Week 26 - Kenya
We haven't been doing much. On the one hand it's hard to believe we've been here over a week, and yet at the same time it feels like we've been here forever. I must admit I'm not a fan of the tropics. The weather is consistently lovely, hot, but breezy and not humid so it's comfortable in the shade, but I miss the variation. With no cool or rainy days they all start to blend together. I know it's been super cold in Ohio and I'm sure all the folks there are envious, but honestly I wouldn't choose this permanently.
I'm still uncomfortable with having a staff, I can't figure out what to do with myself with no household chores to break up the day. I actually do things like dishes some, but that's also uncomfortable because I feel like I'm taking their jobs, which I'm sure they need. We're going to give what we hope are good tips, though the homeowner didn't really give us much guidance on what's a good rate, but it's just awkward. I guess I'm just strange because it's certainly luxurious. Mostly, I just teach the kids, really only S since C does math with J and everything else independently. We have a routine, S and I work on math and reading each morning, then practice swimming in the pool after a light lunch.
We have a big, early dinner then often go to the beach for science once the sun is less fierce. Sometimes science walks up on the porch.
The kids aren't too into swimming at the beach because of the stinging bluebottles, which aren't really jellyfish, but siphonophores, related to the Portuguese man of war, but less venomous. I don't think they're really that dangerous, and there aren't that many, but they don't want to take any chances. We do a lot of picking up shells, often with something living in them so we just examine and return, and the bluebottles are fascinating to observe though we don't touch them.
The other think that's hard about the beach are the guys selling things. I actually haven't been taking walks in the morning because I don't want to deal with them. They just follow you around and won't take no for an answer. They're harmless, but annoying. I do have compassion for them, because anyone relying on tourists for a living is having a hard time due to COVID. I also know that if I buy from one I'll be constantly surrounded. Moreover, the host discouraged us from interacting with them because apparently if they feel encouraged they can follow people to the villa and then constantly knock on the gate. We have found though, that after saying no consistently but politely they're getting less constant, so perhaps eventually I'll feel ready for my morning walk.
We had a couple business things to take care of, the most difficult was getting yellow fever vaccines, which you don't need to enter Kenya, but do need to leave. We had thought we could get them locally, but after several hours of phone calls it turned out we had to go back to the airport in Mombasa. I guess most people get them on the way in, because we had to get a security escort to take us through to the health center which is on the arrival side. That was fun for the kids and made getting shots bearable.
We met with a guide and planned a safari for next week, which we're all looking forward to. J and I have spent a lot of time planning for our next steps, we have reservations finalized for Mauritius, Reunion, and Madagascar, and are figuring out what's next. Flights in and out of Madagascar are pretty limited, so it's tricky and takes a lot of time, and this is a good place to do the research since everything else is taken care of. J really loves it here, I think he'd live here full time if he could, just as I'd love to live in Iceland. Greece still seems like the best compromise destination, and it's cheaper than either. Actually, our housing is about the same, but this one has a lot more amenities for the price, but food in Greece was very cheap. Or maybe it would be best to just travel around, though the kids definitely want to keep the farm in Ohio as a base. Time will tell.