As January is almost over, I've been thinking more and more about how little time we have left here. Although we don't have our official orders yet, we are set to leave Kenya in early May. Life here has become so normal that I think its going to be a big change for us when we are finally back in the US. That being said I think we are both ready for the comforts the US brings and to be closer to family and friends. We miss being able to run to a restaurant to grab some take out, just head to Target or Walmart for a part rather than having to order it and wait 2 weeks, and being able to drive on the road without having to be hyper aware of motorcycles, pedestrians and bicycles.
We are also really excited about the new adventures this new duty station will bring. Neither of us have lived in the Pacific Northwest before and we are excited about what it has to offer. There are countless National Parks, hiking opportunities, mountains close by to ski, Canada to the north, etc. We can't wait! Its also a short plane ride away from family and friends which will hopefully encourage more people to visit.
Of course there are going to be so many things we're going to miss here; the traveling, our amazing friends, the simplicity of life, etc. We're trying not to think about it too much and enjoy every minute of our remaining time. In a few short days we will be heading to Morocco. After that its back to Kenya for the elections and then the countdown to our PCS date begins. Its going to go fast!
So what are we doing in the meantime....Just trying to live life as normal as possible, checking off the last of those Kenyan bucket list items. I do need to start organizing the house and getting rid of some things and start looking more closely at housing options near base, but these can wait a bit. I'm not quite ready to switch my thinking to the US especially as we're trying to soak in every last experience here.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Weekend Recap
This weekend Josh and I had a great time hanging out with friends and celebrating Australia Day. On Saturday we headed over to the Cowden's tiki hut, which is quickly becoming the hang out place of choice. Our friend Travis secured the location for a little Australia Day fun. Basically the rules for the day were to come in Australian attire and bring something for the barbi! Josh threw together a corkie hat last minute and I decided my swimsuit plus a snorkel and goggles were appropriate as I was going to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. :)
I love lazy weekends like this where we can hang out outside, lounge in the pool, play a game of bags, or throw the frisbee around. And that's basically what we did all day. By the time it came around to starting up the grill, we were starving. We indulged in some decent meat and shrimp and threw together some kabobs. They were absolutely delicious and we ate way too much. The rest of the night was spent playing darts and hanging out by the fire.
On Sunday we headed over to our friend Punit's house to swim and chill by the pool. I think the last month of Sundays has been spent by one pool or another. What can I say? Its our slice of paradise here in Kisumu. Punit has an amazing house overlooking Lake Victoria. The views from his balcony are just spectacular even with the hyacinth clogging up the port. After a beautiful day in the sun we headed home and whipped up some stuff cannelloni for dinner. Delicious!
Despite loving to travel around the country, I think one of the things Josh and I will miss most is weekends like this. We love to get together with friends for some relaxation and bbq!
I love lazy weekends like this where we can hang out outside, lounge in the pool, play a game of bags, or throw the frisbee around. And that's basically what we did all day. By the time it came around to starting up the grill, we were starving. We indulged in some decent meat and shrimp and threw together some kabobs. They were absolutely delicious and we ate way too much. The rest of the night was spent playing darts and hanging out by the fire.
On Sunday we headed over to our friend Punit's house to swim and chill by the pool. I think the last month of Sundays has been spent by one pool or another. What can I say? Its our slice of paradise here in Kisumu. Punit has an amazing house overlooking Lake Victoria. The views from his balcony are just spectacular even with the hyacinth clogging up the port. After a beautiful day in the sun we headed home and whipped up some stuff cannelloni for dinner. Delicious!
Despite loving to travel around the country, I think one of the things Josh and I will miss most is weekends like this. We love to get together with friends for some relaxation and bbq!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Kenyan Politics
With the US inauguration on the horizon, its made me think more about the local elections currently underway here in Kenya. This election is a historical milestone in Kenya's history. With the passing of the new constitution new positions including governors and senators are being established. The Prime Minister position is being abolished leaving a system that will somewhat resemble the US Congress.
