5 Things: no. 1

We're going to start a new series on the blog with new posts cropping up every week.  We want to compile various lists that represent facts, stories, thoughts, and lessons from our time here in Kenya.  We hope this helps you to gain a better glimpse of our lives here, and we also hope it helps us chronicle the important things that we want to remember.

Please leave a comment with your ideas for topics, we would really like to know what you would like to hear about!

This week's is a good starter:

5 Things we love about Kenya

1. Cheap stuff.  Okay, not everything is cheap.  But we appreciate the things that are.  We buy a dozen roses weekly for $2.50, avocados for $.25, mangoes only a little more.  Even our fruit splurge, strawberries, are under $2 a pound.  I have had an hour-long massage for $10, and a pedicure for less than $5.  (In case you are wondering, this is Heather.)

2. As two Biology majors, we love exploring here.  The diversity of life and habitats is amazing.  It is so much fun to see such different environments and animals than we see in the states.  We have loved taking advantage of living here in Kenya, and having adventures with our children.

3. The climate can't be beat.  We came from a pretty awesome place in the states with mild, beautiful winters, and perfect 80-degree summers.  Just cut out the winter part and you have Kijabe.  We also live too high (7500 feet) for malaria and other pesty bugs.  (Or snakes and scorpions.)  We have two rainy seasons, during which we do miss the sun, but not having heat or air conditioning, or the need for either, says a lot.  It's been Crocs and shorts for Joel since we arrived almost two years ago. 

4. Kenyans LOVE children.  They pay attention to little ones.  Children are to be greeted just as adults.  While the expected hand-shaking and talking was difficult for one of our kids in particular when we arrived, I think it is a beautiful gesture of value to a young generation.  Since having a baby, we have only noticed this more.  Kenyans are greatly honored when we offer Aaron to be held.  Sometimes we don't offer, he is simply taken, and most of the time we feel comfortable with this too.

5. The sense of life in community.  Most people don't own vehicles here, and a lot don't have jobs.  Relationships are very important in the culture so wherever we go, there are people out talking, walking, and doing daily tasks.  Together.  In the states, most people are in their cars going from building to building to building all day.  We loved going to the Friday farmer's market during our brief 10 weeks of summer in Woodland Park to see everyone we knew.  But life here is the farmer's market every day.