The Little Things

I’ve been really struck over the last couple of weeks at how little, unexpected things can bring such joy.  Mum has been sending me bits and pieces to use with the kids.  One of these was ‘Sparkle World’ – an activity magazine for children.  I took it to the orphanage and the kids’ eyes nearly popped out of their heads.  I would never have anticipated the excitement and pleasure it could give – we’ve spent hours doing puzzles, playing games, sticking stickers and reading stories.  £2:45 incredibly well spent!  There are no gender issues either, the boys have loved it every bit as much as the girls...

The bike rides to and from the orphanage have become one of my favourite parts of the week.  You see so much of life going on along the roads – women & men labouring hard to widen the road, children playing in the new ditches, students coming from school and practicing their English greetings (usually “good morning” even at 6pm).   I particularly love the part of the route through the bush – I’m passing at a time when the Masai pastoralists are driving their animals home, so I often have to give way for the cows and goats which saunter across my path.  There are also women making their way home with their loads on their heads or farming their small plots.  The whole journey is spent exchanging greetings most often “salama” (peace). 

When I arrive at the orphanage, there are always a couple of kids at the gate – not waiting for me as much as for my bike, which is promptly commandeered and ridden round the enclosure with numerous kids aboard.  Even the older girls love their turn.   Annunciata likes to accompany me part of the way home – she’s trying to get me to perch behind her, which I just can’t master, so I end up having to peddle with her behind, resulting in the two of us veering at bizarre angles across the road!   

A couple of weeks ago one of these jaunts led to an unfortunate meeting with a thorn bush and by the time I got to the tarmaced  road, my back tyre was completely flat.  Luckily there was a fundi right at the side of the road.  (Fundis are wonderful menders-of-all-things.  Nothing is ever thrown out here – there’s always a handy fundi to fix the seemingly unsalvageable).  So, I ended up perched on a log at the side of the road while the fundi fixed my puncture, rapidly becoming a specimen of extreme interest for the local children.  I had foam animal stickers with me which they were really excited to put on their clothes.  After we’d swapped names, I’d taught them the animals in English and they’d taught me them in Kiswahili, I was running out of ideas so we ended up singing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” – much to the amusement of the fundis and the gathering adults.  The next week as I went past, a small crowd gathered clapping & waving as I cycled past puncture free! 

These little things, the unexpected connections and the easy fun will stay with me as much as the safaris and the beaches I am sure.