One of the major differences with Kenya politics is the number of political parties. Kenya is composed of approximately 50 different tribes which means there are just about as many political parties. To top it off politicians frequently "party hop" between the multiple parties to ensure they receive a nomination. There are many benefits to being in politics in Kenya including a massive severance and funeral package. Furthermore, Kenyan politicians are among the highest paid in the world. Yes that's right. THE WORLD.
This past Thursday marked the beginning of election season as the parties held their primaries. In true Kenyan style, ballots were delayed getting out to the election sites and many polling stations had to repeat the vote the following day. In some areas rumors of rigged elections circulated and thus some violence broke out.
Over and over again, world leaders, church pastors and even Kenyan politicians have stressed the importance of a fair and just election. This is the only way the horrors of the 2007 post election violence won't repeat itself. Despite these warnings it seems that history is beginning to repeat itself. If Kenyans are already doubting the primary, what does this mean for the real elections on March 4?
Obviously there are a whole lot of other issues at play here that I don't want to get into; the corruption, candidates who are also on trial at the Hague for crimes against humanity, the immediate resorting to violence by the general population, etc. I'm just praying that as we get closer to the elections that Kenyans will realize that this vote will change the course of their history. That it is vital that it is fair, just and without violence. Despite their tribal origins they are all still Kenyans.
*Note for all my family who is now officially freaked out: Josh and I will be following the US Embassy's regulations for safety throughout the course of the election.
One of the major differences with Kenya politics is the number of political parties. Kenya is composed of approximately 50 different tribes which means there are just about as many political parties. To top it off politicians frequently "party hop" between the multiple parties to ensure they receive a nomination. There are many benefits to being in politics in Kenya including a massive severance and funeral package. Furthermore, Kenyan politicians are among the highest paid in the world. Yes that's right. THE WORLD.
This past Thursday marked the beginning of election season as the parties held their primaries. In true Kenyan style, ballots were delayed getting out to the election sites and many polling stations had to repeat the vote the following day. In some areas rumors of rigged elections circulated and thus some violence broke out.
Over and over again, world leaders, church pastors and even Kenyan politicians have stressed the importance of a fair and just election. This is the only way the horrors of the 2007 post election violence won't repeat itself. Despite these warnings it seems that history is beginning to repeat itself. If Kenyans are already doubting the primary, what does this mean for the real elections on March 4?
Obviously there are a whole lot of other issues at play here that I don't want to get into; the corruption, candidates who are also on trial at the Hague for crimes against humanity, the immediate resorting to violence by the general population, etc. I'm just praying that as we get closer to the elections that Kenyans will realize that this vote will change the course of their history. That it is vital that it is fair, just and without violence. Despite their tribal origins they are all still Kenyans.
*Note for all my family who is now officially freaked out: Josh and I will be following the US Embassy's regulations for safety throughout the course of the election.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Kweisos House
Josh and I have gone to Kweisos twice before. You can read about our first trip here. Kweisos House is a great guesthouse in the Nandi Hills where you can swim, ride horses, hike and overall just relax. We loved our first two trips here and really wanted to go back before leaving Kenya this Spring.
Last weekend we headed up there with 11 others to just sit back and enjoy the weekend. After claiming our rooms we hit the pool and spent the rest of the afternoon lounging in the water until the rest of the crew arrived. Dinner was delicious as always there. Al Karim made chicken curry and Anika went out of her way to make poached pears for dessert.
The next morning we were treated to a huge breakfast of eggs, bacon, banana pancakes and fixings. Half of our group headed up to the horse stalls to do some riding and the rest of us decided to do a short hike to a nearby waterfall. Kweisos is a beautiful sugar cane plantation with lovely hills and rolling fields.
The waterfall was situated in a small alcove that was covered in greenery. The waterfall was small, maybe 20 feet but perfect for an afternoon dip. Most of our group jumped in but I stayed out volunteering to watch Senna, Sam and Elin's 4 month old daughter. (Had to get my baby fix) Unfortunately our fun was cut short when Travis, a guy in our group, slipped and dislocated his shoulder. I can't even imagine how much pain he was in.
