A Day of Relaxation

I have a lot of extra time in Kenya. Usually I end up filling that time accomplishing tasks off a list of things I need to do before I return home. Today, was slightly different, however; I relaxed. The morning started with me waiting for Miriam to pick up. I thought for sure she said ten and the church service started at ten thirty so when she still hadn’t arrived by ten thirty I gave her a call. She said she was fifteen minutes away. Thinking I had gotten the time wrong, I waited patiently a while longer. She eventually arrived by eleven. I had not gotten the time wrong. When we arrived at the church service the pastor was already starting the sermon. We filled in some random seats in the back. I was surprised to find numerous Caucasian people surrounding me. The pastor was even from Southern United States so the sermon was understandable. I also took communion for my first time in Africa. The bread served as communion was chapatti, and instead of grape juice, I think it was black current juice. Black current is similar to grape. I’m not sure what fruit it comes from, but there seems to be a plethora of black current flavored foods.

Once church was finished, Miriam took me to the local Nakumatt to buy some water for the week. Even with my water bottle filters, I do not think the sink water is safe to drink. Miriam dropped me off at the hotel and I was left with the afternoon to myself.
 
Even though the sky was partly cloudy, I went to relax and read by the pool. Weather here is very unpredictable. One minute it can be clear and sunny and the next about to downpour. I felt a slight drizzle multiple times, but within minutes the sky often turned clear. After a while, I ventured out to the beach where I read some more. While sitting there, some insect stung me. My ankle was throbbing and when I looked down at the spot, the stingers were still in my skin. I carefully pulled them out, hoping to ease the pain. Thankfully the pain soon subsided. I am now left with a swollen bug bite, hoping nothing more will occur. After that incident, I decided the beach probably wasn’t for me, today. While getting up, a few feet away from me, a camel walked by. Startled at the sight all I could do was laugh. The beach I was on is supposed to be a private resort beach connecting with the public beach a little ways down causing a lot of passersby. It felt good to relax and unwind today, before I begin my busy week of learning at KMFRI.