Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to one and all!
It has been a busy and delightful one here at Hekima Place in Karen, Kenya.
Much of the activity started during the day yesterday on Christmas Eve day. There were a zillion presents to wrap. Shoot, it would take the whole day to wrap only what my wonderful friends sent with me. Even the wrapping is done differently here. No big rolls from Costco or Target. Out comes the big box of previously used wrapping paper. Just to wrap a present I had to go on a hunt to find the right pre-used, pre-cut size. I'm telling you--finding that right piece alone each time felt like finding a treasure!
I took a break from all the wrapping to take an outdoor lunch with the 6 and 7 year old girls. They were particularly excited to have me eat with them because of what was being served. Ever since I arrived, I've heard about this food called "ugali." It is to the Kenyans what rice is to the Chinese--the stuff you serve to fill up your belly. It's basically the corn grain like Southerners use to make grits, mixed with water and baked. Kenyans love the stuff. The home founder, Kate Fletcher, who happens to love everything Kenyan, can't stand it. Ever since I arrived, I've been hearing about how bad and tasteless it is.
In fact, conveniently, as lunch was about to be served yesterday, Kate suddenly had to go to town to do some shopping. "Don't you want to stay for lunch?" I asked. "Absolutely not," was her instant reply. So off she went to town, as off I went to the lawn area to eat al fresco with the little girls. Mum Gladys served me up a big plate that a big helping of this fried spinach-kale-tomato-onion mixture next to a big chunk of what looked like white styrofoam. The little girls were already giggling at Mum Daryn and made sure to show me how to eat it. You break off a piece of ugali and scoop up some of whatever is served with it.
I'm pleased to say I actually liked the stuff. I actually don't see what the big deal is since the ugali itself doesn't really taste like anything, only whatever you mix it with. and that spinach-kale stuff is pretty yummy. Mum Gladys came out from the kitchen to check on us. I was very pleased to report to her that I actually like ugali. She about fell over. "You are the first Mzungu (white person) to ever do so!" She exclaimed. "You have made history here in Kenya! We must put you in the Guiness Book of World Records!" I'm trying to send another email with photos to help tell the story. We'll see, with this dial up connection and multiple power failures.
Christmas Eve was far more traditional in the American sense. We had spaghetti with meat sauce, decorated the tree, and Mum Kate announced that I would paint each of the girls' fingernails so that they would look extra nice when they crossed themselves in church the next morning. Mum Daryn's nail salon was open for business! The girls loved it. Even the little ones sat there with their fingers spread out on the table so as to not smudge their one layer of "cutex." (that's what they call nail polish.) The big girls got to have their toes done, as well.
Today, Christmas morning, was unlike any the girls have ever experienced. When they came down to breakfast, they each had a single present waiting on their place-setting. It's not that they've never received Christmas presents. RAther, they like to wait until Jan. 5th when ALL the girls are back and they open as a family. The idea of getting to open something on Christmas morning in addition to the present they will be getting about blew their sweet little minds.
Mum Kate was pretty stern with me that it had to be small. Maybe a shirt or top. I picked out and wrapped one for each girl. And okay, confession, snuck in a pencil, a glow in the dark bracelet, stick on earrings for the little ones and necklaces for the big girls. It seemed to take forever to open each precious gift. First, each girl waits patiently, one-by-one for her turn to open. And then there is the issue of that wrapping paper. They won't tear a thing because they know it will be reused yet again, so they peel off each piece of tape. Every girl was delighted with her package. As each held up her opened gift, the rest of the girls would exclaim, "WOW!" There is one little boy here, Baby JOhnny, 18-months old, an orphan the home is watching over. He is soon to be adopted by a Canadian couple. I gave him the snuggy, floppy stuffed dog that my 11-year-old nephew Jack sent along. It was a big hit as well.
Oh, and Mum Kate and Mum Gladys loved the super soft bathrobes I brought over from the states. (Mum Kate had to explain what a bathrobe is and why you use it.)
There wasn't much time before the girls had to rush upstairs to put on their best dresses. Off we went to the Catholic church, OUr Lady Queen. MOst of the service was in English, some of the songs sung in Swahili. The music accompiament featured and a small electric keyboard, a tambourine, and congo drums. The congreation was mostly dressed in their best Western style clothing, but there was also some magnificent women in traditional Kenyan dress as well. Very nice. The glow in the dark bracelets proved to be a bit of distraction for the bored little ones and Mum Kate ended up confiscating them before the service was over. Oops. Sorry.
Christmas supper was huge: ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, peas, cole slaw. And for dessert, 4 of the little girls helped me bake brownies. I really hope I can get these photos to send, as it is just so darn cute to see them licking their fingers and the bowl. Uh, yeah, they caught onto that tradition pretty darn quickly.
All in all a lovely holiday. I am surrounded by gifts and loving little girls who adore cuddling, giggles and playing jokes on Mum Daryn.
I hope all of you are having a lovely holiday, as well, with the time difference, yours is just gearing up as ours is gearing down.
Much of the activity started during the day yesterday on Christmas Eve day. There were a zillion presents to wrap. Shoot, it would take the whole day to wrap only what my wonderful friends sent with me. Even the wrapping is done differently here. No big rolls from Costco or Target. Out comes the big box of previously used wrapping paper. Just to wrap a present I had to go on a hunt to find the right pre-used, pre-cut size. I'm telling you--finding that right piece alone each time felt like finding a treasure!
