Growing Up in Africa!

                                                   

Sun flower picking

        No, I haven't lived in a hut, or eaten monkey, or learned how to carry large baskets on my head. Sorry if I have disappointed you :-) ,but there is lots I have done and learned from growing up in Africa.  Most of it has been fun ,and others a learning experience. I'll share with you some of the many, interesting things I've done.
    -    From first to fourth grade I went to a school here in Thika; At first, I had to get used to the fact that I was the only white kid, until Taylor started school. I remember my first day of school, at break time, all the kids were surrounding me so they could see the white kid. I remember getting pushed down because there were so many around me, but I got used to it, and so did they. I am ,now, glad I went to school, for I made many friends and learned Swahili at a young age. 
Every Friday morning the whole school would come to ,what they called assembly, and we would sing the national anthem, a song from a hymn book, and pray. The highlight of the year for all of us ,school kids, would be the field trip. We would go somewhere like the Giraffe Center, a game park, or Mamba (crocodile) village.
    -    Chapatis(like a tortilla), beef stew, pilau(ginger,garlic rice), and ugali(cornmeal) are some of the Kenyan foods I have grown up with and love them. All except for ugali; I can not honestly say I love it. :-)  Speaking of food, I told you I haven't eaten monkey, but I have eaten crocodile, ostrich, and camel. They were all pretty good, but crocodile was definitely my favourite.
   -    This story I have purposely placed after the food because I do not want to gross any one out.:-) I had to add this, so you can see how crazy my siblings and I are ,and what we call fun. We used to love watching the termite colonies get dug up. (They would get dug up so the termites would not destroy the plants in our yard) Well, the digging would have to continue until they found the queen ant, who produces all the eggs. Without her the colony dies. We would wait around till she was found just so we could see her; she isn't like the normal termites, instead she looks like a great big sausage.Hey, we are MKs in Africa; we have an excuse to our craziness.:-) 
   -     Another thing I enjoy here in Kenya is how many diverse kinds of animals we get to see. Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! No, I'm kidding, we have no tigers and bears here but Lions, cheetahs, gazelles, Zebras(my personal favourite), Giraffes, Elephants, and many more. Some of you may wonder why I didn't list Leopards; I didn't forget them it's just I have never been able to see one. They are hard to spot since they are usually in the trees, but I hope one day I'll finally get to see one.
    -    I must add this one and I know all other missionaries, here in Kenya, will understand what I am talking about. It is kind of hard to paint a picture in words for someone who has never seen the roads here before. Just try to imagine a rock climbing wall laid flat on the ground and driving over it; that's the best I can do to explain it.:-) 
It is funny watching someone try to fall asleep in the car while we are travelling; because of the potholes and the speed bumps their  heads are always bumping up, down, and around.:-) Most roads are like this but not all.Some of the main roads to the capital city are, now, pretty nice.
One day we were travelling home from a safari and, without slowing, drove right over a large speed bump. I was in the back seat and  got a real nice bump on my head from hitting the roof.:-o (if you can't tell I like to add in all the little smiley faces :-) 
        Yes, I don't enjoy not being with the rest of my family and friends in America, not being able to get Culvers(my favourite restaurant), or not being able to go to a library and see the endless amount of books, I could read, but I wouldn't trade being an MK for anything! All these adventures I've had in Kenya, I would have never experienced if I wasn't right (for now) where God wants me to be - in Kenya.
By - Ashlyn Elaine
        

        

        

My Maasai outfit

Beryl and I

I am surprised Suzy let me carry her like this ;-)

Sara, Emily, and I playing kitchen

In the dandelion field

Three MKsketeers