July 17, 2007 

Today was Joe’s last day here. In the morning a car came and picked him up (we all road along for a free ride in a car to Mokono). Last night we had a small farewell party (if you can call it that). We had dinner and Festus had got soda for everyone for the occasion. Erin, Clare (who is a GVN volunteer from a neighboring village), her finance, Julie, Lydia, Festus, Joe, and me were all there. It was a nice evening and after everyone was done eating Festus made Erin give a speech to Joe about his work at GVN and Festus gave him a laminated certificate. Then he gave a speech about Clare (because she had worked with VOLSET a few times before I came), and then he asked me to give a speech about Pierre (Clare’s fiancé who I had met that day). It was pretty funny, because I had no idea what I was supposed to say, but it was something to the effect that I would cherish the memories of talking with him that day and that I appreciated him and his work, and that he was always welcome here, etc. I was totally just coming up with it as I went along but it seemed to satisfy Festus so that’s all that mattered.

I got my hair done in a salon today, it took 6 hours. I brought a book along and my mp3 player, but I hadn’t thought to bring any food so I was absolutely starving by the time I got out. It is pretty tight, but the braids will loosen up after a couple days. It doesn’t look bad, but it is just kinda strange to have it this way. After I was done I got four sambusa and ate them all and then got a sweet bom (which is a sucker) and caught a taxi home. No one else was home so I had to wait a couple hours before I could go back in. Festus refuses to make copies of the house keys which is completely inconvenient but there is nothing I can do about. Once I did get back into the house I packed for Kenya, everything fits into my small backpack which will be easy to carry. We have to get up literally at the crack of dawn tomorrow to catch the taxi. I’m not to excited about that part, but I’m super excited to finally put my Swahili to some use.