I took a break from all the wrapping to take an outdoor lunch with the 6 and 7 year old girls. They were particularly excited to have me eat with them because of what was being served. Ever since I arrived, I've heard about this food called "ugali." It is to the Kenyans what rice is to the Chinese--the stuff you serve to fill up your belly. It's basically the corn grain like Southerners use to make grits, mixed with water and baked. Kenyans love the stuff. The home founder, Kate Fletcher, who happens to love everything Kenyan, can't stand it. Ever since I arrived, I've been hearing about how bad and tasteless it is.
In fact, conveniently, as lunch was about to be served yesterday, Kate suddenly had to go to town to do some shopping. "Don't you want to stay for lunch?" I asked. "Absolutely not," was her instant reply. So off she went to town, as off I went to the lawn area to eat al fresco with the little girls. Mum Gladys served me up a big plate that a big helping of this fried spinach-kale-tomato-onion mixture next to a big chunk of what looked like white styrofoam. The little girls were already giggling at Mum Daryn and made sure to show me how to eat it. You break off a piece of ugali and scoop up some of whatever is served with it.
I'm pleased to say I actually liked the stuff. I actually don't see what the big deal is since the ugali itself doesn't really taste like anything, only whatever you mix it with. and that spinach-kale stuff is pretty yummy. Mum Gladys came out from the kitchen to check on us. I was very pleased to report to her that I actually like ugali. She about fell over. "You are the first Mzungu (white person) to ever do so!" She exclaimed. "You have made history here in Kenya! We must put you in the Guiness Book of World Records!" I'm trying to send another email with photos to help tell the story. We'll see, with this dial up connection and multiple power failures.
Christmas Eve was far more traditional in the American sense. We had spaghetti with meat sauce, decorated the tree, and Mum Kate announced that I would paint each of the girls' fingernails so that they would look extra nice when they crossed themselves in church the next morning. Mum Daryn's nail salon was open for business! The girls loved it. Even the little ones sat there with their fingers spread out on the table so as to not smudge their one layer of "cutex." (that's what they call nail polish.) The big girls got to have their toes done, as well.
Today, Christmas morning, was unlike any the girls have ever experienced. When they came down to breakfast, they each had a single present waiting on their place-setting. It's not that they've never received Christmas presents. RAther, they like to wait until Jan. 5th when ALL the girls are back and they open as a family. The idea of getting to open something on Christmas morning in addition to the present they will be getting about blew their sweet little minds.
Mum Kate was pretty stern with me that it had to be small. Maybe a shirt or top. I picked out and wrapped one for each girl. And okay, confession, snuck in a pencil, a glow in the dark bracelet, stick on earrings for the little ones and necklaces for the big girls. It seemed to take forever to open each precious gift. First, each girl waits patiently, one-by-one for her turn to open. And then there is the issue of that wrapping paper. They won't tear a thing because they know it will be reused yet again, so they peel off each piece of tape. Every girl was delighted with her package. As each held up her opened gift, the rest of the girls would exclaim, "WOW!" There is one little boy here, Baby JOhnny, 18-months old, an orphan the home is watching over. He is soon to be adopted by a Canadian couple. I gave him the snuggy, floppy stuffed dog that my 11-year-old nephew Jack sent along. It was a big hit as well.
Oh, and Mum Kate and Mum Gladys loved the super soft bathrobes I brought over from the states. (Mum Kate had to explain what a bathrobe is and why you use it.)
There wasn't much time before the girls had to rush upstairs to put on their best dresses. Off we went to the Catholic church, OUr Lady Queen. MOst of the service was in English, some of the songs sung in Swahili. The music accompiament featured and a small electric keyboard, a tambourine, and congo drums. The congreation was mostly dressed in their best Western style clothing, but there was also some magnificent women in traditional Kenyan dress as well. Very nice. The glow in the dark bracelets proved to be a bit of distraction for the bored little ones and Mum Kate ended up confiscating them before the service was over. Oops. Sorry.
Christmas supper was huge: ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, peas, cole slaw. And for dessert, 4 of the little girls helped me bake brownies. I really hope I can get these photos to send, as it is just so darn cute to see them licking their fingers and the bowl. Uh, yeah, they caught onto that tradition pretty darn quickly.
All in all a lovely holiday. I am surrounded by gifts and loving little girls who adore cuddling, giggles and playing jokes on Mum Daryn.
I hope all of you are having a lovely holiday, as well, with the time difference, yours is just gearing up as ours is gearing down.
Tags: christmas, hekima place, karen, kenya, kenya, ugali
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hilari Scarl on
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Merry Christmas, Daryn -
What an absolute gift you are not only to those little girls but to all of us who are deeply inspired by you and your generosity. I loved waking up in rainy Los Angeles Christmas morning to read about your adventures in Kenya.
Wishing all of you a very happy holiday!
With great holiday cheer,
Hilari
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Permalink Reply by Georgia Wong on -
THANK YOU for posting this. I woke up and felt the need to read something inspirational and knew I could find it on your site! We are so lucky you started this site. I log in whenever I can to feel lifted up and renewed to "keep on, keeping on". Thanks again for creating this wonderful site.
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Permalink Reply by Dion jackson on -
What a great experience Daryn!
Soak it up!
You really begin to appreciate all that you have in the US when you leave the country for a while.
We are truly blessed here.
Bottle the smell, the trees, the music, the faces, and the places.
It`s a once in a lifetime experience, and it rounds you out as a person/human being on earth.
Be safe, and continue to enjoy your adventure.
Dion
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Permalink Reply by Chris Fortner on -
I'm enjoyed reading about your trip to Kenya. It certainly is an exotic part of the world. Keep up the fantastic work.
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