So this is it. After six months, my last night in Kenya. I’m a mix of emotions. I’m sooo excited to be back home with family and friends. But not excited about not knowing exactly when I will come back to Kenya and see all of my wonderful friends.
I decided to go big for my last weekend it Kenya. I went to a wedding Saturday. I really wanted to go a wedding since I’ve been here and finally Nkita, my host mom was able to take me to one. It was fun. I love weddings in general so a Kenyan wedding was great. It’s so active. I was tired by the end of the day. Today I had a going away party. Many of the people who have made my time in Kenya so special were there. It was a good time. It ended up being more of a party in terms of food than I first thought, but that’s parties in Kenya for you. It’s a requirement that there be lots of food.
Nkita was in the choir.
Dancing with Nkita.
So here’s what follows. I wrote a letter to Kenya, summing up my feelings upon leaving. I wrote a lists of the things I’ll miss most, and what I won’t miss J. And a little about all the super important people that I love here. I think I’m trying to make up for my lack of bloging the past two months.
A letter to Kenya
Dear Kenya,
You have really challenged me. You did not conform to my idea of how things should go. You had different plans for me. You were messy, impossible to contain. You’ve shown me things I never wanted to see. Things that would have been much easier to ignore. Injustices that we’re hard to see and tolerate, and understand fully. You made me face the uncomfortable everyday. You made me angry and frustrated. Many tears have been cried because of you. You’ve forced me to acknowledge and come to terms with my privilege. At the same time take the responsibility that accompanies that privilege. You have shown me that sometimes giving and helping is not always easy or simple. That compassion takes responsibly and care. It’s messy and complicated. If you really want to help you must look deeper, see what your contributing to. You can not simply donate, give money, or come in and build, it’s so much more than that. It’s responsibility. It’s not about dominance, or knowing what’s best, it’s about care, relationships, and mutuality. Oh Kenya it’s been tough. You have taught me many lessons. Hard lessons.
Oh my, I will never forget all the wonderful things you showed me. Your beauty sometimes hidden but always present. Your unfailing perseverance. The potential and hope seen at every corner. Your natural beauty! My, you are a beautiful country. The trees, the hills, the sun setting and green-ness of it all! I think people got tried of me constantly commenting on your beauty. The friendships you’ve given me, the people you have allowed me to know. Wow I feel so lucky and blessed thinking of these wonderful people. Seriously you have shown your beauty and kindness through your people. You have shown me true compassion, hospitality, and what it is to give. The meaning of family and helping each other. You’ve taught me how to care, how to see, and how to listen. You have blessed me immensely. I’m so thankful.
Yes Kenya, it was rough. Sometimes it just sucked. Many days I wanted nothing to do with you. But you stuck with me, you taught me in patience and truth. You showed your true self, the very best and the very worse. But you always showed HOPE. Kenya you are beautiful and I’m blessed to know you. Thank you for giving me what nothing else could.
Love, Julia
aka Njoki
What I will miss most:
Chai Tea all the time
All of my amazing friends here.
All of those adorable babies and children who smile at me and say Mzungu Mzungu!
The trees, the sunsets, how freakin beautiful this place is
Chapati’s
Fresh fruit all the time and it’s cheap
Java House
Unpredictability
Random-ness
The everyday adventures.
The People.
Things I won’t really miss
Drunk men at all hours of the day.
Sukuma Wiki
Matatus (I think I might miss this after a while (they have been a huge part of my time here), but today as I sat shoved up against an old man with half my butt on a seat and another guy practically sitting on me hitting my hit on the ceiling at every bump, I decided I wasn’t going to miss it )
Confusion
Jay the cat
The roads
All the people I’m so thankful for!
The Browns. Doug and Sue have been great. Atara’s parents have been so kind to me! Long after Atara went home they continued to have me over, let me used their internet, do laundry (so thankful) and just offer support and understanding. In fact I’m sitting on their couch as I write this. They are taking me to the airport tomorrow. I could never repay their kindness. I’ve been so blessed.
Nkita. Wow this woman is amazing! I stayed with her my first three extremely challenging weeks. She took me back in in December. Nkita works so hard and cares so deeply for those around her. She has one of the biggest most compassionate hearts I’ve ever seen. She showed me the goodness of Kenya. In fact her whole family has been amazing. Angus who helps out in the house is like a sister to me. Her English is limited and my Swahili is limited but we’ve managed to become close. She’s taught me that there is much more to communicating then just words. She has such a joyful and playful spirit, it’s impossible to not be happy around her.
Salome and her children. Wow this woman is amazing. Her friendship has been one of my most treasured things I leave Kenya with. She is so wise and has taught me so much. I’m truly grateful. Mama Shiro is pretty great too!
Jay and Betty! Good friends!
My Kisumu Family. Oh I’ll never forget my time in the village. I loved my time there. The kidha’s were so KIND and AMAZING. I just loved this family. Nancy, Ruth, Christine, Max, and even Dan who I’ve only met over facebook, thanks for letting me be a part of your family. So thankful.
I miss this kid! B you are so stinkin cute.
My Nakuru Family. So sad I didn’t get to go back one last time. Man, this family is great. I have so many Amazing memories with them. They truly took me in as one of their own. I feel like they are one of my forever families. So many fun times, dancing in the living room late at night, chasing away “snakes” and watching storm over paradise.
Everyone else! I’m getting tired but there are many more people who made my time here special.
Thank you everyone for following my journey. For praying for me and thinking of me. Thank you and sharing in this with me. I would LOVE to share more. I felt limited by this blog, in what I could and how I could share it, but if you want to know more just let me know!
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