The end...and a new beginning

First things first: the chicken lived a long and prosperous life, and although I'll again spare you the details, I did the honors with a steady hand and no tears. I'm directly impacting the circle of life.

Next, last week we were in Nairobi for our swearing in ceremony, so I took advantage of having the medical staff at my disposal to have my foot checked out. It was slightly swollen and the nurse suggested I get it x-rayed. I was sent to Nairobi Hospitals' x-ray department in the Casualty Center, which I hoped was one of those leftover British terms that doesn't translate well into American English or else I was in for a big surprise.
Nothing could be determined from the x-ray, perhaps because I still have a pulse, so I was instructed to take Ibuprofen and rest and ice the foot, which is easier said than done here in Kenya.

Training has come to an end and after our Swahili language proficiency test (I passed!), we've officially been sworn in as Volunteers at the US Ambassador's residence in Nairobi, and yes there was even a certificate involved. Friday we said goodbye and moved to our new sites, where I had the good fortune of returning to Kitui to switch buses and head to Mutomo. Mutomo is directly south of Kitui, two hours down the same dirt road as my homestay family (I'm literally moving down the street). Although the distance in kilometers is not very far, it takes a while to travel because the road is so treacherous. Pot holes that could swallow a car (reminds me of DC), and various livestock being herded around in no hurry to get to their destination (I wonder if they knew my chicken and are holding a grudge). Using public transportation in the form of matatus also calls for an interesting ride, as they are brightly painted minibuses with strange slogans like "DeathStar 2000" painted on the outside, and although it looks like an entire door or other such important part of the vehicle could rattle right off it's hinges at any moment, it always seems to have state-of-the-art speakers blaring music (I've even seen one with a flat screen TV), which does help distract me from fearing for my life at every turn. Luckily for me, Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton are very popular here on the radio.
My ride to from Kitui to Mutomo was so packed full of people that my luggage had to be strapped to the roof. My host mama escorted me onto the bus, pushing her way through the crowd while holding my hand, and helped me to get a good seat. I watched helplessly as my luggage was hoisted atop the roof among sacks of rice, furniture, and bundles of (live) chickens tied together. I was weary about the safety of my belongings, but I heard my host mama yell at the conductor to tie my bag down tightly. He nodded in understanding and as I settled in for a bone-jarring ride, I realized that her word and threat was probably more influential than if I held my bag in my own lap. It must have worked, because during the ride the conductor nestled up to me and asked me if I knew that woman who took me to the bus. Know her?! I told him she was my mama in Kitui and he shook my hand.
I arrived in Mutomo with my bags safely and intact, and made a new friend in the process. Considering I'll need to make trips to the big town of Kitui for the comforts of home rather frequently, it's good to have friends in high places.

I got to my site safely last night and had dinner at the head engineer's house, who also happens to be my neighbor. All present were one Aussie, two Irish, three Kenyans, and one American. Thanks to colonialism, we were all able to communicate, albeit with varying accents.

Now I'm starting to settle in and figure out how to make a 10x6 room feel like a home. Also at the top of my list of things to do is figure out how to download photos, right after locating 4 nails to hang my mosquito net from...

Although Mutomo town does not have power and therefore no internet cafes, the NGO I'm working with has rigged solar panels to the roof of their office and has a modem internet card that's shared among the staff. I'll continue updating when I have good stories and it's my turn to be connected.

Hope all is well with everyone.

P.S. I have a new mailing address. Only a digit away from the most expensive zip code in America, but you wouldn't know it here.