Video- Driving in Kerio

Video- Down in the Valley

This is video I took on a day trip to Karbarnet last February during the dry season.  From Eldoret one drive to Iten and the down into Kerio Valley and across.  This is a small river which has dug a deep gorge. We stopped to see it and look for crocodiles.

Video- Road flooded

mtoto

you, mtoto touch my arm

wondering about the hair

that grows straight and soft

over skin

that despite equatorial sun

is still white

pink really

because blood runs below

and in places blue

where veins and weakness show through

in this way you remind me

it's hard to forget my skin

the friends i’ve made here

can pick me out

wandering purposefully

in these walking streetside crowds

from a kilometer away

you, mtoto ask me about flying

as if i had the magic of wings

but it’s not magic it’s money

its magic of brutal history

and i trip over words

tracing circles backwards

bumpily landing

on air stripped of theories

the currency of my thought

standing flapping

ragged from flight

you, mtoto keep looking

from where you lay in the grass

or run on the dusty shoulder

miguu mifupi inakimbia

push your circle toy with the stick

or from where you tend your little goats

raise your eyebrows together with chin

saying yes

saying hey

saying we know

or whatever it is you are saying

that i don’t yet know

you, mtoto keep looking

at me

my white skin

and soft straight hair

turning grey

keep singing your

howareyous

for bob and biscuits, viatu

for joy or horror of the passing ghost

keep smiling and laughing

staring

as i stutter in solidarity’s language

i am trying

me, mtoto, najaribu

Hiking on the edge of Kerio Valley

The APATH community here in Eldoret is usually in flux.  Just a few days ago a couple of good friends who we have gotten to know the last 7 months returned to the US.  We will miss them and wish them luck in the next adventure.  On a recent Sunday we drove the 30 minutes to Iten and a restaurant/resort called Kerio View.  We took a steep hike down the valley, then walked over and up to a waterfall.  It was nice to get out and spend the day with friends.

Coming down from the trail to the falls

Looking out on the farms and larger valley in the distance

Overlooking to falls

standing in the cave looking out; our guide follows as we turn back (he talked of studying hard to become a lawyer someday

out our banda lunch at Kerio View

Just a Saturday

Deb and her new $5 cactus

loving it

bird of paradise plant

we've been adding plants here and there

our neighbor dog Trey, who comes over sometimes

'ammock beneath guava and loquat trees

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My Neice's Photos

We had lost our camera a few months into 2012.  It's not actually completely lost, but there is slim chance we'll get it back. So when we returned for our visit to the US in March, we borrowed a camera from Deb's family.  They lent us the small point and shoot that our 7 yr old niece had been using. We kept of few of these gems.  Thanks, C, for letting us use your camera!