After a tense hour of getting him slowly back to the house, Jess and Hilary (both docs) managed to slip his shoulder back into place. When the excitement died down, we enjoyed another amazing lunch of chicken saute and fish. By this time it was late and Josh and I had to pack up. We headed back to Kisumu and spent the rest of the night relaxing at home.
Overall it was a great weekend. I was so glad we were able to make it back up to the Kweisos house and that so many of our friends were able to come with us. Josh and I are in full blown travel mode trying to get everything crossed off our Kenyan bucket list. A return visit to Kweisos was definitely on there!
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| Foxy goes for her first swim |
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| The boys play a game of cornhole |
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| Travis conquers the Acacia tree |
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| The Dubys on our walk |
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| Josh jumps off |
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Honeymoon
It's official! The money has been put down and the plane tickets booked. Josh and I are headed to Morocco for our honeymoon!!
I am so excited that my husband wanted to do something big and exotic. We're not the traditional lay on the beach type of people so this trip is perfect for us. We are super excited to explore Morocco and soak up some of the culture there. We are planning on spending a few days in the larger cities but then going up into the mountains and out on the sand dunes. On the sand dunes we will do some four wheeling and spend a night under the stars. I'm super excited about doing some hiking in the mountains and shopping in the bazaars in Marrakesh
Neither of us have been to an area anything like Morocco. We are super excited about what this trip has in store and can't wait to get going!
Here's our plan if you're interested:
Day 1: Casablanca to Rabat
Day 2: Rabat to Fes
Day 3: Fes
Day 4: Fes to Merzouga
Day 5: Merzouga
Day 6: Merzouga to Dades Gorge
Day 7: Dades Gorge to Ait Ben Haddou
Day 8: Ait Ben Haddou to Atlas Mountains
Day 9: Atlas Mountains to Marrakech
Day 10: Marrakech
Day 11: Marrakech to Casablanca
*Photos from National Geographic
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| The sand dunes in the Sahara |
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| Market in Marrakesh |
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| Casablanca |
Day 1: Casablanca to Rabat
Day 2: Rabat to Fes
Day 3: Fes
Day 4: Fes to Merzouga
Day 5: Merzouga
Day 6: Merzouga to Dades Gorge
Day 7: Dades Gorge to Ait Ben Haddou
Day 8: Ait Ben Haddou to Atlas Mountains
Day 9: Atlas Mountains to Marrakech
Day 10: Marrakech
Day 11: Marrakech to Casablanca
*Photos from National Geographic
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Working Out in the New Year
Those of you who have been reading for a bit know that I've been on a kick to get back into shape. It all started because of the wedding but stemmed into a general life goal. With so much going on in our lives the last few weeks, I've fallen behind on my workouts. Now that I have more time at home I'm trying to recommit myself to my daily visits with Jillian Michaels.
Honestly though I am a little tired of the same workouts over and over. Knowing my tendencies, its time to switch things up and add a few more activities into the mix. Right now I'm planning on sticking with Jillian's 30 day shred and Ripped in 30. I'm also going to add in a new dance video game I got Josh for Christmas (yes I know a present for him but really for me) and I'm going to bike down to the guest house occasionally to use the equipment there.
Overall I think I just need to keep moving. I am so proud that I have lost 12 pounds since September and have KEPT IT OFF. It just tells me that being more aware of what I eat and moving more is working. I'm hoping to drop a little more to get back in a healthy weight range for my height but I'm not too worried about it currently.
Here's to more pounds falling off in the new year!
Honestly though I am a little tired of the same workouts over and over. Knowing my tendencies, its time to switch things up and add a few more activities into the mix. Right now I'm planning on sticking with Jillian's 30 day shred and Ripped in 30. I'm also going to add in a new dance video game I got Josh for Christmas (yes I know a present for him but really for me) and I'm going to bike down to the guest house occasionally to use the equipment there.
Overall I think I just need to keep moving. I am so proud that I have lost 12 pounds since September and have KEPT IT OFF. It just tells me that being more aware of what I eat and moving more is working. I'm hoping to drop a little more to get back in a healthy weight range for my height but I'm not too worried about it currently.
