December 1978

Jambo!!

Incredibly, another year has slipped by, and as usual, we're in another part of the world.  At this time last year, we were in Hawaii, with Sharon working for Hawaii Loa College and Ken going to school at the University. We didn't have as many visitors as we had expected, but Ken's folks did manage to come for a two month stay.  We did a bit of island hopping, as well as seeing all the Honolulu sights in depth.

In the Spring, we took a trip to Seattle and stayed in a luxurious mountain chalet with friends and had a week of glorious skiing.  The difference in climate convinced us that we needed a change after seven years in Polynesia, so we interviewed in San Francisco for jobs in Nairobi.  Then we returned to Hawaii, and Ken popped down to Samoa for a week of thesis research.  By the end of March, we knew that we were going to Africa. Ken then doubled his efforts and finished his second MA, in English as a Second Language.

In June, we sold all our furniture, threw out most of our clothes, and with four suitcases and a couple of packages sent air mail, we left Hawaii behind us for a new adventure.  We stopped in California for a tour of the wine country (hiccup!), and then spent a week in NJ with the folks.  Then, it was off to Africa, stopping in London, where we enjoyed the English atmosphere, the theater every night, and were appalled by the crowds and the weather.

On August 1, we arrived in Nairobi to take up our jobs at the International School of Kenya, Sharon being the librarian and Ken the Spanish teacher.  The school, set on 45 acres of coffee trees and hills, serves a population of students from over 30 countries.  The students are bright, interesting and well behaved, a welcome change from NJ and Samoa!

Living in Kenya is a delight for the adventuresome of spirit.  The climate is just about perfect--evenings cool enough for a fire and sleeping with a couple of blankets, yet days warm enough for short sleeves and a swim in the school's pool. We managed to secure a charming, quiet, 2 bedroomed cottage in the country, about 25 minutes from town.  We have an acre and a half of gardens and trees, tended by our full-time gardener, and the irksome chores of life, such as cooking, cleaning, doing the wash, etc., are taken care of by our houseman/cook.  Basically, we are being spoiled rotten for they do everything for us, from ironing our undies, to feeding the pets, to packing us a lunch, to washing the car, to shining our shoes. We think that returning to a "normal" life in the States will be unbearable.

Kenya has a surprising number of amenities to offer.  Within 1/2 hour of our house, there is a fantastic game park just loaded with wild animals of every variety. 500 meters down the road, we have a country Pub and French restaurant, which features the kind of quiet elegance and attentive service that has long since disappeared from America.  There is a first class professional theater in town, along with several amateur companies, lots of movie houses ($1.50 for tickets), excellent restaurants, a 17,000 ft. perpetually snow capped mountain, and lovely beaches at Mombasa and Malindi with diving and fishing.  All in all, it looks like a jolly good couple of years.

Theoretically, we should be here until June, 1980, but of course in Africa, it is not wise to plan too far ahead (although Kenya is by far the most stable country on the continent).  We'd like to climb Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro, see the pyramids in Egypt, perhaps see Greece and other parts of Europe (ski Switzerland?) before we leave this part of the world.  And as always, our house is open to visitors.

So, until next year, it's "Kwaheri" to you all and Merry Christmas with a Very Happy New Year.