Last Day in Kakamega

Today was my last day in Kakamega Forest, and we leave for Lake Nakuru Sunday. I was able to finish my research to the best of my ability and I said goodbye to some wonderful people. It was a bit of a bittersweet moment, because while it was sad to say goodbye, I also remember that I have 1 week left in Kenya, and I should enjoy it to the fullest!

I was able to take part in a colony extraction from a building. The species Hypotrigona gribodoi is everywhere in this area, particularly in their mud walls and wooden doors. One house can have probably 100 hives.  Mark and his team went to a house that was soon to be torn down to remove some colonies. They chiseled out some of the mud wall until they found the brood. They slowly removed parts of the hive then, putting them in a hive they brought, until they found the queen. After removing what you want, you drill a stick or two into the wall as a shelf for your hive, and fill in the hole with some mud. This makes the bees go into your hive and not back to theirs. The colonies in the doors are left alone, since to get to them you have to destroy the door.

During my time in Kakamega, I feel as though I have learned a lot, grown up a bit, and been humbled. I have also become much more grateful for my lifestyle I live and for my parents.

People here lead very simple lives, but they are happy! Everybody always had a smile for me and waved, and they accepted me into their homes. I felt like I became part of a family much bigger than I could imagine. Kakamega has welcomed me with open arms, and I happily joined. I shook hands with barefoot, mud stained children, laughed with farmers I met while walking, and learned the shortcuts and foot trails only the natives know. I became part of a lifestyle, that before I had only read about in books. A lifestyle where we stay in mud huts with thatched roofs, where sweets are less than a penny and a family plants and raises what they eat.

People are always asking about the US. They want to come with me, to see the place where you can “hit it rich”. To experience the American Dream. They ask about everything from crops we have, taxes, politics, schooling, and my personal lifestyle. I showed them pictures of my family, my pets, my town, and my school and church. They looked at the little pile of pictures for so long. They asked about my family, their jobs and ages, and declared my parents to look very very young, while my sister and I look older!

I have also come to really appreciate my dad. When I was younger, I was always his little helper. I even had nicknames he would call me. But he taught me how to live if I wasn’t always in the comforts of my house. I guess he toughened me up a bit. I was proudly able to tell people yes, I can start a fire, that I go hunting with my dad and his buddies, and that I can fish! I think I surprised a few people. By the end of my first week, it was decided I was a “survivor”. So Daddy, Thank you. J

While here however, I also had to take a sick day. I think my body was just tired of working so hard, especially with having to adapt to a new diet also. I was in very good care while ill though. The staff at the hotel checked on me often to make sure I hadn’t gotten worse, that I was drinking fluids and taking medicine, and even making sure I wasn’t battling malaria. I was offered numerous times to be taken to a doctor or hospital, and also offered a masseuse for my aches. (I declined both by the way) After a day of rest, I was back to my normal self the next day!

Today, I went to Kisumu (a town near Kakamega). I stood on the muddy banks of Lake Victoria. It is the largest lake in Eastern African, but I only saw a small part of it. My friends ate a whole fish that was fried intact. Head and fins included. I had to pass on the one. It was staring at me and that just wouldn’t do. There was a dancing/DJ group that was based out of Nairobi there for some entertainment and marketing. I was walking towards the stand to get a picture, when the lead dancer said hi to me, the only mzungu in the crowd. He told everybody to wave at his Mzungu friend and I had the whole beach waving and smiling at me! I can only imagine my blush. The dancers dance Congolese style dancing, which involves lots of hips. He asked if I would like to dance with his group. I declined though. My hips can’t move like that and I really didn’t want to embarrass myself. If ever offered Congolese lessons though, I will definitely accept them!!

Tomorrow I head for Lake Nakuru to hopefully see some wildlife! If not, perhaps just a nice quiet beach.