Our house is about 200 km (125 miles) north of Nairobi (the
capital city). It takes about 3 ½ hours by private car or six hours by public
transportation in 14 passenger Nissan vans called matatus. These matatus do not
leave on a specific schedule, only when they are full. So there is a lot of
waiting involved.
Luckily for me, Bochi has a car so we drive there. From
Nairobi there is now a super highway with three lanes in each direction and
speed bumps where there are pedestrian crossings, which are extremely
dangerous! The super highway last about a fourth of the trip and then it’s down
to one lane in each direction for the remainder of the trip. These two lane
roads are about as busy as our US highways but are traveled by everything from tractors
and large trucks to donkeys pulling wagons. It is hilly and curvy and makes for
an intense game of chicken as the vehicles are constantly passing the slower
traffic. For this reason it’s good to say a prayer before you start and another
prayer of thanks upon arrival. We have found it best, for both Bochi and me, if
I just sit in the backseat and try to sleep rather than watch the madness.
The last 6-12 km (4-8 miles) of the trip is on a rock/dirt
road. You get to choose the lesser of the two evils of which road to take. The
12 km (8 mile) rock and dirt road is passable in dry weather but have a couple
of spots with huge one foot rocks that seem like the car might get lost in. Or
there is the 6 km (4 mile) road that is super rocky and you can only drive at
about 12 km/hr (7 mph). Our “driveway” is a small path for another ¾ km (1/2 mile) which
is not drivable in wet weather and barely passable in dry weather.
I find it interesting that in the US where most vehicles
never leave the pavement/tarmac that most people drive SUV’s. But here, where
an SUV is needed, most people cannot afford them or the gas/petrol. We made the
journey in a minivan.
Oh how I remeber those matatus!! To this day when I try to describe them to people I don't do the experience justice! I'm glad you got there safely crazy roads and all!! Happy housewarming!!
ReplyDeleteI just talked with Jeremy Rusticus and his wife at church this morning and heard about your work in Kenya. Blessings to you! Since retirement 20 years ago, we have gone to Kenya to do volunteer work through the auspices of Partners Worldwide and World Renew (former Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.) We have shipped over 5000 computers to Kenya, and I have taught all over Kenya, from Mombasa to Busia and points in between where we have helped schools and community centers. Fortunately, an indigenous NGO (Computers for Schools Kenya) now helps us set up the computer labs. My husband does economic development work, now most with the 60-acre farm connected with the Reformed Institute for Theological Training. It was good to hear about your work.
ReplyDeleteJeni Hoekstra (Mrs. Dennis)
Hi Mrs. Dennis- It's good to hear from you. I'm just now figuring out how to reply to comments. That's great that you have done so much work here in Kenya. Where is the farm that your husband works with? A few of my Peace Corps friends used to work for CFSK- I'm interested in how the NGO's role will change if they are really going to start giving laptops to the primary students here... Are you still coming to Kenya on a regular basis?
DeletePlease tell Jeremy and his family hello when you see them!
Sheila