Here's to more pounds falling off in the new year!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Goals in 2013
Now I'm not one to make a bunch of "New Year's Resolutions". I think sometimes it can create unreal expectations and puts a lot of pressure on us as individuals. I do however think that setting a few realistic, obtainable goals for the new year is a good idea and can help focus my priorities for 2013.
Here are a few personal "goals" I have for the new year. I'm not kidding anyone when I say I will probably not achieve all of them but I am hoping that I can at least make an attempt at all.
1. To be a better wife
-This is a new role for me and I want to strive to be the best I can be in it.
2. Become more organized
-I'm realize this may be hard for me since currently all of my things are in the U.S. but I have a strong desire to find systems that work for us around the house and make sure everything has its place.
3. Cook more
-I am by far not the best cook on the block. I am still very much feeling my away around the spice rack and testing out new recipes. I want to strive to find delicious and healthy meals for us to enjoy.
4. Read through the Bible
-I have a great devotional that separates the books into manageable chunks for each day. I love how it pulls together chapters with similar messages. Thus far I am loving my little quiet time in the morning with Him.
5. Be more healthy
-This one is a little loaded as it means a lot of different things to me. After a few weeks hiatus I am planning on starting my workouts again (post to come). I also want to be more intentional in what I put in my mouth, aka lots of fruits and veggies.
6. Be more creative
-I am always saving ideas for crafts and scrap booking. 2013 is going to be the year of action.
7. Give more
-Sometimes I feel I can get wrapped up in myself and my needs. This year I want to be more conscious of others and how I can help them.
8. More family time
-We love spending time with our friends but sometimes its nice to get out just the two of us. In the new year I hope to make "date night" a priority. Also, being a military family makes time with our families so precious. I hope in this new year we will be able to visit more with our families and have them come visit us!
9. Relax more
-I'm a list maker and very task orientated. Josh will tell you sometimes I just can't sit still because I feel like I need to be doing something. This year I want to take more time to relax and enjoy the slow moments.
10. Travel
-Josh and I love to travel whether its a big vacation or somewhere in our backyard. I am excited to see what adventures are in store for us this new year!
Here are a few personal "goals" I have for the new year. I'm not kidding anyone when I say I will probably not achieve all of them but I am hoping that I can at least make an attempt at all.
1. To be a better wife
-This is a new role for me and I want to strive to be the best I can be in it.
2. Become more organized
-I'm realize this may be hard for me since currently all of my things are in the U.S. but I have a strong desire to find systems that work for us around the house and make sure everything has its place.
3. Cook more
-I am by far not the best cook on the block. I am still very much feeling my away around the spice rack and testing out new recipes. I want to strive to find delicious and healthy meals for us to enjoy.
4. Read through the Bible
-I have a great devotional that separates the books into manageable chunks for each day. I love how it pulls together chapters with similar messages. Thus far I am loving my little quiet time in the morning with Him.
5. Be more healthy
-This one is a little loaded as it means a lot of different things to me. After a few weeks hiatus I am planning on starting my workouts again (post to come). I also want to be more intentional in what I put in my mouth, aka lots of fruits and veggies.
6. Be more creative
-I am always saving ideas for crafts and scrap booking. 2013 is going to be the year of action.
7. Give more
-Sometimes I feel I can get wrapped up in myself and my needs. This year I want to be more conscious of others and how I can help them.
8. More family time
-We love spending time with our friends but sometimes its nice to get out just the two of us. In the new year I hope to make "date night" a priority. Also, being a military family makes time with our families so precious. I hope in this new year we will be able to visit more with our families and have them come visit us!
9. Relax more
-I'm a list maker and very task orientated. Josh will tell you sometimes I just can't sit still because I feel like I need to be doing something. This year I want to take more time to relax and enjoy the slow moments.
10. Travel
-Josh and I love to travel whether its a big vacation or somewhere in our backyard. I am excited to see what adventures are in store for us this new year!
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