is it possible to feel poor when I have a full-time gardener and a full-time house helper? Is this culture shock? Am I just missing home, so I think money would fix my homesickness?
I have two explanations, the first being that the life I am used to is simply not available in Kenya at the prices I am used to. Some examples:
1. Affordable food (beyond staples) doesn’t exist. (A bottle of ranch dressing is $4.00).
2. Affordable recreation and leisure activities almost don’t exist. Kenya has no free libraries, no free museums, no public concerts.
3. Private transportation is outlandishly expensive (driving a car to the coast and back—300 miles each way—would cost me $400.) Public transport is outlandishly slow and dangerous. Take your pick.
4. Even information is costly(books are about 50% more than in the states, internet 300% to 500% more), and a university course--add an international plane ticket.
Like it or not, I am still a Western consumer with a complicated needs and (relatively) sophisticated tastes. That brings me to the second explanation for my perceived deprivation. I have discovered a new reference group: other expatriates with approximately my intelligence, education, and motivation—and they make a LOT more money than I do. I recently saw some research that the average American company spends $325,000 per year to keep an employee overseas. The kinds of cars my friends drive would confirm the awkward fact: many expat (non-mission) workers make 4 of 5 times what Debbi and I do.
And I make at least 5 times what my employees do. Anyway, I think I’ll take my wife on a date. We’ll walk to a coffee shop around the corner, and each have a cup of tea. Then I’ll sit and write a teaching outside under a tree, while my friends in the west are laboring under 2 feet of snow. It is hard to feel too sorry for myself!
So imagine my surprise when I catch myself thinking I don’t have enough money. Yes, Santa, I would like to
1. Eat bacon with my eggs
2. Take a course at a university once or twice a year to keep my mind sharp
3. Take my family camping out of town on weekends
5. Buy cheese that doesn’t smell like puke
Bad, BAD missionary. How is it possible to feel poor when I have a full-time gardener and a full-time house helper? Is this culture shock? Am I just missing home, so I think money would fix my homesickness?
I have two explanations, the first being that the life I am used to is simply not available in Kenya at the prices I am used to. Some examples:
1. Affordable food (beyond staples) doesn’t exist. (A bottle of ranch dressing is $4.00).
2. Affordable recreation and leisure activities almost don’t exist. Kenya has no free libraries, no free museums, no public concerts.
3. Private transportation is outlandishly expensive (driving a car to the coast and back—300 miles each way—would cost me $400.) Public transport is outlandishly slow and dangerous. Take your pick.
4. Even information is costly(books are about 50% more than in the states, internet 300% to 500% more), and a university course--add an international plane ticket.
Like it or not, I am still a Western consumer with a complicated needs and (relatively) sophisticated tastes. That brings me to the second explanation for my perceived deprivation. I have discovered a new reference group: other expatriates with approximately my intelligence, education, and motivation—and they make a LOT more money than I do. I recently saw some research that the average American company spends $325,000 per year to keep an employee overseas. The kinds of cars my friends drive would confirm the awkward fact: many expat (non-mission) workers make 4 of 5 times what Debbi and I do.
And I make at least 5 times what my employees do. Anyway, I think I’ll take my wife on a date. We’ll walk to a coffee shop around the corner, and each have a cup of tea. Then I’ll sit and write a teaching outside under a tree, while my friends in the west are laboring under 2 feet of snow. It is hard to feel too sorry for myself!
28 November 2009
Polygamy and Musicals--Discussion with a Four Year Old
Last night we watched the Sound of Music-Debbi of course rapturous with delight--her favorite childhood movie. We stopped just after the wedding to avoid the scary parts.
Afterwards, I asked, "Priska, did you like the movie?"
"That was a bad movie, daddy. Because first the man wanted to marry the old lady, but then he wanted to marry Maria."
"That’s how it is sometimes. You can love more than one person, but you have to choose before you get married. Because after you are married, you have to stay with who you marry." (Pretty good answer, I thought).
"Can you only marry one person?”
(Ok, this is getting a bit complicated. I forgot that some issues aren't as straighforward in a cross cultural context.)
“Well, in Africa, daddies sometimes marry more than one wife.”
"And we are in Africa so can we marry more than one person?"
"No, it's better to only marry one."
"Why is it better?
"Well, God says, er, since we are from America . . . . well it's just better. Like me for example, how many wives do I have?"
"You have four, no you have NINE wives!
Maybe we should work on our numbers before we tackle polygamy!
Afterwards, I asked, "Priska, did you like the movie?"
"That was a bad movie, daddy. Because first the man wanted to marry the old lady, but then he wanted to marry Maria."
"That’s how it is sometimes. You can love more than one person, but you have to choose before you get married. Because after you are married, you have to stay with who you marry." (Pretty good answer, I thought).
"Can you only marry one person?”
(Ok, this is getting a bit complicated. I forgot that some issues aren't as straighforward in a cross cultural context.)
“Well, in Africa, daddies sometimes marry more than one wife.”
"And we are in Africa so can we marry more than one person?"
"No, it's better to only marry one."
"Why is it better?
"Well, God says, er, since we are from America . . . . well it's just better. Like me for example, how many wives do I have?"
"You have four, no you have NINE wives!
Maybe we should work on our numbers before we tackle polygamy!
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