Initial reflections on my first weeks back in America (not in any particular order):
- I love flush toilets.
- I also love ice cream, cold milk, and my family and friends here.
- We don’t play the National Anthem before movies at the theater (in Nairobi theaters, everyone stands and sings before the main feature; an aside: in Mozambique, the movie has an intermission).
- I don’t ask anymore if the chicken is fresh (in Kenya, it’s best to know when it was slaughtered, as refrigeration can be a problem).
- I don’t mind getting bitten by mosquitoes in America – the bites just itch here, no airborne diseases and no mosquito nets (yay!).
- The only goat-related product I’ve seen or consumed since my return has been goat cheese, which is quite tasty.
- Flirtations in America do not involve any livestock offerings (my best offer in Zambia for marriage was 60 cows, but I never told him I couldn’t cook or clean).
- I miss my Kenyan family terribly, and being a mzungu (white person) in America doesn’t attract much attention. J
HI TGHP FRIENDS!! I’m sorry for the delay in updates. I’m still indulging on all things that I love about this country and, at the same time, I’m missing my Kenyan routine and all the amazing people I left in that beautiful country.
Currently, I’m writing from Daytona, Florida. I’m hibernating here for the month of June to start transcribing my sessions with The General (generous family friends have allowed me to use their condo). I returned with nearly 100 hours of material, and it takes about 5 hours to transcribe every 1 hour of conversation (I’m refusing to do that math). I miss The General, and it’s been wonderful to revisit our time together by listening to the recordings.
I just wanted to make my blog re-debut before I let more than a month pass. With fast internet and consistent electricity, I really have no excuse. I’ll write more soon, with some excerpts of the material. Until then, I’m sending good thoughts your way…
Hugs – Laura Lee/Nkirote 
The South Imenti Tea SACCO Board of Directors (with the Chairman - standing, 3rd from left and Laura Lee). The General joked that I was training to take over as Chairman after he retired.