Sorry. I really cant think of a title for this one.

11/04/05

We were supposed to visit someone for counseling this morning but she had to go away on some urgent business. And then Robert got a call that his sister had left an important document at her house before she went to hospital in Eldoret, so she asked Robert to go and get it for her and then send someone with it. So he went to Migori last night and said he would be back early to start translations. But 9am, 10am, 11am came and went, no Robert. I was getting frustrated. I had called at 8am to get an ETA and he said he was just about on his way back, the ride takes an hour, so I was anxious, but I didn't want to pester him because I knew that he was taking care of a familial problem and he does so much for my project, etc etc… But time! Time is moving! Always forward! It's running out! I want to be constantly productive! I spent the morning pacing around my 'cube.'

He finally arrived at noon, explaining that he had to find the document, then find a family member to take it to Eldoret, and then find another family member to watch the house while she is gone, etc etc. Obviously I was understanding, just anxious to get to work. We did. We translated a few tapes and then broke for lunch, then came back and translated for another two hours. We had to stop when the rain pounding on the tin roof got too loud to hear anything. Oh, but he did tell me that teachers from the SDA school had been calling all night and day, apologizing for their chaplain and thanking us for standing our ground, which was nice.

When the rain was done and Robert left to take care of his life, I decided on a walk before dinner. The light was dwindling but I thought I might be able to get a nice shot somewhere, so I brought the spotmatic and the ELPH. I was walking along one of the dirt paths (I've been told that in mothertongue they call them, 'Rat Routes') I had actually just set off, I had the ELPH in one hand and the spotmatic on my shoulder and I slipped and fell. I had to sacrifice my rib cage to cradle both cameras; I'm still not even sure how I managed to save them both. But my side was super muddy, so I had to turn around and get back and change my jeans, wipe the mud off my arm, and set out to try again.

I walked around and said hi to some people I knew and finally got to the main dirt road that took me down towards the A1, and Kanga center. The only light was coming from a flickering fluorescent bulb in the 'barbershop', which is a tin shack sitting in a big mud puddle, only enough room inside for two people, the client and the barber. There is only one hairstyle available, the buzz, your choices or how short you want it. The mirror is cracked and half is missing. Somehow four guys work there. It was a nice scene of the rural life, and I stood there watching. One of the 'barbers' came up from behind and started talking to me, he reeked of alcohol and had an unlit cigarette hanging from his lips. He started complaining of poverty and asking if I would help them buy new machines for the shop. I suggested that they reinvest their income instead of spending it on alcohol and cigarettes, but I think he was too drunk to really get me. But I tried.

When I came back to my room I read the first half of 'The AIDS Handbook' which is a very informative book written by a doctor from the UK. Robert had it and brought it over for me. I am going to photocopy sections of it for him to hand out or make available or something.

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