Kristoffer asked me the other day, in all seriousness, "Do you think Kenya is going to completely fall apart or just barely make it?" I think this is a question that most people in Kenya are thinking on a regular basis, but maybe never actually ask aloud. Sadly, I don't know the answer. I am no longer naive enough to just believe in the best for and of Kenya, because that is not reality here. But I like to think that I am not so cynical now that I see no hope at all. I suppose I am somewhere in between. The country is drowning in political or environmental crisis after political or environmental crisis, over and over again. I had lunch with two American friends the other day and one of them said, "Whenever we are really frustrated with the situation we say we are having "A Kenya Moment" because we are so disappointed that Kenya never lives up to what it actually can and should be." I can completely identify with that. The other friend says when she is really frustrated she reminds herself, "TIA - This Is Africa!" Of course it is almost hard to remember that you're in Africa when you are having lunch at a lovely cafe with other Americans, but then you go home and have no electricity and your landlord hasn't returned your signed lease in three months and your housekeeper is inexplicitly doing a full wash cycle for two articles of clothing once again. Then you remember. Life happens, and this is Life in Nairobi.
It's a good thing we have a beautiful nearly-6-month old baby to buoy our spirits. Despite having a completely unpredictable sleep schedule at night (a couple good nights are followed by a couple more bad nights...but we are staying consistent and will not give up! she will sleep through the night one day!), she is doing well with solid foods. Having now mastered carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans (which make her throw up every time), and a few different kinds of cereals (rice, oat with banana, apple or pear), she will next try pureed squash, apples, bananas and peas in the next two weeks. I went on a "make baby food" frenzy this weekend and we are stocked for awhile. Grace's personality is blossoming which, when she is not overtired, is often so-happy-that-she-can't-stop-belly-laughing or at the very least very-pleasant-and-content. In fact, Kristoffer have a nickname that we often call Grace: the BL, or the Belly Laugher, because she just loves, loves, loves to laugh. She is learning new ways to play these days and is almost always sitting up. Long gone are the days when I could leave her on her play mat with one rattle for 30 minutes while I blog and email; she does play well by herself for periods of time but definitely craves stimulation and attention a lot!
My time is also filling up nicely. I started tutoring the 5th grade boy across the street this week; three afternoons a week we do his homework together and work on organizational and planning skills. We either meet in my living room or his bedroom, so Ida watches Grace (who is usually napping for at least some of that time in the afternoon). We feel this is a solid baby step to leave her with Ida (trust issues, trust issues) for small amounts of time each day and the week went well. I also realized how much I miss teaching when I am working with Ben, and the small amount of money I'm making doesn't hurt either. My mom's group still meets once a week and I am really starting to feel like some of the women are actually my friends! My book club will be starting up again in September, and hopefully some new and enthusiastic members will keep it alive this year (finally). I am also regularly meeting up with a few American ladies who have or are expecting babies. Of course, just when all of this gets settled into a good rhythm for me and Grace, we will be jet-setting back to Boston on the first of October for a month-long visit in honor of my sister Christine's wedding. November in Nairobi will quickly lead to much-of-December in Denmark! And Grace will then be 10 months old. Seriously, where does all of this time go?!
Here are a few shots of the BL from this weekend. We are hoping the weather will clear soon so we can enjoy some time outside with her!
LMW
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