Hah! Life is funny. So at the 3 month mark of the first year in North Africa, my organization requires that we take a week of R&R so that we don’t go insane and never come back ;) The retention rate here is less than fabulous.
As much as I would like to say “Eh, I don’t need that” by mid January I could tell that the time was quickly approaching where I was going to start screaming. I was grateful for a little ‘space.' Here in North Africa I am constantly bombarded with requests (Can you teach me computer? Can you give me X amount of money? When will I see you? Help my family with X? Can you give me a job? Etc, etc), with projects (vocational schools, trainings, meetings, girls program, translations, learning Arabic, visitations), with men (can I visit you? Will you visit me? Marry me? Can I have your number? I love you. Etc etc). Everyone has expectations for me. And they are almost always not appropriate or possible. So having a break from the bombardment seemed like a good thing.
I am sure you can see where this is going…I have a good friend in Nairobi who I was going to stay with for this break. I was welcomed with open arms as my friend miraculously received a week off of work to be with me....
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| Don't let my smile fool you! This beach was not peaceful ;) |
Nairobi is a huge city, as is Mombasa. Traffic everywhere. In the matatus I was squashed between people on a consistent basis. In Mombasa we were constantly bombarded with people “I can be your bodyguard.” “We will go dancing tonight, yes?” “Is that your real hair? It looks like Beyonce’s hair (what??!!)” “Buy this, come here.” Etc etc. Bahhhhh!! Leave me alone! My Kenyan friend got a small taste of what it is like to be a white lady :)
My friends took great care of me and taught me how to navigate life in the big city. I cooked quesadillas for them (AND I made the tortillas from scratch! watch out world!) I never dreamed I would learn how to get from place to place by myself in Nairobi... but I did! It was good for me to get away and to be with a girl my own age. But the funny thing is that the Lord just confirmed once again how much I love where he has me in North Africa. Some people leave their break thinking "Eh, it is already time to go back??" But even as I travel around Africa, I want to return to my tukul and my friends in my town. Even though the rest of Africa has nothing good to say about my country, my heart is there.
I will just have to learn to deal with all of the requests and expectations….and remember that HE is the one who moves and saves, not me :)
I will just have to learn to deal with all of the requests and expectations….and remember that HE is the one who moves and saves, not me :)
