I found a T-shirt (the pirated edition) in the market, and a kanga, and wore them proudly today! At school, the teachers commented, and congratulated me. "Hongera!" as they offered me the accompanying gesture of touching forearms. The Kiswahili on the kanga continues with "Upendo na Amani Ametujalia Mungu" which means "God offers us Love and Peace." 
In the morning, I take the early bus to the Usa River campus, and am the first one up around here in the mornings and the first in the kitchen, getting a cup of hot tea. This morning, I decorated, hanging a kanga (the twin of the one I was wearing) on the wall. It was my turn to be the evening cook in the communal kitchen, and so around the table I offered a toast to President Obama. All heartily raised their glasses. After the meal, several of us wandered out the school gate to the "Water Hole," which has a TV. The generator kicked in when the grid power slipped away, and we missed nothing. In a group of ex-pat Aussies and New Zealanders, with Masai, villagers, local teachers and school employees, we watched. I looked for the Country Day group in the crowd, and imagined the excitement of being there as history was made, and as the rest of world tuned in with joy and approval. Watching from one of those villages that President Obama referred to, I am so proud to be from the nation our new president has inspired, proud to be a citizen of a nation that is taking its place in the world as a friend and equal.
In the morning, I take the early bus to the Usa River campus, and am the first one up around here in the mornings and the first in the kitchen, getting a cup of hot tea. This morning, I decorated, hanging a kanga (the twin of the one I was wearing) on the wall. It was my turn to be the evening cook in the communal kitchen, and so around the table I offered a toast to President Obama. All heartily raised their glasses. After the meal, several of us wandered out the school gate to the "Water Hole," which has a TV. The generator kicked in when the grid power slipped away, and we missed nothing. In a group of ex-pat Aussies and New Zealanders, with Masai, villagers, local teachers and school employees, we watched. I looked for the Country Day group in the crowd, and imagined the excitement of being there as history was made, and as the rest of world tuned in with joy and approval. Watching from one of those villages that President Obama referred to, I am so proud to be from the nation our new president has inspired, proud to be a citizen of a nation that is taking its place in the world as a friend and equal.
Amani, friends.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment