Busy, busy

The last few days have been a whirlwind of meetings; it’s been a bit like work- fun work, but work. As we consider project after project and how to make them eligible for specific types of Rotary grants I am spending lots of times reading downloaded Rotary manuals and sending emails to various clubs and our District Grant coordinator and Rotary Activity report centre.

We met with RC Vihiga on Monday and introduced them to KASFOOC in the hopes the RC becomes a Host partner to a grant. We then met with Vihiga and a few government officials to look at the dam they want to build to create hydro power and a fish farm. Later on we met with KASFOOC again to help them make a Rotary-friendly (i.e. highly specific) budget. That was fun; I can talk about fish farming forever.

I am having a few good runs these days. This morning was probably the least reaction I have received while here. Although yesterday I sent my first small child shrieking home – I was running uphill from a gully and kind of emerged from the trees into their small lane where the little gaffer, about 4 years old, was heading off to school. There was man shaving in the next yard looking on with a big smile. That little guy was scared for his life.

I wish I had a dump truck of soccer balls. All the schools have sports immediately after classes from about 3-5. We go by the fields and see about 4 or 5 games going on simultaneously, tons of kids. Each group has a “ball” made of plastic bags wrapped tightly. I think out of the dozens of schools we have passed we have seen one group with a real soccer ball.

As I post this we are waiting for Misingu High School boys (8) to meet us so we can buy them school supplies (compliments of RC Strathcona-Sunrise). So far they are an hour and a half late. Tanya’s gone to check again and she’s not back yet so that’s the signal she may have found them. We have found the Africans to be very punctual, so this was not expected. This afternoon we meet Julius to buy jewellery, and Frederick who has been accepted as a journeyman compliments of our desk carpenter (that’s very cool- I’ll let Tanya describe the story).

Oh yeah, I better go.