Mzee Elisha Onduro

08/07/05

Mzee Elisha Onduro had 11 kids, of which he has lost most to HIV/AIDS, leaving him with a veritable army of orphans to try and look after...

Dinner last night with Jen, a parlimentary candidate (2007) in the area. Its interesting how politics in this area work. Now that she has declared her candicacy, she will be continually asked for money from her constituents for the next two years, in exchange for promises that they\'ll vote for her. Exactly the opposite from the US, where the constituents would be giving money to the candidate in the hopes of favorable action if they are elected. Her house was the nicest I had seem, sattelite TV, hardwood, PLUMBING. And during dinner she gave me this sales pitch, like I should take the money I fundraise and funnel it into her campaign. Right. She called herself poor... not cool. Anyway, her son was a dope guy, Henry, studies in Mombassa, spoke English very well. We had some laughs. The evening was very strange though. I just felt so... hijacked.

So, its not just little lizards who live in the roof above me, there is a gigantic one as well, about a foot from head to tail. He found his way into my room and I caught him in a basket and took him outside. He looks just like a miniature crocodile. I called over the kids to look at him, and they freaked. I guess they\'re extremely poisonous. I think they were going to kill it, but it escaped, first into the bushes, and I just heard it make its way back into the roof. I dont mind it living there, as long as it stays out of my room. Although, a giant poisonous reptile living above me slightly disconcerning.

I spoke today with Mzee Elisha Onduro\'s 8th born today, she is schizophrenic. Really. She called herself \"looney.\" I asked whether she was happy and than sad, or whether she heard voices, she said she heard voices.

Mzee Elisha Onduro had 11 kids, of which he has lost most to HIV/AIDS, leaving him with a veritable army of orphans to try and look after. But he constantly has such a good attitude. Its amazing. I like the guy a lot, he has a very good energy about him.

I asked Robert if we could organize a community meeting, where people are free to ask technical questions about HIV/AIDS to us, an open forum where we can answer their questions and try and dispell some myths, and he said that people have been asking for exactly that. So well do it when I get back from Uganda. Between Robert and I we can answer most questions I think, and any answers we dont have I can just come here to Kisii and look up on the internet. I think it will be a good thing.

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