Things that surprised us

We were surprised by some things on our trip. This list is things we didn't expect, or at least one of us was surprised by.

Surprises

Kikoy tailoring- it was less expensive to have custom pants made for Paige at the beach than to buy them in a store in Nairobi. We took a Kikoy, basically a large piece of fabric with a fringed edge, and the lady at the beach had that made into really cute capris for Paige, for about $4.50 labor cost. Since it was so affordable, she got shorts too!

Jungle in Nairobi- there is a downtown part with tall buildings and parking lots, but there is a LOT of Nairobi that is very green, wooded, etc. You wouldn't know you were in a major city.

Cell phones everywhere- even the people out in the bush, with no electricity or running water had cell phones. They go into town to charge them.

Cool mall (village market)- it would be a big hit in St. Charles!

Airport and mall security- by the end of the trip, we were used to all the guys with AK47s, but it surprised us at first!

How bad the roads really were- even major roads were VERY bumpy

Security in Malindi- that tiny airport had a big X-ray machine for our bags, etc. but if you just walked about the building, you were out on the runway, along with the dogs, chickens, etc. and could walk right into the departure lounge.

Primitive kitchens- in the training centers, the kitchen was a counter, a sink (not necessarily with running water) and drain and a few open shelves.

Dressed up and dignity- People in Nairobi wear suits and dresses, very dressed up in their best clothing, even if they live in a slum, they dress up for work or going to town

Friendliness - the passport people, the security checkers, the cab drivers, all wanted to know how we liked their country and hoped we would come back. The Crum's friends welcomed us into their homes, just a gracious as could be.

Turning on water heaters and electric outlets- there are switches on the outlets to turn them on, and the water heaters have switches, like light switches on the wall, to turn them on and off.

Paige found monkeys creepy- they were on the roof at the Crums, at the tent camp, at the resort, kind of all over.

The # of Kenyan men who live far away from families- many men work in Nairobi, but their families live "up country" and they only go visit occasionally

Milk comes in plastic bags at the grocery, you clip off the corner and pour it and soda was very inexpensive

Birds sounds - there was a bird that sounds just like an alarm clock

RED dirt- it was everywhere!

Amount of corn, and number of goats and cows

Quantity and mixture of animals- zebras, baboons, warthogs, wildebeest, all hang around together.

Animals inside vs outside the park- we saw more animals out in the wild before we were on the Maasai Mara property. The animals don't know or care where the boundaries are, they just roam

Paying the park fee’s, there was great confusion over paying to go into the parks- one guy came to the tent camp and got us out of bed to pay some park fees, but then another guy came in the morning and said we should pay him, not the guy from the night before. They need a better system there.

70 churches 20 buildings in the CCC, Maasai church.

No paid pastors, they serve as volunteers

CMF helps with 50% of church building costs, that way the local church has ownership of the building, they have invested in it.