Entries this day: Dream Kenya_day_2 Rei

Dream

3:54am EAT Thursday 19 January 2006

Taking part in an art project of sorts, a guy did a project every Wednesday to revive a tradition that had been previously shut down due to getting a bit out of hand. His idea this week was being given to groups as they happened to arrive; he didn't want to get caught by having a bunch of people all come at once; he preferred to teach people a couple at a time. He told the idea with great enthusiasm: Find someplace in the city where we have to park our cars on a corner, with the wheels turned. Then get five people to sit in the drivers seat, one at a time and take pictures of each one.

I was like, "aight; let's get to work" and was directing people to sit in a chair and taking pictures of them. They didn't seem to have the idea down; they didn't know to actuallly move the butts and put a new butt in the same position, so I had to explain that again, but then once they got it, the energy was building up, and I was like, "okay, the sixth person go find a new place to sit."

Pepe was like, "pick me pick me!" and I did, but he then couldn't think of a place to sit, so I chose Petra, who was already seated and ready.

Pepe said he understood why I hadn't chosen him, but I was thinking we should put Francois in some of the pictures. The energy started to die down, and as I woke up, I remembered we hadn't taken into consideration that we were supposed to park on a corner.

Once we had taken the first set of pictures, Matt walked by and we had to talk to him to see how much longer we had available.

Petra went out to talk to him after getting her photo taken.

Kenya day 2

5:30am EAT Thursday 19 January 2006

Awake now; actually got a call at 5:20. Nick slept outside on the balcony. I had chosen the side of the double bed by the window, but actually got the double bed all to myself (though I didn't know it until I woke up at 3:45) and Dan slept on the single.

6:13am EAT Thursday 19 January 2006

Small breakfast for me, then sat by Karen during her breakfast. Headed toward my room to read the schedule, because I guessed it would be good if I knew what was going on today, and Matt asked if I was sorted for today. I was like, "uhhhhh" cause I didn't know what he was talking about.. I'm not packed, but I think I have time to pack; what?

"For the English activity."

"Oh, yeh; sorted."

"Do you mind filling me in a little on what you've planned?"

So... plans, eh? plans... hmmmmm, "yeah, we're going to have each van count off 1 through 6 to make teams that are evenly spaced."

"you'll have all the vans meet each other first, right?"

"Um, oh yeah obviously that,"

"What I think would be a good idea would be to have some way for them to get to know each other in their groups, some questions about the safari...."

Uh huh; yeah; okay

"But I'll leave it in your capable hands...."

Great!

Yikes stripes, what a narrow escape!

9:20am EAT Thursday 19 January 2006

Back from our second safari; today we saw an ostrich and some baboons, in addition to the types of animals we saw yesterday. Particulary interesting were lions patiently waiting for our vans to stop blocking the way to their water buffalo treats.

11:32am EAT Thursday 19 January 2006

Our workshop went quite well. Then singin' and dancin' with Peter's Band!

4:47pm EAT Thursday 19 January 2006

Headed back now; we've been headed back since 2pm... Flat tire time now on one of the other vans. We had been cheering our driver, Harun, as he was passing traffic, using all sides of the road as passing lanes.

A bit scarier than riding motorscooter taxis in Vietnam because at times we were tilting at scary angles on either side of the road. Good times!

Rei

12:18am EAT Friday 20 January 2006

Met up with Rei right after we got back to the port; I looked for internet access briefly, but would have to go into town to get it. $3 each direction, plus $3-ish for the connection, would cost more than just doing it onboard the ship, so I've decided to wait, or do it onboard.

Walked around with Rei; she showed me her $2 drum, originally priced at $25. One of the dancers showed us how to play it.

We shared stories about our respective adventures, which were about as opposite as they could be. We stayed in a relatively luxurious lodge, while she was in a village without electricity, where this visit is only the second time people from outside Kenya have visited the village.

The men in the village made mouse/rat traps out of flexible sticks and gourds. Amazing. I can see basically how it works, but I couldn't figure out how to set it.

We chowed dinner together in Yacht Club, and then went for a walk around top deck. She helped correct my Japanese in a postcard I had written (using some of my own vocabulary and grammar structures). We told each other about our respective strangest jobs while we watched the PILOTS boat come pick up their pilot after he sailed us out of the port.

Down to our neighborhood where we imported pictures from her camera onto my computer and then scoped those pictures, plus my pictures from yesterday.

Super tired; must go to bed now.